Aswe navigate the ever-increasing complexities of the 21st century together, it’s obvious that our children face unique challenges that previous generations simply didn’t. The rapid pace of societal change, technological advancements and shifting cultural landscapes have profoundly impacted the way we approach education and support the diverse needs of our students in schools – and at home.
At Bangkok Patana School, we understand that providing an inclusive and supportive environment is not just a luxury but a necessity for ensuring – as far as is possible –the well-being and success of every child. We recognise that the challenges our children face today are multifaceted, ranging from neurodevelopmental conditions and mental health concerns to cultural and linguistic diversity, changing family structures, and the ever-present influence of technology and social media. We also recognise the need to respond by keeping ourselves at the leading edge of developments in terms of how best to meet our childrens’ needs.
The recent Primary Inclusion JAWS (Job Alike Workshop) conference, hosted right here on our campus, is testament to that. With a record-breaking attendance of over 65 educators from 22 visiting schools across Asia, this event was not only the largest of its kind but also a clear illustration of the growing importance of inclusive education practices, as well as the need for increased collaboration between schools.
As educators, we understand that our role extends far beyond imparting academic knowledge. We are also tasked with nurturing the whole child, by fostering their social-emotional development and equipping them with the skills to navigate the complexities of the modern world. However, this is not a responsibility that falls solely on our shoulders. It requires a collaborative effort between educators and parents.
Each of us plays a crucial role in creating an inclusive and supportive environment for our children, and when we work together effectively the results can be life-changing – and that is not an exaggeration. Many researchers recognise that a strong bond between home and school positively influences a child’s growth and development (Edwards & Alldred, 2000; Epstein et al., 2009; Henderson & Berla, 1994; Richardson, 2009; Sanders & Sheldon, 2009).
It makes perfect sense. After all, as parents you are the first and most important teachers in your child’s life. Your involvement, understanding, and advocacy are essential in ensuring that your child’s unique needs are met and that they feel valued and supported throughout their educational journey.
As a community, we should feel proud of the ongoing dialogues that we enjoy both formally at key moments like parent partnership workshops and in the more infomal conversations we have around school. Particular thanks to those of you who have attended the various workshops that we have run this year in school – there will be plenty more in future.
By working together, I firmly believe that we can break down barriers and continue cultivating an environment where every child feels empowered to reach their full potential, where every child feels welcome and where every child feels they truly belong.
We look forward to continuing this journey with you.
A single drop of expression explodes onto the canvas,
A pale hue of blue diffuses into a once invisible sky, Lush emerald creeps across the bottom of the canvas and swells into hills,
A variety of figures emerge, vying for space and essentials for life,
As more appear, a vertical grey brushstroke sweeps down the canvas — a new way to live,
More vertical stripes followed by yellow dots decorating their silhouettes, Grey begins to bleed into the sky, creating a featureless haze that drives people inside,
A dirty orange glows in the distance, consuming what few colours remain,
Absentmindedly, a forgotten pot of green is knocked over, splashing onto the corner of the canvas,
As the green speckle draws more and more attention, it begins to grow, Gradually spreading outwards, Until it envelops everything.
By Garam (Momo) Lee, 8H
Celebrating students’ poetry collections, anthology and advocacy for positive change in an innovative poetry writing and performance project.
Our young writers stand to unite our voices for positive change through the creation of an inspiring collection of poetry, authored and to be performed at the Spoken Word Poetry Showcase 2024. This showcase will feature poems for performance by Year 7 Extended Learning English ECA students. Their poems make us question: What does a world with ‘unity in diversity’ look like? Can you recall personal experiences related to this theme? What global issues relate to unity in diversity? What values are important in achieving unity? Through this showcase, students will take the stage to share their powerful poetry performances, inviting us all to reflect on creative ways diverse communities globally take to promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ).
The theme of ‘Unity in Diversity’ lies at the core of the students’ poetry collections, inspired by the vision to empower students to transcend activism and advocate for unity as a catalyst for positive change. ‘Unity in diversity’ encourages people to celebrate and embrace differences while working together to achieve common global goals. Students explored global issues with which they personally connected to craft poems that motivate, inspire and
galvanise collective action.
Their collections are inspired by the DEIJ values and UN Sustainable Development Goals where students address contemporary issues including fighting racism, advocating gender equality, preserving biodiversity, empowering refugee voices, global solidarity and world peace, and celebrate cultural diversity through their creativity and passion to unite audiences to stand up against injustice whilst promoting global citizenship.
