As I reflect on my first year in this role, I’m filled with immense pride and gratitude for what our students, coaches, and staff have achieved together. Our competitive sports programme is built on values that go beyond winning, these include grit, integrity, teamwork and a love for competition.

This year, our students participated in over an incredible 380 fixtures and over 160 competitions across four seasons. Behind these numbers is a dedicated Sports and Activities Office and a tireless Transport Department thank you for making it all possible.

What stands out most is not just the volume of participation, but the spirit in which our students have competed. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing many of these events and I’ve been consistently impressed by the skill, determination and sportsmanship on display.

One statistic I’m especially proud of is that we have only withdrawn from two fixtures all year. That level of commitment speaks volumes about our students’ dedication and passion for sport.

Our success is also a testament to our outstanding coaching staff and our Academies. Their expertise, passion, and commitment to developing student athletes elevate our programme. I encourage every student to thank them personally for the role they play in your growth and success.

Looking ahead, I challenge all of us to continue striving for excellence by embracing resilience. Setbacks are inevitable, but how we respond defines us. Let’s face challenges head-on, learn from them, and grow stronger together.

Get Ready for Season One!
When we return in August, our Seasonal Sports Trials will run from Wednesday, August 20 to Friday, August 22. Trials will be held for:

• Varsity & JV Boys and Girls Football – Sports Complex
• Varsity & JV Boys and Girls Volleyball – Sports Hall
• U14 & U12 Boys Basketball – Secondary Hard Court
• U14 & U12 Girls Basketball – Sports Hall
• U14 Boys and Girls Tennis – Tennis Courts

We would also like U15-aged Basketball players to attend the Basketball trials. We will have them train with the U14’s squad to raise the level of training sessions and potentially offer them fixtures throughout the season.

Following these trials, our Year-long Academy Programme Trials will take place the next week, from Monday, August 25 to Thursday, August 28. If you’re interested in joining one of our academies, please reach out in advance to the relevant contact:

• Dance Academy – Sarah Dullaghan: sadu@patana.ac.th
• Gymnastics Academy – Georgina Wright: gewr@patana.ac.th
• Swimming Academy – Joe Denton: jode@patana.ac.th
• Tennis Academy – Dan Ahl: daah@patana.ac.th
• Football Academy – Adam Currington: adcu@patana.ac.th

Miss Curwood will be sending out an email soon with sign-up details for the Seasonal Sports Trials so be ready and don’t miss out!

Have a wonderful Summer Holiday and I look forward to seeing you all back training and competing for the School in August. 

Each year, a group of Year 11 students carve out their place in the creative legacy of Patana, by editing and publishing CORE magazine, a collection of writing, art and photography. The Grad27, 2025 edition, marks the 27^th publication of CORE. Now externally printed by a publishing house on glossy reams of paper, early editions were physically hand-made, using ‘old school’ cutting and pasting (yes, with scissors and glue!) and some extensive photocopying. I will leave you to work out which Secondary English teacher can remember that far back… (!)

CORE is a professionally published magazine made by students, for students and allows the young people involved to participate in a unique venture in creation, marketing, production and publishing. Each edition of the magazine has an overarching theme, this year’s being ‘Reverie’, and all varieties of interpretation are welcomed. Submission is open to all Secondary students, and for the past few years, Secondary staff pieces have also been featured. Importantly, the Year 11 Editorial Team have ownership over all elements of concept, design and production, from start to finish. In their exam year, this is no mean feat for our students, as committing to CORE magazine (which runs as a lunchtime ECA) requires considerable skills in time management and organisation, as its members have to balance this with their academic studies and other extra-curricular activities.

In true CORE style, I am going to hand over to the students to tell you more about this year’s magazine and its publication process. In themselves, their thoughtful and eloquent reflections are testament to their passion and dedication. Moreover, their eagerness to write them represents a genuine celebration of learning, collaboration and creativity.

“CORE magazine was a truly memorable experience this year—an exciting chance to contribute to BPS history. I enjoyed every stage of the process, from choosing the annual theme to connecting with talented young artists, photographers and poets, in our Patana community. Most rewarding was collaborating with a large, dedicated team that grew closer over time, leading to new friendships and a strong sense of unity. We spent many hours reviewing submissions and editing pages, and seeing the final magazine in print was a moment of immense pride, knowing it would be read by every Secondary student and staff member. From the very first meeting, I felt a strong sense of belonging.” Neil Kumar, 11W

“Being involved in CORE was a fun and rewarding experience, that allowed me to be part of something shared across the school community.I helped with various tasks, from submitting photographs to assisting with editing and layout decisions. It was a great chance to be creative, collaborate with others, and see how a publication comes together.” Lucy Hyman, 11S

