Weekly Update #3, 6 September 2024

Announcements

We are delighted to announce the results of our 2024 IGCSE, A/AS Level and BTEC cohorts!

With 37% of our IGCSE students receiving A-A grade, 90% of students receiving A- C grades and an overall pass rate of 99.6%, we couldn’t be prouder of last year’s Year 11 cohort.

At AS Level, the highest possible grade is an A and 35% of all Year 12 entries obtained this level. For the full A Level, 28% of our Year 13 students obtained A* or A grades. Overall, a highly impressive 87% of our Year 12 and 13 students received A*-C grades at A and AS Level.

Our BTEC cohorts have consistently obtained fantastic results but the improvement seen this year has surpassed everyone’s expectations. Our Year 12 BTEC students saw 39% of entries awarded a Distinction* or Distinction. Meanwhile, our Year 13 students took it to the next level with a barely believable 72% of BTEC grades awarded a Distinction* or Distinction.

A big congratulations to each individual student for pushing themselves throughout the year to obtain the best grades possible!

Share Your Child’s Success

At HeadStart, we are incredibly proud of the many and varied achievements of our students, from academic accomplishments to sporting success and creative endeavours. Whether taking part in one of our many extra-curricular activities or school programmes, or developing a lifelong passion outside school, our students frequently demonstrate that they are inspired by a love of learning.

Each week, we have the opportunity to celebrate these successes as a community both at our Monday morning flag raising ceremony and through our various social media channels.

If your child has experienced success and you would like to share this with our wider community, please complete our Student Achievement Submission Form which can be accessed via the QR code below.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Upcoming Events

HeadStart University Fair at Chaofah City Campus

Get ready for an incredible evening of exploration and opportunity at the University Fair hosted by HeadStart International School Phuket on Monday 23rd September, 2024! From 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm, immerse yourself in a vibrant showcase of global higher education. Top universities from around the world will gather in one place, offering you a unique chance to connect with representatives, explore diverse programmes, and find your perfect fit.

But that’s not all - our event features engaging and interactive workshops designed to help you make the most of your academic journey. Discover the secrets to creating an outstanding Art Portfolio with expert advice, or gain valuable insights into the competitive field of Medicine with tips on how to secure a place in medical school.
This is more than just a fair; it’s your gateway to the future. Whether you’re just starting to think about your options or ready to make important decisions, this event is tailored for you. Bring your family to explore the boundless possibilities that await you.

Mark your calendar and join us for an evening filled with inspiration and opportunities. We look forward to seeing you there and helping you take the next step towards your bright future!

Please sign up here to confirm attendance and book a workshop.

Mandarin Language Day @ Chaofah City campus

Dear Parents,

We are excited to invite you to a vibrant Mandarin Language Day event on Saturday, 5th October, from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at HeadStart Chaofah City campus!

Event Highlights:

• Everlasting Flower Fan Making

• Grain Painting for Chongyang Festival

• Chinese Character Challenge Game

• Food Sharing

Please click the link to fill out the registration form: https://forms.gle/NNbCcfEgGzXxvZfV7

Thank you for your cooperation and support!

尊敬的各位家长：

我们将于2024年10月5日(星期六)上午9:00 - 12:00在HeadStart Chaofah校区为您举办丰富多彩的中文语言日活动。

活动亮点：

• 永生花团扇制作

• 重阳节五谷杂粮作画

• 汉字大比拼游戏

• 美食分享

请点击链接填写报名表: https://forms.gle/NNbCcfEgGzXxvZfV7

感谢您的配合与支持！

诚挚问候 HeadStart 国际学校中文团队

Meetings & Presentations

Introduction to Foundation and the EYFS Curriculum parent meeting on 05.09.24

Thank you to all parents and carers who attended our Introduction to Foundation meeting on Thursday. We appreciate your time, engagement, and participation as we explored the Foundation Stage Curriculum together. Your involvement is crucial in supporting your children’s early development and helping them reach their full potential. We’re excited to work alongside you in this important stage of your child’s educational journey, ensuring they have a strong foundation for future learning. Thank you for your continued support and partnership!

