Weekly Update #33, 16 May 2025

Year 13 ‘Class of 2025’ Graduation Ceremony

We are honoured to invite our Secondary students and staff to join our Year 13 graduating class and their parents to this significant event which marks the culmination of their education and celebrates their achievements as our graduates embark on their next exciting journey.

📅 Date: Thursday 12 June 2025

🕒 Time: 13:00 – 14:45

📍 Location: Sports Hall, HeadStart International School, Chaofah Campus

Please join us to commemorate this special occasion to mark a significant milestone in our Year 13 students’ educational journey; we are honoured to celebrate it with you.

Gymboree is coming to HeadStart Cherngtalay!

Come Play, Learn, and Grow Together! Free Open House event on Saturday 24th May: 10.30-12.00 & 13.00-14.30

Creativity. Confidence. Friendship. It All Starts At Gymboree Play & Music.

🚍 Gymboree On The Go : Fun and engaging activities for kids aged 0-6 years old.

🗓️ Every Saturday : 09.30 – 16.00

📖 From Saturday 24th May onwards

📍 At HeadStart International School, Phuket – Cherngtalay Campus

Class include:

🎡 Babies Class (0 to 8 months)

🥁 Music Class (2 to 3 and a half years old)

🎨 Art Class (2 to 3 and a half years old)

🧩 Magformers Class (2 and a half to 6 years old)

Register your interest and find out more information at Gymboree Play & Music Phuket, the world’s No. 1 early childhood development center from the United States. Call 076-355-564 and 081-787-7115 or add Line now at https://lin.ee/3dvSr47

ชวนเด็กๆ มาเล่นและเรียนรู้ พร้อมเติบโตไปด้วยกัน กับกิจกรรมการเรียนรู้ผ่านการเล่นที่สนุกสนานของ Gymboree Play & Music ที่ HeadStart International School Phuket Cherngtalay Campus

Gymboree On The Go กิจกรรมการเรียนรู้ผ่านการเล่นที่สนุกสนานสำหรับเด็กๆ อายุ แรกเกิดถึง 6 ปี พบกันทุกวันเสาร์ ที่ HeadStart International School Phuket Cherngtalay Campus ระหว่างเวลา 09.00-16.00 น.

Open House เปิดบ้าน พบกันครั้งแรก วันเสาร์ที่ 24 พฤษภาคมนี้ ลงทะเบียนเข้าร่วมกิจกรรมฟรี พร้อมโปรโมชั่นดีๆ สุดพิเศษภายในงาน สอบถามข้อมูลเพิ่มเติมที่ Gymboree Play & Music Phuket โทร. 076-355-564 และ 081-787-7115 หรืแอดไลน์ทันทีที่ https://lin.ee/3dvSr47

Come Join Us! CAPA Collective Art Exhibition

We are thrilled to announce the opening of our expanded GCSE and A Level Art Exhibition at the Phuket Cultural Centre, Rajabhat University.

This special exhibition showcases the hard work, creativity, and dedication of our talented students over the past two years. It’s an exciting opportunity to witness the artistic achievements of our young artists in a professional setting.

Join us for the Grand Opening Ceremony on Friday, 23rd May from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM, where you’ll enjoy live music performances by our Performing Arts students, adding an extra layer of celebration to this creative evening.

The exhibition will be open to the public from 23rd May to 28th May, so feel free to visit at your convenience and explore the incredible work our students have created!

https://www.thephuketnews.com/collective-art-exhibition-96137.php

Sports Awards Ceremony 2025

On Tuesday 10th June from 16:30 – 18:30 at our Chaofah City campus, our HeadStart Academy students – football, swimming and basketball – will come together to celebrate the incredible array of sporting successes of our teams and individuals across both our school campuses this academic year. Parents of all Academy students are cordially invited to book free tickets for up to 2 adults and accompanying non-academy siblings: https://headstartphuket.com/booking?qname=select_seat&event_id=19

Please do not book tickets for Academy students – their seat is already reserved. We look forward to celebrating with you.

