Our mission is to ensure that students of different nationalities grow to their full potential as independent learners in a caring British international community.
Patana
NEWS
Friday 27th November 2020
Volume 23 Issue 14
www.patana.ac.th
CREATING MEMORIES AND DEVELOPING SKILLS By Lorna Conroy, Secondary Assistant Principal
Page 2
Also in this issue...
Year 6 Reflect on Musical Visitor/Air Quality, What Can YOU Do?/Parents on Campus 27/11/2020
Bangkok Patana School News
Bangkok Patana is a not-for-profit IB World School accredited by CIS
1
Creating Memories and Developing Skills Lorna Conroy, Secondary Assistant Principal, Student Welfare
When I think back to my school days some of my most vivid memories are from the times I spent on a range of school trips. I remember standing in a freezing cold river taking measurements while on a geography trip in North Wales, and waking up to find ice on the inside of my tent while on a Duke of Edinburgh expedition in the Lake District. I remember learning to peel potatoes on a Year 7 camp and mopping the floor at a youth hostel in the Peak District. I also remember the exhilaration of being away from my parents, the excitement of sleeping in a room with my friends, and the thrill of trying new things. I was a shy, nervous child and looking back I can see how incredibly valuable these experiences were to me, and how the skills I learnt during these times have really helped shape who I am today. It is with this in mind that I express how fantastic it is that the Secondary Residentials went ahead this year. In excess of 750 students spent Resi Week learning new skills and attributes, developing their social skills, having exciting, new experiences and learning to cope away from home. Students are purposely taken out of their comfort zone as they mix with different people, try new activities and experience unfamiliar environments. In the more challenging moments the skills of resilience, perseverance and teamwork really come to the fore, helping the students grow and develop. I was lucky enough to attend the Year 9 Resi again this year and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. One of my favourite moments was witnessing an incredibly nervous student conquer their fear and master the mountain bike obstacle course. I also enjoyed watching new friendships develop as students supported each other during the different activities. Seeing a student offer a hand of support to another is one of the best sights in the world. The students are now all safely back in school with a range of new skills and a mind full of memories. I wonder what your sons and daughters will remember in years to come when they think back to their school days and the trips they attended. WHAT DID YOU ENJOY ABOUT THE RESIS? I enjoyed the free time a lot because I got to play in the pool with my friends. Chloe, Year 7
The thing that we enjoyed most about Resi was participating in all of the activities and bonding with your friends. Ryunosuke, Year 8
This residential was quite significant for me. I’ve never travelled on a plane without my parents before so this was a new experience, and I really enjoyed the plane ride. The cultural activities were quite fun, however the best part about it was certainly the rafting: riding the rapids, lounging in the sun-basked river. Utkarsh, Year 9
2
Bangkok Patana School News
I enjoyed the afternoon activities especially the old school sports day. Through this intense inter-class event, tutor groups wrestled it out in a variety of events including egg and spoon race, three legged race and tug of war. It was a very relaxing way to unwind after a long day of learning. Pim, Year 12
27/11/2020
WHAT SKILLS DID IT HELP YOU DEVELOP? The obstacle course helped us develop teamwork and communication skills as we had to work together. Year 8 student
It helped me be more independent. Talia,Year 7 I developed many skills, such as teamwork, creativity and how to pack way too many clothes into my suitcase when they really shouldn’t fit. :) Varit, Year 9
We learned how to Paddle-board better and I improved my team skills! Joy and Diana, Year 8
As for improving reflection skills, throughout the week we were allocated time towards the end of TOK sessions to reflect on the content learned and its significance in relevance to many aspects, e.g. how knowledge is produced. This allowed us to organise our thoughts and see the important role perspectives play on the way we view the world. Year 12 student WHAT WAS THE FUNNIEST MOMENT? My time in the room with my friends. Miyu, Year 7
The funniest part was obviously my part in the talent show. Year 9 student The funniest moment during resi was in Disco when some teachers came up on the stage and started dancing together! It was very strange at first, but everyone got along in the end. Elisa,Emi, Jihyo, Mahi and Kaede, Year 8
When Mr Anderton kept on falling into the river. KK, Lauren and Panna, Year 8
Over the course of this TOK Camp, the funniest moments occurred during the 'Hungry Games' (a games night arranged by Mrs Dewse). As the different 'districts' battled it out to be crowned the ultimate winner, we looked awfully crazy in the process. Year 12 student 27/11/2020
The funniest part was probably when we were rafting; we kept on turning in circles in front of the other rafts as they tried to catch up to us. Utkarsh, Year 9
Bangkok Patana School News
3
Air Quality: What can YOU do? Stop Idling Cars!
