Chaofah City
Chaofah City
Weekly Update #19, 17 January 2025
Announcements
Important Announcement about Invoices for Fee Paid ECAs
We trust your child has enjoyed their first week of Extra Curricular Activities (ECAs) this week. Don’t forget, to view the ECAs your child has been successfully enroled in, go to their timetable on the Parent Portal. To make any adjustments to your child’s ECAs for Terms 2 and 3, please email [email protected] or pay the ECA Team a visit in the ECA office.
Please be aware that invoices will be raised on Monday, 20th January at 16:00. Invoices for Fee paid ECAs cannot be removed once they have been raised so please check your child’s ECAs carefully and ensure any adjustments have been before that time.
Upcoming Events
A Special Free Parent Event - Let’s Co-Play! at Cherngtalay Campus
Inviting all parents from across Phuket to attend a unique parent event hosted by Greg Bottrill, renowned childhood advocate and best-selling author of ‘Can I Go & Play Now?’. This will be an engaging and insightful presentation for parents in which he will explore the power of play in building stronger connections with your child, offering tips and advice.
📆 Date: Tuesday 11th February 2025
⏰ Time: 12:45-13:45
📍 Venue: HeadStart International School, Phuket (Cherngtalay Campus)
A message from Greg: “Join me as I explore why children need choice, creativity and collaboration and how play is a crucial component in providing these opportunities in school and at home. I will share why your child deserves a childhood that has abundant possibilities for adventure to shape who they are. I will also give some simple ideas for how you can join their adventure too.”
The event is open to all parents, particularly those of Foundation and Year 1 & 2 parents. Registration is required. To register for you and up to 4 other adults, scan the QR code in the poster below or complete the GoogleForm: Let’s Co-Play Parent Event Registration
Mandarin Language Day at Cherngtalay Campus
We are excited to announce that the Term 2 Mandarin Language Day will take place on Saturday, 1st February from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the HeadStart Cherngtalay Campus.
This event will revolve around the theme of Lunar New Year, and we have prepared many fun and engaging activities to celebrate this festive occasion.
To help us organise the event effectively, please take a moment to fill out this sign-up form by January 27th: Mandarin Language Day Registration Form
We look forward to seeing you all at this exciting event! The Mandarin Language Team
Save the Date - International Day 2025
We are delighted to extend a warm invitation to all our families to join us for our International Day celebrations. This event promises to be a vibrant and culturally enriching experience, showcasing the diversity that makes our school community so special.
📆 Date: Friday 7th March 2025
⏰ Time: 14:30-17:00
📍 Venue: Chaofah City Campus
Our International Day event will feature a colourful array of cultural performances, international cuisine, interactive exhibits, and a warm atmosphere of unity. It’s an excellent opportunity for us to come together, celebrate our global community, and foster a deeper understanding of the rich tapestry of cultures represented at HeadStart.
We would be honoured by your presence as we celebrate diversity, promote cultural exchange, and strengthen the bonds that make HeadStart International School a truly international learning environment.
Registration & Tent Booking
To register and book a tent to represent the culture of your country, please note:
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This event is dedicated to showcasing your culture and traditions. We encourage participants to share their unique heritage and offer visitors a chance to learn about your country.
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Any products or items distributed at the event should be offered free of charge to ensure the spirit of generosity and cultural exchange.
Tent Information:
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There are 20 tents available in total for booking.
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Tents are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
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The Events team reserves the right to change the order of tent bookings if necessary.
Additionally, this event is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with your fellow community members and strengthen connections. To facilitate this, we request:
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Each country has one representative to register and book the tent.
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Permission is given to share your email with other members of your community to help you coordinate effectively.
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If there are duplicate registrations from the same country, our Events team will inform you of other representatives’ email addresses to streamline communication and teamwork.
Performance Registration
This is a unique opportunity to showcase your traditional dance or any cultural performance from your country.
We request a maximum of 2 performances per country to ensure diversity and balance in the schedule. Performances should be group-based, emphasizing unity and collaboration within your community.
👉 Registration is now open! Write to: [email protected]
Our Events team will assist in connecting members of the same community to work together on tents and performances.
Meetings & Presentations
Helping Your Child with Behaviour in KS1 Parent Workshop
We invite parents of children from Year 1 and Year 2 to join us for our latest parent meeting when we will run a workshop focused on the Zones of Regulation strategies that are used in school to help your child monitor and manage their own behaviour. We look forward to seeing you there! Tuesday 21st January 2025 from 8:15-9:15am in the Primary Hall).
HeadStart Alumni
Gemma Brain - Class of 2021
Gemma is currently studying Mathematical Bioscience BSc at the University of York, UK, and will graduate in the summer of 2025. She has always had a passion to teach, inspired by her excellent Maths and Biology teachers at HeadStart.
