Weekly Update #36, 6 June 2025

An Update from the School Library

The end of this academic year is swiftly approaching, and our school library aims to provide you with detailed information on book returns so you can meticulously plan ahead. Please be informed that there will be no student and parent loans in the final two weeks of the school year, allowing us to reconcile book accounts and prepare orders for the upcoming academic year. Please make sure your child has returned any books following the information outlined in the notice below 👇

Dance Recital 2025 – “In The Dunes”

Join us for an unforgettable evening of movement, music, and artistry on Saturday, 7 June 2025, as our talented dancers take the stage for this year’s highly anticipated recital.

📅 Date: Saturday 7 June 2025

🕓 Performance Time: 16:00 – 18:00

🚪 Doors Open: 15:30

📍 Location: Sports Hall, Chaofah City campus

Amid vast deserts and swirling sands, a distant world pulses with power, mystery, and transformation. This performance explores the timeless struggle between survival and control, nature and technology, destiny and rebellion. Through evocative choreography and sound, the dance brings to life the rhythm of the dunes, the force of unseen powers, and the rise of something ancient and inevitable. Come and experience a performance that is bold, powerful, and unforgettable.

To book your tickets, click here: Dance Recital 2025

Sports Awards Ceremony 2025

On Tuesday 10th June from 16:30 – 18:30 at our Chaofah City campus, our HeadStart Academy students – football, swimming and basketball – will come together to celebrate the incredible array of sporting successes of our teams and individuals across both our school campuses this academic year. We look forward to welcoming Academy players and their parents (advance booking required) to this event.

Year 13 ‘Class of 2025’ Graduation Ceremony

We are honoured to invite our Secondary students (Year 9 to Year 12) and staff to join our Year 13 graduating class and their parents for this significant event which marks the culmination of their education and celebrates their achievements as our graduates embark on their next exciting journey.

📅 Date: Thursday 12 June 2025

🕒 Time: 13:00 – 14:45

📍 Location: Sports Hall, HeadStart International School, Chaofah City Campus

Please join us to commemorate this special occasion to mark a significant milestone in our Year 13 students’ educational journey; we are honoured to celebrate it with you.

Year 6 to 7 Transition Parent Meeting

We invite all parents of our Year 6 students to join us for our latest parent meeting when we will discuss what to expect as your child makes the important transition from Primary to Secondary school. This is an excellent opportunity to find out how the expectations and routines of a Secondary student differ from Primary. Our Thai, Russian and Mandarin speaking admin teams will be on hand to provide translation services. We look forward to seeing you there! Tuesday 10th June 2025 from 8:30-9:30am in the Primary Hall.

Alisa Boltovskaia – Enrolled at HeadStart Since Year 9

A HeadStart student since Year 9, Alisa Boltovskaia has grown into one of the school’s most accomplished and dynamic student leaders. As Head Girl, she played a central role in student life, from leading initiatives to supporting community events such as the School Prom, Halloween Disco and Valentine’s Day activities. Alisa also worked at the HeadStart Summer Camp and served as a dedicated assistant for the Dance Academy, reflecting her commitment to mentorship and creativity. Alisa has offers to study a Bachelor of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts at Chulalongkorn University. We are proud of all Alisa has accomplished and confident that wherever she goes, she’ll lead with the same energy, passion, and integrity she brought to HeadStart.

Valenzo Vu-Guerin – Enrolled at HeadStart Since Reception

We are proud to celebrate Valenzo’s incredible achievement as he prepares to take the next exciting step in his academic journey. Valenzo has received offers to study Mechanical Engineering from top universities, including Twente University and Eindhoven University of Technology. We are especially pleased to announce that he has accepted his offer to study at Eindhoven university of Technology, where he will pursue his passion for engineering and innovation. Valenzo has been a valued part of the HeadStart community since Reception, growing into a dedicated, thoughtful, and well-rounded student. As a Prefect, he has consistently demonstrated strong leadership, integrity, and a commitment to the school community. We are confident that Valenzo’s determination, curiosity, and drive will serve him well at university and beyond. Congratulations, Valenzo – we are incredibly proud of you!

Andrey Lebedev – Enrolled at HeadStart Since Year 7

Andrey has been a proud part of the HeadStart community since Year 7, known for his consistent commitment to leadership as both a Prefect and Student Council member. His positive influence has helped shape student voice and foster community spirit across the school. Andrey has received university offers from: The Hague University of Applied Sciences and University of Amsterdam. He plans to pursue studies in Law or Economics, reflecting his international outlook and keen interest in global development. We look forward to seeing the impact Andrey will make as he moves into the next chapter of his academic journey.

Rungpailin Nitednoppakul – Enrolled at HeadStart Since Year 5

A driven and intellectually curious student, Rungpailin Nitednoppakul (known to friends and teachers as Aommi) has been accepted into two of Thailand’s most competitive and prestigious university programmes: the BBTech programme at Chulalongkorn University and the BE programme at Thammasat University. Aommi will pursue her passion for Science – especially Chemistry, through the BBTech programme at Chulalongkorn, which combines innovation, business, and scientific research in a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment. We are incredibly proud of Aommi’s achievements and can’t wait to see the contributions she will make in the scientific and technological world of tomorrow.