As Thailand moves into the time of the year when we experience worsening air quality, it’s time to ask what small steps we can take to make a difference. For the next few weeks in Patana News, we will feature a different suggestion on small steps we can each take.
an engine is not working at its peak operating temperature while idling, fuel does not undergo complete combustion. This leaves fuel residue that can contaminate the engine oil and makes spark plugs dirty. This, in turn, can increase fuel consumption by four to five percent. Excessive idling also can let water condense in the vehicle’s exhaust leading to This week we tackle idling vehicles. The PTG embarked corrosion and reduce the life of the exhaust system. on a campaign last year to stop cars idling in our parking lots. At first, they focused on the Foundation Stage parking A study done for the South Carolina Department of lot as it is close to an area where our youngest children Health and Environmental Control found that ten seconds are learning. Through signs and personal intervention, par- of idling can use more fuel than turning off the engine and ent volunteers were able to educate others and get every- restarting it. There is a myth that shutting off and restarting one into the habit of turning off their engine. your vehicle is hard on the engine. The reality is that frequent restarting has little impact on engine components Sadly, it seems that a year later many people have like the battery and the starter motor. Component wear forgotten how important it is to turn off the engine when caused by restarting the engine was estimated to add parked. The data on the difference in pollution with cars USD 10 per year to the cost of driving, money likely to idling or not is very convincing. be saved many times over by fuel savings from turning the The BBC reports that a project commissioned by the engine off instead. Mayor of London’s office in 2016 measured changes We all enjoy the pleasure of stepping into a cool vehiin pollution after a series of “action days”. During these cle. Cars cool down very quickly and even just 20 – 30 action days, volunteers patrolled the streets in four areas seconds of running the engine will take the edge off a hot of London, asking drivers to turn off their engine. The re- vehicle interior, an engine does not need to be kept runsearchers found that levels of black carbon – a pollutant ning. associated with car exhausts linked to lung and heart disease – were 36% lower after these action days. Over the coming weeks and months, volunteer parents and security guards will be reminding drivers to stop idling Excessive idling wastes fuel and money. In most cases, it engines. Please let your drivers know they should turn off is more efficient to turn off the vehicle before 30 seconds the engine when the car is parked – not just in school – but of idling. Excessive idling is also hard on engines; because everywhere! 4
Bangkok Patana School News
27/11/2020
Mini-Tennis Players Venture Away From Home Daniel Ahl, Cross Campus Head Tennis Coach The Junior Tigers squad traveled to Harrow to take part in a mini tennis green ball event with Harrow, STA and Bangkok Prep.
Patana School staged Thailand’s first green ball events eight years ago and it is good to see now many academies, schools and tournaments have followed suit since. It is now an ITF rule that no Under 10 official events should It was a great opportunity to see the team in action and be played with a regular yellow ball. see how they are developing and using key tactical skills and patterns of play. The mini tennis red ball players have been busy recently with matches against both NIST and STA. The green ball is 25 percent slower than a regular tennis ball and a key part of the ITF policy for 10 and under The match with NIST was the first time the team have players worldwide. The matches are played on a full size traveled away and all had a great time. tennis court and the slightly slower balls allow for longer Opportunities like these are a perfect way to see how rallies and, as the ball doesn’t bounce as high, makes it excellent to learn technique and not let extreme grips de- skills are developing and how future sessions can be velop which can lead to injury at this young age. Bangkok planned.
27/11/2020
Bangkok Patana School News
5
Chess is the Name of the Game in This Family Amy Poon, Bangkok Patana Parent
Leah Leung, in Year 3, and Kieran Leung, in Year 6, love to play chess and have joined many tournaments in the past few years. Recently they joined the Gainsfield Fide Rated Team Tournament. In this tournament each team has three players. They played in a total of five rapid chess
6
games against other teams in their age category. Leah’s team is the only Girls team in the tournament. Leah’s team won 2nd place in Under 9. Kieran’s team won the 3rd place in Under 12.
