Chaofah City
Chaofah City
Weekly Update #26, 14 March 2025
Announcements
Congratulations to Mr & Mrs Marx
The whole HeadStart community would like to offer huge congratulations and wish the newlyweds, Mr and Mrs Marx (nee Miss Hark) – HeadStart’s third married couple through the years – all the very best for a wonderful future as wife and husband.
Change to Car Parking Areas for Staff and Parents
Starting this weekend, the 2nd-floor parking area in the car park building will be closed as we begin construction of new classrooms scheduled to open in August 2025. Parents are still welcome to use the ground floor area for parking. They may also park in the outside gravel car park (to the north of the car park building) in the designated areas shown in the attached parking plan. We politely ask that all motorists make sure to park with their tyres against the concrete tyre stops, leaving sufficient space for other vehicles to park alongside.
From the start of Term 3 (Monday 21st April), there will be a new access gate (next to the drop off area) allowing parents and their children to walk directly into the underground car park and through to the main entrance. This gate will be open from 06:00 – 09:30 in the morning, and from 14:00 – 23:00 at the end of the day.
We appreciate your understanding as we make improvements to our school facilities and apologize for any inconvenience caused as the work takes place.
Final Call for Yearbook Sponsorship
We are pleased to offer a final opportunity for businesses in our community to advertise in the HeadStart Yearbook 2024-2025 — a high-quality, full-colour publication that highlights the achievements and special moments of our school year. With only 5 spots left and 17 businesses already on board, this is a fantastic chance to showcase your brand in over 800 copies distributed to HeadStart families. Advertising rates start at 5,000 THB for a half-page and 10,000 THB for a full-page. The deadline to submit your ad is 20 March 2025. If you are interested, please contact us at [email protected]
HeadStart Jacket – Available Now!
As we approach the cooler rainy season, now is the perfect time to invest in a HeadStart jacket for your child. Please visit our school shop to stock up on your child’s school supplies.
Upcoming Events
Russian Language Day – Term 2
We are excited to invite you to a vibrant Russian Language Day event on Saturday, 29th March, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at HeadStart Chergntalay Campus!
Event Highlights:
-
Talent Performances
-
Crafts and games organised by teachers
We kindly invite you to fill out this form https://forms.gle/GFKCd5PtPhqjDTHY8 so we can arrange the relevant activities for you. Thank you for your cooperation and support! The Russian Team at HeadStart International School
Приглашаем вас на празднование Дня русского языка, которое состоится в субботу, 29 марта, с 9:00 до 12:00 в кампусе HeadStart Chergntalay.
Программа мероприятия включает:
-
творческие выступления;
-
мастер-классы и игры.
Будем признательны, если Вы заполните данный опросник https://forms.gle/GFKCd5PtPhqjDTHY8. Благодарим Вас за сотрудничество и поддержку! русскоязычная команда школы HeadStart
Sonkgran Sports Camps
Football Camp
The Football Camp is the ultimate, can’t-miss opportunity for players to unleash their inner football superstars, hone their skills, and have a blast in a super positive, high-energy environment at HeadStart International School, Chaofah City campus!
Starts at 09:00 (drop off after 08:30) and finishes at 14:00 with lunch provided! Open to students from Year 2 to Year 8. Players will be split into appropriate groups, depending on their age and abilities. Expect high-quality coaching, lots of fun and medals to be won! To sign up please contact [email protected]. Limited spaces available.
Swim Camp
During the Songkran break, our Swim Academy is offering a 3-day training session designed to keep your child fit, healthy, and improving their swimming skills. The camp will take place at our Chaofah City campus from Monday 7th to Wednesday 9th April.
This is a fantastic opportunity for young swimmers to refine their techniques, gain confidence in the water, and make new friends in a fun, supportive environment. Don’t miss out on this chance for your child to continue their swimming development over the holiday! To sign up, please contact Coach Brown [email protected].