Pathways to Oxford and Cambridge: Informative Morning Talk for Parents

On the morning of Wednesday 14th May, HeadStart International School hosted a special Oxbridge Parent Talk aimed at guiding families through the competitive and often complex process of applying to the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge.

The event featured a range of experienced speakers, including Dr. Siripattra Kusuwan Na-Ranong (a HeadStart parent and Oxford alumnus), Kru Toom, Simon Thomas, and Neil Roscoe (HeadStart University Guidance Counsellors), who together provided an in-depth look at what makes Oxbridge unique, what these institutions look for in applicants, and how families can support their children in preparing effectively.

Parents were introduced to the structure of the college system, the nature of tutorial-based learning, and the high academic expectations associated with both universities. The speakers also covered the key elements of a strong application, including super curricular engagement, personal statements, admissions tests, and interviews. Equally important was the focus on early preparation, intrinsic motivation, and the importance of helping students develop independence, curiosity, and confidence in their chosen subjects. Families came away with a clearer understanding of the Oxbridge journey – from subject choice and application strategy to interview preparation and beyond.

The session concluded with a lively Q&A, allowing parents to explore their questions and concerns in more detail. The atmosphere was warm, engaging, and focused on partnership – reflecting HeadStart’s commitment to working closely with families in support of each student’s academic aspirations. This event forms part of HeadStart’s broader university guidance programme, which includes tailored support for students applying to the world’s most competitive institutions. Whether aiming for Oxbridge or other top global universities, students benefit from one-on-one mentoring, early planning, and expert insight at every stage. The Sixth Form Team

Introduction to Military Service for Year 10 Parent Meeting

Welcoming all parents of Year 9 boys who are Thai nationals and therefore eligible for Military Service. This meeting will explain how HeadStart supports your child with this civic duty, the expectations and timetable of events taking place throughout Year 10. See you on Monday 19th May from 8:30-9:30am in the Primary Hall (2nd floor).

UPrep Drop In at Nakita’s Cafe

Next Wednesday 21st May, we will hold our latest UPrep Drop-in session at Nakita’s Cafe (Chaofah City campus branch) from 8:30-9:30 so please come and join us then. To keep up-to-date with everything UPrep, check out our dedicated webpage: https://headstartphuket.com/chaofah-city/chaofah-city-sixth-form/uprep-programme The UPrep Team

Krittat Phaisamran – Enrolled at HeadStart Since Preschool

We are thrilled to announce that Krittat Phaisamran (Krit), a HeadStart student since Preschool and our current Head Boy, has accepted an offer from Stanford University, where he will pursue a double major in Economics, Management Science and Engineering (BSc). Krit has been a transformative figure at HeadStart, serving as Head Boy, Founder of Sunny Side Up (a student-led initiative providing English and critical thinking lessons to underserved children in Phuket), Captain of the U19 Football Team, and Founding President of the Rotary Interact Club. His other fantastic offers include: Princeton University, Yale University, Columbia University, Dartmouth College, University of York, University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), Georgetown Walsh School of Foreign Service, King’s College London. An extraordinary achievement – congratulations, Krit!

Conor (12 Blue Chaofah City campus) – Enrolled at HeadStart since Year 8

Conor, HeadStart’s Deputy Head Boy, is a recognisable face around our Chaofah City campus and not just for his outstanding academic achievements. Whether running Student Council-led events like Prom or the Halloween Dance, organising the Moken Market to raise money and awareness of this under-represented community or competing in myriad academic competitions, Conor is at the forefront of the HeadStart Student Community and all its hard work. What does Conor love about HeadStart?

Bangkok Patana Internationals 7’s Football Tournament – What a Weekend!

We’re incredibly proud of our teams after a fantastic showing at the Bangkok Patana Internationals 7’s Tournament last weekend. With 7 teams representing our school, it was a celebration of skill, determination, and true team spirit.

