Patana News Volume 27 Issue 29

PATANA NEWS

Friday 16th May 2025 Volume 27 Issue 29 www.patana.ac.th

Our Community: Inclusion and Belonging

By Grant Robertson

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Also in this issue...

Tech Tips

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Year 9 Thai Trip

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Dance Academy Updates

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Community Engagement

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Patana Participates

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Bangkok Patana is a not-for-profit IB World School accredited by CIS 25/04/2025

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Khun Nudang

Our Community: Inclusion and Belonging Grant Robertson, Assistant Principal, Student Welfare; Secondary Safeguarding Lead

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remember wincing, just a little, when an ex-colleague described Bangkok Patana School as a ‘welloiled machine.’ It was said fondly and meant as a compliment; indeed, it was acknowledging the professionalism, efficiency and the seamless experience offered to our students and families. But something about it made me pause. A machine? Functional?

Well-oiled? Are we really just a set of cogs, ticking over reliably to deliver outcomes? Isn’t a good school also a bit ‘messy’ and ‘chaotic’ at times?

From Nursery to Year 13 we are all on a very bumpy ride - and thank goodness for that because school is surely a place where we can make mistakes and learn: it isn’t a 5* hotel. I mean, Bangkok Patana will never aspire to

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be a White Lotus resort… delete that thought immediately!

Patana is hopefully less of a machine and more of a living, breathing ecosystem; an environment that is diverse, dynamic and deeply human. A place where kindness matters, where smiles are exchanged in the corridor; where a helping hand offered, or a quiet but sincere ‘thank you’ can be just as vital as assessment tests and report grades.

would grind to a halt. But a machine?

We’re something richer, more human, and more remarkable than that.

We are a community.

But what does that really mean?

It’s at this point that student voice and leadership intersect with the shared values of inclusion and belonging that underpin Our Community.

The Junior Student Representative Council (JSRC) observed that, at That being said, we should also times, when we talk about community, acknowledge the truth in the ‘well oiled we unintentionally narrow the machine’ metaphor. Functionality and parameters, often focusing on reliability are essential. Without them, students, teachers and parents. But the complexity of daily life in a school the truth is, at Bangkok Patana, it takes of 2,300+ students and over 5,000 everyone - everyone - to create the members in our wider community environment we are so proud of.

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The JSRC’s key initiative is to raise awareness and celebrate the individuals who keep our school running smoothly, ensuring they are seen and valued as people, not just defined by their roles.

Every morning, long before most students arrive, our housekeeping staff have already made the campus gleam. Our gardeners are pruning and watering. Security guards are stationed with quiet vigilance, greeting families with a smile while keeping our community safe. Canteen and snack bar staff are preparing food with care and efficiency to nourish over two thousand young minds. Bus monitors are managing the logistical genius of daily journeys across Bangkok, offering comfort, safety and order to our students. These colleagues are often the first and last school adults our children see each day.

polished product such as the concert, teens! the competition, the education fair, but Firstly, we have Khun Nudang, the behind-the-scenes orchestration Name : Nudang Puttasa that makes those moments possible deserves equal applause.

Job title : Caretaker/housekeeper Part of what makes our school special is the sense that every person on campus has a role, and that every role matters. No one is invisible here.

Or at least, that’s the aspiration we must constantly live up to. Belonging isn’t something that just happens; it is something we build, intentionally and daily. With this in mind, the JSRC launched a new project to interview some of the everyday heroes who are essential to the life of our school: those who keep this living, breathing community thriving… and yes, who also happen to be the key components in our well-oiled machine.

JSRC: What is your favourite food?

K. Nudang: Somtum - Papaya salad JSRC: Do you live near here?

K. Nudang: Yes, I live locally in Lasalle JSRC: Where is your workplace?

K. Nudang: I work in different areas but mainly in the Thai Sala and The Secondary Office.

JSRC: How long have you been working at Patana?

K. Nudang: 16 years So let’s meet some of the wonderful people we pass every day - those JSRC: What do you like to do in These roles are not supplementary working in Housekeeping, Transport, your free time? to the learning experience, they are the Secondary Office, tending to cut K. Nudang: I go to temples to make essential to it. It’s easy to notice the knees, or serving ice cream to hungry merit at a temple near here, Bang Na ELLSA at Beijing

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Nok - near my house.

K. Nadong: I live with my daughters; I was very proud! they have graduated school already JSRC: What is your favourite place and they are now working here at JSRC: Is there a single fun event to go to? that happened in Patana that you Patana with me! remember?

