Weekly Update #10, 31 October 2025

In Remembrance of Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother

HeadStart International School is deeply saddened by the passing of Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother, whose grace and dedication to her people have left an indelible mark. Our heartfelt thoughts are with the royal family and the people of Thailand during this time of profound loss.

On Monday morning, our school community at both Chaofah and Cherngtalay campuses came together for a special assembly in her remembrance. Students and staff joined in paying their respects, observing a two-minute silence, and honouring her legacy through the playing of the Thai National and Royal Anthems. It was a solemn and unified occasion for our school to join with the people of Thailand in their mourning.

Sparking Curiosity: Science Week 2025

Science Week is here from 3rd to 7th November, and it promises to be an exciting, hands-on experience for all students. Under the theme “Framing the Unknown,” the week will be packed with live demonstrations, engineering challenges, and interactive lunchtime experiments.

In addition to these activities, we are running two exciting competitions:

• Year 6 & Secondary: Two competitions are open. “I Wonder Why…?” asks students to write 250 words on science’s most important question. “I Wonder What…” is an abstract photo challenge to spark curiosity. Entries for both should be submitted to Dr Marsh [email protected] by 5th November.

Loy Krathong Celebrations

We are pleased to invite all students to participate in our Loy Krathong celebrations on Wednesday, 5th November 2025. To honour this beautiful Thai festival, students will engage in special cultural activities during their Thai classes, including making and floating their own Krathongs and participating in traditional Thai dancing. Our Foundation students will also enjoy a dedicated Loy Krathong assembly. To celebrate this wonderful occasion, all students are welcome to come to school dressed in traditional Thai costume for the day.

A Fun Morning for a Great Cause: Join the Child-Watch Run for Children!

Every step you take makes a difference. For over two decades, the Child-Watch Phuket Foundation has been a vital safe haven for abused and at-risk children in our community. On Sunday, 9th November, join us for a morning of purpose and solidarity as we run to protect the most vulnerable among us.

Your participation helps fund critical projects that give these children a chance for a safe and healthy future. Let’s come together to show them our support.

Event Details:

• What: Child-Watch Phuket 22nd Run For Children, featuring 10.5km and 3.5km distance races.

• When: Sunday, 9th November 2025. Registration opens at 4:30AM, with the first run starting at 5:40AM.

• Where: Prince of Songkhla University, Phuket

• Why: To raise crucial funds and awareness for Child-Watch Phuket, helping to provide a safe future for children in need.

Sign up today using the QR code below to join one of the two distance runs. And once registered, let us know and we will give you a FREE Team HeadStart t-shirt for each entrant. We look forward to seeing many members of our school community at this local charitable event.

Toddler Playgroup on Selected Wednesdays

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 selected 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. Our next session is on Wednesday 12th November. We look forward to hearing from you.

Book A Stall For Our Next Friday Market!

We warmly invite you to join us as a vendor! The Friday Market is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the school community and share products that support our values. As part of HeadStart’s commitment to sustainability and healthy living, all items sold must be eco-friendly and/or health-focused.

📅 Friday, 14th November

🕒 14:40 – 16:30

Friday Market Guidelines:

• Eco-friendly theme: Please avoid plastic and foam packaging.

• Healthy food only: No candy or junk food allowed.

• Table booking: First come, first served.

• Parent vendor rotation: Parents may book a stall every other market (unless filling a last-minute vacancy).

• Electricity: Let us know in advance if your stall requires power.

• Set-up time: From 2:20 pm

• Sales start: Parents & Foundation children – 2:40 pm; Students – 3:00 pm

• Market closes: 4:30 pm

• No-shows: Vendors who don’t attend without notice will not be allowed to book again (except to fill last-minute spots).

If you have any questions or would like to book a stall, please feel free to get in touch with Khun Newle in the admin office or email [email protected]. We’re looking forward to another vibrant market season and hope to see you there!

CAPA Senior presents Little Shop of Horrors…

Join us on 26th & 27th November at 6pm at our Chaofah City campus as our CAPA HeadStars, Production Band and Chorus bring this iconic, Broadway musical hit to HeadStart International School, Phuket.

Step onto Skid Row and meet the perpetually unlucky Seymour Krelborn, who finds unexpected fame and romance with a mysterious, rapidly growing plant he names Audrey II. It’s a witty tale that explores themes of desperation, consumerism, and unexpected consequences—all set to a fantastic, catchy soundtrack! This is an exploration of classic dark comedy and musical theatre, packed with memorable characters and show-stopping Motown-inspired numbers like “Suddenly, Seymour” and “Skid Row (Downtown).” It’s the perfect blend of satire and spectacular fun!