Bangkok Patana School News
27/11/2020
Patana Gymnasts Achieve Success at Nationals B
angkok Patana gymnasts have been successful in the national scene lately. Two competed at the Level 1 Thai National Gymnastics Championship in Sukothai recently. Year 7 student Jasmine Beroud came in 1st on the Uneven Bars and Floor and 1st Overall as the Level 1 Champion. Year 6 student Shuwan Zhang placed 1st on
the Vault and 4th Overall. Year 5 student Ornicha (Ava) Voravutvityarak was part of the team that took home the Silver for Rhythmic Gymnastics Group Free Hand (12 and under) and Rhythmic Gymnastics Group Ball (12 and Under) in the Rhythmic Gymnasticts Thailand Championships. Jasmine recounts her experiences at the event.
My journey to the finals of the level 1 Thai National believe in myself. Even though I already qualified for the Championship was challenging and it took a lot of effort. finals, I attended the second qualifying round and was Let’s go back to the beginning… again ranked 1st overall. I started gymnastics in 2017 at Bangkok Patana. I decided to try out for the Gymnastics team because to me it was a fun sport. I managed to get into Level 3 and while I enjoyed training there, I struggled a lot because everything was hard for me. My body was not flexible and I didn’t have the strength to do the skills. When my first competition came up, I was so nervous that I forgot my floor routine but luckily my coaches were there to guide me through. The next year, I had to try out for the team again because I was not part of the top 6 so I told myself to work harder and so I could improve my skills. That year, I received a sports awards for the Most Improved Player 2018/19, and since then my goal was to aim higher.
Now back to the present, recently I travelled with my gymnastics club to Sukhothai for the finals. Unfortunately, I was not well. I had an ear infection and a stuffy nose and had to take antibiotics. I was very stressed and had trouble sleeping which made me feel worse. In the morning of the competition, my nerves were going wild. I started off on the beam and for the first time during a competition, I fell off. I was so upset at myself. I felt like my dreams were shattered but I had no choice but to get back on the beam and finish my routine. I cried so much afterwards. I wanted to go back home but I came too far to give up, so I took lots of deep breaths and finished the competition. I am glad that I put myself together because I managed to win Gold for the bar and floor routine and Silver in the vault. In 2020, I attend the first qualifying round for the Lev- This led me to win the championship and be crowned the el 1 Thai National Championships. There were a lot of Level 1 Thailand National Gymnastics Champion! I am athletes from different gymnastic clubs around Thailand. extremely proud of myself and I am very grateful to everyI was anxious and nervous, but it went very well and I one especially, all my wonderful gymnastic coaches and managed to earn Gold in all the apparatus and Overall teammates for their support throughout my journey. If you Gold. This helped me feel more confident and help me have a passion like me then work hard and follow it! 27/11/2020
Bangkok Patana School News
7
Year 6 Reflect on Musical Visitor Year 6 Students
O
n Monday 23rd of November 2020, Bangkok Patana students were incredibly lucky to have the musician, Phum Viphurit Siritip, visit. Phum is a Thai popstar who lived in New Zealand during his younger years. In class we have been studying him because he is the musician of the month. This visit happened at 1:00pm to 2:00pm; our hosts for the show were: Mallika (Molly) Moo-Ming and Phineas (Phin) Larmer-Beech. The audience were two year four classes and all of the year six classes. Although Phum is well known for his music, he never studied music theory! - Pon 6D HIS LIFE BY YA FANG YEO, 6E Phum Viphurit’s life is an interesting journey to read, as he moved to New Zealand at the age of nine years and in the middle of primary school. Since then, he has lived in New Zealand with his family, where his passion for music began. Ever since Phum was a child, he attended Jason Mraz concerts at the age of twelve years, which presented an opening for another passion. Did you know the first ever instrument he played were the drums? Phum Viphurit learnt drums, which he thought was an amazing opportunity to express himself, as a first instrument instead of guitar. Because drums are incredibly loud instruments, his neighbours complained that the volume was too loud, so he switched to guitar. But music wasn’t the only thing Phum was intrigued by; he started taking art classes because he felt that he was free to do what he liked. In addition, football, tennis, basketball and swimming were also his favourite sports to do as he grew up. Eventually, he even went to film school for four years as his enjoyment for several activities grew.
