Weekly Update 11
Announcements
Representative Mike Hewlett visits HeadStart from the Educational Development Trust to consult us on how we can achieve silver award in soon coming inspections from UK accreditation agency.
Loy Grathong
We will be holding a small celebration for Loy Krathong in the Secondary Assembly on Monday the 14th of November which has been organised by Year 7 students. Krathong making activities will be carried out in all the Thai classes on the day with parents also invited to join in Thai as a First Language classes.
Over 16, Parent and Staff Football/Rugby Friendly
All adults over 16 yrs old are welcome to play in a friendly 10 aside touch rugby tournament followed by an equally friendly soccer 7’s tournament. No experience required.
Venue HeadStart school.
Date Saturday, November 19th
Time 4-7pm
Hospitality provided too! There will be Free Hog roast and refreshments laid on for all players afterwards.
Teams to be organised on the day. So, If you would like to join in please email: [email protected] by November 12th.
Parenting Tips–By Karen Beardsley, Occupational Therapist
Here is my latest Kids Talk article about the importance of developing and establishing hand dominance in children.
Foundation News
By Ms Fiona Scott
A super week has gone by in Foundation this week; teachers are now able to open up their classrooms for students to enjoy some outside learning activities. We do hope the rain stays away and the dry season shines down upon us!
Non - Swimming
If your child is not swimming, they must have a note from parents explaining the reasons why. Information can be communicated with the Homeroom Teacher via text or email. Parents who have not submitted written confirmation will be asked to complete a simple form which will be used to inform the PE department. If your child misses three consecutive lessons a medical certificate will be required stating reasons for non participation. Forms can be obtained from the class teachers or the admin office.
P.E. Kits and Shoes
We have noticed a number of children not wearing the correct foot wear for PE lessons. Please can you ensure that your child wears trainers to school on days they have PE lessons. Some footwear such as crocs and flip flops do not allow children to run or participate successfully and we have had some cases of children falling over. Please be mindful of this on PE days.
Loy Krathong
We are happy to inform you that a small Loy Krathong celebration will be going ahead in Foundation on Monday 14th November. During their Thai classes, children will learn all about the festival and help to make a class Krathong with the help of the Thai teachers. Children must come to school wearing their school uniforms, however, if children would like to dress up in a Thai outfit for their Thai lessons this can be packed in their school bag on Monday. Please note, this is optional so please do not feel you have to purchase a Thai outfit over the weekend. Please also note, that this will be done as part of the Thai curriculum and parents will not be invited into school on this occasion.
Science Week–By Ms Amy Drew
I just wanted to pass on my thanks to the science team, in particular Paddy and David who visited foundation to do some spectacular demonstrations yesterday. The children had so so so much fun. It’s moments and experiences like the children had yesterday that will stay with them for life as happy school memories. I know that I will remember it forever.
Paddy and Dave were particularly brave and flexible demonstrating to over 40 2-5 year olds which I know can be a daunting audience for secondary teachers. You can see the in the children’s faces in the photos how excited they were, the faces are pure joy!
Primary News
By Mr Andrew Whittaker
Science week
The week began with a whizz and bang as the Science Faculty unveiled Science Week. The theme for our Science Week was ‘Mission to Mars’. During the week primary pupils investigated rocket technology buy creating their own small rockets in class. Pupils also took part in a Mars themed science quiz as well as a Science Trail where pupils hunted out science questions placed in random parts of the school.
Year 2 Blue Assembly - Great Fire of London
We were all treated to a thoroughly enjoyable and informative assembly about the Great Fire of London. It was great to see so many parents attend the assembly. I am sure you will all agree with me that Year 2 Blue worked very hard to remember their lines and keep us all interested and entertained.
CAT4 tests
Our Year 3 to 6 pupils began their Cognitive Ability Tests ( CAT4) this week. These tests require a computer and will continue next week. CAT4 assesses a pupil’s ability to reason with and manipulate different types of material through a series of Verbal, Non-Verbal, Quantitative and Spatial Ability tasks. Together, these four tests provide teachers with a comprehensive profile of a pupil’s reasoning abilities, and as such the core abilities related to learning. The resulting data can then be used to identify a pupil’s strengths, weaknesses and learning preferences, providing accurate and reliable information that is essential for personalised learning.
The more we know about a pupil, the better position we should be in to offer a learning environment and ways of teaching and learning that allow all our pupils to maximise their potential.
Remembrance Day Service
We had a very moving ceremony to remember all those that have given their lives to protect our freedom and way of life. It is important that our young people today take time to reflect on the sacrifices made by others. It allows us to think about all those people who suffer in wars all around the world. And it reminds us how important it is to work for peace. It is only when we take time to think about things , that we truly value what we have.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them
(extract from For the Fallen by Laurence Binyon)
Botanic Garden Visit
This week was SCIENCE WEEK! Year 3 had an awesome time on our field trip to the Botanic Gardens, where we could put all of our scientific knowledge of plants to good use to find the answers to our scavenger hunt! Did you know that the octopus tree gets its name because its leaves grow in groups of 8?
The children in Year 4 made beautiful poppies for Remembrance Day
The children in Year 4 made 3D Maps during their Humanities class
Secondary News
By Elizabeth Mason
Enrichment Week
I am writing to you regarding your child’s participation in HeadStart’s Enrichment Week which will take place from the 3-6th of April, 2017. Our enrichment week encourages learning outside of the classroom for all Key Stage 3 students. This will include students having a unique experience and preparing them for the world of university and work, developing skills for life and the soft skills that are often overlooked. Each year group will be involved in a different activities aimed at developing certain skills. These trips have been carefully developed with your child’s learning at the forefront. We would like to see all students signing up for the trips as part of their learning journey.
