PATANA NEWS
Friday 10th November 2023 Volume 26 Issue 11
Student voice on Student Voice By Grant Robertson
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Also in this issue... Page 4 What Makes Us Special? Page 5 Visiting Artist: Ian Murphy A Trio of Professional Learning Visitors Page 8 Page 12 Taylor’s Technology Tips Page 13 Ignite School Club Page 14 International Day Information
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Bangkok Patana is a not-for-profit IB World School accredited by CIS Bangkok Patana School News
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Student Voice on Student Voice Grant Robertson, Senior Teacher, Student Welfare and Designated Safeguarding Lead
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articulate the thoughts and feelings of our student body. Now, it is all very well asking teachers…..but what do the How do you react when seeing that in bold print? students themselves think? Is it shock and alarm, or perhaps a wry smile as surely it is In recent weeks we have had focus group discussions meant ironically or to be provocative? on the value of student voice and leadership and some For me, it brings back memories of the 1980s when I incredibly powerful benefits for students emerged which was a school student myself. It is therefore not too many could be loosely categorised in the following ways: years ago that this message was conveyed implicitly (or even articulated explicitly!) in many schools. Some of us will remember a school culture where passively absorbing knowledge and following all rules without question was the norm; indeed, it never occurred to me as a child that my thoughts and opinions were of any real importance or value to my school. hildren should be seen and not heard’.
I think you will agree that we have come a long way! It was a great privilege to host educational experts David Bott and Tonya Gilchrist in October and later this month we have a visit from the Right Honourable Stuart Lawrence, a youth engagement specialist who is also the younger brother of Stephen Lawrence, the British teenager murdered in a racially motivated attack in 1993. A common theme that runs through all of their work is the vital importance of student voice at the very heart of school discourse. Student voice, and attendant student leadership, has so many benefits when considering how we nurture the values of well-being, learning, and global citizenship throughout the school. David Bott challenged us to look beyond student input into the well-being curriculum and, where appropriate, consider replacing ‘input’ with ‘partnership.’ Tonya Gilchrist expanded on this to advocate for student agency, where students have not only the freedom to make decisions about their learning, but are also equipped with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to make informed, meaningful, and judicious life choices.
Fosters the values of global citizenship Enables students to help the school be a better learning environment Encourages creative and innovative thinking Promotes responsibility and accountability Improves self confidence and self esteem Creates a sense of identity, connection and belonging Developes student collaboration and decision-making skills Supports social and emotional development Improves student-teacher relationships Prepares students for the challenges and opportunities of the world beyond school Facilitates personal growth
Above all, empowering students to have a voice and In discussion with staff around campus the consensus is take on leadership roles can foster personal growth. It enthat Bangkok Patana is embracing both student voice and courages young people to set and achieve goals, take student leadership. From the Year 5 Student Council to the on challenges, and develop a strong sense of identity Student Representative Councils (Junior and Senior), to the and purpose. It creates connection in the most meaningful Junior Delegates, Delegates, and Senior Delegates, we sense and without connection we can never fully unlock have well established an effective leadership platforms to the potential that exists within. 2
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It’s an inspirational list and it is reassuring and affirming CHAIR OF JSRC AND VICE-CHAIR OF JUNIOR DELthat all these attributes are grounded in the school values of EGATES 2022/23 Vivaan Sehgal, 10L well-being, learning and global citizenship. Ever since joining Bangkok Patana in 2021, my views As this article is about student voice it is fitting that we and opinions about student life and how to improve it have now hear some thoughts and reflections from the students changed drastically. My life has changed ever since I bethemselves: came involved with the JSRC, where I found a new passion. The JSRC helped me understand issues at school and SENIOR DELEGATES think about how we can solve them to overall make students Sharnipa (Pa) Tantiponganant, 13T happier in the school environment. As I approach the end of my 15 years at Bangkok Patana, I can proudly say that student voice and leadership are the JUNIOR DELEGATES 2023/24 epitome of our vibrant and inclusive community. At Patana, Sahiem Anand, 9B it’s about giving every student the opportunity to shape I genuinely believe that Bangkok Patana has excelled their own experiences and challenge themselves around at valuing student voice, demonstrated by the existence diverse perspectives. This not only fosters self-confidence and problem-solving skills but also prepares us to be inclusive leaders of the future. From the bottom of my heart, I’d say that Patana’s most prominent value