“In working with CORE this year, I was given the precious opportunity to work with similarly minded creative people to create a magazine representing so many different perspectives, talents and interests. I feel so lucky to have been able to experience the behind-the-scenes process of reviewing and displaying submitted pieces, which allowed me to truly understand the creative diversity among Patana students and staff. We also got a valuable chance to piece together a range of different work to create something publisher-worthy, really making me appreciate the importance of editing and layout!” Violet Stephan, 11O

“The thing that I have enjoyed the most about being involved in CORE, is seeing the artistic talent of, not just older students in Secondary, but of those in the earlier years, and being able to bring all of those together into a magazine edition.” Elena Burton, 11C

“My favourite thing about working in CORE was that I was alongside peers that I usually don’t interact with, which forced me to work outside of my comfort zone. Another thing I loved is that, even as editors or part of the team, we all submit our own work to be published, which makes the magazine personal, authentic, and allowed me to appreciate other’s creativity.” Aya Haviv Buck, 11W

“Being a part of CORE magazine was an unforgettable experience. It has helped me strengthen my skills in teamwork and collaboration. Moreover, it has also helped me build my confidence when giving opinions and ideas”. Jhanvi Golechha, 11S

CORE magazine will be distributed to Secondary students by the end of term, through their English teachers. Our editorial team hope that you enjoy reading it, as much as they enjoyed producing it. As you immerse yourself in its pages, I know that you will join me in celebrating the students’ creativity and artistry. Looking forward, we encourage Secondary students to look out for information about submitting to next year’s magazine, which the new team will begin promoting early in the 25/26 academic year.

Finally, if you are set to be a member of Year 11 in August 2025, look out for sign up information (early next year), from me, to ensure that you are involved in the Grad28 edition of CORE. Again, in keeping with the true student led spirit of the magazine, I will leave you with these last words from CORE27:

“This was truly a once in a lifetime collaborative experience that I’d recommend to any Year 11 student who wants to improve their teamwork skills, show off their creativity, and enhance their sense of communication, evaluation and open-mindedness, as well as getting a closer look into the creativity and individualism the Patana community has to offer.”  Violet Stephan, 11O

“I would heavily recommend joining the ECA to Y11 students, because it allows you to work as part of a team, whilst also bringing in your own individual styles of art and writing.” Elena Burton, 11C

What is one of your fondest or most favourite reading memories?

I remember distinctly reading next to my mother at our neighborhood library and getting my first library card when I was four. I was so proud – I still remember the plastic laminated card! I loved having my mother read to me every night, and then when I grew older, I read to her.

Which fictional character would you most like/least like to meet in real life and why?

I would most like to meet Atticus Finch, the lawyer father in To Kill A Mockingbird. In him, you see what it’s like to stand for what is right, even when it is tough.  Since I’m reading Harry Potter now with my son, who is in Year 4, the character I would least like to meet in real life is Voldemort, because he is just terrifying and appears to have zero compassion.

What does the theme of ‘Stories to pack in your suitcase’ mean to you? Do you have any book suggestions for people looking to read on a trip this summer, whether it’s a holiday, a trip for work, a move to another country…..?

The theme of ‘Stories to pack in your suitcase’ brings to mind having a vast trove of information and nuggets to access when one travels the world. I just finished reading Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine  by Gail Honeyman, and I highly recommend it. It is funny and heartwarming, but also touches on serious issues, like loneliness and depression. It’s stayed with me since.

Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1 Recommendations:

• The End Is Just the Beginning by Mike Bender, Jessica McEvoy, Year 2 Teacher

Key Stage 2 Recommendations:

• The Girl Who Stole an Elephant by Nizrana Farook, Ms. Natasha, Year 5 Teacher

This is a beautiful adventure story, set in Sri Lanka, where the main character, Chaya, goes on a daring escape through the country after stealing the Queen’s prized jewels. This is a perfect book for those who love adventure stories, strong characters and discovering new cultures! Through the book, you’ll explore Sri Lanka’s lush jungles and learn about some Sri Lankan customs. I felt like I was travelling through the place itself,  as I read it!

• Peril on the Atlantic by A. M. Howell, Milo and Kin, 5N

This book is set in 1936, on a boat which is sailing across the Atlantic. If you like adventure stories, and you’re a particular fan of the Titanic, or Shackleton inspired books, then we recommend this book! Milo and Kin said “We love this book because it’s a detective story ‘on the move’. There’s murder, mystery and lots of excitement! (Don’t worry though, the ending is happy).”

Key Stage 3 Recommendations

• The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani, Areeya (Proud) Vijakkhana, 7C

This is a magical fantasy novel that turns fairy tale traditions upside down. It follows two best friends, Sophie and Agatha, from the village of Gavaldon, where children are taken every few years to attend the mysterious School for Good and Evil. The story is filled with unexpected twists that keep you hooked from start to finish. Just when you think you’ve figured things out, the plot flips everything upside down. With unforgettable characters, and powerful messages about friendship, it’s a fantasy adventure that stays with you long after the last page.