8
MUSICAL INSPIRATION BY SANAA SACHDEV, 6C Many things have inspired Phum to create the musician he has become today. His biggest idol is Fleetwood Mac, an older band from the 1970s who have many amazing songs. He was inspired by many things to write his songs, but now he uses mostly his life experiences such as travel or everyday occurrences. But it really all started when he heard of Jason Mraz as a child, that’s what inspired him to become a singer. He loved music dearly yet never put that much thought into it when he was around our age. In addition, he only created thirteen songs and started six years ago (2014). At his first performance, he was anxious, and he said even if you are scared, you just have to do it. It’s how you overcome your fear. I’m sure that those inspiring words will help you build your confidence when having to perform in such a big crowd where you know nobody. All in all, Phum was inspired by many things, and now he is inspiring us. SONG WRITING PROCESS BY PRANN KRAIRIKSH, 6C Phum Viphurit has a total of thirteen songs, all of them which he wrote by himself or with some help. Phum has his own team of musicians to help him create all of his wonderful songs. Normally, he would write the songs by himself, then he would record the songs, finally he would send the recorded songs to the studio for producing. Some of the songs feature special guests, such as The Higher Brothers, a Chinese Hip-Hop Group consisting of four members from Chengdu, China. Did you know that when he uses his guitar he doesn't
Bangkok Patana School News
27/11/2020
use a pick?( A guitar pick is used to strum chords without to show us. But in his opinion, D major 7 was rather differhaving to use your nails.) ent, and made him feel more relaxed. His most popular video, in response to another question, ANSWERS TO OUR QUESTIONS BY ANNIKA had 6.8 million views. VIGODA, 6J Later, Phum agreed to answer some of our questions. Another participant asked,”Have you ever thought of One of the first was “Do you play bass?” He does, in fact, quitting music before?” He admitted that, yes, he had, but just not as well as normal guitar. during college when he was also studying. The only thing To those of you musicians who also play guitar, his fa- keeping the love of music alive within him in that four-year vorite chord was D major 7, because he explained that period was writing lyrics and riffs, without performing or any old D major just sounded rather normal. He played it playing or even singing.
27/11/2020
Bangkok Patana School News
9
Karting Successes Continue Maarten Vliegen, Bangkok Patana parent
L
ast weekend Taiyo Vliegen attended round 4 of the Kart Championship Thailand. He had an excellent weekend and finished all his races in second position. In the overall Thai championship he is currently 3rd!
Sra (JJ) Anuras (also Year 7) had his debut in Kart racing - out of over 60 candidates, JJ qualified for the last 16 race seats of the Singha Kart Cup. He did an awesome job starting in the final from position 9, working his way up to position 5 (Position 4 in his class). A great start in motorsport for JJ and more to come during round 2 in January 2020.
10
Bangkok Patana School News
27/11/2020
New Reading App in Libraries Damon Parker, Cross Campus Teacher Librarian Bangkok Patana Libraries have subscribed to an online Please note that not all books will be appropriate for eBook platform called OverDrive where, over time, we all ages but there are measures in place to let you know will be able to build a wide and varied collection of eB- whether or not a book is suitable for you to read. ooks for our children and students to read – to date we This service is currently only available to children/stuhave over 1750 books available and this will continue to dents from Year 3 upwards, along with members of Patana grow. staff. All classes from Year 3 up to Year 9 have now been We have joined a consortium of schools to launch this introduced to the Sora app where they can access the platform; to date, there are four other schools in Bangkok collection from anywhere with an internet connection. and one in Chiang Mai. This consortium of schools will Remember to download the Sora app from either the allow us the opportunity to build up a large selection of Apple App Store or the Google Play Store (it is free) or books much faster over a shorter period of time. use a web browser to access here. For further instructions, Having the option of reading online, as well as read- visit this link to access other information needed. Please ing the traditional favourite of paper books, will give our make sure to use your school email address and passchildren and students the opportunity of accessing books word, as you will not be able to access the instructions (or at any time and from anywhere. The collection will initially the eBooks) without them. feature a range of popular titles but it is our intention to If you have any problems, please contact Mr. M. develop it in line with the collections we have at school. (stmu@patana.ac.th), Mr. Damon (dapa@patana.ac.th) We use recommendations from staff, children, students and parents to augment the books we already purchase, or Khun Duang (dutu@patana.ac.th) and we will do our as well as ideas from across the globe in different liter- best to help you to get started. ary publications. Your suggestions can be made using the ‘Recommend a Book’ button found on the right hand side of all the Library web pages.
