Weekly Update #8, 11 October 2024

Announcements

Cue music and drum rolls in the background: “We will, we will Lock You!”

Dear Parents,

It takes a village to raise a child and as our village and school community grows, so does the number of vehicles in our car parks. We fully understand that navigating parking during drop-off and pick-up times can be chaotic and frustrating at times.

We want to thank the majority of parents who patiently do their best to drive slowly and park considerately on a daily basis. Our Security Staff will continue to do their best to make our parking lots safe and as functional as possible.

To the few drivers who seem to have difficulties driving slowly and safely, we ask that you please be considerate of others. Slow down and be careful!

To the few drivers who decide to park in no-parking areas, block drop-off lanes and block other cars and vehicles, we ask that you please be considerate. Everyone’s time is important not just yours! Please also note that we have purchased multiple car locking devices for each of our campuses. Starting after the mid-term break, as stated in the title of this announcement, our Security Team will now be strict with locking the wheels off all vehicles that are parked inconsiderately and/or in no parking zones and will fine the driver 1,000 Baht to have their car unlocked. Be considerate or be warned! We will, we will LOCK YOU!!

Upcoming Events

October Half-term Sports Camps

Looking for something to keep your children fit and entertained over the half-term break? Why not sign them up for one of our sports camps? Taking place from Monday 14th to Wednesday 16th October at our Chaofah City campus. Follow the instructions in the respective posters below to sign up:

Russian Language Day

Dear Parents,

We would like to remind you that on October 26, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM, the Day of the Russian Language will be held at our Chaofah City Campus. We invite everyone interested to participate actively. Please note that on this day, each child must be accompanied by at least one adult family member. To participate, it is necessary to fill out the registration form for the event. Please note that all spots for the Talent Show are reserved, but you can join as spectators. We look forward to seeing you at the Day of the Russian Language!

Sincerely, The Russian-speaking Team at HeadStart School

Уважаемые родители!

Напоминаем, что 26 октября с 9:00 до 12:00 будет проводиться День русского языка в Сити-кампусе (Чаофа). Приглашаем всех желающих к активному участию. Обратите внимание, что в этот день ребенка должен сопровождать как минимум один взрослый член семьи. Для участия необходимо заполнить форму регистрации на мероприятие. Обратите внимание, что все места для участия в Шоу талантов зарезервированы, но вы можете присоединиться в качестве зрителей. Будем рады видеть вас на Дне русского языка!

С уважением, Русскоязычная команда школы HeadStart

Halloween is Coming!

Keep your eyes peeled (not literally!) for information about our Foundation & Primary Halloween events taking place after the half-term break…

Child-Watch Phuket 21st Run For Children – Come Join Us!

On Sunday 10th November, we look forward to members of the HeadStart Community, from management and teachers, to students and their parents, joining us for the 21st edition of the Child-Watch Phuket Run For Children. This wonderful local community fun run is sure to give everyone involved the spur to get fit and all in a good cause! With two courses – a 10km run and a shorter 3.5km version – both passing by our Chaofah City campus, our school will be the backdrop to this family fitness event.

To register for the Child-Watch Phuket 21st Run For Children, scan the QR in the poster below. Once registered, you are welcome to join the official HeadStart LINE group to stay tuned for updates and training events. Or for more information, you can contact our Fitness Coach, Jordi, who will be leading the Team HeadStart contingent as we look to get fit and have fun now that the cool season is approaching!

Meetings & Presentations

Parent Meeting: Helping Your Child with Behaviour Parent Workshop for EYFS on Thursday 24th October

We invite all parents of Foundation students (Preschool, Early Years and Reception) to join us for our latest parent meeting when Foundation team will run a workshop to help you understand child behaviour and how what happens in the classroom can link with home. It will also be a great opportunity to meet other parents and members of our community. Our Thai, Russian and Mandarin speaking admin teams will be on hand to provide translation services. We look forward to seeing you there! Thursday 24th October 2024 from 8:30-9:30am in the Secondary Indoor Learning Centre (SILC).

A Special Visit from Author, Emma Cary

To the staff, students and parent community at HeadStart,

I would like to say a big thank you for the warm welcome I received this week during my visits to both campuses. It was an absolute pleasure to see both the schools and meet so many creatively clever and curious learners. I enjoyed sharing my stories with years 1-6 and was impressed by the level of curiosity and confidence shared by so many students.

