Patana News 27th October 2023

PATANA NEWS

Friday 27th October 2023 Volume 26 Issue 9

Looking Ahead to International Day

By Cindy Adair

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Also in this issue...

Air Quality Policy Update Primary Sports Week Info World Maths Competition Primary Maths Week The Smile Squad Supporting Children with Upsetting Content CPL Days ISTA IB Theatre Wildlife Spotting with Coke

Page 4 Page 6 Page 9 Page 10 Page 14 Page 16 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20

www.patana.ac.th

06/10/2023

Bangkok Patana is a not-for-profit IB World School accredited by CIS Bangkok Patana School News

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Looking Ahead to International Day Monday 20th November 2023

Cindy Adair, Cross Campus Assistant Principal Continued Professional Learning

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angkok Patana School, a melting pot of cultures with a staggering 67 nationalities, is gearing up for its much-anticipated International Day. Our wonderful PTG and all the parent groups have been working incredibly hard behind the scenes to prepare for this special day in the Bangkok Patana calendar.

OUR STORY Flags fluttering in the wind, fashion displays of national dresses, the tantalising aroma of global cuisines, and the lively music and dance have always been the hallmark of International Day. These elements showcase the diversity and richness of cultures, but this year, Bangkok Patana School is aiming to go beyond the surface of the cultural iceberg. By introducing the theme “Our Story,” the school is hoping to encourage students and staff to share personal narratives, experiences, and memories that shape their identities. The school is taking a deeper dive into what truly makes this international community exceptional. Introducing the theme “Our Story,” the day promises to be an enlightening journey into the heart of global citizenship, including the unique narratives of bi-racial and multi-racial individuals.

THIRD CULTURE KIDS In an increasingly interconnected world, the concept of Global Citizenship has never been more relevant. It’s about understanding our role in the global community, appreciating diversity, and recognising our shared humanity.

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At Bangkok Patana School, many students identify as third culture kids (TCKs) - individuals who have spent a significant part of their formative years outside their parents’ culture. These TCKs often have a unique perspective on the world, blending multiple cultures, values, and traditions.

International Day provides an opportunity for these students to share their stories, fostering a sense of belonging and understanding. For bi-racial and multi-racial students, the day is a beautiful opportunity to embrace and showcase all facets of their heritage. One might march with one country during the parade, then seamlessly transition into performing on stage with another. You may even march with a country you are fond of, as you’ve spent lots of time there - the decision is yours. This fluidity in representation is a testament to the multifaceted identities many students carry with pride.

Stereotypes, often born out of ignorance or limited exposure, can be damaging. They box people into narrow categories, denying them their individuality. The danger of a single story, as eloquently put by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, is that it reduces complex beings and histories into one narrative, often leading to misconceptions.

This year, through personal narratives and shared experiences, Bangkok Patana School aims to challenge these stereotypes, highlighting the multifaceted nature of every culture and individual.

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International Day will kick off with a grand parade, showcasing the myriad of nationalities represented at the school. Following this, a cultural show will take centre stage, with performances that promise to be both entertaining and fun. But it’s not all about the showy public events. Reflection time in classrooms and tutor bases will allow students to introspect, discuss, and understand the deeper significance of the day. And of course, the popular food hall will be back, offering a gastronomic journey around the world. As everyone dons their national dress,

the school will be a riot of colors, a testament to our diverse community.

In conclusion, International Day at Bangkok Patana School is not just a day of celebration but also a day of understanding, acceptance, and unity. By focusing on “Our Story”, the school is taking a step towards building a community that values every individual’s unique journey and recognises the strength in their diversity.

International Day Spotlights Leading up to International Day, PTG volunteer Joyce has worked with Country Reps to organised‘sportlights’ for students to experience differnt cultures. Here is a provisional list of dates and may change. Encourage your children to visit!

Date Thurs 9th Nov Fri 10th Nov Mon 13th Nov Tues 14th Nov Wed 15th Nov Thurs 16th Nov

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Outside 25m Pool (11.30am Foundation Stage - 1.00pm) Taiwan, Russia, Spain, UK UK, Taiwan Thailand, S. Korea, Thailand, South Korea Germany, Malaysia Australia (Primary Back Field) Australia, Hong Kong Hong Kong, Japan, Hunga- Malaysia, Japan ry, Singapore (P. Hard Court) India, USA (P. Hard Court) India, Germany

Secondary Lounge

S. Korea, Hong Kong, Australia (Front Field) Thailand, Malaysia, India

US, Hungary, Japan

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Air quality policy: updated guidelines

Over the past six months our Government Liaison Department along with our school leadersl have been reviewing and updating our school Air Quality policy. As standards around the world evolve, we want to make sure that we remain current, especially regarding the well-being and safety of our community. In reviewing the policy, we looked at regulations and standards in Thailand, standards employed by other world agencies such as the US EPA and the WHO and also accessed our colleagues in other international schools in Thailand and the region for comparisons. Feedback from parents and staff was also very helpful in updating the policy.