If you were unable to attend the meeting, please find a copy of the presentation below 👇

Introduction to Foundation Parent Meeting 05 September 2024

Parent Meeting: HeadStart Curriculum for Thai Parents on Thursday 12th September

The Thai Management Team would like to invite our Thai-speaking parents into school on Thursday 12th September from 08:30 - 09:30 am in the Secondary Indoor Learning Centre (SILC) for a parent meeting.

The topic will be ‘HeadStart Curriculum’. We will share the information of how your child is taught and will give you the opportunity to understand how HeadStart ensures our curriculums are followed to a high standard in order to give you a deeper understanding of the programmes offered. The meeting will be presented in Thai language.

เรียนผู้ปกครองไทย

ขอเรียนเชิญผู้ปกครองไทยทุกระดับชั้นเข้าร่วมประชุมในหัวข้อ“แนะนำหลักสูตรของโรงเรียน” จัดขึ้นในวันพฤหัสบดี ที่ 12 กันยายน 2567 เวลา 08.30 - 09.30 ณ Secondary Indoor Learning Centre เพื่อรับทราบข้อมูลสำคัญเกี่ยวกับหลักสูตรของโรงเรียนที่ใช้ในระดับประถมฯและมัธยมฯ การเลือกวิชาเรียนในระดับมัธยมศึกษา การสอบต่างๆที่สำคัญ เพื่อช่วยให้ผู้ปกครองวางแผนการศึกษาต่อในระดับมหาวิทยาลัยได้ในอนาคต การประชุมจะนำเสนอเป็นภาษาไทยโดยทีมฝ่ายบริหารไทย

ECA News

1st Student Chess Tournament of 2024-25!

Fight for cash prizes totaling 4000 THB, medals and a bunch of other attractive awards for all participants! All HeadStart students are welcome and all players are going to be awarded!

🗓️ Date: Saturday, 14th September

🕘 Time: Attendance check 11:15am

📍 Location: Canteen, Chaofah City Campus

To register and reserve your place, act fast! Double entry fee if register on the day of tournament! Contact Coach Dawid.

Languages Department

Years 1 and 2 Engaging in the French Language

This week, our students have been immersing themselves in engaging French activities:

• Year 1 have been exploring body parts through creative pair work and bringing the story of “The Three Little Pigs” to life with soft toys, enhancing their French vocabulary in a fun and interactive way.

• Year 2 have been building their French skills by focusing on vocabulary and recognising letters from the “The Three Little Pigs” storybook, reinforcing their understanding of the language through playful exercises.

Our students are making excellent progress and having a great time learning French! Ms. Billiau - Primary French Teacher

Exciting News from our Russian Language Teaching Team

We are excited to announce the excellent results our students achieved in the Edexcel GCSE Russian exam!

We are proud that most of our students reached the maximum score, demonstrating strong knowledge of the subject. Congratulations to the students and our sincere thanks to teacher Tatiana Oparenko for her highly skilled preparation.

Enrollment for exam preparation groups will begin in the second semester of the current academic year. For more information and to sign up for the course, please contact us:

• Tatiana Oparenko, Secondary School Russian Language Teacher: [email protected]

• Sabina Kiiamova, Russian Language Program Coordinator: [email protected]

We invite you to take advantage of this opportunity and ensure a successful future for your children!

From left to right : Veronika, Miroslava, Stefaniya, Tatyana Oparenko, Sviat, Roman, Vladimir and Maxim

Foundation

Art Time for Preschool

Learning art in Preschool helps children develop creativity and fine motor skills by engaging them in activities like drawing, painting, and sculpting. It also fosters self-expression and emotional development as they explore different materials and techniques. Additionally, art encourages problem-solving and critical thinking, as young learners experiment with colours, shapes, and forms. Mrs Costello - Foundation & Primary Art Associate Teacher

