Weekly Update #12, 14 November 2025

Cherngtalay Parent Committee Term 1 Meeting

On Wednesday 29th October 2025, the HeadStart Cherngtalay Parent Committee held their Term 1 meeting with the school’s Management team. We are grateful to our parent members for their contributions and working with us for the betterment of our school community. Outcomes from the meeting can be found here: HeadStart Cherngtalay Campus Parent Committee Meeting Notes

For more information about the HeadStart Parent Committee, its role and involvement in working with our school leadership, visit our website: HeadStart Parent Committee.

The CAPA Senior Show is Here! Little Shop of Horrors Tickets: BUY NOW!

The moment you’ve been waiting for is here! Tickets are NOW ON SALE for the CAPA Senior show of Little Shop of Horrors! Join us for this witty Broadway smash-hit, a perfect blend of dark comedy and satire.

• Dates: Wednesday 26th & Thursday 27th November 2025

• Time: 6:00 PM

• Location: Chaofah City Campus, HeadStart International School PhuketTICKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW! Purchase your tickets to secure your spot for this critically acclaimed musical:

• Book tickets for Little Shop of Horrors (Cast B) Wednesday 26th November 2025

• Book tickets for Little Shop of Horrors (Cast A) Thursday 27th November 2025

If you encounter any issues during the booking process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected]

Christmas Fair at Cherngtalay Campus

With the festive season fast approaching, it is time to start preparing for our Christmas Fair. This wonderful community event will take place on Wednesday 10th December from 13:30-16:00. The CAPA department already have our Primary classes rehearsing for their festive performances, and our events team are busy making plans for our Christmas Fair stalls. If you are interested in offering a Christmas-themed activity or have Festive Season products to sell, please contact Khun Newle at [email protected] to reserve a tent. We look forward to hearing from you.

HeadStart Bag and Cap – Available Now!

With the rainy season behind us and the prospect of field trips and residentials on the horizon, now is the perfect time to invest in a HeadStart cap for your child. With HeadStart branded school bags, shoe bags and string bags—perfect for PE and Academy kits—also on offer, please visit our school shop to stock up on your child’s school supplies.

Changes to our English Language Communications

Please note that for our English language parent communications we will be moving away from using the LINE App. Over the next month, we will be transferring over to a dedicated WhatsApp Channel. We will use this channel for notifications and reminders of upcoming events as well as important news. We will continue to post updates to our English language LINE App during this time (closing on 30 November). This transfer is already underway – scan the relevant QR code below or visit our display boards at school.

Get Ready for the Book Fair!

We’re excited to announce our latest Book Fair in collaboration with Book53! From Monday, 17th to Wednesday, 19th November, the Atrium will be filled with high-quality books for all ages. Families are warmly invited to browse and discover new favourites together. Please note that, while students are welcome to browse the displays, they must have their parents’ permission to select any books. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us inspire a lifelong love of reading!

Next Toddler Playgroup Session

Parents with children aged 1-4 years are invited to join our free Toddler Playgroup at our HeadStart Cherngtalay campus on Wednesday, 19th November from 9:00 to 10:00am. Designed for toddlers, this session is guided by our qualified team and offers a range of play-based activities, including sensory stations, hands-on crafts, story time, and songs to develop motor skills and curiosity. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to connect and experience our school community. Please scan the QR code in the poster to register your interest.

Building Strong Readers: Primary Phonics Workshop

This week, we hosted an informative Phonics Workshop for Primary parents in the Secondary ILC. The session provided a comprehensive overview of how we build foundational literacy skills at HeadStart, focusing on the principles of our structured phonics programme. Parents gained insight into the systematic progression of phonics, understanding the journey their child takes from decoding early sounds to becoming a fluent, confident reader. The presentation highlighted the importance of this foundational stage and equipped parents with the knowledge to understand their child’s development in reading.

You can download the presentation from this workshop below.

Year 1 and 2 Phonics Workshop

Year 9 GCSE/IGCSE Options Meeting & Fair @ Chaofah City Campus

We invite all Year 9 students and parents to our upcoming GCSE/IGCSE Options Meeting and Fair on Wednesday, 19th November. Please note that this event will be held at the Chaofah City Campus. The event will begin with a presentation for parents to explain the options process and provide guidancein the Primary Hall from 14:30 – 15:20. This will be followed by the Options Fair in the Sports Hall, from15:30 – 17:30, where teachers and current Year 10 and 11 students will be at subject stalls to answer your questions and discuss the courses on offer.

