Chaofah City
Chaofah City
Weekly Update #25, 7 March 2025
Announcements
CAPA Junior presents Peter Pan…Set Sail for Neverland – No Flying Lessons Required!
Join us on 26th & 27th March at 5pm as our CAPA Junior HeadStars take you on a swashbuckling adventure full of mischief, magic, and maybe even a bit of fairy dust! Soar with Peter Pan, escape Captain Hook’s ridiculous plans, and clap extra loud for Tinkerbell—she insists.
This isn’t just a play—it’s a delightful tale of sword fights, pirate chases and lost boys’ stories, with music that will have you ‘hooked’ faster than Hook himself!
Mark your calendar, grab your fairy wings (or pirate hats), and dive into the magic.
Doors to the magic will open at 4.45pm and we can’t wait to see you! Book your tickets now before the crocodile’s clock strikes—tick-tock, tick-tock!
Upcoming Events
Year 1 to Year 4 Swim Galas
Next week, we will hold our Year 1 to Year 4 Swim Galas and we would like to invite you all to come and support your children during these events. The schedule with dates and times can be found in the posters below. Please note that normal timetabled swimming lessons will continue throughout the week.
If your child will not be able to participate in the swim gala, please make sure to email your child’s homeroom teacher as soon as possible so that our PE team can plan for their absence. Once again, we extend a very warm welcome, and thank you for supporting these events. The PE Team
Saturday Thai Culture Club – Term 2!
Join us on Saturday 22nd March at our Cherngtalay Campus for a fun-filled cultural experience where students will explore Thai traditions through exciting, hands-on activities. This session is designed to deepen their understanding of Thai culture while engaging in interactive and enjoyable learning experiences.
-
Location: HeadStart Cherngtalay Campus
-
Time: 09:00 – 12:00
If you are interested, please contact your child’s Thai teacher to sign up. School buses for Primary students only will be provided if booked in advance. Primary students may take the bus unaccompanied by an adult. Foundation children must make their own way to the event with their parent or carer.
We look forward to an enriching cultural experience together!
Meetings & Presentations
Special UPrep Drop-in Session with Loughborough University Rep
On Monday 10th March from 07:30-09:15, Mr Lewis Ratcliff, International Office of Loughborough University, Sports University of the Year in the UK, will offer a drop-in session to discuss all things related to the university and its renowned sports programmes. Inviting all parents to join Lewis and our UPrep team in Nakita’s Cafe.
BTEC Curriculum at HeadStart Parent Meeting
Parents and guardians are cordially invited to attend the ‘BTEC Curriculum at HeadStart’ presentation on Tuesday, 11th March, from 8:30 to 9:30 am in the Primary Hall. During this session, we will delve into the distinctions between studying IGCSEs, A-levels and BTECs. We will lay out the subjects that are offered at BTEC, how BTECs are assessed and the benefits of studying one or more BTECs. This presentation will be particularly beneficial for parents of students in Year 10 and 11 as it will help give a deeper insight into the options available to each student in Years 12 and 13; however, we extend this invitation to all parents at HeadStart.
University Offers
Erica Ilstam – Enrolled at HeadStart Since Year 1
We are delighted to share that Erica Ilstam has provisionally accepted a place at Durham University, where she will be pursuing an LLB (Hons) in Law. Since joining HeadStart in Year 1 (2012), Erica has been a fantastic student who has demonstrated remarkable progress on her academic and personal journey. As Assistant Head Student, she has played a key role in representing the student body and contributing to many important school events. She has managed to balance her outstanding academic achievement with other skills and activities such as the Swim Academy and both Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh International Awards. She is also a key member of the inaugural HeadStart Interact Club and a co-founder of Sunny Side Up. Her commitment to excellence in all aspects of her life is evident and we are sure she will achieve highly in her university studies and beyond. Erica’s remarkable achievements have also been recognised by University of York, who have offered her a £10,000 scholarship to study there. Congratulations, Erica! We are incredibly proud of you and wish you every success in your studies and beyond.
