Weekly Update #16, 13 December 2024

Announcements

ECA Bookings for Terms 2 and 3

Please find here a list of important dates regarding booking your child’s/children’s Extra Curricular Activities (ECAs) for Terms 2 and 3:

Also, we have updated the way in which display our Extra Curricular Activity (ECA) offer. You can view a full up-to-date list of all ECAs for the current term here:

ECA Options at Chaofah

Introducing Chinese Calligraphy and Painting ECA

Please be informed that the Language department is introducing a Chinese Calligraphy and Painting ECA starting next term for students in Year 3 to Year 7. As this ECA has a limited number of places, we would like families to register their interest in this program early so that we can order necessary resources. If your child is interested in joining this ECA, please complete the following questionnaire: https://forms.gle/eiWLVcNwavqz67B89

Meetings & Presentations

Parent Committee Meeting on 30.10.24

On Wednesday 30th October, the HeadStart Chaofah City Parent Committee held its first meeting of the school year with representatives from the School board and Leadership, including Jazon Edouard, CEO. We are grateful for the contributions and time given by parents representing different sections of our school community. Meeting Notes from this meeting can be found on our Parent Committee webpage, in the ‘Record Keeping’ section: https://headstartphuket.com/school-life/parent-committee

Phuket Sunshine Village Fundraiser

On Saturday 7th December, our Primary Student Leadership team made us proud as they visited Phuket Sunshine Village (PSV) to host a mini-sports day for the children there. With careful thought and collaboration, they planned an exciting rotation of eight sporty and engaging activities, thinking carefully about what the PSV children would enjoy. From organising equipment to preparing instructions in both English and Thai, our student leaders displayed exceptional planning and collaboration. On the day, they didn’t just run the activities — they led with enthusiasm, kindness, and boundless energy, cheering the children on and inspiring them to join in the fun. Our Primary Student Leaders were supported by a dedicated team of Primary teachers and leadership, led by Mr Clarke, our Primary Student Council ???.

These young leaders were outstanding role models for HeadStart, showcasing teamwork and compassion in action. A huge congratulations to them for their dedication and hard work. You’ve made us incredibly proud!

📸 A full set of photographs of the Primary Student Leadership visit to PSV can be found here: PSV Visit

CAPA Production of ‘EVITA’

As the curtains closed on CAPA Senior’s production of Evita last night, there was immense pride in seeing such talented young people bring the vibrant, complex world of Evita Perón to life with such passion and skill. From soaring highs to gritty realism, the students’ singing, acting, dancing and instrumental performances were nothing short of breathtaking. We all had high expectations but they far exceeded these, pouring their hearts and souls into every performance. Their passion, talent, commitment and professionalism have been a genuine joy to behold. Huge congratulations to everyone involved and especially to the main character actors Prim, Pan, Guy, Enzo and Ingfah.

The production was the result of the collective effort of an exceptionally dedicated team of creatives, the CAPA team, whose primary aim is to inspire and nurture our students to shine bright, which they did brilliantly! Very special thanks go to Ms. Tunstall, Mr Graham and Coach Mina for their incredible creativity, direction, guidance and support of the students. And of course to our amazing behind-the-scenes set design team of Mr Dagnall, Ms Nacey and Kru Sandwich whose set pieces provided the backdrop for the action on stage. We are full of pride and gratitude.

As we say goodbye to Evita and CAPA Senior for this year, we will fondly remember the amazing journey we’ve had and the friendships developed, all through the power of theatre to inspire, challenge and unite. We shall look forward to sharing more photos with you soon, but for now, thank you to all those who came to support, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did.

📸 A full set of photographs of Evita can be found here: CAPA Senior Show Evita 2024

PE & Sports News

Year 6 Swim Gala Success!

Last week, our Year 6 students made a splash at the annual Swim Gala, showcasing their determination, teamwork, and sportsmanship in an unforgettable event. The competition was fierce, with each house giving their all in the pool. After an exciting day of races, the Dragons emerged victorious, scoring an impressive 1924 points, followed by the Cheetahs with 1699 points, the Phoenixes with 1406.5 points, and the Tigers with 1272.5 points.

This year’s gala was particularly memorable, with several new records being set by our talented swimmers:

• 25m Freestyle (Girls): Yasmin broke the record with an outstanding time of 14.65 seconds.

• 25m Backstroke (Girls): Yasmin set another record with a time of 18.18 seconds.