Russian-speaking Parents Meeting

We warmly invite our Russian-speaking parents to a dedicated meeting on Thursday, 20th November 2025. This meeting is an important opportunity for us to connect, share updates, and hear your valuable perspectives. The meeting will take place from 8:30 to 9:30am in the Secondary ILC. We look forward to welcoming you and continuing to build our strong community partnership.

Mandarin Speaking Parents Meeting

We warmly invite you to a meeting specifically for Mandarin-speaking parents. This gathering will be held on Thursday 27th November from 8:30 to 9:30am in the Secondary ILC.

We value your insights and contributions to our school community. To help us address any questions or comments you may have, please take a few moments to complete this survey. Your input on various school-related topics will be greatly appreciated. Please complete the survey by 18th November.

We encourage detailed responses to ensure we can fully address your feedback.

我们诚挚邀请您参加为华语家长特别举办的家长会。Cherngtalay校区的会议时间为11月27日上午8:30至9:30。

我们非常重视您对学校的意见和建议。为帮助我们更好地解答您的疑问或倾听您的意见，请您抽出时间填写以下的问卷。您的反馈对我们了解有关学校的各方面问题非常重要。

请在11月18日前完成问卷

请您尽量详细地回答问题，以便我们能够充分解答您的疑问。

The Spirit of Giving Continues: PSV Appeal Week 4

The incredible generosity of our HeadStart community continues to make a real difference as we conclude the fourth week of our Phuket Sunshine Village (PSV) appeal.

This week, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to Intact and his family for their exceptionally generous support. We also send a huge thank you to Marlow and his family for their wonderful contribution. Every donation, big or small, makes a significant impact on the lives of these children. We are also delighted to celebrate the collective efforts of Year 4 White, who, through their fantastic class initiatives, have successfully reached their fundraising goal! Well done, Year 4!

This ongoing support is vital and directly helps provide essential items, from daily school lunches to educational supplies, for the 100+ children at PSV. We continue to warmly welcome donations at our Admin Office.

Kindness in Full Colour

Our recent ‘Dress for Sunshine’ Casual Clothes Day was a spectacular success and a wonderful showcase of our HeadStart spirit! The campus was transformed into a sea of vibrant, cheerful colours as students fully embraced the theme. This event highlighted our community’s incredible generosity and Kindness, raising a significant amount of funds to directly support the children at Phuket Sunshine Village. A heartfelt thank you to all our families for participating with such enthusiasm and demonstrating the power of our collective spirit.

Year 6 Shootout with Mr. Lawler for Phuket Sunshine Village!

Our Year 6 students recently participated in a sponsored penalty shootout to raise money for Phuket Sunshine Village. The event was a wonderful demonstration of our school’s core attributes in action. And also gave us all a chance to see Mr Lawler in action between the posts!

Throughout the activity, students showed excellent collaboration as they cheered enthusiastically for their classmates and encouraged one another to do their best. The supportive atmosphere helped every student feel confident as they stepped up to take their shots at Mr Lawler and his ingenious oversized hands!

By choosing to raise money and awareness for PSV, our students demonstrated both kindness and what it means to be principled. They recognised an opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of others and committed themselves to this meaningful cause.

The event was a tremendous success, with students enjoying themselves while contributing to an important charitable organisation.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Kindness is All Around Us… Now, Show Us Yours!

Kindness has always been at the very heart of our community, and this week, we’ve seen it in action everywhere. From the wonderful student-led Kindness Fair and our vibrant ‘Dress for Sunshine’ Day raising significant funds for Phuket Sunshine Village, to our dedicated parents participating in the ChildWatch Fun Run, our HeadStart spirit has been shining brightly. With ‘Kindness’ also being the focus attribute for our Secondary students next month, it’s clear this value is a dynamic, living part of our school DNA.

Now, we want to celebrate the moments of kindness that happen in your world. We are thrilled to launch the HeadStart ‘Learner Attribute Spotlight’, a new initiative to showcase our values in action, beyond the school gates. To kick us off, we want to see Kindness. Did you capture a moment of siblings sharing, a helping hand for a neighbour, or a simple act of compassion at home? We’d love to see your creativity—and if your children happen to be in their HeadStart shirts, that’s a wonderful bonus!

Submit your picture, along with the name of your child/children and year group, to our Marcom team at [email protected] by no later than Thursday 27th November and we will share your contributions with our community.