Mark your calendar and experience the critically acclaimed musical that has delighted audiences worldwide. Tickets go on sale from 3pm on Friday 7th November with the link in next week’s Weekly Update. Don’t miss your chance to see the wonderful talents of our students in this musical masterpiece!

Parent Meeting: End of Term 1 Assessments, Revision, Reports, and Grades

We invite all Primary parents to an important meeting on Thursday, 6th November, from 8:30-9:30am in the Secondary ILC. Our academic team will provide a clear overview of the End of Term 1 assessment process.

The session will cover the format of your child’s upcoming exams, provide practical guidance on how you can support their preparation, and explain how their progress will be formally reported to you. Our Thai, Russian, and Mandarin-speaking admin teams will be on hand to provide translation. We look forward to seeing you there.

Your Feedback Matters

We greatly appreciate your contribution to the life of our school. Feedback will help us improve the quality of your children’s education. We appreciate your active participation and look forward to your questions and feedback. Please fill out this form.

We kindly ask you to complete the survey by no later than 11 November. Please provide detailed answers to the survey questions.

We would also like to invite you to a meeting for Russian-speaking parents which will be held on 20 November from 8:30 to 9:30am in the Secondary Indoor Learning Centre (ILC).

Ваше мнение важно для нас

Мы очень ценим ваш вклад в жизнь нашей школы. Обратная связь поможет нам улучшить образовательный путь ваших детей. Мы благодарны за ваше активное участие и с нетерпением ждем ваших вопросов и отзывов. Заполните эту анкету, пожалуйста.

Мы просим вас заполнить анкету не позднее 11 ноября родителей северного кампуса (Cherngtalay).

Пожалуйста, отвечайте на вопросы анкеты развернуто.

Также хотим пригласить вас на собрание для русскоязычных родителей. В Северном кампусе (Чернгталай) собрание состоится 20 ноября с 8:30 до 9:30 Secondary Indoor Learning Centre (ILC).

HeadStart’s Wonderful Housekeeping Team

Our Housekeeping team plays a vital role in keeping our school clean, safe, and welcoming for students, staff, and parents. From sparkling classrooms to spotless common areas, they ensure every corner of campus is tidy, comfortable, and ready for learning. Their cheerful smiles, warm greetings, and helping hands bring a sense of care and friendliness that brightens everyone’s day.

Beyond daily cleaning, they support school events and lunchtimes with efficiency and heart, creating a truly positive atmosphere. Their attention to detail and proactive approach in managing a whole range of daily tasks contributes significantly to the wellbeing of our community. We are deeply grateful for their hard work, kindness, and dedication—thank you for making HeadStart shine!

Red Phoenixes and Yellow Cheetahs Tie for First in Skipping Challenge

Congratulations to the Red Phoenixes and Yellow Cheetahs, our joint winners in the Primary skipping competition last Friday, 24th October! It was fantastic to see students having so much fun as they skipped their way to earning valuable House Points.

The challenge was adapted for different ages, with older students completing ten skips in a row for a point and younger students completing five. A special thank you to our capable House Captains, who did a wonderful job teaching proper skipping technique and encouraging all the participants. Well done to everyone who took part! Ms Thompson – House Coordinator

Aqua Panthers Make Waves at BISP Swim Meet

A huge congratulations to our 117 Aqua Panthers who put on a phenomenal display of skill at the BISP swim meet this weekend. Despite a rainy start for our 10 & under swimmers, the team showed incredible resilience, achieving an outstanding 184 personal best times across the event. Our 11 & over swimmers then took over the pool in the afternoon, racing with incredible energy to cap off a fantastic day of competition.

The celebration continued as Fima (8 Blue Chaofah City campus) secured the top prize, earning the High Point Trophy for the 11-12 boys’ category. His fantastic result led a wave of success, with six other swimmers also placing in the top three for their age groups: Se-a (2nd – 4 White Choafah City), Alisa (3rd – 4 White Choafah City), Lochy (2nd – 4 Blue Cherngtalay), Ratmir (2nd – 6 Blue Chaofah City), Rita (3rd – 6 Yellow Chaofah City), and Vennie B (2nd – 12 White Chaofah City). This was a true showcase of sportsmanship and the outstanding results of our swimmers’ hard work.Coach Brown – Head Swim Coach

AquaPanthers Invitational – Volunteers Needed!

