Weekly Update #17, 20 December 2024
Announcements
Dear HeadStart Community,
We wish you all the merriest of Holidays! Our heart is once again filled with thanks for the never-ending support from our families, teachers and support staff who have contributed in no small way to our HeadStart students’ outstanding successes this term. As we wrap up the calendar year, we are full of gratitude for being part of this truly unique school community. May your holidays be filled with laughter, love, and merriment. Here’s to more enjoyment and success in the coming year.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Mr Drew and Family
Outstanding Learner Awards
To wrap up our Outstanding Learner Awards 2024 review, this week we hear from Kirill to find out how HeadStart inspired him to excellence:
Kirill Recognized as Top A-Level Mathematics Student in Thailand at Cambridge Outstanding Learner Awards
Kirill, a standout student from the HeadStart Class of 2024, was recognized as Top in Thailand for A Level Mathematics at the prestigious Cambridge Outstanding Learner Awards 2024. His exceptional academic achievement highlights not only his mathematical prowess but also his dedication to personal growth and community impact.
“My goal is to become a civil engineer who can contribute to designing sustainable and efficient infrastructure that positively impacts communities,” Kirill explained. “What drives me is a genuine passion for problem-solving and a commitment to continuous improvement.”
The recognition comes as no surprise to those who have witnessed his journey. Kirill credits his success to a conducive teaching atmosphere at HeadStart. “The classes were amazing because they were so engaging and supportive. The teachers didn’t just teach — they made sure we understood both the topic and why the subject mattered,” he shared.
He singled out key moments in his education, particularly in mathematics. “Ms. Bekker would go over a topic over and over again until everyone in the class understood it. That made it so much easier to understand and made the class more interesting,” Kirill noted. He also praised his chemistry teacher, Mrs. Marsh, for breaking down complex topics, and his physics mentor, Mr. Davidson, for his helpful exam explanations.
Beyond academics, Kirill also benefited from the extra-curricular opportunities offered at HeadStart. “Academic competitions challenged me to apply what I had learned, while being part of the swimming academy taught me discipline and resilience,” he said. His role as a Senior Prefect and participation in community service helped him develop leadership skills and a sense of purpose.
With a bright future ahead, Kirill’s achievements reflect his commitment to both personal and academic growth. We wish him all the best as he embarks on his university career in the Netherlands.
Christmas Fair 2024
What a fantastically festive way to finish the first term of our second year as a school community! It was truly heart-warming to see so many families – mums and dads, grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles – come together in a spirit of celebration at our first ever Christmas Fair. First of all, our Christmas crowd was treated to fun festive performances by each of our Primary year groups following weeks of practice under the expert guidance of Mrs Costello and Ms Thompson, our Primary Music Teachers. This was followed by an unforgettable Yuletide musical montage and dance routine from members of our dedicated Deputy Teacher team, and then perfect performances by our CAPA Junior students and before finishing with some seasonal sounds courtesy of our Secondary year groups. It was wonderful to see so many children perform with such gusto and confidence, entertaining allcomers to this special end of term special.
Special thanks to the many vendors who supported our Christmas Fair with festive gift offerings, home-made treats and delicious drinks; to our local partners for providing interactive activities to our young fair-goers; to our Secondary students, ably supported by the visiting Senior Prefects and BTEC Business students from our Chaofah City campus, who organised a series of festive-themed games; and finally, to the man himself, Santa Claus, for travelling all the way to Phuket and braving the warm weather, to have photos taken with our visitors, young and old!
Thanks to all our community members for contributing to the success of this event. This was a fantastic way to finish Term 1, and we can’t wait to see what next year’s Christmas Fair brings.
📸 A full set of photographs of the Christmas Fair can be found here: Christmas Fair 2024
Meetings & Presentations
Year 9 GCSE Options Parent Meeting and Options Fair at Chaofah City Campus
On Wednesday 8th January, we will be holding the Year 9 Options Fair at our Chaofah City Campus. From 3.30pm until 5.30pm, stalls will be set up in the Sport’s Hall to present all of the GCSE and IGCSE subjects on offer at HeadStart. During this time, students and parents will be encouraged to visit the stalls and discuss the subjects they are interested in with the relevant subject teachers. This will then help to guide the students’ subject choices for Years 10 and 11.
Before the Options Fair, there will be a presentation for any interested parents in the Primary Hall at our Chaofah City Campus from 2:20pm until 3.30pm. The presentation will explain the options available for students to study at GCSE/IGCSE and include discussion of compulsory subjects, optional subjects, and how a student’s choices may affect their options for Sixth Form and beyond. After the presentation, parents will be taken down to the Sport’s Hall to meet their children and then attend the Options Fair.
