Weekly Update #8, 10 October 2025

Celebrating Our Outstanding Cambridge Learner Award Winners!

HeadStart International School Phuket continues to set the standard for academic excellence, with outstanding achievements in IGCSE, AS and A Level results. Our school’s focus on a rigorous, supportive learning environment helps students excel in these globally recognized qualifications.

The Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards celebrate top international students in Cambridge exams. In 2025, HeadStart students achieved exceptional results, with two standing out: Melissa Sommerladt ranked Top in the World for IGCSE Foreign Language Mandarin Chinese; andErica Ilstam was recognized as Top in Thailand for A Level Psychology. We are incredibly proud not only of these accomplishments, but of the hard work and dedication that both students put in to achieve these remarkable results.

In the 2024-25 AS and A Level exams, 42% of HeadStart students achieved A* or A grades. Notable achievers included Sixuan (Alice) Li and Zoe Fuchs, who received High Achievement Awards in AS Level Psychology and A Level Literature in English respectively. In the 2025 IGCSE exam series, 42% of our Year 11 cohort achieved A* or A grades, while Emma Delsol (Year 10) was recognised with a High Achievement Award for Foreign Language French.

These successes reflect the effectiveness of HeadStart’s comprehensive curriculum, emphasising critical thinking, creativity, and global citizenship. With a strong academic team and personalised approach, the school prepares students for both exams and lifelong success, making our school a leading institution in the region and helping to fulfil our goal of inspiring a love of learning.

Unleash Your Creativity: Design Our New Teacher Awards!

Calling all young artists and designers! This is your chance to make a lasting mark on our school. We’re launching a competition for students to design the official certificate for our new Teacher Awards, creating a special way to celebrate the educators who inspire us every day. It’s the perfect creative project for the upcoming half-term break!

• Your Mission: Design the new official certificate for the HeadStart Teacher Awards.

• Who Can Enter: The competition is open to all students, with winners chosen from both Primary and Secondary.

• What to do: Create a design that is celebratory, inspiring, and captures the HeadStart spirit.

• Rewards: Every entry earns one point for your House, and the winning designs will become the official school award certificate for teacher.

• Deadline:All entries must be submitted byFriday, 7th November.

• How to Submit: Please submit your design to our House Coordinator, Ms Thompson: [email protected] or scan the QR code in the poster.

A Fun Morning for a Great Cause: Join the Child-Watch Run for Children!

Every step you take makes a difference. For over two decades, the Child-Watch Phuket Foundation has been a vital safe haven for abused and at-risk children in our community. On Sunday, 9th November, join us for a morning of purpose and solidarity as we run to protect the most vulnerable among us.

Your participation helps fund critical projects that give these children a chance for a safe and healthy future. Let’s come together to show them our support.

Event Details:

• What: Child-Watch Phuket 22nd Run For Children, featuring 10.5km and 3.5km distance races.

• When:Sunday, 9th November 2025. Registration opens at 4:30AM, with the first run starting at 5:40AM.

• Why: To raise crucial funds and awareness for Child-Watch Phuket, helping to provide a safe future for children in need.

Sign up today using the QR code below to join one of the two distance runs. And once registered, let us know and we will give you a FREE Team HeadStart t-shirt for each entrant. We look forward to seeing many members of our school community at this local charitable event.

Spark a New Passion this Half-Term!

The half-term break is a fantastic time for discovery! Our special interest camps, starting next week at the Chaofah City Campus, are designed to challenge young minds and bodies in new ways. It’s a chance for your child to dive deep into a new hobby, unlock hidden talents, and develop valuable skills like critical thinking, discipline, and creativity.

Explore these unique opportunities:

• MMA Camp: Learn discipline, focus, and self-confidence through the principles of martial arts.

• Chess Camp: Develop strategic thinking, foresight, and problem-solving skills over the board.

• Table Tennis Camp: Sharpen reflexes, agility, and precision with fast-paced drills and friendly competition.

• Gymnastics Camp: Build strength, flexibility, and coordination in a fun and structured setting.