On the weekend of 29th – 30th November, our Cherngtalay campus will host the AquaPanthers Invitational (API), welcoming swimmers of all ages from across Phuket and beyond. This exciting event is only possible with the support of our Swim Academy Team, our staff, and our fantastic parent community. We are currently looking for parent volunteers to assist with essential competition tasks, including timing and supporting the swimmers. If you are interested in getting involved or want to find out more, please contact our Head Swim Coach, Zak Brown, at [email protected]

Panthers Showcase Skill and Resilience in Packed Football Week

A huge congratulations to our HeadStart Panthers Football Academy on another action-packed week of fixtures. The U11 Boys showcased their grit against a strong Kajonkiet Thalang side, with Eduardo Abreu-Counsell scoring a fantastic long-range strike. Our U9 team also demonstrated their hard work from the training pitch in their match against Chaofa, capped off by an outstanding individual display from Aleksandr Pashov, who showed impressive speed, determined defence, and scored a superb goal.

The fantastic effort continued later in the week as the U9 Boys travelled to Finnway. Facing challenging conditions, the team displayed their trademark ‘Never Give Up’ attitude and created excellent goal-scoring opportunities. This resilience and determination are exactly what we aim to foster in our athletes. With the season now in full swing and the PISAC tournament fast approaching, we are incredibly proud of our players and look forward to celebrating more successes.

Come & See Me Swim

We are delighted to invite our Foundation parents to our “Come and See Me Swim” sessions, which will take place from Monday, 10th November to Friday, 14th November. This is a wonderful, informal opportunity to come and observe how we support your children during their regular swimming lessons and see their growing confidence in the water. Find the schedule in the poster below 👇

PISAC Junior Cross Country Championship

HeadStart celebrated a spectacular outing at the recent PISAC Cross Country Championship, with our junior teams bringing home major individual medals. Rising star James (4 Yellow Cherngtalay Campus) showcased exceptional speed and stamina, securing the coveted Gold Medal in the Boys U9 race. Not to be outdone, Mailin (4 Yellow Cherngtalay Campus) displayed true competitive spirit in the Girls U9 event, crossing the line to claim an impressive Bronze Medal.

These fantastic individual achievements were the highlights of a highly positive report from all four of our junior teams: the U9 Boys, U9 Girls, U11 Boys, and U11 Girls. Their strong performances underscore the dedication of our athletes and the quality of the school’s sports training. We look forward to seeing these runners carry their success into the Track & Field team starting in Term 2.

Thai Teachers Join HeadStart for Professional Learning Experience

We were delighted to welcome visiting Primary teachers from Wat Muang Mai School,Ban Bangtao School,Ban Cherngtalay (Tantiwit) School, andSri Sunthon Kindergarten to our Cherngtalay Campus from 27–31 October 2025.

The visit provided wonderful opportunities to observe lessons, share experiences, and exchange ideas to enhance teaching and classroom management. It was inspiring to see teachers connect and learn from one another. This collaboration reflects HeadStart’s commitment to supporting educational excellence and building strong partnerships with local schools in Phuket. We look forward to continuing this meaningful initiative in the future.Kru Dia – School Director

Celebrating Creativity & Community: A Joyful Russian Language Day

Our school recently celebrated its beloved Russian Language Day, a true festival of creativity and community! Over a hundred students, parents, teachers, and friends gathered to honor the beauty and richness of the Russian language. The celebration opened with a Talent Show, featuring songs, dances, poetry, and gymnastics that won enthusiastic applause. The concert ended with a group song, filling the hall with unity and inspiration. Afterwards, guests enjoyed games, friendly activities, and a shared lunch, full of laughter and smiles. We warmly thank our parents for their support and enthusiasm, which made the day so memorable.

You can download a full gallery of pictures here: Russian Language Day Gallery

Праздник творчества и общности: Яркий день русского языка

В нашей школе недавно прошел любимый всеми День русского языка, ставший настоящим праздником творчества и общности! Более ста учеников, родителей, учителей и друзей собрались, чтобы отдать дань уважения красоте и богатству русского языка. Торжество открылось концертом талантов, где прозвучали песни, танцы, стихотворения и были показаны гимнастические номера, сорвавшие бурные аплодисменты. Концерт завершился общей песней, наполнив зал чувством единения и вдохновения. После этого гости с удовольствием участвовали в играх, дружеском общении и совместном обеде, которые прошли в атмосфере смеха и улыбок. Мы от всей души благодарим наших родителей за поддержку и энтузиазм, которые сделали этот день таким запоминающимся.