is nurturing global citizenship, and this is only successful because students are able to voice their opinions. Yerin Kang 13R Bangkok Patana is renowned for fostering a strong bond between students and teachers, facilitating seamless communication. Student voice and leadership plays a significant role in this, effectively voicing student concerns and ensuring a smooth exchange of information and feedback. of CAT and CAS clubs and committees like JSRC and the different delegate groups. Instead of forcing students to JUNIOR DELEGATE CHAIR 2022/23 just comply unthinkingly, we are allowed to offer our own Rajul Grover, 10L points and values and to have an important say in what Encouraging student voices is about empowering stu- happens in school. dents, both individually and collectively, and acting on Francesca Kiatvarangkura, 9B this empowerment in the quest for meaningful instructional A school isn’t a proper school without students; it’s like experiences that will support lifelong learning. Leadership having a restaurant without diners and restaurants should development in schools has helped me learn to solve prob- always listen to their customers! I believe that Bangkok lems creatively, work in a team, and work collaboratively Patana emphasises the importance of leadership and stuwith others. One example was organising the end of year dent voice more than any of the other schools I’ve been in. dance for Key Stage 3, in which I got to liaise with not only It gives the sense that the students have a say in their school my peers, but also teachers. It was an incredibly enjoya- life, which is what makes the Patana community so outspoble experience that helped me gain countless skills such ken and confident. as time management, collaborating with a large group of people, and showed me the effort of event planning. I left Thank you to all the students who contributed to these this wonderful experience feeling more appreciative of the discussions. Student voice and leadership will remain an important focus throughout the year ahead. school as a whole. 10/11/2023
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WHAT MAKES US SPECIAL? Sarah McCormack, Primary Principal
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n our ongoing ‘learning habitats’ project, Primary students have embarked on a journey of self-discovery this term, where they explore the attributes, skills, and experiences that make each of them unique. The inception of this project occurred in classrooms and assemblies. During their weekly PSHE lessons, our students learn about essential themes such as ‘Respecting Ourselves and Others’ and ‘Growing and Changing.’ Through these lessons, they are developing their understanding and skills in self-awareness, courtesy, respect, empathy, and compassion.
6, these videos offered glimpses into the unique characteristics of each student: from kind friends and budding artists to students with extraordinary talents like wiggling their ears, identifying any make of car, or completing complex puzzles.
At the end of this competition, special commendation is due to the Year 6 students, who impressed us with a remarkable 122 video entries, setting an inspiring example for their younger peers. Following closely behind, the Year 2 students submitted an impressive 118 videos. Well done to all! To celebrate their enthusiastic participation, both year groups have received the highly anticipated In recent language learning sessions, our students are prize of an extra playtime in a campus location of their discovering the art of self-expression in multiple languagchoice. es. They are learning how to discuss their likes and dislikes, introduce themselves, describe family relationships, and BELONGING AND ACCEPTANCE share their unique identities. This language journey goes beyond words and grammar; it’s a pathway for them to At the heart of this project lies the concept of belonging cultivate an appreciation of culture and a deeper under- and acceptance within our unique learning habitat. We hope our students can recognize that they are not merely standing of the world. a member of the school community; they are an essenDuring recent assemblies, we have reflected on the key tial part of our school’s story. It is their unique qualities, messages from the International Day of Peace and the experiences, skills, and voices that add depth to Patana, importance of contributing to peace within ourselves, our creating a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive place where we learning spaces, communities, and the wider world. We can laugh, learn, and grow together. shared a heartwarming story entitled “All Are Welcome” and contemplated our community of kindness and how In Primary, we will continue to celebrate ‘what makes us special’ through distinctive Patana events like Friendship each of us can contribute to it. Friday and International Day. Additionally, we are lookFLIPGRID VIDEO COMPETITION ing forward to learning from various upcoming festivals, including Diwali, Loi Krathong, Hanukkah, and ChristOne of the project’s highlights was the Flipgrid video mas. These festivals offer valuable lessons about the sigcompetition simply titled ‘We are Unique.’ With an imnificance of light, love, and hope in our lives, as well as pressive 405 entries, our students crafted a digital narraenriching our understanding of diverse cultural traditions. tive, showcasing what sets them apart. From Year 1 to Year There is no doubt about it, that in Primary School we are unique and we are proud to belong here. For a chance to see a small selection of the FlipGrid videos – click here.