• Bangna Station by the Pollution Control Department • Big C Bangna Station by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration • Sport Complex Station by using Air Gradient Equipment (school’s equipment) • Front Field Station by using Air Gradient Equipment (school’s equipment) • Back Field Station by using Air Gradient Equipment (school’s equipment)

All equipment used in the five stations is based on the US EPA method that provides standardised procedures and guidelines for measuring PM2.5; provides accurate and precise measurements of PM2.5 levels and helps ensure compliance with local, national, and international air • One-hour average readings (previously we took a quality standards and regulations.

24-hour average) This guideline from the US EPA, ‘Air Quality and OutOur revised policy can be accessed here or you can click on the link under the Air Quality banner on the Parents’ Gateway. Changes from the previous policy include:

door Activity Guidance for Schools,’ is a valuable resource for parents to review. It emphasises that the CDC recommends children engage in 60 or more minutes of • Our policy is on activity-based protocols (previous- physical activity per day. If air quality deteriorates to an ly it was time based) ‘Unhealthy’ level (red), outdoor activities are still permitIn general, the new guidelines for Bangkok Patana are ted, but it is advised to take more breaks and engage in more detailed. The one-hour average reading is taken by less intense activities. combining readings from five stations and taking the avParents can access the air quality reading at any time erage: during the school day by logging into the Parents’ Gateway.

• Colours for each level have changed to match with US EPA standards

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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Quick Switches to go green Ana Bolakoso, SEC Key Stage 3 Representative Going green can seem impossible at times, so here are 10 quick, no fuss switches you can make, to make a difference…

1. SWITCH your shampoo bottle for a shampoo bar less plastic waste and less wasted product.

2. SWITCH from conventional bulbs to LED bulbs these are more energy efficient and save on your power bill.

3. SWITCH from plastic bags to your own reusable tote. Better for the environment and cuter with your outfit.

4. SWITCH from Soda and Iced Tea in plastic bottles, to cordial concentrate in your own water bottle. Still tasty but less plastic waste.

7. SWITCH from online shopping to thrifting - reduce your reliance on fast fashion and find unique oneof-a-kind pieces. Hit up the Tiger Shop for secondhand school clothing.

8. SWITCH from cotton tampons to a moon cup or reusable pads.

9. SWITCH on the feature to receive your bills in digital format, no need for paper print outs of credit card statements to be sent by snail mail - efficient and green!

10. SWITCH on the feature to print on both sides of the paper by default, saving loads of paper (and therefore trees) in the process.

Bonus SWITCH: Research the companies you regularly buy from and switch to those who share your green val5. SWITCH from using your car to public transport - the ues. Look for those who reduce, reuse, recycle and also MRT and BTS are both great options in Bangkok! engage in fair trade, use seasonal and local products and 6. SWITCH from meaty feasts to more plant based who minimise packaging and cruelty to animals. meals - healthy, cheap and less emissions.

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Click on “Detailed Information” for each session

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Services Updates Transport Preparation for Secondary Residential Transport Department As the Secondary Residential Trip is approaching, we want to reassure you that your child’s safety is our top priority.

All 18 buses for the trip were meticulously inspected by our Transport Team on 17th October 2023 to ensure they meet safety requirements. We’ve collaborating closely with Suparaj Tour, our bus provider, to guarantee a smooth journey for each Year group.

We’ve also provided safeguarding training for our bus drivers to enhance their preparedness. On the departure day, our Transport Team will perform a final walkthrough to ensure everything is in place.

Your child’s safety is our focus, and we’re committed to a secure and memorable trip. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our Transport Team at transport@patana.ac.th.

Accessible Parking Available Security Department

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e wish to notify you that our school has allocated four parking spaces in front of the Arts Center to provide more accessible parking options for those who have difficulty walking longer distances. To utilise these dedicated spaces, a special parking permit is required. You can request this permit from our Reception team.

Our aim is to ensure that everyone in our community has convenient access to our facilities, and these designated parking spaces are one step towards making our school more inclusive.

If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us at reception@patana.ac.th.

