Chaofah City
Chaofah City
Weekly Update #12, 14 November 2025
Announcements
Chaofah City Parent Committee Term 1 Meeting
On Thursday 30th October 2025, the HeadStart Chaofah City Parent Committee held their Term 1 meeting with the school’s Management team. We are grateful to our parent members for their contributions and working with us for the betterment of our school and its wider community. Outcomes from the meeting can be found here: HeadStart Chaofah Campus Parent Committee Meeting Notes
For more information about the HeadStart Parent Committee, its role and involvement in working with our school leadership, visit our website: HeadStart Parent Committee.
Repairs to the Running Track
Please be informed that we are currently fixing the running track around the lower astro-pitch. Repairs to the track’s base will occur during term time and should be completed by the end of Term 1. This work is low-risk and won’t create dust.
Please note the outdoor toilet next to the basketball court is reserved for construction workers and is closed to students/parents. Avoid all construction areas marked with red and white tape.
Surface repairs will happen over the New Year break when the school is closed. We appreciate your understanding as we complete these essential facility repairs and will update you when the track is fully open.
The CAPA Senior Show is Here! Little Shop of Horrors Tickets: BUY NOW!
The moment you’ve been waiting for is here! Tickets are NOW ON SALE for the CAPA Senior show of Little Shop of Horrors! Join us for this witty Broadway smash-hit, a perfect blend of dark comedy and satire.
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Dates: Wednesday 26th & Thursday 27th November 2025
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Time: 6:00 PM
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Location: Chaofah City Campus, HeadStart International School Phuket
TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE NOW! Purchase your tickets to secure your spot for this critically acclaimed musical:
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Book tickets for Little Shop of Horrors (Cast B) Wednesday 26th November 2025
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Book tickets for Little Shop of Horrors (Cast A) Thursday 27th November 2025
If you encounter any issues during the booking process, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected]
Christmas Fair at Chaofah City Campus
With the festive season fast approaching, it is time to start preparing for our Christmas Fair. This wonderful community event will take place on Thursday 11th December from 13:30-16:00. The CAPA department have already got our Primary classes rehearsing for their festive performances, and our events team are busy making plans for our Christmas Fair stalls. If you are interested in offering a Christmas-themed activity or have Festive Season products to sell, please contact Khun Boss at [email protected] to reserve a tent. We look forward to hearing from you.
HeadStart Umbrella, Cap and Bags – Available Now!
With the rainy season behind us and the prospect of sunny field trips and residentials on the horizon, not to mention big sporting events, now is the perfect time to invest in a HeadStart cap and umbrella. With HeadStart branded shoe bags and string bags—perfect for PE and Academy kits—also on offer, please visit our school shop to stock up on your child’s school supplies.
Changes to our English Language Communications
Please note that for our English language parent communications we will be moving away from using the LINE App. Over the next month, we will be transferring over to a dedicated WhatsApp Channel. We will use this channel for notifications and reminders of upcoming events as well as important news. We will continue to post updates to our English language LINE App during this time (closing on 30 November). This transfer is already underway – scan the relevant QR code below or visit our display boards at school.
Upcoming Events
The Book Fair Returns!
We’re excited to announce our latest Book Fair in collaboration with Book53! From Monday, 17th to Wednesday, 19th November, the Atrium will be filled with high-quality books for all ages. Families are warmly invited to browse and discover new favourites together. Please note that, while students are welcome to browse the displays, they must have their parents’ permission to select any books. We appreciate your cooperation in helping us inspire a lifelong love of reading!
Next Toddler Playgroup Session
Parents with children aged 1-4 years are invited to join our free Toddler Playgroup at our HeadStart Cherngtalay campus on Wednesday, 19th November from 9:00 to 10:00am. Designed for toddlers, this session is guided by our qualified team and offers a range of play-based activities, including sensory stations, hands-on crafts, story time, and songs to develop motor skills and curiosity. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to connect and experience our school community. Please scan the QR code in the poster to register your interest.
