Weekly Update #7, 3 October 2025

Parent Committee Term 1 Meeting

At HeadStart, we believe a strong partnership with our parent community is the foundation of our students’ success. Your perspective and feedback are vital as we work together to create a learning environment where every student can thrive.

In this spirit of collaboration, the HeadStart Cherngtalay Parent Committee will hold its Term 1 meeting with the school’s Management team on Wednesday, 29th October.

This meeting is your forum to be heard. To ensure your points can be included in the agenda, we invite you to email any questions or topics to the Committee by the end of the day on Wednesday, 22nd October.

Please send your submissions directly to: [email protected].

The Committee looks forward to representing you and continuing our work together for the betterment of our students and community.

Wai Kru (Teacher Appreciation) Ceremony

We warmly invite our students and parents to join us for the annual Wai Kru Ceremony, a cherished Thai tradition centered on showing profound respect and gratitude to teachers.

This culturally significant event is a heartfelt opportunity for our students to formally thank their teachers for their guidance, dedication, and inspiration. During the ceremony, students will present a floral tribute as a symbol of their appreciation.

Students are invited to participate by bringing flowers or a small floral arrangement to present on the day. We hope you can join us to share in this memorable cultural tradition with your children.

• Foundation: Wednesday, 8th October – 08:45 – Primary ILC

• Primary & Secondary: Thursday, 9th October – 08:15 – Sports Hall

Get Ready for Fun, Food & Friends Friday, 10th October!

Join us for a vibrant afternoon as our much-loved Friday Market returns! The Atrium will be buzzing with excitement, offering the perfect way to end the school week and welcome the weekend.

Treat yourself to freshly baked goods, cool down with delicious gelato or a freshly made fruit drink, and browse unique stalls of scented candles and hand-crafted treasures.

Don’t miss out on the fun! We look forward to seeing you there.

Build Skills, Confidence, and Friendships This October Break!

Looking for a fun and rewarding way for your child to spend the upcoming half-term break (11th-19th October)? Our sports camps are the perfect opportunity to turn free time into an adventure in learning and growth.

Guided by our expert coaches, your child will not only improve their technique but also develop teamwork, boost their confidence, and make new friends in a supportive and energetic environment.

Choose from our exciting programmes:

• Swim Camp @ HeadStart Cherngtalay campus: An opportunity for Academy swimmers to prepare for then upcoming BISP Pentathlon and Aqua Panthers Invitational (API).

• Swim Lessons @ HeadStart Chaofah City campus: Perfect for building water confidence or taking skills to the next level.

• Football and Basketball @ HeadStart Chaofah City campus: Fast-paced drills, fun games, and friendly matches.

Give your child a holiday break to remember! Check the posters below for full details on age groups, times, and prices, and book their spot today.

Russian Language Day Term 1

We are delighted to invite you to the Russian Language Day, which will take place at our Chaofah City Campus on Saturday, 25th October, from 09:00 – 12:00. The program will include:

• a talent show;

• board games;

• a shared meal.

Please note that pre-registration is required for the talent show, as the number of performances is limited due to time constraints. We kindly ask you to register in advance. To make our shared meal truly festive, we would greatly appreciate it if each family could contribute by bringing a traditional dish or beverage for the communal table.

In order to participate, we kindly ask all families to fill out the registration form. This will help us organize the event more effectively. Thank you for your continued support and active participation in school life. We are confident that, with your help, this celebration will be a bright and memorable event for all participants. The Russian Language Team

Приглашаем вас на День русского языка, который состоится в корпусе Chaofah City 25 октября (суббота) с 9:00 до 12:00. В программе мероприятия:

• шоу талантов;

• настольные игры;

• совместная трапеза.

Для участия в шоу талантов необходима предварительная регистрация, так как количество выступающих ограничено временем проведения праздника. Просим зарегистрироваться заранее.
С целью организации совместного обеда мы будем признательны, если каждая семья внесет вклад в общий стол, подготовив традиционное блюдо или напиток.

