Our mission is to ensure that students of different nationalities grow to their full potential as independent learners in a caring British international community.
NEWS Patana
Thursday 13th September 2018
Volume 21 Issue 5
www.patana.ac.th
THE MONTHLY BLOG Mr Mills talks expectations, HFMD and important Patana people. Page 2 Also in this issue... Work Experience: Bunrungrad Hospital / A Revolving World / Social Media: Friend or Foe? 13/09/2018
Bangkok Patana School News
Bangkok Patana is a not-for-profit IB World School, accredited by CIS, NEASC and ONESQA
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Greetings Everyone, We are already well into September and the pace at Bangkok Patana continues to move at record speeds. Students are now well into their courses, their new learning journeys well under way. Our new students and teachers have settled in well to their new learning environments and have already experienced their first whole school assembly, which is great opportunity to observe the sheer scale of our school’s high population and to also taste the Bangkok Patana culture all under one roof. A parent the other day asked me why we have a long weekend scheduled at such an early time in the academic year? It’s a good question and the answer is really simple: After a long summer holiday, when students and teachers get back into school routines, everyone is really focused, the adrenaline kicks in as first term expectations are very high and over the years we have noticed by the end of week four everyone is incredibly tired. So having a long weekend at around week four/five is just the tonic to refresh and realign as we move into a very long and challenging term ahead. So what is a Blog? A blog (a truncation of the expression weblog)is a discussion or informational site published on the World Wide Web consisting of discrete entries (“posts”) typically displayed in reverse chronological order. My aim with my HOS blogs here in the Patana News is to keep the community up to date on all areas of the school focusing on learning and school daily life. Having High Expectations for All I have always been a great believer in raising the bar and aiming high in everything that I have undertaken. My personal motto has been “You CAN do it” and its always helped me to drive forward and do the best that I possibly can. I remember being profoundly influenced by a teacher when I was in the sixth form back in New Zealand, who happened to teach me two subjects. She always had such a positive upbeat personality but she also pushed us very hard and would constantly use terms like “You can do it”, “I believe in you”, “Look at the task again and go even deeper”. I responded incredibly positively in her classes, as I knew she had high expectations of what I could achieve and I aimed even higher than I normally would have done. This video clip highlights the importance of teachers having high expectations in the classroom and includes quotes from Carol Dweck who wrote a highly respected book on the importance of having a growth mindset. HFMD As you might be, aware we have had another round of Hand Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) cases impact our school over the past three weeks, but what is HFMD? Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is a common viral illness that usually affects infants and children younger than five years old. However, it can sometimes occur in adults. Symptoms of hand, foot, and mouth disease include fever, mouth sores and a skin rash. Our wonderful Head Nurse, Khun Patama has become almost an expert on this common disease as she has been tracking HFMD numbers at our school over many years now and regularly liaises with the BMA, (Bangkok Municipal Authority), whenever we have any cases whether they are isolated or a wave impacting many students. The BMA protocol is, if we have three or more cases in a class or in a Foundation Stage learning zone, we must close down the class/ 2
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zone for a minimum of five consecutive days so that the virus cannot spread. Children who have the virus must stay at home for seven consecutive days. Here is an example of the HFMD letter that gets sent home to parents when the first case is discovered. Already this year we have had to close Foundation Stage 2, zone three because we had three cases confirmed. HFMD mainly effects children five years and younger but is so contagious and it spreads so quickly that if a slightly older sibling is in close proximity there is a high change that they will catch it too. The school takes a very serious view on HFMD as it impacts learning. We keep the school very clean, disinfecting toys and equipment on a regular basis. Unfortunately, whatever we do at school doesn’t stop the virus from entering school. One parent asked me how come Bangkok Patana seems to get more HFMD cases than other schools? The simple answer is we have the largest age 3-5 student population in any international school in Thailand, so of course we are going to get larger numbers. The key instruction to parents is to regularly check their children for any fever and keep their children at home if they do. Seeking medical advice is always a good strategy when your child has any form of fever. Informing the school that your child has a fever is important as our nurses can also track the virus and conduct regular inspections in affected Year groups. The school also in turn communicates to all parents in the specific area of the school that we have HFMD absences so all parents can start regularly checking for fevers or possible mouth sores. Making sure students regularly wash their hands with soap and warm water is always a good HFMD preventer as well. This also means that a child that has been sent home from school for a certain period cannot then attend a birthday party over the weekend as the virus will still spread especially in large student gatherings. Some children recuperate very quickly from HFMD but they must stay at home for a certain time so they don’t spread the virus, this is very important to adhere to. We are continuing to regularly liaise with local health authorities and the BMA but one thing is for certain, HFMD is not going to suddenly vanish and we need to work together to minimise the impact to our student’s health and learning. I take this opportunity to thank Khun Patama and all the wonderful nursing staff who do such a good job looking after the health of our students. Important People in the Patana Family A selection of very important people in our school organisation who you may not know that well but their impact on the school is enormous. This month we interviewed Khun Nida, our new HR Manager. Khun Nida Kiratisoothisathorn was born in Bangkok and went to school at Mater Dei School. She acquired HR related qualifications at the Society for Human Resources Management in Virginia, USA. She completed her MBA at the University of Warwick in the UK. She has worked for the Ford Motor Company and at the College of Music at Mahidol University. She loves classical music and visiting art galleries. Khun Nida has made a real positive start at Bangkok Patana and we wish her all the very best. The Annual Patana Fun Run I am looking forward to my eleventh Patana Fun Run on Sunday 23rd September. Ancient Siam is such a tranquil environ to gather as a school community and raise funds for charity at the same time. I worked out that I will have walked more than 50 Fun Run kilometres in total after this year’s event! It’s a great way to start an early Sunday morning, get some required physical exercise with your friends and then you still have most of the day to enjoy with your family. Registration to join the event closes this Sunday (16th) at midnight. Great Educational Articles to Share I got sent this very interesting resource which is from Netsafe that deals with all of the hoax emails we receive in our inbox from time to time. I thought you might find it useful. I hope you enjoy our first long weekend. Matt Mills, Head of School 13/09/2018
Bangkok Patana School News
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SI
G TH N IS UP SPRESENTS U CL N O D SE AY S !