Promotions From Around the Island
Important Dates
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Aug 12 – Aug 14
Swimming Camp
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Aug 17 – Aug 19
Swimming Camp
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Aug 20
Secondary Parent Orientation
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Aug 20
Foundation Parent Orientation
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Aug 20
Years 1 to 3 Parent Orientation
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Aug 20
Years 4 to 6 Parent Orientation
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Aug 21
First Day of Term 1 – Bonding Day
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Aug 24
Academies Begin with current, known players
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Aug 24
All Academy Tryouts
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Aug 27
Parent meeting: HeadStart Curriculum for Thai Parents
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Aug 27 – Aug 28
ECA Outside Providers’ Fair
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Aug 27 – Aug 29
Primary (HSN) ECA Online Booking (Phase 2) (Thursday 20:30 – Saturday 20:00)
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Aug 28 – Aug 30
Foundation (HSC & HSN) ECA Online Booking (Friday 20:30 – Sunday 20:00) *Only 3 selections are allowed in this phase
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Aug 28
Secondary Student Council Applications Launched
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Aug 28 – Sep 03
ECA Tryout for Cherngtalay Campus
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Aug 29 – Aug 31
Secondary (HSC & HSN) ECA Online Booking (Saturday 20:30 – Monday 16:30)
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Aug 31 – Sep 03
ECA Online Booking (Phase 3) is open for Foundation (HSC & HSN) users from 08:30 on Monday ECA Online Booking (Phase 3) is open for ALL Primary & Secondary users from 17:00 on Monday
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Aug 31
Year 7 CAT tests (three sessions)
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Aug 31 – Sep 04
UPrep Parent Talks
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Sep 02
Primary Student Leadership launch
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Sep 03
Parent Meeting: The Primary Curriculum and Homework at HeadStart
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Sep 04
ECAs are Enrolled on Engage (HSC & HSN)
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Sep 07
All ECAs begin (Foundation Hour / ECA Hour / Extended Hour)
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Sep 07
Secondary Student Council Announced
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Sep 09
Fast Forward (FFWD) Visit
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Sep 10
RU OK Day?
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Sep 11
Friday Market
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Sep 14
Invoices for Fee Paid ECAs are raised at 16:00
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Sep 16
UPrep Parent Talks
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Sep 17
Parent meeting: Pastoral Care and Support in Primary
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Sep 24
Parent meeting: Helping Your Child with Behaviour Parent Workshop for EYFS
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Sep 26
Thai Culture Club
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Oct 01
Foundation ‘Stay & Play’ (All year groups)
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Oct 01
Parent meeting: Secondary Curriculum & Pathway
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Oct 03
Mandarin Language Day
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Oct 03 – Oct 04
Thanyapura Swim Meet
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Oct 05 – Oct 07
Yearbook Photoshoot
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Oct 05 – Oct 09
Primary Settling in meetings; New Students & Year 1
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Oct 06
Mid-Term Reports Published to Parents (Y1-Y6)
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Oct 07
Wai Kru Ceremony for Foundation
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Oct 07
Secondary Settling in PTC All Year 7 and any new students
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Oct 08
Wai Kru Ceremony for Primary & Secondary
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Oct 09
Friday Market
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Oct 12 – Oct 16
Mid-term break
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Oct 12 – Oct 14
Basketball, Football & Swim Camps
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Oct 19
Launch of PSV fundraiser
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Oct 20
Early Years Trip
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Oct 22
Parent meeting: Positive Parenting Meeting with Dr Helene
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Oct 24
Russian Language Day
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Oct 26
PISAC Primary Cross Country (U9 / U11)
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Oct 27
Secondary Cross Country (U13 / U15 / u18)
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Oct 28
Parent Committee Meeting
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Oct 28
Toddler Playgroup
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Oct 29
All School Dress-Up Day: Foundation Halloween Stay and Play Primary Halloween Activities in Class
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Oct 31
BISP Pentathlon Swim
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Nov 02 – Nov 06
Faculty Week
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Nov 03
Reception Trip
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Nov 05
Parent meeting: End of Term 1 Assessments, Revision, Reports, and Grades
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Nov 06 – Nov 08
ISB Swim Meet
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Nov 07
PISAC U9 / U11 / U13 football championships
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Nov 08
Phuket Remembrance Event – CAPA Choir Land and Houses
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Nov 08