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Rodney Poole Makes an Impression

By Lorna Conroy, Secondary Assistant Principal Student Welfare

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ast week Rodney Poole (International Drug Prevention Educator) visited Bangkok Patana. Over the four days he spent with us in the secondary school he delivered bespoke small group workshops with in excess of 350 students, focusing on the impact of drugs on the teenage brain. He also presented to all students in Years 12 and 13, answered students’ questions in the lunchtime ‘drop-in’

sessions, ran a parents’ workshop, as well as meeting with staff. It was certainly a busy week for Rodney.

Feedback from all of the sessions has been overwhelmingly positive. Here is a summary of the students’ comments.

96% found the session engaging | 94% found the session inspiring | 92% found the session relevant STUDENT TESTIMONIALS “It was engaging and inspiring.

It stemmed from personal experience and really motivated me to stay away from substances until (at least until) my brain is fully developed, (direct correlation between age and addiction.) It was fun, and amusing but we still learnt so much in just an hour and twenty minutes.”

“The session with Mr. Poole definitely helps you understand the risks of drugs and side-effects. Now I have a clearer understanding of the long and short understandings of vaping, smoking etc. Very valuable.”

“The session was very inspirational and informative and very useful for kids nowadays. He saved many future lives, I think.”

“Mr Poole told us his life story and told us how he quit. I believe he inspired all of us to think twice before agreeing to what some may ask you to do. He told us about typical drug uses in the world and the side

“I would say he’s very knowledgeable, and there’s lots to learn from him, not just from personal experiences but also valuable insight as to why, how, and what may happen if you do try drugs. I personally think that he’s very inspirational, his story of turning his life around was a definite trigger in the lesson, from a personal perspective it could definitely persuade others in the same situation to fix their life alongside healing themselves. His lighthearted approach is also very welcoming and easy to interact with.”

“He is a really funny guy and has a strong understanding of what drugs do to you. We learnt about how vapes and other drugs can damage your brain development and lungs.”

“I would really recommend it and say that not only was it really interesting to hear his story he was also really cool to talk to and fun. He says really emotional things that are hard to talk about with a smile on his face and he has an incredible vibe.”

effects of drug use.”

“We had to mimic different real life events which would If you were unable to attend the parents’ workshop and give us an image of what to do to when you are in a real are keen to learn more about Rodney and the sessions he life scenario of peer pressure.” has delivered here is a link to the recording.

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Great success!

By Ashvika Bansal,11M, Yuanxia (Richard) Xu, 10O and Vachiravich (Turbo) Phantratanamongkol, 11Y

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aturday 23rd September marked the triumphant start of Bangkok Patana’s first entry to the WMC (World Mathematics Championships) after a 2-year COVID pandemic. Our delegation sent forth three teams of three students each to the Junior category, where they were given free rein to unleash their brilliance in problem-solving and teamwork, competing against like-minded peers from various international schools in South East Asia. The competition consisted of three online individual and three in-person team events designed to challenge even the highest-performing students’ proficiency in mathematical strategy, creativity, knowledge and collaboration across three days of strenuous brain cell extermination.

Bangkok Patana’s rising mathematicians showcased the skills, strength, and zeal to prevail victorious in all of the rounds, as individuals and teams alike. Vachiravich (Turbo) Phantratanamongkol, Xiang Jie (XJ) Lim, and Yuanxia (Richard) Xu met the most success, earning the only 3 ‘Overall High Rank’ medals, along with gold medals in all other categories. They were not alone: a total of 33 medals were taken home by the delegation. Seven students representing Patana performed exceptionally well and unlocked Golden Tickets to the Final: a week-long residential at the University of Melbourne, Australia. We look forward to seeing the representatives’ next achievements in the Senior Maths Challenge which happened on Wednesday the 4th.

TRY THIS PROBLEM FROM THE LIGHTNING ROUND: If pqrs + pqr + pqs + prs + qrs + pq + pr + ps + qr + qs + rs + p + q + r + s = 2019, what is p + q + r + s?

REFLECTIONS “Lots of fun, there were some interesting problems.” - Richard “I had no confidence during the ‘Confidence’ round, and the ‘Codebreaker’ round broke my brain. What I do know is how rewarding these questions are when you solve them!” - Turbo “I had a wonderful time participating in the WMC Regionals as I have now gained a deeper liking and appreciation for the enriched questions of our exercises in class! This was a wonderful experience, despite the fact that I was nervous at the beginning of some rounds, particularly the ‘Shuttle’ and ‘Lightning’ rounds. I, however, overcame anxiety by positive thinking eventually. I would like to experience again the gratification and satisfaction I felt when my team answered a question correctly.” - Ashvika Our success would never have been achieved without the support of our teachers, Dr. Tooley, Mr. Mooring and Mr. Stewart, who made arrangements for us to take part in this competition. Thank you!

