Weekly Update #16, 12 December 2025

Merry Christmas!

Dear HeadStart Community,

As Term 1 draws to a close, we wish you the happiest of holidays at this festive time of the year. I would like to thank you all for the never-ending support of our families, teachers and support staff who have contributed in no small way to making HeadStart the success that it is today. I hope that everyone has had an enjoyable start to the year, and had the opportunity to enjoy the many activities on offer in this first term. Whether that was at the AquaPanthers Invitational, our success at the Soccer 7s, the CAPA show, World Scholar’s Cup, Model United Nations, or the Christmas Fair to name but a few. It has been a busy, but I hope an enjoyable term and we are glad to have had you all as part of it.

May your holiday be filled with love, laughter and joy! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Mr Drew and Family

Toddler Playgroup Returns

Our free Toddler Playgroup at our HeadStart Cherngtalay campusis back! Parents with children aged 1-4 years are invited to join uson Wednesday, 14th January 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.

Play and Picnic – Year 1 & 2

Join us for a joyful morning of fun, laughter, and togetherness at our Play & Picnic event! This special day is for the whole family to enjoy and will be packed with exciting games, a magical magic show, and of course, a delicious picnic on the grass.

Bring your picnic blanket, your playful spirit, and the whole family! Families are encouraged to join in the games, make memories, and enjoy a relaxed, community-focused day full of smiles.

This event is for Year 1 & 2 students and their families.

FREE to attend. To register for this event, please complete our Play & Picnic Registration Form.

📅 Date: Saturday, 24 January 2026

⏰ Time: 9:00 – 11:00 AM

📍 Location: Covered Football Pitch – Chaofah City Campus

What to Bring:

✅ Sunhat, sunscreen & water bottle

✅ Picnic snacks (finger food)

✅ Small blanket or mat for seating

Important Guidelines:

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Parental Supervision: Parents are required to accompany and actively participate with their children throughout the event.

⚠️ Responsibility: Parents are responsible for their children at all times during the event.

We can’t wait to see you and your little ones there!

UPrep Talk: Applying to Universities in the US and Canada

This week’s UPrep Talk took parents through the essentials of understanding and navigating university applications in the US and Canada. The session offered a wealth of guidance thanks to the specialist support available from our UPrep team.

We explored the major differences between the two systems — from the US’s holistic admissions (where essays, activities, and personal qualities matter as much as academics) to Canada’s more streamlined and grades-focused approach. Parents also learned why early preparation is so important: researching “best fit” universities, planning testing timelines, and understanding the expectations around essays, portfolios, and reference letters. A key theme throughout was helping students become proactive, reflective and self-aware learners. Understanding their strengths, interests, and long-term goals is crucial in choosing pathways that truly match who they are and where they want to go.

Thank you to all the parents who attended and engaged thoughtfully with the material. With strong preparation and the right guidance, students can approach North American applications with confidence and clarity. We look forward to welcoming you to our next UPrep Talks about other global universities, different pathways, finances and our popular ‘for parents by parents’ advice (see attached programme).

UPrep Parent Talk 8 Applying to US and Canada

UPrep Talk 9 – Applying to Australia & New Zealand

We’re excited to invite you to the eighth session of our UPrep for Parents series, happening at 8:30am on Wednesday 7th January in the Secondary Hall (4th floor, Chaofah City Campus).

Navigating the application process for universities in the Australia and New Zealand can feel overwhelming — but we’re here to help! This session will provide valuable insights and practical advice to guide you and your child through the journey with confidence.

What to Expect:

• Key steps in the application process

• Expert tips to strengthen applications

• A Q&A session to address your concerns

This is a fantastic opportunity to ask questions and gain clarity, and we’d be delighted to have you join us. The UPrep team

A Day of Festive Fun

It was truly wonderful to see so many families come together for our Christmas Fair this week, creating a fantastic atmosphere of community spirit. We want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who attended and to the many vendors who filled our market with such a great variety of Christmas-themed food, drinks, and gifts. The buzz around the stalls and the joy on the students’ faces made all the hard work behind the scenes worthwhile.

The event was packed with festive highlights, from the beautiful carol singing and stage performances organised by our CAPA department to the fun games and activities run by our Secondary Student Leadership team. It was lovely to see the younger students enjoying the activities and, of course, the special visit from Santa Claus. Thank you to our dedicated staff, the BTEC students for their service, and our supportive parent community for making this such a memorable celebration.

You can download a full album of photos here: Christmas Fair 2025

Thank You to Our Library Donors

A huge thank you to Sofia (5 Blue), Rita (6 White), Zen (6 Yellow), Jagger (7 Blue), and Deedee (9 Green) for their generous donation of books to the library. Your kindness helps our school community grow and inspires others to read and share. We are grateful for your contribution to our learning environment.