Security and Drivers Teams

Our Security and Drivers teams play a vital role in ensuring the safety and well-being of all students, staff, and visitors at HeadStart. Our Security team works diligently to keep the school site safe and secure at all times, monitoring entrances and exits and responding quickly to any potential concerns. They help maintain a calm and welcoming environment where learning can take place without worry. Our Drivers ensure that students are transported to and from school each day safely, punctually, and comfortably. They also take great care when driving students on field trips, ensuring every journey is conducted with the highest safety standards. Together, these two teams provide essential support that helps the school community run smoothly and securely.

Swimfest 2025: A weekend of speed and spirit in Bangkok

A huge congratulations to our Aqua Panthers for their fantastic performances at the ISB SwimFest 2025! We are incredibly proud of every swimmer for their dedication, hard work, and phenomenal team spirit throughout the event.

The combined HeadStart team secured a fantastic 5th place overall finish. This success was built on outstanding individual efforts and incredible personal growth. Cherngtalay’s top point earners were Denis (9 Blue, 19 pts), Zlata (6 Blue, 17 pts), and Eloise (7 Blue, 11 pts). We also celebrate the massive time drops, proving just how hard our swimmers are training: Platon (8 Yellow, –47.72s in 100 Back), Mariia (6 White, –29.62s in 100 Free), and Evgenii (6 Yellow, –17.73s in 100 IM). Our teams showed great collaboration, earning five Top-5 relay finishes (with teams made up of swimmers from both our campuses), including a brilliant 2nd place for the Boys 13-14 200 Free Relay.

Well done to all our swimmers. We’re excited to see you back in the pool, ready to build on this great momentum! Coach Brown – Head Swim Coach

Panthers Update: Determination and Strong Performances

With the unfrotaunte postponement of the PISAC Football Tournament due to adverse weather, the Cherngtalay Panthers Football Academy teams have been busy making up for this with a number of fixtures to prepare for upcoming tournaments later this month.

The U9, U11, and U13 Boys faced strong opposition from Srisoonthorn Academy. The U9s created great chances and stayed solid defensively. The U11s impressed ahead of the BISP Soccer 7’s, pressing high and scoring five goals, with Richard (6 Blue) excellent in goal and Samir (6 Yellow) strong in defence. The U13s delivered another solid performance, with Dorian (8 Yellow) controlling midfield and Alexey (8 Yellow) scoring a crucial late goal. Later in the week, the U13s played an experienced Choafah City Panthers side in an exciting, end-to-end match full of learning moments.

Well done to all players for their effort and commitment — the progress is clear to see, and we’re looking forward to even more growth in the weeks ahead! Coach Paul – Football Coach

Come and See Me Swim

We were delighted that our foundation students experienced their first Come and See Me Swim session, where parents could watch their child swim. The first term in Foundation Swimming focuses on water safety and water confidence, so the students were challenged to perform different activities, from floating to speedy rocketship push and glides. Students displayed the Courageous and Resilient Learner Attributes, as they overcame their apprehension of submerging or floating – we are all incredibly proud of them and the progress they are making! A big thank you to all the parents who were able to come and support us. We look forward to seeing you again next year. Miss Metson – PE & Swim Teacher

A Brilliant Performance from Our CAPA Choir

We are all genuinely delighted and so incredibly proud of the CAPA Choirs for their wonderful performance at the Remembrance event on Sunday. They rose to this important occasion with true focus, sincerity, and commitment, taking direction well and singing brilliantly. We have already received so much positive feedback, including heartfelt thanks from the Phuket Veterans Association, who always value our students’ involvement. They were fantastic ambassadors for both their families and the school, and we want to extend a huge thank you to all our parents for taking the time and energy to support your children in this great first external performance.

A Wonderland of Talent! Announcing the Cast of ‘Alice the Musical’

The buzz in the Music room this week was electric! After a fantastic audition process where students worked really hard and certainly did themselves proud, we are overjoyed to announce the official cast for our CAPA Cherngtalay production of Alice the Musical. We want to extend a huge congratulations to every student who auditioned. It takes incredible Courage – a key HeadStart Learner Attribute – to stand up, perform, and push past nerves. This bravery and passion are what make our CAPA community so strong.

A huge round of applause for our new cast:

• From Primary: Seraphina (3 Yellow), Aurora (4 Yellow), Alisa (4 Blue), Emiliia (4 Blue), Mailin (4 Yellow), An An (4 White), Iarina (4 Yellow), April (5 White), Valentine (5 White), Justin (6 Yellow), Mishel (6 Yellow), Liza (6 White), Amelia (6 Yellow), Sienna (6 Blue), and Alex (6 Blue).