27/11/2020
Bangkok Patana School News
11
Secondary Teachers SWIVL in Learning Carly Ellis, Learning and Teaching Advisor This academic year the Secondary School has purchased a SWIVL. The SWIVL is a device which helps teachers to record lessons. The SWIVL mounts your phone or ipad, connects to a microphone and then rotates to keep the presenter in view. The new Secondary SWIVL has three microphones so the teacher can put microphones around the room to better capture student voice. Thus far, teachers at Bangkok Patana School have used the SWIVL to either reflect on their own practice or share best practice amongst their colleagues. SHARING BEST PRACTICE The learning and teaching advisors have been encouraging teachers to record their lessons which best demonstrate questioning techniques. The clips will then be shared with the wider secondary staff to celebrate the great teaching at Bangkok Patana. After our October Continuous Professional Learning (CPL) days in which Tom Sherrington highlighted the importance of retrieval practice, Mr Jordan Taylor used the SWIVL to share his take on retrieval practice with the English Faculty. Mr Taylor used the SWIVL to record a lesson in which he explained the benefits of retrieval practice and introduced the concept to his students. He videoed a second lesson in which he recorded the students completing retrieval activities. This means that other teachers in the English Faculty can see Mr Taylor in action without missing their own lessons and benefit from his expertise. “I have really enjoyed using SWIVL to reflect on how I use retrieval practices in my classroom. Like an athlete replaying footage from a recent competition, I have been able to consider what is working well and where I can make improvements to enhance students’ learning even further. By recording ourselves teach, I believe that we can share teaching practices more widely around our faculty. In turn, this will help us to develop our discussions about how best to support our students in their learning.” – Jordan Taylor SELF REFLECTION Teachers can review their lesson recordings easily on their SWIVL account. Users can add personal notes, switch audio channels to either listen to themselves or focus on the student microphones. In Term 1A Ms Hatice Torun used the SWIVL to reflect on her teaching practice. “I have used the SWIVL tool to record some of my lessons this term and found it extremely useful for guiding my reflection on my own teaching practice. It was very interesting to view my lesson from the perspective of a student and allowed me to gain a clearer understanding of their experience in my classroom.” – Hatice Torun
If any staff are interested in using the SWIVL, it can be booked through the Equipment booking page on Firefly.
12
Bangkok Patana School News
27/11/2020
27/11/2020
Bangkok Patana School News
13
Science Committee The Beginning of a Transformation The Rooftop of the Science Building Junha Park, 13T bandoned - that was the first thing that came into my mind when I saw the roof of the Science Centre. Directly exposed to the blaze of the Thai sun, nothing stood a chance: the soils were reduced to ash, the plants were mere twigs, and the nets of the shade tents were falling apart.
A
But I also saw potential. As a lover of gardening myself, seeing the unused pots and hydroponics equipment excited me. So, my friends on the Science Committee and I are planning to transform this space, injecting more life to accompany the lone catfish in the corner. Take a look at the current set-up! By mainly focusing on edible plants, we hope that we can one day play a small but important part in the supply for school food. Come by Tuesdays after school from 2.30 - 3.30 pm to help us out, or simply watch!
Email Eva Sophonpanich to book or visit the website for details.
14
Bangkok Patana School News
27/11/2020
Arts Council Exploring Japanese Culture in Art Rie Aiyama, 11L
A
s a Japanese national growing up in a culturally diverse environment, I have always been relatively uninformed about the ‘real’ version of Japan. Fortunately, this also means that I am able to hold unique perspectives on my culture. Hence, fuelled by an increased interest in my identity, and a genuine curiosity of techniques, artists, historical contexts and customs, I decided to base my GCSE Fine Art project on ‘Exploring Japanese Culture’. With this theme I aimed to deepen my understanding – through extensive exploration of contrasting traditional and contemporary lifestyles – thus finding more about my heritage. During my last trip to Japan I visited several museums and galleries, which exposed myself to a unique world of styles. For example, traditional works of Ukiyo-e and Sumi-e, as well as modern aesthetics such as Harajuku fashion. Keeping these in mind, I also found inspiration in my photos of landscapes, temples and people, but notably the Koi fish (becoming a major motif). From here I explored; researched its cultural significance; experimented with numerous sketches; drew large-scale charcoal drawings; and created a 3D clay model, showcasing the accumulation of my exploration. In the near future, I hope to work towards a final piece which will display the koi fish with a personal connotation to me and my identity. The Arts are an experience; of self-discovery, expression, but most importantly, happiness. Therefore, be it a form of catharsis, or comfort, I truly believe students will be able to connect to their own meaningful stories, as I continue to do.