The dedication and creativity of our young writers shine through in every word, through carefully crafted powerful messages using language devices and structural techniques; they are now ready to take the stage and share their voices with the community and world. This event will be an inspiring display of creativity, passion, and advocacy for positive change, showing their individual creative approach to honouring the power of poetry.
We celebrate multiple outcomes from this poetry writing and performance project: students’ individually authored and crafted poetry collections, their performances, and a published anthology amplifying their voices on global issues. Each of the poems in the publication and showcase represents a unique perspective on ‘Unity in Diversity’,
serving as a call to action for social justice whilst embracing our individual differences.
As the showcase approaches, excitement is high among our student performers. They have shown commendable dedication and enthusiasm for writing, rehearsing, and perfecting their performances, eager to share their messages with clarity, passion, and conviction.
This project serves as an integral platform for students to explore global issues, express their perspectives, and effect positive change through poetry. Through publishing and performing their work, students demonstrate the trans-
formative power of spoken word poetry; spoken word poetry is more than just art - it’s a catalyst for personal growth, social awareness, and global impact. It is crucial that we empower students to recognise their voices’ significance and their potential to shape a better world.
We invite you to join us at the showcase and celebrate the creativity, passion, and advocacy of our students. Together, we can champion the power of unity, diversity, and social justice to shape a better future for all.
When: May 15th 2024, 2:40pm - 4:00pm
Where: Theatre, Arts Centre
In the first week after Songkran, Year 5 travelled to the nearby Wat Bangna Nok Temple to engage in observations of the Chao Phraya River, as part of their new unit of learning on ‘water’. Two classes attended each day, led by the company Traidos Three Generation. The purpose of the trip was for students to investigate the health of the Chao Phraya; discuss how different land use contributes to pollution and how we can limit pollution to make water cleaner and safer; and to consider how large populations put a strain on limited water resources. Read on to learn about how the students in Year 5 broadened their knowledge!
First, we learnt about the correct use of water testing equipment to measure the levels of phosphates and nitrates in the water. This taught Year 5 about how these substances enter the water, for example, via improperly disposed sewage, food processing waste, industrial waste and runoff from fertilizers and pesticides! Our measurements showed us that the level of phosphates in the Chao Phraya were…unnaturally high! This can lead to eutrophication, which is a harmful algae bloom, which can have a variety of ecological and economic consequences, as well as public health concerns! One suggestion from Oscar in 5L was to use more organic-based soaps in the shower that
do not use harmful chemicals. This would prevent acidic substances from entering the water systems.
Next, we measured the PH level of the water. We learnt that water should be around 6.8 on the PH scale, which means it is neutral (although the river can be slightly alkaline). We were encouraged to think about how the PH value of the river is altered by harmful pollutants, and the impact this has. Our results revealed that the Chao Phraya was slightly acidic.
Our third activity involved observing the bustling life on the river. This part was fascinating, as we noticed the different kinds of boats moving up and down the river (we were able to watch an enormous cargo ship making its way into the city); the activities that people were engaged in, such as fishing or ferrying people across; and the differences in
the colour of the water due to contamination.
Finally, we dissected a hyacinth plant to discover different creatures that typically inhabit them. We discussed the connection between water pollution and the survival rates of these mini plant-based ecosystems!
This trip exposed us to a myriad of ways in which human activity is impacting the quality and quantity of Thailand’s primary river system. It was interesting to explore the different kinds of infrastructure around the river and how the growing number of hotels, malls and restaurants are playing their part in contaminating the water. Year 5 left feeling a sense of urgency to act now to prevent further damage, before it is too late! Throughout this term, Year 5 are going to continue collaborating and exploring viable solutions to the increasingly global problem of water pollution.
Ina moment of stillness and anticipation, the lights dimmed to commence this year’s Patana Unplugged, a highly valued event for our Patana musicians, providing them a platform on which to share their favourite musical pieces and express themselves whilst exhibiting their talents in an intimate setting.
Meticulously organised by Ms Ujhazy, this year’s concert provided students with a platform to showcase their instrumental prowess. Ms Ujhazy, shared her excitement as the event approached, expressing, “Unplugged is an opportunity for students to showcase their pure talent by performing their favourite pop songs entirely by themselves, singing and playing instruments, without the help of backing tracks or electronic devices of any kind. This year, an exceptionally large number of students sent me their audition recordings. It was delightful to listen to so many great performances, so I am looking forward to hearing them all live.”
