Weekly Update #35, 05 June 2026

Last Day of All ECAs and Academies – Wednesday 10 June

Please be informed that all Term 2 & 3 ECAs (HeadStart ECAs, Fee Paid Programmes, CAPA & Academies) finish on Wednesday 10th June. From Thursday 11th June until the end of term, school will end at 15:20 for all students.

Campus Development Update – Improving the Student and Parent Experience

We are excited to share details of the significant campus developments that are nearing completion and will be accessible by our school community from next academic year. Focused on enhancing the student and parent experience, these improvements are all part of our efforts to create the best school experience in Phuket.

Our brand new purpose-built Primary playground and specially-designed Foundation pool, both within easy access of our Foundation and Primary Building, offer exciting new opportunities for our youngest learners to play and learn as well as reducing student movement across the school campus. There is also a new dedicated nurse’s room in close proximity for student mishaps.

Meanwhile, Building E, located directly behind the existing Foundation playground and Atrium, will house a significantly larger Nakita’s Cafe and fully furnished fitness suite for use by our highly active parent community. There is a larger school shop and additional administrative offices that will help centralise key services and enhance the daily routine for parents.

This will also include improvements to traffic flow as we introduce a new one way system for drop-off and pick-up at the main entrance and the option to park at the eastern end of the school site. Here you will find significantly increased parking capacity (80+ new spaces) and covered walkways back to the main school entrance creating a more efficient experience during peak times. Finally, a new walkway will connect the Atrium to our sports facilities and Secondary school (Building D) beyond, ensuring older students bypass the Foundation and Primary areas to streamline movement across the school.

Building E Facilities

First Floor

• Foundation Swimming Pool: A dedicated area designed specifically to accommodate our youngest learners, complete with a safety gate and easy access to changing room facilities and toilets.

• Nurse’s Room: A fully staffed and equipped facility to safeguard student health and wellbeing.

• School Shop: A significantly expanded space offering our full range of uniforms, bags, and accessories, complete with air-conditioned waiting areas and fitting rooms.

• Executive Offices:Dedicated spaces for our senior management team, featuring professional meeting rooms to provide a comfortable environment for discussions between parents, students, and our leadership. Please note that the main Administrative office will remain in its current location (Building B).Second Floor

• Nakita’s Coffee Shop: A spacious, air-conditioned environment featuring a wide range of new hot and cold menu options for parents and students alike.

• Fitness Suite: A dramatically expanded fitness gym and studio offering a comprehensive range of cardio, weight training and fitness class options, supported by our dedicated Community Fitness Manager, Coach Jordi.

Library Information To Students and Parents

The end of this academic year is swiftly approaching, and we aim to provide you with detailed information on book returns so you can plan ahead. Please be aware that after the indicated dates, any books remaining under student or parent accounts will be considered lost, and an invoice will be issued accordingly. Thank you for your co-operation.

Reception Graduation Ceremony 2026

We are thrilled to invite all of our Reception students and parents to a special celebration honoring all that our wonderful children have learned in Foundation! Join us as we celebrate their achievements and their exciting journey ahead in Primary school. Let’s come together to applaud our little ones and their amazing progress. We look forward to sharing this joyful moment with you!

Friday Market

Support local businesses and enjoy an afternoon of community connection at our upcoming Friday Market. Join us in the Atrium on 12 June from 2:40pm – 4:30pm to discover a diverse array of goods from local vendors. Whether you are searching for fresh baked goods, unique handcrafted items, or convenient after-school snacks for the children, the market offers an excellent opportunity to browse and connect with our school community before heading into the weekend.

‘Once Upon a Dance’ Showcase

Step into a world of magic, music, and imagination at our “Once Upon a Dance” recital. Join us as our talented dancers bring beloved Disney-inspired stories to life through enchanting choreography, colorful costumes, and unforgettable performances. From classic fairy tales to modern favorites, this show promises fun, laughter, and a touch of pixie dust for the whole family. Don’t miss this magical celebration of dance!

• Time: 14:00
• Date: Saturday 13 June 2026
• Location: Sports Hall
• Price: 300/350 THB
• Book Now: Secure your seats and book your tickets here!

Give Blood, Save Lives at the HeadStart Community Blood Drive!