During the summer of 2024, Gemma undertook an internship at a local secondary school in York, and joined the Maths Department, cementing her desire to progress her teaching career post degree. Having applied to both Oxford and Cambridge Universities to enrol in the Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) course to gain the qualifications required to become a Maths Teacher, teaching ages 11 - 18 years, she was delighted to be accepted by both Universities.
Gemma has made the decision to accept the Cambridge University offer and will start the PGCE qualification in September 2025. Cambridge University has been rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted for their teacher education programme.
PE & Sports News
Sports Days 2025
The PE Department and our students are excitedly preparing for our annual Sports Days. Please see the posters for the dates and times. We look forward to welcoming the HeadStart community to come and support our students for what will be a sports filled few days.
Thai Department
HeadStart Students Excel at Thai Etiquette Competition
On 12th and 13th December 2024, HeadStart students took great pride in taking part in the Phuket annual Thai etiquette competition for the 9th year running. The event took place at Saphan Hin Gymnasium with Mr Suttipan Sakulthep, the Deputy Mayor of Phuket Municipality, presiding over the opening.
Well done to our 10 HeadStart representatives from Reception, Primary and Secondary who dedicated themselves to practicing Thai manners for the competition. As an international school, we are so proud to take part in this Thai cultural event as we aim to instill knowledge and proper conduct in Thai cultures. Huge congratulations to Nara in Reception for winning 2nd place in Kindergarten level, Girls category. And congratulations to the following students who had represented our school and performed amazingly:
- Nara and Phupha (Reception), Aob-Aom (Year 1), Tiger and Proud (Year 3), Kwankhao and Prem (Year 7), Khunpol (Year 8), Opal (Year 10), and Baikhao (Year 12)
A big thank you to our wonderful Thai teachers, Kru Fon, Kru Lookpla and Kru Song for training and preparing these polite young students and the excellent effort they put into making this project a great success. We will continue to commit to support our students to take part in the Thai competition. We are so proud of our students for dedicating themselves to gaining valuable learning experiences in every opportunity. We are also extremely thankful for the support we had from our Thai parents during the training and during the competition. Sontana Baci (Kru Nee) - School Director
Languages Department
Teamwork on Display in Year 8 Mandarin Revision Lessons
This week in Year 8, students successfully presented their revision presentations on topics they have learned, working in pairs. They demonstrated strong engagement and effectively completed their tasks. Additionally, they participated in a fun Snakes and Ladders game to learn new Chinese vocabulary, which kept them active and excited throughout the activities. Overall, it was a productive week, with students showcasing teamwork and enthusiasm for learning. Ms Qiao - Mandarin Teacher
Foundation
Visit from the Fire Department: A day to remember!
What an incredible experience for our Foundation children! The fire department paid us a special visit, and the children were so excited! They all had the unique opportunity to become “real firefighters” for the day — putting out fires with the powerful hose, sitting inside the fire truck, and even trying on the full firefighting gear.
They were exceptionally well-behaved, showing great respect and enthusiasm throughout the visit. This hands-on experience offered invaluable learning moments, teaching them about safety, teamwork, and the important role of firefighters in our community. A truly wonderful morning, full of memories and lessons that will stay with them forever! The Foundation Team
Celebrating Achievement in Foundation Assembly
During our Friday assembly last week, we congratulated two of our Reception students for their wonderful hard work. We are incredibly proud of Nara and Phupha for their outstanding accomplishments in the Thai Etiquette Competition! Their dedication, hard work, and graceful performances shone brightly, earning them well-deserved recognition and some of the highest awards, with Nara achieving second place among numerous schools in Phuket. They have truly exemplified the beauty of Thai culture, and we couldn’t be prouder of their achievements. Well done, Nara and Phupha for your remarkable success and hard work! Miss Hughes - Deputy Head of Foundation
Secondary
The Apprentice Programme Takes Centre Stage
Excitement reached its peak at HeadStart as the highly anticipated ‘Apprentice’ programme took centre stage, offering Year 12 students a unique and invaluable opportunity to refine their application and interview skills for internships or indeed employment. With senior teachers such as Mr Wakeford and Ms Uhure embodying the roles of company CEOs, students submitted their CVs and cover letters, vying for a chance to impress during interviews conducted by experienced staff members. These rigorous assessments culminated in the awarding of certificates for the most deserving candidates for each hypothetical position.
Over the past few weeks, students have undergone this transformative experience, gaining not only insights into real-world job dynamics but also practical exposure to the professional environment. The programme reached a conclusion as HeadStart proudly announced this year’s winners:
- India, Federico, Peemai, Berta, Taina, Cooper, Jun, Matilda, Nanki, Alexandra, Daniel, Seungha, Pan, and Li.