K. Nudang: Suan Lueng. I like to run JSRC: What is your favourite thing there because the weather is good.

K. Nadong: No, not really. I just about Patana? enjoy doing my work - I love cleaning JSRC: Are there a lot of people that K. Nadong: I like cleaning. I love to and keeping everything looking talk to you in school? take care and give a good service to good.

K. Nadong: Yes! Me and all my the students.

JSRC: If you didn’t have this job, friends that work here talk with each JSRC: What is your favorite day of what would you choose to do? other all the time! the week and why?

K. Nadong: If I could choose JSRC: How about students?

K. Nadong: I was born on a another job….I would still choose my K. Nadong: Yes, they mostly greet Thursday - so my favorite day of the job to clean here because I like my week is Thursday! job here so much. me and we say hello to each other.

JSRC: Could you tell us about a JSRC: Are most of the students that greet you older students or younger happy memory that you have? students?

K. Nadong: There’s so many, no?

K. Nadong: It is mostly the older But a happy memory that I like is when I lived with my parents in another students who know me well. province - my home town. In the JSRC: Can you tell us a bit about morning as a little girl, I would wake your family? up and help my mum cook breakfast.

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JSRC: What is an area that is very hard to clean?

K. Nadong: The Lounge can be tiring if some students finish eating and don’t throw their trash into the bins properly, so I would love them to help me. Empathy is so important.

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JSRC: If you had a superpower empathy. Whether we see ourselves Join us next week for a Spotlight on what would you choose? as a ‘well-oiled machine’ or an the Snackbar! ‘interconnected organic ecosystem’, JSRC Members: K. Nadong: I would choose to win our community will only truly thrive, the lottery! and be a happier, better place for Isabella Pitcher 8S JSRC: What could the students do everyone, when we take the time to Nicole (Nikkie) Maria Araneta 9C put ourselves in each other’s shoes. to help your job be easier?

Areeya (Proud) Vijakkhana 7C

So yes, perhaps we are a well-oiled Sia Lee 7S machine. But we are also something more human and hopeful than that.

Sharyn Narula 8W We are a school where excellence Natnaree (Suri) Tiraratanakul 9H does not come at the expense of kindness. Where inclusion is not Sirianong (Plearn) Devakula Na a buzzword but a daily practice. Ayudhya 8A JSRC: Thank you for your time and Where people - all people - matter. thank you so much for talking to us Yu-ning (Emily) Wang 7C In a world where it is all too easy today!

Aviraj Sehgal 8R to feel unseen or undervalued, the K. Nudang: Thank you too!

JSRC believe one of our greatest Hrehaan Pillay 8W achievements as a school is our Our thanks also go to Khun Nudang Read Khun Nudang’s interview in for reminding us all to prioritise capacity to show people that they Thai here belong. That they are valued.

K. Nadong: Just everyone remembering to put their trash in the bin and return spoons, forks or plates to the canteen. Just doing that will help my job be easier. I like cleaning but it’s better when I’m not tired.

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Rosamund Stuetzel Theatre

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#298: Improve Exam Study Time By Managing Notifications A

ccording to Common Sense Media, teens get an average of 237 notifications a day. That’s hundreds of alerts pulling them away from study sessions, rest, and even sleep.

In this video, Wayne Denner shows you how to use a simple but powerful iPhone feature called Focus Mode to help you and your child(ren): • Limit distractions during study time • Protect their sleep from late-night notifications • Reduce stress during exam season.

This isn’t about going screen-free, it’s about making tech work for them, not against them.

Watch the video with your child and set it up together.

It only takes a few minutes, and it might make a big difference in taking control of their (and your) digital distractions.

Brian Taylor Vice Principal, Technology for Learning

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Year 9 Thai trip to Museum Siam Dr Rattana Chanruam, Thai Curriculum Leader

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Narida (Nia) Ekaraphanich, 9N: Visiting the Museum Siam was an enriching and interactive experience that helped me understand how Thai culture has evolved into a more modern approach. I really enjoyed learning how traditional Thai identity has adapted over time, blending with global influences while still keeping its unique charm.

Did you know that the McDonald’s mascot that does the ‘wai’ is exclusive to Thailand? The museum’s creative exChanya (Bayla) Somboonvechakarn, 9H: The Siam hibits, such as multimedia displays and dress-up scenes, Museum gave me a new perspective on Thai history in made the history easy to relate to and grasp. This handsa way that felt real and easy to connect with. The way on learning made the trip both fun and intellectual, giving they used visuals, like the glass layers showing how tem- me a clearer view of how despite our country’s evolution, ple architecture changed over time, really helped me see traditional norms and ideas are still deep-rooted in our history in a new way. It wasn’t just about reading facts, but culture. actually understanding how Thai culture has evolved. I reNannapas (Chacha) Kaninthanond, 9N: We learned alized how much of the present is shaped by the past, and it made me think more about where our traditions come about Thai culture and heritage in many interactive ways from. Overall, I learned a lot, and it gave me a better ap- keeping us engaged and immersed throughout the enpreciation for Thai history. tire experience. We saw exhibits with all things that make Thailand unique, Thai food, Thai traditional classrooms n Thursday, 8th May 2025, Year 9 students who take Thai class joined a trip to Museum Siam, a well-known interactive museum in Bangkok. This complemented their learning about Thai history and culture and how it influences current Thai beliefs and traditions. Some students also shared their experiences and highlighted interesting points from the visit.