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Visiting Artist: Ian Murphy Ross Corker, Secondary Curriculum Leader- Art
The Artist Ian Murphy visited Bangkok Patana School to work with our Year 10 and 12 art students. Ian Murphy is a contemporary British Fine Artist who gained initial success with selection to the British Young Contemporary Artists. He is best known for his powerful, tonal drawings and atmospheric, mixed media oil paintings of architectural places. Ian led a full day workshop, which was a fantastic opportunity for our students to develop their artistic skills and understanding. Throughout the day, students were challenged to work in new, exciting and experimental ways. They had to work with new media and processes, creating multiple pieces of work, leading to a deeper understanding of how they record the world around them. All of this learning will impact greatly on the development of their GCSE and IB coursework and the work produced will be documented in their Art Portfolios. Ian Murphy has exhibited across the world - and if you want to find out more, here is a link to his website: https://www.ianmurphyartist.com
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Balanced and Fulfilled: Zones of Regulation and Strategies for Home Rebecca Fricsay, Anna Lawlor and Heather Rising
Teachers often speak about self-regulation or the need which strategies to use to navigate common social situations using The Zones of Regulation curriculum, develfor emotional control, but what exactly do they mean? oped by Leah Kuypers. In addition, classroom teachers When people feel emotions such as frustration, excite- reinforce student learning throughout the week by using ment, or even fear, there are physical changes to the body. the same language. Posters are displayed and referred Heart rate goes up and adrenaline is released. This is a to within the classrooms and show the different Zones, as fantastic response if we need to escape from a predator, well as different methods you might use to assist with the but it can take over our reaction to everyday situations. appropriate emotional response. Parents can also use Self-regulation, or emotional control, is how we learn to the common language to support their child’s learning at override those natural impulses and give responses with home. the correct level of emotion, volume and calmness. Young children start learning self-regulation at home and many skills are already in place by the time they start school. Families teach children how to use a whisper voice when watching a movie and how to ask for food when they are hungry instead of crying.
The Zones of Regulation provides a simple and very visual way to understand and manage our emotions. The framework categorizes emotions into different “zones” represented by colours, each of which corresponds to a specific emotional state: At school there are many new situations students haven’t faced before. Things like, sharing with many different people or having to wait longer for a turn can be frustrating. Quickly changing emotions between silliness at freetime to more serious learning time takes practice. Losing a match in front of your peers or keeping to the rules of a game when it is not directed by a teacher both take a great deal of self-control. All teachers model these skills, and using a common language can help reinforce the same techniques across the school and benefit students.
1. The Green Zone: This is the optimal zone to be in for learning and represents a calm and regulated state where we feel focused, content, and ready to learn or interact. 2. The Blue Zone: This zone indicates a low level of alertness and often represents sadness, tiredness, feeling down, a bit bored or ill.