27/11/2020
Bangkok Patana School News
15
REPRINTED FROM AN ARTICLE BY STUDY INTERNATIONAL
A Holistic and Innovative Approach to Education I
t’s no exaggeration that 2020 has sparked a revolution After April 2020, Bangkok Patana merged elements of in education. The main catalyst? Technology — accel- both traditional and flipped classrooms, combining online, erated by a pandemic and powered further by an almost live lessons and well-being chats. “The curriculum itself global lockdown. was adapted with the priority placed on the well-being of our children. Regular, weekly, small group chats proBangkok Patana School is an example of a school who vided the opportunity to reconnect with friends, teachers turned the crisis into an opportunity. It brought the best and teaching assistants and talk together about things of of both worlds — e-learning and face-to-face teaching interest,” Verde explains. — together. It identified the relationship between student characteristics, teaching styles and outcomes — finding its In August, the international school started its 2020-21 strengths and fixing its weaknesses. It’s a reflection of its academic year smoothly. Students and teachers are back commitment to nurture lifelong learners — “patana,” after — happy, relaxed and refreshed. Things are slightly difall, means development in Thai. ferent, however. The school now has a strict 3Ws policy: wash hands regularly, watch your distance at all times, As the country’s first and largest British international and wear your mask at all times. school, the expectations of parents were understandably high on how it would ensure their kids stayed the course “We are confident with all of the extra academically. Suffice to say, Bangkok Patana students health and safety procedures/resources and parents are pretty satisfied with its approach to eduwe have put in place at our school to cation in the new norm. protect your child at all times. We are also confident that we have a highHow did it do it? By combining the best of blended and quality online learning programme that holistic approaches to learning. we can revert back to at any time that it is required,” Matt Mills, Head of School. “Despite the school being physically closed, the learning still goes on in the A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO LEARNING form of our Continuing Student Learning A Year 2 classroom here is painted in muted and calming (CSL). What it looks like, is very different colours. There are cosy spaces called “Zen Dens.” Each to that of a typical classroom model class timetable prioritises a daily mindfulness practice. environment, as it has been flipped and turned on its head,” Mark Verde, Primary Bangkok Patana considers these features — of pedagoAssistant Principal for Learning and gy and facilities — integral to learning. The aim? ProducCurriculum. ing happy, balanced and fulfilled pupils. This attention to detail even includes how to sensitively decorate classrooms in the right colours to make the space feel open and calm. “They also enable the resources, and most importantly, the learners who use the space, to feel more relaxed, at ease and able to concentrate; skills essential for successful learning,” explains Kimberly Powell, Year Two Leader of Learning and Welfare. As for the Zen Dens? They are built to provide cosy, comforting and welcoming spaces within the classroom to promote communication and problem solving. “These
16
Bangkok Patana School News
27/11/2020
spaces support the development of children’s communication skills and include features which are beneficial for children with Speech, Language and Communication Needs, as well as supporting our English as an Additional Language (EAL) learners. In developing these spaces, we are removing barriers to communication. As well as scaffolding communication, these spaces also support learning as well as social and emotional development,” Powell says.
benefit from its long term gains,” Powell shares.
Like some of the most successful companies in the world today, such as Google and General Mills, mindfulness is also prioritised here. Research has shown that regular practice of mindfulness helps with regulating emotions; decreasing stress, anxiety and depression; improving focus; observing our thoughts and feelings without judgment; and making us healthier physically. “If we can enable children to form habitual mindfulness practises that become part of their daily routine, they will be well-equipped with the tools to draw upon throughout their future lives and hopefully
These measures reflect Bangkok Patana’s holistic approach to learning: educating pupils not to win the race for grades, but to reach for their best socially, emotionally and cognitively. Powell believes this approach can nurture better adjusted learners which in turn leads to an increase in academic success. “We can be assured that if we nurture these attributes in our children, they will possess benefits which reach far beyond their formal education,” she adds.
The perks for pupils extend beyond greater social and emotional intelligence. One study by Wake Forest University School of Medicine found that meditation-trained participants showed a significant improvement in their critical cognitive skills. In cognitive tests, they performed significantly higher than a control group after only four days of training for only 20 minutes each day.