Tonkid Janchoowanichakul (Fredric) – Enrolled at HeadStart Since Year 11
We are thrilled to announce that Tonkid (Fredric) Janchoowanichakul has been accepted to the INDA International Programme in Design and Architecture at the Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University. Throughout his time at HeadStart, Fredric has shown dedication and versatility across academics, leadership, and community service. He volunteered as an English and Art teacher for underprivileged Thai children and participated in numerous beach cleanups and stream conservatory efforts to promote environmental sustainability. Beyond school, he gained experience through an internship at Thailandia Legal Services. His commitment to community initiatives, including volunteering with the ‘Phuket Hash House Harriers’ and Soi Dog Foundation, highlights his passion for making a positive difference. Congratulations, Fredric! We are incredibly proud of your achievements and wish you success in your studies and future career.
24 Hours to Make a Difference
For 24 exhilarating hours (from 8pm on the night of Friday 28th February through to 8pm on Saturday 1st March 2025), HeadStart’s three sporting Academies from across both our school campuses – the Aqua Panthers Swim Academy, and the Panthers Football and Basketball Academies – came together as one to compete in their respective sports all in the name of charity. This spectacular community event witnessed almost 300 Academy athletes in the pool, on the pitch and on the court, swimming lengths, scoring goals and sinking three-pointers all while raising money for our chosen foundations: Youth Football Home, Phuket and North Andaman Network Foundation.
We are proud to announce that the total raised was an incredible 373,732 Thai baht. This money will be shared equally between our two chosen foundations. Congratulations to the following students who managed to contribute the highest donation for their respective academy at HeadStart Chaofah City campus:
-
Swimming – Freya (7 White)
-
Julian (5 Blue)
-
Mason (10 Yellow)
One of the highlights of the event was receiving a visit from 28 students from Youth Football Home who were warmly welcomed by our HeadStart community. We look forward to many more collaborations with them. It was also wonderful to be joined by so many families for the final three hours, creating a carnival atmosphere with games and a Community BBQ. We look forward to welcoming everyone again next year!
Such an event would not have been possible without the considerable efforts of a whole group of people. As a school community, we would like to offer sincere thanks to:
-
Director of Sport, Mr Carter, our Head Coaches (Coach Brown, Coach Frost, and Coach Mike) and their coaching teams for their efforts both in preparation and on the day making for a really well organised and truly memorable event
-
Parents and teaching staff who supported the 24 Hours event – whether playing in teams or coming along to cheer – bringing a sense of fun and enjoyment
-
Secondary Student Council for running our three engaging 24 Hours games – Super Shot!, Shootin’ Hoops! and Goggle Toss!
-
Ms Jones and the BTEC Business students for their very popular refreshment business
-
Chef, his kitchen team and our support staff for putting on such a fantastic Community BBQ and taking care of the school site for 24 Hours++!
-
All Academy athletes for their energy and enthusiasm in raising funds for our chosen foundations and for representing our school so well.
📸 Please find a full album of photos here: 24 Hours to Make a Difference Fundraiser 2025
Aqua Panthers Race Against the Clock to Rack Up Metres and Donations!
Between 8pm on Friday night and 8am Saturday morning, over 100 Aqua Panthers athletes — ages 5 to 18 — came together for the 12-hour swim relay as part of the 24 Hours to Make a Difference event. They didn’t just show up for a casual swim. They pushed. They raced against the clock. They racked up as many laps as possible in 30-minute relay bursts, pushing each other further with every exchange. The result? Over 120,000 metres covered. Insane!
Ryan (13 Blue) and Vlad (11 Yellow) from the Gold Squad tied the 2024 relay record, covering 2,800 meters in just 30 minutes! That’s an average of 32 seconds per 50 meters, meaning each swimmer barely had 32 seconds to rest before diving back in. Meanwhile, Simon (6 White Chaofah City) powered through on just one hour of sleep, and we’re pretty sure Platon (7 Blue Cherngtalay) pulled an all-nighter! What started as a simple fundraiser turned into an intense test of endurance—12 straight hours of swimming is no joke.
We couldn’t be prouder of their determination, grit, and team spirit! This is what happens when people come together for something bigger than themselves. Coach Brown – Head Swim Coach – and the Aqua Panthers Swim Academy Coaching Team
HeadStart Panthers Accumulate Minutes on the Pitch and Money for a Great Cause!
The HeadStart Panthers Football Academy players stormed the pitch, stepping in for the Aqua Panthers swimming academy team in the much-anticipated second leg of the 24 Hours To Make a Difference event! What a thrilling day it was, as players, parents, teachers, and coaches rallied together, creating an electrifying atmosphere both on and off the field.
