Weekly Update #29, 4 April 2025

HeadStart Summer Camp @ Cherngtalay Campus

Now is the perfect time to sign up your child for our HeadStart Summer Camp. Taking place over three weeks of summer – starting 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟕𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 – you can choose to sign up for individual weeks or all three.

A 25% discount is applicable for HeadStart students while you can receive discount coupons for 2nd and 3rd applicants if non-HeadStart pupils.

📍 HeadStart Cherngtalay Campus

🗓️ 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝟏: Monday 7th – Friday 11th July; 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝟐: Monday 14th – Friday 18th July; 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝟑: Monday 21st – Friday 25th July

🕒 08:00-15:40 daily

To find out more about our Summer Camp or register, visit our website: https://headstartphuket.com/summer-camp

HeadStart Folder – Available Now!

With the exam season fast approaching, now is the perfect to invest in a HeadStart branded folder – perfect for revision notes, past papers and teacher feedback all in one easy-to-find place. Please visit our school shop to stock up on your child’s school supplies.

World Book Day 2025

Get ready to turn the page on your usual school day because World Book Day is coming on Wednesday 23rd April, and it’s bound to be a novel experience! Step into the shoes of your favourite literary figure—be it a Poe-etic writer, a Wilde character, or even something from a fantasy series like Lord of the Rings – truly out of the Mordordinary!

It’s Literary Dress Up!

Whether you fancy yourself a Gatsby in a sharp suit, a Hunger Games tribute, or a walking, crawling, talking Gregor Samsa, the more creative, the better! So don’t be a Moby Dull—join the fun, shelf your excuses, and let’s make this a story for the ages!

Meanwhile, in Primary, besides dressing as their favorite character, there are two additional competitions that children can prepare for over the Songkran holidays – a chance to be creative and keep on reading:

Get Caught Reading!

We challenge our students to take a photo of themselves reading in an unusual or creative place! Whether it’s in front of the Bayon Temple, under a table, or somewhere completely unexpected, we’d love to see how imaginative they can be. Please send your child’s photo to their homeroom teacher. We will showcase and celebrate some of the best shots in a whole school assembly on World Book Day.

The Great Potato Challenge!

Can your child transform a simple potato into their favourite book character? Using just a potato and a few creative materials, they can bring a beloved character to life! This is a fun competition to get everyone thinking creatively about books and characters they love.

We hope this will be a fantastic opportunity to celebrate reading, spark creativity, and have lots of fun. We look forward to seeing all the wonderful costumes, photos, and potato characters!

Secondary Prom – Friday 25th April 2025

Inviting all Secondary students to this year’s Prom taking place at the Ramada Plaza by Wyndham Chao Fah Hotel on Friday 25th April from 17:30 to 21:00. The theme for this year’s event is ‘James Bond – 007’.

Save the Date – Next Community Beach Clean Event

• When: Sunday 25th May

• Where: Bangtao Beach 9:00 am (meet in the car park in front of Movenpick Hotel)

• Why:: Help clean and protect a vital yet neglected beach. Earn House Points. Make a difference and great friends!

Tanyakan Boonyakajorn – Enrolled at HeadStart since Year 6

We are thrilled to share that Tanyakan Boonyakajorn, who has been at HeadStart since Year 6, has accepted an offer to study Sociology with Criminology (BA) at the University of York, following a Foundation course. Her creativity and dedication, highlighted by her achievements in singing and music, and in particular as a Battle of the Bands winner, showcase her passion and drive. Congratulations, Tanya! We are excited to see all that you will accomplish in the future.

Sunthorn Boochangkool – Enrolled at HeadStart since Year 9

We are pleased to announce that Sunthorn Boochangkool (Kun), who joined HeadStart in Year 9, has been accepted to Mahidol University International College to major in Media and Communications. Kun has been an active member of HeadStart’s performing arts scene, starring in productions such as ‘Chicago’, ‘Evita’ and ‘The Wizard of Oz’. His musical talent also earned him two Battle of the Band wins, further showcasing his passion for performance and media. He was also involved as an instructor for ‘Sunny Side Up’, a programme designed to help Thai students learn English. Congratulations, Kun! We wish you all the best in your studies and future career.