Checkmate! A Record-Breaking Weekend of Chess at HeadStart

What an unforgettable event! We welcomed an amazing 96 players representing 12 different schools and clubs to our campus this weekend. The atmosphere was buzzing with energy, boosted by the surprise participation of players all the way from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, which added a wonderful international touch. Our Under-8 category was particularly lively, featuring 21 brave young talents who played with incredible focus. Huge thanks to our sponsors—50 Fly Trampoline Club and Play Yard Restaurant—for their support in making this tournament exceptional.

On the competitive side, HeadStart students truly shone. HeadStart students captured 1st place in the U14 section (Tigran (9 Blue Cherngtalay)), and Girls categories, secured 2nd place in U8, U10, and U16, and achieved 3rd place in U12 and U16. A special shout-out goes toPoppy (9 White Chaofah City), who delivered an extraordinary performance by winning the Girls category and simultaneously earning 2nd place in the U16 section. Congratulations as well toRatmir (6 Blue Chaofah City),Nikolai (5 Blue Chaofah City), andRemy (3 Yellow Chaofah City) for their podium finishes. We look forward to seeing everyone at the next tournament on 17th January!

End of Term Chess Camp at Chaofah City Campus

Registration is now open for our End of Term Chess Camp, running from 15-19 December. This programme is open to students aged 7 and above and takes place at our Chaofah City Campus from 9:00 to 14:00. You can choose to book per day (2,000 THB) or for the full 5-day week (8,000 THB). Lunch is included in the fee. To sign up, please scan the QR code in the poster or email [email protected].

Making the Right Move: Expanding Our Chess Programme

Starting in Term 2, we are expanding our ECA Chess Programme to offer students more opportunities to develop their strategic thinking. We are also introducing an enhanced weekend programme available at both campuses for those wishing to advance their training.

The weekend sessions feature two distinct levels: a two-hour ‘FUN-damentals’ class for beginners and a three-hour ‘Chess Academy’ for advanced players. Designed to complement our weekday ECAs, these sessions provide the perfect environment for budding strategists to deepen their skills and progress rapidly.

Thai Etiquette and Traditional Costumes in Year 1 Thai Foreign Class

On Tuesday 9th December, Year 1 Thai Foreign students had a delightful introduction to Thai culture, learning about Thai etiquette and traditional Thai costumes. Students discovered the importance of proper manners and respectful behavior in Thai culture, while also exploring the beauty of Thai costumes and even trying them on. This engaging lesson helped our youngest learners appreciate and understand important aspects of Thai heritage and customs. A big thank you to Kru Tiya for leading this wonderful cultural experience!

Batik Fabric Painting in Year 4 Thai Foreign Class

On Thursday 4th December, our Year 4 students had a wonderful time creating beautiful batik art in their Thai Foreign language class. Students learned about this traditional fabric painting technique and had the opportunity to color their own batik pieces. The results were absolutely stunning, showcasing each student’s creativity and artistic talent. A special thank you to Kru Wendy for preparing all the materials and making this enriching cultural experience possible for our students.

French Focus: Grammar, Writing, and Culture

Our Primary French students have been applying their language skills in a variety of engaging contexts. In Year 1, the focus has been on constructing sentences to describe people; students practiced using ‘he’ and ‘she’ alongside names and ages, while also reinforcing animal vocabulary through an interactive domino reading game.

Year 2 students dedicated their lessons to writing, drafting presentations about themselves that utilise the vocabulary they have mastered recently. Meanwhile, Year 3 combined language learning with creativity, exploring seasonal traditions by making snowflakes and Christmas trees. It has been a week of practical application across all year groups. Mr Pierre – French Teacher

A Magical Christmas Week in Foundation

What a truly magical Christmas week we’ve had in Foundation! From our festive Stay & Play mornings to the wonderful Christmas performances, the children have filled our days with joy, music, and holiday sparkle. Watching such young children sing, dance, and speak confidently in front of a full audience has been heart-warming, their excitement and pride shone brightly on stage.

Our Christmas Stay & Play sessions were equally special, with parents joining in joyful activities, sharing laughter, and creating treasured memories together. And of course, the highlight for many was the very special visit from Santa, bringing smiles and pure Christmas magic to the classrooms.

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible Tiny CAPA team for supporting the performances ☃︎, to our dedicated Foundation team for creating such warm and meaningful experiences, to Santa and his Elves for their smiles and merriment and to our wonderful parents for your continued support.

But most importantly, thank you to our amazing children. Your singing, dancing, and festive joy made this Christmas week unforgettable. The Foundation Team

You can download a full album of photos here: Foundation Christmas Stay & Plays 2025

Moken Fundraising Project in Action: An Update from the Surin Islands

Over the December long weekend, we had the opportunity to travel to the Surin Islands to visit the Moken people, having learned about and raised funds for this indigenous group for the last 2 years through various fundraising efforts! It was heartwarming to learn that, with the support of our friends at North Andaman Network Foundation, the money raised has helped fix the village plumbing system and water supply which had been deteriorating due to over tourism. We also had the opportunity to look firsthand at a traditional Moken Houseboat which has been restored with the help of NANF.

