Patana News Volue 26 Issue 19

PATANA NEWS

Friday 2nd February 2024 Volume 26 Issue 19 www.patana.ac.th

Nurturing critical thinkers:

A journey from Foundation Stage to Senior Studies

By Helen Thew

Also in this issue...

Community Engagement Fun Day Updates Your first Overseas Sports Trip

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Page 4 Page 6 Page 12

Foundation Board Update

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Tech Talk

Page 18

Bangkok Patana is a not-for-profit IB World School accredited by CIS 02/02/2024

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Nurturing Critical Thinkers: A Journey Helen Thew, Cross Campus Principal At Bangkok Patana, our actions are driven by our Guiding Statements namely our mission, vision and values which in turn shape the foundation of our students’ journey. In today’s article I will talk about critical thinking, which is one aspect of our overarching vision, that captures the essence of our collective purpose: “We develop global citizens who shape their world through independence, empathy, creativity and critical thinking.”

Critical thinking stands as a cornerstone in our vision, providing students with a powerful toolset to analyse information, assess arguments, solve problems, and make informed decisions an essential skill in navigating the complexities of our ever-evolving world.

While critical thinking skills develop with age, its seeds are sown early in our students’ lives, in our Foundation Stage. As the Cross Campus Principal, I have the privilege of witnessing this developmental journey, observing our students’ growth from their early years to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme.

In the lively atmosphere of Foundation Stage, observers will notice the following manifestations of critical thinking: 1.

INQUISITIVE MINDS: Foundation Stage students like to ask lots of questions, fuelled by their curiosity and a thirst for understanding. The echoes of “why” and “how” resound in their interactions.

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PLAYFUL PROBLEM SOLVERS: Through play, these young minds engage in creative problem-solving, addressing obstacles and challenges with innovative solutions—an early indicator of their critical thinking prowess..

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CONNECTING THE DOTS: Foundation Stage students effortlessly make connections, relating stories to personal observations and eagerly sharing these newfound connections with enthusiasm.

As students move up the school to Senior Studies and the realm of the International Baccalaureate (IB), so our 2

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from Foundation Stage to Senior Studies students consistently showcase their honed critical thinking skills: 1.

EXTENDED ESSAY ENDEAVOURS: Year 13 students recently completed their Extended Essays, a testament to their independent research and critical analysis abilities. As an Extended Essay supervisor watching them formulate research questions, analyse data, and draw insightful conclusions has been a source of continual inspiration for me.

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COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM Solving: In my role working with Year 13 CAS (Creativity, Activity, and Service) students, I witness the power of collaboration as they navigate through their CAS project.

Often the students work with others whom they are not used to working with and must negotiate who will take on what aspects of the task depending upon their strengths.

Watching my group plan and implement their project ‘Trash to Fashion,’ and then reflect upon their impact and implications of their actions allowed for invaluable lifelong learning to take place.

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INTERDISCIPLINARY CONNECTIONS: Throughout their academic journey, students are encouraged to make connections between different subjects, fostering higher-order thinking skills by recognising patterns and relationships.

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THEORY OF KNOWLEDGE (TOK): The TOK course explicitly challenges Year 12 and 13 students to question assumptions, evaluate knowledge claims, and consider diverse ways of knowing equipping them to articulate ideas, respond thoughtfully to questions, and engage in meaningful dialogue.

As our Year 13 students stand on the brink of completing their Bangkok Patana journey, I am confident that the critical thinking skills cultivated since Foundation Stage have equipped them with the ability to make morally sound decisions, take purposeful actions, and navigate the challenges of both academic pursuits and real-life contexts.

mitment to developing global citizens who will shape a world marked by independence, empathy, creativity, and the transformative power of critical thought.

In nurturing critical thinkers, we continue to fulfil our com-

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World Food Programme Sarah Wong, 12O, Co-president of WFP

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n a world of abundant food resources, as many as 828 million people, which equates to about 10% of the global population, go to bed hungry. As a long-running club of eight years at Bangkok Patana, The World Food Programme (WFP) Community Engagement club aims to shed light on the detrimental issue of world hunger while also working towards supporting less privileged communities around Bangkok. As members of WFP, we believe that the efforts and generosity of our students can hugely make a difference and contribute to the fight against world hunger.

We hold 2 main events annually: our Food Drive and Masterchef.