Meetings & Presentations
Russian-Speaking Parents Meeting
We recently held our Term 1 meeting for Russian-speaking parents. The session focused on open dialogue, with leadership listening to parent feedback in a detailed Q&A session. We discussed academic support at home, the structure of our ECA programmes, and practical details of daily school life, such as canteen menus and parent access to facilities. This collaborative event ensures all our families feel heard, supported, and informed.
You can download a copy of the presentation can be found below 👇
UPrep Talk on University Applications and Standardised Testing
This week, the UPrep team hosted an informative presentation in the Secondary Hall for families supporting students in Years 10 to 13. The talk focused on the critical role of standardised testing within the university application process. Key topics included an overview of major international assessments, such as the SAT (a common requirement for US admissions) and language proficiency tests like IELTS and TOEFL. The presentation also covered specialised entry exams required for specific fields, including the UKCAT for medicine and the LNAT for law. The team provided valuable guidance on how families can best prepare for and navigate these requirements to build strong university applications.
2025 UPrep Parent Talk 6 Application and Standardised Testing
Year 9 IGCSE Options Meeting & Fair
We invite all Year 9 students and parents to our upcoming GCSE/IGCSE Options Meeting and Fair on Wednesday, 19th November. The event will begin with a presentation for parents to explain the options process and provide guidance in the Primary Hall from 14:30 – 15:20. This will be followed by the Options Fair in the Sports Hall, from15:30 – 17:30, where teachers and current Year 10 and 11 students will be at subject stalls to answer your questions and discuss the courses on offer.
Positive Parenting Workshop for Thai Parents
We welcome Thai-speaking parents to join us for our latest parent meeting when we will talk you through positive parenting strategies and offer hints and tips on how to ensure your child can learn positive behaviours for school and home. We look forward to seeing you there! Tuesday 18th November 2025 from 8:30-9:30am in the Secondary Hall (4th floor).
Mandarin Speaking Parents Meeting
We warmly invite you to a meeting specifically for Mandarin-speaking parents. This gathering will be held on Tuesday 25th November from 8:30 to 9:30am in the Secondary Hall.
We value your insights and contributions to our school community. To help us address any questions or comments you may have, please take a few moments to complete this survey. Your input on various school-related topics will be greatly appreciated. Please complete the survey by 18th November.
We encourage detailed responses to ensure we can fully address your feedback.
我们诚挚邀请您参加为华语家长特别举办的家长会。Chaofah校区的会议时间为11月25日上午8:30至9:30
我们非常重视您对学校的意见和建议。为帮助我们更好地解答您的疑问或倾听您的意见，请您抽出时间填写以下的问卷。您的反馈对我们了解有关学校的各方面问题非常重要。
请在11月18日前完成问卷
请您尽量详细地回答问题，以便我们能够充分解答您的疑问。
Child-Watch Phuket 22nd Run for Children
The Child-Watch Phuket 22nd Run for Children, held on Sunday, 9th November 2025, at the Prince of Songkla University, was a charity event aimed at raising funds and awareness for child welfare programs in Phuket. Participants of all ages and abilities came together to run two distances—the 3.5km fun run and the more competitive 10.5km race—promoting health and community spirit. The event also included family-friendly activities, including a Team HeadStart stall with games, prizes and a photo booth, creating a festive atmosphere for both runners and spectators.
Sincere thanks to all the families, teachers and staff from both campuses for their support of this event, whether running for fun, for competition or simply lending a helping hand! This was a truly memorable community event which showcased the best of HeadStart and even brought out the sunshine! Out of a total of 971 runners at this year’s event, more than 100 were members of our ever-growing school community—a wonderful reflection of our shared community spirit. It was also heart-warming to see our friends from both Phuket Sunshine Village and Youth Football Home—our Term 1 and Term 2 fundraising recipients respectively—taking part in the event, all with broad smiles on their faces, despite the early start!