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and so much more. We had fun trying on traditional Thai clothes and took lots of pictures. We also discovered fortune sticks, which are popular among Thai people and can be found in many temples across Thailand. The most interesting part of this experience was the dark room with moving exhibits in lit-up glass boxes creatively telling the story of Thailand from past to present. This has truly been a memorable experience that has taught me so much about different aspects wrapped around Thailand.

Arin (Arthur) Utoktham, 9Y: The Siam Museum gave

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me an incredible experience! We learnt about Thailand in the past and how it was developed into modern Thailand.

A lot of this was through interactive exhibits, which made the museum very fun and exciting! My favourite exhibit was the one where glass boxes would rise, with models of famous things in Thai history, as the narrator talked about the history of Thailand. All in all, this was an amazing museum! thank you to the Thai teachers for making this field trip a one I will remember!

THAI NEWSLETTER CAN BE READ HERE

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Foundation Stage Sports Day W EDNESDAY 21 ST M AY 2025 TIME: 8:00AM—9:30AM VENUE: SPORTS HALL

Please feel free to follow your child and their class around the Sports Day stations and cheer them on in all of the exciting activities that they will encounter.

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Dance Academy Shines at the 12th Thailand Dance Grand Prix Sarah Dullaghan, Head Dance Coach

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Beyond the accolades, what truly stood out was the spirit and resilience of our students. They showed patience during long days, supported one another wholeheartedly, and danced with sheer joy and passion. There were moments of triumph and moments of disappointment – but throughout, students demonstrated maturity and empathy.

This experience has deepened their understanding of teamwork, perseverance and the emotional depth that comes with live performance. The lessons learned offstage In a competition renowned for its high calibre of talent, were as important as those demonstrated on it. our students demonstrated not only technical ability but also remarkable stage presence and artistic expression.

Our Dance Academy coaches are immensely proud – Across the event, the Academy was thrilled to receive not only of the outstanding performances, but of the positive a total of 17 awards: 10 Honourable Mentions, three attitudes and growth shown by all participants. The sense Bronze (3rd place), three Silver (2nd place), and one of pride, excitement and genuine happiness radiated from highly sought-after Gold (1st place) award. The results our dancers and was shared by families and staff alike. were an impressive achievement, particularly given the Congratulations to all our performers – you truly made stiff competition and the fact that some of our dancers this a competition to remember. Bring on next year! were competing in age categories above their own. Every student represented the Academy with determination and grace, embodying the true spirit of dance.

he Dance Academy recently returned from a hugely successful debut showing at the CSTD Thailand Dance Competition: 12th Thailand Dance Grand Prix, held over six days of performances, creativity and celebration.

Bringing 101 students competing across 11 teams and 9 solo/duo entries, our Academy was proud to represent the full breadth of styles offered at the academy - showcasing routines in ballet, jazz, hip hop, K-pop and Latin.

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ACADEMIES AT PATANA

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Operation Smile Najai (Waan-Yen) Wongpaibool 12K, President of Smile Club

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his year, Operation Smile at Bangkok Patana School (also known as The Smile Club) has been particularly active. Our numerous fundraising events included hosting a bake sale, a lucky draw, and volunteering at school events such as Funday and selling treats at the whole school musical production of Grease! We even hosted our very own Smile Day, where we encouraged members of the school community to dress up in yellow and bright colours while donating money towards our

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cause. On this day, we also organised activities for both Primary and Secondary School students. For primary, we arranged a colouring activity to raise awareness about cleft lips and palates, whereas for secondary, we ran a stall selling baked goods and held a lucky draw, which attracted many students and new potential club members.

Overall, with all our efforts, we helped raise over THB 200,000 this year.

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PTG Updates

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Community Engagement at Bangkok Patana Matthew Thepsoparn, 12K

BUILDING BLOCKS: BRIDGING NEURODIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY AT PATANA t Bangkok Patana School, inclusion is becoming more than just a buzzword—thanks to Building Blocks, a student-led initiative working to dismantle the invisible walls that often separate neurodivergent individuals from the wider community. Founded on the belief that neurodiversity is not a deficit but a different and equally valuable way of thinking, learning, and experiencing the world, the club aims to make inclusion tangible, sustainable, and human.