• From Secondary: Alaina (Year 7), Lola (Year 7), Madoc (Year 7), and Mariia (Year 7).

We would also like to extend a huge thank you to Ms. Leow, Ms. Costello and their wonderful art students for producing such a fabulous showboard. We can’t wait to work together to make the show an extraordinary spectacle. We look forward to supporting these talented students as they collaborate and bring this magical story to the stage on Wednesday 13th May 2026. Ms. Howells – Director of Creative & Performing Arts

Community and Competition: Chess Event Highlights

It was another successful chess event! A total of 52 players took part, including 16 outstanding U-8 competitors, 10 parents, and 1 teacher. Every board was filled with thoughtful play, clever tactics, and genuine enthusiasm.

Congratulations to the winners of our November tournament:

Winner:Georgiy (6 Blue Chaofah City)2nd Place:Damir (parent)3rd Place:Bogdan (6 Blue Chaofah City)Best Girl:Poppy (9 White Chaofah City)Best U-8 Players:Remy (3 Yellow Chaofah City), Raphael (2 Blue Cherngtalay), Diana (3 Yellow Cherngtalay)Best Dads:Damir, Stan (Zoia & Luka’s dad, Cherngtalay), Khun Piboonsak (Tiger & Tigger’s dad, Chaofah City)Best Mums: Regina, Chloe (Serena & Scarlet’s mum)

Huge thanks to our sponsors for their constant support. The next tournament will be held on 6th December and will be open to all schools in Phuket, Thailand, and around the world! See you there!

White Ballet – A Story of Grace, Growth, and Joy

In White Ballet for Early Years, students are exploring a beautiful introduction to ballet through storytelling, movement, and imagination. This class invites children to discover the joy of expression, coordination, and creativity within the classroom. Through guided play and gentle practice, our young dancers are learning to move with music, balance on tiptoe, and use their arms to tell a story. At first, some found it challenging to follow the rhythm or remember the steps, but as the weeks went on, they began to encourage one another — helping friends with positions, sharing giggles when things went wrong, and celebrating every small success together.

Resilient, creative, and kind — our young dancers are already showing what it means to learn the HeadStart way. Coach Orm – Dance Coach

Clear Communication in Action: Year 7 EAL Students Design Scavenger Hunt

Year 7 EAL students put their language skills to the ultimate test in a fun Scavenger Hunt Challenge last week. Tasked with designing a challenging, 18-step hunt for their teacher, the students were able to apply their unit knowledge on giving precise instructions and commands in a fun, real-world context. This exercise not only tested their creativity but strongly reinforced the importance of clear communication and teamwork. Despite the tricky challenges set by the class, Mr. Kennedy completed his mission! A great example of how our students thrive when learning is both practical and fun. Mr Kennedy – EAL Teacher

Toddler Playgroup – Smiles All Around!

Another fantastic morning at our Toddler Playgroup! It was wonderful to see so many families connecting, with smiles all around. The session was full of joyful, messy play and sensory exploration, which is exactly how our littlest learners build new skills and curiosity. We love providing this space for our community to come together, have fun, and learn through play. We’re already looking forward to the next one!

Odd Socks Day!

Earlier this week, our school community came together for Odd Socks Day to celebrate what makes each of us unique!

Odd Socks Day marked the start of Anti-Bullying Week, reminding us that it’s okay to be different and that learner attributes such as kindness, respect, and open-mindedness make our wonderful community even stronger. As Anti-Bullying Week draws to a close, our learners have been taking part in activities that explore respect, empathy, and positive relationships which are all key themes in our curriculum and daily school life. Wearing odd socks was a fun way to express individuality, but it also carried important messages: we all have the right to be ourselves and we all have a role in creating a safe and supportive school environment.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined in – your bright socks and big smiles reminded us that when we celebrate diversity, we all shine a little brighter!

Year 1 Beach Trip

After their first attempt was cancelled due to heavy rain, Year 1 finally enjoyed their long-awaited beach trip on Wednesday. It was a great success. The children were full of excitement as they headed to the beautiful Phuket shoreline for a morning of learning, exploration, and fun.

At the beach, the children worked with their Talk Partners to go on a scavenger hunt. They collected shells, pebbles, seaweed, and other natural treasures while observing the many small details that make up a coastal environment. This hands-on activity helped them learn more about geography, including the difference between natural and human-made features.