Для участия просим заполнить регистрационную форму. Это поможет нам организовать мероприятие более эффективно. Благодарим вас за поддержку и участие в жизни школы. Уверены, что с вашей помощью праздник пройдет на высоком уровне и станет ярким событием для всех участников. русскоязычная команда школы HeadStart

Positive Parenting in Practice: A Morning with Dr. Helene

This week, parents at HeadStart had the valuable opportunity to learn from Dr. Helene Laurent-Oliver, the esteemed Clinical Psychologist who supports students and families within our school community. With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Helene is an integral part of the school’s commitment to student wellbeing.

In her session on “Positive parenting,” she shared practical, evidence-based tools to build family calm and support healthy child development. Parents explored key topics including the power of routines, managing screen time, and effective strategies for anxiety and behaviour management. The session was highly interactive, creating a fantastic morning of shared learning and community support. A big thank you to all who attended and contributed to such a meaningful discussion, leaving everyone feeling empowered with new skills and confidence.

Forging Resilience: Meet HeadStart’s Physical Education (PE) Team

The sports field is one of the most effective classrooms for life, and our Physical Education (PE) team are expert guides. Their core mission is to cultivate individuals who possess true resilience and understand the power of teamwork. They teach that the strength to bounce back from a setback is a vital life skill, and that this is amplified when a team works together with trust and mutual support.

In every lesson, students learn this firsthand. A challenging match becomes a lesson in perseverance, while a complex team play teaches the power of clear communication and shared goals. The PE team fosters an environment where students learn to lift each other up after a mistake and celebrate their collective effort. They are building individuals who understand that the skills learned on the pitch are the same skills that will lead to success in their future studies, careers, and communities.

Hula Hooping Primary House Fun!

This week, the students had an exciting time hula hooping for their House Activity. Whilst this was a little bit of a challenge for the younger ones, they loved watching their older peers hula hoop their way to winning House points! While the Blue Tigers and Yellow Cheetahs hula’d their way to fourth and third places, the Red Phoenixes came in gallant runners-up to the Green Dragons, adding to the points of each team. Ms Thompson – House Coordinator

Red Phoenixes Take a Halfway Lead!

As we approach the halfway stage of our Term 1 House competition, congratulations go to the Red Phoenixes on their well-deserved first place! With the Yellow Cheetahs, Green Dragons, and Blue Tigers hot on their heels, their is still so much to play for in the race to win the Term 1 House prize. May the best House be victorious!

A Wave of Success: HeadStart Aqua Panthers Swim Team Shines!

What an incredible start to the season for the HeadStart Aqua Panthers Swim Team! From our youngest swimmers to our most senior athletes, the entire squad showcased the spirit, determination, and supportive culture that defines our programme. The weekend was filled with moments of triumph for everyone involved.

We celebrated our elite swimmers who broke 12 school records, our dedicated athletes who achieved impressive personal bests through sheer hard work, and our courageous first-time competitors who swam brilliantly. Every single swimmer contributed to the team’s success and the fantastic atmosphere. Congratulations to all our athletes and coaches – to put it simply: you are crushing it!

The future looks bright as we head to the BISP Pentathlon on 25th October and the Aqua Panthers Invitational (API) coming up at the end of November!

Eyes on the Prize: U9 Boys Sharpen Skills for Tournament Season

With tournament season on the horizon, the U9 Boys Panthers continued their preparations with a high-energy friendly against UWC. The match was a perfect opportunity to put their training into practice, and the boys showed the focus and determination of a team ready for bigger challenges. Their ability to consistently create shots on target against a strong opponent is a fantastic indicator of their progress. Well done, Panthers! Coach Paul Rothwell

Your Move: The Second Chess Tournament of the Year Awaits!