Sincere thanks to all families (too many to name here!) for your support and enthusiasm, alongside the numerous academic and support staff who took part, whether for fun or for serious competition. Special mention to Monika Haus for winning the 3.5km Women’s Race, Dr Marsh (Head of Science Faculty) and Khun Jane (Eva’s mum) for finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively in the 10km 40-49 Women’s event, and Miss Ayce (Year 6 Deputy Teacher) and Khun Nan (Head of Upper Secondary Secretary) for making the podium in the 10km 40-49 Women’s race.
Finally, HeadStart’s involvement in this event would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of our very own Community Fitness Manager, Coach Jordi, and our Marcom Team!
All proceeds from the run support Child-Watch Phuket’s initiatives to protect and assist vulnerable children across the region. With its emphasis on both fitness and philanthropy, the event is a highlight in Phuket’s annual calendar, bringing our community together to make a positive impact in the lives of local children.
📸 A full gallery of photos can be found here: Child-Watch Phuket Fun Run 2025
Phuket Sunshine Village (PSV) Fundraiser Update
The Spirit of Giving Continues: PSV Fundraiser Week 4
The incredible generosity of our HeadStart community continues to make a real difference as we conclude the fourth week of our Phuket Sunshine Village (PSV) Term 1 Fundraiser.
This week, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Wakeford family and the Melnichenko family. Every donation, big or small, makes a significant impact on the lives of these children. This ongoing support is vital and directly helps provide essential items, from daily school lunches to educational supplies, for the 100+ children at PSV. We continue to warmly welcome donations at our Admin Office.
A Run to PSV…and Back Again! The Year 1 Fundraiser
Energy and enthusiasm filled the air today as our Year 1 children participated in their Phuket Sunshine Village (PSV) fundraiser obstacle course. Their challenge was to jump, run, and throw the distance to PSV and back—an impressive 18km round trip. Throughout the event, the children demonstrated outstanding teamwork, resilience, and determination. The atmosphere was filled with laughter, encouragement, and a strong sense of community as they worked together to support a cause close to our hearts. It was a truly inspiring effort in aid of such a worthy charity. The Year 1 Team
Kindness in Full Colour
Our recent ‘Dress for Sunshine’ Casual Clothes Day was a spectacular success and a wonderful showcase of our HeadStart spirit! The campus was transformed into a sea of vibrant, cheerful colours as students fully embraced the theme. This event highlighted our community’s incredible generosity and Kindness, raising a significant amount of funds to directly support the children at Phuket Sunshine Village. A heartfelt thank you to all our families for participating with such enthusiasm and demonstrating the power of our collective spirit.
The Library Charity Book Sale for Phuket Sunshine Village
Last year, our library held a charity book sale to support Phuket Sunshine Village; it was a wonderful success, bringing joy to our HeadStart community. Building on that success, we ran the project again this year and are delighted to share that we raised 15,000 baht from the sale of second-hand books. This meaningful contribution will help support the education and future of three children at Phuket Sunshine Village. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who purchased books, and supported this cause. Your generosity shows the power of our caring community in making a real difference. Khun Mai – School Librarian
Learner Attribute Spotlight
Kindness is All Around Us… Now, Show Us Yours!
Kindness has always been at the very heart of our community, and this week, we’ve seen it in action everywhere. From the wonderful student-led Kindness Fair and our vibrant ‘Dress for Sunshine’ Day raising significant funds for Phuket Sunshine Village, to our dedicated parents, students, teachers and staff participating in the Child-Watch Phuket Run for Children, the HeadStart spirit has been shining brightly. With ‘Kindness’ also being the focus attribute for our students next month, it’s clear this value is a dynamic, living part of our school DNA.
Now, we want to celebrate the moments of kindness that happen in your world. We are thrilled to launch the HeadStart ‘Learner Attribute Spotlight’, a new initiative to showcase our values in action, beyond the school gates. To kick us off, we want to see Kindness. Did you capture a moment of siblings sharing, a helping hand for a neighbour, or a simple act of compassion at home or in the community? We’d love to see your creativity—and if your children happen to be in their HeadStart shirts, that’s a wonderful bonus!
Submit your picture, along with the name of your child/children and year group, to our Marcom team at [email protected] by no later than Thursday 27th November and we will share your contributions with our community.
