Weekly Update #5, 19 September 2025

Clarification of Parent & Visitor Access to the School Site

At HeadStart International School, the safety and well-being of every child in our care is our highest priority. We are committed to providing a secure, supportive environment where children feel valued and protected. Safeguarding is integral to everything we do and is at the heart of our school ethos. Our safeguarding policies and procedures ensure that children are safe, supported, and able to thrive. All staff are trained in child protection and recognise their responsibility to identify and respond to any concerns about a child’s welfare.

An integral part of safeguarding at both our school campuses is that only appropriate adults are allowed access to our school site at any one time and that these adults are clearly identifiable. As such, all academic and support staff wear clearly identifiable ID cards on a blue lanyard. Parents and carers should wear a Parent ID card on ayellow lanyard to identify themselves. These can be used to access each school site at the appropriate times via the automatic turnstiles. At other times, our security teams will ask to see these before allowing an adult on site.

Parents are also able to access the automatic turnstiles using the finger scanner; however, we require all adults to also display their ID card when at school. Any adult requiring access to either campus who is not in possession of a parent ID card or who cannot finger scan via the turnstiles must visit our security office to obtain a Visitor Pass on a red lanyard. Visitors must exchange one valid form of ID (passport, driving license etc.) in return for a Visitor Pass.

Please find here information from our Parent Handbook that explains our Identity (ID) card system for parents:

HeadStart Identity (ID) Cards

To ensure that our school site is secure, we have an ID card system in place. All HeadStart parents are provided with a school identity card. This ID card can be collected from our School Reception and comes with a yellow lanyard. Parents should use their cards to enter and exit the school with their children.

Please note that our ID cards must be worn by parents while they are on the school site. If you lose or damage your card, please contact the school cashier to replace it. The cost of a replacement card is 200 baht and you can collect it the following day at the School Reception.

Together, we can ensure that every child is safe, happy, and empowered to learn.

One-way Traffic Management System Update

Over the last 4 weeks, we have trialled two different variations of the one-way traffic management system to help alleviate congestion in both the morning and afternoon. As can be expected, there are pros and cons to both directions. Ideally, we would like to be able to use both our main access points as two-way roads to ensure swift and effective entry and exit to our school site; however, with temporary limitations on parking, we will continue to use the one-way system in its current orientation - with entry on the lower road (that runs along the astropitch and swimming pool) and using the higher road as an exit - until the end of Term 1. This system enables easier drop off of Foundation and Primary students, who make up the majority of our school population, and allows drivers to make use of the additional parking on the side of each road.

The plan below is a sample design showing the additional parking that we are planning over the coming months:

1. Additional parking next to the kitchen should be ready in October;

2. An additional road will enable drivers using the Foundation & Primary drop off to continue around the property to park or circle around to the exit;

3. Additional parking with covered walkways to the school building.

Our aim is to have points 2 and 3 completed and ready for use by January. Once these are ready, the plan is to revert to two-way flow throughout the school. We thank all members of our school community for their continued patience as we work towards improving our parking and road access.

A Request for Secondhand Donations from our CAPA Department

The Creative Arts (CAPA) department is asking for donations of children’s toys, plastic plants/flowers, glass bottles, and folded cardboard boxes. These will be used to diversify our collection of props for drawing. Please ensure that all items are clean and compact, and bring them to a member of the Art team in the Art Office. Thank you for your support. Ms Greaney - Head of Creative Arts

HeadStart University Fair 2025

Get ready for an incredible evening of exploration and opportunity at the University Fair hosted by HeadStart International School Chaofah City campus:

📅 Date: Monday 22nd September

🕗 Time: 17:30 to 20:00

📍 Location: Sports Hall, Chaofah City Campus

To sign up, confirm attendance and book a workshop, please scan the QR code in the poster below 👇. You are also welcome to pop by on the day to speak to any of the reps at the Fair.

First Foundation Stay & Play of the Year

We invite our Foundation parents to join us for our first Stay & Play of the year. This session is for parents to spend time with their children in their classrooms all planned around the theme ‘all about me’. Sessions will start at 8.30am and be held in your child’s classroom and the Indoor learning Centre. See the poster for more details.

Save the Date! Yearbook Photoshoot Coming Soon

Our annual photoshoot for the whole school yearbook is coming soon. This is your child’s chance to capture the smiles and laughter they share with their classmates and to preserve memories of friendships, achievements, and experiences at our Cherngtalay campus. Our professional photoshoot will take place from Monday 29th September to Wednesday 1st October. The day on which your child’s class’s photoshoot will take place will be shared by the Homeroom teacher.

Thai University Fair @ Chaofah City Campus

We are excited to invite you to the Thai University Fair on Friday 3rd October 2025at ourChaofah City campus. This annual event is a unique opportunity for both parents and students to meet with representatives from leading Thai universities.