I am so happy to have been able to share my books and that they are now available for the students to borrow from the libraries. Please reach out to me online if anyone would like the chance to purchase copies.

I wish you all a wonderful and safe half term break and hope that I will get the opportunity to return to HeadStart again.

Sincerely, Emma Cary

Wai Kru (Teacher Appreciation) Ceremonies

Foundation Wai Kru Ceremony

The Foundation Wai Kru event was a heart-warming celebration that brought together our children, parents, and teachers in a wonderful display of love and gratitude. Orson and QiQi from the Reception class displayed incredible courage as they addressed the audience, delivering heartfelt speeches in both English and Thai. Following them, our dedicated Preschool teacher, Miss Monica, expressed her passion for teaching and her commitment to nurturing young minds.

The highlight of the ceremony was the children’s delightful performance of “I Love My Teacher.” Their exuberant rendition, featuring the joyful refrain “La La La, I Love My Teacher,” beautifully conveyed their deep affection and appreciation for their teachers. We extend a heartfelt thank you to all the parents for your unwavering support. Your contributions in bringing flowers and actively participating in the event added warmth and joy to this special occasion.

Together, we honoured the commitment of our teachers and created cherished memories for our Foundation community.

A full album of photos can be found here: Foundation Wai Kru Ceremony 2024

Primary & Secondary Wai Kru Ceremony

Our Primary & Secondary Wai Kru event was a delightful celebration that united students, parents, and teachers in a warm atmosphere of gratitude and love.

Kudos to our Head Girl and Head Boy, Harper and Gabriel, for their exceptional role as event hosts! A special shout-out to Hojune in Year 5, Nika in Year 6, and Nailya in Year 8 for their heartfelt speeches honouring our teachers, and to Anna in Year 7 for her leadership during the student pledge. We were fortunate to hear inspiring words from our Year 5 teacher, Mr. Carroll, along with Mr. Lembo, our Secondary English teacher, who shared moving stories from their own childhoods, reflecting on their pride in the teaching profession.

The highlight of the day was the enchanting performance of “Count On Me” by the CAPA Junior performers and all students who beautifully encapsulated the theme of trust and support among students and teachers. A heartfelt thank you to Ms. Thomson, our music teacher, and Ms. Howells, Director of Creative & Performing Arts, for organising this remarkable musical performance!

A sincere thank you goes out to our Thai Department for organising such a memorable event. Also, to all parents—thanks for your unwavering support. Your efforts in bringing in flowers and participating in the event contributed to the warmth and success of this special occasion. This event was a wonderful opportunity to honour our teachers’ commitment and dedication, leaving a lasting impression on everyone involved.

A full album of photos can be found here: Primary & Secondary Wai Kru Ceremony 2024

Mandarin Language Day

HeadStart International School Chaofah City campus held a vibrant Mandarin Language Day event last Saturday, 5th October, themed around the Double Ninth Festival and Chinese characters. The activities included making everlasting flower hand fans, creating artwork with grains, engaging in a parent-child game of using chopsticks to recognise characters, and sharing traditional Chinese cuisine. Parents and students tapped into their creativity to produce colorful fans, experiencing the blend of traditional culture and art; during the grain artwork session, everyone used mung beans, wheat, corn, and more to create paintings, celebrating the beauty of the harvest. Additionally, the chopstick game not only helped children learn characters through play but also enhanced parent-child interaction and fun.

We thank all parents and students for their enthusiastic participation and look forward to our next gathering to experience more wonderful cultural activities together! Wishing everyone a happy Double Ninth Festival, good health, and family happiness! The Mandarin Language Team

A full album of photos can be found here: Term 1 Mandarin Language Day

HeadStart Chaofah City campus国际学校上周六举办了精彩纷呈的中文语言日活动，这次活动内容以重阳节和汉字为主题，包括永生花团扇制作、五谷杂粮作画、筷子夹豆认字的亲子活动以及中华美食分享。家长和学生们通过发挥创意制作五彩斑斓的团扇，体验了传统文化与艺术的结合；在五谷杂粮作画中，大家用绿豆、小麦、玉米等作画，感受丰收的美好。此外，筷子夹豆认字的活动，不仅让孩子们在游戏中学习汉字，还增进了亲子间的互动和乐趣。

感谢所有家长和学生的热情参与，期待我们下次再聚，共同体验更多精彩的中文文化活动！祝大家重阳节快乐，身体健康，阖家幸福！
您可在此相册中查看活动图片：Term 1 Mandarin Language Day