Yanhao (3 Yellow Chaofah City campus) – Enrolled at HeadStart since Year 2

Yanhao joined HeadStart almost two years ago and has made amazing progress since, both in her confidence and English language ability. Much of this is down to her enthusiasm for performing as a member of both CAPA Junior and our LAMDA program. She also starts every day with a visit to the library! So, why does Yanhao love HeadStart?

Boiler Room DJ Set

As part of our ongoing CAPA Festival, a decent crowd of mostly Year 11 and 12 students were treated to a special set of house, electro and drum ‘n’ bass tunes by our very own resident deejay, DJ AL, at the end of a long exam period! What started out as a chilled vibe soon brought the energy with repetitive beats and bouncing bass, giving our older students the chance to relieve some of that exam stress!

Foundation Stay and Play: Celebrating Our World

For our final Stay and Play of the year, Foundation families came together for a meaningful and memorable event themed celebrating Our World. The classrooms were filled with incredible, hands-on activities that taught children and their families about the importance of protecting our planet. From sorting recycling to rescuing sea creatures trapped in plastic, every activity helped spark conversations about caring for the environment.

A thank you to all our families for always making each Stay and Play throughout the year so special and meaningful. It has been incredible to watch the children grow in skill and confidence, proudly sharing their learning and classroom environments with their loved ones. Your support and involvement have made every Stay and Play truly special. The Foundation Team

Reception’s Fantastic Year 1 Transition Experience

Reception children had a wonderful time exploring the Year 1 classrooms in an exciting step towards their next learning adventure! They confidently explored the new environment, discovered where all the important things are, and even joined in engaging lessons with the Year 1 teachers. It was fantastic to see their curiosity, enthusiasm, and independence shine through. The children were incredible, showing just how ready they are for Year 1. What a brilliant experience to build excitement and ease for the year ahead! Well done Reception, or should I be saying Year 1…😉 Miss Danielle – Deputy Head of Foundation

B-Boy Dancing Foundation ECA

Our Reception boys wowed the audience with their incredible B-Boy dancing performance! Taking part in this exciting ECA, the children wowed everyone with their confidence, enthusiasm, and unique sense of style. From powerful moves to playful energy, each dancer brought their personality to the stage, leaving everyone cheering and smiling. It was a fantastic celebration of rhythm, coordination, and creativity!

Tiny Cheer ECA Blurb

Our Tiny Cheer team lit up the stage with their bright smiles, confident moves, and boundless energy! With colourful pom poms in hand, each child performed with joy and pride, showing just how much they’ve learned during their ECA sessions. From spirited chants to cheerful routines, it was a heartwarming performance that captured their enthusiasm and love for being part of a team. Well done, Tiny Cheer!

Library Update

A big thank you to Amy (Year 4Y) and Stella (Year 5Y) for being excellent library monitors. Their help and dedication are greatly appreciated!

Year 6 Transition to Secondary School

Poor old Year 6 Yellow drew the short straw by having me deliver their English taster lesson as part of their transition programme for when they join Secondary in August. I tried my best to make it engaging but sorely needed to call in reinforcements.

First, from HeadStart North….

There, Mr. Lembo shared with me the idea of using visible thinking routines with Paolo Uccello’s 1460 oil on canvas painting of St. George and The Dragon. Students saw, thought and wondered in order to lead to a piece of empathetic, ekphrastic writing. As if that wasn’t enough, I called in more reinforcements in the shape of long suffering A Level Literature students to facilitate proceedings and perhaps give the younger learners a glimpse of where they’re headed. Mr. Pollicutt – Head of English & EAL

English VAPP Students Head Up to Bangkok for The World Scholar’s Cup

On the weekend of 31st May, 13 students from the English VAPP in Years 7 to 10 flew to Bangkok to compete in The World Scholar’s Cup at Denla British School. The weekend was brilliant, and the students even more so. In fact, their achievements were breathtaking. Punching way above their rookie experience level and small numbers, HeadStart returned with a haul of 39 gold medals, 39 silver and 3 trophies for success in the Team Challenge, Scholar’s Bowl and Collaborative Writing.

Special mention goes to Sukontha Watcharapin in Year 7 who was one of 8 in a field of 600 who was invited to demonstrate her rhetorical skills in The Debate Showcase. Competing alongside 16 and 17 years olds, she more than held her own. And every. single. member has qualified for The Global Round. What an achievement! Mr. Pollicutt – Head of English & EAL

Grove Island Adventure – A Free Family event on Saturday 14th June

On behalf of Grove Phuket and the Blu Monkey team, we would like to cordially invite HeadStart families to our free family event: Grove Island Adventure. This free-entry community event is inspired by the animated film Moana and aims to provide a creative, enjoyable environment for children and families.

Event Details:

📅 Date: Saturday, 14 June 2025

🕒 Time: 16:00 onwards

📍 Location: Grove Phuket (https://maps.app.goo.gl/FcxxZEUhYwXVdYsKA)

₿ Admission: Free of charge

Activities Include:

• Live music in a relaxed, beachside setting

• Hands-on creative workshops such as rock painting, canoe model decoration, and bead necklace making

• Outdoor movie screening of Moana

• Family zones designed for kids and pet-friendly participation