At the fair, you’ll have the chance to ask questions about course options, admission requirements, and explore various academic pathways, gaining valuable insights into your child’s future university journey.

Please register here.

Event Details:

📅 Date: 3rd October 2025

⏰ Time: 08:30 – 11:00

📍 Venue: School Sports Hall

We look forward to seeing you there!

October Half-term Sports Camps and Lessons

The October half-term break (11-19 October) is fast approaching. If you are staying on the island, why not sign up for one of our fantastic Half-term Sport Camps. With Football and Basketball Camps on offer at our Chaofah City campusas well as swimming lessons for beginner to intermediate swimmers (30 minute sessions by age group), and a dedicatedSwim Camp at our Cherngtalay campus, there is something for everyone. See details in the posters for appropriate age groups, days, times and prices.

Toddler Playgroup starting Wednesday 29th October

Welcoming all families to step into our vibrant classrooms for a special morning at our free Toddler Playgroup! Our highly qualified team will guide you and your little ones through a range of engaging activities – from sensory and messy play stations to hands-on crafts where children can make their own creations. Toddlers will explore color and texture with paint, playdough, and water play, helping develop their motor skills and curiosity. There’s also story time and songs to wrap up the morning. This fun-filled session is perfect for families to connect and find out what it’s like to be a part of our HeadStart community.

Our Toddler Playgroup runs at our Cherngtalay campus on Wednesdays from 9:00-10:00am and is for young ones aged 1-4 years old. To express your interest in having your toddler join, fill out the registration form by scanning the QR code in the poster below. We look forward to hearing from you.

UPrep Talk 2: Your Child’s 5 Year Plan on 17.09.25

Our second UPrep Talk of the year, Your Child’s 5 Year Plan, took place on Wednesday 17th September at our Cherngtalay campus and was very well attended by parents from across the Secondary School. The session focused on encouraging families to think ahead and consider the key milestones students will encounter over the next five years. We discussed the importance of a growth mindset in helping young people embrace challenges and develop resilience, and parents were introduced to ways they can support their children in setting goals and exploring future pathways.

We also looked at the role of subject and option choices in shaping long-term opportunities, highlighting how these decisions connect to both A Levels, BTECs and future university applications. It was a positive and engaging morning, and we are grateful to all the parents who joined us. We look forward to continuing these conversations in our upcoming UPrep Talks at our Chaofah City campus.

Introduction to the HeadStart Primary Curriculum Parent Meeting on 18.09.25

This week, we held our Introduction to the HeadStart Primary Curriculum parent meeting, giving families an overview of how learning is structured at HeadStart. Parents explored which subjects make up our curriculum and how subjects are taught - from our text-led approach in English to mastery in maths - and how these approaches nurture our Learner Attributes of curiosity, courage, and collaboration. The session concluded with some brief suggestions on how to support at home, helping children to thrive both in school and beyond.

If you were unable to attend the meeting or would like to review the content, please find a copy of the presentation below 👇

HSN Parent Meeting 04 Introduction to Year 1 2025 26

UPrep Talk 3: Choosing Subjects and Careers

We are pleased to invite you to our next UPrep Talk: Choosing Subjects and Careers, which will take place on Wednesday 24th September at 8:30 in the Secondary Hall at our Chaofah City Campus. This session is designed specifically for parents and will provide guidance on how best to support your child as they make important subject choices and begin considering future career pathways. We will explore:

• How subject choices can shape university and career opportunities.

• Balancing strengths, interests, and long-term goals.

• Practical tools and resources available to families.

• Common pitfalls to avoid in the decision-making process.

The talk will be led by our University Preparation (UPrep) team, with time for discussion and questions. We hope you will join us for this informative session, which will help you feel confident in supporting your child’s decision-making at this key stage. Ms Graham - Deputy Head of Upper Secondary

Secondary Curriculum & Pathway Parent Meeting on Thursday 25th September

We invite all Secondary parents to join us for our latest parent meeting when our Secondary team will introduce you to our Secondary Curriculum and talk you through the different pathways that your child can follow as the progress from Year 7 through to Year 13. It will also be a great opportunity to meet other parents and members of our community. Our Thai, Russian and Mandarin speaking admin teams will be on hand to provide translation services. We look forward to seeing you there! Thursday 25th September from 8:30-9:30am in the Secondary Indoor Learning Centre (SILC).

