Patana News Volume 26 Issue 4

By Helen THew

The ImporTance of KIndness for your Well-BeIng

Helen Thew, Cross Campus Principal

AtBangkok Patana we live and breathe by our guiding statements. This was highlighted by the CIS visitors in their May 2022 Re-Accreditation Report:

“It was clear in all our interactions at Bangkok Patana School that the guiding statements are a living entity at the school.”

Many parent and staff meetings and workshops have started this year by linking back to the importance that we place on our three values of Well-Being, Learning and Global Citizenship. Deliberately we put Well-Being first in our list to recognise that we need to be taking care of ourselves both physically and mentally so that we are in a good place to focus in on Learning. To further support our Well-Being and those around us we then engage in teaching about the following attributes.

We are:

• protected, safe and secure

• motivated and engaged

• responsible and honest

• kind, compassionate and respectful

• balanced and fulfilled

Both Primary and Secondary students will have heard the theme of being kind been used in their assemblies at the start of this new academic year. Being kind, compassionate and respectful in school is important for your

well-being because it makes you feel good about yourself. The good feelings we experience are produced by endorphins. They activate areas of the brain that are associated with pleasure, social connection and trust. These feelings of joyfulness are proven to be contagious and are encouraging of more kind behaviour. Fostering a culture of kindness helps to cultivate empathy and understanding between individuals and leads to deeper relationships by enhancing both the connections made peer-to-peer and student to teacher.

RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS THAT WE CAN ALL DO:

SIT WITH SOMEONE NEW AT BREAK OR LUNCH TIME:

We say we are diverse and inclusive for that to be true everyone deserves to feel like they belong and are included at Bangkok Patana. One of the best ways to help others feel seen and appreciated is by getting to know them. As we end our fourth week back on campus, thank you to all who have invited a new student or staff member to join them.

SMILE:

It is amazing how uplifting it is to receive a spontaneous smile from someone and the benefits are mutual. Apparently smiling can help relieve stress, elevate mood

and help people feel more positive. I thank all the students who smile at me as they walk past me!

GIVE SOMEONE YOUR FULL ATTENTION:

In a world full of distractions giving someone your full attention can be one of the greatest random acts of kindness. So put away mobile devices and listen. Wait for the other person to finish before speaking.

THANK A BANGKOK PATANA MEMBER OF STAFF:

It takes many people to run a school. A thank you will always go a long way. When I do my Secondary noodle bar duty on a Friday those students who say thank you as they receive their noodle bowl certainly make a difference to the staff member’s day.

LEAVE A NOTE OF ENCOURAGEMENT ON SOMEONE’S DESK OR LOCKER:

I remember when the LETs Community Engagement Club spent an evening adding a post-it note to all lockers with phrases such as; ‘keep up the good work’, ‘thanks for being you’, ‘you’ve got this’ etc it certainly generated a lot of smiles amongst the rest of the students the following morning.

CLEAN UP AROUND CAMPUS:

The Year 3 and 4 children will be used to me saying

at the end of their break time ‘feed my bin’ as I encourage them to pick up their litter and take a pride and a responsibility in their playground area been kept clean. What always impresses me are those students and staff who will stop to pick up litter that is not their litter thereby making their act of kindness to make the housekeeping staff’s job easier.

HELP SOMEONE ELSE:

If you excel in a certain subject or area helping your fellow classmates to get it will certainly make their day.

It is reported that even small acts of kindness heighten our sense of well-being, increase our energy levels and give a wonderful feeling of optimism and self-worth. Sounds good to me! To quote Mr Chris Sammons, Head of School, “Be kind to each other and be kind to yourself.”

Wishing you a lovely weekend!

The Primary and Secondary Library are an excellent resource for books with a kindness theme running through them.

elecTrIfy your rIde: TIps for goIng elecTrIc

Ana Bolakoso, SEC Key Stage 3 Representative

As the world moves towards a more sustainable future, embracing electric vehicles (EVs) has become an important step in reducing our carbon footprint and improving air quality. Whether you’re a student, a parent, or a teacher, these tips will guide you towards a cleaner, greener mode of transportation.

