Patana News Volume 18 Issue 33

Patana

NEWS

Introducing the New Guiding Statements Taylor’s Technology Tips

Waste Less Week

Bangkok Patana is an IB World School, accredited by CIS and NEASC

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Letter from the Cross Campus Principal

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ou might remember that last March / April we conducted a survey of our Mission Statement and its accompanying principles. The purpose of the survey was to evaluate awareness of our Mission and Guiding Statements and to help inform possible improvements to such statements. We found that our Mission Statement had very good acceptance amongst the community. We decided that it was entirely appropriate for us to continue with our Mission Statement as it continues to become increasingly embedded within our school. However, we also realised that we did not have a well-defined Vision Statement. We also judged that the accompanying principles were due for a significant refresh as they were sometimes confusing and some of them felt quite dated.

In Term 1 this year we established a committee to review our principles which we agreed we would now call ‘our values’. We also wanted to create a Vision Statement that reflects where our school has already been headed for some time now, and one which is suitably ambitious and international in scope. The group members were representative of the whole school community: Natasha Zimmerman (Year 13 Student), Njah Khan (PTG Chair), Benyapan (Bee) Apisontasombut (Secondary School Administration Manager), Bonnie Zellerbach (Board Member), Ondine Ullman (Leader of Learning, Primary School), Grant Robertson (Head of Faculty, Secondary School), Matt Mills (Head of School) and myself (Cross Campus Principal).

On the opposite page, we are very proud and excited to share our new Guiding Statements. These will serve as an excellent blueprint for our school for the foreseeable future. We think they are reflective of the deep and holistic education which we want all of our students to enjoy. You will notice that the underpinning Values are in three main groups which begin with well-being. We recognise that we must prioritise emotional and physical well-being amongst all our students if they are to be able to learn successfully. The second set focuses on the hallmarks of excellent learning. The third group of values define global citizenship which also underpins our new Vision Statement. We are very much committed to helping our students to become positive contributors, both now and in the future, to

the communities of which they are a part - from the local to the global.

Already, we could cite many examples of how Bangkok Patana is developing global citizens, as defined by these values, but I will draw attention to something which is close to my current experiences.

That is the patient, yet determined, efforts of a significant number of students to promote more environmentally sustainable community habits. Our Student Environmental Committee have been sharing their projects in both Primary and Secondary assemblies this term, and their latest initiative is the upcoming Waste Less Week (13th to 17th June). You should soon be noticing communications in which these students are hoping to gain your support during this week by embracing some noticeable changes in packaging at our snack bars and beyond.

In so doing, we will be supporting our students to realise a number of the values shown on the page opposite.

James Penstone, Cross Campus Principal

University/College

Representative

Location

Date

Durham University

Ian Whitfield

TBC

09.06.16 12:15

Stanford Life and US Style Essay Tips Tita Kanjanapas (Alumni)

Time

Senior Studies, 2nd Floor 15.06.16 12:15

I have just watched the wonderful Year 4 assembly on Business Matters so thought I would use the inspiration taken from there to promote the Tiger Shop!

The end of the school year is fast approaching so it is a great time to stock up on Tiger souvenirs - our cuddly tigers come in three sizes and make great gifts for friends and family. We have pens, stickers, wristbands and bookmarks all for under 60THB! Or why not buy yourself a Patana Tigers umbrella to be ready for the rainy season or a new towel for summer holidays at the beach.

Opening times will be listed on the Bangkok Patana PTG Facebook page each week or if you can’t make it in, you can use the order form on the PTG pages of the Parents Gateway.

With many families moving on at the end of the year, we are losing a number of our Tiger Shop volunteers. If you think you could offer a little time each week, please get in touch at ptgtigers@gmail.com

You can get your school uniform for the 2016/17 academic year prior to the end of Term 3 or at the start of Term 1. Please note if you do purchase in advance you will not be able to return items in Term 1 due to the 7 day return/refund policy.

The School Shop will be closed from 1st – 31st of July and will reopen on Monday 1st August.

The Post Office services within the school shop will close on Friday 24 th June and resume from 1st September onwards. The Post Office is closed for July and August.

#33: Play Based Learning – inside and out Perhaps this is an oxymoron but there are apps out there that encourage your children to play outside. Now that the weather has cooled down a little and there are plenty of puddles to play in, have a look at this the list of apps curated

by Common Sense Media that inspire kids to play outside. I particularly like the Night Sky app if you can get to a location with little light pollution.

Do you know of anybody that did not play with LEGO as a child? It’s widely used by young learners to help develop key learning skills. From teaching numeracy to introducing kids to the basics of literacy, LEGO games have proved to be an essential learning component in the educational ecosystem.

Sometimes you may not be able to physically carry all of the actual pieces with you, so here is a great list of virtual LEGO apps and free LEGO printables to use at home.