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Maths Week in Primary School Compiled by Duncan Ferguson, Co-Lead Primary Maths Advocate

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uring the last three days of Term 1A, the Primary School celebrated a mini Maths Week. The theme, Games, was launched through a poster competition across the Primary School. The winning posters were copied and displayed all over our campus. Maths experts, Liz Gibbs and Andrew Jeffrey, visited from the UK and delivered exciting, practical workshops for students, parents and teachers. Daily videos were shared with the students showing them maths tricks. Check out how each Year group celebrated the joy of maths across the three days.

The key ‘take-away’ was that Maths is Fun!

FOUNDATION STAGE In Foundation Stage, we focused on patterns. Patterns are all around us and we enjoyed finding, discussing and making patterns both indoors and out. We made necklaces, put patterns in our playdough and construction creations, and even spotted patterns in our snacks! To support parents and carers, there is a new maths themed display with lots of resources in the Foundation Stage under cover area highlighting how maths is everywhere!

hopscotches to play maths games.

“I love big numbers.”

“I like rolling the dice.”

“It was fun jumping on the hopscotch!”

“The QR trail was hard but we worked together.”

YEAR 2 In Year 2, the students had a great time participating in a range of engaging shape-related activities. One of their favourites was the ‘String Shapes’ challenge, where the students collaborated in teams to make 2D shapes using only a single piece of string!

“It was fun to make gigantic shapes and it helped us to learn lots of facts about them.”

“Some of the shapes were challenging to make, but we kept on trying!” “‘Shape Headbandz’ was another game that we enjoyed playing. Who knew that Maths could be so funny?

We loved taking our Maths learning outside too on our ‘Shape Scavenger Hunt’.”

“I didn’t realise that there were so many shapes around us!”

“We had a blast during Maths week!”

YEAR 3

“Look, two triangles make a square!” Sophia whilst eating sandwiches.

“Tall one, short one, tall one, short one…. Tall one!” Ryan finding the pattern in his castle.

“Tigers have stripes, but leopards have spots. This one has lines, lines, lines.” Philip describing the patterns of animals in a book.

YEAR 1 Year 1 students enjoyed playing a variety of maths games in class including dominoes, Connect 4 and some dice games. Their maths skills were put to the test in a brilliant QR maths trail in which they collaborated to find the QR codes and then worked together to solve the number problems. They also enjoyed getting outside and using the

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Board games, card games and other games using maths resources in Year 3 enabled students to work on their fluency in class; this means knowing number facts without having to think about them. By exploring the school grounds through an engaging and challenging outdoor

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activity. The students were amazed to see that curves were formed despite only drawing straight lines. “The spiral art was my favourite because when you finish, it becomes a “It was really fun going around and doing maths outside very cool optical illusion”. We also played the Average - we were just free and it was interesting to see how much Card Game (that was anything but average!). One student said that it was their favourite activity of the week, maths there was!” Charlie, 3D “Because it helped me do addition and division problems “Dice games are fun because they help you learn more faster, and it was really fun to play with my partner!” There about maths. They are good for your brain.” Thomas, 3D was also a maths relay race which involved using the an“During maths week, we learned new things and played swer from one question to work out the next question. In maths games. Maths Week was so exciting!” Robin, 3F their writing activity, the students produced biographies of “I loved Maths Week because we got to play games not-so-famous female mathematicians. It was interesting to about maths!” Sonia, 3F find out the additional challenges they faced as women. maths trail, students used their observational and mathematical skills to work collaboratively with team mates and unscramble the phrase ‘Maths is Everywhere’.

YEAR 4 In Year 4, the students really enjoyed taking part in a maths trail and learning new games to help with their learning.

Children commented that, “The trail was challenging and included sport and exercise.” Speaking about the maths games, children said, “It was great fun because we learnt new games that helped us improve our maths skills and make maths fun!” Another child mentioned the maths poster competition as their favourite part. They explained, “My favourite part of Maths Week was making a maths poster because we could design using all the maths things we know and place this around the school!”

MATHS AT HOME Maths Week was a great way to celebrate and enjoy maths. However, it doesn’t end there - in school, we will continue to promote the fun in maths. At home, there are lots of fun practical games that are linked to maths: Pattern games such as Dobble use maths skills; Uno is a maths game. There are games like Sequence Numbers available to buy online that are excellent at helping children to build their fluency. White Rose offer a free app called One Minute Maths that is available on Apple and Android. As well as games, activities such as shopping, cooking, travelling and even rearranging furniture in your home could all lead to discussions and applications of maths. Keep talking about maths and have fun with it!

