Chaofah City
Chaofah City
Weekly Update #24, 28 February 2025
Announcements
HeadStart Yearbook Sponsorship Opportunities
Dear Parents,
The 2024-2025 HeadStart Yearbook is underway! 📸 Support our school community and promote your business by advertising in our special full-colour, magazine-style yearbook, reaching over 800 copies.
Advertising Options:
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Half-page ad: 5,000 THB
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Full-page ad: 10,000 THB
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Full-page inside back covers (limited): 12,000 THB
🗓️ Submission deadline: March 20, 2025
📁 Format: PDF, TIFF, JPEG (CMYK, 300 dpi)
If you are interested or have any questions, please feel free to contact us at [email protected].
HeadStart Bag and Cap - Available Now!
As we approach the hot season, now is the perfect time to invest in a HeadStart cap for your child. With HeadStart branded school bags also on offer, please visit our school shop to stock up on your child’s school supplies.
HeadStart Cherngtalay Campus Goes Solar
We are proud to announce the latest development in HeadStart’s commitment to being a sustainable, environmentally conscientious centre for learning - HeadStart Eco-School.
With the installation of solar panels on the roof of our covered astro-pitch, our Cherngtalay campus is now in part powered by solar. Following in the footsteps of our Chaofah City campus, where 80% of our total electrical consumption comes from green, renewable and sustainable energy, we are fulfilling our goal of Sustainable Learning for a Sustainable World. We have also taken steps to reduce our energy consumption by installing motion sensors in classrooms to control aircon units, ensuring our learning spaces remain comfortable for students while at the same time reducing electricity usage.
To find out more about our school’s commitment to sustainability, including in-school projects like our growing gardens and recycling activities, and island-wide community collaborations, including our monthly Beach Clean events and food donations to the Scholars of Sustenance, visit our website:
https://headstartphuket.com/en/our-school/sustainability
Upcoming Events
HeadStart’s Academy Teams Getting Ready to Make a Difference
Happening tonight and tomorrow, our 24 Hours to Make a Difference sporting fundraiser event splashes off at 20:00 tonight (Friday 28th February)at our Chaofah City campus! Donations are in and students young and old are getting geared up for 24 hours of sporting fun!
So, come and join us for this unique sporting event to raise funds for our Term 2 and 3 chosen foundations! All academy students, coaches, and parents are invited to participate from 20:00 on Friday, 28th February to 20:00 on Saturday, 1st March 2025.
Event Highlights:
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Swim Academy 🏊♂️: 20:00 Friday - 08:00 Saturday
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Football Academy ⚽︎: 08:00 - 20:00 Saturday
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Basketball Academy 🏀: 14:00 - 20:00 Saturday
Final 3 Hours (17:00 - 20:00): Fun games with parent & staff teams
BBQ & Refreshments: Celebrate with free food (pre-order required) from 18:00 - 20:00. All proceeds from refreshments will go to our charitable foundations.
Nominated Foundations:
Youth Football Home, Phuket: https://www.facebook.com/youthfootballhome/
North Andaman Network Foundation: https://www.andamannetwork.org/
All funds raised will be equally shared between these two amazing foundations.
Toddler Playgroup is Back - Open to all families!
Welcoming all families to step into our vibrant classrooms for a special morning at our free Toddler Playgroup for toddlers aged 1-4 years old! The next session for this term will take place on Wednesday 5th March.
Our highly qualified team will guide you and your little ones through a range of engaging activities – from sensory and messy play stations to hands-on crafts where children can make their own creations. Toddlers will explore color and texture with paint, playdough, and water play, helping develop their motor skills and curiosity. There’s also story time and songs to wrap up the morning. This fun-filled session is perfect for families to connect and find out what it’s like to be a part of our HeadStart community.
To register, scan the QR code in the poster or complete this form https://forms.gle/GKEhsvRuUu1Q5bGq8. Limited spaces available.