Playground Time for Preschool and Early Years

The playground is crucial for children in the Foundation stage as it provides a space for physical development through activities like climbing, running, and balancing. It also promotes social skills and teamwork, allowing children to interact with peers and learn about sharing and cooperation. Our brand new dedicated Foundation playground offers opportunities for imaginative play, which supports cognitive growth and creativity as children explore and invent new scenarios. It’s also loads of fun! Mrs Walker - Deputy Head of Foundation

Library Time for Reception

In Reception class, our children use the library to gain early exposure to literacy and language development through the exploration of picture books and storytelling. The library environment encourages a love for reading and helps build essential pre-reading skills, such as recognizing letters and understanding narrative structure. Most importantly, library visits foster a sense of independence and responsibility as children learn to select and care for books while developing their concentration and listening skills, all while hanging out with their friends on beanbags! Miss Rachael and Miss Catherine - Reception Teachers

Primary

Searching for the Enormous Crocodile in Year 2

This week in Year 2, we’ve been on an exciting adventure searching for the Enormous Crocodile! He left plenty of clues around the school, leading us on a fun hunt to track him down. The children worked together, solving riddles and following his trail, finding him in several sneaky hiding spots along the way. Luckily, we weren’t fooled by any of his tricky plans! It’s been a fantastic, imaginative journey, sparking creativity and teamwork. Mr Patel and Ms Gibb - Year 2 Teachers

Hands-on Science in Year 4

The Year 4s have had a marvellous week of hands-on learning! In Science, they created their own clay models to show the structure of our teeth, and like true scientists, they planned for and set up an investigation into tooth decay. Over the next week, we will be observing and recording our findings into which types of drinks cause the most tooth decay. We have used eggs to observe the damage caused to their shell, which represents the enamel of our teeth. We are eagerly awaiting to see if our predictions were correct! Mrs Cotterell and Mr Frenna - Year 4 Teachers

Learning about the Age of Discovery in Year 5

Year 5 Blue have been working in groups to create timelines of the ‘Age of Discovery’. Collaborating to create historical timelines helps students understand the sequence of events and their connections, deepening their grasp of chronology and cause-and-effect relationships. It also promotes teamwork and communication skills, as students work together to research, organize, and present historical information in a coherent and visual format. Great work, Year 5! Mr Carroll - Year 5 Teacher

Secondary

Experiencing our Brand New Secondary Science Lab!

Secondary students at Cherngtalay have been working with many of our brand new practical resources in our new Secondary Science Lab. The large and spacious lab is generously kitted out with a range of modern equipment, and allows students to work either individually or in groups as desired. Alongside a specialist Science teacher, we have a dedicated Science technician to support all our classes, and also two large outdoor classrooms attached to the Science lab. One is our mature Growing Garden, and the second is a shaded area to allow larger outdoor investigations.

With lots of whiteboard surfaces, including the many windows, it is a space that is designed to encourage students to think creatively whilst performing the practical investigations that underpin our Science programme. We have recently bought the latest Key Stage Three Science curriculum resources from Oxford University Press, their Smart Activate series, across Years 7 to 9 Science at both our Chaofah and Cherngtalay campuses along with a range of digital resources to further develop and support student’s learning. Students have been looking at cells, both in a biological and electrical sense this week, as part of our curriculum lessons and to explore our new resources. Students on both campuses follow the same rich schemes of learning which first develop a full understanding of a wide range of topics across Science, before revisiting these in more depth and detail in Year 9 in readiness for IGCSE studies a year later. Dr Marsh - Head of Secondary, and Mr Gossland - Science Teacher

Secondary Art in the Growing Garden

This week our Year 7 Art students visited the school’s Growing Garden where they practiced their observational drawing and shading skills. They initially made some expressive timed line drawings, before making a more detailed piece. Students were able to select from a wide variety of ornamental, useful or edible plants being grown. Our garden is an outdoor learning space where students from across HeadStart’s Primary and Secondary phases at Cherngtalay can learn about horticulture. It is a lovely space to sit and work, and being immediately outside and connected to our new Secondary Science laboratory, it is also the venue where some of our Secondary students will be experimenting with hydroponic engineering later in the year. Mrs Leow - Art & DT Teacher

Promotions from Around the Island