The action kicked off bright and early at 8am with the U13 and U11 Girls, and the excitement didn’t let up until the final whistle blew on the U18 Boys and Pink Panthers Staff Men’s team match at 8pm. The air was charged with energy, with cheers ringing out from an enthusiastic crowd of supporters, all eager to see the teams giving it their all.
A staggering 23 matches were held throughout the day, showcasing the talents of Academy, parent, and staff teams alike. We were especially delighted to host a team of U13 boys from one of our chosen charities, Youth Football Home, who took on the HeadStart Panthers U13 Boys in a spirited contest. The U18 Boys were particularly fired up to take on the Pink Panthers Staff Men’s team, and they made it look effortless, clinching victory with style. The U18 Girls also showed their mettle, triumphing over the Phuket Panthers Ladies staff team, proving that youth truly is a force to be reckoned with!
A massive shout-out goes to all the parents who rolled up their sleeves and got involved this year — more than ever before! The Menchester City Dads’ team faced a tough challenge against the U15 Boys and the Pink Panthers Men’s teams, but they fought valiantly, leaving it all on the pitch. The Mums’ Dream Team were no less formidable, taking on the HeadStart Panthers U13 and U15 Girls, as well as the Phuket Panthers Ladies staff team. A round of applause for all our incredible parents!
While the matches were a spectacle, let us not lose sight of the true purpose behind this fantastic event. We are immensely proud of our community for coming together to raise funds for such worthy causes here in Phuket. In particular, it was wonderful to see our Academy athletes welcome the visiting players from one of our chosen foundations, Youth Football Home, with such warmth and friendship demonstrating the true spirit of this event. Hats off to everyone involved! We can’t wait for next year’s event, where we’ll aim for even more exhilarating matches and sponsors galore! Coach Frost – Head Football Coach – and the Panthers Football Academy Coaching Team
A Fun-Filled Basketball Showdown in Aid of Charity!
This year’s 24 Hours to Make a Difference charity event was packed with excitement as players, parents, and staff hit the court for some unforgettable matchups!
Standout Performances:
-
Dima (5 Blue Chaofah City) was named MVP for the U12 Boys, showing off impressive shooting and defensive skills with plenty of steals—an incredible achievement as the youngest player in the academy!
-
Alysia (7 White Chaofah City) claimed MVP for the U12 Girls after a thrilling comeback victory against the boys, draining four 3-pointers to seal the win in style!
-
The Dads’ Team brought their A-game against the U15 boys, securing a dominant win with “Thunder Dan” leading the charge as MVP.
-
The Coaching Staff took on the U17 boys fresh off their 1st place finish at the PISAC 3×3 tournament—and walked away with the win!
-
In the NBA 2-Ball Shooting Challenge, the dynamic duo of Jake (11 Yellow) and Matvei (12 Blue) outshot the coaches to claim victory.
A huge thank you to all the parents and players who made this event such a success! Your energy, dedication, and sportsmanship made for an unforgettable day. Until next year—keep shooting for greatness! Coach Mike – Head Basketball Coach – and the Panthers Basketball Coaching Team
PE & Sports News
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
Call for Athletes – PISAC Secondary Track & Field
On Tuesday, 1st April from 15:00-19:30 HeadStart will be competing in the PISAC Secondary Track & Field event held at Thanyapura Sports Resort.
All secondary students who are interested in potentially competing should speak to any PE teacher to express their interest. Selected athletes and their parents will be contacted if they are selected to the HeadStart Track & Field Team. The PE Team
HeadStart’s Over-15 Teams Ignite the Court at the Phuket International Schools 3×3 Tournament
At the Phuket International Schools 3×3 Basketball Tournament held at Kajonkiet International School (KIS), HeadStart International School’s Over-15 teams showcased unmatched heart and determination. Battling some of the island’s toughest competitors, our athletes delivered inspiring performances that lit up the court.
The Boys’ team powered through their matches to secure 1st place with a thrilling victory over BISP in the final. A standout performance from Matvei (12 Blue) earned him the MVP award, highlighting his pivotal role throughout the tournament. On the Girls’ side, the A team fought valiantly for a runner-up finish in a nail-biting championship match-up against BISP, while the B team demonstrated grit by clinching 3rd place. HeadStart’s relentless passion was also recognized with the Spirit Award for the Over-15 category, and Porsche (9 White) was honored with the Sportsmanship Award for her exemplary conduct on the court.