Study International
(I)GCSE Home Languages I
f your child studies a language outside of school, either a Home Language or a Foreign Language, and would like to consider taking an (I) GCSE exam in that language this academic year, please contact Celine Courenq, Head of Faculty World Languages (ceco@patana.ac.th) before Monday, 30th November. In your email please include: • the full name of your child • his/her tutor group • the language they wish to be entered for • the syllabus code of the exam - for example” Cambridge IGCSE Chinese - Second Language (0523)”
27/11/2020
Bangkok Patana School News
17
#169: Managing Triggers to Digital Distractions I
n the Year 10 Tutorial session this week students learnt about how tech companies leverage persuasive design techniques and dark patterns to manipulate our digital diet. Then they went on to explore developing their own strategies to manage their digital distractions. A copy of the presentation can be found on this link. This leads me onto focussing on the triggers that cause the distraction. As mentioned by author Nir Eyal’s in his book, Indistractable, many of us vilify technology as being the cause for our distractions. He emphasises that distraction is nothing new, rather than blaming technology for our inability to stay on track, we must take responsibility and understand the root causes if we have any hope of reclaiming our attention. We need to be aware of, and master, our causes of internal/external triggers. If you want an overview of the book, please watch the video below – I highly recommend getting a copy of his yourself.
Hope to see you at the PTG Tech tips next Tuesday in the PTG Meeting Room. We will be looking at how the school manages iPads in the classroom and how, as a parent, you can follow similar steps with an iPad you may have at home. Have a great weekend.
Brian Taylor Assistant Principal, Campus Curriculum Technology Integration
18
Bangkok Patana School News
27/11/2020
27/11/2020
Bangkok Patana School News
19
STUDENTS SPEAK Mouth Ulcers
Nichapatr (Petch) Lomtakul and Narin (Estelle) Kim, 12G
E
ver had such an aching pain in your mouth it even hurt to talk and eat? Mouth ulcers, also known as canker sores or aphthous ulcers, are most probably the underlying source of such agony. Swollen around the edges, they are small oval-shaped lesions that are generally harmless, albeit painful, and merely a minor discomfort for the vast majority of us. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. 20-30% of the global population suffers from recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) – a condition in which the patient has several mouth ulcers at once. Here, consulting a medical professional is the best option. These mouth ulcers can be a symptom of a malfunctioning immune system or one of the following diseases: • Hand, food, and mouth disease • Oral lichen planus • Celiac disease • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) • Diabetes mellitus • Bahcet’s disease • HIV/AIDS With that being said, less extreme cases of mouth ulcers are much more common amongst the general population. There are a multitude of uncontrollable causes. This includes hormonal changes (especially during menstruation and pregnancy), diseases (as mentioned previously), genes (those who carry certain genes are more prone to mouth ulcers than others), and vitamin B-12 or iron deficiency. On a less likely note, the action of abruptly quitting smoking is another possible trigger. In contrast, mouth ulcers also stem from a number of controllable causes, like damaged cheeks due to hot food, braces, or bites. Similarly, anything that irritates the inside of the mouth can lead to the formation of mouth ulcers; for instance, toothpastes that contain sodium lauryl sulphate and toothbrushes that damage the gums can cut the mouth tissue. In terms of food, the overconsumption of acidic foods such as strawberries and trigger foods such as chocolate can also aggravate the tissue over time. Stress and tiredness are typically the average cause of mouth ulcers, alongside the aforementioned physical factors. Read the entire article on Scientia here
Contribute your article for publication in the magazine and in the Patana News! scientia@patana. ac.th 20
Bangkok Patana School News
27/11/2020
The Something Something Show with Mr. Microphone
Garam (Momo) Lee, 5W TONIGHT’S GUESTS: MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS r. Microphone: Welcome to the Something Something Show. I’m your host, Mr. Microphone. We’ve got a fantastic show for you tonight about the magnificent world of music. But first a joke:
M
What type of music are balloons afraid of? Pop music! This evening, we’ll be talking to some of my favourite musical instruments: Guitar, Piano, Drums and Saxophone. Come on out guys! Saxophone: Thanks for having us, man! Good evening everybody! Mr. Microphone: So, tell us what it’s like to be in a band. Drums: We love it! Every instrument has a part to play. It’s my job to keep the rhythm and make sure the whole band is playing in sync. Piano: Thanks to Drums, the rest of us can play more freely, without too much stress. Mr. Microphone: Drums, isn’t it painful to be bashed by drumsticks all day long? Drums: I’m used to it. Despite having a headache after every show, I enjoy making music because I know that it makes people happy. Mr. Microphone: That’s very selfless of you, Drums! Can you explain to us how sound works? Guitar: Vibrations! For example, my strings vibrate, and the sound waves travel through my body, out of my stomach and into the air. When sound waves hit your ear drum, your ear drum starts vibrating, and that’s how you hear the music. Mr. Microphone: Very interesting; I never knew that! Saxophone: Maybe that’s because you don’t have any ears, Mr. Microphone! Mr. Microphone: That is true… And you, Saxophone? Can you tell us more about what you do in the band? Saxophone: Sure. It’s my job to keep everything coooool. Drums, Guitar and Piano already sound great together, but when you add Saxophone… BOOM, you take the song to the next level of coolness! Mr. Microphone: KABOOM! So, I heard that you have a new album coming out. Is that right? Piano: That’s correct. Well, it’s not really ours, but we played the music for Ariana Latte’s new album, Espresso Yourself! Mr. Microphone: You’re playing a song for us tonight as well. Will Ariana be performing with you? Is she here?? Piano: Unfortunately, Ariana won’t be joining us tonight… (Audience moans in disappointment) Saxophone: But don’t worry! We’ll make sure to keep it real cooool. Mr. Microphone: We’ll be right back with a musical performance of Ariana Latte’s new single (without Ariana Latte) after the break. 27/11/2020
Bangkok Patana School News
21
UNI COUNSELORS’ CORNER In the Spotlight...
