Chaofah City
Chaofah City
Weekly Update #25, 7 March 2025
Announcements
CAPA Junior presents Peter Pan…Set Sail for Neverland – No Flying Lessons Required!
Join us on 26th & 27th March at 5pm at our Chaofah City campus as our CAPA Junior HeadStars take you on a swashbuckling adventure full of mischief, magic, and maybe even a bit of fairy dust! Soar with Peter Pan, escape Captain Hook’s ridiculous plans, and clap extra loud for Tinkerbell—she insists.
This isn’t just a play—it’s a delightful tale of sword fights, pirate chases and lost boys’ stories, with music that will have you ‘hooked’ faster than Hook himself!
Mark your calendar, grab your fairy wings (or pirate hats), and dive into the magic.
Doors to the magic will open at 4.45pm and we can’t wait to see you! Book your tickets now before the crocodile’s clock strikes—tick-tock, tick-tock!
Upcoming Events
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.
Political Standpoints
This is a polite reminder that International Day is not a forum for pushing political agendas. The event is designed for everyone to come together in a show of kindness and respect, and to demonstrate a sense of community.
Arrangements for Students on International Day
All parents are politely reminded to wear their Parent ID on this day. Parents presenting a valid Parent ID will be able to enter the school site from 13:50 via the Main Entrance (Atrium), Secondary Entrance, and two underground car park turnstiles. Parents without a valid ID and visitors should enter via the Main Entrance (Atrium) or Secondary Entrance only where they can exchange a valid form of identification (passport, driving license etc.) for a Visitor Pass with our Security teams.
Foundation
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The Foundation day will end at 14:00 from which point parents can collect their child from their homeroom to go to the astro for International Day.
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Any Foundation children who have not been collected by 14:20 will be in our Foundation late pick up provision.
Primary
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The Primary day will end at 14:00 from which point parents can collect their child from their homeroom to go to the astro for International Day.
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Any Primary children who have not been collected by 14:20 and children travelling on the school bus will be taken to late pick up in the Lunch Hall.
Secondary
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The Secondary day will end at 14:25 in line with the end of Period 5.
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Secondary students will be able to go to the astro at this time for International Day or leave the school site from 14:30
School Bus
- Please note that our school buses will be leaving only one time – 15.10 – on Friday 14th March.
Students involved in International Day performances
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Parents involved in set up of International Day (costumes, performance practice etc.) may request that they collect their child from lessons but this must be arranged in advance and communicated with the child’s homeroom teacher via email.
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Parents of Foundation & Primary students should email their child’s homeroom teacher and Khun Nan [email protected] to request that they collect their child from lessons.
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Parents of Secondary students email Khun Lookgaew [email protected] to request that they collect their child from lessons.
Primary Swim Galas 2025
Soon it will be time for our HeadStart Primary Swimming Galas and we would like to invite you all to come and support your children during these events. The schedule with dates and times can be found in the posters below. Please note that normal timetabled swimming lessons will continue throughout the week.
If your child will not be able to participate in the swim gala, please make sure to email Mr Walker and your child’s homeroom teacher as soon as possible so that we can plan for their absence. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mr Walker [email protected] for further information. Once again, we extend a very warm welcome, and thank you for supporting these events. The PE Team
Saturday Thai Culture Club – Term 2!
Join us on Saturday 22nd March for a fun-filled cultural experience where students will explore Thai traditions through exciting, hands-on activities. This session is designed to deepen their understanding of Thai culture while engaging in interactive and enjoyable learning experiences.
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Location: HeadStart Cherngtalay Campus
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Time: 09:00 – 12:00
If you are interested, please contact your child’s Thai teacher to sign up. We look forward to an enriching cultural experience together!
Meetings & Presentations
Phonics Workshop for Foundation Parents on 06.03.25
Our recent Phonics & Pre-Writing Workshop provided a wonderful opportunity to share how we teach phonics and early reading using the Little Wandle Phonics scheme. It was great to explore the structured approach that helps children become confident, fluent readers and to reflect on how early literacy skills develop over time. The Reception children gave us a look at how a phonics session would look and we were amazed by their blending skills!
A highlight of the session was the Write Dance activity, which reinforced the importance of pre-writing skills. Through movement and mark-making, we saw firsthand how developing fine motor control lays the foundation for confident writers.