MASTERCHEF- is an exhilarating event that encourages Patana students to showcase their culinary skills by participating in teams or even individually. The main goal of the event is to raise awareness about food insecurity, fostering a sense of empathy and inspiring collective action to address the pressing issue affecting communities worldwide. This event takes place over a course of two to three days, typically in March or April. Each day, a panel of three judges, all of whom are esteemed educators from Bangkok Patana, will evaluate the participants’ performances, offering valuable insights and constructive feedback. We look forward to hosting our next Masterchef event this March, anticipating another exciting culinary showcase that not only brings together the creativity and culinary prowess of our participants, but also serves as a platform to passionately advocate for addressing food insecurity.

FOOD DRIVE- Furthermore, our annual Food drive is our most anticipated event of the year. Every year, the WFP team eagerly visits the Nong Mai community, nestled within the Khlong Toei slum, to personally deliver the heartfelt donations made by our dedicated

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Community Engagement at Bangkok Patana students. Our food drive for the 2023/2024 academic year was a major success as we managed to deliver over 150 boxes of ingredients on 25th November 2023. Each box contained 1 bag of rice, a bottle of oil, fish sauce, oyster sauce, 2 cans of tuna and a pack of glass noodles. The whole process took around 1 month, involving planning, designing posters, distributing boxes to each tutor group, reminding students to bring their donations in, collecting donations and finally packing them. It was truly heartwarming to witness the transformative power of small acts of kindness, observing how they could effortlessly bring genuine smiles to people’s faces. This realisation added a profound sense of fulfilment, making the entire process exceptionally rewarding.

The success of the food drive couldn’t have been achieved without the unwavering help and support of the entire WFP team, not to mention the thoughtful people who offered their time and help despite not being a member of the club. I would also like to thank Mr Lyons, for his continuous guidance throughout the entire process of the food drive. Most importantly, on behalf of WFP, we extend our sincere gratitude and thanks to all secondary students for donating towards our food drive.

WFP aspires to host more events throughout the year, aiming not only to raise crucial funds but also to continually heighten awareness amongst our student body. We warmly invite new members eager to join our cause, as your involvement is essential to our mission. Feel free to attend any of our meetings, held every Tuesday at 12:40 pm in HUM-112; your commitment and enthusiasm will undoubtedly contribute to the impactful work we do in addressing global food insecurity.

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PTG UPDATES

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PTG UPDATES

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PTG UPDATES

PTG IS PROUD TO PRESENT TUK TUK’S FIRST WASTE LESS WEEK. TUK TUK’S FIRST DAY IS BOOK NUMBER 4OUT OF 10, ALL WRITTEN BY ANA BOLAKOSO, YEAR 9.

GRAB YOUR COPY NOW FROM THE TIGER SHOP FOR 100 THB ONLY!

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WASTE LESS WEEK

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Your First Overseas Sports Trip Ana Bolakoso 9Y, Head of Student Voice, Tiger Sports Council

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eing selected on your first overseas sports trip with the Tigers or TigerSharks is an exciting experience. It’s an opportunity filled with new challenges, thrilling matches, and unforgettable memories. To ensure your trip is smooth and enjoyable, the Student Athletic Council is here to provide you with some tips for preparation, packing, travel, nutrition, and rest.

1. PACKING TIPS Packing efficiently is a key to a stress-free trip. Here are some packing tips: Check the Weather: Research the weather at your destination to pack the right clothing. Some of our SEASAC schools have cooler climates unlike Thailand.

Carry-On Essentials: Place your playing kit and essentials like boots, in your carry-on bag. This ensures you’re prepared to play even if your checked luggage is delayed or lost.

Travel Documents: Keep your passport, visas, Thai ID and any required travel documents in a secure, easily accessible place, ready to hand in to your Coach/Teacher. It is also a good idea to have scans on your phone. Top tip: pack a pen to fill in your immigration form.

Power Adapter: Bring a universal power adapter to charge your devices.

Toiletries: Pack travel-sized toiletries. If you are taking any medications place these in a labelled zip lock bag with your name and dosage and hand in to your teacher or the nurse.

Extra Clothes: Bring extra underwear, socks, and a change of clothes in your carry-on, just in case.

2. TRAVEL TIPS International travel can be exhausting, but these tips will help you arrive at your destination ready to perform: Stay Hydrated: Drink water throughout the flight to combat dehydration from the cabin’s dry air. Make sure to empty out your water bottle before going through security.

Move Around: Do some gentle stretches in your seat to keep your blood flowing.

Adjust Your Watch: Set your watch to the destination’s time zone as soon as you board the plane to help your body adjust.

Stay Informed: Know your flight details and the address of your accommodations. This can be found on the letter from the Sports and Activity department.

