Weekly Update #15, 04 December 2025

Friday 5th December – School Closed for Father’s Day

Please be reminded that on Friday 5th December school will be closed for Father’s Day celebrations. We will open again as usual on Monday 8th December.

Together for the South: Supporting Hat Yai Flood Victims

This week, our HeadStart community joined hands in support of the Together for the South of Thailand project, contributing essential supplies to assist those affected by the severe flooding in the southern provinces. We are pleased to share that all donations have been delivered to the Kusontam Foundation, which will coordinate the distribution of relief items to the flood-stricken areas.

We would also like to extend our sincere appreciation to our students and Thai parents who kindly dedicated their time to help pack the donated items during Thai First Language lessons. Their generosity and community spirit made this initiative truly meaningful.

Foundation Christmas Stay & Play 2025

We invite Foundation children and their parents to join our festive Christmas celebrations starting with our Foundation Christmas Stay & Play events. We encourage everyone to dress festively for the occasion and (keep it a secret!) not to forget to pay a visit to Santa Claus! Taking place in our Foundation classrooms and the ILC as follows:

• Tuesday 9th December from 8:30-10:00am – Preschool & Early Years Christmas Stay & Play

• Wednesday 10th December from 8:30-10:00am – Reception Christmas Stay & Play

Christmas Fair 2025

Welcoming all students and parents to our Christmas Fair taking place on the covered AstroPitch at HeadStart Cherngtalay campus on Wednesday 10th December from 13:30-16:00. There will be performances from all Primary classes starting at 13:30 interspersed with acts from our CAPA department and Secondary students as well as games and activities organised for younger children. We welcome everyone to join the event! Dress in festive colours and enjoy the music, performances, food and drink along with the rest of our community.

Please be informed that all adults visiting the Fair are required to show identification. Parents of HeadStart children should wear their Parent ID card and lanyard. If you do not have this, you will be asked to sign and collect a Visitor’s Pass. All other adults attending the event will need to obtain a Visitor’s Pass as well.

Krit Phaisamran – Class of 2025

Enrolled at HeadStart:Preschool – Year 13Results:A-Levels (1 x A*, 2 x A), IGCSEs (10 A*)Offers: Politics, Philosophy & Economics at Stanford University, Columbia, Yale, Dartmouth, Penn, and Princeton

“Receiving offers from five Ivy League universities and Stanford was a remarkable milestone, but it wasn’t a one-man show. I had the support of the entire school, giving me the confidence to fulfill my dreams. The UPrep team was invaluable, offering personalized feedback throughout the application process, while the teachers—true educators—constantly encouraged me to go beyond the syllabus to achieve my potential.

That supportive environment is what I will miss most. HeadStart is a close-knit community where everyone knows each other, from teachers to support staff. It’s that special atmosphere that I looked for in a university; in fact, Stanford’s collaborative culture reminds me a lot of HeadStart. While I’m excited to start this new chapter, nothing replaces the bond of a community I’ve been part of since Preschool.”

Celebrating the Generosity of our School Community

Congratulations HeadStart Cherngtalay children and their families! Our Phuket Sunshine Village Fundraising drive for Term 1 has now ended and we are so proud to announce that, as a school community, we have raised the amazing total of 253,454 Thai Baht! With the aim of raising 5,000 Thai Baht per PSV child, this means HeadStart Cherngtalay City campus has sponsored a fantastic 50 children at Phuket Sunshine Village. Special mention goes to all our Primary homerooms who raised donations through a variety of sponsored activities, our Secondary students who raised funds through the Kindness Fair and to families who generously sponsored a child!

Combined with the impressive sum of 390,268 Thai baht raised at our Chaofah City campus, this means the HeadStart community as a whole has raised a truly extraordinary 643,722 Thai Baht for the children of Phuket Sunshine Village! Such a contribution can make a huge difference to the lives of PSV children and serves to strengthen our ties with the local community and develop ways in which we can educate our own students to share the good fortune that we enjoy.