YEAR 5 In Year 5, the students had great fun embedding their place value learning by playing lots of games and finding their way round the Maths Scavenger Hunt in the shared area. Here are some quotes from our learners in Year 5.

“I loved playing the Maths Guess Who game . It was fun trying to think of questions that would eliminate as many options as possible so I could try and win the game!”

“The Scavenger hunt was hard, but it was good being able to work with my friends to try and answer as many questions as possible.”

“I wish all Maths lessons could be games!”

YEAR 6 Year 6 had fun with their maths trail too, but the highlight for a lot of students was applying their maths skills in an art

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Gymnastics Academy Games Night Georgina Wright, Head Gymnastics Coach

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he Gymnastics Academy has had its first socials of the year for the teams WAG and MAG Games Nights. Our gymnasts have been working extremely hard to get themselves back in the training mindset after the summer break.

They have been drilled in conditioning, flexibility and strength training.

The Games nights allowed them to socialise outside of their gruelling schedules and have the opportunity to have some much needed fun! Each evening started in the pool on Bangkok Patana’s very own inflatable obstacle course.

Thank you to Coach Tim and his team for lifeguarding! They then moved onto games with their coaches where smiles and laughter filled the room. There were handstand and somersault competitions, challenge the coach, the post it note wall challenge and much more. We ordered pizza, treats and had many food and drink donations from parents - thank you as always. It was then on to the ultimate Dodgeball games where students showed their competitive streaks. There are some outstanding throwers and dodgers in our Gymnastics Team.

It is always fantastic to see the wide range of ages building bonds, friendships and our older students being role models to the younger ones. A night to remember and we look forward to our Christmas Socials. Thank you to the fantastic Coaches Team who gave up their evenings to give the gymnasts a night to remember!

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Teachers VS Students Basketball Battle Ana Bolakoso, Head of Student Voice, Sports Council

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efore the break our Varsity Boys’ Basketball team went head to head against their coaches and teachers in an intense scrimmage. The crowd was roaring at the tipoff with Coach Alan making the first basket, putting the teachers into a 3 point lead.

The first two quarters were led by the teachers with the Varsity Boys playing catch up closely behind. Mr Bart and Mr De Cock were dominant under the basket earning points through layups and jumpshots. Both teams switched from man-to-man to zone defence forcing all players to test their shooting range. Effortlessly, the students excelled shooting mid range and threes, dominating the score board and finally taking the lead from the teachers.

Although the teachers did not make it easy, Coach Alan ruled the key, constantly fighting for the rebound, Coach Kevin had excellent fast breaks leading to swift, easy layups and Mr Meadows had some lovely shots and was actively encouraging his team. The students fought back once again by constantly moving the ball, leading to some impressive three point shots and aggressive layups.

As the game wound down to the final three minutes the teachers tried to regain their lead. The contest was fast paced with both teams pushing for the win. Varsity coach, Coach Carlos came in for the final quarter to test his own students, showcasing his impressive ball handling skills. Both teams started a full court press as the time ticked down quickly. The crowd was on the edge of their seats as the teachers made a slow climb. The game came to an end with the score being 30 - 32 to the STUDENTS! It was amazing to see skill and tiger spirit not only from our students but staff as well. It was great to see the Bangkok Patana community come together to play and support each other. Congratulations to the students for their incredible win!

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Introducing the Smile Squad: Spreading Kindness and Smiles Across Year 3!

Diana Jones, Leader of Learning and Welfare and the Year 3 team

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n the bustling classrooms of Bangkok Patana, a heartwarming initiative took centre stage during a recent assembly. The Year 3 classes gathered together, led by Mr Eoin and I, to unveil a heartwarming and community building phenomenon known as the “Smile Squad”.

Our school mission statement is to ensure that students of different nationalities grow to their full potential as independent learners in a caring British international community. What better way to feel part of a community where everyone knows your name, uses good manners, and shares a smile!

valued.

• Saying Please & Thank You: Simple acts of courtesy, such as using these magic words, would become a regular practice.

• Asking ‘How are You?’: A sincere concern for one another’s well-being and feelings would be a cornerstone of their interactions.