Reflecting on the significance of Patana Unplugged, Head of the Music Department Ms McRitchie shared, “Unplugged is a lovely way for Year 13 and Year 11 to celebrate before they head off on study leave. It is an
opportunity for students to showcase their talents as soloists and smaller groups. All of the Secondary students have independently prepared for this event and the Music Department has been a hive of excitement over the past couple of weeks with students rehearsing at lunchtimes. There has been a lovely atmosphere and it is great to see the students supporting one another in their music. The one thing I love about this concert is that we often get to hear some hidden talents amongst our students. The audience is always supportive of both our up and coming musicians and our more seasoned performers. This year we also get to hear the KS3 ECA choir, String Quartet, Chamber Choir and Senior Choir. It will be a great evening of Music.”
There were so many remarkable performances. Chanya (Bayla) Somboonvechakarn from Year 8 shared that, “Patana Unplugged was a great experience to share my music. This time, it was quite different for me as I usually perform Classical music; however, I had a chance to try pop songs, while playing the piano and singing at the same time. I was also an accompanist for the KS3 choir. I felt like this was a great opportunity for all the performers, no matter what instrument you played. Additionally, there was a wide range of music, from classical to pop, and
jazz, which I felt was a great way to bring our community together through music.”
Yeonjae Lee from Year 9 reflected, “It was my first time singing solo in front of an audience, so the experience was very new to me. The atmosphere of the space, created by both the performers and the audience, felt magical and I feel so grateful to have taken the opportunity and broken out of my comfort zone - I loved the experience and am definitely willing to do it again in future years!”. Her versatility shone through with solo and duet guitar performances alongside a friend.
One of the most delightful aspects of Patana Unplugged, as noted by Ms McRitchie, was the discovery of hidden talents among the student body. Audiences eagerly embraced both emerging talents and seasoned
performers, fostering a supportive environment conducive to artistic growth.
Amidst the solo and small group performances, this year’s concert featured the KS3 ECA choir, String Quartet, Chamber Choir, and Senior Choir, providing a diverse and enriching musical experience for all attendees. Patana Unplugged was not merely a concert but a celebration of the unadulterated beauty of live music, showcasing the dedication and passion of the school’s talented musicians through the harmonious strains of the KS3 ECA choir, the delicate resonance of the String Quartet, the ethereal melodies of the Chamber Choir, and the resounding choruses of the Senior Choir. Patana Unplugged transcended the realms of mere entertainment; it was a celebration of music’s transformative power.
Junior Swimming Championships 2024 saw the Bangkok Patana TigerSharks head to SSIS in Ho Chi Minh City. This year once again saw 10 girls and 10 boys aged 11-14 in the junior varsity conference championships. An impressive weekend of racing saw the TigerSharks claim 3rd place in the Boys’ team and the Girls claim 2nd place in their standings.
Friday began with the opening parade organised by the host school SSIS. This saw all the schools make their way around the perimeter of the school field and through academic buildings. All participating swimmers walked through a guard of honor by SSIS staff & students whilst they were waving the participating team banners and countries flags. A truly unique and fantastic occasion for the students to be part of which helped kick off the first full day of racing with energy and excitement.
Friday saw the TigerSharks pick up 20 medals across the day with 8 bronze, 5 silver and 7 gold medals. Gold medals were won by Theo Richards in the 13-14 years
400m Freestyle & 200 IM, Kelli Chua 13-14 years 200m Breaststroke, Katie Chua 11-12 years 100m Backstroke, Tanwaar Taylor 13-14 years 100m Backstroke, Misha Parker 13-14 years 100m Backstroke. Within these performances saw multiple school records from Katie Chua in both the 11-12 years 200m Breaststroke & 100m Backstroke.