House News

Last Friday, Secondary students took part in the final Secondary House activity for this half term and it was a big success! The students showed incredible creativity and collaboration by designing an outfit made entirely from trash. They were judged on three categories – creativity, wearability and performance on the catwalk. The Yellow Cheetahs won over the student body with their ‘skibidi toilet’ design, but unfortunately the judges did not agree and they came in fourth place. In 3rd place were the Red Phoenixes with a delightful prom dress and matching handbag. The Green Dragons showed great skill in designing a dragon inspired outfit and came in second, while the Blue Tigers would not be outdone, finishing in first place with their beautiful butterfly design!

Well done to the Blue Tigers for maintaining their ever-present lead and keeping the competition fierce! A big shout out to everyone who took part and helped their house earn points! We’re looking forward to more fun after the half-term break! Ms Thompson – House Coordinator

As we approach the halfway stage of Term 1, we are excited to share the HeadStart Chaofah City Current House Positions! The Red Phoenixes are still setting the pace, with the Yellow Cheetahs now their closest rivals; however, the Blue Tigers and Green Dragons are still in with a shout for the Term 1 House Prize!

PE & Sports News

KIS Cup – Just One of Many Tournaments for the U13 Boys

A huge well done to the HeadStart Panthers U13 Boys from Cherngtalay and Chaofah City campuses who competed at the KIS cup this past Saturday. It was a fantastic opportunity for our players to join forces and take on schools and academies from across Phuket.

Up against some tough and experienced opposition, the boys did themselves proud and demonstrated just how much their football has developed over the first few months of this school year. With PISAC and BISP soccer 7’s just around the corner, we are looking forward to being involved with more tournaments and matches in the next few weeks. Keep up the hard work Boys!

Cross-Campus Round Robins Continue

This week, the HeadStart Cherngtalay Panthers U9 Boys and U13 Girls played host to the Chaofah City Panthers U9 Boys in a round robin match. The fixture was a fantastic opportunity for all of the players involved to gain valuable experience playing in matches in a competitive environment. Well done to all involved. Coach Paul – Football Coach

Foundation

Preschool gets Messy

Messy play is a vital component of early childhood development, offering children the chance to explore, experiment, and express themselves freely. Engaging in messy activities—like painting, or playing with water fosters creativity and sensory exploration, helping the little ones develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. This type of play encourages problem-solving, social interaction, and emotional expression, allowing children to learn through hands-on experience. By embracing messiness, our homeroom and support staff create an environment where curiosity thrives, laying the foundation for lifelong learning and resilience.

Primary

Congratulations to Our Thai Learners of the Month!

A big round of applause to the following students for their outstanding effort and dedication in their Thai lessons:

• Year 1: Thai First – Zai-Taung and Thai Foreign – Eoin

• Year 2: Thai First – Pat and Thai Foreign – Kai Kai

• Year 3: Thai First – Tuang and Thai Foreign – Adriana

• Year 4: Thai First – Alfie and Thai Foreign – Bass

• Year 5: Thai First – Hojune and Thai Foreign – Amelia

• Year 6: Thai First – Belle and Thai Foreign – Harper

Special congratulations to Harper and Gabriel, our fantastic Wai Kru MCs and Primary Head Girl & Head Boy!

Collaborating to Create the Four Season in Year 1

Year 1 Yellow have spent Term 1.1 learning about the seasons in their Science lessons. The end result of this learning was the children working collaboratively to create pictures to show the four seasons – Winter, Autumn, Spring and Summer. This was the culmination of a term’s worth of learning. Well done Year 1 Yellow! Mr Williams – Year 1 Teacher

Year 2 Creating Collages for their ‘Kru’!

In our celebration of Wai Kru, Year 2 students took part in a special activity by creating a beautiful collage using the flowers their teachers received. The children had lots of fun getting creative, carefully selecting and placing each flower in just the right spot. It was a wonderful way for them to show their appreciation and add their own personal touch to the celebration. Mr Patel – Year 2 Teacher

Year 6 Classifying Plants in the School Garden

Year 6 Yellow have been making the most of breaks in the rain to undertake science walks in the School garden. Their mission: to classify different kinds of plants by carefully observing features such as shape and colour of leaves, structure and size. Mr Wakefield – Year 6 Teacher

Promotions from Around the Island