SP Jain School of Global Management, Australia
T
he SP Jain School of Global Management is an Australian business school with campuses in Dubai, Singapore, Sydney and Mumbai. The school allows students to study different courses across the different campuses. S P Jain offers Bachelor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Business Communication, Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Data Science as well an online diploma in Business. Professsional courses in key areas include: big data and analytics, cybersecurity, virtual reality, digital marketing and metrics and fintech (financial technology). There are also specific entrepeneurial courses for family managed businesses. While SP Jain has not ranked in the Times Higher Education World Rankings, it has been scored highly by Forbes and The Economist for its MBA programme.
University Visits UNIVERSITY/COLLEGE
COUNTRY
LOCATION
DATE
TIME
University of the Arts
UK
30.11.2020
2.30 pm
Queen Mary - University of London University of Bristol
UK
1.12.2020
2.30 pm
UK
3.12.2020
2.30 pm
University of Bristol
UK
3.12.2020
2.30 pm
University of St Andrews
UK
2nd Floor Senior Studies 2nd Floor Senior Studies 2nd Floor Senior Studies 2nd Floor Senior Studies 2nd Floor Senior Studies
3.12.2020
2.30 pm
22
Bangkok Patana School News
27/11/2020
the m o r f t s e The lat
27/11/2020
PTG
Bangkok Patana School News
Click here to join the PTG Facebook Group
23
Desert Island Discs With Stephanie Evans, Head of Secondary Learning Support
T
his column follows in the style of the famed BBC podcast which features a celebrity every week – here we feature our own Bangkok Patana celebrities! What eight songs, one luxury item and one book would you take with you if you were stuck on a desert island? Today Stephanie Evans, Head of Secondary Learning Support, is stuck on a desert island. MS EVANS, IF YOU WERE STUCK ON A DESERT ISLAND WHAT EIGHT PIECES OF MUSIC WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU? Wearing the Inside Out – Pink Floyd Air – Kelly Watch the Stars - Air In the Waiting Line – Zero 7 Wake up Boo – Boo Radleys One More Addiction – Natalie Imbruglia Where the Wild Roses Grow - Kylie Minogue, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Mary’s in India - Dido
Listen to Ms Evans’ playlist here
Better Together - Jack Johnson PICK ONE LUXURY ITEM YOU WOULD WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU. THIS ITEM MUST BE INANIMATE AND OF NO USE IN ESCAPING THE ISLAND OR ALLOWING COMMUNICATION FROM OUTSIDE. My Bed (including the mattress!) WHICH ONE BOOK WOULD YOU WANT TO HAVE WITH YOU? The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon Catch the real Desert Island Discs on BBC. Now that you are stuck at home, what are you listening to? Have a list of your own? Let us know! Contact SHKN with your favourites.
Check the calendar! Monday 7th December is not a school holiday! 2020/21 CALENDAR
24
Bangkok Patana School News
27/11/2020
the m o r f e r Mo
27/11/2020
PTG
Bangkok Patana School News
Click here to join the PTG Facebook Group
25
COMMUNITY
26
Bangkok Patana School News
27/11/2020
27/11/2020
Bangkok Patana School News
27
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 28
Bangkok Patana School News
27/11/2020