• Coding Camp: A deep dive into the world of programming, perfect for future innovators and creators.

Give your child the gift of a new skill or a newfound passion. These popular camps have limited availability, so check the posters and register here [email protected] to book their place.

Celebrating a Historic Milestone: The 200th Phuket Vegetarian Festival

The power of faith and tradition will be on full display as our island celebrates a truly historic event: the 200th anniversary of the Phuket Vegetarian Festival (Jia Chai), taking place from Tuesday, 21st October to Wednesday, 29th October 2025.

This is a special time in Phuket, deeply rooted in local culture, that celebrates the belief that spiritual cleansing and abstinence from meat bring good health and peace of mind. Throughout the nine days, the island comes alive with vibrant street processions, sacred rituals at the beautiful Chinese shrines, and an incredible variety of delicious vegetarian food. It is a world-renowned cultural celebration known for its powerful displays of devotion and strong community spirit.

How HeadStart will participate:

• To honour this important local tradition and join with our community, we invite all students and staff to dress in white on Wednesday, 29th October.

• Additionally, our school canteen will be offering a special selection of delicious vegetarian meal options at lunchtime on this day for everyone to enjoy.

We look forward to respectfully celebrating this unique and significant part of Phuket’s rich cultural heritage with our entire school community.

กิจกรรมเพลย์กรุ๊ปสำหรับเด็กเล็ก

ขอเชิญผู้ปกครองที่มีบุตรหลานอายุระหว่าง 1-4 ขวบ เข้าร่วม กิจกรรม Playgroup ฟรี เพื่อเตรียมความพร้อมก่อนเข้าเรียนระดับอนุบาลและกระตุ้นพัฒนาการ ผ่านการเล่นเชิงสร้างสรรค์ ร้องเพลง เต้นรำ ศิลปะ ปั้นดินน้ำมัน เล่านิทาน เสริมพัฒนาการด้านกล้ามเนื้อและการเคลื่อนไหวของเด็กเล็ก รวมทั้งได้พบปะเพื่อนใหม่ในบรรยากาศที่เป็นกันเอง สอนโดยครูชาวต่างชาติผู้เชี่ยวชาญ ณ โรงเรียนนานาชาติเฮดสตาร์ท สาขาเชิงทะเล มาร่วมเป็นส่วนหนึ่งของกิจกรรม Playgroup กันค่ะ

Connect and Play at Our Free Toddler Playgroup

Parents with children aged 1-4 years are invited to join our free Toddler Playgroup to prepare their little one for Preschool and stimulate their development through creative play, singing, dancing, art, modeling with clay, telling stories, enhancing the development of young children’s muscles and movements. You’ll also get to meet new friends in a friendly atmosphere, taught by expert teachers at HeadStart International School, Cherngtalay Campus. Come join us for our Toddler Playgroup!

Spooktacular Stay & Play!

Get your best costumes ready for a morning of excitement at our Foundation Halloween Stay & Play! Your little monsters will explore playful sensory stations, create their own spooky crafts, and enjoy festive games in our decorated classrooms. Parents are invited to join in and see all the fun!

The magic happens on Thursday, 30th October, from 8:30 – 9:30AM in the Foundation Classrooms & ILC. Open to all Preschool, Early Years, and Reception families. It’s going to be a morning full of smiles!

A Day of Spooky Fun in Primary!

The Halloween excitement continues in Primary! On Thursday, 30th October, our Primary students are invited to celebrate by coming to school in their favourite friendly costumes. The day will be filled with fun games, creative themed activities, and plenty of treats as our school transforms for the occasion. It promises to be a day of ghoulishly good fun and memorable moments for all our students.

The Halloween Disco is Back!

Get your best costumes ready! The most spooktacular night of the autumn term is just around the corner—the Secondary Halloween Disco! Our Sports Hall will be transformed into the ultimate party zone with awesome music, exciting games, and, of course, prizes for the most creative costumes.

It’s the one night of the year where students from Year 7 all the way to Year 13, and from both campuses, come together to hang out, dance, and make some brilliant memories. The party is planned entirely by our students for maximum fun, so you know it’s going to be good! We can’t wait to see everyone there for this epic get-together.