3. The Yellow Zone: Children in this zone may be experiencing heightened emotions, such as frustration, excitement, or anxiety. They may feel fidgety and have a The Support for Learning department offers Social Com- higher level of alertness. munication focus groups to target specific situations of fricThe Red Zone: The red zone signifies a very high tion that occur in school. We teach students how to rec- 4. ognise what triggers certain behaviours or feelings, and level of alertness and intense emotions, including anger,
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fear, panic, or elation. People in this zone may have difficulty controlling their reactions. This is not a learning zone. The framework teaches children how to recognize which zone they are in and provides tools and strategies to move from one zone to another. It focuses on self-awareness, self-regulation, and understanding the connection between emotions and behaviour. The goal is to help children to learn to manage their emotional responses effectively, make appropriate choices, and develop empathy and social skills by considering others’ perspectives. We help children to recognise what their triggers might be and how to use tools to get them back into the right zone for the situation that they are in. It is important to note that there is no ‘good’ or ‘bad’ zone - everyone experiences emotions in the different zones (sometimes even throughout a single day!). Some children joining the primary social groups learn about the different zones and corresponding emo-
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tions. They are also actively involved in choosing strategies together with the group teachers to help them self-regulate, engage and join in with different tasks throughout the school day. One of the strategies taught through The Zones of Regulation is to think about the size of the problem and the size of the reaction. This ‘thinking’ tool encourages children to match their response to the scale of the issue they are facing, teaching them to react appropriately to various situations. We use visuals to help children with recognising when their response has not matched the size of the problem, and we encourage parents and caregivers to use the same vocabulary at home. Students continue to learn and develop self-regulation skills all the way through adolescence. You can use the same language at home and read more about the subject with the book The Zones of Regulation: A Curriculum Designed to Foster Self-regulation and Emotional Control by Leah Kuypers, or the website: https://zonesofregulation.com
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A Trio of Professional Learning Visitors Cindy Adair,Assistant Principal, Professional Learning,
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ver the past three weeks Bangkok Patana has welcomed three external visitors to work with staff as part of our Continued Professional Learning provision. Research shows that high quality teaching is the most impactful element of student success. Therefore, it’s essential our Teachers and TA’s have the opportunity to continually learn about contemporary instructional techniques and have time together to discuss and plan for our learners. Our first visitor was Professor Dylan Wiliam. Dylan is from Wales originally and is currently an emeritus professor of educational assessment at the UCL Institute of Education. Dylan’s work focuses on Assessment and in particular the role of formative assessment (small, low stakes assessments that take place throughout the learning journey to check for understanding and inform lesson planning and differentiation). This process can unlock student potential and help them to become more aware of what they are learning and how they are learning it. Six of our staff joined with 45 others from around the region for a two-day intensive workshop with Dylan.
vation, empowering students to become authors of their own learning. Our final visitor was Kym Scott. Kym is from the UK and is a specialist in play-based learning. Our Foundation Stage team have had a long relationship with Kym and her work, using her “Press Play” resources to support our Teachers and TA’s for many years. To have Kym here in person in our setting was a real treat. Kym is incredibly hands on and was happy to roll up her sleeves and get down on the floor with our youngest learners to really examine their play and look at ways we as educators can come alongside the students and add to the learning. Kym also ran a very special session for staff on Monday afternoon sharing her lived experience as the Mother of a child with autism. Kym’s 16 year old daughter and best selling author Libby Scott, dialled in remotely and together they told their story of navigating the school system with
autism. They shared some brilliant tips for educators on how to support learners who are neurodivergent. Their message that neurodivergent learners present in the world in a range of ways (every learner is unique and different) was very powerful indeed. Libby’s book, “Can you see me” a novel starring a neurodivergent character, is now available in our Secondary library. Check it out!
Our next visitor was Tonya Gilchrist. Tonya lives in Southern Europe but was educated in Hong Kong and work extensively with the IB organisation. Tonya offered two workshops whilst at Patana; The first focused on confident communication in the Primary years. Taking a deep dive into literacy, phonics and oracy; The second was centred around self-regulation and student moti-
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We now look ahead to a visit with the Honorable Stuart Lawrence on November 21st. Stuart is a consultant, author, youth engagement specialist, coach and public speaker. He is also the younger brother of Stephen Lawrence, the British teenager murdered in a racially motivated attack in 1993. He is a fantastic story-teller who will explore how we can help students find their voice, stay connected to their community, embrace diversity and establish strong and lasting friendships, which help them navigate life’s ups and downs.