🏆 U11 Girls – Cup Champions, a huge achievement and their 2nd cup win this year after also winning the BISP Soccer 7’s tournament!

🥈 U13 Girls – 2nd in the Cup after a strong tournament run.

🏆 U9 Boys – Plate Winners, competing in their first ever residential tournament.

🛡️ U15 Boys – Shield Winners, showing resilience and great teamwork.

There were some unforgettable moments across the tournament, including penalty shootout heroics that had everyone on the edge of their seats. Our players held their nerve and showed incredible composure under pressure! All of our teams made great progress through the group and knockout stages, with every player contributing to the success. The teamwork and energy on display were outstanding. Huge thanks to all the players, coaches, and supporters – you made this tournament one to remember. We’re proud of everything you achieved! Coach Frost – Head Football Coach

Aqua Panthers Power Up at PISAC Swimming Championshiops

What an incredible weekend at the PISAC Swimming Championships 2025! I am thrilled to share that we finished 2nd place overall—a fantastic achievement that showcases the hard work and dedication of our swimmers.

Special Congratulations to our High Point Earners:

🥇 Yasmin (6 White Choafah City campus) – 1st Place (11-12 Girls)

🥈 Katherine (4 Blue Cherngtalay campus) – 2nd Place (8 & Under Girls)

🥉 Rita (5 Blue Choafah City campus) – 3rd Place (9-10 Girls)

🥉 Kevin (7 Blue Choafah City campus) – 3rd Place (11-12 Boys)

🥉 Ratmir (5 Blue Choafah City campus) – 3rd Place (9-10 Boys)

Your performances were outstanding, and you represented the team with pride and determination.

Honorable Mentions to:

• Fima (7 Blue Choafah City campus) – 72 Points

• Viktor (9 Blue Choafah City campus) – 58 Points

• Jeremy (10 White Choafah City campus) – 56 Points

• Monica (6 Blue Cherngtalay campus) – 68 Points

• Masha – 60 Points

Your contributions helped solidify our team’s success—thank you for your hard work and commitment! A huge thank you to everyone who supported us throughout the long weekend, and an extra shoutout to those who helped with timing on Friday. We couldn’t have done it without your dedication and support! This was an amazing end-of-season meet in Phuket, and I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come. I look forward to seeing even more growth, stronger times, and continued success next season. Coach Brown – Head Swim Coach

An Introduction to Muay Thai (traditional Thai Boxing) in Year 9 Thai Classes

On Wednesday 7th May, Year 9 Thai Foreign Students along with Thai Second Language Students were introduced to ‘Muay Thai’ by our very own Miss Caroline Mure. We were so impressed with her performance at the Songkran Assembly that we invited her to be our guest speaker and share her knowledge with the students. Year 9 students learned basic movements such as kicking, jabbing, and hooks. Everyone had so much fun! Kru Tia – Head of Thai

Mandarin-speaking Parent Panel Discussion

We would like to warmly invite you to our upcoming Mandarin-speaking Parent Panel Discussion titled: “Together We Grow: Mandarin Language, Culture and Community”

📅 Date: Tuesday 20th May 2025

🕒 Time: 8.30 – 9.30

📍 Location: Primary Hall – HeadStart Chaofah City campus

This will be a friendly and informal event where members of our Mandarin-speaking community — including two parents and a student — will share their personal experiences of maintaining cultural identity, language, and family values while living abroad and being part of an international school.