It was also rewarding to meet and speak with local children in the village as well as one of their teachers – Kru Kaeng – herself a local villager who was fortunate enough to receive a scholarship in her youth to enable her to study and become a qualified teacher. She is now one of four dedicated teachers working at the village school of nearly 100 children which offers education up to Matayom 6 (Grade 12), meaning students do not need to leave their island home in order to finish school.

For older children at the school, one challenge remains: a lack of access to computer technology to support their studies (the village now has a reliable electrical supply as well as an internet connection, but limited computer hardware). We are therefore looking to supplement our fundraising with a drive for old computers – whether laptops or desktop units. Nanki and Mali – Senior Prefects (13 Yellow)

If you have an old computer unit at home and would like to donate it to this worthwhile cause, please contact Mr Bell, [email protected], in the Marketing & Communications Department who will pass donations on to NANF.

Real-World Focus: Building Future Marketers Through BTEC

Our BTEC students recently demonstrated outstanding professionalism and creativity as they presented their digital marketing coursework to a panel of industry experts. Showcasing a series of three original digital stories, the students confidently explained their creative choices, platform selection, and promotional strategies to the judges. The panel was highly impressed by the quality of the visuals, the clarity of messaging, and the strategic thinking behind each campaign, noting how well they were designed to engage specific customer segments.

This experience highlights one of the key strengths of BTEC qualifications: their real-world focus. Through this project, students didn’t just learn theory; they became content creators and campaign strategists, building essential employability skills such as confidence, communication, and problem-solving. We are incredibly proud of their dedication; their ability to present to professionals at this stage is a fantastic achievement and a clear reflection of the strength of the BTEC vocational pathway. Ms Jones – Lead for Vocational Education

‘Tis the Season for Revision!

As well as getting closer to the season of good cheer, we also approach the season of revision!

Revision, both in class and at home, needs to be active and purposeful- with the goal of consolidating concepts and content.

I was more than happy to appropriate a group ‘relay’ approach shown to us by Mr. Davidson, in which students work collaboratively to address a series of questions on themes, purposes and techniques for IGCSE English Literature.

A mixture of shared scribing, editing, discussion and running up to the front to get the next clue all contributed for a manic, enjoyable and hopefully memorable exercise.

Students should enjoy their rest over the festive break but also use the time to prepare carefully for their upcoming mock examinations. Mr Pollicutt – Head of English

Celebrating Excellence

We are incredibly proud to celebrate the achievements of our students who have been competing across Phuket and beyond this week. From the gymnastics floor to the swimming pool and running track, our students have shown immense dedication and talent.

Gymnastics Achievements

• Nicole (2 Blue): 2 Gold and 2 Silver medals in General Gymnastics Level 1.

• Alisa (4 White): 4 Gold medals (Level 2) at the Thai Canadian Community Sports Games.

• Dominica (2 Blue): 2nd place in Freehand Rhythmic Gymnastics at the KGA Winter Cup.

Congratulations to the following students for their successes at the 4th Wan-Jun Gymnastics Club Competition 2025:

• Karina (5 Yellow): 7 Gold medals and 1 Silver.

• Jia (5 Blue): Gold in Clubs and Group Freehand; Silver in Hoop and Ball; Bronze in Freehand.

• Isabella (2 White): 4 Silver medals in Rhythmic Gymnastics.

• Charlotte (2 White): 3 Bronze medals and 1 Silver.

• Anna (5 Blue): Silver in Group Performance; Bronze in Hoop, Freehand, and Vault.

Swimming, Running, & Multi-Sports

• Yanhao (4 Blue): 1st place (Girls Beginner) at the Pho3nix Kids Triathlon Thailand.

• Dominica (2 Blue): Silver in 25m Breaststroke and Bronze in 25m Freestyle at Shark Swimming Center.

• Eva (2 Yellow) & Lucas (2 Blue): Both secured 2nd place in freestyle swimming at the International Swimming Competition.

• Jane (10 Green): 4th place in the 10km Open Women’s category at Thanyapura Trails.

Dance

• Lexie (5 White): Winner of the Urban Ignition Gold Teens Category at the APDA Dance Challenge 2025.

And what better way to lead into Christmas than a last day of term light dance through medieval history as preparation for Year 13 Literature students’ exploration of Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale?

• The Peasants’ Revolt? Check!

• The Bubonic Plague? Accounted for!

• Gentilesse? Present and correct!

Chaucer was the favourite writer of last year’s Year 13 and I hope his bawdy and capricious figure of Alison in The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale captures the imagination of the current cohort to the same extent. Mr Pollicutt – Head of English