3.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT EV MODEL

With a variety of EV models available, it’s important to select one that fits your needs. Consider factors such as range, charging time and size. For city commuting in Bangkok’s traffic, a compact EV might be ideal. Motorcycles are also available as EVs.

4.

HOME CHARGING SETUP

If possible, set up a home charging station. This ensures you wake up to a fully charged vehicle each morning. Consult an electrician to ensure your home’s electrical system can support the charging station’s requirements.

5. TIME YOUR CHARGES

Electricity rates often vary based on time of day. To save on charging costs, consider charging during off-peak hours. Some EVs even offer scheduling features, allowing you to plan ahead for the best charging times.

6.

EMBRACE REGENERATIVE BRAKING

Bangkok’s stop-and-go traffic provides the perfect opportunity to utilise regenerative braking. Have you heard of this? I only learned about it recently. This technology converts kinetic energy from your foot hitting the brakes into electric energy, increasing your EV’s efficiency and range. Wow!

7.

PLAN FOR CLIMATE CONSIDERATIONS

1. BE SMART WITH YOUR MONEY

Before diving into the world of electric cars, it’s essential to research the incentives and subsidies offered by the Thai government. Thailand has been actively promoting EV adoption through tax incentives, reduced registration fees and more.

2. CHARGING INFRASTRUCTURE

Bangkok’s charging infrastructure is rapidly growing, making it more convenient for EV owners. Locate charging stations near your school, home, and common destinations using smartphone apps or online maps. This network ensures you’re never far from a charge. Many gas/petrol stations have charging docks, including the one right next to school!

Thailand’s tropical climate can impact battery life. Extreme heat can degrade batteries over time. Whenever possible, park in shaded areas to minimise exposure to direct sunlight. If you are going on holiday, remove your battery and store inside your home.

Transitioning to an electric vehicle in Bangkok is an exciting and environmentally conscious choice, we hope this might be one of the small steps you take next time you are upgrading your vehicle.

SPORTS! Moving Forward

Alice Curwood, Cross Campus Assistant Principal, Extra-curricular Activities and Sports

OUR VISION

All students have the opportunity to participate in a wide range of activities, promoting student agency and experiential learning that is both enjoyable and challenging.

Student experiences will contribute to them leading a healthy lifestyle and having a positive approach to trying new things as they enter adulthood, by applying their skills developed through the different pathways taken during their time at Bangkok Patana.

DEVELOPMENT

Opportunity to develop as a player, have fun, be active, compete internally or against external developing teams.

COMPETITIVE

Attend regular training sessions that are designed to prepare students for competition, focused on developing as both an individual player and a team. Competing against external schools and clubs.

WHAT'S NEW?

This academic year, we have developed our school sporting structure, with the aim to deliver on all three areas above. Some of the modifications include:

• Seasonal Sport development pathways for students who are unsuccessful at trials for Under 12, Under 14, JV and Varsity in sports, where no alternative is on offer.

• Creating a squad of JV and Varsity players for the first half of a season to encourage commitment, promote progression and minimise pressure on students to solely perform in trials week.

OVERVIEW

PE, Sport and Activities is the umbrella for different departments across the school. It includes teams of staff in:

• Sport & Activities

• Secondary Physical Education

• Primary Physical Education

• Football Academy

• Tennis Academy

• Gymnastics Academy

• Swim Academy

• Dance Academy

• External Sports Coaches

• Internal Staff Coaches

We all work together to deliver a wide range of competitive and recreational sports. We believe a successful sports programme offers students both pathways, throughout their time at school.

RECREATIONAL

Provision for students in a wide range of activities that encourages non-competitive exercise to promote lifelong physical activity in their leisure time. Just in Block A you will find multi-sports, ultimate frisbee, netball, cricket, zumba and a ‘Friday Rec Night’ on offer.