Year 2 Dunk the Teacher Fundraiser

Year 2 had an absolute blast this week as they took on the challenge of soaking their teachers with wet sponges—all in support of Phuket Sunshine Village. With great excitement (and impressive aim!), the children tried their best to hit their teachers square in the face, resulting in a fun, lively, and very wet afternoon filled with smiles and laughter. Thank you to all our families for your generosity and enthusiasm. Your support helped us raise funds for such a wonderful cause. The Year 2 Team

Our Dedicated Kitchen Staff

Behind every nutritious meal served at HeadStart is our hardworking kitchen team. These dedicated staff members arrive early each day to prepare fresh, healthy food that fuels our students for their learning and play. Everyone is also looking forward to our special Christmas Lunch next week as we get ready for the festive season. We are incredibly grateful for the care, hygiene standards, and warm smiles they bring to the cafeteria service every single day, ensuring our community is always well-fed and happy.

The U9 HeadStart Championships at Chaofah City

Last Saturday, the much anticipated Under 9 HeadStart Championships at our Chaofah City campus kicked off, showcasing the talent of our teams from both our school campuses alongside eight other competing teams, including international schools and football academies.

The tournament was a resounding success, characterized by a vibrant and positive atmosphere that energized both players and spectators alike. We are thrilled that both HeadStart teams advanced to the Plate semi-finals, with the final standings revealing Kajonkiet Suksa as Cup Winners, BISP in second place, Srisunthon Academy taking the Plate title, and HeadStart Chaofah City finishing as Plate runners-up.

A big thank you goes out to all the parents and coaches who contributed to making this event enjoyable for everyone involved. Coach Frost – Head Football Coach

📸 A full gallery of pictures can be downloaded here: U9 Championship Gallery

Aqua Panthers Dominate at International API 2025

Over the weekend, the Aqua Panthers hosted our fourth annual Aqua Panthers Invitational (API 2025), and it was a phenomenal success. We welcomed 230 athletes from across Phuket and Asia, including teams from South Korea and Hong Kong, creating an electric atmosphere on deck. The high level of competition spurred our swimmers to achieve numerous personal bests and break several HeadStart records.

We are proud to announce that the Aqua Panthers secured 1st Place overall, followed by BISP (2nd) and BCIS (3rd). A special congratulations goes to our top point earners from the Cherngtalay campus: Zlata T (78 Points), Annelisa F (63 Points), and Alex Z (46 Points). We extend a massive thank you to the volunteers and officials who made this event run so smoothly.

🥇 1st Place: Aqua Panthers
🥈 2nd Place: BISP
🥉 3rd Place: BCIS

Coach Brown – Head Swim Coach

📸 A full gallery of pictures can be downloaded here: API 2025

Swim Galas

We were delighted that our students from Years 1-6 experienced fantastically fun swim galas this week! Students displayed the Collaborative and Resilient Learner Attributes, as they worked together to earn points for their house across exciting activities from relays to collecting sinkers to jigsaw puzzles to water polo – to name a few. It was wonderful to see all the students supporting and encouraging each other: we are all very proud of you! A big thank you to all the parents who were able to come and support us. The PE Team

From Planning to Polishing: Developing Young Authors in KS3

In the past few weeks, our KS3 First Language Chinese students have been fully immersed in a scaffolded narrative writing task inspired by the Pixar short film Piper. This extended project guided them through the full writing cycle—planning, drafting, revising, and polishing their final text. For first-language writers, practising how to organise ideas coherently, use extended vocabulary, and depict scenes vividly is an essential part of their learning journey.