• 25m Butterfly (Girls): Yasmin continued her streak with a record time of 16.37 seconds.

• 25m Breaststroke (Boys): Stas set a new benchmark with a time of 26.43 seconds.

Congratulations to all participants for their incredible efforts and to Yasmin and Stas for their record-breaking achievements. We are immensely proud of the talent and spirit displayed by our Year 6 students. Well done! Coach Brown – Head Swim Coach

VAP Centre of Excellence Boys Travel to KIS

Last week, our VAP Centre of Excellence U11 Boys traveled to KIS to participate in a friendly round-robin tournament. This fixture was a fantastic opportunity for the players to compete in a friendly setting.

It was wonderful to see the boys working hard for each other, and their teamwork was exceptional. They have all continued to develop their skills throughout Term One, and we look forward to seeing how they continue to improve and enjoy their football after the New Year. Well done, Boys! Coach Rothwell – Football Coach

ECA News

Winter Knights Chess Tournament

Our inter-school “Winter Knights” Chess Tournament was held on Saturday 7th December featuring 60 chess officiandos from 10 schools and chess clubs across Phuket: HeadStart (Chaofah City and Cherngtalay campuses), UWC, KIS, ISP, BCIS, Kajonkiet, Oak Meadow, BISP, the Southside Knights and Ali’s BBQ Chess Club.

In the general classification of a very strong chess tournament, HeadStart’s very own Mark Kolesnikov (U14) got an amazing 3rd place and Bronze medal, finishing just slightly behind the winner and runner-up players who won trophies in the U16 and U18 categories. Another HeadStart student, Tigran Davtian (U14) also fought fiercely to finish in a highly respectable 4th place overall. When divided into age group categories, HeadStart students completely dominated the Under 10s, and also performed well in the U12, U14, U16 age groups as well as the Female category.

Under 10 years old:

• 🥇 1st: Georgiy (5 White Chaofah City)

• 🥈 2nd: Tigger (4 White Chaofah City)

• 🥉 3rd: Bogdan (5 Blue Chaofah City)

Under 12 years old:

• 🥉 3rd: Luka (6 Blue Cherngtalay)

Under 14 years old:

• 🥇 1st: Mark (9 Blue Cherngtalay)

• 🥈 2nd: Tigran (8 Blue Cherngtalay)

Under 16 years old:

• 🥈 2nd: Luka (11 Yellow Chaofah City)

Female

• 🥉 3rd: Amalia (9 Yellow Chaofah City)

Languages Department

Spanish Language Day

We would like to express our sincere thanks to all the families who joined us for the vibrant Spanish Language Morning on Saturday, December 7th! It was a truly special event, offering families the chance to participate in fun activities that celebrated the global importance of the Spanish language. The day was filled with excitement, as families connected with one another, engaged with the children, and immersed themselves in the warmth of the Spanish-speaking community here at Headstart International School. We also shared many unforgettable moments together, all while enjoying a delicious spread of food!

A big thank you as well to Casa Boho in Kamala and La Salada in Rawai for their generous sponsorship and support of this memorable event. Gracias y ! Feliz Navidad¡ Thank you! and ¡FELIZ NAVIDAD!

Learning Vocabulary Through Play in Year 10 Mandarin Foreign Language Class

This week in the Year 10 Mandarin as a Foreign Language class, we reviewed vocabulary from IGCSE texts through a variety of engaging board games. Activities included a Rock-Paper-Scissors card game, “Guess What I’m Saying” charades, and Chinese checkers. These interactive games not only helped students expand their recognition of Chinese characters but also created an enjoyable learning environment where students learned through play. The class was filled with laughter and enthusiasm as students immersed themselves in the activities. Ms Qiao – Mandarin as a Foreign Language Teacher

Foundation

Christmas Stay & Play in Foundation

What a fantastic way to end the term! Our Foundation children amazed us all with their wonderful performances, singing Christmas songs with such confidence, enthusiasm, and joy. Their cheerful dancing and energy truly lit up the stage, creating magical memories for everyone. The festive spirit continued during our Christmas Stay & Play sessions, where children, parents, and carers joined in a variety of fun activities, making the mornings even more special!

We were also delighted by a special visit from Santa and his elves, which was made even more magical by the children’s awe and festive spirits. It was truly special to see how happy all of the children were.

Thank you to everyone who came along to celebrate with us, what a perfect way to end such a wonderful and successful term!

