Chaofah City
Chaofah City
Weekly Update #19, 17 January 2025
Announcements
Important Announcement about Invoices for Fee Paid ECAs
We trust your child has enjoyed their first week of Extra Curricular Activities (ECAs) this week. Don’t forget, to view the ECAs your child has been successfully enroled in, go to their timetable on the Parent Portal. To make any adjustments to your child’s ECAs for Terms 2 and 3, please email [email protected] or pay the ECA Team a visit in the Admin office.
Please be aware that invoices will be raised on Monday, 20th January at 16:00. Invoices for Fee paid ECAs cannot be removed once they have been raised so please check your child’s ECAs carefully and ensure any adjustments have been before that time.
Introducing the Primary Student Council
Hello students! I’m Ms Hart, your Student Council leader. I’m delighted to share what our wonderful Student Council representatives have been working on this term. Already, they’ve shown great leadership in our meetings - designing a new council logo, sharing thoughtful ideas, and setting up suggestion boxes outside the Year 3-5 classrooms. Your Student Council has several exciting projects planned to enhance our school community. Keep watching for these positive changes! Remember, every student’s voice matters. If you have ideas to make our school even better, please use the suggestion boxes - your Student Council representatives are eager to hear your thoughts. Ms Hart - Student Council Lader and Year 6 Teacher
HeadStart Cherngtalay Primary Student Council is: Marcos and Adriana (Year 3), Polina and April (Year 4), Finn and Alex (Year 5), Mishel and Nika (Year 6) and Harper (Primary Head Girl)
Upcoming Events
A Special Free Parent Event - Let’s Co-Play!
Inviting all parents from across Phuket to attend a unique parent event hosted by Greg Bottrill, renowned childhood advocate and best-selling author of ‘Can I Go & Play Now?’. This will be an engaging and insightful presentation for parents in which he will explore the power of play in building stronger connections with your child, offering tips and advice.
📆 Date: Tuesday 11th February 2025
⏰ Time: 12:45-13:45
📍 Venue: HeadStart International School, Phuket (Cherngtalay Campus)
A message from Greg: “Join me as I explore why children need choice, creativity and collaboration and how play is a crucial component in providing these opportunities in school and at home. I will share why your child deserves a childhood that has abundant possibilities for adventure to shape who they are. I will also give some simple ideas for how you can join their adventure too.”
The event is open to all parents, particularly those of Foundation and Year 1 & 2 parents. Registration is required. To register for you and up to 4 other adults, scan the QR code in the poster below or complete the GoogleForm: Let’s Co-Play Parent Event Registration
Mandarin Language Day at Cherngtalay Campus
We are excited to announce that the Term 2 Mandarin Language Day will take place on Saturday, 1st February from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the HeadStart Cherngtalay Campus.
This event will revolve around the theme of Lunar New Year, and we have prepared many fun and engaging activities to celebrate this festive occasion.
To help us organise the event effectively, please take a moment to fill out this sign-up form by January 27th: Mandarin Language Day Registration Form
We look forward to seeing you all at this exciting event! The Mandarin Language Team
Save the Date - International Day 2025
We are delighted to extend a warm invitation to all our families to join us for our International Day celebrations. This event promises to be a vibrant and culturally enriching experience, showcasing the diversity that makes our school community so special.
📆 Date: Friday 14th March 2025
⏰ Time: 14:30-17:00
📍 Venue: Cherngtalay Campus
Our International Day event will feature a colourful array of cultural performances, international cuisine, interactive exhibits, and a warm atmosphere of unity. It’s an excellent opportunity for us to come together, celebrate our global community, and foster a deeper understanding of the rich tapestry of cultures represented at HeadStart.
We would be honoured by your presence as we celebrate diversity, promote cultural exchange, and strengthen the bonds that make HeadStart International School a truly international learning environment.
Registration & Tent Booking
To register and book a tent to represent the culture of your country, please note:
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This event is dedicated to showcasing your culture and traditions. We encourage participants to share their unique heritage and offer visitors a chance to learn about your country.
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Any products or items distributed at the event should be offered free of charge to ensure the spirit of generosity and cultural exchange.
Tent Information:
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There are 20 tents available in total for booking.
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Tents are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
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The Events team reserves the right to change the order of tent bookings if necessary.
Additionally, this event is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with your fellow community members and strengthen connections. To facilitate this, we request:
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Each country has one representative to register and book the tent.
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Permission is given to share your email with other members of your community to help you coordinate effectively.
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If there are duplicate registrations from the same country, our Events team will inform you of other representatives’ email addresses to streamline communication and teamwork.
Performance Registration
This is a unique opportunity to showcase your traditional dance or any cultural performance from your country.
We request a maximum of 2 performances per country to ensure diversity and balance in the schedule. Performances should be group-based, emphasizing unity and collaboration within your community.
👉 Registration is now open! Write to: [email protected]
Our Events team will assist in connecting members of the same community to work together on tents and performances.
Meetings & Presentations
New Thai Parents Term 2 Orientation Meeting
We invite our new Thai-speaking families to join us for our second parent meeting of Term 2 when we will welcome you to our school and community and introduce you to the programmes we have on offer. We look forward to seeing you there! Thursday 23rd January 2025 from 8:30-9:30am in the Secondary ILC.