What will happen in Enrichment Week?
There are 3 educational trips carefully tailored to each stage and age of the Year 7-9 students. They are run by qualified instructors along with our staff who will also be in attendance. On their return, students will prepare news articles and reflection work in teams that they will present to their peers and teachers in an assembly.
Year 7—Barge Trip on the Chao Phraya
All Year 7 students will fly to Bangkok and spend 2 nights and 3 days on a Barge specifically engineered for school trips. Students will learn how to cooperate as a team, share duties of caring for the Barge as well as learn about the environmental impact we have on the water eco systems in the Chao Phraya river. The trip also includes a visit to the historical city of Ayutthaya. Typically this trip is oversubcribed every year and students come back with many stories to tell of the things they have learned and the adventures of their voyage. Estimated price per student stands at 15,000 Baht.
Year 8—Khao Sok Community and Environmental Trip
This trip is a 2 night 3 day ‘back to nature’ trip and is designed to help students delve into real life and explore nature in peaceful, safe surroundings. This adventure consists of coach and boat travel to the beautiful dam called Khao Sok in Surathani province. Students will stay on floating bungalows and experience a taste of life immersed in nature as they explore the region by boat and on foot with our experienced guide Mr. Tony Mallia and his team. Students will be feasting on delicious Thai food including fresh fish caught daily. Sleeping bags and life jackets will be provided. Estimated price per student stands at 14,000 Baht.
Year 9—Khao Sok Team Building and Adventurous Activities
This is an exciting ‘coming of age’ camp which consists of 2 nights and 3 days travelling by coach and boat to participate in team building and adventurous activities at the Khao Sok dam in Surathani. This trip should not be confused with the Year 8 trip as year 9 students will be on a different itinerary from Year 8. Year 9 students can expect to be challenged as their activities are designed for an older cohort and will be more rigorous. This trip is pivotal in preparing students for the Key Stage 4 Duke of Edinburgh International Award and is to be considered as a valuable precursor. Estimated price per student stands at 14,000 Baht.
Once your child has signed up additional information and details of the trips will follow. Please return that your child has brought home along with a deposit of 6,000 Baht to the front office by the 28th of November, 2016 in order to secure your child’s booking.
Thai Department News
Year 3
Year 3 in Thai as a Foreign Language, we have learnt Thai verbs and places. The students created their own diary to tell what they do each day in Thai.
Year 5
This past week, Year 5 students were immersed in the mythological story of Garuda and Naga from which many elements of Thai culture and beliefs stem: be it the mural paintings in temples or the official government seal.
Sports News
Swimming
On Saturday, the Aqua Panthers were back in the pool at Thanyapura for the 2nd PISAC swim league meet. We had many great swims and a lot of best times! To swim back to back weekends is not easy, but our athletes really stepped up and made it happen! Both the boys and girls earned first place finishes over BIS in this second round! So far in our league, we are sitting at a solid 2nd place!
HeadStart Boys 1,134.5 BIS Boys 931 HeadStart Girls 853 BIS Girls 841
The following swimmers contributed the most points to our win this weekend:
Juno 72 / Lisa 50 / Innes 67 / Eve 50 / Andrew 66 / Kim 48 / Vova 66 / Emmie 48 / Nazar 63 / Lucy 38 / Andrew 42 / Sasha 33 / Lewis 42 / Anna 32 / Cameron 42 / Anya 31 / Joey 41 / Natasha 30 / Shane 41 / Matvey 35.5 / Sean 34
Congratulations to all our swimmers, they worked hard and together achieved victory! Our next competition is December 9th in Bangkok. We will be taking 45 of our athletes to compete against schools on an international level.
Basketball News
Our senior girls were in action again this week in a very prestigious tournament held at BISP. They were up against some of the strongest sporting International schools in SE Asia. Not only that but it was also a U19 tournament. So with the vast majority of our girls being a lot younger (15 -16 yrs old) and not having the same vast experience as their older opponents, it was always going to be a tough ask to get amongst the medals on this occasion. And indeed on this occasion despite playing really well and giving 100% from start to finish our girls finished in 6th place in their league. Nevertheless this was a great experience for our team who have progressed so much in the last year. So well done all the girls who took part. We are all really proud of you.
Football News
This week we hosted the PISAC football tournaments for U9 and U11. It was a great event with lots of support from students and parents which was fantastic to see. Our boys in both ages played really well. Our U11 boys claimed 3rd place overall in the league and our U 9 boys finished runners up, narrowly missing out on goal difference to PIA UWC to win the trophy. Well done to all the boys who played and good luck for the BISP soccer 7s coming up at the end of November.
Wotzon Rewards
Wotzon Rewards would like to invite you to join our program which offers savings of 10% - 65% on a wide range of activities, restaurants, spas and business services in Phuket. The program focuses mainly on Phuket Residents, both Thai and Ex-pats and works with businesses that would like to attract additional or more regular customers in exchange for them giving a discount or value add. We have a wide range of businesses already in the program, over 60 currently with many more being added every week and the details of their business and the offer that they are giving to Wotzon Rewards cardholders can be found at www.wotzonrewards.com. This allows us to constantly grow the program and for our cardholders to see easily where they can save money.
We have both 1 month and 1 year cards and we are offering to you the 1 year cards at a price of 2000 baht. You can purchase more than 1 card if you wish and use this in the family or give as a gift to a friend. Cards can be ordered online at the website where you can pay by credit card or cash when we deliver the card to you.
If you have a business here in Phuket and would like to have it listed in the program or would like to learn more about how to have 1 month cards co-branded with your company logo to give to your customers please send an email to re[email protected] and we will arrange to come and see you.
