Weekly Update #10, 31 October 2025

In Remembrance of Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother

HeadStart International School is deeply saddened by the passing of Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, whose grace and dedication to her people have left an indelible mark. Our heartfelt thoughts are with her family and the people of Thailand during this time of profound loss.

On Monday morning, our school community at both Chaofah and Cherngtalay came together for a special assembly in her remembrance. Students and staff joined in paying their respects, observing a two-minute silence, and honouring her legacy through the playing of the Thai National and Royal Anthems. It was a solemn and unified occasion for our school to join with the people of Thailand in their mourning.

Sparking Curiosity: Science Week 2025

Science Week is here from 3rd to 7th November, and it promises to be an exciting, hands-on experience for all students. Under the theme “Framing the Unknown,” the week will be packed with live demonstrations, engineering challenges, and interactive lunchtime experiments.

In addition to these activities, we are running several exciting competitions:

• Primary: The “I Wonder…” Nature Photo Competition! We encourage all Primary students to capture the beauty of the natural world. 12 winning photos will be featured in a school calendar. Entries should be submitted to Primary Science Coordinator, Mr Whyman [email protected] by 10th November.

• Secondary: Two competitions are open. “I Wonder Why…?” asks students to write 250 words on science’s most important question. “I Wonder What…” is a close up or abstract photo challenge to spark curiosity. Entries for both should be submitted to Head of Science Faculty, Dr Marsh [email protected] by 5th November.

Loy Krathong Celebrations

We are pleased to invite all students to participate in our Loy Krathong celebrations on Wednesday, 5th November 2025. To honour this beautiful Thai festival, students will engage in special cultural activities during their Thai classes, including making and floating their own Krathongs and participating in traditional Thai dancing. Our Foundation students will also enjoy a dedicated Loy Krathong assembly. To celebrate this wonderful occasion, all students are welcome to come to school dressed in traditional Thai costume for the day.

Support Local and Sustainable Causes at Our Next Friday Market

We are delighted to invite you to our next Friday Market on Friday, 7th November. Join us in the Atrium from 2:40 pm for a warm, friendly end to the school week.

A Fun Morning for a Great Cause: Join the Child-Watch Run for Children!

On Sunday, 9th November, join us as we run to raise funds and awareness for Child-Watch Phuket. Help fund critical projects that give local children a chance for a safe and healthy future. Let’s come together to show them our support.

Your participation helps fund critical projects that give these children a chance for a safe and healthy future. Let’s come together to show them our support.

Event Details:

• What: Child-Watch Phuket 22nd Run For Children, featuring 10.5km and 3.5km distance races.

• When: Sunday, 9th November 2025. Registration opens at 4:30AM, with the first run starting at 5:40AM.

• Where: Prince of Songkhla University, Phuket

• Why: To raise crucial funds and awareness for Child-Watch Phuket, helping to provide a safe future for children in need.

Sign up today using the QR code below to join one of the two distance runs. And once registered, let us know and we will give you a FREE Team HeadStart t-shirt for each entrant. We look forward to seeing many members of our school community at this local charitable event.

Toddler Playgroup on Selected Wednesdays @ Cherngtalay Campus

Welcoming all families to step into our vibrant classrooms for a special morning at our free Toddler Playgroup! Our highly qualified team will guide you and your little ones through a range of engaging activities – from sensory and messy play stations to hands-on crafts where children can make their own creations. Toddlers will explore color and texture with paint, playdough, and water play, helping develop their motor skills and curiosity. There’s also story time and songs to wrap up the morning. This fun-filled session is perfect for families to connect and find out what it’s like to be a part of our HeadStart community.

Our Toddler Playgroup runs at our Cherngtalay campus on selected Wednesdays from 9:00-10:00am and is for young ones aged 1-4 years old. To express your interest in having your toddler join, fill out the registration form by scanning the QR code in the poster below. Our next session is on Wednesday 12th November. We look forward to hearing from you.

CAPA Senior presents Little Shop of Horrors…

Join us on 26th & 27th November at 6pm as our CAPA HeadStars, Production Band and Chorus bring this iconic, Broadway musical hit to the Chaofah Campus at HeadStart International School Phuket.

Step onto Skid Row and meet the perpetually unlucky Seymour Krelborn, who finds unexpected fame and romance with a mysterious, rapidly growing plant he names Audrey II. It’s a witty tale that explores themes of desperation, consumerism, and unexpected consequences—all set to a fantastic, catchy soundtrack! This is an exploration of classic dark comedy and musical theatre, packed with memorable characters and show-stopping Motown-inspired numbers like “Suddenly, Seymour” and “Skid Row (Downtown).” It’s the perfect blend of satire and spectacular fun!

Mark your calendar and experience the critically acclaimed musical that has delighted audiences worldwide. Tickets go on sale from 3pm on Friday 7th November with the link in next week’s Weekly Update. Don’t miss your chance to see the wonderful talents of our students in this musical masterpiece!