Join the Thai Red Cross at our Chaofah City Campusand make a critical difference for patients in need across Thailand. Every donation counts.Event Details

• Date: Friday, 19th June 2026

• Time: 9:30 am – 4:00 pm

• Location: Chaofah City Campus

• Current Need: All blood types (especially Rh-negative)

Raising the Bar at the KGA Cup

Rhythmic and general gymnastics take centre stage as our Cherngtalay campus hosts the KGA Cup Phuket on Sunday 21 June. As our trusted Extra-Curricular Activity (ECA) provider, the Karpenko Gymnastics Academy (KGA) will bring together dedicated gymnasts to demonstrate their agility, coordination and technique. We invite our school community to join us on site to support the competitors as they present their hard-earned routines.

Alon Poplawski – Enrolled at HeadStart since Year 12

We are proud to celebrate Alon Poplawski, who has secured multiple offers to study Business and Management in the United Kingdom, from Anglia Ruskin, Bournemouth, Brighton, Kent, and Portsmouth universities. He is also awaiting offers from Australia.

At HeadStart, Alon has combined academic studies with music and performance. Studying BTEC Music, he developed interests in music production, took private drum, guitar, and bass lessons, and performed in Battle of the Bands, Live Lounge, and a Singapore remembrance service. Alon has been heavily involved in the swimming academy since 2019, captaining two swim teams and representing HeadStart in Singapore. He contributed by coaching younger swimmers and serving as an Eco Prefect.

Alon has demonstrated leadership, teamwork, and commitment, hoping to pursue a future career in music production or artist management. We congratulate Alon and wish him every success.

Yufei Lin (Evelyn) – Enrolled at HeadStart since Year 10

We are delighted to celebrate Yufei, who has accepted a conditional offer from Monash University Malaysia to study the Bachelor of Digital Media and Communication commencing in October 2026. Enrolled at HeadStart since August 2022, Yufei has developed an impressive creative portfolio, including Fine Art, photography, video editing, Photoshop, 3D modelling, and handcraft projects like tufting and clay work. She has also focused on personal wellbeing through fitness and Thai boxing, while achieving the Duke of Edinburgh Silver Award.

Yufei has contributed to the school community as a prefect and through leadership opportunities. Her experiences include tutoring younger children, assisting at Summer Camp as a Chinese language assistant, and managing customer design orders. These strengthened her communication, organisation, and bilingual abilities. A creative student with an international outlook, Yufei hopes to pursue opportunities within creative and digital media industries. We congratulate Yufei and wish her success at Monash University Malaysia.

Seungha Lee – Enrolled at HeadStart since Year 7

We are proud to celebrate Seungha, a member of HeadStart since June 2020. Seungha is applying to leading universities in South Korea, including Handong Global, Sungkyunkwan, Dongguk, Kookmin, and Soongsil universities, with aspirations to study Biotechnology, Bioinformatics, and Global Leadership.

Seungha has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement and leadership. Her accolades include an IGCSE Subject Award for English Literature, Thai Etiquette Awards, and awards in the Thailand International Mathematical Olympiad, National Scientific Thinking Challenge, and British Biology Olympiad. She has contributed through CAPA productions, Dance Academy, Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award, volunteering, beach cleans, and playing guitar in a band.

An exceptional student leader, Seungha served as Head Girl and led the volunteering organisation “Sunny Side Up.” She organised children’s camps, led community service, delivered speeches, and represented the school in cultural and charitable activities. Her work experience at Bangkok Siriroj Hospital and the School Apprenticeship Project reflect her maturity and interest in sciences.

Hard-working, articulate, and community-minded, Seungha has made a lasting impact. We congratulate her and wish her every success.

Jumpei Ota (Jun) – Enrolled at HeadStart since Year 9

We are delighted to celebrate Jumpei, who has received university offers in Japan. Jun has secured offers from Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University and Temple University Kyoto, and is currently awaiting further outcomes from Waseda University School of International Liberal Studies and Sophia University.

Enrolled at HeadStart International School since August 2021, Jun has demonstrated resilience and collaboration. Studying A Levels in Biology, Chemistry, and Geography, his extracurricular commitments include five years in the Football Academy, Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh Awards, sailing, gardening, powerlifting, bodybuilding, music, and teaching English through Sunnyside Up.

Jun has shown strong leadership qualities as Head Coordinator of Photography for Sunnyside Up and as captain of his sailing crew. His experiences include a cultural and agricultural exchange programme in Ehime Prefecture, Japan, and supporting younger students through the HeadStart Summer Camp programme. A respectful, resilient, and adventurous student, Jun aspires to balance professional achievement with a fulfilling life.