Secondary Prom – Friday 25th April 2025
Meetings & Presentations
Helping Your Child with Behaviour in KS2 Parent Workshop
We invite parents of children from Year 3 and Year 6 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 18th March 2025 from 8:15-9:15am in the Primary Hall.
University Offers
Manar Srivakul – Enrolled at HeadStart since Year 3
We are delighted to announce that Manar Srivakul has received multiple offers to study LLB Law at top universities. Her leadership as a prefect, involvement in Duke of Edinburgh, Model United Nations, and dedication to Sunny Side Up reflect her passion for law and global affairs. Congratulations, Manar! We are excited for your future and can’t wait to see what you accomplish in the field of Law.
Phudit Pongpech – Enrolled at HeadStart since Preschool
We are thrilled to announce that Phudit “Putter” Pongpech has been accepted to SIIT, Thammasat University, where he will be pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Since joining HeadStart in 2009, Putter has made a lasting impact on the school community. As a prefect and student council member, he has played a vital role in student leadership, contributing to various initiatives that enhance school life. His dedication to giving back is also evident through his involvement in Sunny Side Up, where he helped support English education for underprivileged children. Congratulations, Putter! We are incredibly proud of your achievements and wish you all the best in your studies and future endeavors.
Why I Love HeadStart
Mason (10 Yellow) – Enrolled at HeadStart since Preschool
Having started in Preschool, HeadStart is the only school Mason has ever known. As an integral member of our school community, he has contributed so much down the years – whether in his role as Primary Head Boy, the various CAPA Junior and Senior shows he has appeared in, or as a member of the Panthers Basketball Academy. Why does Mason love HeadStart?
International Day 2025
On Friday, 7th March, 2025, our Chaofah City campus hosted a vibrant and exciting celebration for International Day. The event brought together students, staff, and parents in a colourful display of global cultures, traditions, and customs. Each corner of the campus was filled with the sounds, smells, and sights of different countries, as students and their families proudly showcased their heritage through performances, delicious foods, and informative displays. The day was a beautiful reminder of the diversity that makes the HeadStart community so unique, fostering an atmosphere of inclusivity, respect, and global understanding. It was a memorable occasion that highlighted the importance of celebrating and embracing cultures from around the world.
Sincere thanks to everyone (too many to name here) who made this event the incredible success that it truly was. We can’t wait until next year’s event!
📸 Please find a full album of photos here: International Day 2025
PE & Sports News
BIS Flying Fish Invitational – What a Weekend!
Wow, what an incredible weekend of racing! It was a long, grueling meet, but the Aqua Panthers team gave it everything — and we battled our way to a 2nd place finish!
New Records Alert!
We didn’t just show up — we set the pool on fire with some incredible new team records! Huge congratulations to our record breakers:
- Yasmin (6 White HSC), Ratmir (5 Blue HSC), Monica (6 Blue HSN), Rita (5 Blue HSC), Pavel (7 White HSC), Masha (9 Blue HSC), Yejin (12 Blue HSC), and Ryan (13 Blue HSC)!
And that’s not all…
-
High Point Champion: Yasmin (6 White HSC)
-
Runner-Up: Pavel (7 White HSC)
Top 12 Point Earners (Honorable Mentions):
- Katherine (4 Blue HSN), Natasha (3 Blue HSC), Daniil (2 Yellow HSN), Rita (5 Blue HSC), Ratmir (5 Blue HSC), Monica (6 Blue HSN), Naomi (6 Yellow), Masha (9 Blue HSC), Viktor (9 Blue HSC), Yejin (12 Blue HSC), Millie (10 Yellow HSC), and Ryan (13 Blue HSC)
Every single swimmer who competed stepped up, pushed through, and made this weekend unforgettable. Whether it was dropping time, cheering on teammates, or just leaving it all in the pool, you should be proud of what you accomplished!
Thank you to everyone who made this meet a huge success! Let’s carry this momentum forward and keep chasing greatness. Coach Brown – Head Swim Coach
📸 Please find a full album of photos here: BIS Flying Fish Invitational 2025
HeadStart Pathers U9 Boys Impress at Cruzeiro Cup!