the bangkok patana
FUN RUN SUNDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER 2018 AT 07:00 AM THE ANCIENT SIAM, SAMUT PRAKARN, THAILAND
RACE CATEGORIES 9 km -
Male & Female - 15 & Under, 16 - 19yrs, Over 20
5 km -
Male & Female - 11 & Under, 12-13yrs, 14-15yrs, 16-19 yrs, Over 20
3 km -
Male & Female - 11 & Under, 12-13yrs, 14-15yrs, 16-19yrs
1.3km -
Male & Female - 9 & Under, 11 & Under, with everyone else running, cycling, scootering or walking for fun!
REGISTer now http://www.gotorace.com/event/bps-fun-run-2018/ OR SCAN THE QR CODE FOR MORE INFORMATION
CLICK HERE!
thank you to all our sponsors Platinum Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Tel: +66 2687 7800 www.asiantigers-mobility.com
Please note: Entries will be received up until mignight on Sunday 16th September, 2018. There will be no late entries after this date and NO REGISTRATION ON THE DAY. Please sign up early to avoid disappointment.
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Bangkok Patana School News
13/09/2018
Introducing
The Surfing Scientist
Saturday 29th September Rosamund Stuetzel Theatre, Bangkok Patana School 9:00am Refreshments, 9:30 - 10:30am Demonstration
CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR SEAT NOW!
Ruben Meerman is a physicist, author and children’s television presenter, better known to Australian kids as “the surfing scientist”. Ruben uses liquid nitrogen and laser beams to reveal the amazing world of atoms and molecules. All students* and parents are invited to join him on a mind-blowing journey from the coldest temperature possible to the hottest, from the tiny spaces inside atoms to the grand scale of the Cosmos, and from the Big Bang into the unknown future. You’ll see balloons popping inside balloons, explosions of fog and even learn how to do some fascinating experiments at home, using ordinary household materials!
*Please note that Primary students must be accompanied by an adult
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ALUMNI COMMUNITY
Cheryl Rego, Development, Alumni and Marketing Manager
T
he friends and relationships students make during their school years can last a lifetime. What about the student’s relationship with the school itself? Since its inception in 1957, Bangkok Patana School has seen an incredible number of students in and out of its doors. Every student, staff and parent who has been a part of our community is welcomed into the Bangkok Patana alumni community when they leave the school. As an international school, some of our alumni may never have an opportunity to step foot on school premises again as their careers and lives take them far across the world. For others though, twenty, thirty and even some fifty years later they find themselves once more back in Bangkok re-living and sharing memories of their days at school. We have had visits from past students who were at our previous campuses on Soi Ngam Duphli and Soi Navin, those who were some of the first students at Lasalle and lots of visits from our younger alum. The relationship between ex-students and the school can go deeper than just sharing memories. As people mature in their careers and become more stable in their lives, they look for ways to share their experiences for the benefit of others. We have alumni who provide internship opportunities for current students, others who share information on
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their alma mater university or can provide advice and tips on working in a particular job or industry. For our newest alumni, seeing a friendly face with a shared Bangkok Patana history in their new university town is a tremendous source of comfort when they are far from home. Bangkok Patana alum are invited to join the alumni group through registering at http://alumni.patana.ac.th. Anyone who has attended Bangkok Patana, even if it was for only a short time, is considered an alum of the school. Through this network, alumni can hook into networking events, reunions and sports days. Through the alumni Facebook Page past students and parents share photos, memories and find long-lost friends. We are in the process of gathering the stories of our many alum, and would like any parents who are Bangkok Patana alum to please contact us at alumni@patana.ac.th. We are so proud to have you as part of our community once again! Did you know? One of our first principals, Mrs Nicolette Queckett, was awarded the Order of Australia for her Service to Education, last month. We have a few staff at school who were Bangkok Patana students. Can you guess who they are?