CELEBRATING SMILE STARS OF THE WEEK In an exciting twist, the Smile Squad introduced a weekly tradition to recognise exceptional kindness. Each week, THE SMILE SQUAD UNVEILED The assembly began with the eager Year 3 students watch- Smile Stars of the Week will be chosen from among the ing two videos and discussing how the way we act might Year 3 students. These outstanding members will receive a make other people feel. The first video showed what it looks specially commissioned Smile Squad praise postcard as a token of appreciation and their photographs will also grace and feels like to be ignored. the Smile Squad Hall of Fame, proudly displayed for all to The second video featured teachers and students who see. were undeniably part of the Smile Squad. Their interactions With the Smile Squad initiative, the Year 3 students aim to were filled with genuine smiles, they addressed each other by name, extended friendly hellos and goodbyes, and liber- foster an environment of warmth, friendship and of course, ally used the magic words “please” and “thank you”. Most smiles. It is their way of developing personal growth as well importantly, they showed care and empathy by asking the as making our school community an even better place. simple yet profound question, “How are you?”.

Readers are encouraged to stay tuned for the announcement of the next Smile Stars of the Week and to rememIn the ensuing discussion, it became evident that all of Year 3 aspired to be more like the individuals in the second video. ber that kindness and smiles have the power to brighten the Inspired by this display of kindness, the Year 3 students were school’s atmosphere. eager to join in with the Year 3 Smile Squad initiative.

THE SMILE SQUAD CODE The Smile Squad came together with a shared commitment to values that would define their actions each day.

These values included: • Saying Hello: They pledged to begin their day with warm greetings, creating an atmosphere of inclusivity.

Year 3 have now vowed to be excellent Smile Squad members and to continue spreading smiles throughout the school!

QUOTES “It is good because it makes other people smile and makes them happy!” Tess, 3M

“Not only are the children saying hello they sometimes tell • Using Each Other’s Names: Recognising that names me jokes to make me smile, filling our world with happiness build personal connections, they vowed to use them and joy!” Ms Julie Kelly regularly.

“I didn’t know I would get a Smile Squad Certificate and • Saying Goodbye: The day would conclude with it made me happy. My mum and dad were very proud.” smiles and friendly goodbyes, ensuring everyone felt Ray 3D

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Niall de Búrca: Storytelling Author Visit On Monday November 20th, Niall de Búrca will begin his 2 week storytelling residency at Bangkok Patana School. Niall is a bilingual (Gaelic and English) 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.

atively. He will be telling stories, leading workshops and working with teachers, so that he spreads his message about the immense power of words, and how you share them is the key to keeping people engaged, enthralled and interested.

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 cre-

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#259: Supporting Children to Deal with Upsetting Content They might not be able to pinpoint its location on a map, and they might not fully grasp the historical and political drivers behind the conflict – but in this age where news, images and video can cross continents in seconds, many children are now aware of the terrible recent events in the middle east. It’s a situation, of course, that could cause youngsters extreme distress and worry. This guide contains some valuable pointers for supporting children to deal with upsetting content they’ve encountered online – whether that’s the attacks overseas or closer to home, ongoing worries over the environment, or something else entirely. These tips will assist trusted adults in helping young people to process any negative emotions that they may be feeling Have a safe weekend!

Brian Taylor Assistant Principal, Technology for Learning

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PRIMARY

p i h s d n Frie Friday

Friday 10th November

A community connection day celebrating the charities supported across the primary school Charity Market outside the Primary Library From 7 am THB100 suggested donation to go to Primary charities

Non-uniform Dress Up day in Primary School

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Collaboration, Community and Continued Learning Cindy Adair, Assistant Principal Continued Professional Learning

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n October 12th and 13th, Bangkok Patana School was buzzing with enthusiasm, learning, and camaraderie as it hosted its Continued Professional Learning Days. With 350 academic staff participating, the event was a mix of knowledge-sharing, collaboration and team-building.

in Thailand” was a platform for our expatriate educators, both seasoned and new, to understand the institutions, documentation, and laws relating to teaching in the Land of Smiles.

TOBY ALTREE - ALUM Toby Altree, a proud Patana alumni, presented to our Cross Campus coaches. Currently a specialist in strength and conditioning, Toby’s journey from a student at Patana to a confident speaker and fitness professional, was lovely to see and his session included lots of new and fresh exercises to challenge our student-athletes.

presented, hosted a session, or played a role in making these days memorable for their colleagues. Shout out to the Business team members who worked through their public holiday to support their academic colleagues. A special mention to the fantastic lunch that was served during the days. The famous Patana Khao Soi was the star dish, receiving rave reviews from all attendees.