Child-Watch Phuket Run For Children
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Nov 09 – Nov 13
EYFS – Come and See Me Swim ; Reception Yellow
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Nov 09 – Nov 27
Secondary Assessments (three weeks)
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Nov 09 – Nov 11
Book Fair
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Nov 11
Year 1 Trip (All Classes)
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Nov 11
Toddler Playgroup
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Nov 11
U13 Boys, U13 Girls, & U15 Girls PISAC Bball 3v3
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Nov 12
U15 Boys, u18 Girls, & u18 Boys PISAC Bball 3v3
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Nov 12
Parent meeting: Phonics Workshop for Primary Parents
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Nov 13
Friday Market
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Nov 14
HeadStart Mini-Aqua Panthers Invitational (8-10 yrs)
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Nov 16 – Nov 20
Anti-Bullying Week
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Nov 16 – Nov 20
Secondary Assessments – week two
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Nov 16 – Nov 27
Primary Assessments (two weeks)
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Nov 16
Year 3 Trip
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Nov 16
Year 2 White Trip
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Nov 17
Year 2 Blue Trip
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Nov 18
Year 2 Yellow Trip
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Nov 18
Toddler Playgroup
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Nov 18
HSN Year 9 Options visit to Chaofah Campus
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Nov 18
Year 9 Parents Options Meeting
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Nov 18
Year 9 Parents and Students Options Fair
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Nov 19
Casual Clothes Day for Charity – Theme ‘Kindness’ Raising money for Phuket Sunshine Village (TBC)
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Nov 19
Russian Speaking Parents Meeting
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Nov 19
Secondary Kindness fair to raise money for PSV
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Nov 20 – Nov 21
BISP Soccer 7’s
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Nov 21 – Nov 22
Aqua Panthers Invitational
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Nov 23 – Nov 27
Secondary Assessments – week three
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Nov 24
Year 4 Blue Trip
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Nov 24
Loy Krathong Activities in class and Foundation Assembly
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Nov 25
Year 4 White & Yellow Trip
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Nov 25
Toddler Playgroup
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Nov 25
CYBERone ECA Presentation
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Nov 25
CAPA Senior performance
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Nov 26
Parents meeting: Mandarin Speaking Parents Meeting
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Nov 26
Year 5 Trip
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Nov 26
CAPA Senior Matinees – Years 7 to 9 & CAPA HSN Students attend
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Nov 26
CAPA Senior performance
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Nov 28
HeadStart Championships U9 Boys
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Nov 30
Year 6 Trip
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Dec 03
Last Day for all types of ECAs
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Dec 03
Last day of Academies
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Dec 04
PRIMARY – Parent Teacher Conferences (PTC) EYFS-Y6
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Dec 04
SECONDARY – Student Led Conferences (SLC) Y7-Y9
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Dec 04
Staff Party (All Support & Teaching Staff)
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Dec 05
“Winter Knights” Interschool Chess Tournament
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Dec 07
School Closed
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Dec 08
Secondary Sports Day HSC & HSN
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Dec 09
Reception: Christmas Stay & Play and Performance
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Dec 09
Term 1 House Winners Prize
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Dec 09
Reports Published on Engage (All Year Groups)
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Dec 10
Preschool & Early Years: Christmas Stay & Play and Performance
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Dec 10
Christmas Fair
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Dec 11
Christmas Activity Afternoon
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Dec 14 – Jan 01
School Holidays
Noticeboard
Parent Fitness
08:00 – 09:00 AMParent Fitness Information
HeadStart provides complimentary use of the Fitness Gym for parents every weekday morning from 07:30-09:30 and in the afternoon from 14:30-18:00. The gym is available strictly for the HeadStart parents and is not open for members of the public unless specifically organised as part of an event.
Parents are asked to vacate all facilities (including the changing rooms in the Fitness Gym) by 9:30am as students may need to use the facilities for their lessons. The gym and the fitness studio is reserved for our students during all other hours of the school day as part of their P.E curriculum.
Classes are run by our fully qualified fitness instructors between 8:00-9:00am. To join, simply sign the list at the entrance of the gym or speak to one of the trainers.
Class Timetable (08:00 – 09:00)
- Monday: Yoga with Kru Yai / Running Club with Monica & Rich Haus
- Tuesday: Strength and conditioning with Jordi
- Wednesday: S&C Sweat with Jordi
- Thursday: Strength and conditioning with Jordi
- Friday: Circuits with Natalie











