Our heartfelt thanks go out to the students, parents, and supporters whose unwavering enthusiasm fueled our teams every step of the way! Coach Grant – Basketball Coach
Languages Department
Designing Fang Mao Zi (Square Hats) in Mandarin First Language Classes
While studying Fang Mao Zi (Square Hat), Year 7 students explored the importance of innovation and creativity by becoming little designers, crafting and promoting their own unique hats.
Some designed stylish and versatile hats, while others added DIY elements for interchangeable accessories. Some even created crossover designs with popular IPs—who could resist their favorite character? Beyond aesthetics, some hats featured impressive functions: solar-powered charging, foldable brims as phone stands, and even flying elements, hinting at the future.
This activity showcased students’ boundless imagination and unique creativity, proving that the possibilities are endless! Ms Yue Yao – Mandarin First Language Teacher
在学习《方帽子》这一课的过程中，七年级的同学们不仅感悟到了与时俱进、勇于创新的重要性，还发挥了丰富的想象力，化身为小小设计师，设计并宣传自己的创意帽子。有人设计的帽子简约百搭，是最佳的时尚单品；有人融入DIY元素，可以根据心情随意更换配饰；还有人结合热门IP推出联名款，谁能拒绝自己喜欢的形象呢！更有一些设计在功能上令人耳目一新的帽子：帽子不仅能遮阳，还能吸收太阳能进行蓄电，成为移动充电宝；帽檐可通过翻折成为手机支架，出行中时刻解放双手；甚至有的帽子还大胆融入飞行元素，仿佛让人看到了未来的可能。通过这次活动，同学们用天马行空的创意诠释了无限的可能性，展现了他们独特的思维与才华!
Secondary
A Chance to Meet Professionals at the Careers Fair
The Careers Fair, hosted on Monday, was an invitation for individuals experienced in a variety of professions to come to HeadStart and share their experiences and passions with curious Year 11 and Year 12 students. We were encouraged to approach people whose jobs aligned with our interests and ask questions about their field of work such as their daily tasks and any advice they may have for us aspiring students. Many individuals from a wide range of professions and experiences were present at this fair, including pilots, psychologists, entrepreneurs, and more who were all keen to answer our questions. I personally enjoyed my chat with the psychologist who talked about her career journey as well as important traits required to be successful in the field of Psychology. This was also an opportunity for students to potentially make connections with highly experienced individuals. Shira – Year 12 student
A Visit from Ryan Estrada – Award-winning Graphic Novelist
On Thursday 6th March, we had the most fantastic first period. What we thought would be a regular English lesson turned into a thrilling session with Ryan Estrada, an adroit artist, aspiring adventurer and an award-winning graphic novel author. The moment his name was announced, I was exhilarated. While I initially thought it might be just another author we had never heard of, I actually recognised Ryan from my past love of graphic novels. It was even more exciting to learn that he has collaborated with some prominent people.
From the moment he spoke a word, I was captivated. He shared stories about his books, his inspirations, and how storytelling is woven into everything. His insights were
eye-opening, and the interactive activities made it even better. We formed groups to share our stories, and I loved seeing my peers engaged in what I had to say.
As if the fun wasn’t enough, Ryan split the room into two large teams for a competition. One of the challenges was a “mistakes competition,” where someone reads a passage from one of his novels while intentionally making errors which we had to detect. This was not only enjoyable but also an excellent way to refine our public speaking and reading skills. To end the session, students shared their own fascinating (and some more peculiar and astonishing) stories, and a few, like Reuben’s, were absolutely astounding.
Overall, it was an amazing experience and an incredible way to start the day. I am grateful to Ryan for his kindness, amusing humour and valuable lessons, and to Mr.Pollicutt and the English Faculty for organising such a wonderful guest speaker. I sincerely hope that in the future, we will be able to experience such a marvelous event like this one—it was truly unforgettable.
You can see Ryan’s work here: https://ryanestrada.com/
Tonboon and Luca – Year 8 Yellow and White
Important Dates
Noticeboard