Gosha (4 Blue Cherngtalay campus) – Enrolled at HeadStart since Year 3

Since joining Year 3 in the inaugural year of our Cherngtalay campus, Gosha has wasted no time in getting to know everyone at HeadStart with his never-ending energy and enthusiasm for life! This year, he is incredibly proud to be one of the first members of our Cherngtalay Panthers Academy U9 Boys team to join with his Chaofah City colleagues and represent the school in tournaments around the island, including finishing third at the recent Cruzero Cup! He is also a talented tennis player and all-round athlete. Why does Gosha love HeadStart?

A Beautiful Start to the Songkran Season

To mark the final morning of Term 2, our school community came together for a meaningful Thai tradition—offering food to the monks. This special moment not only welcomed the start of Songkran but also gave us the chance to make merit together. A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful students, parents, and staff for your generous offering of dry food and for joining us in celebrating and preserving local culture. Your kindness and participation brought blessings and a true sense of unity. Here’s to carrying this spirit of gratitude and togetherness into the Thai New Year!

Splish, Splash, Songkran Fun in Foundation!

Our Foundation students got a head start on the Songkran celebrations with a joyful water play session on Wednesday! With big smiles and lots of laughter, children and teachers came together to splash, play, and welcome the Thai New Year. A truly heartwarming start to the festivities!

Soaking Up the Songkran Spirit!

To wrap up Term 2, our Primary and Secondary students—and their teachers—joined in a joyful water play celebration for Songkran! From cheerful splashes to friendly water fights, the day was filled with fun, laughter, and community spirit. It was a fantastic way to honour Thai tradition and end the term on a high note. A big thank you to everyone who made it such a memorable occasion!

Songkran Assembly – Moments to Remember

What a vibrant and meaningful celebration! A huge thank you to our amazing staff and teachers for kicking things off with the energetic Rum Klong Yao long drum parade—what a way to set the tone!

• A Pair of Compères: A special shoutout to our brilliant MCs—Primary Head Girl Harper and Head Boy Gentle—for leading the assembly with confidence, charm, and bright smiles!

• Year 6 Thai Dance Delight: Bravo to Nika, Mila, Michelle, Kristina, Daria, and Harper for their graceful performance of Rak Kham Khlong, beautifully portraying life along Thailand’s rivers. Big thanks to Kru Saimai for her wonderful support and choreography!

• Year 8 Cultural Charm: Well done to Gniia, Noumea, Ms. Rachael, Mrs. Costello, and Kru Amy for your elegant performance of Serng Kratip, inspired by the traditional bamboo rice basket. Special thanks to Kru Amy for preparing such a meaningful piece.

• Joyful Rhythms: The Klong Sabat Chai, a traditional Thai drumming performance, brought the assembly to life with its vibrant rhythms and deep cultural significance. The powerful beats filled the room, energising everyone and evoking a strong sense of pride in our Thai heritage, creating memories that will last a lifetime. Truly an unforgettable experience!

• Water Blessing Ceremony: A big thank you to our student representatives for leading the beautiful water blessing ceremony, where they poured scented water over the hands of our revered teachers and staff, asking for blessings for the Thai New Year. This meaningful tradition was a perfect way to show respect and gratitude.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this memorable celebration. Here’s to new beginnings and cherished traditions! Kru Dia and The Thai Department

HeadStart Head Up to Harrow

Last week, five HeadStart Panthers teams made their way to Bangkok to compete in the Harrow International 7s tournament. A tremendous shout-out to the players who, despite the tournament being cancelled, remained upbeat and patient throughout the trip.