• Holes by Louis Sachar, Sia Lee, 7S

 If you’re looking for an adventurous summer read, then Holes is the perfect book for you! The book is set in Camp Green Lake, which strangely has no lake and is not green, where naughty bad boys go.  Stanley Yelnats, who is our main character, is falsely imprisoned and is sent to Camp Green Lake. The Warden, who is the cruel, abusive head of the camp, forces the campers to dig a hole that is 5 feet deep and 5 feet wide in all directions under the scorching sun. Imagine waking up every morning at 4:30 and digging, digging and digging! Read it to find out what the Warden wants to discover…

• Allegiant by Veronica Roth, Sirianong (Plearn) Devakula Na Ayudhya, 8A

‘Allegiant’ by Veronica Roth is a fun and dramatic end to the Divergent series, perfect for KS3 or 4 summer reading. It follows Tris and Tobias as they discover the truth behind their world, and it’s not what they expected! There’s plenty of action, surprises, and even a bit of romance. The book switches between both characters’ points of view, which keeps things interesting and helps you connect with them more. It’s great for summer because it’s fast-paced and easy to get into, but it also makes you think about big ideas like choices, courage, and what makes people who they are.

• The Third Man by Graham Greene, Isabella Pitcher, 8S

This book is a gripping action story involving crime, corruption and mystery. This story is set in Vienna during World War II, where Austria was divided into four sectors, American, British, French and the Soviet Union. It begins with writer, Rollo Martins, who travels to Vienna to visit an old friend, Harry Lime. Upon arrival he finds out Lime has suddenly passed away in a car accident. As Martins lurks around Vienna, he carries suspicions on where Lime really is, and gets involved in a thrilling investigation, which leads him to discover the dark truth of post-war Vienna. The story highlights the conflict and truth behind societies within countries severely affected by war and is an interesting story to read over the summer.

• A Semi-definitive List of Worst Nightmares by Krystal Sutherland, Sharyn Narula, 8W

I recommend this book because Esther, the protagonist, whose whole family is consumed by their fears, overcomes every fear she has ever had with such a bold display of courage and resilience. She and Jonah, her childhood best friend, work together to help her achieve this goal. Every time Esther crosses a fear off her list, we see a new, stronger side of her. This is a great summer read because, with the end of the academic year and the beginning of a new one, this book can inspire you to step forward with a fresh perspective. Leap into a thrilling journey full of bravery, teamwork, and self-improvement. I’d recommend this book to teens, especially anyone dealing with the stress of exams, deadlines, or personal fears they want to deal with. I hope this story gives you the boost of inspiration you need to face your own fears and meet a new version of yourself!

Key Stage 4 and 5 Recommendations:

• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig, Ms. Avila’s Year 12 Literature Class       

As part of our Transition project between the Secondary English faculty and Year 6 Primary classes, our Year 7 students recently took part in a heartwarming letter-writing activity designed to support and welcome Year 6 students as they prepare to move up to Secondary, either here at Patana or elsewhere.

For 3 weeks in May, during their English lessons, Tutorial time and Well-being sessions, Year 7s reflected on their own feelings from a year ago—how it felt to leave Primary, face new routines, and begin life in the Senior School. They explored the concept of empathy, practised giving meaningful advice, and honed their communication skills by responding to real questions posted by Year 6 classes on a Padlet.

From worries about getting lost, to curiosity about lockers, lunch and making new friends, our Year 7s answered every question with care and insight—although we must admit, the most popular topic was definitely ice cream! Clearly, the Year 6s have their priorities straight.

The project culminated in each Year 7 writing a personalised, supportive letter to a student in their assigned Year 6 class. 7A was paired with Ms Sarah’s class, and the moment of delivery was full of smiles, conversation, and connection.

Here’s what some of the Year 6s had to say about the Transition letter writing project:

“It was so nice to see friends again as we don’t normally see them in school.” – Maya and Kryssa, 6F

“It was really good because the Year 7 kids explained more about Secondary School. They talked about emotions around class mix and how we will soon get used to things. They reassured me and made me feel happy and relieved that Secondary isn’t scary.” – Adrina, 6S

“We felt like the Y7s were confident, kind, and did a great job of making us feel better about Year 7.” – Panther and Aiden, 6S

It was a joy to watch our Year 7 students step into the role of mentors. In doing so, they not only developed their writing, empathy, and interpersonal skills—they also helped make the transition journey for the Year 6 students a little less daunting (and hopefully filled with plenty of ice cream).