Have a fun, perhaps outdoor mindful-tech weekend!

Brian Taylor, Assistant Principal, Campus Curriculum Technology Integration

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What after school events are your child/ren attending next week? With so many events in the last few weeks of term it is important that parents plan ahead and inform Transport to cancel or change buses as needed. Your forward planning, informing transport and co-operation is very much appreciated by our Transport Staff.

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If you will be moving house over the summer please check with Transport that we have a route to your new location. Please ensure you inform Transport of any requests to change your current Transport arrangements by Friday 24th June to ensure a smooth start to the 2016/17 school year.

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Has your Bus Monitor and/or Driver performed well over the year? If so, please let us (and them) know. You can email compliments (or suggestions for improvements) to transport@patana.ac.th

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Year 11 parents of current Transport users should have received an email about Transport for 2016/17 this week. If you did not receive it please contact transport@patana.ac.th

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If you would like to enrol in the Transport Service for 2016/17 school year please contact transport@patana.ac.th

by Friday 24th June.

For all transport queries and requests please email transport@patana.ac.th or call 02 785 2470

Fulfil your potential with Bangkok Patana School Our mission is to ensure that students of different nationalities grow to their full potential as independent learners in a caring British international community.

Bangkok Patana School set in beautiful purpose-built premises on the outskirts of Bangkok, offers the English National Curriculum, IGCSE/GCSE and the International Baccalaureate Diploma. The school has over 2200 students aged from 2½ to 18 years and representing more than 60 nationalities. Bangkok Patana School is accredited by CIS and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and is an approved International Baccalaureate School.

Head Receptionist This is a critical, front-line role responsible for supervising the reception desk staff and activities in order to provide a high standard of customer service to employees, students, parents and visitors to the School.

Key responsibilities include:  Monitoring and supervising the day to day activities of the reception area and staff to ensure smooth communication from parents and visitors to related departments.  Handling incoming communications including telephone calls, messages, facsimiles, emails, post etc. and directs them to relevant persons, maintaining accurate records at all times.  Overseeing special duties including valuable items lost property, liaison on special events and activities, ID card issuance and tracking and coordination of parking allocations.

Skills and Experience:  Bachelors degree or equivalent  Previous experience in a supervisory capacity, preferably in a customer-facing environment  Strong customer-service orientation  Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail  Fluent written and spoken English essential, conversational Thai language skills beneficial Applicants are invited to send their resumes / C.V. together with recent photo and expected salary to: The HR Manager Bangkok Patana School 643 La Salle Road, Sukhumvit 105, Bangna, Bangkok 10260 Tel: 02 785 2200 Fax: 02 785 2399 E-mail: personnel@patana.ac.th Visit our website at www.patana.ac.th Interviews will take place in English; previous applicants need not re-apply and short listed applicants only will be contacted. Closing date for Applications is 7th June 2016.

June Workshop at the Neilson Hays Library

Coffee Art Workshop A Coffee Appreciation and Art Workshop Led by Thirach Rungruangkanokkul Workshop Time: Wednesday, June 8th at 10:00 am - 3:00 pm.

Please Note: A previous press release for the exhibition said that the workshop would be on Saturday the 11th of June.

The date of the workshop has changed and it is now on Wednesday the 8th of June.

Come and learn about the world of organic coffee in the north of Thailand with a group of Thai artists led by Thirach Rungruangkanokkul. Learn about the journey that coffee goes through from berry to finished product.

Participants will learn how to appreciate different types of coffee by analysing their fragrances and aromas, using a professional coffee aroma wheel.

Participants will also create "coffee paintings" using drip coffee, as well as "cappuccino art" like a professional barista.

Time: 10:00 am - 3:00 pm Date: Wednesday, June 8, 2016 Place: The Neilson Hays Library Price: 3,500THB / person. All net proceeds go to charities for indigenous people in Northern Thailand.

Seating's Limited. Advance bookings required at neilson.library@gmail.com This workshop is in conjunction with the exhibition The Journey of Coffee – The Journey of Life, which exhibits unique art pieces that humans have created in cooperation with nature. The opening reception for the exhibition will be held on Saturday, June 10th from 6 - 8pm.

The group exhibition, put on by a group of Thai artists and Indigenous people from the mountains in Northern Thailand, is about the art of living in harmony with nature. This way of living will be demonstrated and presented in different forms, from printed canvases and woven wall hangings, to Indigenous music and coffee art.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT: Nalin Vanasin, Curator at the Rotunda and Garden CafĂŠ Galleries EMAIL: nhl.curator@gmail.com

The weekly canteen menu is available here.

Please check the calendar on the Parents’ Gateway, Student pages and Staff Centre for up-to-date information on school events.

Visit www.patana.ac.th and click on the relevant icon to log in