Y2 Newsletter Week 19 - 24.01.25

We are inquisitive and creative!

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A note from Mrs McCormack (Primary Principal):

24 January 2025

This week, let us celebrate the power of curiosity and kindness, two of the guiding principles in the Primary school. Every question asked and every small act of care creates a ripple, shaping the community we love. On Thursday, I saw great curiosity and kindness at our newcomers coffee morning, organised so wonderfully by our dedicated PTG! Thank you to all those who attended.

Next Friday, we look forward to honouring the Lunar New Year with our families with our annual assembly and dress-up day!

Sarah McCormack

Positive Behaviours

Parents may have seen these new posters around the Primary school.

These attitudes and behaviours are grouped under our three key values: Safe, Curious and Kind.

We want these positive words, thoughts and actions to support and strengthen your child’s holistic development as they move through Primary and into young adulthood. Please help us champion these three key values by referencing our matrix of positive behaviours and attitudes in conversations with your child. The matrix is also available in Thai.

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 2 curriculum please visit our Curriculum page.

Parent Partnership Workshops

Here is the link to our Parent Partnership Workshops from this year. 

Click here for the link

Performance Week

Performance Week this year is in the week 27^th - 31^st January.

This is an opportunity for any child who is learning a musical instrument to perform in front of a small audience during their regular timetabled music lesson. Children can sign up to perform during their music lessons in the coming weeks. Unfortunately, parents cannot attend the event.

We encourage all students who learn a musical instrument to participate as performing is a great opportunity to build confidence, share their learning and motivate further practice.

Please support your child to perform if they take lessons on an instrument and please help them to bring their music/instrument.

Any questions can be directed to the music teachers:

Mr Charlie: chmc@patana.ac.th

Ms Rachel: rast@patana.ac.th

Miss Lisa lima@patana.ac.th

Funday

Primary Dance Classes

Dance Camp

Quantum Magic Science Show with Ruben Meerman

Join us on Saturday 1^st February, 9-10am in the Primary Hall for a brilliant Science show (with plenty of magic thrown in) with Ruben Meerman, also known as 'The Surfing Scientist'. Either scan the QR code, or click on this link to register: https://forms.office.com/r/Z0z4bs66mF

Patana News Survey

Some of our community prefers to receive Patana News on a different day from Friday. We would like to hear your opinion. Survey link

YSMA Maths Stories Competition

Taking photos and videos of students on Campus

At Bangkok Patana School we welcome parents on to our campus.

As part of this agreement, all parents must agree to our Parents’ Safeguarding Code of Conduct.

This includes:

1. Never taking images in toilets, changing rooms or areas where privacy is expected.
2. Using judgement before taking and before sharing images of students.

During a regular school day, parents may only take images of their own child – unless they have sought and received permission from another family to include their child in a group photo.

Family employees with access to the campus must also abide by this rule.

Where and when can parents take photos and videos when on campus?

New ECA: Transition Support Group for Students

We are excited to announce a new ECA being offered by our Primary Councilors which is designed to support students who are preparing to transition to new schools or environments.

This club will provide a safe and supportive space for students to:

- Learn how to say meaningful goodbyes and find closure.

- Explore feelings of excitement, worry, and curiosity about the future.

- Discuss managing new responsibilities and making new friends.

- Build tools to navigate the changes ahead confidently.

Through engaging activities, discussions, and peer support, this ECA aims to equip students with strategies for a smooth and positive transition to their next chapter.

If your child is leaving at the end of the school year or even before then, you are welcome to sign them up. This ECA will help them prepare for the journey ahead with confidence and support.

For more information, please contact the School Counsellors, Ms Aarti or Mr Laiyoung.

General Information

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease

Please can parents keep an eye out for cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD). 

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease is a mild, contagious viral infection common in young children. Symptoms include sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet.

If you think that your child may have caught it, please follow these two steps:

• 1. Keep your child at home and take them to be checked by a doctor.