The structure of the days was planned to cater to diverse learning needs. While the keynotes were a central attraction, workshops offered a more intimate setting for DAVID BOTT We were blessed to have an impressive line-up of guest educators to delve deep into specific topics. A unique feaspeakers to share their experiences and surface think- ture was the provision of protected time for instructional ing about what might work best in the Bangkok Patana coaching, which saw lots of high-quality conversations context. David Bott, a well-being scientist from Australia, take place. challenged our audiences with his insights into promoting As the CPL Days take place just prior to the commenceholistic well-being through a strengths-based approach in ment of our Residentials in Secondary and later on in the educational settings. His take on how to prioritise well-be- year Primary, the programme also included important ing within the school community based upon the science compulsory health and safety training. This included water and having worked with a myriad of other similar institu- safety training and first aid. tions to Patana, created plenty of opportunities for discusOf course, learning was balanced with relaxation and sion and introspection. We will all remember David’s fanfun. Staff had the option to connect over a coffee, rejuvetastic Brain Breaks too! nate with a Thai massage, or immerse themselves in social PRIMARY MATHS well-being activities. Whether it was getting their groove Our Primary Maths curriculum had a boost with the inspi- on at the Dance Class, creating a collaborative masterration and energy of Andrew Jeffrey and Liz Gibbs. Com- piece in the Art Class, or getting competitive at Pickleball, ing from the UK and having vast experience in the domain, there was something for everyone. they shared innovative teaching pedagogies and handsLastly, an event of this magnitude cannot be successon strategies that are poised to impact how maths is taught ful without the hard work and dedication of many behind and learned at Bangkok Patana. the scenes. A heartfelt thanks to all the staff members who

Our annual CPL Days continue to be a testament to our TEACHING IN THAILAND schools commitment to continuous learning, collaboration, The inclusion of an online webinar entitled “Teaching and community building.

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Learning Literature from Acclaimed National Artist Dr Rattana Chanruam, Secondary Thai Curriculum Leader On Saturday October 7th, Kombang Publisher, one of well-known publications in Thailand, hosted a workshop with the theme “Learning Literature.”

The main focus of this workshop was to enhance understanding of the elements of Thai-style poetry and the intentions of authors when writing poetry.

The keynote speaker for the event was Chamaiporn Sangkrachang, who was honoured as the National Artist in Literature in 2014. She is known for her works in both prose and poetry, one of which is used in the Year 9 Thai Language and Culture Course, called Kwan-Song.

It was my pleasure to participate in the workshop with this esteemed writer. I discovered that grasping the elements of poetry is crucial to comprehending the author’s message. This understanding is achieved through the combination of words, imagery, and sound. In the Thai language course, students are required to interpret the meaning and analyse the moral aspects of poetry at various levels. By recognizing the author’s intentions through the content, literary devices, and the writer’s creativity, students can gain a deeper appreciation of the meaning within the poetry.

ISTA Draws IB Theatre Students Holly Myers, 12L and Emily Ireland, 12G n early October, , 11 IB Theatre students travelled to Singapore to take part in the ISTA TaPS Festival, joining students from schools all over Asia. ISTA is an organisation which works on bringing together young people, artists and teachers from different countries to explore and learn more about theatre. They began their festivals in 1978 and have been working with high schools around the globe since then.

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and Saturday evenings we were lucky enough to be able to watch live theatre performances. Friday night was a showing of Romeo and Juliet, performed by UK Theatre company Action to the Word at the Victoria Theatre. On Saturday evening, we watched a live Khon performance by our Khon instructor Benjamin Tardif. Overall, the entire experience was a great way to be able to collaborate with new people while learning new perspectives, and Over the three days, we worked with professionals in ideas regarding theatre. Furthermore, it allowed us to exthe industry, focused on specific aspects in theatre. We pand our understanding of the IB Theatre syllabus and will took part in a clowning workshop, which all of us agreed assist us in successfully completing the IB Theatre course. was one of the most entertaining as it was extremely humorous and provided a break from the long, busy days.

Another workshop was about Khon theatre, a traditional Thai cultural tradition. This was very interesting, especially for Thai students on the trip, as it gave us a chance to connect back to the country we live in and learn more about the valuable, rich culture surrounding us.

One of the key takeaways from the weekend was getting to know new students of a similar age from around the world who share a passion for theatre. On the Friday 06/10/2023

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Wildlife Spotting with Coke A Day in Kaeng Krachan Alexander Coke Smith V, Secondary Environmental Sciences Leader

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lthough the rainy season seems to be hanging on, ed Gibbons, who always put on a spectacular show with the weather does seem to be improving bit by bit. their arboreal ballet and their melodic song.