HeadStart Chergntalay’s Languages Department

At HeadStart Cherngtalay Campus, the Languages Department, under the leadership of Benjamin Salmon, exemplifies a professional commitment to open-minded and inclusive language education. This team of experienced educators — specialists in French, Mandarin, Russian and English as an Additional Language (EAL) - delivers a high standard of instruction from Year 1 to Year 9. They employ flexible methodologies and remain receptive to innovative practices, ensuring that students are not only well-prepared for exams such as IGCSE, A-level, HSK, and DELF but also develop a nuanced understanding of language in cultural context.

The department’s approach is grounded in fostering acceptance and understanding of different worldviews, encouraging students to engage with unfamiliar cultures and ideas without bias. This focus on global-mindedness aligns with the school’s broader educational values and contributes meaningfully to the personal and academic growth of each learner. Their dedication to maintaining an open and collaborative learning environment continues to enhance student outcomes across all levels.

Dragons Victorious in Epic Tug of War

In an fantastic display of strength and teamwork, our Secondary students battled it out in a highly anticipated Tug of War competition. The event was filled with cheers and effort as each House gave their absolute best. While the Red Phoenixes and the Blue Tigers put up a fierce fight to finish in fourth and third, the grand final was a nail-biter between the Yellow Cheetahs and the Green Dragons. In a final, powerful pull, the Green Dragons secured their well-deserved victory, proving that strength and collaboration are a winning combination. What a fantastic competition! Ms Thompson - House Coordinator

Panthers Football Season Kicks Off

The HeadStart Panthers Cherngtalay teams kicked off their seasons with some exciting and action-packed fixtures. Each team featured a mix of returning players and fresh talent, all eager to get the ball rolling with competitive matches. The U11 and U9 Boys teams welcomed opposition from UWC. Both matches provided a fantastic opportunity for the players to gain valuable match experience in a friendly yet competitive atmosphere.

Our U13 Boys team faced a strong side from our Choafah City campus, offering a great learning experience in preparation for upcoming tournaments later this term. With more matches and tournaments on the horizon, the teams will continue to train hard and put their learning into practice. Keep up the great work, Boys! Coach Rothwell - Football Coach

First Chess Tournament of the School Year

What an amazing chess tournament! This time we had 30 players competing, and 8 of them were talented Under 8 players showing incredible potential. It was great to see everyone engaged, thinking ahead, and making brilliant moves on the board! Our September chess tournament results:

Winner:Georgiy (6 Blue Chaofah City)2nd Place:Luka (12 Blue Chaofah City)3rd Place:Tigran (9 Blue Cherngtalay)Best Girl:Poppy (9 White Chaofah City)Best Under 8 Player: Remy (3 Yellow Chaofah City)

Huge thanks to 50 Fly Trampoline Club Phuket and other sponsors for constant support and helping to make yet another tournament exceptional. The next tournament will be held on 11th October. See you there!

Refining Finger Skills for Handwriting in Russian Language Classes

In Russian language classes, we pay a lot of attention to discipline and preparing the hand for writing. We do finger exercises in a fun way, which the children really enjoy. Then we move on to neat handwriting. The students work very hard! Ms Kuzina - Russian Language Teacher

A Deeper Dive into Phonics: Celebrating Inquisitive Minds in Reception

This week in Reception was a whirlwind of curiosity and discovery as our students dived into our phonics journey with the Little Wandle Letters and Sounds Revised programme. Their inquisitiveness was on full display, with the children asking, “What else starts with that sound?” which shows they are making crucial connections between sounds and words.

In our one-on-one sessions, we worked to consolidate letter formation and build confidence with previously taught graphemes. In our whole-class sessions, our class puppet helped us introduce our new phoneme, ‘o,’ by modeling the correct mouth shape and guiding us as we practiced its formation with the Little Wandle phrase, “All around the octopus.” The students are now learning to blend simple CVC words through targeted games and small group work.

We encourage you to continue this learning at home! By reinforcing sounds, practicing handwriting, or simply asking “What sound did you learn today?”, you can make a significant difference in your child’s phonics journey. Miss Monica - Reception Yellow Teacher

Learner of the Month: A Spotlight on Mathematics

Last Friday, we celebrated our Learner of the Month Awards in the area of Mathematics. One student from each class was recognised for their effort, progress, and achievement in this important subject. It was inspiring to see how our young mathematicians have shown themselves to be resilient when faced with challenges, inquisitive in their problem-solving, and collaborative in supporting one another’s learning. We are so proud of all of our students who continue to grow in confidence and skill each day. Next month, our Learner of the Month focus will shift to Thai language, and we look forward to celebrating students who shine in this area of learning.

Sketching the Natural World: Observation Drawing in Year 7 Art

Year 7 have been learning about natural forms in art and this week they took their sketchbooks outside to make observational drawings in the school garden. The students used line and shading to capture what they saw. This activity encouraged them to look more closely at the natural world around them and to develop their drawing skills through direct observation. Ms Leow - Art & Design Teacher