Thank you to everyone who joined us—your enthusiasm and participation made for a truly insightful session. We hope you left with a deeper understanding of how phonics and early writing skills come together, and how small, playful activities can make a big difference in your child’s learning journey! Mrs Walker – Deputy Head of Foundation
Phonics Workshop for Foundation Parents 06.03.25
University Offers
Erica Ilstam – Enrolled at HeadStart Since Year 1
We are delighted to share that Erica Ilstam has provisionally accepted a place at Durham University, where she will be pursuing an LLB (Hons) in Law. Since joining HeadStart in Year 1 (2012), Erica has been a fantastic student who has demonstrated remarkable progress on her academic and personal journey. As Assistant Head Student, she has played a key role in representing the student body and contributing to many important school events. She has managed to balance her outstanding academic achievement with other skills and activities such as the Swim Academy and both Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh International Awards. She is also a key member of the inaugural HeadStart Interact Club and a co-founder of Sunny Side Up. Her commitment to excellence in all aspects of her life is evident and we are sure she will achieve highly in her university studies and beyond. Erica’s remarkable achievements have also been recognised by University of York, who have offered her a £10,000 scholarship to study there. Congratulations, Erica! We are incredibly proud of you and wish you every success in your studies and beyond.
Tonkid Janchoowanichakul (Fredric) – Enrolled at HeadStart Since Year 11
We are thrilled to announce that Tonkid (Fredric) Janchoowanichakul has been accepted to the INDA International Programme in Design and Architecture at the Faculty of Architecture, Chulalongkorn University. Throughout his time at HeadStart, Fredric has shown dedication and versatility across academics, leadership, and community service. He volunteered as an English and Art teacher for underprivileged Thai children and participated in numerous beach cleanups and stream conservatory efforts to promote environmental sustainability. Beyond school, he gained experience through an internship at Thailandia Legal Services. His commitment to community initiatives, including volunteering with the ‘Phuket Hash House Harriers’ and Soi Dog Foundation, highlights his passion for making a positive difference. Congratulations, Fredric! We are incredibly proud of your achievements and wish you success in your studies and future career.
24 Hours to Make a Difference
For 24 exhilarating hours (from 8pm on the night of Friday 28th February through to 8pm on Saturday 1st March 2025), HeadStart’s three sporting Academies from across both our school campuses – the Aqua Panthers Swim Academy, and the Panthers Football and Basketball Academies – came together as one to compete in their respective sports all in the name of charity. This spectacular community event witnessed almost 300 Academy athletes in the pool, on the pitch and on the court, swimming lengths, scoring goals and sinking three-pointers all while raising money for our chosen foundations: Youth Football Home, Phuket and North Andaman Network Foundation.
We are proud to announce that the total raised was an incredible 373,732 Thai baht. This money will be shared equally between our two chosen foundations. Congratulations to the following students who managed to contribute the highest donation for their respective academy at HeadStart Cherngtalay campus:
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Swimming – Lissy (9 Blue)
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Oscar and Rufus (5 Blue and 5 Yellow)
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William (6 Yellow)
One of the highlights of the event was receiving a visit from 28 students from Youth Football Home who were warmly welcomed by our HeadStart community. We look forward to many more collaborations with them. It was also wonderful to be joined by so many families for the final three hours, creating a carnival atmosphere with games and a Community BBQ. We look forward to welcoming everyone again next year!
Such an event would not have been possible without the considerable efforts of a whole group of people. As a school community, we would like to offer sincere thanks to:
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Director of Sport, Mr Carter, our Head Coaches (Coach Brown, Coach Frost, and Coach Mike) and their coaching teams for their efforts both in preparation and on the day making for a really well organised and truly memorable event
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Parents and teaching staff who supported the 24 Hours event – whether playing in teams or coming along to cheer – bringing a sense of fun and enjoyment
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Secondary Student Council for running our three engaging 24 Hours games – Super Shot!, Shootin’ Hoops! and Goggle Toss!
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Ms Jones and the BTEC Business students for their very popular refreshment business
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Chef, his kitchen team and our support staff for putting on such a fantastic Community BBQ and taking care of the school site for 24 Hours++!