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Check out the newest episode of the Patana POD with our new Head of Football
Niall de Búrca: Storytelling Author Visit O
n Monday November 20th, Niall de Búrca will message about the immense power of words, and how begin his 2 week storytelling residency at Bang- you share them is the key to keeping people engaged, kok Patana School. Niall is a bilingual (Gaelic and Eng- enthralled and interested. lish) Irish storyteller, who has told his stories all around the globe - his huge repertoire of both traditional and fantastical stories have wowed children, students and adults alike. If you would like to learn more about him, please visit his website here. Niall will start his visit as the MC in the Cultural Show on International Day, weaving his magic in between the different country acts we will be enjoying. He will then spend the next 2 weeks visiting children and students across the school sharing his specific brand of storytelling to both excite and inspire them in the art of using their words creatively. He will be telling stories, leading workshops and working with teachers, so that he spreads his
A provisional calendar for the 2024/25 school year is now available on our website. It is recommended that individuals and families avoid making final travel plans for August 2024 until it is fully approved in December.
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Art Core Skills Workshop ECA L
ast week, members of the Art Core Skills Workshop ECA finished their Block with 2 sessions working with a portrait model. This was a first at Bangkok Patana School and a very exciting experience for our keen art students.
character design.
In these sessions, students spent time refining the techniques they had learned earlier in the ECA block, such as the dot and trace method to draw proportion and usSketching from a live sitter is always challenging and ing angles to create accurate curvature, which enabled this is why this traditional practice has endured the test of them to create accurate sketches, as well as some quick time; students have been learning to draw using human poses, which helped them to produce more experimenmodels since the very first artworks were made and this tal responses. There will be more portrait model classes is a hallmark of Higher Education studies in Fine Art, as available later on in Block C, where students will have the well as more diverse art fields, such as design and even opportunity to return and practise their skills further. through to newer qualifications such as animation and
RorDor Wall of Honour O
n 7th November 2023, Reserves Training Centre Territorial Defense Department arranged the opening ceremony of ‘The Reserve Officers Training Corps Wall of Honor’ to showcase the students to be a role model and to inspire others. ‘The Reserve Officers Training Corps Wall of Honor’ was supported by our parents from Singha Corporation. For this occasion, Khun Dee, Khun Pim and Khun Nang from the Business Department attended the
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ceremony with the Commanding General Territorial Defense Command, Lt.Gen. Ta w e e p o o l Rimsakorn.
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F K A O I O R B NOVEMBER 17TH, 2023 COME AND VISIT KINOKUNIYA DURING THE 3-WAY CONFERENCES
15%
OFF
In front of the Primary Library 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM
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#260: WhatsApp and Snapchat Privacy & Parental Settings You Should Know About At the recent PTG Tech talk on Online Safety I showed parents how to improve the privacy settings on their personal WhatsApp account. They found the session so useful they asked me to share this with the wider community, so here is a video on what you should do. Please follow the steps yourself, and then consider discussing the privacy settings with your child(ren) if they also use WhatsApp. Another popular platform with our students is Snapchat. There are useful parental settings you should be aware of also. Watch the video below to familiarise yourself with them. Have a wonderful weekend! Brian Taylor Assistant Principal, Technology for Learning
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Igniting a vibrant community
Introducing ‘Ignite’, our new school club focused on community engagement. Ignite is an Interfaith club where students of all faiths can openly express their beliefs and explore the diverse faiths within our community, fostering a kind, compassionate, and respectful atmosphere at Bangkok Patana. One of our key activities is celebrating the interfaith calendar. Thanks to the support of our parent community, we recently collaborated to create a vibrant Diwali display in the Secondary lounge. Diwali is a significant celebration for Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and some Newar Buddhists. Ignite club members enthusiastically participated in decorating the lounge with Rangoli, flowers, and a colorful presentation. This initiative provided a unique opportunity for students to inquire about different religions, exchange ideas, share personal experiences, and gain a deeper understanding of each other’s beliefs. It’s a chance for students to challenge and broaden their own perspectives. For Secondary students interested in joining Ignite, we meet in Library Room 207 every Thursday at 12:40. Parents interested in participating in the celebration of other religious festivals or becoming guest speakers are encouraged to reach out to Ms. Lashkari at ROLS@patana.ac.th. Let’s come together to support an inclusive and vibrant community at Patana!