• A different approach to Primary FOBISIA Games selection at Under 11 to maximise all round opportunity for students throughout the academic year.

• A range of unpaid ECA recreational opportunities throughout Primary and Secondary including; Zumba, Ultimate Frisbee, Netball, Cricket and Multi-Sports.

• Year-round opportunities in Basketball, Volleyball and Badminton for Secondary students led by our external coaches.

SPORTS HANDBOOK 2023/24

All key information can be found in our 2023/24 Sports Handbook. Click here to access

INSTAGRAMFOLLOW US TO STAY UP TO DATE!

Please follow our Instagram account to stay updated with all things across PE, Sport and Activities. This will include curriculum across Primary and Secondary, our wide ECA programme run by external providers and all things seasonal sport.

DANCE ACADEMY

Vallary Lokre, Head Dance Coach

THE LESS VISIBLE BENEFITS OF DANCE!

There is a growing awareness in society regarding the benefits of learning dance. When I ask our students to share what they think might be the biggest benefit of learning dance, they talk about the thrill of performing on the stage with their friends. Parents share with us that the joy of watching their child express themselves creatively through dance, is priceless! This makes sense.

However, it is important to remember that there are many other benefits of dance that are experienced even in absence of big performance opportunities. According to National Institute of Dance Education there are four key benefits of dance education -

Physical Development: Dance involves a greater range of motion, coordination, strength, and endurance than many other physical activities. Movement patterns in dance help us with developing coordination and enhancing kinesthetic memory. Dancing utilises the entire body and is an excellent form of exercise for total body fitness.

cooperate by solving movement problems together, and come to respect themselves and others by participating in the creative process together.

Cognitive Development: Dance promotes cognitive growth in several ways. Research from the field of neuroscience asserts that movement can teach students how to function in and understand the world. Through dance, students learn to:

• Embody movement concepts in a way that works for their own physicality and development.

• Apply new skills and concepts through movement. Interpret meaning in and respond to choreography.

• Solve movement problems.

• Create choreography in response to a prompt.

Emotional Well-being: Dance is a unique physical activity that promotes emotional health and maturity. It provides students with the opportunity to express emotions and become aware of themselves and others through dance. Students learn valuable life skills through dance, such as responsibility, persistence, communication skills, grit, and accountability. Dance offers a structured outlet for emotional release, while gaining awareness and appreciation of oneself and others.

Social Awareness: Dance fosters social encounters, interaction, and cooperation. Children learn to communicate ideas to others through the real and immediate mode of body movement. When they dance together, students learn to understand themselves in relation to others. They develop empathy by connecting kinesthetically, learn to

Due to the positive impact on brain function, many researchers also believe that dance can enhance academic performance. One reason to believe this is that dance requires the brain to process multiple pieces of information at once. When a dancer is performing a routine, they need to remember the steps, the timing, the music, and the movements of the other dancers. This multitasking can help improve cognitive processing and attention, and memory recall skills. The qualities of discipline and perseverance which are key to academic success are also encouraged in dance education. The boost in self - esteem and confidence that can come from mastering a difficult routine and performing it will likely carry over into other areas of a student’s life such as academics.

Every time students step into a dance class, they experience a range of benefits. Many of them are barely noticeable but regardless, they are still being experienced just by mere participation in dance classes.

TENNIS ACADEMY

Dan Ahl, Head Tennis Coach

Following the success of the inaugural 100+ Schools Cup last year, Bangkok Patana School competed again in this year’s tournament. The events took place at Sport and Spa Minburi over the course of three days on separate weekends.