The Panthers were represented by our U11 Girls, U13 Boys, U15 Boys, O15 Girls, and O15 Boys. Our teams got off to a brilliant start in their initial games, and it seemed as though we were on track to bring home some silverware. Regrettably, due to the impact of the earthquake in Myanmar, the tournament had to be postponed and was ultimately cancelled. A heartfelt thank you goes to all the teachers and coaching staff who worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of our players during the event and throughout the entire weekend.

Although we were all disappointed not to play on, we seized the opportunity to partake in some exciting activities in Bangkok. We took the teams to Future Park Mall for shopping and bowling. Then, on Saturday evening, we attended a Thai League 2 football match between Police Tero and Mahasarakham SBT FC. For many of our players, it was their first experience of watching a live professional football match. We were all eager to get involved and cheer on the teams!

Once again, a massive thank you to all the coaches, teachers, players, and parents who journeyed to Bangkok and put in such effort to ensure the trip was positive and fun, despite the unforeseen circumstances we encountered. Coach Paul – Football Coach – and the Panthers Academy Coaches

PISAC Secondary Track & Field

What a way to spend a warm evening in Phuket, watching our young athletes compete in the PISAC secondary track and field competition at Thanyapura Sports Complex! Only a small number of athletes made the trip from both campuses but they showed heart and determination in all the events. A big shout out to Jake (11 Yellow) from the Chaofa campus for finishing on the podium in all his events and Tigran (8 Blue Cherngtalay) for his podium finish in the 200m sprint race. Mr Walker – PE Coordinator

Russian Language Day – Term 2

On 29th March, HeadStart International School hosted Russian Language Day, bringing together students and parents from the Chaofah Cty and Cherngtalay campuses. The event took place in a warm and friendly atmosphere, fostering interest in the Russian language and culture. Guests of the event prepared creative performances, took part in a quiz on Russian folk tales, and explored traditional crafts during a master class on painting toys and tote bags. We sincerely appreciate all participants for their engagement and support. We look forward to seeing you at our future events! The Russian Language Team

День русского языка в HeadStart International School

29 марта в школе HeadStart International School состоялся День русского языка, объединивший учеников и родителей из кампусов Чаофа и Чернгталай. Мероприятие прошло в теплой и дружеской атмосфере, способствуя развитию интереса к русскому языку и культуре. Гости праздника подготовили творческие выступления, приняли участие в викторине по русским народным сказкам, а также познакомились с традиционными ремеслами на мастер-классе по росписи игрушек и шопперов. Выражаем благодарность всем участникам за вовлеченность и поддержку. Будем рады видеть вас на наших будущих мероприятиях! С уважением, русскоязычная команда школы

📸 Please find a full album of photos here: Russian Language Day – Term 2

Gail Clark – Author Visit

What a pleasure it was to have renowned children’s author and illustrator, Gail Clarke, come to our school last week to share her wonderful stories about animals and the natural world. Children from our Foundation classes and Year 1 were enthralled and captivated by Gail’s storytelling. This was a truly unique and valuable experience of meeting a real life author and illustrator for the first time!

Secondary Student of the Month – Principled

Our Learner Attribute of the month for March was Principled. The students learned that this means we are honest, responsible, and have a strong sense of integrity.

Principled certificates were awarded in each subject and handed out in assembly to the following students:

• CAPA (Art, Drama, DT, Music) – Mary (7 Yellow)

• Computing – Savva (9 Blue)

• EAL – Alina (7 Yellow)

• English – Kiara (8 Yellow)

• Humanities – Fionn (8 Yellow)

• Languages (French, Mandarin, Russian) – Shanjin (7 Blue)

• Languages (Thai) – Lissy (Year 9)

• Maths – Kaptan (8 Yellow)

• PE & Sport – Anna (7 Yellow)

• Science – Jina (7 Yellow)

‘Ms Manning’s Choice’ went to Leo (7 Yellow), who embodies this learner attribute every single day. We are now in April, with our focus on being inquisitive. Ms Manning – Deputy Head of Secondary