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All Academy athletes for their energy and enthusiasm in raising funds for our chosen foundations and for representing our school so well.
📸 Please find a full album of photos here: 24 Hours to Make a Difference Fundraiser 2025
Aqua Panthers Race Against the Clock to Rack Up Metres and Donations!
Between 8pm on Friday night and 8am Saturday morning, over 100 Aqua Panthers athletes — ages 5 to 18 — came together for the 12-hour swim relay as part of the 24 Hours to Make a Difference event. They didn’t just show up for a casual swim. They pushed. They raced against the clock. They racked up as many laps as possible in 30-minute relay bursts, pushing each other further with every exchange. The result? Over 120,000 metres covered. Insane!
Ryan (13 Blue) and Vlad (11 Yellow) from the Gold Squad tied the 2024 relay record, covering 2,800 meters in just 30 minutes! That’s an average of 32 seconds per 50 meters, meaning each swimmer barely had 32 seconds to rest before diving back in. Meanwhile, Simon (6 White Chaofah City) powered through on just one hour of sleep, and we’re pretty sure Platon (7 Blue Cherngtalay) pulled an all-nighter! What started as a simple fundraiser turned into an intense test of endurance—12 straight hours of swimming is no joke.
We couldn’t be prouder of their determination, grit, and team spirit! This is what happens when people come together for something bigger than themselves. Coach Brown – Head Swim Coach – and the Aqua Panthers Swim Academy Coaching Team
HeadStart Panthers Accumulate Minutes on the Pitch and Money for a Great Cause!
The HeadStart Panthers Football Academy players stormed the pitch, stepping in for the Aqua Panthers swimming academy team in the much-anticipated second leg of the 24 Hours To Make a Difference event! What a thrilling day it was, as players, parents, teachers, and coaches rallied together, creating an electrifying atmosphere both on and off the field.
The action kicked off bright and early at 8am with the U13 and U11 Girls, and the excitement didn’t let up until the final whistle blew on the U18 Boys and Pink Panthers Staff Men’s team match at 8pm. The air was charged with energy, with cheers ringing out from an enthusiastic crowd of supporters, all eager to see the teams giving it their all.
A staggering 23 matches were held throughout the day, showcasing the talents of Academy, parent, and staff teams alike. We were especially delighted to host a team of U13 boys from one of our chosen charities, Youth Football Home, who took on the HeadStart Panthers U13 Boys in a spirited contest. The U18 Boys were particularly fired up to take on the Pink Panthers Staff Men’s team, and they made it look effortless, clinching victory with style. The U18 Girls also showed their mettle, triumphing over the Phuket Panthers Ladies staff team, proving that youth truly is a force to be reckoned with!
A massive shout-out goes to all the parents who rolled up their sleeves and got involved this year — more than ever before! The Menchester City Dads’ team faced a tough challenge against the U15 Boys and the Pink Panthers Men’s teams, but they fought valiantly, leaving it all on the pitch. The Mums’ Dream Team were no less formidable, taking on the HeadStart Panthers U13 and U15 Girls, as well as the Phuket Panthers Ladies staff team. A round of applause for all our incredible parents!
While the matches were a spectacle, let us not lose sight of the true purpose behind this fantastic event. We are immensely proud of our community for coming together to raise funds for such worthy causes here in Phuket. In particular, it was wonderful to see our Academy athletes welcome the visiting players from one of our chosen foundations, Youth Football Home, with such warmth and friendship demonstrating the true spirit of this event. Hats off to everyone involved! We can’t wait for next year’s event, where we’ll aim for even more exhilarating matches and sponsors galore! Coach Frost – Head Football Coach – and the Panthers Football Academy Coaching Team
A Fun-Filled Basketball Showdown in Aid of Charity!
This year’s 24 Hours to Make a Difference charity event was packed with excitement as players, parents, and staff hit the court for some unforgettable matchups!
Standout Performances:
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Dima (5 Blue Chaofah City) was named MVP for the U12 Boys, showing off impressive shooting and defensive skills with plenty of steals—an incredible achievement as the youngest player in the academy!
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Alysia (7 White Chaofah City) claimed MVP for the U12 Girls after a thrilling comeback victory against the boys, draining four 3-pointers to seal the win in style!