And with this better weather it is time to get out to one of our local national parks. Bangkok is very nicely located, and within a short two or three hour drive from one can find themselves in one of several world class natural areas, many of which are World Heritage in stature. My family often travel to such locations as Khao Yai, Kaeng Krachan and Erawan National Parks, but we also visit other protected areas like Huai Khai Khaeng and other incredible bastions of biodiversity.

This last break, we visited one of my favorite destinations, Kaeng Krachan National Park, in Petchaburi Province. I have discussed this park in previous columns but it is time to remind the Bangkok Patana community just how fantastic it is and to show what a day can produce.

During one fairly relaxed day in the park, we encountered many fascinating species, some of which are shown in the images in this article. As of now, all roads in the park from Bang Krang Campsite to Phanoen Thung camp deep inside the Tenasserim Mountains are open so seeing an impressive cross section of varying habitats and their fauna is possible.

Malayan Sun Bear In the same habitat, it is relatively Banded Broadbill easy to see Spectacled (also known as Dusky or Blondetailed) Langurs in Bang Krang Camp, where a resident group is fairly habituated which allows very close views regularly. And nearer to Phanoen Thung, you stand good chances of seeing Robinson’s Langurs, Thailand’s newest primate species, officially described only a few years ago. There are many squirrel species making use of various niches in the ecosystem of Kaeng Krachan. My personal favorite is the Black & White Giant Squirrel, which approaches a meter in length! Grey-bellied, Pallas’s As many of us know, Thailand and Western Striped Squirrels are also very easy to see. is blessed with amazing wild- And of course the highlight is the Malayan Sun Bears that life. And with some keen eyes come regularly to the camps! And if you are crazy lucky, and patience, and of course a black leopard? It’s possible!

Langur-Robinson some good luck, it is possible to And of course the avifauna is incredible and will besee some very impressive rare and exciting species. Dur- come increasingly more so as the season progresses. On ing our last trip to Kaeng Krachan, we came away with our last trip we came across Great and Brown Hornbills such awesome sightings of such species as White-hand-

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as well as numerous Oriental Pied Hornbills, which are all chan soon! Please let me know if you have any questions very impressive birds to see in the wild. There were also at all – always happy to share tips and contacts with felloads of forest birds pictured with this article. low nature lovers!

I hope you get out and see the wonders of Kaeng Kra-

Lar Gibbon White-Handed Grey-Bellied Squirrel

Oriental Pied Hornbill

Long-Tailed Broadbill

Black and Red Broadbill

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Dusky Langur

Orange-Breasted Trogon

Silver-Breasted Broadbill

Bangkok Patana School News

Great Hornbill

Western Striped Squirrel

Langur-Robinson

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Primary School

what makes you

SPECIAL?

THE COASTAL KIDZ ARE BACK! To show us how unique rock pool creatures really are https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK2HgRs4Fe0

A BROWN CRAB

With very hairy legs - so cool!

BLUE LOBSTERS

And one is missing a claw !

SEA SNAILS

What were the shells used for?

IN OUR LEARNING HABITAT WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE....?

Primary students and teachers - send in a FlipGrid video by Friday 3rd November The Year group with the most entries wins an extra playtime! Don’t forget to leave your first name and Year group with your video.

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PRIMARY PE AND SPORTS WEEK

N O T N I BADM

OPEN SESSION FOR PARENTS FRIDAY 10TH NOVEMBER 12.30 - 14.30 SPORTS HA LL

NO NEED TO REGISTER, COME AND ENJOY THE FUN !

Badminton coaches will be present for free one-to-one coaching if you want it!

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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 24

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COMMUNITY Main venues: NEILSON HAYS LIBRARY THE BRITISH CLUB BANGKOK MARRIOTT HOTEL THE SURAWONGSE plus special events at Chakrabongse Villas The Standard, Bangkok

4 · 5 NOVEMBER 2023

bangkokliteraturefestival.com

celebrating books and ideas

TALKS · WORKSHOPS · BOOK SIGNINGS · MARKET

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SPONSORS

HOTEL PARTNERS

EMBAJADA DE ESPAÑA EN BANGKOK

MEDIA PARTNERS

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COMMUNITY

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For daily updates, snapshots and news on life at school you can find us here...

643 Lasalle Road (Sukhumvit 105) Bangna Tai, Bangna, Bangkok 10260 THAILAND Tel: +66 (0) 2785 2200 Fax: +66 (0) 2785 2399 www.patana.ac.th Email: reception@patana.ac.th 30

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