Bangkok Patana School News
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#100: The Power of Expectations
P
lease take three minutes out of your busy schedule to watch this powerful YouTube video on the how our expectations can subtly adjust our behaviour. The video is a recent synthesis of an NPR podcast titled ‘How to Become Batman’, you can listen to the whole show dedicated to the topic of expectations. This links closely to the expectation ‘baggage’ we carry with us when we are discussing the digital habits of our loved ones, especially our children. Next time you’re having a difficult conversation over screen-time, gaming, social media, or any of the other aspects of their/ our digital diet, try to avoid bringing your expectations to the table.
Have a wonderful long(er) weekend. Brian Taylor Assistant Principal, Cross Campus Curriculum Technology Integration Links in this article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbhwlRRW_3o https://www.npr.org/programs/invisibilia/378577902/how-to-become-batman
DATES
for your
Friday 14th September Academic Day Off Sunday 23rd September Patana Fun Run Friday 5th October Tiger Spirit Day
Diary... Monday 15
Friday 5th October PTG Big Night Out th
13/09/2018
October King Rama IX Memorial Day in Lieu
Bangkok Patana School News
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STUDENTS SPEAK What is Flexibility and What Causes Inflexibility? By Karnsiree (Ling Ling) Chen, Year 12
Many may wonder about the mystery of flexibility after watching a viral contortionist on You Tube, viewing an awe inspiring acrobatics performance or gymnasts in action: marvelling at the extraordinary lengths they can bend. The human body is fascinating in its many adaptations to assist us in achieving cohesiveness with the environment, constantly changing to conform to different norms. Flexibility is basically defined as how far a joint or group of joints moves through a full range of motion, without much pain. Some people are inherently less flexible than others because of a variety of reasons like age, gender, lifestyle and also excessive exercise of a certain type. Generally, women are more flexible than men because of different joint and bone structures. Specific configurations are more susceptible to stretching without pain, and this trait happens to be expressed more in females. Increasing age makes joints resistant to movement and the elderly may also experience deterioration in muscles, tendons, ligaments and cartilage which can also reduce range of motion in joints. Lastly, a sedentary lifestyle is also a big contributor to inflexibility: if you sit at a desk all day, your hamstrings will likely become short and tight without regular stretching and lengthening, causing pain during any attempts to stretch. More recently studies have shown that genetics also play a part in flexibility. A gene called COL5A1 is linked to your hereditary level of flexibility. There are two versions of the gene: one that means you are inflexible and one which codes for flexibility that will last throughout old age. The same gene that makes you inflexible also has associations to the speed that you are genetically able to run: those with inflexible genes are more likely to be able to run faster. This concept can be explained as muscle fibres are like rubber bands, some are tight and others are loose. The tight ones store energy well and provide a power source for speed in runners. The loose ones provide flexibility and can stretch. Neither too tight nor too loose muscle fibres are preferable. When too tight, there is increased potential for injury, muscle spasms and strains in the lower back. If too loose, muscle fibres do not provide sufficient muscle strength. There are many ways to improve flexibility, no matter your age, one of the most popular being yoga. Image sources: Photo 1, Photo 2
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Bangkok Patana School News
13/09/2018
41%
% of teens with a smartphone
34%
Social Media: Friend or Foe? % of teens who use social media multiple times a day
2012
By Navraj Singh, Year 12
Anyone able to access this article will be familiar with the term ‘social media’. These two words seem to instill fear in most parents and arouse their protective instincts for their not so helpless child. With scores of videos and articles feeding us information about how social media is changing our brains, how Social media is promoting narcissism amongst the future generations or how it’s increasing suicide rates amongst teenagers, I cannot argue the science nor the statistics, however; I can share my views on how useful social media is and discuss whether I think it’s doing more harm than good.
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ness and an insight into people’s lives from all walks of life. My father, like most people his age, grew up They’rethis being fromthat other without and distracted is quite grateful I’m important growing upthings an differently.
Nonetheless, there are some downsides. Although social media can be a gateway to awe-inspiring 57% content, it can also be54% quite poisonous. At an29% age of all teens agree that using of teen social media users agree of teen smartphone ow where one’s outlook towards the world is evolving, social media often distracts that it often distracts them say they’ve been woke itthem is when easythey toshould be be influenced ideas that cantheir lead when theyby should be paying phones during th doing awry. homework. attention to the people they’re by a call, text, or notifi one Furthermore, watching all these people, Among 13- to 17-year-olds with, compared to 44% in 2012. the United States themselves, influence and many who areinteenagers shape the world can make one feel useless and in-
Social Media, Social Life 2018 Social media use among teens has increased dramatically.