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The Dads’ Team brought their A-game against the U15 boys, securing a dominant win with “Thunder Dan” leading the charge as MVP.
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The Coaching Staff took on the U17 boys fresh off their 1st place finish at the PISAC 3×3 tournament—and walked away with the win!
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In the NBA 2-Ball Shooting Challenge, the dynamic duo of Jake (11 Yellow) and Matvei (12 Blue) outshot the coaches to claim victory.
A huge thank you to all the parents and players who made this event such a success! Your energy, dedication, and sportsmanship made for an unforgettable day. Until next year—keep shooting for greatness! Coach Mike – Head Basketball Coach – and the Panthers Basketball Coaching Team
PE & Sports News
PISAC U9 and U11 Track & Field Competition at Chaofah City campus
Our Chaofah City campus is excited to be hosting the upcoming PISAC U9 and U11 Track & Field event with competitors from 5 schools across the island.
Please see the details below:
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Date: Friday, 21st March
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Time: 12.30-15.00 (parents should arrive no earlier than 12.00)
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Venue: HeadStart Chaofah City Campus
Parents are very welcome to come and watch and the selected athletes and their parents will be contacted very soon. Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you then. Mr Carter – Director of Sport
Call for Athletes – PISAC Secondary Track & Field
On Tuesday, 1st April from 15:00-19:30, HeadStart will be competing in the PISAC Secondary Track & Field event held at Thanyapura Sports Resort.
All secondary students who are interested in potentially competing should speak to any PE teacher to express their interest. Selected athletes and their parents will be contacted if they are selected to the HeadStart Track & Field Team. The PE Team
Thai Department
Exploring Water Transportation in Early Years Thai First Language Lessons
Our Early Years Thai First Language students have been exploring the topic of การคมนาคมทางน้ำ (Water Transportation). They have had a fantastic time learning about different types of boats and the importance of keeping our rivers and oceans clean by disposing of waste properly.
As part of their learning, they have also been introduced to the Thai consonant ร (Ror Rue), which is the initial sound in “เรือ” (Ruer), meaning “boat” in Thai. Through engaging activities, the children are developing their language skills while gaining a deeper appreciation for environmental responsibility Kru Tee – Thai Teacher
Languages Department
Year 1 Embarks on a Colourful Journey of the Butterfly Life Cycle
Year 1 students dived into the fascinating world of The Very Hungry Caterpillar in their Mandarin lesson, discovering new words and the magic of transformation. Through interactive activities, they explored the butterfly life cycle with curiosity and creativity. Their enthusiasm brought learning to life—well done, Year 1!
Foundation
Toddler Playgroup
We were thrilled to host another session of our popular Toddler Playgroup for children aged 1-3 this week. This wonderful opportunity introduced aspects of our Foundation curriculum to these new young learners and their parents. Our playgroup offered a safe and engaging environment for the little ones to socialise and explore through play, supported by our highly qualified teaching staff. With structured activities, outdoor play, and theme-based sessions, we aimed to create a fun and educational experience. We appreciate the active involvement of all attendees, fostering a supportive community where both children and parents could learn and grow together. The Foundation Teaching Team
Secondary
Learner of the Month – Creativity
In February, our learners focused on the learner attribute of the month: Creativity. They learned that this involves imagination, innovation, the ability to think outside the box, and to generate new and original ideas.
Creativity certificates were awarded in each subject and handed out in assembly to the following students:
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CAPA (Art, Drama, DT, Music) – Hayoon (9 Blue)
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Computing – Jina (7 Yellow)
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EAL – Becky (7 Blue)
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English – Uliana (7 Blue)
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Humanities – Mariia (7 Yellow)
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Languages (French, Mandarin, Russian) – Stephanie (9 Blue)
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Languages (Thai) – Jenny (8 Yellow)
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Maths – Anastasiia (7 Blue)
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PE & Sport – Ella (7 Blue)
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Science – Oskar (7 Blue)
‘Ms Manning’s Choice’ went to Jane (9 Blue), who impressed several teachers with her creative writing and progress in creative work, plus creativity when it comes to studies and pushing herself further both inside and out of school. In March we focus on being principled; we look forward to acknowledging our students for their honesty, responsibility, and sense of integrity. Ms Manning – Assistant Head of Secondary
Important Dates
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