A massive congratulations to the HeadStart Panthers U9 Boys who took part in the Cruzeiro Cup at BISP over the weekend! The boys truly gave their all, facing some fierce competition in challenging conditions.
There were certainly highs and lows throughout the two days. After a tough start to the tournament, the boys found their rhythm and showcased some superb, flowing football. Hats off to the players who persevered through both rain and shine, steadily improving with each game. The Panthers made it to the third-place play-off, triumphing over BISP to secure bronze medals. Well done, Boys! Coach Paul – Football Coach
PISAC U9 and U11 Track & Field Competition
Our Chaofah City campus is excited to be hosting the upcoming PISAC U9 and U11 Track & Field event with competitors from 5 schools across the island.
Please see the details below:
-
Date: Friday, 21st March
-
Time: 12.30-15.00 (parents should arrive no earlier than 12.00)
-
Venue: HeadStart Chaofah City Campus
Parents are very welcome to come and watch and the selected athletes and their parents will be contacted very soon. Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you then. Mr Carter – Director of Sport
Languages Department
Engaging Learning in Primary French Classes
Introducing ‘I eat’ and ‘I drink’ in Year 1:Our Year 1s had a great time sorting foods into what we eat and what we drink. They did a fantastic job and had lots of fun!Presenting Characters in Year 2:Year 2 students presented their favorite characters (Sonic movies) and practiced ‘be’ and ‘have’ structures along with body parts, emotions, colors, and animals. They showed incredible interest!”Writing to Describe Daily Routines in Year 5:Year 5 students demonstrated resilience and dedication in their writing task, which involved describing their daily routine using time expressions and connectors. They showed incredible perseverance in tackling this challenging task!”Reading for Fun in Year 6:Year 6 students played a Yes/No game focusing on reading discrimination. They had to move to the right side for incorrect answers and the left side for correct ones. This is their favorite game!Mr Pierre – Primary French Teacher
Maths Faculty Week
During Maths Faculty Week, pour Primary students engaged in a variety of fun and interactive activities designed to strengthen their mathematical skills. They participated in exciting math challenges, where they solved puzzles and worked together in teams to unlock clues and complete tasks. Creative hands-on activities, such as building geometric shapes with everyday materials, allowed students to explore concepts in a tangible way. Teachers also organized maths-related games, encouraging friendly competition while reinforcing important problem-solving techniques.
Throughout the week, Secondary students tested their logical thinking and perseverance with daily codebreaking competitions during break time, enhancing their ability to think critically and solve problems under pressure. Each day in form time, they engaged in a different mathematical activity, including writing creative π poems and exploring the significance of π in real-world applications. The week culminated in a special Maths Assembly on Friday, where students showcased their enthusiasm and teamwork through a specially prepared maths song, celebrating the joy of mathematical thinking.
Pi Day at Headstart
Secondary students celebrated Pi Day with a variety of engaging mathematical activities designed to spark curiosity and deepen their understanding of maths. At lunch, students created Pi Day bracelets, using coloured beads to represent the digits of π, reinforcing number patterns and mathematical curiosity through a hands-on activity. They also took on the challenge of competing against their maths teachers in a fast-paced game of Countdown, developing their problem-solving and mental arithmetic skills.
These activities reflected Headstart’s Learner Profiles by encouraging students to be Collaborative, as they worked together in competitions and discussions; Inquisitive, as they explored mathematical challenges and puzzles; and Creative, as they expressed their understanding through poetry, music, and hands-on activities. Miss Bell – Primary Maths Subject Leader – and Mr Hickey – Head of Maths
Foundation
A Visit to the Hospital for Reception Children
This week, our eager Reception students visited Bangkok Siriroj Hospital. The children had an amazing time exploring the ambulance, learning about life-saving equipment, and visiting the dental centre to discover specialist tools and oral health tips from the resident dentist. It was a fun and educational experience, helping the children understand more about healthcare and emergency services, and the invaluable job done by the hospital’s dedicated staff. The Reception Teaching Team
Primary
HeadStart Headliners – Primary Magazine Club
For the past several months, a talented group of Year 5 and 6 pupils have been busy designing, writing and creating a magazine for the whole school to enjoy. In the Magazine VAPP, our energetic would-be journalists have independently brainstormed fun ideas for news stories — many based on school events, with others about changes around the school and information of interest to the HeadStart community.