Although the event comes right at the start of our academic year, it is a great opportunity to compete with Thai schools that have strong players who compete locally and nationally, even where they don’t have a school programme. The Girls’ team of Asama, Pip and Mila played against Satit Khon Kaen, Satit Prasarnmit and Assumption Thonburi in the group stage. They also played against Assumption Sri Racha and Satit Pathunwan, having some excellent games. Although they didn’t win any of the overall matches outright, it was good to see both Asama and Mila having Singles wins and Asama and Pip winning a Doubles.

The Boys’ team of Al, Pete and KK took on Satit Khon Kaen, Assumption Sri Racha and Triam Udom and performed well, winning two out of the three matches to finish 2nd in the group stage before narrowly losing to Satit Panyapiwat and Triam Udom in the playoffs to finish 8th out of 12th.

From a coaching point of view, it was really good to be able to sit on the court during the matches and talk with the students about tactical situations, helping them to problem solve and identify whether they were able to change their game styles to counter what their opponents were throwing at them.

We look forward to competing again next year!

Glion Institute of Higher Education

Monday 18th September

Ontario Tech University

Monday 18th September

McGill University

Tuesday 19th September

Hult International Business School

Monday 25th September

University of British Columbia

Monday 25th September

Pepperdine University

Tuesday 26th September

food WasTe: a susTaInaBle Journey

Haveyou ever wondered about the sustainable journey of our food waste? Through the collaborative efforts of our community, we have established an efficient system for managing food waste in our canteens. This responsible approach not only simplifies the food waste collection process for the Bangna District Office but also allows them to transform this waste, received from our school and other areas within Bangna District, into various sustainable resources:

Nourishing Animals: Our food waste is thoughtfully separated and repurposed to provide nourishment for animals, reducing the environmental burden of sourcing additional animal feed.

Biofermented Water: Innovative practices are employed to convert food waste into biofermented water, a valuable and eco-friendly resource with multiple applications.

Versatile Multifunctional Liquid: Our food waste is skillfully transformed into a versatile liquid that can be utilized in diverse ways, benefiting our community in environmentally responsible manners.

Fertilizer Creation: By processing food waste into fertilizer, we not only minimize waste but also support sustainable agriculture, fostering healthier crops and soil.

We take pride in our partnership with the Bangna District Office, working hand in hand to ensure that our food waste doesn't contribute to environmental degradation. Instead, we actively contribute to a sustainable and eco-conscious society by repurposing our surplus food into valuable resources. Together, we are making a positive difference and exemplifying responsible food waste management for a greener future.

Sunantinee (Toon) Hamilton, Head of Services

Patana ParTiciPaTes!

Achievements from Our Community

Shehan Seneviratne, Patana Parent

Charya

Seneviratne, 11S was crowned Asia Champion 2023 at the ROK Cup Asia Championship, as well as Thailand Champion 2023 at the ROK Cup Thailand Championship 2023, ending a successful karting season. Charya fought hard against formidable competition from top drivers from throughout the region. He now qualifies to race at the ROK World Final, to be held in Italy, October 2023. Charya is also proud to share that he has been nominated to represent Sri Lanka, his home country, at the Asia Pacific Motorsport Championship 2023 next month in Malaysia. Join us in wishing Charya well in his upcoming races!

early

Comic Books & Chapter Books

Fiction Non-Fiction

Comic Books Chapter Books

Fiction Non-Fiction

Fiction Senior Fiction

Life Collection Non-Fiction

Home Languages

Graphic Novels

Patana ParTiciPaTes! Achievements from Our Community

Narida (Nia) Ekaraphanich, 8N

The ocean has always brought back fond memories to me as a child, building sandcastles, splashing in the waves, baking under the sun, it is a place that truly resonates joy but also melancholy. Because it is a place that reminds me of how much time we have wasted telling each other fairy tales of false hope and lies. I have always been passionate about being a part in this fight against climate change.

On 25th August, I received an opportunity to share two of my passions on stage, my passion for public speaking and my passion for the oceans; through participating in the “Young Learners Speaking Competition 2023” hosted by The British Council Thailand. There, I had one task: to deliver a speech under the topic of “The Natural World”, in this case, I focused on protecting our oceans. I was honoured to be awarded as the winner for my category (lower Secondary, Years 7-9).

