Weekly Update #28, 28 March 2025

Celebrating International Day 2025

HeadStart Shoe Bag and String Bag - Available Now!

Is your child’s school bag always overflowing with books, footwear and sports clothes? Why not invest in a HeadStart branded shoe bag or string bag? Perfect for keeping your child’s school bag clutter free and shoes and PE kit in one easy-to-find place. Please visit our school shop to stock up on your child’s school supplies.

Parent Committee Coffee Morning

Welcoming all parents to join our Term 2 Parent Committee coffee morning on Wednesday 2nd April at Nakita’s Coffee Shop in the Atrium. This is a great opportunity to meet members of our Parent Committee and other parents from across the school. Join usfrom 8am onwards.

Songkran Festival 2025

Join us for a joyous Songkran celebration! Come together for a vibrant celebration of Thai culture at our Annual Songkran Festival on Thursday 3rd April, 2025!

Let’s embrace this beautiful tradition as a community, create unforgettable memories, and enjoy the festivities. Don’t forget to wear your flowery shirts, mark your calendars, and get ready for an amazing time!

Find more details in the poster below:

Songkran Sports Camps

Basketball Camp

During the Songkran break, our Basketball Academy is offering 3 days of high-quality training designed to keep your child fit, healthy, and improving their b’ball skills. Starts at 09:00 am (drop off after 08:30 am) and finishes at 2:00 pm with lunch provided! Open to students from Year 4 to Year 9. Players will be split into appropriate groups, depending on their age and abilities. Expect high-quality coaching, lots of fun and medals 🏅 to be won!

To sign up, please contact Coach Mike [email protected]

Chess Tournament - April Edition @ Chaofah City Campus

Calling all HeadStart chess enthusiasts to our 8th tournament of the year! Whether you’re a seasoned pro or a passionate beginner, this is your chance to showcase your skills on the board! Join us for an exciting day filled with strategic moves and intense battles.

• Date: Saturday, 5th April

• Time: Attendance Check at 11:15; Finish approximately 16:00

• Location: Canteen, Chaofah City Campus

• Entry Fee: Early Bird 250 Thai baht (double if you pay on the day!)

To register and secure your spot, contact teacher Dawid: WhatsApp - +66810486441; Telegram - @vit1977; LINE - vit-1977

Don’t miss out on the chance to test your tactical prowess and compete for prizes and plenty of other awards including Top 3 players, Best Female and Best Under 8 years old! And FREE PIZZA! Mark your calendars and see you next Saturday!

World Book Day 2025

Get ready to turn the page on your usual school day because World Book Day is coming on Wednesday 23rd April, and it’s bound to be a novel experience! Step into the shoes of your favourite literary figure—be it a Poe-etic writer, a Wilde character, or even something from a fantasy series like Lord of the Rings – truly out of the Mordordinary!

It’s Literary Dress Up!

Whether you fancy yourself a Gatsby in a sharp suit, a Hunger Games tribute, or a walking, crawling, talking Gregor Samsa, the more creative, the better! So don’t be a Moby Dull—join the fun, shelf your excuses, and let’s make this a story for the ages!

Secondary Pastoral Care and Student Support System Parent Meeting on 27.03.25

We were pleased to welcome our secondary parents on Thursday morning to a meeting about our pastoral curriculum and how we support our students at HeadStart. Kate Manning, Assistant Head of Secondary, met with parents to share information on PSHE (Personal, Social and Health Education), including our purpose and vision for the PSHE curriculum, how we approach a wide variety of points of view, and specific topics we cover. We discussed delivery of the sessions, which is done in a way to empower our students with broad perspectives to make informed choices and to foster critical thinking skills, whilst striving to maintain a positive culture that supports growth within a safe and inclusive environment. Ms Manning - Deputy Head of Secondary

Secondary Pastoral Care and Student Support System Parent Meeting on 27.03.25

Year 6 Residential Trip Parent Meeting

We warmly invite parents of all Year 6 students to an information session about the upcoming Year 6 Residential Trip to Angsana Resort Phuket on 29th & 30th April. This trip will be a wonderful opportunity for the students to develop independence, strengthen friendships, and create lasting memories as they approach the end of their Primary school journey. It promises to be a fun and enriching experience that will help them grow both personally and socially.

