Y1 Newsletter: Week 34 - 24.05.24

A note from Mrs McCormack (Primary Principal):

17 May 2024

Dear Parents,

This week, I am thrilled to share our exceptional Y5 & Y6 ISA assessment results.

This year’s results show a significant difference in the performance of Patana Primary students, compared with ‘regional’ and ‘all schools’ groups. Both Reading and Mathematics for Year 5 are +36 and +35 points, respectively, when compared with the regional group. For Year 6 Reading the difference is +72 and for Mathematics +61.

These results are exceptional, particularly in Reading and Year 6 Mathematics. It is key to note that the Year 6 Mathematics results are our highest ever.

On Saturday, I look forward to joining the Graduation Ceremony for our Year 13 students. Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead.

Sarah McCormack

Learning

Class Blogs

Please visit our class blogs every Friday to find out about our learning in each of the classes!

Curriculum

To find out about our Year 1 curriculum please visit our Curriculum page.

PSHE

This week in PSHE, we continued our learning about what makes us different and unique. We learned about what physical changes happen to us, and new abilities and new responsibilities we have as we grow older. 

We looked at what changes there have been for each of us since being a baby to now, and what the needs of a baby are compared to what our needs now are. We also learned about what responsibilities we have now and we looked ahead to what responsibilities we will have at different stages of our lives. Finally, we reflected on what is the biggest change that has happened to us since we were a baby.

Next week, we will be learning about our body parts and learning which are body parts are male and female. We will look at some animals and discuss how you can tell whether they are male or female, and then the children will learn the scientific names for male and female genitals. We will revisit the concept of privacy and teach the children that certain body parts are private parts and they are personal to them. 

We will then share the Pantosaurus song again, to remind children that their body parts are just for them and they should speak up to a trusted adult if anyone asks to see them.

Please feel free to discuss these slides with your child at home, in order to support their learning.

If you have any questions, please contact your child's teacher.

Busking Day

PTG Thank You to Parent Volunteers

PTG Garage Sale

General Information

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease – Preventative Measures

HFMD is a viral infection which spreads via direct contact, particularly of body fluids caused by coughing and sneezing.

Symptoms of HFMD may include fever for 2/3 days, sore throat, runny nose, rash (palms of hands, soles of feet, buttocks, mouth), poor appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy.

Because of the prevalence of HFMD in Thailand, we are required to report all cases to the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority.

The school response (children kept at home for seven days + rigorous cleaning of buildings and equipment) helps avert closures.

Rigorous and frequent handwashing is also an important preventative measure.

If you notice such symptoms, please contact Nurse Joe and a member of her team will check all children in the class.

If your child with symptoms, and there are other siblings in school, please share this information with Nurse Joe.

Khun Joe can be contacted at kiau@patana.ac.th

Air Pollution

At this time of year we notice a change in the Air Quality in Bangkok.

In the morning before school starts when we have the Status:

Unhealthy

From 7am onwards, Year 1 students should come inside and go to the creative art area (in the middle of Year 1) where there will be teachers supervising them safely inside.

Parents are encouraged to drop their children at the doors. 

We please kindly ask parents not to stay in this space as it can become crowded and overfull. Some students can find separation from parents more challenging on these days as well, so please support your child by giving them a big hug and then leaving them with us (see below for more guidance on separation).

Should your child arrive before 7am on any day, they should go directly to the Primary Office until duty staff begin to supervise.

Please find the school policy for Air Quality Here

Morning Separation

It is very common for some children to find separating from their parents challenging in the mornings. This can be triggered by a variety of reasons: a change in their normal routine, an argument with a sibling, a parent being away, feeling unwell, etc. Many children are not able to explain why they are upset when they are struggling to separate from a parent, but here are some suggestions on how to best support your child:

• Make saying goodbye a positive time. When you leave your child, however sad or worried you may be feeling, smile and wave goodbye confidently and happily, otherwise they will pick up on your tension. By giving your child experience of saying goodbye then having happy reunions, you are teaching them an important life lesson.
• Talk about what you'll do together later. Talk to your child about what you're going to do when you see them again so they have something to look forward to with you. For example, you could say: "When Mummy comes back to pick you up, we'll go to the shop together to get food for dinner."
• Leave something comforting with your child. It may comfort your child to have something they identify with you – like a scarf with your scent on or a favourite toy – close by. This may reassure them while you are away. These items will be kept in your child's school bag, but having them there can bring reassurance and a sense of calm. 

If you are concerned about separation issues, please speak to your child's teacher as there may be individual systems they can put in place to support your child in the mornings. 

Birthday celebrations

The following students are celebrating their birthdays next week...

Maya (1N) and Parin (1R)! 

A very big happy birthday to you!

Reminder: We cannot give out party bags or gifts - please keep these for any sort of celebration that you do out of school.

If you would like to send in some birthday treats for your child to share with their class, please arrange a day with your child's class teacher. We will only be able to manage individual items like brownies, doughnuts, or cupcakes. 

Please remember we are a nut-free Primary School and also check with the class teacher for any other dietary requirements of the class.