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International Day is Coming Soon! Bharati Lachmandas, PTG International Day Coordinator and Safy Rizk, PTG Chair
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ear Parents,
On Monday 20th November, we will celebrate International Day at Bangkok Patana School. Our community is really proud of their international heritage and this is a highlight of our calendar. On this special day, students, staff and parents are invited to either wear their country colours or national dress. DRESS UP! Our community is proud of their international heritage and either wear their country colours or national dress. They are not bound to wear the colours of their own country – they can join any group. 7.50AM: PARADE Students must go to their classrooms/Tutor bases for registration and then proceed to the Primary Back Field. Students, staff and participating parents will gather in allocated areas (by country groups) on the back field by 7.50am to commence the parade of nations. The parade will go to the Sports Hall. Parents from FS1 – Year 2 are welcome to collect their child from class at 7.45am to assemble at the country tents. Parents those who are unable to attend, children will be escorted by their respective teachers. Parents of children in Year 3 and upwards are requested to meet their child at the country tents.
Primary Hall and to help ease with congestion we would appreciate you watching from there. The PTG has arranged for a selection of samples from the Food Hall to be available. Last year parents told us this was a really good option! FOOD HALL After the assembly, students will return to class. They will visit the Food Hall with their classes throughout the morning, following a set schedule. Parents who are in school may visit the Food Hall only from 1.00pm – 1.30pm. For further information, please do not hesitate to contact the Country Reps. Here is a link to the contact and names of the PTG country reps. A big thank you to the many parent volunteers who have been working for many weeks to make this a memorable day for us all! Hope you have a wonderful International Day! Best regards, Bharati Lachmandas, PTG International Day Coordinator and Safy Rizk, PTG Chair
8.55AM: SPORTS HALL – ASSEMBLY AND CULTURAL SHOW Country groups will enter the Sports Hall and follow the directions of the staff who will allocate a seating area. Parents are requested to move to the balcony upstairs or alternatively watch a live feed of the show from the Primary Hall. We ask that you follow instructions carefully. After the Cultural Show, students will return to their regularly scheduled classes. Nursery and Foundation Stage parents may stay with their child (ren) to watch the cultural show in the designated areas. All other parents should go up to the balcony area. The cultural show will also be live streamed from the
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Calling all South African Parents and Students As the South African representative for the upcoming Patana International Day, I am thrilled to extend a warm invitation to all of you to join us in the festivities on Monday 20th November 2023 at our school. The schedule for the day includes cultural performances, international cuisine stalls, and various activities that highlight the unique contributions of each participating country. It’s a chance for us to come together as a community, learn from one another, and celebrate the beauty of our diverse backgrounds. We look forward to your active participation, as your presence will make Patana International Day an even more memorable occasion. Let’s make this International Day a truly unforgettable experience for our South African community!
Highlights at the Secondary Canteen....
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LAST CHANCE To claim your Lost Property TERM 1 LOST PROPERTY
until 1st December only EMAIL: LOSTPROPERTY@PATANA.AC.TH 10/11/2023
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COMMUNITY
CALLING ALL CELLISTS!
For details and to register for the workshop, please visit https://cellobration.framer.ai/ Registration google form: CELLOBRATION REGISTRATION
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COMMUNITY The British Community in Thailand Foundation for the Needy (BCTFN) proudly presents
25 November 2023, 10 AM to 9 PM Bangkok Patana School Food and Drinks Meet Father Christmas Live Entertainment!
Children’s Games and Rides Raffles and Shopping
Scan and Save on Early Bird Tickets
Thank you to our Fair Partner
Adults THB 300 | Children under 12 years THB 150 *All proceeds to BCTFN Thai Charities
www.ploenchitfair.org | bctfn1992@gmail.com
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COMMUNITY
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