Teens don’t value face-to-face communication
89%
Teens overwhelmingly with friends as much as they used to. choose Snapchat as their Teens favorite way of communicating, 2012 vs. 2018 main social media site.
70%
in teens person Percent of who say they use each social media site the most:
When as
54
49%
texting
33%
social media
% of teens with a smartphone % of teens who use social media multiple times a day
41%
video-chatting
34%
2012
2018
41%
Snapchat
22%
7% 2% 2012
15%
35% 32%
46
16% 10% 2018
Most of us are so used to social media we forget that significant. Not to say that people didn’t feel like this 18 SOCIALsocial MEDIA, SOCIAL LIFE: TEENS REVEAL THEIR EXPERIENCES, 2018 one of its main benefits is the spreading of ideas and before media but these feelings play a much education. If you were to from ask aother childimportant to show you significant They’re being distracted thingsmore and their friends.role now. In addition to this, any avid their role model, they would almost certainly open a social media user will know the feeling of extreme YouTube, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter page. With loneliness that comes slithering in when we see our social media, we have access to the achievement of friends, or even strangers, enjoying a social event so57% many groups, people in real whilst we42% aren’t – even if we just came home from 54% and organisations29% of all teens agreesuch that using of teen social media users Vodka agree offor teenDog smartphone owners of teens agree that media society, it’s easy to feel time. Pages as Billionsinchange, something similar. Insocial today’s social media often distracts that it often distracts them say they’ve been woken up by has taken away from time they People and Charity Water are all pages that show like we aren’t enough and sadly social media usually them when they should be when they should be paying their phones during the night could spend with friends in person, people making a difference heightenscompared that feeling. doing homework. attention toin thethe peopleworld. they’re Bybylimiting a call, text, or notification. to 34% in 2012. compared to 44% in 2012. a child’s social mediawith, exposure, you are confining While the above may be enough to persuade some them to a limited world of school and family. For chilto try to remove social media from their children’s dren to grow into truly unique individuals, which are lives, it is worth Teens don’t value face-to-face communication What happens onlineremembering stays online. though although I in short supply, we should let them explore what’s described these factors they are not with friends as much as they used to. When asked to pick which comes closer to the as truth,poisonous, teens say: out there. venomous. The difference being that poisons work Teens favorite way of communicating, 2012 vs. 2018 Another beauty of social media is how widely it con- when weIf put them inside parents knew what actuallyour bodies, venoms are in49% in person happens social media, they’d is that it isn’t too difficult nects us. As a boy in an international school, I have jected into us.onWhat I mean be a lot more worried about it. friendstexting in almost every continent in the to block out most, if not all, of the above mentioned 35%world (Ant33% 32% arcticasocial being the exception!). These contacts are re- threats and indulge almost Parents worry too much about fully in only the rewards media use of social media. ally useful; for example, I ask my friend in Quebec of social teens’ media. Whether your child reaps the benevideo-chatting for help with French grammar and in16% return I help fits or is harmed by social media really depends on 10% 7% her with English. My friend had a history lesson in how they use it. For more information on how you which his teacher got in2%touch with a colleague from can live a healthy digital life, click here. 2012 2018 a school in Texas and through social media she now Infographics: Common Sense Media has friends in America. Social media gives us aware-
54% 46%
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SOCIAL MEDIA, SOCIAL LIFE: TEENS REVEAL THEIR EXPERIENCES, 2018
13/09/2018
www.commonsense.org /social-media-social-life-2018
Bangkok Patana School News
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www.co
UNI COUNSELLORS CORNER E
ach week, we will provide a small challenge that should take less than 15 minutes. Designed to help students get a jump-start in the college process, the tasks are particularly intended for Year 12 students but they can be done by students in any year as well as parents! Challenge 2 This weekend, have an honest conversation with your parents about your university criteria and plans. Come and see your Link Counsellor if you have any questions, comments or concerns.
ALUMNI E X P E R I E N C E
IN THE SPOTLIGHT...
University of New South Wales, Australia UNSW Sydney is Australia’s global university. They have been at the forefront of clever ideas and ground-breaking discoveries since 1949. Their focus is on transforming these ideas and discoveries into activities that lead to social progress and economic prosperity. The university attracts over 52,000 high-achieving students, including over 13,000 international students from more than 130 countries. No longer young in years, they remain young in spirit, committed to pioneering research and preparing the next generation of talented students for career success. They have one of the country’s largest research communities with over 4,300 researchers and are an acknowledged world leader in photovoltaics, HIV/AIDS research and quantum computing. Are you ready to be a world changer?