Meet the Team
Security and Drivers Teams
Our Security and Drivers teams play a vital role in ensuring the safety and well-being of all students, staff, and visitors at HeadStart. Our Security team works diligently to keep the school site safe and secure at all times, monitoring entrances and exits and responding quickly to any potential concerns. They help maintain a calm and welcoming environment where learning can take place without worry. Our Drivers ensure that students are transported to and from school each day safely, punctually, and comfortably. They also take great care when driving students on field trips, ensuring every journey is conducted with the highest safety standards. Together, these two teams provide essential support that helps the school community run smoothly and securely.
Academy News
Swimfest 2025: A brilliant weekend for our Aqua Panthers!
A massive congratulations to our Aqua Panthers who travelled to Bangkok for the ISB SwimFest 2025! We are so proud of every athlete for their outstanding dedication, hard work, and the incredible team spirit they showed all weekend.
The combined HeadStart team achieved a fantastic 5th place overall finish. Our Chaofah City swimmers were instrumental in this success, posting huge point totals and phenomenal personal bests. Our top point earners were Fima (8 Blue, 81 pts), Pavel (8 White, 62 pts), and Vennie (12 White, 60 pts). We also saw incredible progress against the clock, with huge time drops from Kevin (8 Blue, –22.92s in 200 Free), Simon (7 Yellow, –19.66s in 100 Back), and Freya (8 White, –19.48s in 200 IM). These efforts contributed to five Top-5 relay finishes (with teams made up of swimmers from both our campuses), including a superb 2nd place for the Boys 13-14 in the 200 Free Relay.
Well done to all swimmers who raced with heart and determination. We’re excited to get back to training and continue building on this fantastic momentum! Coach Brown – Head Swim Coach
CAPA News
A Brilliant Performance from Our CAPA Choir
We are all genuinely delighted and so incredibly proud of the CAPA Choirs from both our campuses for their wonderful performance at the Remembrance event on Sunday. They rose to this important occasion with true focus, sincerity, and commitment, taking direction well and singing brilliantly. We have already received so much positive feedback, including heartfelt thanks from the Phuket Veterans Association, who always value our students’ involvement. Our students were fantastic ambassadors for both their families and the school, and we want to extend a huge thank you to all our parents for taking the time and energy to support your children in this great first external performance. Mrs Howells – Director of CAPA
ECA News
Community and Competition: Chess Event Highlights
It was another successful chess event! A total of 52 players took part, including 16 outstanding U-8 competitors, 10 parents, and 1 teacher. Every board was filled with thoughtful play, clever tactics, and genuine enthusiasm.
Congratulations to the winners of our November tournament:
Winner:Georgiy (6 Blue Chaofah City)2nd Place:Damir (Leia & Kira’s dad, Chaofah City)3rd Place:Bogdan (6 Blue Chaofah City)Best Girl:Poppy (9 White Chaofah City)Best U-8 Players:Remy (3 Yellow Chaofah City), Raphael (2 Blue Cherngtalay), Diana (3 Yellow Cherngtalay)Best Dads:Damir, Stan (Zoia & Luka’s dad, Cherngtalay), Khun Piboonsak (Tiger & Tigger’s dad, Chaofah City)Best Mums: Regina (Rio’s mum, Chaofah City), Chloe (Serena & Scarlet’s mum, Cherngtalay)
Huge thanks to our sponsors for their constant support. The next tournament will be held on 6th December and will be open to all schools in Phuket, Thailand, and around the world! See you there!