Don’t miss out! Join us on Thursday, 30th October, from 18:00-20:00 at our Chaofah City campus. Please RSVP via the sign-up form recently emailed to parents.

Parent Meeting: Helping Your Child with Behaviour (EYFS Workshop)

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 23rd October 2025 from 8:30-9:30am in the Secondary Indoor Learning Centre (SILC).

Meet the Heart of Our Secondary School – The Pastoral Team

What is pastoral care? It’s our promise that every student is seen, heard, and supported on their journey through Secondary school. It’s the network of care that focuses on well-being, personal growth, and resilience, ensuring every child has the foundation they need to thrive both academically and personally.

At HeadStart, this philosophy is brought to life by our dedicated Secondary Pastoral Team. Their goal is to create an environment where students feel safe, valued, and confident. We believe that happy, well-supported students are successful students, and the team works tirelessly to be that consistent, reliable support system for them and their families.

In practice, this support means their doors are always open. Whether a student needs guidance on study skills, support with friendships, or just a listening ear, our Pastoral Team is here to help.

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. Agata and Julie from the Reception class showed great confidence as they addressed the audience, delivering heartfelt speeches in both English and Thai. Following them, our dedicated Early Years teacher, Miss Una, shared 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” and “Thank You Teacher” from Reception. Their joyful singing and enthusiastic movements beautifully expressed their affection and appreciation for their teachers.

A special thank you goes to our fantastic Thai Department for organising such a beautiful and meaningful event. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to all parents for your continued support. Your thoughtful contributions of flowers and active participation added warmth and joy to this special occasion. Together, we celebrated the dedication of our teachers and created lasting memories for our Foundation community.

You can download a full gallery of pictures here: Foundation Wai Kru Ceremony Photo Gallery.

Primary & Secondary Wai Kru Ceremony

Our Wai Kru event was a joyful celebration that brought together students, parents, and teachers in a warm spirit of gratitude and respect.

Kudos to our Secondary Head Girl and Head Boy, Fionn and Nouméa, for their excellent hosting! Special mention to Ariana (2 Blue), Tiger (6 White), and Harper (7 Yellow) for their heartfelt speeches, and to Nailya (Year 9) for leading the student pledge.

We were inspired by Mr Cotterell and Ms Thompson, who shared meaningful reflections on their teaching journeys and pride in the profession. A heartfelt thank you also goes to Ms Aurelia, our parent representative, for her touching speech to the teachers, as well as for this year’s meaningful Wai Kru video.

The highlight of the day was the captivating performance of “Shine” by the CAPA and Choir students, beautifully expressing trust and support between teachers and students. Thank you to the CAPA team for this wonderful musical performance!

Our sincere thanks to the Thai Department for organising such a memorable event, and to all parents for your support and thoughtful flower contributions. Together, we celebrated our teachers’ dedication and created lasting memories for our school community.

You can download a full gallery of pictures here: Primary & Secondary Wai Kru Ceremony Photo Gallery.

Mandarin Language Day Term 1

Our Mandarin Language Day on 4th October was a wonderful celebration of language, culture, and community. Students and families took part in five exciting activities — riddle guessing, Chinese traditional dance, kite making, sachet making, and bamboo fan weaving.

During the riddle challenge, students showed excellent collaboration and problem-solving skills. The kite-making activity allowed participants to appreciate the beauty of Chinese intangible cultural heritage, while the bamboo fan weaving challenged students and parents to demonstrate patience as they carefully wove each strip of bamboo into unique designs. The DIY sachet activity encouraged students to make personalized choices based on the different effects of traditional herbs, connecting language learning with well-being and cultural wisdom.

A special thanks to Ms. Deng, a parent volunteer, for leading the dance workshop — a wonderful opportunity for students to experience the joy of movement. The event truly embodied our school’s Learner Attributes of creativity, communication, and intercultural understanding. It was a meaningful opportunity for Mandarin-speaking families and our wider community to connect and celebrate learning together.