UPrep Talk 5 - Applying to Thai Universities

This week, parents attended our fifth UPrep Talk, which focused on the process of applying to Thai universities. The UPrep team provided a comprehensive overview of entry routes, key deadlines for requirements such as SATs and IELTS, and the dedicated support systems the school has in place. The session provided practical tips for parents on how to best support their children through this important application process.

End of Term 1 Assessments, Revision, Reports, and Grades Parent Meeting

We invite all Primary parents to an important meeting on Tuesday, 4th November, from 8:30-9:30 am in the Primary Hall. Our academic team will provide a clear overview of the End of Term 1 assessment process.

The session will cover the format of your child’s upcoming exams, provide practical guidance on how you can support their preparation, and explain how their progress will be formally reported to you. Our Thai, Russian, and Mandarin-speaking admin teams will be on hand to provide translation. We look forward to seeing you there.

UPrep Drop-in Session on Wednesday 5th November

We warmly welcome all interested parents to join our upcoming University Preparation (UPrep) Drop-In session on Wednesday, 5 November 2025, from 8:30am in Nakita’s Café (first floor). Come and meet our University Counsellors for informal conversations, personalised advice, and valuable insights to help plan your child’s pathway to leading universities around the world. Don’t miss this opportunity!

Your Feedback Matters

We greatly appreciate your contribution to the life of our school. Feedback will help us improve the quality of your children’s education. We appreciate your active participation and look forward to your questions and feedback. Please fill out this form.

We kindly ask you to complete the survey by no later than 4 November. Please provide detailed answers to the survey questions.

We would also like to invite you to a meeting for Russian-speaking parents which will be held on 11 November from 8:30 to 9:30am in the Primary Hall.

Ваше мнение важно для нас

Мы очень ценим ваш вклад в жизнь нашей школы. Обратная связь поможет нам улучшить образовательный путь ваших детей. Мы благодарны за ваше активное участие и с нетерпением ждем ваших вопросов и отзывов. Заполните эту анкету, пожалуйста.

Мы просим вас заполнить анкету не позднее 4 ноября для родителей городского кампуса (Chaofah).

Пожалуйста, отвечайте на вопросы анкеты развернуто.

Также хотим пригласить вас на собрание для русскоязычных родителей. В Сити кампусе (Чаофа) оно пройдет 11 ноября с 8:30 до 9:30 в Primary Hall на втором этаже.

HeadStart’s Wonderful Housekeeping Team

Our Housekeeping team plays a vital role in keeping our school clean, safe, and welcoming for students, staff, and parents. From sparkling classrooms to spotless common areas, they ensure every corner of campus is tidy, comfortable, and ready for learning. Their cheerful smiles, warm greetings, and helping hands bring a sense of care and friendliness that brightens everyone’s day.

Beyond daily cleaning, they support school events and lunchtimes with efficiency and heart, creating a truly positive atmosphere. Their attention to detail and proactive approach in managing a whole range of daily tasks contributes significantly to the wellbeing of our community. We are deeply grateful for their hard work, kindness, and dedication—thank you for making HeadStart shine!

Aqua Panthers Make Waves at BISP Swim Meet

A huge congratulations to our 117 Aqua Panthers who put on a phenomenal display of skill at the BISP swim meet this weekend. Despite a rainy start for our 10 & under swimmers, the team showed incredible resilience, achieving an outstanding 184 personal best times across the event. Our 11 & over swimmers then took over the pool in the afternoon, racing with incredible energy to cap off a fantastic day of competition.

The celebration continued as Fima (8 Blue Chaofah City campus) secured the top prize, earning the High Point Trophy for the 11-12 boys’ category. His fantastic result led a wave of success, with six other swimmers also placing in the top three for their age groups: Se-a (2nd - 4 White Choafah City), Alisa (3rd - 4 White Choafah City), Lochy (2nd - 4 Blue Cherngtalay), Ratmir (2nd - 6 Blue Chaofah City), Rita (3rd - 6 Yellow Chaofah City), and Vennie B (2nd - 12 White Chaofah City). This was a true showcase of sportsmanship and the outstanding results of our swimmers’ hard work.Coach Brown - Head Swim Coach

Aqua Panthers Invitational (API) 2025 - Volunteers Needed!

Over the weekend of Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th November, our Cherngtalay campus will host its second ever major swimming event - the Aqua Panthers Invitational (API) - which will see swimmers of different ages from across Phuket, Thailand and beyond, compete. This unique event would not be possible without the support of our Swim Academy Team, our support staff, and you, our amazing student and parent community. We are therefore looking for volunteers to assist with a range of competition tasks, including timing and supporting swimmers. If you are interested in getting involved or what to find out more, please contact our Head Swim Coach, Zak Brown: [email protected]

PISAC Junior Cross Country Championship

HeadStart celebrated a spectacular outing at the recent PISAC Cross Country Championship, with our junior teams bringing home major individual medals. Rising star James (4 Yellow Cherngtalay Campus) showcased exceptional speed and stamina, securing the coveted Gold Medal in the Boys U9 race. Not to be outdone, Mailin (4 Yellow Cherngtalay Campus) displayed true competitive spirit in the Girls U9 event, crossing the line to claim an impressive Bronze Medal.