UPCOMING UNIVERSITY VISITS UNIVERSITY / COLLEGE
COUNTRY
Andrew Brown attended Bangkok Patana for three years, going on to study at the University of New South Wales. “I returned home to Sydney in 2009 to start at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). I originally undertook a Bachelor of Science with a major in Geography, but after a year of sampling rocks and soil, I decided that my interests were elsewhere. My passion was with culture and people and so I transferred into a Bachelor of Arts where I majored in Sociology and Anthropology and Australian Studies. This was the best decision as I enjoyed all the courses I studied after that. I strongly encourage you to follow your passions and study what you want to study. UNSW offered many courses within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences that catered to my interests. During my studies I went on field trips to the restricted section of Museums to sample objects not open to the public, I did interviews and fieldwork in Sydney’s diasporic hotspots like China Town to investigate how people’s connection to food reminds them of the homeland and had heated debates in class about the origins of Hello Kitty and her domination over Japanese Kawaii culture (and the world!). My studies were challenging but rewarding as well. It gave me a deep cultural appreciation and an understanding of the diversity of our world, Patana sparked that interest in me at an early age. The courses at UNSW taught me valuable skills such as critically analysing and reading academic work. I enjoyed it so much I extended my studies and completed a thesis on suicide within young gay men. I embraced the extra-curricular activities UNSW had to offer and found myself being involved in their many clubs and societies (yes, we even had a cake society!). The university is situated not far from the Sydney CBD and beaches, so it is a great place to study, relax and make lots of new friends.”
REP
Bangkok Patana University Fair
LOCATION
DATE
TIME
Conference Centre
20.09.18
08:00
Senior Studies, second floor
20.09.18
12:15
The University of Nottingham
UK
The University of Oxford
UK
SEC 302/303
20.09.18
12:15
University of Notre Dame, Dartmouth College, University of Virginia and Berkeley
US
Rosamund Stuetzel Theatre
20.09.18
19:00
CIS-EARCOS Institute | University Fair
Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok
22.09.18
16:30
Study in Hong Kong Education Fair and Information Session
Park Hyatt, Bangkok
23.09.18
13:00
Dr Pinnington
Leeds Art University
UK
Kyle Henry
Senior Studies, second floor
24.09.18
12:15
University of California, San Diego
US
John Huart
Senior Studies, second floor
27.09.18
12:15
Dartmouth College
US
Elkie Vandenbeemt
TBC
28.09.18
12:15
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Bangkok Patana School News
13/09/2018
MEDICINE TALK BY DR LORRAINE PINNINGTON
THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM We are delighted to welcome Dr Lorraine Pinnington from the University of Nottingham. She is Associate Professor in Rehabilitation Medicine at the School of Medicine and well versed in the medical application process. Date: Thursday 20th September Time:12:15 – 13:05 Where: SCI 404 (Mr Burrell’s Biology lab) What to bring: A sandwich and a drink Dr Pinnington will deliver a presentation on: • the unique nature of the UK Medicine application process • note the different approaches to studying Medicine • highlight the qualities that make a successful medical practitioner • reinforce the realities of what it is like to study medicine and to be a doctor • suggest ways to prepare for the BMAT and UKCAT tests There will be an interactive element towards the end of the presentation where you will gain first-hand experience of a MMI style interview. Tip: The Medic Portal is a particularly good resource for any student considering a future in Medicine.
WELCOMING
TO BANGKOK PATANA SCHOOL
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UNIVERSITY FAIR 2018 150 universities from 18 different countries
20th
September 8.00am to 9.30am Conference Centre If you have any questions about this event please contact lipe@patana.ac.th Scan the QR code to see which colleges and universities are attending!