Seoncdary Principal, Mr Lukats, praised the initiative, highlighting its ‘role in preparing students for professional success’. He further commended the students for their enthusiasm, professionalism, and growth throughout the process. This UPrep activity is an example of HeadStart’s commitment to holistic education. By blending academic excellence with real-world skills, the school continues to shape well-rounded, career-ready individuals. As the programme concludes, the excitement and momentum it has generated promise to inspire future cohorts to aim even higher.
Congratulations to all participants and thank you to the staff for making this year’s ‘Apprentice’ programme an unforgettable journey toward promising futures! The Sixth Form Team
Year 10 Students Bring Art to Life Through Words!
Our Year 10 students are diving into their 0500 Assignment 2 coursework with an inspiring twist! Tasked with choosing a favourite painting as their stimulus, they’ve explored masterpieces such as Rembrandt’s Night Watch, Saddler’s Battle of Waterloo 1815, and Monet’s La Grenouillère.
Dora, one of our enthusiastic students, shared her excitement about the project: “I’m thrilled to be exploring cross-curricular links while describing Van Gogh’s Rainy Paris: A Colourful Escape.”
Through this creative exercise, students are honing their descriptive writing skills, exploring historical and artistic contexts, and bringing their chosen artworks vividly to life. We can’t wait to see their final pieces!
Annotating with Purpose in AS Level English
The process of effectively annotating a text can seem esoteric to students. Moreover, the most searing of students’ orally conveyed insights can wither in the transfer to page. Thus, in Year 12, we have been working on creating annotations with purpose, designed to address the assessment objectives and shape themself into a coherent essay plan. It is a timely move with their VIMA3 coming up later this month.
More generally, I have been delighted with the Year 12 Literature students’ response to A Handful of Dust. Their embracing of an Interwar English text speaks volumes about their intellectual flexibility and sensitivity. The current Year 13s achieved 100% A-B in their AS Levels in 2024 - can this year’s Year 12 do even better? Mr. Pollicutt - Head of English & EAL
Eco-School Update
First Community Beach Clean of 2025!
There was a great turnout for our first HeadStart Community Beach Clean of 2025 at Rawai Beach on Sunday. The winning house was Blue Tigers with a total of 11 students and family members lending a helping hand; well done! As we enter into peak/busy season, we find it increasingly important to help keep Phuket’s beaches clean, not just through our clean ups but also via educating those we meet during these beach cleans.
Our next Community Beach Clean will be at Saphan Hin on Sunday 2nd February, meeting at the Kio Thian Keng Saphan Hin Shrine. See you there!
Success Outside School
🏆 Congratulations to Lexie (4 Yellow) for winning the APDA - Urban Ignition Artist Award at the Dance Challenge on Stage 2024 competition
🏆 Congratulations to Cayla (2 Yellow) being the winner of the Class E (Girl) Singha-Krungthai Junior golf ranking at Rajnaprabha golf course, Surat Thani, a Thailand Golf Association event
Well done to Chris (5) for receiving the Silver medal at both the Kangaroo Math and Australian Mathematics Competitions
Well done to Leo (7 Blue) for his 3 podium positions (two 2nd runner up and one 4th runner up) in the 65CC and 85CC categories at the Thasala Motocross Championships
Well done to Mason (10) for finishing 2nd Runner Up (Preliminary) Thailand in the Piano Category: 14-15 Years old at the Asia Students Arts Festival 2025
HeadStart Students Run for 24 Hours in Aid of the Global Fight Against Slavery
The 24 Hour Race, which took place at Thanyapura from 9am on Saturday 11th to 9am on Sunday 12th January, brought together international school students from across Phuket, including an intrepid team of 6 Year 12 students from HeadStart, to raise awareness and funds for the fight against human trafficking. The event included a 24 Hour Relay, a 24 minute dash and a 24km run through the night! Driven by wanting to help more than 40 million people subjugated to modern day slavery, participating in this event allowed us to enjoy events such as a night market and face painting while pushing ourselves to run and raise awareness for a truly important cause. Nanki - Year 12“Personally, the 24 hour relay was a new experience for me, not just the time period it was done in, but the running itself. The event was well organized by students with on call first aid, a night market with multiple food options and a range of activities. Although the event was extremely challenging and required a long recovery period from the muscle pain and lack of sleep, I really appreciated the chance to form stronger bonds with my friends and opening myself to new experiences as well as helping a good cause.”Mali - Year 12
Important Dates
Noticeboard
Parent Fitness
Running Club (meet on track)
HeadStart provides complimentary use of the Fitness Gym for parents every weekday morning from 07:30-09:30 and in the afternoon from 14:30-18:00.
Classes run from 8:00-9:00am. To join, sign the list at the gym entrance or speak to a trainer. Available strictly for HeadStart parents only.