3. EATING WELL ABROAD Exploring foreign cuisine is a highlight of overseas tours, but it’s essential to maintain your nutritional needs: 12

Balance Your Meals: Aim for balanced meals with protein, vegetables, and carbohydrates.

Stay Hydrated: Drink bottled water to avoid any potential water quality issues.

Familiar Foods: Seek out familiar foods like rice, grilled chicken, or pasta if you’re unsure about local dishes.

Snacks: Carry healthy snacks like cereal bars, rice crackers, seaweed and dried fruits to keep your energy up.

4. GETTING QUALITY SLEEP IN SHARED HOTEL ROOMS Sharing hotel rooms with teammates is common during overseas trips. Here’s how to ensure a good night’s sleep: Earplugs: Invest in high-quality earplugs to block out noise.

Eye Mask: A comfortable eye mask can help you sleep even in well-lit rooms.

Room Temperature: Find the right balance with the air conditioning. Not too cold, not too hot.

Respect Quiet Hours: Establish quiet hours with your roommates to ensure everyone gets the rest they need.

Relaxation Techniques: Practise deep breathing or meditation to help you unwind and fall asleep.

5. CONTRIBUTING POSITIVELY TO THE TOURING TEAM Regardless of your playing time, being a valuable member of the team goes beyond the field/court or pool deck. Here are some ways to contribute positively to your team’s experience whilst away: Cheer on Your Teammates: Even if you’re not on the field or court, your support can make a significant difference. Encourage your teammates, celebrate their successes, and offer a hand when they face challenges.

Support the Coach: Trust in your coach’s decisions and guidance. They have the team’s best interests at heart. Be open to feedback and show respect for their leadership.

Choose Positivity: A positive attitude can uplift the entire team. Be upbeat and optimistic, even in the face of adversity.

Chant, dance, laugh and enjoy yourself!

Friendliness and Appreciation: Extend friendliness and gratitude to the host school and its players. Show respect for their culture and traditions, and remember that you’re ambassadors of your school and your sport.

Participate Enthusiastically: Whether it’s team events, gala dinners, or cultural experiences, embrace them with enthusiasm. These moments strengthen team bonds and create lasting memories.

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Secondary MFL Update

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JA Entrepreneurs Head Out to Market T his year’s Junior Achievement (JA) company are called “Biome” and consist of twelve budding young entrepreneurs from across Years 10 to 12. On Saturday 27th January the company had their first chance to sell their product to the general public at a JA organised trade fair, which was held at True Digital Park. This trade fair forms the first part of the JA Thailand Company of the Year Competition, where teams compete with others across the country for a range of awards, including to be crowned Thailand Company of the Year 2024. Biome had a fantastic day at the trade fair, selling a huge number of their popular homemade terrarium keyrings. The judges and the other teams were impressed by the creativity and innovation behind their product, as well as their very professionally presented stall. The team will be selling their keyrings at Fun Day and also on Valentines Day in the Secondary Lounge. The next stage of the Thailand Company of the Year Competition is in mid-February – watch this space to hear more about Biome’s JA journey.

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EXPLORE THE GLOBAL FLAVORS AT OUR SECONDARY CANTEEN! CHECK OUT THE EXCITING HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR MENU FOR THE UPCOMING WEEK. HUNGRY ALREADY? COME JOIN US FOR A CULINARY ADVENTURE NEXT WEEK!

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#265: What Young People Need to Know About Free Speech vs Hate Speech I

n our Year 8 Well-Being session early on this term we explored the topic of Free Speech vs Hate Speech. Freedom of expression is enshrined in international law. Some individuals, however, misunderstand the right to share their opinions as a license to target others with the most horrendous prejudice. So how do we balance people’s prerogative to have their voice heard against everyone’s right to live in a respectful, inclusive society?

This conflict frequently unfolds in the digital world. Online posters can be falsely accused of hate speech, while actual hate is often defended as merely being ‘free speech’.

To help children and young people learn to identify the boundaries and recognise genuine hate speech when they see it, this onepage guide from the National Online Safety group may help.

Have a peaceful weekend.

Brian Taylor, Assistant Principal, Technology for Learning

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COMMUNITY

Safe Child Thailand’s Global Run is a virtual run that will allow runners to set their own running/fundraising goals and participate from anywhere in the world. The aim is for us to collectively run the length of Thailand of 1,024 miles and raise funds for vulnerable children in Thailand.

The Global Run will take place in the first week of March (3rd - 10th) where you can run/walk on one of those days or throughout the week to reach your goal.

Runners who wish to take part can sign up through this link: SCT’s Global Run Registration Form

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