Languages Department
From Mystery to Mastery: Year 1 EAL Explores Phonics
Making abstract phonics rules tangible is key for young learners. In our Year 1 EAL “Mystery Bag Adventure,” students explored initial sounds through a hands-on investigation, using mystery objects to identify whether they began with a vowel or a consonant. This guided, tactile activity sparked genuine curiosity about the sounds in words. The lesson’s true academic success was seeing this excitement transfer directly into independent work. Students confidently applied their new knowledge to sort letters on their own, demonstrating real ownership of the concept. This is the HeadStart approach: turning a foundational literacy goal into an engaging activity that builds confident, independent learners. Ms Montemayor – EAL Associate Teacher
Primary
Year 2 Practice Compassion & Kindness at Soi Dog Foundation
All of our Year 2 classes had a wonderful time visiting the Soi Dog Foundation. The children learned all about how the foundation helps to rescue, care for and find new homes for dogs and cats in need. The children listened carefully, asked thoughtful questions and showed such kindness and respect towards the animals and staff. Many of the children were especially inspired by the message “Adopt, don’t shop!” and loved learning how they can help animals by showing compassion and making kind choices. It was a truly heartwarming trip that reminded us all how small acts of care can make a big difference. The Year 2 Team
Secondary
An Artistic Visit to Ani Academy, Koh Yao Noi
Our Sixth Form Art students had the opportunity to visit Ani Academy on Koh Yao Noi for an oil painting masterclass run by the Dean of the Academy, Dan Christian. Ani Academy is a non-profit organisation that provides scholarships for aspiring artists to live and study at their academies, developing skills in photorealism and learning how to build successful careers in the arts.
During the masterclass, Dan introduced our students to the core foundations of oil painting, focusing on colour mixing, smooth blending, and how to work with oil paint without using turpentine or linseed oil. Through a series of guided exercises, students learned how to control the paint more effectively and create subtle transitions and depth in their work.
Our young artists thoroughly enjoyed spending the day in a professional studio environment, and they will carry these new techniques into their upcoming projects. We hope to continue collaborating with Ani Academy for more inspiring opportunities in the future. Khun Sandwich – Art Technician
The Library Bookworm Award
The Library proudly presented a Bookworm Award to Machii (8 Blue) in recognition of his excellent reading skills and outstanding dedication to reading. Congratulations to Machiifor being a wonderful reading role model for our readers!Khun Mai – School Librarian
Maths Students Compete in the UKMT Senior Maths Challenge
Congratulations to our students who received their UKMT Senior Maths Challenge awards at Flag last week. We’re delighted to report excellent results across the board. Special congratulations go to Conor Bowens, who achieved a Gold award and was our best performer in school. Conor will now go on to compete in the prestigious British Mathematical Olympiad Round 1 (BMO R1) on 20th November. Well done to all our mathematicians who took part! Mr Hickey – Head of Maths
No Sweat! A-level English Students Face Up to a Literary Challenge
Students in Year 13 face a challenging time in English at the moment: Lyn Nottage’s 2016 play Sweat and some old yarn called Hamlet couldn’t be more different and yet we ask our students to understand, analyse and evaluate both texts and their philosophical, psychological, historical and political concepts. Phew!
In the English Faculty, we believe in the notion of “Teach to the top,” an educational philosophy that involves aiming high for all students by embedding sophisticated and challenging concepts into lessons, rather than targeting only the highest-achieving students. This approach requires teachers to continually develop their own subject knowledge and use aspirational content, while providing support to help all learners access higher expectations and “think hard.”
This is precisely what students did today when they set about collaboratively working out what they didn’t know in relation to the postmodern elements in Sweat. They are working hard now and we are proud of how they are wrestling with these demanding texts. Next: Chaucer. Mr. Pollicutt – Head of English
HeadStart Eco School Term 1 Focus
5xR (Replace, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle): SDG12 – Responsible Consumption.
As a recognised Eco School by the WWF, World Wide Fund for Nature (องค์การกองทุนสัตว์ป่าโลกสากล) Thailand, we are moving to have an even greater impact this academic year.
How You Can Get Involved
Community Mangrove Planting: Join us Saturday 29 November. This year we are working with Mangrove Teens, a Phuket based non-profit dedicated to Mangrove regeneration. We will journey to Pakhlok to plant Mangrove seedlings from HeadSart Chaofah City campus at 9am returning by 1pm. Buses will be provided free of charge to help transport up to 24 participants to the planting ground.Want to find out more? Want to sign up? Then click the link HERE.