We congratulate Jun on his accomplishments so far and wish him every success through the university admissions process and beyond.

Cherngtalay AquaPanthers @ Patana Summer Sizzle!

Wishing all our HeadStart Aqua Panthers Academy swimmers taking part in this weekend’s Patana Summer Sizzle meet in Bangkok the very best of luck! Go Aqua Panthers!

Primary Team Excels at PISAC Maths Competition

Congratulations to our PISAC Maths Competition team of Year 3 to Year 6 keen mathematicians, who enjoyed a fantastic day of problem-solving and teamwork last Friday! Alongside their impressive mathematical achievements, the students represented the school brilliantly, showing enthusiasm, respect, and excellent sportsmanship throughout the event. Their hard work paid off with an outstanding third-place finish overall, as well as several impressive individual successes. Well done to everyone who took part!

Year 6 Secondary Transition Day

Year 6 students from all three classes had a taste of life in Secondary school during their Transition Day. The children were given a Year 7 timetable to follow, and it was heart-warming to see how well they kindly and patiently supported each other as they worked to navigate the different classroom spaces, and unfamiliar day-timings. Year 6 had the opportunity to try two subjects that are new in Secondary, a fun-filled Drama lesson in our Drama studio, and a Design & Technology lesson in our newly built DT workshop. One or two Year 6 students are already familiar with the workshop space from their Sustainable Products ECA, and our CAPA students were similarly familiar with the expectations of Drama. These students were able to step-up and take a leading role in guiding their peers in the new spaces.

As part of the Transition Day, Year 6 parents joined Mr Lawler and Dr Marsh for a presentation about life in Secondary school. Dr Marsh also had a meeting with all of the Year 6 students to present similar information to them and to answer their many and varied questions about what was different in Secondary. This year, no students asked questions about their worries; simply lots of questions about details and Secondary routines. It seems they are a mature and independent group and we have no doubt that they will succeed in their Secondary journeys. Last year’s Year 6 (our current Year 7 students) worked on team-building and challenge projects during the day (in between their GL exams) working on constructing complex modular origami models, and leadership games. Seeing their collective confidence and resilient determination as they approach the end of their first year of Secondary school shows just how quickly they grow-up at this age. We can’t wait to share how our current Year 6 grow over the coming year. -Dr. Marsh, Head of Secondary

HeadStart Students Shine

We are delighted to congratulate our students on their significant achievements in recent sports, arts, music, and dance competitions, representing HeadStart with pride on both local and international stages!

• Nicole (Early Years Yellow) won gold and silver medals at the KGA Spring Cup Singapore, earning a gold medal for physical skills and a silver medal for her free hand routine.

• Kaden (3 Blue) won his first career Muay Thai boxing fight at Patong Boxing Stadium Sainamyen.

• Gosha (5 White) emerged as the winner of the boys Under 12 category at the UTR tennis tournament hosted by British International School Phuket.

• Annalisa (1 Blue) achieved 2nd place in the SFD International competition for her Freestyle Solo and Classical Ballet Solo.

• Eoin (2 White) achieved 1st place in tennis at the KAHLI Tennis Academy Phuket.

• Maxim (1 White) was awarded 5 Stars in the Dance Competition by Minilome Kids Club at MYLOME Luxury Hotel & Resort.

• Raphael (2 Blue) secured 2nd place in the U-8 Division Chess Tournament at HeadStart International School.

• Eliana (4 Yellow) secured 2nd place in the Female Division Chess Tournament at HeadStart International School.

Balance Bike Update

Join us for a fun balance bike competition for kids aged 2 to 7 years old at Porto de Phuket Balance Bike Fun Race 2026 on Satruday 20 June 2026! There are five competitions for 5 age groups. Porto de Phuket Balance Bike Fun Race 2026 จัดโดย Porto de Phuket / Cruzee Bike / K Park Phuket ร่วมสนับสนุนการจัดกิจกรรมโดย Gymboree Play & Music Phuket / A Little Club / Guriongym Taekwondo / SAM Singapore Math K Park Phuket / Pearl Hotel Phuket / ท้ายเหมือง ร้านอาหารพื้นเมืองภูเก็ต

Story Time – Puppets & Play