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een party for neurodivergent youth and their families—a night of laughter, costumes, and shared joy that blurred the lines between “us” and “them.” Through events like these, we foster an environment where everyone can be their full selves without fear of judgment or exclusion.

But inclusion is about more than just celebrations. It’s about equipping people with the tools to thrive.

That’s why we partnered with The Village to offer weekly swimming lessons, providing not just physical benefits but also a supportive space for neurodivergent individuals to grow in confidence, learn new skills, and feel seen. Over Despite increased global awareness, Thailand continues three months, we watched participants go from hesitant to to face significant challenges when it comes to integrating empowered—testament to the power of consistency and neurodivergent individuals into daily life—especially the care. workforce. Employment rates remain critically low, a stark We also organise life skill trips—real-world excursions reminder that meaningful inclusion cannot wait for adultdesigned to build independence and self-assurance. From hood. It has to start now, and it has to start with us. learning how to navigate Bangkok’s public transportation Building Blocks is built on that urgency. Led by a team to managing money and making social decisions, these of students deeply committed to social change, we focus experiences give our neurodivergent peers the practical not just on raising awareness, but on creating experienc- skills they’ll need in adulthood. They’re not just field trips— es—moments of real connection that allow empathy and they’re stepping stones toward autonomy. understanding to take root.

One of our most memorable initiatives was welcoming Matthew Thepsoparn, President and Founder says, “I’ve visitors from CCD (Baan Fuang Fah) to our school for a full always believed that the best form of advocacy is action. day of activities. With the support of the school’s cafeteria And that belief is reflected in everything we do.” and staff, we shared meals, laughter, games, and genuine In partnership with Steps at Theera, we hosted a Hallow- connection. It was a day that reminded all of us—students 18

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and guests alike—that inclusion, when lived sincerely, is a source of joy, not obligation.

munity events, pushes us closer to a future where neurodivergent individuals aren’t just acknowledged—they’re embraced, supported, and empowered.

We’ve also taken our message beyond campus—speaking at full Year-group assemblies and student leadership Building Blocks continues to prove that inclusion isn’t conferences such as SERVICE to advocate for neurodi- passive. It’s not a policy, a poster, or a buzzword. It’s an versity and challenge others to reimagine what inclusion active, ongoing commitment to making sure everyone— actually looks like. regardless of how they think, speak, or engage with the world—has a place, a purpose, and a voice.

Each of these experiences, from classroom talks to com-

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Patana Participates!

Achievements from Our Community Sam Michael, ECA Provider

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everal young fencers represented their club with distinction at the prestigious Air Force Youth Open over the weekend, delivering impressive performances in one of Thailand’s top youth fencing competitions.

Annabelle, Year 8 took home the Gold in the Girls’ U12 Epee category. Her first-place finish was especially remarkable given that she has been fencing for just over a year. Along the way, Annabelle overcame opponents from Thailand’s national program, showcasing exceptional skill and determination. In the Girls’ U10 Epee division, Moon, Year 4 earned a well-deserved third place, standing out among a highly competitive field.

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Patana Participates!

Achievements from Our Community Punk U, Parent

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rin Arthur Utoktham (Year 9) received a Bronze Award in English with a score of 94 out of 100 at the Asian Science and Mathematics Olympics. He attended the awards ceremony at JJ Mall Convention Center to receive his medal and certificate.

Arthur is currently a member of the Junior Varsity Dance Team and will be performing in the upcoming *WISHFULL – Key Stage 3 Play 2025* in June.

During the April school break, Arthur volunteered at Srinakharinwirot University: Prasarnmit Demonstration School (Elementary), helping students repair robots. He drew on his two years of experience in the VEX IQ Robotics competition as a member of the BPS Robotics Team.

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Community

Bangkok Music Society and Christ Church warmly welcome One of USA’s most prestigious choral ensembles

MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY CHOIR

Music Director: Dr. Eric Conway performing their only concert in Thailand of

TRADITIONAL AMERICAN

GOSPEL MUSIC WITH SPRITUALS AND POPULAR SONGS

Also featuring contemporary choral masterpieces performed by BANGKOK MUSIC SOCIETY CHOIR Music Director: Margaret Young Conductor: Jane Humberstone

at Christ Church Bangkok

Convent Road, Silom (nearest BTS Saladaeng Station), Car park at the church

Thursday, May 22nd, 2025 at 7:00pm

Entry ฿300 (฿200 students/seniors) at the door

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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 24

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