I would like to thank the British Council for giving me this amazing opportunity to be part of this inspiring event. I would also like to thank Ms Ghogar (my Year 7 English enrichment ECA teacher) for giving me the chance to perform my poem about the environment last year, which inspired me to take a step even further to continue fighting for change.

Click the link here to watch Nia’s speech.

“Hi, my name is Nia. I’m sorry. But this speech is not to you. It is to future children and generations to come. I am here to say we’re all sorry. That we destroyed the world before you even saw it with your own eyes. By destroying our largest swimming pool that feeds, nurtures, thrives and gives home to more than half of the most diverse living species on earth today. By destroying our oceans, and marine life. Today, the waves we hear are not full of serenity, but instead full of shrieking voices of marine animals, dying in our oceans. We were always told that you’d better study well so you could get into a good college and earn this. (Show money). Nevertheless, we were taught that money

solves problems. Unfortunately, the fish out there, their scales aren’t made of dollar bills nor are they made of copper coins. Money certainly cannot buy everything.

We were told that the ocean is a beautiful place, or at least it used to be until 1965 off the coast of Ireland when the first piece of marine plastic was found. The great barrier reef, known as coral wonderland, is now in grave danger because of our careless actions. The corals which used to be multi-coloured are now decaying and half alive. Those fairy tales of hope, will no longer be relevant.

We, as children, were always told about the little mermaid, who never returned to the sea. Maybe it is true after all, we will never be able to return to this paradise-like place. Maybe there really is no happily ever after. Or maybe after we witness the animals, corals and life die with the ocean. Only then, will we tell our children it was too late, kiss them goodnight and everything will be over the next day. Well, it won’t be over. Time is running out. And if we don’t make a change to our actions, in the next 70 years, all our marine animals will disappear from our oceans. Forever. Because every year the ocean is becoming more toxic and acidic.

Just like the mindset we have grown to have. It is time we realise. There will be no happily ever after if we don’t change. Because after all; before we kiss our children goodnight, we don’t want to just show them photos of golden sand, abundant corals and an ecosystem of extraordinary biodiversity that once existed. We want to let them tell their own children one day in the future about this magical place. So please, not just for the sake of us, children, but for the sake of everyone on this planet. If by 2050, you don’t want to see more plastic in the ocean than fish. Then you better act now. Can you hear that? It’s the desperate calls of the ocean. The oceans need to be saved. Not by money, not by excuses. but by all of us.”

PERSPECTIVE PERSPECTIVE

Stay updated with the Secondary Music Department by following their Instagram account: @bpssecondarymusic

A poem by Garam (Momo) Lee, 8H

Stephen Murgatroyd, Cross Campus Head of Libraries

The libraries at Bangkok Patana are always excited to hear when students from the school have taken up the pen or the keyboard to put their imaginative ideas onto paper. Krishaan (Krish) Phlaphongphanich, 13C is one of those students and we were delighted to receive a copy of his new book, “Follow the Coin”, last week. We asked Krish to explain to us what his book is about and who it is for. This is what he told us:

Solo Festival October 2023

‘The story is a financial literacy adventure for Key Stages 3 and 4. It aims to deliver financial literacy through a fun and engaging plot. This book weaves in relevant personal finance topics (such as “Your Money Mindset” and “Smart Spending Habits”), as the two main characters, Penny and Dollar, go through a challenging journey to help restore financial literacy in Pocketville. The main goal is to help the youth of today’s world understand how to effectively manage their money through an exciting storyline.’

DATE Saturday 28th October 2023

TIME: 9:00am-1pm (time-slots – 910am, 10-11am, 11am-12pm, 12pm-1pm)

CLOSING DATE: Monday 9th October 2023

More details and application form

We look forward to having a copy of the book on our shelves and for our students to be able to borrow it. The op portunity to learn about financial independence is one not to be missed!