• 2. Let your child's teacher know if your child is diagnosed with HFMD.

Thank you for your support.

Attendance and Lateness

We have observed an increase in lateness across the year group, and we would like to work together to address this issue. Attendance and punctuality play a critical role in your child's learning, and our aim is to support all students in achieving their best outcomes.

If a student’s attendance or lateness falls below 90% at any point during the school year, we will invite families to meet with the class teacher to discuss how we can support students in maintaining consistent attendance and punctuality. These meetings will take place after half term.

For families who arrive by car, getting departure and arrival times right can be difficult. You don’t want to arrive to early, but you also don’t want to be stuck in the LaSalle traffic.

The occasional late arrival is well understood - and sometimes unavoidable.

However, the class teacher will be in contact if there is a persistent pattern of lateness.

Primary school timings – start of day

• Staff on duty from 7 a.m.

• Students enter classrooms at 7:30.

If a child arrives rushed, and perhaps stressed about missing a lesson, this is not the best start to their day.

Those first ten minutes, from 7:30 – 7:40, are an important part of the school day.

Established start-of-day routines give children time to settle and switch into learner mode.

We want all of our children to know about the importance of punctuality, and not only in their school setting.

If there is anything we can do to support you, please contact your child's teacher.

Preventing the spread of colds and flu

Please help us to prevent outbreaks of cold or flu as we head into the rainy season.

Children with cold or flu (influenza) symptoms should be kept at home until they are completely recovered. Even when the main symptoms have gone, your child may still need time to return to full strength.

Please do not send your child back to school too soon, even if they are no longer in the contagious phase. If your child is still coughing or sneezing, please keep them at home and limit their contact with other children.

A child who has a fever should be kept at home until ‘fever-free’ for a minimum of 24 hours.

Influenza is a serious and contagious infection that affects the nose, throat, and respiratory system. The virus is commonly spread through droplets in the air, allowing infection to spread quickly. When unsure, always seek medical advice, especially if a child has a chronic condition e.g., asthma.

If Influenza is confirmed, please send a copy of the medical certificate to Nurse@patana.ac.th

Plain black shoes for school

Primary students wear plain black school shoes as part of their uniform.

All shoes require at least a wide strap to keep the shoe firmly in place.

Your child will need a different pair of shoes (trainers) for their PE lessons.

Sharing Snacks

Please can we emphasise the importance of not sharing snacks with other children in school. There seems to be some adults kindly bringing in treats for other children, however we must not share food. There are many children with dietary requirements and allergies who must not eat specific foods. Also, some parents do not want their children eating certain foods for religious or health reasons.

Please can you ensure that all adults who collect your children understand this message as well.

Thank you for your understanding and support with this.

Allergies and Dietary Requirements

Please ensure your child/ren's medical information is fully up to date on our systems.

Should your child suffer from critical conditions related to their diet they are no longer able to eat any birthday treats brought into school from outside.

We encourage parents now to provide a small box of dry snacks/treats that their child can eat, which the class teacher can keep, and use during any celebrations in class.

Playground use before and after school

Students are not permitted to use any of the climbing or play equipment before 7:30 a.m.

There is no staff supervision in any play area after 2:30.

The accompanying adult is therefore responsible for the safe supervision of the child.

We encourage parents and family employees to take children straight home at the end of the school day.

Birthday celebrations

The following students are celebrating this week...

Charlie (2P) 

Darius (2R) 

Harvey (2P) 

Ari (2D) 

Special note: 

Birthday Treats

Children may bring in a special treat to share with the class.

Please contact the class teacher to arrange a suitable time.

• Brownies, cupcakes, small donuts, and cake slices are easier for your child to give out.
• We do not give out drinks (e.g., bubble tea, sodas)
• Please reduce plastic packaging.
• We do not allow party bags or other gifts to be given out at school, either for birthdays, or other celebrations.

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