HeadStart Alumni
Gemma Brain - Class of 2021
Gemma is currently studying Mathematical Bioscience BSc at the University of York, UK, and will graduate in the summer of 2025. She has always had a passion to teach, inspired by her excellent Maths and Biology teachers at HeadStart.
During the summer of 2024, Gemma undertook an internship at a local secondary school in York, and joined the Maths Department, cementing her desire to progress her teaching career post degree. Having applied to both Oxford and Cambridge Universities to enrol in the Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE) course to gain the qualifications required to become a Maths Teacher, teaching ages 11 - 18 years, she was delighted to be accepted by both Universities.
Gemma has made the decision to accept the Cambridge University offer and will start the PGCE qualification in September 2025. Cambridge University has been rated “Outstanding” by Ofsted for their teacher education programme.
House News
This week, Primary students demonstrated skill, patience and determination playing Jenga against the House Captains to win points for their house. The winning house were the Yellow Cheetahs scoring 50 points. Well done House of the Cheetah!
PE & Sports News
Sports Days 2025
The PE Department and our students are excitedly preparing for our annual Sports Days. Please see the posters for the dates and times. We look forward to welcoming the HeadStart community to come and support our students for what will be a sports filled few days.
Cherngtalay U13 Girls in Action!
The HeadStart Panthers Cherngtalay U13 Girls team travelled to UWC for a friendly match last weekend. The girls showed how much they have improved over the year by putting in a determined and exciting performance against tough opposition. The girls were creative with their attacks and organised defensively. We look forward to seeing their continued development in more matches and tournaments throughout term 2. Keep up the hard work, Girls! *Coach Paul Rothwell - Football Coach
Languages Department
Mandarin First Language Lessons Filled with Learning and Laughter
This week, our Year 5 Mandarin First Language students enjoyed an engaging lesson filled with learning and laughter. They played two character recognition games, Snakes and Ladders and Word Chain, which not only brought joy but also deepened their understanding of Chinese characters. Through these interactive activities, students enthusiastically improved their literacy skills in a fun and collaborative way. A great example of learning made enjoyable!
Foundation
Excitement with the Fire Engine and Police Car Visit!
Our children had an incredible time when the fire engine and police car rolled in for a special visit! They were thrilled to meet the firefighters and police officers who help keep our community safe. The children learned about the important roles these heroes play, explored the vehicles, and even had a chance to see the flashing lights and hear the sirens up close. It was an unforgettable, action-packed day filled with excitement and learning!
Toddler Playgroup is Back for 2025!
A big thank you to all the families who joined us for our first Toddler Playgroup session of the new year. 👨👩👧👦 We had such a wonderful time exploring and playing together. The children loved getting creative with the light table, enjoying hands-on fun with sand and paint play, and connecting through a variety of engaging activities. We ended the session with music time led by Ms. Kittia, which brought smiles all around!
Primary
Investigating the Properties of Solids, Liquids and Gases in Year 4
This week has been a fantastic journey of discovery in Science for our Year 4 students. Collaboratively, they have been exploring the properties of solids, liquids, and gases, deepening their understanding of how particles are arranged and behave in each state. They also made great connections with the water cycle, linking evaporation and condensation to changes in state. Through their hands-on investigations, the Year 4s demonstrated curiosity and enthusiasm, asking thoughtful questions and making real-life connections. Well done, Year 4—keep up the amazing scientific thinking! The Year 4 Teahcing Team
Secondary
KS3 Students Sculpting 3D Underwater Creatures in Creative Arts & Crafts
In Creative Arts and Crafts last term, students used recycled materials such as newspaper and cardboard to make beautiful 3D sculptures of underwater creatures. The attention to detail in their finished products speaks volumes about the care and attention they paid to their craft! Ms Leow - Art & Design Teacher
Years 7 and 8 Getting Hands-on in the Science Lab
In this lesson, students explored the difference between mixtures and compounds. After a brief introduction, they observed how different substances have distinct properties and behaviors. For example, when iron powder is mixed with sulfur, it can be separated using a magnet, but iron sulfide, a compound, cannot. The class also investigated the electrical conductivity of each material to further highlight the differences in their properties. Students were highly inquisitive throughout the lesson, asking thoughtful questions and making connections that deepened their understanding and sparked engaging discussions. Mr Gossland - KS3 Science Teacher
Using SketchUP to Design Eco-friendly Homes in KS3
In Design and Technology last term, KS3 pupils were given a design brief to research and make an Eco-friendly home. Students worked collaboratively to create a mind map of their ideas and they learned to make orthographic drawings of the different views of the house. Students used SketchUp (a 3D modelling application) to draw their floor plans and visualise their design in 3D. Pupils then made a cardboard model of their designs. Ms Leow - Art & Design Teacher
Success Outside School
Congratulations to Daniil (2 Yellow), Sagit (6 Blue) and Dmitrii (7 Yellow) for their respective successes at the recent International Judo competitions held in Johor Bharu, Malaysia, and Singapore:
🥇 Sagit - 2 Golds and a Silver medal
🏆 Dmitrii - Winner of Team Event
🥉 Daniil - 2 Bronze medals
Important Dates
Noticeboard
Parent Fitness
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.
Classes run from 8:00-9:00am. To join, sign the list at the gym entrance or speak to a trainer. Available strictly for HeadStart parents only.