Krish will launch his book on 22nd September at 8:00am in the PTG room if you would like to come support him. Cop ies will be sold at the Tiger Shop and Krish will be happy to sign yours on the date!

Solo Festival October 2023

Saturday 28th October 2023 (time 11am, 11am

Monday 9th October 2023

Meet Your PTG Representatives:

HaBItat aRt COMPEtItIOn

(Foundation Stage - Year 6)

Submit your entry to the Primary Art Room by Monday 18th September.

Please include your name and class on the front of your artwork. All entries will be displayed and one from each Year Group will be selected to win a prize!

InTroducTIon To tHOMas HOusE

Eoin Bevan, Assistant Leader of Learning, Language Acquisition

WHAT IS THOMAS HOUSE?

Thomas House is a small, specialised school for children with special educational needs located in Tha Ton, north of Chiang Mai. It provides a vital service to a rural area with very few options for children with special needs. Before Thomas House, children were either sent to schools that were ill-equipped and untrained to cater to their needs, or they did not attend school at all.

With construction completed in November 2017, this November marks the five year anniversary of Thomas House. The school can accommodate up to 24 students and offers an individualised learning program to suit the needs of each child. Thomas House also offers placements for specialist volunteers and work experience opportunities for trainees in the SEN field.

financial position to offer a full school week. At present, 12 students are attending.

HOW HAS BANGKOK PATANA SUPPORTED IT IN THE PAST?

For many years, Bangkok Patana has been sending groups of students to the Maekok River Village centre for Duke of Edinburgh International Award, Geography and community service trips. When Thomas House was first set up, a large quantity of recently-replaced Primary furniture was donated to Thomas House, saving significant funds.

Last year, Year 3 supported Thomas House in three main ways. Through our Christmas donation drive, we collected sports equipment, stationery and paint supplies. The paint was later used by a visiting group of Bangkok Patana secondary students to paint two murals onto the walls of the school. We also held two fundraising events during the year - a Christmas card sale and our annual Timestable-athon - raising over 135,000ThB. With this money, we sponsored two students through two years of schooling, we bought and installed fans in classrooms, and we bought new school-shoes for over 200 students across three schools.

Thomas House is part of a registered charity which incorporates three projects: Thomas House; the 'Continuing Education Project' which supports students through secondary and tertiary education; and the 'Community Building Project, part of the visiting schools programme to improve conditions in local schools.

WHY DOES IT NEED OUR HELP?

Funding for Thomas House is solely reliant on the support of the MRV (business) Project and charitable donations from visiting schools, hotel guests and others. Due to the pandemic, these sources of income were severely impacted, and Thomas House was forced to close. However, the children were lucky to receive regular home visits from the aptly named, Kru Joy. Thankfully, Thomas House was able to open again in June, 2022 and will be offering a 3 day week until they are in a

HOW CAN WE HELP?

Christmas cards made by a talented local student will go on sale before Christmas with proceeds going towards Thomas House. Check the Patana News for more information on where to purchase Christmas cards. Donations are also very welcome. If you’d like to donate or support Thomas House, please contact Rosie and Bryan, who do a great job running Thomas House, at rosie@mrv-educationservices.com

#253: roblox checklisT 2023

In the fast-paced world of online gaming, Roblox has firmly established itself as one of the most popular online gaming platforms. Catering to the creativity and imagination of millions, this online multiplayer game creation platform continues to evolve. Whether you’re a seasoned user, a curious newcomer, or a concerned parent or guardian, the updated Roblox Checklist for 2023 can help you navigate some of the finer elements of staying safe online.

Click on the image above to read more on:

What is Roblox?

Reporting Abuse In-Game

Blocking Users In-Game

Setting Up a Parental Control Pin

Understanding Robux Further Support and Resources

Have a safe, playful weekend.

Brian Taylor Assistant Principal, Technology for Learning