📸 Full albums of photos can be found here:

• Reception Christmas Stay & Play 2024

• Early Years Christmas Stay & Play 2024

• Preschool Christmas Stay & Play 2024

Secondary

Performing Nonsense Poems in Year 8 English

As much as possible, we like to make connections across years and skills in the English Faculty, so it was a delightful culmination to the Year 8 unit on poetry to witness student performances of their nonsense poems to a highly impressed coterie of A Level Literature judges. Drawing on inspiration from Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky, Seungha, Susanna and Bella had a tough time adjudicating the Year 8s on both the quality of their poem and the effectiveness of their delivery. In the end, a top three emerged, with Matvey in third, Poppy in second, but just edging them out was a sinister and well-crafted piece from Kamilla. You can read two of the poems, including Kamilla’s winning missive, below 👇. Well done to all involved! Mr Pollicutt – Head of English & EAL

Beware the Brolliveigh by Kamilla
GOGOLYBLO

BTEC Business Pitch to Real World Movie Producers Thanks to 5 Star Marine

The BTEC Business students have achieved an incredible milestone, showcasing their creativity and entrepreneurial skills through a brilliantly executed event. After months of preparation, their efforts culminated in a collaborative project with Jay LeShark from 5 Star Marine, where they crafted a movie concept and an accompanying detailed marketing plan.

Jay guided the students in developing an extensive marketing strategy. This included innovative elements such as movie trailers, short films, podcasts, and a range of promotional materials like digital ads and billboard posters. The students demonstrated remarkable creativity and attention to detail, producing work of an excellent standard.

The highlight of the event was when the students pitched their movie concepts to real-world movie producers, Chris Lowenstein and Oliver Ackermann, the founder and partner of Living Films. Chris and Oliver have extensive experience in the industry, having worked on major productions such as The Hangover, Mother of the Bride, and The Alien series. Their expertise added a level of authenticity and gravitas to the experience, as they provided critical feedback and valuable insights.

The producers were highly impressed by the students’ work, praising their creativity and professionalism. This unique opportunity not only boosted the students’ confidence but also allowed them to learn directly from leading figures in the film industry, This project has been a testament to the students’ hard work and the power of hands-on learning. Following the pitches, the students then held an exhibition showcasing their movies to the school community. More photos of this to follow! Congratulations to the BTEC Business students on their outstanding success! Ms Jones – BTEC Coordinator

Sixth Form Students Explore the Legal World with a Visit to Phuket Provincial

On Monday 10th December, we had the opportunity to visit Phuket Provincial Court. The court staff organised our day really well, and led us through three distinct sessions. The first session was an informative introduction led by the 4 judges and the Chief Judge. They explained to us the workings of the Thai legal system through a Q&A session. We were guided to a courtroom where we got to watch a sentencing hearing for theft. We learnt about Thai courtroom etiquette such as standing up and bowing when the judge enters the room. The judge kindly turned and spoke to us in English, explaining the procedures that were carried and further details regarding the case.

After that, we also got to go down to see the jail in the basement of the court. The judges told us about the different circumstances that could cause people to end up in there and explained the parole system. Although we weren’t able to have a tour of the jail, what we observed standing outside the jail cells did warn us of the consequences of committing or even slight involvement in unlawful acts.

As students who are interested in pursuing a career in law, we are extremely grateful for an opportunity like this. We would like to thank all the judges for giving their time, Mr. Roscoe for accompanying us to the court, and Khun Rachasak Suwankumnoet (Khun Win), a lawyer and barrister who is also part of HeadStart’s Parent Committee, for helping us to organise this event. Erica and Mix – Year 13 Students

Experience at the Honda Safety Riding Park

A small group of Secondary school students recently spent three enjoyable hours at the Honda Safety Riding Park, learning how to ride motorbikes safely. We started with a theory session, which included a safety discussion and learning about hazard perception. It was really useful to understand how to spot dangers early and how to react to them. After that, we moved to a simulator, which was a lot of fun (though it was quite hard to stay safe)! It gave us a chance to practise riding in a controlled way before getting on an actual bike.

The next part was all about braking techniques and learning how to stop safely. We also learned how to pick up a bike properly if it falls over, which is harder than you’d think but super useful to know. Finally, we got some time on the track, which was definitely the highlight for us. Overall, we learned some useful safety advice and tips, and thoroughly enjoyed it! Luka in Year 11 and Sami in Year 12

Success Outside School

• Well done to Layla (1 White) who competed in the fun run at the Kathu Marathon. Great running, Layla!

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