📸 You can download a full gallery of pictures here: Mandarin Language Day Term 1

中文语言日于10月4日顺利举行，这是一场精彩的语言、文化与社区的庆典。学生和家长们共同参与了五项有趣的活动——猜灯谜、中国舞教学、风筝制作、香囊手作和竹编扇子。

在猜灯谜环节中，学生们展现了出色的合作与解决问题能力；风筝制作让大家感受到了中国非物质文化遗产的魅力；竹编扇子的制作过程考验了学生与家长的耐心，每一把成品都独一无二。香囊手作让学生根据不同香料的功效做出个性化选择，将语言学习与身心健康及文化智慧相结合。

特别感谢家长志愿者邓女士带领舞蹈工作坊，为学生们带来充满乐趣的舞动体验。本次活动充分展现了大家的创造力和沟通力，同时也为中文家庭和学校社区提供了一个共同交流、庆祝和学习的宝贵契机。

HeadStart 国际学校
中文团队

Stay Connected with LAMDA!

Exciting news from our CAPA department! To help you stay up-to-date with our London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) programme, we have launched a dedicated WhatsApp channel.

This will be your direct source for important updates, exam reminders, rehearsal schedules, and celebrating our students’ fantastic achievements in speech and drama. Click to join the channel here or zap the QR code below to join!

Unearthing the Past, Shaping the Future: Our Bronze Age Journey

Our Year 3 students have been time travelers, journeying from the Stone Age to the Iron Age to discover how ancient innovations shaped our modern world. We’ve moved beyond the dates and dug into the real story of human ingenuity. Our latest adventure immersed us in the Bronze Age and the fascinating Beaker people. We discovered they weren’t just named for their distinctive pots; they were revolutionary traders and technologists whose networks helped connect and transform prehistoric Europe.

To truly connect with this era, we became archaeologists and artisans ourselves, crafting our own Bronze Age clay pots. As our hands shaped the cool clay, we reflected on the profound stories that simple artefacts tell. Each thumbprint and pattern was a connection to a person thousands of years ago – their daily rituals, their trade, their culture.

This hands-on exploration brought our learner attributes to life. We critically thought like historians, piecing together clues from the past. We collaborated and shared techniques, and showed resilience as we molded our creations. Most importantly, we learned that history isn’t just found in books – it’s etched into the very objects left behind, waiting to be discovered. The Year 3 Team

Secondary Transition: Year 6 Apply the Scientific Method

As a key part of their transition to Secondary, our Year 6 students stepped into the role of research scientists this week during a dynamic, hands-on investigation in the secondary lab. The session was a masterclass in applying the scientific method, giving students a valuable preview of the advanced learning that awaits them.

Their primary objective was to observe and differentiate between microscopic living organisms and non-living structures. Using high-powered microscopes, they systematically examined onion cells to identify key organelles, activated yeast to witness reproduction, and yoghurt to discover beneficial bacteria. By using salt crystals as a control sample, students engaged in critical comparative analysis—a cornerstone of scientific research and a vital skill for their future studies. This process allowed them to draw evidence-based conclusions, building both a strong foundation in scientific thinking and the confidence to thrive in the years ahead. Ms Pattison-Hart – Year 6 Teacher

Secondary Student of the Month – Courageous Learners!

This month, we celebrated our Secondary Students of the Month for demonstrating the learner attribute of Courage. These students have shown bravery, determination, and a willingness to step outside their comfort zones—both in and beyond the classroom.

Congratulations to all our award winners! Your courage inspires others and reminds us that true growth comes from taking risks and facing challenges head-on.

Celebrating Success Beyond the Classroom

Another fantastic achievement from one of our students in the community! It takes incredible dedication to balance schoolwork with outside passions, and we are so proud to see that commitment lead to amazing results.

This week, we’re giving a huge round of applause to Vladik in Y4Y! He had an excellent performance at the ‘Back to School Swim Meet 2025’held atThanyapura Phuketlast weekend, winning aBronze medal. A fantastic achievement, Vladik!