There will also be time for questions and discussion with the audience. We would love for you to join us, listen, share ideas, and connect with other families in our community. The Mandarin-speaking team

我们诚挚地邀请您参加即将举行的中文家长座谈会，主题为：“携手共同成长：中文语言、文化与社区”

📅 日期：2025年5月20日（星期二）

🕣 时间：上午8:30 – 9:30

📍 地点：HeadStart Chaofah City 校区Primary Hall

本次活动将以轻松而非正式的座谈形式进行，我们中文社区的几位代表（包括两位家长和一位学生）将分享他们在海外生活、融入国际学校环境的过程中，如何传承文化、语言以及家庭价值观的真实经历。

座谈会设有开放讨论时间，欢迎您提出问题、交流想法，与其他家庭建立联系、共同成长。中文教师团队

Preschool Explkore the Underwater World at Aquaria

Preschool had a wonderful time on our rip to the aquarium! The children were amazed by the colourful fish, playful stingrays, and graceful sea turtles swimming all around us. They especially loved walking through the tunnel, where they could see sharks and other sea creatures gliding overhead. It was a fun and engaging way to learn more about ocean life, and the excitement on the children’s faces said it all! Miss Iona – Preschool Teacher

Celebrating the Hip Hop & Jazz Skills of our Foundation Dancer Heroes

Well done to our little heroes for their great performance in the last Friday assembly! Throughout the term, our 3-year-olds jumped, wiggled, and grooved their way through fun Hip Hop and Jazz routines, dressed in fantastic hero costumes! They worked hard to learn their special “Hero Dance,” showing off their confidence, coordination, and super dance moves. We’re so proud of their energy, effort, and big smiles on stage! The ECA Dance Team

Reception Perform Fantastic Tiny CAPA Show!

A big well done to all our wonderful Reception children for their fantastic Tiny CAPA performance last Friday! Both classes worked together to bring their creativity to life, not only dancing, acting, and singing with confidence, but also proudly sharing their imaginative work on stage. The children transformed the space into their very own Reception Town, filled with character and colour. We are so proud of their teamwork, talent, and enthusiasm. What a creative way to celebrate their learning! The Reception & CAPA Teams

Finding Out About Flowers in Year 3

This week, Year 3 learned all about the role flowers play in plants. They learned the names of the different parts of the flower and the importance of pollinators in the plant life cycle. The pupils were very inquisitive and were keen to find out more! Having collected some Yellow Trumpet Flowers from our school car park, they carefully dissected them and using magnifying glasses they observed each part in detail. They were fascinated to learn that flowers are not just the beautiful smelling petals that attract pollinators but they have many different parts that each play a vital role in the reproduction of plants! The Year 3 Team

Year 6 VAPP Students Wow Year 7 Science Fair

As part of this year’s primary Science VAPP (Very Able Pupil Program), a group of inquisitive and ambitious Year 6 students had the exciting opportunity to step into the secondary science labs and take on a truly impressive scientific challenge:

Can you make plastic from everyday ingredients?

Guided and supported by Mr. Guarino and Mr. Clarke, the students engaged in hands-on scientific investigation, exploring the potential of sustainable materials and learning how bioplastics can be made from common household ingredients. The project involved real scientific problem-solving, laboratory techniques, and teamwork, all within a fully equipped secondary lab environment.

The Year 6 VAPP class — Lidia, Cindy, Liz, Polina, Karina, Sophie, Mia, Ada, Mason, Jacob, Simon, Terence, and Nara — not only succeeded in making a working sample of bioplastic, but also demonstrated exceptional understanding of the environmental implications of their work. Their project embodied the spirit of innovation and scientific curiosity that the VAPP programme aims to foster.

In recognition of their outstanding effort and achievement, the group were invited to be guest speakers at the Year 7 Science Fair. Congratulations to our Year 6 VAPP students on an outstanding project, we look forward to welcoming you into the secondary science programme next year, where your journey as scientists will no doubt continue to flourish! Mr Clarke and Mr Guarino – Science VAPP Leaders

A Celebration of Creativity and Commitment in Year 7 Science

The Year 7 Science Fair was a true celebration of the hard work, creativity, and commitment of our students. At HeadStart, we proudly embody the learner attribute of inquisitive within our science curriculum. Science is about so much more than memorising facts; it is about embracing the scientific method, learning to ask meaningful questions, challenging assumptions, and thinking creatively to find innovative solutions. The Science Fair encapsulates this spirit perfectly.