The highlight of the day was the giant sandcastle building challenge. Working together, the children built creative sandcastles decorated with shells, sticks, and seaweed, showing wonderful teamwork and imagination. The trip was not only a great learning experience but also a special chance for the children to enjoy nature and spend time together. It was a joyful and memorable day filled with laughter, curiosity, and plenty of sandy smiles! The Year 1 Team

You can download a full gallery of the field trip here: Year 1 Beach Trip Gallery

G’day, Year 2!

This week, Year 2 were delighted to welcome Mr Lawler, an expert on all things Australia, to support our learning about the continents of the world. With our focus on Australia, his visit linked perfectly to our science topic on mammals, helping us learn more about the unique group of marsupials. The children were fascinated to meet Skippy, Mr Lawler’s kangaroo friend, and loved seeing photos and videos of his family’s encounters with kangaroos in the wild. A highlight of the visit was listening to Mr Lawler play his guitar and serenade us with the classic Australian song Give Me a Home Among the Gum Trees. It was a truly engaging and memorable experience for everyone! The Year 2 Team

Little Picassos

Year 3 students created Pablo Picasso–inspired guitars using a monochromatic painting technique. During this art project, the students explored how to mix colours effectively, learning how adding white creates lighter tones and adding black produces darker shades. They enjoyed experimenting with different shades of a single colour to give depth and contrast to their artwork. This activity encouraged creativity while helping students understand Picasso’s unique artistic style and approach to abstract design. The project was both educational and fun, allowing the Year 3s to express themselves artistically while developing important painting and colour-mixing skills. The Year 3 Team

Heart Dissection

This week, our Year 6 students took a step into secondary lab work for an engaging activity: the dissection of a pig heart. This hands-on challenge saw our students embracing their inner scientists, moving past any initial nerves to investigate the complex organ with genuine curiosity and focus. Working in small groups, these budding young researchers successfully identified internal chambers and structures, demonstrating impressive precision as they explored the intricate anatomy. The Year 6 Team

Secondary Student of the Month

Respectful was the learner attribute focus for our Secondary Student of the month that was awarded last week. Congratulations to the winners who have demonstrated respectfulness not only in their subject area but in and around school. They are a credit to HeadStart International School. Next month’s focus is Kindness.

A huge congratulations to our winners: Alaina (7 Blue), Ameliia (7 Blue), Lara (8 Blue), Becky (8 Yellow), Jina (8 Blue), Lola (8 Yellow), Artem (7 Blue), Shirley (7 Yellow), Maria K (7 Blue), and Mariia G (8 Yellow).

HeadStart Students Shine in Arts and Sports Competitions

We are delighted to congratulate our students on their significant achievements in recent arts and sports competitions.

• Alisa (4 Blue) earned two outstanding recognitions at the International Art Festival “Wonder People” in Pattaya: the Grand Prix in the vocal competition and 1st Prize in the modeling (fashion show) category.

• Andrei (1 Yellow) was also awarded the Grand Prix in the vocal competition at the International Art Festival “Wonder People”.

• Nicole (5 Yellow) participated and won the fashion contest at the “Wonder People” festival fashion defile in Pattaya.

• Sophie (3 Yellow) achieved 1st Place in Dressage for her performance in the horse riding competition at Niran Phuket Equestrian Center.

• Damyr (3 White) was celebrated as a Football Champion at the “Golden Boys Christmas Game” hosted by Oak Meadow International School.

• Teddy (1 Blue) participated in the 22nd Run For Children 2025, representing the school in an important community event organised by the Child-Watch Phuket Foundation.

Opportunity to Train with the Phuket Crisis Response Team

Members of our HeadStart community (teachers and parents) are invited to join a valuable Crisis Response Team (CRT) training session this Sunday. This is a fantastic opportunity for those who wish to learn how to volunteer safely and effectively in the event of a natural disaster or major incident on the island. Newcomers are warmly welcomed! The 4-hour session, which is described as supportive and engaging, begins at 09:15 hrs at The Clubhouse in Land and Houses Park (meet at the cafe). Training will cover essential skills including CPR/AED, swift water rescue techniques, rope safety, and emergency signalling. Volunteers should wear sturdy footwear with good tread (like trainers or boots; no flip-flops), bring sun protection, and be prepared to pay a 100 THB fee directly to the clubhouse for the use of their facilities.

Just Run Phuket

The “Just Run Phuket” weekly run has been a wonderful success, and it’s been brilliant to see so many of our HeadStart parents and teachers joining in the fun. Don’t miss out on the next one! It’s a free, friendly run for all levels, with various pace groups. Meet every Saturday at 7:15 AM at Open Kitchen (opposite Cassia) for a 7:30 AM start. It’s a perfect way to get active and connect with our amazing community.