Saturday saw the second full day of the SEASAC Junior swimming championships, the TigerSharks continued adding to their medal haul with 18 more medals with 4 bronze, 9 silver and 5 gold medals. Gold medals were won by Girls 13-14 years 4 x 100m Medley Relay (Misha Parker, Kelli Chua, Alice Jones, Emma Ercolani), Theo Richards in the Boys 13-14 200m Backstroke, Katie Chua in the Girls 11-12 years 50m Backstroke and Girls 13-14 years 4 x 50m Freestyle Relay (Kelli Chua, Misha Parker, Alice Jones, Emma Ercolani). Within these performances saw multiple school records including Girls 11-12 years 4 x 100m Medley Relay (Katie Chua, Kimmie Chua, Tara Degryse, Lana Hart), Girls 13-14 years 4 x 100m Medley
The age group standings saw 3rd place for the Girls 11-12 years, 6th place in the Boys 11-12 years, 1st place in both Girls & Boys 13-14 years categories! The TigerSharks MVP for the Girls 11-12 years was Katie Chua, claiming 3rd place in the overall individual points standings in her age group and SEASAC records in the 50m & 100m Backstroke! The Boys 11-12 MVP for the TigerSharks was Nicholas Collier and the girls 13-14 MVP was Kelli Chua Theo Richards claimed the boys 13-14 MVP for the TigerSharks and was 2nd place in the overall individual points standings in his age group. After the awards ceremony, the swimmers dressed up as sharks for the gala dinner and enjoyed a fun evening at the dinner with outside sports set up, a photo booth and dancing away to ABBA on the dance floor!
Congratulations once again to all the TigerSharks on another successful weekend at SEASAC Junior, representing the team and school with humility, diversity and passion!
Our first leadership meeting of Term 3 began with an afternoon of coaching where all our Primary Middle Leaders, (M/Ls), partnered together and decided on their Term 3, student focused goals for their classes.
They each followed Jim Knight’s Impact Cycle of identifying a goal and deciding on a strategy to learn and apply in their practice, using Tom Sherrington’s Teaching Walkthrus as a reference. They agreed a method to collect data to measure the success of the learning, timelines were drawn and meetings calendared across this final term, for the coach and coachee to support each other.
Michael Bungay Stanier’s key questions from his brilliant book - The Coaching Habit - were used to focus the questioning, with the wonderful AWE question being asked often, to deepen the thinking and responses:-
• What’s on your mind - And What Else (AWE)
• What is the real Challenge - And What Else (AWE)
• What do you really want - And What Else (AWE)
• So how will we achieve this goal
Chris Munro and Growth Coaching International’s
GROWTH coaching skills model of Listening , Questioning , Noticing and Paraphrasing and Summarising was adopted in the conversations, which enabled the coachees to deepen their thinking. They all ended by agreeing one priority to action straight away, that they were clear about and energised to act on. This identified how and when they would start the cycle.
All the leaders set themselves PEERS goals (Powerful, Easy to Implement, Emotionally Compelling, Reachable to measure and Student Focused) developed by Jim Knight and the Instructional Coaching Group, which they documented in their digital coaching journals or Professional Growth Cycles, outlining their pathway to success over Term 3.
The middle leaders will also coach the teachers in their teams, so that our whole school will be engaged in providing the best learning opportunities for the children in our care - from Nursery up to Year 6.
This was all complemented by a visit from Tom Sherrington last week, who talked to parents about his latest book - Learning Walkthrus and provided CPL to all teachers, leaders and external participants.
Last week, members of HOPes visited the emergency home supported by the Association for the Promotion of the Status of Women. We took the opportunity to extend our support by donating the proceeds from our recent fundraising events, such as bake sales. In addition, we sponsored their dinner and donated essential items such as medicine, cooking ingredients and snacks.
HOPes, a Senior Community Engagement Club founded by Seiya Tiraratanakul and Ema Hashimoto from 12B, is dedicated to supporting battered women within the Thai community. Our focus is on assisting the emergency home in Don Muang: RSA, which serves as a refuge for women and children affected by various forms of violence and exploitation, including rape, physical and emotional abuse, forced prostitution, HIV/AIDS, and abandonment. The organisation aims to provide comprehensive support to empower survivors towards a brighter future. The emergency home offers a safe environment where individuals receive not only shelter but also access to services such as reha-
bilitation, education, vocational training, and counselling: we aim to help them become independent and self-sufficient by providing support for long-term stability.
Ema and I founded HOPes in response to the stigma surrounding victims of abuse and their hesitation to seek help. In Thai society, the voices of women in need are often silenced. Through our club, we aim to amplify these voices, raise awareness, advocate for gender equality and support those affected by these issues.
During our visit, we had the chance to speak with some incredible women who have survived traumatic experiences and hear their stories. Listening to their journeys was incredibly moving, and it reinforced the significance of our contributions. In particular, we spoke with a 27-year-old woman who escaped her abusive and drug-addicted boyfriend. She is a mother of four, with one child battling cancer. Hearing her story filled our hearts with gratitude that we could contribute in some way to supporting her and others like her, for a better life.