Over the past two terms, our Year 7 students have worked collaboratively in teams to plan, carry out, and present their own research projects. This process required dedication, teamwork, and a genuine curiosity about the world around them. The fair was a chance for students to showcase their learning to the wider school community, and we were thrilled to see so many parents, friends, and family members attend in support.

A number of exceptional projects stood out, and we are proud to announce the winners of the overall Best in Year Group prizes:

Most Engaging PosterHow does the colour of red cabbage juice help us to find the pH of different substances? – Kwankao, May May, Pun, CandyBest Use of DataLogo Logic: Does Age or Gender Affect How Fast We Spot the Difference? – Buahom, Jan, SiennaScience Team Vote: Best Use of the Scientific MethodHow does sound affect concentration? – Alice, Anna, Elsa, CharlotteBest Community SpiritHow clean is our school? – Erika, Arya, Ciara, Amari, SophieCommunity Popular Vote

What elements make coloured fire? – Zoe, Alysia, Susie, Avani, Ella

Congratulations to all our budding scientists! We are incredibly proud of the thoughtful questions you explored, the careful investigations you conducted, and the creativity you brought to your presentations. We look forward to seeing how you continue to develop your scientific thinking in the years to come. Thank you again to everyone who attended—we look forward to welcoming you back next year! The Secondary Science Team
“The important thing is to never stop questioning.” – Albert Einstein

Book Talk – Year 8 Connect with Sixth Form Literature Students

I’m sorry. I have to return to my stolen line from E.M. Forster, my guiding maxim to teaching: ‘Only connect.’

Making connections, be they between texts, concepts, places or times underpins a lot of what we do as teachers of literature. Today, the phrase has significance in a less abstract sense, as Sixth Form A Level Literature students made connections with Year 8s with a series of book talks in our library. Year 8 Gogol are currently devouring Animal Farm, so hearing from older students about texts which explore similar ideas and how they were enjoyed by and influenced Krit, India and Baikao was a powerful way to inspire a love of reading. Mr. Pollicutt – Head of English & EAL

BTEC Business Students Create Marketing Content for 5 Star Marine at Ko Hong

As part of their coursework, BTEC Business students took part in a field trip to Ko Hong to support a marketing project with 5 Star Marine. The purpose of the trip was to gather content and ideas for marketing materials. Students took photos and videos and noted key features of the tour that could be used to promote the service to future customers. This content will be used to create social media posts and promotional materials. The trip gave students the chance to apply what they have learned in units such as branding, market research, customer service, and digital marketing. It also helped them understand how marketing works in the tourism industry and gave them experience working with a real business. This activity forms part of their coursework and gives them a strong example of how business theory is used in real-world situations. Ms Jones and the BTEC Team

Year 11 IGCSE English Students Quizzed by their Year 10 Peers

Year 11 English students have really impressed me with their focus and commitment towards their final IGCSE exams this term. They impressed me even more when they took time out of their busy schedules to journey across from their Study Stay rooms to share their expertise with Year 10 students who in 2026 will sit the same exam as them.

They fielded some tricky questions and spoke with wisdom and poise. It seemed therefore only fitting for the Year 10s to thank them with a splendid dramatic monologue delivered by Puck (aka Ton) as he rehearsed for his IGCSE Drama performance. Mr. Pollicutt – Head of English & EAL

Phuket Has Been Good To Us (PHBGTU) Charity Dinner at Bucha Gallery & Restaurant

On Saturday 7th June, Bucha Gallery & Restaurant is hosting a the latest Phuket Has Been Good To Us (PHBGTU) Charity Dinner. Guests will enjoy a four-course dinner featuring the bold, vibrant flavours of Pak Pha Nang Southern Thai Cuisine. There will be a welcome drink, as well as a drink with dinner and raffle prizes to win.

Tickets are by donation of 2,200 Baht with all profits going to PHBGTU, helping provide free English education to underprivileged children in Kamala and Kalim. Contact Tina for more details and to book [email protected]