As a team, our writers got creative and learned how to research and compose engaging reports on a range of topics, using appropriate formality, tone and grammatical structures. During our after-school sessions, the writers also supported one another by sharing their work, giving feedback and collaborating on group projects. After all their hard work, the Year 5 and 6 pupils developed their graphic design skills, making the magazine visually appealing with creative layouts and images. They have done incredibly well to produce a professional-looking magazine that showcases their fantastic writing skills while also keeping it entertaining and informative. Mr Charlton – Year 6 Lead Teacher
HeadStart Very Able Pupil Programmes (VAPPs) are an excellent way for our most gifted and talented students to extend their learning beyond the classroom. There is no better demonstration of this than giving outstanding writers the opportunity to express themselves for a purpose – creating a magazine for all to read.
📰 You can read the HeadStart Headliners Magazine for yourself. Just click on the link below 👇
Year 3 Head Off Around the World…First Stop – Kenya!
Inspired by the book Let’s Go To… (available on Bug Club), Year 3 students packed their bags, grabbed their passports, and bought their airline tickets for an exciting journey around the world! Our first stop on this global adventure? Kenya! Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed with a hands-on cooking class where we learned how to make mandazi, a popular Kenyan sweet treat. The students worked together to mix flour, eggs, sugar, cardamom, and coconut milk, creating a sweet dough which was then fried into delicious doughnut-like snacks. The end result was as tasty as it was fun to make!
Throughout the activity, the students demonstrated their Learner Attributes by being open-minded and collaborative. They eagerly embraced the chance to learn about a new culture and were keen to try new things. Working together as a team, they showed fantastic teamwork as they shared ideas, helped one another, and celebrated their success. We’re excited to continue our journey and can’t wait to see where our next destination takes us! Ms Bell and Ms Laming – Year 3 Teachers
Library News
A heartfelt thank you to all the dedicated library monitors who are consistently helping to maintain a quiet, organized, and welcoming environment in the library. Your hard work and commitment are truly appreciated by everyone who benefits from the space. Khun Mai – School Librarian
Secondary
Getting to the Heart of the Matter in IGCSE Biology
In Dr. Cardall’s IGCSE Biology class, students had the opportunity to explore the anatomy of the heart through a hands-on dissection. Moving beyond textbook diagrams, they examined the heart’s chambers, valves, and major blood vessels, applying critical thinking and curiosity to their learning. This activity embodied several of the school’s learner attributes, encouraging resilience as students stepped outside their comfort zones, teamwork as they collaborated to complete the dissection, and responsibility in handling biological materials with care.
Further integrating their scientific knowledge, students then applied principles from Physics and Hooke’s Law to investigate the strength of the aorta’s walls. By carefully cutting a ring section of the aorta and suspending masses from it, they demonstrated the elasticity and strength of this vital blood vessel, linking their biological observations to real-world biomechanics and material science.
This experience fostered scientific inquiry, as students reflected on the heart’s function, its structural adaptations, and real-world applications in health and medicine. Through this engaging and interdisciplinary approach, they developed essential skills in observation, communication, and problem-solving, reinforcing the value of practical science in deepening their understanding of biology and beyond. The Secondary Science Team
BTEC Business Have a Rum Old Time at Chalong Bay Distillery
BTEC students recently had the opportunity to visit Chalong Bay Rum Distillery to gain firsthand insights into customer service, marketing, and the manufacturing and production processes of a real-world business.