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WORK EXPERIENCE: BUMRUNGRAD HOSPITAL Over 90 of our Year 11 students participated in our School Arranged Work Experience Programme in June. Bumrungrad Hospital have been long term supporters of our programme and we were thrilled to be able to give our students the opportunity again this year to experience, first hand, what goes on behind the scenes in a busy hospital environment. I have become more self-aware and know that although the end goal of helping people in need will forever be my driving force, medicine is not quite the right field for me, as I would still like to spend my time in other areas to satisfy my intellectual curiosities, and not be so solely focused on one specific subset in science. In the future, I want to pursue biochemistry, or something in the natural sciences on the path to public health; although I may not be based in a hospital, I want to make sure that my hard work and dedication will reach the families or children that need it most.” Varisa (Fern) Tantivess, 12B “It was very eye opening for me to be able to see the work behind the scenes with real cases for us to see the complexity of hospital. We learnt that hospitals aren’t just about doctors “The advice and personal stories told by several highly ex- and nurses, but the laboratory work also plays very crucial perienced doctors also gave me a more vivid idea of the roles in the functionality of hospitals.” future pathways I might consider. Not only did I learn about Stephanie Davis, 12L the technical aspects of medicine, but the genuine personalities of the staffs working there was one of the things that really “Through this work placement I managed to see the behind stood out to me. Their compassionate and empathetic nature the scenes of a hospital and the various lifestyle of each docshows whenever they explain or answer our questions which tor. It showed how much time and dedication is needed for a doctor and through speaking with them the commitment was truly heart-warming to witness.” needed beforehand as well.” Pokphazz (Pat) Christjaroon, 12S Pavrita (Rita) Hsieh, 12B “For me, the most enriching moments were when we had opportunities to have casual conversation with the experienced “For me, the highlights of the placement include visiting the doctors. I learned from Dr Wachara that you must be willing women’s centre and the pathology lab as I was able to truto dedicate every second of your time into the field, and often ly grasp how demanding a doctor’s work is in the women’s times the line between personal and work life is blurred - it is centre and its importance as well as being able to see canup to you to prioritise, and sometimes these pressures can be cerous cells in various organs in the pathology lab. I discovered that to work in the medical field you must be truly pasextremely difficult to handle. sionate about the profession and be willing to dedicate your I learned from Dr Nopadol that medical school is a gruel- life to helping others. Although I truly enjoyed the placement I ling period of time in the process, and that you must have have discovered that the medical field is not a field in which your individual distinct reasons for pursuing the field, or else I would like to dedicate my life as I now understand that I am you will not thrive. Of course, I had already been aware of much more passionate about laboratory research as well as these facts prior to the internship, but talking to the veterans sectors such as evolutionary biology and botany. I am gratewith years of experience offered me an additional, invalua- ful to have had this amazing experience as it has allowed me ble insight into the intriguing world of medicine and made me to have a much clearer idea as to what I would like to pursue understand that although it is a rewarding career, it takes a in the future.” truly persevering heart to push through. From this experience, Maya Lemaire, 12T 14
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that I would be able to work set hours and I imagine that being able to see the progress of a patient daily would be very fulfilling and satisfying.“ Enaara Pussagoda, 12T “I have had the privilege to experience working life at Bumrungrad Hospital. Over three days, we got an overview of many sections of the hospital, including the Pathology Laboratory, Emergency Rooms and Women’s Centre, as well as getting the chance to speak with doctors about how they came to study medicine. My favourite part of this experience was when we got to see an ultrasound of a 38-week old baby. It opened my eyes to something I have never seen before but it also showed me the miracle of life. After speaking to several doctors, it became clear that there are many different “Overall, this work experience placement reinforced any ide- lifestyles a medical professional can have, from working from as I had about working in medicine, but also showed me that 8:00am to 5:00pm or being on call and having a 10:00pm there are many forms of work in a hospital, not just becoming to 7:00am shift. This showed me that working in medicine a doctor. We received excellent advice, and the memories takes a lot of passion, dedication and responsibility.” the doctors shared with us really helped me to understand Elena Bien, 12V the realities of medicine and the immense responsibility and “I found out that there are other career paths that will allow dedication it takes to become a doctor.” me to work in the hospital without being a doctor, for example Karnsiree (Ling Ling) Chen, 12I the BioMedical Engineering department, which plays a huge “Through this experience I learnt more about a doctor’s life- role in the hospital. I was able to see how doctors balance style and work life, depending on what you choose to spe- family life and work life carefully as they work very long and cialise in, it is possible to work set hours and have a balanced busy hours nearly every day. Overall this experience gave me life. Visiting the Physical Therapy centre really opened my a better understanding of life working in the medical field and eyes, as before I was solely focused on biomedicine and that the path to becoming a doctor is extremely demanding.” didn’t desire to become a doctor. However, being a physio- Thanacha (Prae) Thanunmunee, 12T therapist has now grasped my interest and attention, I realised Our Year 11 Work Experience Programme runs in the final week of the school year (17th – 21st June, 2019). We are always seeking to secure placements for interested students and we also strongly encourage and support those students who are able to arrange independent opportunities. We are incredibly grateful to the individuals, businesses and organisations who have supported the Work Experience Programme over the years. If you are interested in discovering more about how you and your organisation could possibly place one or more Bangkok Patana students next June, please get in touch with the University and Careers Team.
Did you see the new
Ready Steady Patana film?
The film released this week, posed the question ‘What Makes You Happy At School?’ Click on the image to visit our You Tube channel and don’t forget to subscribe! To find out how you can get involved email Mark raln@patana.ac.th
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BASKETBALL BONANZA Tristan McCarthy, Primary PE Teacher
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fter school on Friday 31st August, over 65 students took part in this year’s Basketball Bonanza. This was a great opportunity for the students to hone their skills for the upcoming Basketball ECA. Students were put into teams and played lots of action packed games, experiencing first-hand the rules that we’ll be following throughout the ECA Block. All the coaches were very impressed by the level of individual skill and teamwork that the students displayed during the games, resulting in lots of baskets scored. However, the most pleasing aspect of the afternoon was the fantastic spirit in which the games were played, with all students showing fantastic sportsmanship and respect to each other. A big well done to all students who attended and good luck to all basketballers for the upcoming season.