During the meeting, we will provide important details about the trip, including the venue, planned activities, packing list, and safety precautions. This will also be a great opportunity to ask any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you there and sharing more about this exciting experience for your child.

Dylan Lee - Enrolled at HeadStart since Year 12

We are excited to announce that Dylan Lee has received offers to study Business and Management BA at several prestigious universities. His hard work and entrepreneurial mindset, demonstrated through his contribution to management of the food stalls at the school Friday market and supporting the school by governing the vending machine, have prepared him well for this next step. Congratulations, Dylan! We are proud of your achievements and look forward to seeing where your journey takes you.

Sixuan Li - Enrolled at HeadStart since Year 8

We are delighted to announce that Sixuan (Alice) Li, who has been with HeadStart since 2019, has received multiple university offers to study Psychology and Criminology. As a former prefect, she has shown leadership and dedication to her fellow students and to her studies, which will undoubtedly contribute to her success in university. Congratulations, Alice! Wishing you the best in your future studies.

Eva (5 Blue Chaofah City campus) - Enrolled at HeadStart since Year 3

Since joining in Year 3, Eva has made a lasting impression on everyone she has met at HeadStart with her never-ending energy and enthusiasm for life! This year she has made the jump to be part of the U11 Girls Football Academy team and she is incredibly proud of this achievement, in particular being a member of the winning team at the BIS 7s in Term 1! This weekend, she is away in Bangkok taking part in the Harrow International Football tournament. Why does Eva love HeadStart?

Foundation Fun with Traditional Thai Games

Our Foundation students experienced traditional Thai children’s games, bringing generations together through play. Children explored beloved games passed down through generations, including:

• Hide and Run (มอญซ่อนผ้า)

• Ball Throwing Game (ลูกโยน)

• Catch the Last Person (รีรีข้าวสาร)

Parents and children learned, laughed, and created wonderful memories while connecting together. Thank you Kru Lookpla, Kru Poy, and Kru Tee for organising this event and for making this experience so much fun!

Learning about the Wonders of Thai Rice

Our Year 1 - 3 students had a fun morning under the theme “Amazing Thai Rice.” Students learned about the value and benefits of various types of Thai rice, as well as the origins of rice and foods made from rice. The children also had a great time playing the traditional Thai game “Ri Ri Khao San” and creating rice grain art using rice in different colours.

A big thank you to Kru Cherry, Kru Kan, Kru Amy and Kru Saimai for their enthusiasm in organising this wonderful Saturday event!

Celebrating the Rich Culture of Northern Thailand

Our Year 4 - 6 students had a great morning exploring and immersing themselves in the rich culture of Northern Thailand! They enjoyed discovering the geography of the region, learning the local northern dialect, savouring authentic northern snacks, and crafting their very own ตุง (Tung) – the traditional northern flag – which they decorated beautifully.

A big thank you to Kru Way, Kru Fon and Kru Song for creating and preparing these activities for our students.

Primary Swim Galas 2025 - Final House Rankings, Record Breakers & A Big Thank You!

Wow! What a fantastic week of swim galas here at Headstart Cherngtalay. From our Year 1s all the way up to Year 6 showing off to their parents, guardians and peers what they have been working on in their swimming lessons. We had the students demonstrating kickboard races, freestyle, breaststroke and backstroke with some of the older students even confident enough to start with a dive off the blocks. What an amazing week, well done to all our primary swimmers, below are the results of the house points won for each year group.