During the visit, students were guided through the distillery, where they learned about the distillation method that gives Chalong Bay Rum its unique flavor. They observed the entire production process, from sourcing natural Thai sugarcane to bottling the final product. The experience also highlighted customer service strategies used at the distillery, including how staff engage with visitors through guided tours and tastings to enhance the customer experience. In addition, students explored marketing techniques, such as branding, social media promotions, and partnerships with local businesses to strengthen the company’s market presence.
Experiencing customer service at a real business like Chalong Bay helps BTEC students apply theory to their coursework. Seeing how staff interact with customers improves their understanding of customer expectations, communication, and problem-solving, key topics in their assessments. This trip provided students with valuable real-world knowledge, connecting classroom theories to practical business operations. By seeing these concepts in action, they gained a deeper understanding of how businesses like Chalong Bay successfully operate in a competitive industry. Ms Jones – BTEC Coordinator
Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award Expedition
The second of the Year 10 DofE groups completed their final Qualifying Bronze DofE expedition on the weekend of the 8th March 2025. Students hopped onto a longtail boat and set off for Koh Lon island for the second time. This time, they were demonstrating the skills they had learnt and developed during their practice expedition trip back in January.
The first day, students got stuck in as soon as they arrived – pitching their tents and finalising their kayaking route. They then prepared their kayaks and set off towards Ao Yon Beach, stopping at Hamburger island on the way. In the evening, after preparing dinner, they lit a campfire and relaxed under the stars, before the night time sky over Phuket lit up with a spectacular thunderstorm. The next day started off wet and windy, however the students were not deterred and they gathered to discuss alternative plans for the day. They cleaned and stored all the kayaks and learnt how to make several vital rope ties. They then embarked on a beach clean, where they collected lots of trash including half a surfboard! The afternoon concluded with a hike into the local village to observe and learn more about the locals that live on the island. Another hugely successful trip! Miss Uhure – Bronze DofE Award Leader – and Dr Marsh – Bronze Award Supervisor
Exploring Characterisation in Year 10 English
Year 10 has been exploring characterisation in A Midsummer Night’s Dream through speed dating! After being assigned a character from the play (Titania, Oberon, Bottom, Helena, Hermia, Demetrius or Lysander), each student had two minutes to learn everything about the other six. Perhaps we will see even more unlikely romances blossom than the ones in the play. Mr Pollicutt – Head of English & EAL
Stressing about Exams? Struggling with Sleep?
Read these wise words from the inimitable Mr Pollicutt.
Success Outside School
Congratulations to Natalie (10 Blue) for finishing 2nd Runner-up in the 16 & Over category at the Thailand Swimming Championships 2025 (Southern Region), held on 14-16 February, 2025, at Songkhla Rajabhat University
Well done to Alisa (3 Blue) for achieving the following at the Shark Swimming Centre competition: Girls 6-7 year old category – 🥇 Freestyle; Girls 7-8 year old category – 🥈 Freestyle, 🥉 Breaststroke
Well done to Valia (3 Blue) for achieving the following at the Shark Swimming Centre competition: Girls 6-7 year old category – 🥈 25m Freestyle; Girls 7-8 year old category – 🥉 50m Freestyle, 🥈 Breaststroke
Congratulations to Puff (5 Yellow) who won the Girls’ U10 Doubles category at the 36th Tecnifibre UTR School Tennis Tournament held at Oceanic Sportel on 23-24 November, 2024
Well done to Pie (5 Blue) who finished 2nd Runner-up in the Girls’ U10 Singles at the 1st PTT Lawn Tennis (Southern) Tournament 2025, held on 25-26 January 25-26, 2025
Well done to Bright (2 Yellow) who received a Bronze Medal certificate for the Lower Elementary (Southern) English Contest at the Language Institute Thammasat University
Great job Thanin (2 White) for participating in the Student Recital 2025 at the Beethoven Bear Music House
Promotions From Around the Island
Important Dates
Noticeboard