These fantastic individual achievements were the highlights of a highly positive report from all four of our junior teams: the U9 Boys, U9 Girls, U11 Boys, and U11 Girls. Their strong performances underscore the dedication of our athletes and the quality of the school’s sports training. We look forward to seeing these runners carry their success into the Track & Field team starting in Term 2.

Thai Teachers Join HeadStart for Professional Learning Experience

HeadStart International School Phuket was delighted to welcome four Thai teachers for a three-day Professional Development and Classroom Observation Programme from 27–29 October 2025 at the Chaofah City Campus. This initiative was organised in collaboration with the Ministry of Education Phuket, who requested HeadStart’s support in providing meaningful training for English-language teachers from local Thai schools.

Participating teachers represented Phutthamongkolnimit School,Ban Chalong School,Wat Latthiwanaram School, andBan Kata School. The programme was designed to broaden professional perspectives, enhance English-teaching methodology, and provide opportunities to experience international school teaching practices firsthand. Throughout the visit, Thai teachers observed lessons across various year groups, participated in professional discussions, and explored learner-centered strategies to support English language development. They also toured school facilities and engaged in knowledge-sharing sessions with HeadStart academic staff, gaining practical ideas to apply in their classrooms and communities.

This collaboration reflects HeadStart’s commitment to supporting educational excellence and building strong partnerships with local schools in Phuket. We look forward to continuing this meaningful initiative in the future. Kru Nee - School Director

Celebrating Creativity & Community: A Joyful Russian Language Day

We recently celebrated our beloved Russian Language Day, a true festival of creativity and community! Over a hundred students, parents, teachers, and friends gathered to honor the beauty and richness of the Russian language. The celebration opened with a Talent Show, featuring songs, dances, poetry, and gymnastics that won enthusiastic applause. The concert ended with a group song, filling the hall with unity and inspiration. Afterwards, guests enjoyed games, friendly activities, and a shared lunch, full of laughter and smiles. We warmly thank our parents for their support and enthusiasm, which made the day so memorable.

You can download a full gallery of pictures here: Russian Language Day Gallery

Праздник творчества и общности: Яркий день русского языка

В нашей школе недавно прошел любимый всеми День русского языка, ставший настоящим праздником творчества и общности! Более ста учеников, родителей, учителей и друзей собрались, чтобы отдать дань уважения красоте и богатству русского языка. Торжество открылось концертом талантов, где прозвучали песни, танцы, стихотворения и были показаны гимнастические номера, сорвавшие бурные аплодисменты. Концерт завершился общей песней, наполнив зал чувством единения и вдохновения. После этого гости с удовольствием участвовали в играх, дружеском общении и совместном обеде, которые прошли в атмосфере смеха и улыбок. Мы от всей души благодарим наших родителей за поддержку и энтузиазм, которые сделали этот день таким запоминающимся.

Вы можете скачать полную галерею фотографий по ссылке: Галерея «День русского языка»

Halloween Stay & Play

Our Halloween Stay and Play was a truly wonderful celebration of learning, creativity, and community! It was such a joy to have our whole Foundation family together children, parents, and carers joining in the festive fun. The classrooms were filled with laughter, excitement, and a sense of wonder as the children explored a range of engaging, hands-on learning experiences.

Events like these are so special, as they give our children the opportunity to proudly share their learning, build confidence, and connect with their friends and families in a meaningful way. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make it such a memorable morning! The Foundation Teaching Team

📸 A full album of photos of this event can be found here: Foundation Halloween Stay & Play

A Frightfully Fun Halloween in Primary

Our Primary Student Council pulled out all the stops to bring a frightfully fun Halloween celebration to HeadStart! Primary students dove into spooky activities, from finding hidden “eyeballs” in slimy slimebola to racing in ghost sacks and pinning noses on the witch while blindfolded! Children also got to strut their spooky stuff on the red carpet, showcasing their incredible costumes and earning house points for their teams. The Primary Student Council members worked their spooky socks off to create a fantastic event, providing an unforgettable Halloween experience for everyone. A huge well done to our council for an amazing day! 👻 Ms Cusworth - Deputy Head of Primary (Pastoral) & Student Council Chair

📸 A full album of photos of this event can be found here: Primary Halloween Activities

Halloween Shenanigans at Lunchtime!

Thursday’s frighteningly festive lunchtime was made all the more special thanks to our Secondary Student Council and BTEC Business team. With spooky interactive games in the Atrium and coconut ice cream served from a hot chocolate lava fountain in the lunch room, everyone made the most of their Halloween lunchtime!