SYSTEMS ECOLOGY Alexander (Coke) Smith, Environmental Systems and Societies Leader
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urrently Mr Smith’s and Mr Palmers IB Environmental Systems and Societies classes are involved in creating and maintaining small scale ecosystems using plant and animal species from around the Bangkok Patana campus. During this investigation, students will observe the systems intentionally focusing on the inputs and outputs of their systems as well as long term data collecting focusing on such various abiotic factors as pH, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, nitrates and more. Students will conclude this investigation by processing, analysing and presenting their data in presentations at the end of Term 2. In the end, students will no doubt gain a much deeper understanding of complex environmental process than they could have by simply reading from a text. 16
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A REVOLVING WORLD
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ne of the most famous paradigm shifts we’ve had is that of geocentrism to heliocentrism: from believing that the Earth is the unmoving centre of the universe to believing that the Sun is the centre of the universe and that everything revolves around it. Although the heliocentric model isn’t accurate – no Sun is massive enough to attract every celestial body in space into an orbit – it began the Copernican Revolution. Kick-started (but by no means originated) by Renaissance-era scientist Copernicus, there were a series of breakthroughs by scientists including Kepler and Newton, eventually forming the laws of gravitation that we use today. Unsurprisingly, many of the early proofs on the Earth’s rotation were lengthy and theoretical as we didn’t have humans or even satellites going up into space until around the mid-twentieth century. However, French physicist Léon Foucault came up with a strikingly simple method of physically showing that the Earth rotated – without necessarily having to use equations or telescopes. I visited the Griffith Observatory and the Cal Academy of Sciences over the summer where I learnt about this method using the Foucault Pendulum. How it works: a pendulum is attached to a ceiling and its plane of oscillation isn’t fixed (it’s free to move in any direction). The pendulum is set off and it moves back and forth like a regular pendulum. Below the pendulum are pegs in a circle which get knocked down by the pendulum. After a while, the pendulum knocks all of the pegs down showing that it has completed a full 360 degrees turn. To find out how much a pendulum would rotate at your location, use the formula where is your current latitude. For example, Bangkok’s latitude is 13.8N so a pendulum would rotate by almost a quarter of a full rotation in a day. At the equator (0N), there won’t be any noticeable rotation. Conversely, a pendulum at the North Pole (90N) would rotate by a full 360 degrees in one day. This demonstrates multiple things: the Earth has an axis of rotation that goes through the poles; and the rate at which the Earth spins on this axis is approximately one day. I recommend watching this short video by Dartmouth University and the first three minutes of this video for more about how the Foucault Pendulum works because this is a very visual topic. If you like topics like this, I recommend reading about Simple Harmonic Motion and Astrophysics! Sources: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/how-does-foucaults-pendulum-prove-earth-rotates-180968024/ https://www.quora.com/How-do-flat-Earthers-explain-the-Foucault-pendulum http://calacademy.tumblr.com/page/2
Year 13 student Suyash Kothari enjoys all things STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) related. Studying Maths, Computer Science and Physics for the IB, as well as taking on the responsibility as a Senior Delegate, Suyash wants to instil within us all the same curiosity that he has for STEM. His weekly-ish column here in the Patana News will introduce you to current topics, concepts and issues to hopefully increase your knowledge of the subject...and maybe even inspire a love of STEM!
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CATS CORNER
Tania Leyland, Youth Club and Community Services Coordinator
THE REEF AND BEACH CLEAN-UP
Maya Lemaire, Co-President of the Patana Marine Conservation Group
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n the 8th September, members of the Patana Marine Conservation Group (PMCG) travelled to Pattaya for the first clean-up trip of the year. We met at the front of school at 5:45am and, although tired, we were all excited for the day ahead. Once on the boat, we were given a briefing about our aims and why it is important that we pick up as much rubbish as possible: 60% of all sea-birds and 100% of sea turtles are found with plastic inside their stomachs.
I went on this trip as a diver and my group consisted of three students from different Year groups that I got to talk to and bond with thanks to the trip. Although the visibility wasn’t perfect, and the current was quite strong, my group as well as every other group was motivated to pick up as much as we could and by the end of each dive we came up brandishing our bags of rubbish like trophies. I was lucky enough to see a baby star-fish during this trip which reminded me of the fragility and beauty in our ocean that is being threatened by the piles of glass bottles and plastic that we found on the ocean floor. This year, we had plenty of snorkellers and it was lovely to see how motivated they were to clean up everything on the beach, from the tiniest piece of polystyrene to a huge tire, and we are proud to say that the beach was clear when we left it. Overall, I can say that the day was a success and that I came back tired and looking forward to the next one. As co-president of the club, the highlight for me during this trip was seeing the Year 7s talk to Senior students and bond throughout the day. It’s always nice to see a range of people get together and connect over a common interest and learn from one another. Click here to see the Mermaids Dive Centre blog about the day with some of their photos and a video.