This biggest and most positive impact we can have on our local environment is to support Mangrove regeneration. Mangroves help defend the coast line, provide a vital habitat and lock in Carbon helping reduce the impacts of Climate Change.
Community Beach Clean
Join us Sunday 30 November at Nai Harn Beach (meet at Sea Breeze Cafe) from 9:30 – 10:30am. As usual bring – anti bac, water, sunscreen, hat, gloves if required.
| Date | Time | Location | Meeting Point |
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| 30 November | 09:30 – 10:30 | Nai Harn | Sea Breeze Cafe |
| 11 January | 09:30 – 10:30 | Rawai | We Cafe |
| 08 February | 09:30 – 10:30 | Kata | Kata Surf |
| 29 March | 09:30 – 10:30 | Nai Harn | Sea Breeze Cafe |
| 26 April | 09:30 – 10:30 | Saphan Hin | Saphan Hin Temple |
| 31 September | 09:30 – 10:30 | Rawai | We Cafe |
Eco Committee Campaigns
Our Eco Committees are now in place with over 20 Ambassadors across Primary and 15 across Secondary. We now welcome Athena Coddington-Wiratunga as Teacher Ambassador working with Primary students each Wednesday. She will work alongside Aaron Dempsey, myself and our student leaders Petr (13 Yellow) and his deputy Arianna (12 White).
Our termly themes are:
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5XR = Replace, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle.
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Water
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Sustainable Communities
If you are interested in working with us in some capacity, be it as a partner, provider or educator, please contact the HeadStart Eco School Coordinator, Mr. Rob Gratton [email protected].
| Something To Think About | The school serves Salmon as part of the lunch menu rotation. Salmon, especially farmed and imported (as ours is), has been identified as a high impact fish when looking at emissions and the associated environmental consequences. Should we really be serving Salmon? Should we shift to a more sustainable and local fish such as Sea Bass or Talipia. |
| Interesting Links | Sustainable Seafood |
| Request | Come see us at the Winter Market. Learn about what we are doing and support our Mangrove Project through purchasing a Mangrove Sponsorship Certificate. |
Success Outside of School
Celebrating Respect for our Teachers in Thai
During Wai Kru Week, our Secondary students took part in a special essay writing activity to express their heart, warmth, gratitude and appreciation for their teachers. Their words beautifully reflected kindness, respect, and the deep bond shared between students and teachers.
We were delighted to announce the winners of the Thai Essay Writing Activity:
- Nara 97 White), Luke Nai (8 White), Punn (9 Green), Kwankao (8 Yellow), Alex (9 Yellow), Milin (9 White), Natcha (9 Blue), Jason (10 Blue), Tawan (10 Green), and Luuktaan (11 White)
Congratulations to all our talented writers for their inspiring and heartwarming essays! Your words remind us of the true spirit of Wai Kru: respect, gratitude, and learning with love.
Promotions from Around the Island
Opportunity to Train with the Phuket Crisis Response Team
Members of our HeadStart community (teachers and parents) are invited to join a valuable Crisis Response Team (CRT) training session this Sunday. This is a fantastic opportunity for those who wish to learn how to volunteer safely and effectively in the event of a natural disaster or major incident on the island. Newcomers are warmly welcomed! The 4-hour session, which is described as supportive and engaging, begins at 09:15 hrs at The Clubhouse in Land and Houses Park (meet at the cafe). Training will cover essential skills including CPR/AED, swift water rescue techniques, rope safety, and emergency signalling. Volunteers should wear sturdy footwear with good tread (like trainers or boots; no flip-flops), bring sun protection, and be prepared to pay a 100 THB fee directly to the clubhouse for the use of their facilities.
Just Run Phuket
The “Just Run Phuket” weekly run has been a wonderful success, and it’s been brilliant to see so many of our HeadStart parents and teachers joining in the fun. Don’t miss out on the next one! It’s a free, friendly run for all levels, with various pace groups. Meet every Saturday at 7:15am at Open Kitchen (opposite Cassia) for a 7:30am start. It’s a perfect way to get active and connect with our amazing community.
Important Dates
Noticeboard