If you have any areas of technology you would like me to talk about in these videos then please add a comment in the video or contact me directly on brta@patana.ac.th.
Note: A.I. tips courtesy of Common Sense Media for Families Timestamps
0:00 #1 Text replacement shortcuts on your phone 1:14 #2 Five tips for talking to your kids about A.I.
Have a great weekend!
Brian Taylor Assistant Principal, Technologyfor
Learning
Whatstarted as a small idea from the Dutch board grew into a thing that keeps the students and parents of the Dutch school of Bangkok busy. Starting in March, Miss Hanneke and Mr Kees (who teach the Dutch programme at Bangkok Patana) sent out the first flyer with a request to our students to think about a new logo, drawing or creating something with the computer was both possible. Students from Bangkok Patana and ISB came up with wonderful creations and after this the first round of voting happened. Four students, including two from Bangkok Patana got significantly more votes than the other and are now in the final process of deciding what our new logo will be.
After the first voting rounds all the students have been
given some feedback. We want to include three things in the logo: something Dutch, a Belgian reference and a Thailand reference. We have a lot of students from Belgium (where they also speak a variation of Dutch, called Flemish. This is also why since last school year we celebrate Belgian day besides the traditional Dutch special days.
In a couple of weeks, we will know which logo made it as the brand-new logo of the Dutch School of Bangkok.
The Dutch School of Bangkok has its own programme and works within Bangkok Patana as a home language. It is especially for students of Dutch, Belgian families or for families that have resided in the Netherlands.
BOOK SALE AT NEILSON HAYS LIBRARY
From Saturday May 11th to Sunday May 19th excluding Monday May 13th, from 9:30-17:00 inside the library building.
(No entry fee)
In a commitment to safety and student well-being, the Transport Department is thrilled to introduce a streamlined communication channel exclusively for parents. You can now easily reach out to us through our official LINE account. Whether you have a requirement or a concern, contacting us is just a click away. Simply scan the QR code, or click the provided link to connect with us instantly.
https://lin.ee/sNrfhSd
The official LINE account is the same as the one in the GPS application’s ‘Contact Us’ section under the SETTINGS tab, in the GPS School Transport User Guidelines.
Your feedback and inquiries are vital to us, and we’re dedicated to ensuring a prompt response to all your needs. Let’s work together to ensure a safe and smooth transportation experience for Bangkok Patana students!
The Thai National BMX championship returned to the world class FBT track in Min Buri last week, for round 4. Bangkok Patana history teacher Rod Fountain (No.816) was there, racing in the 50+ age category but the rest of the L&D Racing team, Nico Lovegrove and Frank Myers (Year 9) and Freddy Minchin (Year 10) weren’t able to make it. Rod has been racing a 40 year old ‘vintage’ BMX this year rather than his regular modern race bike and has placed 3rd in all his races so far. Hoping to continue the streak, he lined up for the first of his races on Saturday. In one of the heats he managed to get ahead of all but one of the modern bikes to place second, his best result this year. He was hoping to replicate that in the final and the
plan almost worked, but he just couldn’t get the old bike moving fast enough. That said, he was happy to finish third in a photo finish! BMX is becoming ever more popular in Thailand and it’s a great time to start riding, now the cooler weather seems to have finally arrived. Whether you want to race or concentrate on the freestyle (tricks) side of it there are places to ride all over the local area and beyond. In fact, the Queen herself is a keen BMXer and was the first rider to do a lap at an amazing new facility in Phichit province! If you’d like to know anymore about BMX from what bike to ride and where to ride it, get in touch with Rod on rofo@patana.ac.th or follow the team’s adventures at www.facebook.com/pedalsreadygo
Saori Tanaka, Parent
Congratulations Mizuki Tanaka, 8C! On May 4th and 5th, at the Hip Hop International Thailand 2024 competition, the team from BlocD won 3rd place in the varsity division.
Congratulations Ronya Wallin 8W! Ronya participated in the ‘11th CSTD Thailand Dance Grand Prix 2024’ dance competition and she won 1st place in Song and Dance (Under 13), 2nd place in Contemporary Solo (Under 13), 2nd place in Contemporary Ensemble (Under 15) and was also awarded ‘Top of Thailand Award’ Grade 3 from the Classical Ballet.