Community Beach Clean at Bangtao Beach
On Sunday 9th March, we will hold our first Community Beach Clean event of this school year. This will be run by a group of Year 12 students from our Chaofah City campus in coordination with our school Eco Coordinator, Mr Rob Gratton. We welcome all families to join us from 9am as we meet at the Le Phang section of Bagntao Beach (at the car park in front of the Movenpick Resort). We will provide plastic bags and gloves for collecting rubbish, as well as drinking water so please bring reusable water bottles. This promises to be a fun community event as we contribute to keeping our island’s pristine beaches free from trash. Don’t forget to wear your House shirt to earn valuable points for your house!
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Time: 09:00 -10:30
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Location: Le Phang (Bangtao) Beach https://maps.app.goo.gl/qjPnrxwP97ZBdWzG6
CAPA Junior presents Peter Pan…Set Sail for Neverland – No Flying Lessons Required!
Join us at our Chaofah City campus on 26th & 27th March at 5pm as our CAPA Junior HeadStars take you on a swashbuckling adventure full of mischief, magic, and maybe even a bit of fairy dust! Soar with Peter Pan, escape Captain Hook’s ridiculous plans, and clap extra loud for Tinkerbell—she insists.
This isn’t just a play—it’s a delightful tale of sword fights, pirate chases and lost boys’ stories, with music that will have you ‘hooked’ faster than Hook himself!
Mark your calendar, grab your fairy wings (or pirate hats), and dive into the magic. Tickets go on sale from 3pm on Friday 7th March before the crocodile’s clock strikes—tick-tock, tick-tock!
Meetings & Presentations
Primary Maths Workshop on 27.02.25
Thank you to our parents who were able to attend the Primary Maths Workshop with Mr Whitham on Thursday. In this session, we explored how the teaching for mastery approach has transformed maths education throughout the last ten years, looking at the ways in which it fosters a deeper understanding for all children. We shared insights into our school’s maths provision and also looked at some practical strategies and resources that can support learning at home. Parents had the chance to tackle some challenging maths problems and saw some key mastery techniques in action. We appreciate your engagement and hope you found it valuable in supporting your child’s mathematical journey!
Primary Maths Workshop for Parents 27.02.25
Phonics for Early Years & Reception Parent Meeting
Inviting all parents of Foundation children to a parent meeting to help you better understand our approach to teaching phonics. Taking place on Thursday 6th March 2025 in the Foundation and Primary ILC starting at 8.30am. At this meeting, you will have an opportunity to understand how phonics is used to develop early literacy skills, and look at ways that you can support your child’s development at home. We look forward to seeing you there.
HeadStart Alumni
Luna Ducasse - Class of 2023
My name is Luna Ducasse, I graduated from HeadStart in 2023 and I am now in my second year of my Bachelor’s, studying Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Groningen, in the Netherlands. Next year I will be completing my minor in Journalism and hopefully will go on to pursue a Master’s in Journalism. I currently live in a student apartment with 8 people and it is so much fun!
Apart from my studies, I am in a band called ‘Freak Accident’ with friends and I am also the Head of the Music Committee at my university’s student association, this means that I organise events like open mics at the university. In my spare time, I have also been taking a music production course in the evenings which I have really been enjoying. In my free time I love going out with friends or going for a walk in the park. This city is never boring and you can always find something to do so I have loved my time in Groningen so far!
University Offers
Kristina Lashchenova - Enrolled at HeadStart Since Year 4
We are excited to share that Kristina Lashchenova has been accepted to the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol, where she will be pursuing a BSc (Hons) in Psychology. Since joining HeadStart in 2015, Kristina has been an active and dedicated student, contributing to various aspects of school life. She played a key role in CAPA productions as part of the backstage team, ensuring smooth performances behind the scenes. Her commitment to community service is evident through her volunteer work and involvement in the school’s summer camp, where she helped create enriching experiences for younger students.Congratulations, Kristina! We are incredibly proud of your achievements and wish you all the best in your studies and future endeavors. Other offers received: University of Manchester, University of Sussex (Brighton), Goldsmiths (University of London), University of Greenwich (London).
Eva Ducasse - Enrolled at HeadStart Since Year 3
We are delighted to share that Eva Ducasse, who joined HeadStart in 2014, has been accepted to AIHM in Bangkok to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.