Вы можете скачать полную галерею фотографий по ссылке: Галерея «День русского языка»

Halloween Stay & Play

Thank you to our wonderful Foundation parents and teachers at Cherngtalay for making our Halloween Stay & Play such a vibrant success. The campus was filled with fantastic costumes and a truly joyful atmosphere as parents joined their children in the classrooms.

Events like these are a cornerstone of the HeadStart community. They provide a valuable opportunity for parents to connect with one another and with our dedicated Foundation team, all while sharing in their child’s learning environment. We are grateful to everyone who attended and contributed to such a memorable morning of community building.

A full gallery of the event can be downloaded here: Halloween Stay & Play Photo Gallery

Our First School Trip in Early Years

Our first school trip of the year to Aquaria was a truly magical experience for the children. There was great excitement as everyone boarded the school buses, a highlight in and of itself! During our visit, the children were fascinated by the incredible sea life on display. They watched sharks swim gracefully overhead, observed snakes up close, and were delighted to meet a real-life mermaid. It was a memorable day filled with curiosity, wonder, and joy.

Reception Blue’s First Assembly Performance!

Thank you to all the families who joined Reception Blue for their very first assembly performance! The children were absolutely wonderful as they sang with enthusiasm and showed off their amazing dance moves inspired by one of their favourite stories, The Gruffalo. It was such a joy to see their confidence shine on stage and to watch how much fun they had bringing the story to life. We are so proud of their hard work, teamwork, and growing love for performing and storytelling! The Foundation Team

Halloween Dress Up Day!

It was a day of spook-tacular fun for our annual Halloween Dress-Up Day! Our Primary students showed great creativity with their costumes, arriving as a fantastic mix of superheroes, witches, wizards, and ghouls (and Beetlejuice!). The effort from both students and parents was wonderful to see.

A highlight of the day was the Halloween Dress-Up Parade, which gave everyone a chance to show off their outfits. Classrooms were also filled with fun (and a few spooky surprises!) as students took part in special Halloween-themed lessons and activities. Well done to all our Primary students and staff for making the day so spirited and enjoyable. The upcoming photos really capture the fun!

A full gallery of the event can be downloaded here: Halloween Primary Dress Up Photo Gallery

Year 8 Design & Technology Blends Art with Geology

In Design & Technology (DT), Year 8 students are exploring the intersection of natural science and practical design. Their latest project involves creating jewellery inspired by the geological formations of agate quartz, learning to mimic these natural patterns by laminating layers of coloured paper and glue. This hands-on process teaches valuable technical skills, including precise cutting, shaping, sanding, and polishing techniques. The project provides a tangible way for students to apply design principles, understand material properties, and appreciate the link between the natural world and artistic creation. We look forward to showcasing their finished pieces shortly.

Learning in our School Garden

Our school garden is more than just a place to grow plants; it’s a living classroom where curiosity blooms and lessons take root. As students connect with nature and learn valuable lessons about sustainability and patience, they develop a deeper appreciation for the environment and the cycle of life. This hands-on experience allows them to see firsthand how small actions, like planting a single seed, can lead to incredible growth and a more beautiful world.

Outstanding Creativity: A Showcase of Secondary Art

We are incredibly impressed by the outstanding work our Secondary art students have produced this term. They have been diligently honing their technical skills, with different year groups exploring specific creative challenges and delivering fantastic results.

Year 7 students have demonstrated remarkable focus while mastering colour and texture through a vibrant still life project. Using oil pastels and acrylic paints, they practised essential techniques such as blending and colour mixing. The results are truly impressive; by carefully considering the light source, they built up tones and highlights to create stunning three-dimensional artworks.

Moving into Year 8, students focused on the intricate details of natural forms, taking inspiration from mushrooms. This project was designed to develop their watercolour painting techniques, requiring careful observation and control. Their hard work has clearly paid off, significantly improving both their confidence and skill with the medium.

In Year 9, students tackled the technical challenge of perspective drawing, producing highly imaginative cityscapes. They thoroughly learned the principles of one-point and two-point perspective, using vanishing points and horizon lines to create a compelling illusion of depth. The complexity and creativity in their final pieces are exceptional.