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OPERATION SMILE - BUENGKAN HOSPITAL VISIT
Carina Mendonca, 13G
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ur recent Operation Smile mission trip to Bueng Kan from the 9th - 12th September was an unforgettable experience. We had the very rare opportunity to spend time with the patients and enter the Operating Theatre. Although we thought we were just going to be observing cleft palate and cleft lip surgeries, the skilful surgeons also performed syndactyly and polydactyly surgeries, which are hand deformities as well as facial deformities and burns. It was a very emotional experience as we spent two-days with the children, one as young as nine-months old, whom we built connections with and this made it harder for us to observe the operations and subsequently say goodbye at the end of the trip. The whole experience made us aware of our privilege and also the need to be involved with charities such as Operation Smile. Photo 1: We met the many parents and children who were waiting to see if they would be able to undergo the surgeries. Some had to be turned down due to their health as they were too weak and some could not make it to the screening day due to floods nearby. Photo 2: We spent time decorating the children’s ward in order to make the patients feel more comfortable and to help take their minds off their upcoming surgeries. Photo 3: We spent the morning playing with the children and giving them toys to make them feel more at ease before the surgeries. Photo 4: The head surgeon, Khun Apichai offered a question and answer session where we could ask any questions relating to the procedures and field of study. We got dressed up with our scrubs, hairnets and face-masks and then proceeded into the operating theatres to observe the different operations. We would like to say a huge thank you to all the doctors, nurses and staff from Operation Smile who helped to make this possible for the children. Also thanks to Mr Beckley for organising this trip, Miss Legg for accompanying us, and to Khun Kaew for all her help with this school trip and the many hundreds before.
Please help us to facilitate more surgeries for children in need by signing up to the annual Fun Run!
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the m o r f t s The late
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PTG
Bangkok Patana School News
Join the PTG Facebook page here!
13/09/2018
Bangkok Patana School is proud to host
Dartmouth, Notre Dame, Berkeley and Virginia for a university information session with admissions officers about the extensive academic and extra-curricular opportunities for undergraduates at their institutions.
Thursday 20th September 7:00pm, Rosamund Steutzel Theatre Bangkok Patana School Places are limited so RSVP by clicking here
643 Lasalle Road (Sukhumvit 105) Bangna, Bangkok 10260 Tel: +66 (0) 2785 2200 Fax: +66 (0) 2785 2399 www.patana.ac.th
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BRING YOUR LABELLED REUSABLE WATER BOTTLE TO THE FUN RUN! Please follow the advice of the Student Environmental Committee and bring your own reusable water bottle with you. There will be a table available in the start / finish area for you to leave your water bottle while you are running. If your water bottle is not already labelled with your name we can label it for you on the day. Thank you for taking this small step to help reduce the need for plastic water bottles.
click here for the Canteen
Please note the menu is updated for the following week on Friday at 1pm
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Menu 13/09/2018
DOES YOUR CHILD KNOW HOW EASY IT IS TO CHECK THEIR BUS NUMBERS?
If your child is in Year 3 and above, and uses the school bus, please remind them to bring their Patana Cards to school every day as they can check their bus number simply by tapping their card at our kiosk machine next to Gate 3/4!
Source: mypositiveparenting.org
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Techathon
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Community
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Community
There is nothing like a dame...and we need one!
Bangkok Community Theatre (BCT) had a fabulous turnout of 40 people for Snow White auditions (including several members from the Bangkok Patana community) and we were able to cast every role except the Dame. We are still looking for the right actor to play that important, comic role in our upcoming panto production of Snow White. Please help us find the perfect Dame by sharing this opportunity with friends/colleagues and encourage them to contact the director to schedule an audition ASAP. Please email: robbohkukbk@gmail.com for more information. Above are some photos of BCT dames in recent productions to give you an idea of the fun!
Truly, there is nothing like a dame!!!
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Community
NETBALL The most popular sport for girls in Australia and New Zealand, and a national sport in Great Britain. Netball provides loads of team work, fast action on the court, defence and attacking skills and of course is FUN and GREAT for fitness.
Bangkok Junior Netball Academy (BJNA) WE NEED YOU!
8:30am – 10:00am Saturday mornings at Bangkok Patana School on the Front Hardcourt Registration is ongoing, just come along or request a registration form from bjnetballacademy@gmail.com Any girls aged 6 - 16 years old are welcome to join: • No previous experience needed • All skills will be aimed at FUN TO LEARN developing into more competitive games • Mini games, skill practices, full matches in accordance to age We are also looking for willing coaches and volunteers to help run the sessions.
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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, Bangkok 10260. THAILAND Tel: +66 (0) 2785 2200 Fax: +66 (0) 2785 2399 www.patana.ac.th Email: reception@patana.ac.th 28
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