Calling all aspiring grandmasters to our second Student Chess Tournament of the academic year! This is your chance to showcase your skills, test your strategy, and compete for the top spots and great prizes totaling 4000 THB, with medals and a bunch of other attractive awards!

🗓️ Date: Saturday, 11th October

🕘 Time: Attendance check 11:00

📍 Location: Canteen, Chaofah City Campus

To secure your place, please register with Coach Dawid soon. Please note that a double entry fee applies for registration on the day of the tournament.

The Stage is Calling: Performers Wanted!

Calling all singers, dancers, actors, and rising stars! We’re looking for you to bring your energy and creativity to our weekly assemblies and upcoming school events. This is your chance to gain valuable performance experience, showcase your hard work, and electrify our school community. We want to see what you can do!

Sign up to perform here, and a member of our CAPA team will be in touch!

Year 6 Students Rise to Russian Grammar Challenge

Our Year 6 Russian students took on a challenging but essential topic this week: mastering sentence structure to build their future writing confidence. To bring the theory to life, they explored the topic in a variety of engaging formats, from interactive games and support cards to creating their own sentence diagrams. This hands-on approach allowed them to put complex punctuation rules into practice immediately, building their understanding step by step.

The highlight of the lesson was seeing this learning ignite into a passionate debate, as groups discussed whether a comma belonged in a tricky sentence. Their determination to prove their reasoning was fantastic to see, showcasing not just their progress in grammar, but also their impressive resilience and collaborative spirit. It was a brilliant example of students taking on a tough challenge and succeeding together.

Fostering Inquisitive Learners in the Early Years

Every great discovery begins with a simple question. This week, we celebrated our Inquisitive learners in Early Years Yellow as they became young scientists in their very own light laboratory. By experimenting with a glowing light dome, they asked questions and tested their theories – what happens when colours mix, or how are shadows made? Their pride in the colourful patterns they created was clear, with each new swirl representing a successful experiment. By encouraging this natural curiosity, we are planting the seeds of critical thinking and nurturing the innovative minds of the future.

📸 A full album of photos from this activity can be found here: Light Laboratory Activity Gallery

Meet Your Primary Student Leaders!

Let’s give a big HeadStart welcome to our 2025-26 Primary Student Council and Leadership team! This fantastic group of students is already leading with enthusiasm, full of brilliant ideas to make our school an even more vibrant and welcoming place for everyone. Their dedication to listening to their friends and championing new ideas is truly impressive.

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf? Certainly not our Year 1s!

The story of “The Three Little Pigs” came to life in our classrooms this week. Through hands-on role-play, our young learners didn’t just listen to the story, they acted it out – huffing, puffing, and building houses of straw, sticks, and bricks. The room was filled with laughter as they brought the tale to life, and this inquiry-led method is key to our teaching approach. By actively participating, children internalise the story’s patterned language and develop their own storytelling abilities, all while proving just how much fun learning can be.

A full album of photos from the this activity can be found here: Traditional Tales Gallery

Celebrating Success Beyond the Classroom

We are always incredibly proud to celebrate the achievements of our students, not just within our school walls but also in the wider community. It’s fantastic to see their hard work, dedication, and passion shine in a variety of sports. A huge congratulations to our most recent achievers!

• A big well done to Liam (5 White)forreaching the finals in the Boy’s Doubles (U12)at theOceanic Junior Challenger Tennis Tournament!

• Congratulations to Gosha (5 White)forsecuring an impressive second place in the U10 categoryat theBISP Tennis Tournament!

• Brilliant work from Jessica (5 Yellow)forearning a Bronze medalat the‘Back to School Swim Meet 2025’held atThanyapura!

• And a massive congratulations to Tiger (6 White)forplacing as 2nd Runner Upat theSingha Krungthai Junior Golf Championship! We are exceptionally proud to announce that with this result, he hasqualified for the Junior World Championship in 2025!

Well done to all of you for representing yourselves and the HeadStart spirit so brilliantly. We are all cheering you on!