Throughout her time at HeadStart, Eva has been an outstanding contributor to school life. As a House Captain, she showcased exceptional leadership, inspiring her peers and helping to foster a sense of community. Eva also played a key role in school CAPA productions, introduced innovative ideas such as managing vending machines, and generously shared her skills by teaching gymnastics to younger students in after-school sessions as part of the ECA programme. Congratulations, Eva! We are incredibly proud of your achievements and wish you the best in your studies and future endeavours. Other offers received: CETT University, Spain; HTMi, Switzerland; EU Business School.
House Update
This week, the Primary students had fun putting their communication skills to the test by playing “Guess Who?”. “Guess Who?” is an engaging game that involves two players asking yes-or-no questions to guess the identity of a secret character. Students won points for their house by playing individually and in teams which fostered collaboration as well as friendly competition and problem-solving skills among students.
ECA News
What an incredible showdown of strategic brilliance at the February edition of our ongoing series of Chess Tournaments held at our Chaofah City campus! Relive the magic and see who emerged as the Chess Master of February 2025:
🏆 Champion - Georgiy - Year 5 City Campus
🥈 Runner-up - Luka - Year 11 City Campus
🥉 Third Place - Mark - Year 9 Cherngtalay Campus
Huge thanks to 50 Fly Trampoline Club Phuket and other sponsors for constant support and helping to make yet another tournament exceptional. Next tournament will be held on Saturday 15th March! See you there!
Languages Department
Engaging in Cultural Activities in Mandarin First Language Lessons
Students in our Mandarin First Language class celebrated the Lantern Festival through a series of engaging cultural activities. The event provided an immersive experience, allowing students to explore the festival’s rich traditions. Primary students delved into the origins of the festival by reading traditional folktales and learning about its significance. They designed “blue and white porcelain” bowls and crafted paper tangyuan, symbolizing family unity. Additionally, they created festive scrolls with Chinese well-wishes. Secondary students participated in a hands-on experience of making tangyuan from glutinous rice flour, gaining insight into the festival’s culinary traditions. Through storytelling, arts, and hands-on activities, students deepened their understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture.
The celebration was a meaningful way to connect with the heritage of the Lantern Festival while fostering cultural appreciation and engagement. The Mandarin Teaching Team
Primary
Taking Maths Learning Outside the Classroom in Year 1
This week, Year 1 Yellow have been learning about length and height as part of their maths learning. They completed the week by taking their maths learning outside of the classroom to ensure they understood the terms ‘longer’ and ‘shorter’. The children enjoyed seeing how the learning from inside the classroom can then be used outside of the classroom. Mr Williams and Mr Blacklee - Year 1 Teachers
Exploring the Human and Physical Geographical Features of Phuket Town in Year 3
Our field trip to Phuket Town was an enriching experience! We started at Khao Rong Viewpoint, where we observed and recorded different land uses, including human features like football stadiums, residential housing, and schools, as well as physical features such as hills, trees, and the ocean. Later, we visited Saphan Hin, where we conducted a field sketch of a mangrove tree, learning about its ecological importance. The hands-on knowledge we gained about land use and natural features will be incredibly helpful for our studies on this topic! The Year 3 Team
Becoming Authors and Storytellers in Year 4
The Year 4 students have been working hard on writing their very own stories in English! They then showcased great courage by publishing their stories to the class, sharing their creativity and unique ideas with their peers. Each student skillfully applied their skills as both an author and a storyteller, bringing their stories to life. Well done, Year 4! The Year 4 Team
Success Outside School
🏆 Congratulations to Gosha (4 Blue) for winning the U10 Boys and U12 Matchplay Tennis tournaments at Siam Tennis Academy, Phuket
🏆 Congratulations to Rafa (2 Yellow) for winning the U6 Boys Tennis tournament at Siam Tennis Academy, Phuket
🥈 Well done to Rus (4 Blue) for finishing second in the U10 Boys Tennis tournament at Siam Tennis Academy, Phuket
Promotions From Around the Island
Important Dates
Noticeboard
Parent Fitness
HeadStart provides complimentary use of the Fitness Gym for parents every weekday morning from 07:30-09:30 and in the afternoon from 14:30-18:00.
Classes run from 8:00-9:00am. To join, sign the list at the gym entrance or speak to a trainer. Available strictly for HeadStart parents only.