House Standings by Year Group:

Year 1: 🐆 Yellow Cheetahs – 🐯 Blue Tigers – 🔥 Red Phoenixes – 🐉 Green DragonsYear 2: 🔥 Red Phoenixes – 🐯 Blue Tigers – 🐉 Green Dragons – 🐆 Yellow CheetahsYear 3: 🔥 Red Phoenixes – 🐯 Blue Tigers – 🐆 Yellow Cheetahs – 🐉 Green DragonsYear 4: 🔥 Red Phoenixes – 🐆 Yellow Cheetahs – 🐯 Blue Tigers – 🐉 Green DragonsYear 5: 🐆 Yellow Cheetahs – 🐯 Blue Tigers – 🔥 Red Phoenixes – 🐉 Green DragonsYear 6: 🐆 Yellow Cheetahs – 🐉 Green Dragons – 🐯 Blue Tigers – 🔥 Red Phoenixes

‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’

On Friday 21st March, 40 of our amazing U9 and U11 girls and boys came together from both campuses to compete in the PISAC Track & Field event hosted at our Chaofah City campus.

It was an amazing afternoon and our aspiring athletes ran, threw and hopped their way to a heart-wrenching 4th place finish. Wishing our Secondary athletes great success next week when they head over to Thanyapura for more track & field action! Mr Carter - Director of Sport

PISAC Secondary Track & Field Championships

We are excited to be taking our HeadStart Secondary Track & Field team to compete against 5 schools from across the island of Phuket at the PISAC Secondary Track & Field Championships which are being held this year at Thanyapura Sports & Health Resort.

Please see the details below:

• Date: Tuesday, 1st April

• Time: 15.00-19.30

• Venue: Thanyapura Sports & Health Resort

Selected athletes and their parents have already been contacted. Parents are very welcome to come and watch all the action unfold. Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you then. Mr Carter - Director of Sport

Year 7 Thai Foreign Language Students Make Mango Sticky Rice!

Year 7 students in the Thai Foreign Language class have been learning all about traditional Thai desserts. This week, they had an exciting opportunity to make the famous “Mango Sticky Rice” themselves!

Under the guidance of Kru Amy, students explored the ingredients, cooking process, and cultural significance of this beloved Thai dessert, and we invite Dr Mash our Secondary Head to volunteer to taste. It was a fun and delicious hands-on experience! Great job, Year 7!

The Importance of Maintaining a Child’s First Language at Home

While our students spend much of their day learning in English, it is essential that they continue to develop their first language at home. Research shows that a strong foundation in a child’s first language supports overall cognitive development and helps students become even more proficient in additional languages.

❌ The risk of losing the first language

Over the years, we’ve seen families realise too late that they hadn’t done enough to support their child’s first language, only to regret it as their child grew older. Some children have struggled to connect with relatives, maintain cultural identity, or even express themselves fully in their home language.

✅ How parents can help

• Speak the first language daily – even if your child responds in English, continue using your home language consistently.

• Read books and tell stories – this helps develop vocabulary and cultural understanding.

• Encourage writing and creative expression – journals, letters to relatives, or even social media in the home language can be great practice.

• Watch films or listen to music together – exposure to the language in a natural way strengthens comprehension.

Bilingualism is a gift, and with the right support, students can thrive in multiple languages without losing their first one. Let’s work together to ensure that children grow up confident in both their school language and their home language!

Year 1 Come Face to face with Underwater Creatures

Year 1 had the exciting opportunity to visit Aquaria this week. The children got the chance to come face to face with a range of underwater creatures, including sea turtles, sharks, stingrays and penguins! They also got to see animals that live on land, such as snakes, tarantulas and parrots. The children loved seeing some of the amazing animals we are lucky to have on the planet we live on. They ended the visit with an amazing mermaid show. The children were great ambassadors for HeadStart and enjoyed Aquaria very much. The Year 1 Team

Scholars of Sustenance

HeadStart International School, Phuket is proud to continue its partnership with Scholars of Sustenance - a registered non-profit environmental organization operating to tackle the food waste and food insecurity problem since 2016. They rescue good quality surplus food from schools (including HeadStart), restaurants, hotels, retailers, and food manufacturers seven days a week and distribute it to different vulnerable communities in need. Their mission is to align with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and uphold their motto - Saving the Land, Serving the People, Feeding the Mind.

To find out more about how you can support Scholars of Sustenance, visit their website: https://www.scholarsofsustenance.org/sos-thailand