Throughout the process, students experimented with descriptive language to bring Piper’s world to life and learned how to strengthen their writing by paying careful attention to paragraphing, punctuation, and spelling. Many proudly shared that their stories became “more like real books” after revising the order of their ideas or enhancing the emotional depth of their scenes. This writing unit has not only built their narrative-writing techniques but also nurtured creativity, confidence, and resilience. Ms Wang – Mandarin Teacher/Languages Coordinator

CAPA Takes Centre Stage at Primary Assembly

The spotlight was on the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) at our 14th November assembly! We celebrated our Music learners for being creative, courageous, and resilient role models. A special congratulations goes to Miss Salli’s Cherngtalay LAMDA students, who achieved 100% Distinction grades—an incredible testament to their confidence and communication skills.

The audience enjoyed a beautiful choir performance of The Rose and an entertaining sneak peek of Alice the Musical. We are now feeling very festive and look forward to seeing every student perform at the Christmas Fair on Wednesday, 10th December!

LAMDA Christmas showcases at Cherngtalay

What a wonderful way to welcome the festive season! All of our LAMDA students have delighted us with their end of term performances showcasing their brilliant learning to their parents and peers. What incredible energy, commitment, confidence and skills have been demonstrated, we are so proud of how far you’ve come! Enormous thanks go to Miss Salli for making the classes so much fun and nurturing our students to shine! Congratulations to all 10 of our LAMDA classes for their great work!

An Early Christmas Treat from the Drama Club

Christmas came early on Friday 28th November as the Cherngtalay Drama Club ECA treated us to their end of term performance. It was great to see so many parents come along and support and it certainly put us in the festive spirit. The students chose their characters and Miss Salli then devised a script around these weaving them together into a lovely story with singing, movement and choral speaking. Thank you and well done for entertaining us and sprinkling some magic Drama Club. What will they do next term…you’ll have to wait and see!

The Mini CAPA Crew Bring a Gingerbread Man to Life

A gingerbread man came to life here on Monday as Mini CAPA showcased their end of term performance to their parents in the last session of term. Cute costumes, great props and an engaging script with musical numbers really brought the story to life and the holidays ever closer. A huge well done to the wonderful performers and to Miss April and Ms Pauline for a fabulous first show of the year by Mini CAPA.

Building Strength and Grace in Rhythmic Gymnastics

Our Year 1 to 3 students have been showing impressive dedication in their Rhythmic Gymnastics ECA. It has been wonderful to watch them develop the foundational skills of this demanding sport, combining elements of dance, ballet, and gymnastics into their routines.

The focus in recent sessions has been on building core strength, flexibility, and coordination. The girls are learning to control their movements with precision while keeping time to the music. It is a challenging discipline, but the resilience and creativity on display as they master these new physical skills is excellent to see.

Maximise Learning: New Growth Mindset ECAs for Terms 2 & 3

We are delighted to announce two new Extra-Curricular Activities for Terms 2 and 3, offered by our partners at Maximise Learning. For students in Years 4-6, the “Mind Craft” programme uses cognitive challenges and mindfulness practices to help children focus better, learn faster, and feel calmer. Sessions run on Fridays 15:10-16:00.

For our Year 7-9 students, the “I Am an Influencer” workshop helps students discover their voice and make an impact through growth mindset strategies. These sessions take place on Fridays 16:10-17:00. Registration is open now on the Parent Portal.

Parachute Playtime!

Foundation students had a fantastic time with the parachute this week. They worked together to lift the canopy high while singing along to the rhythm. Running underneath was a highlight – a great way to build coordination and confidence through active play. Miss Una – Early Years Yellow Teacher

Year 1 Parent Open Day

The parent event for Dear Zoo went very well, with a warm and positive atmosphere throughout. The children were excited to join in and fully enjoyed participating in the storytelling and discussions. It was wonderful to see them so engaged, eagerly sharing ideas and reacting to the animals in the story. Afterwards, the children worked productively with their parents on the related activities, showing great focus, teamwork, and enthusiasm. The event was a lovely opportunity for families to learn and create together. The Year 1 Team

An Unforgettable Experience at Phuket Old Farm for Year 6

Our Year 6 students had an unforgettable educational experience during their recent farm trip, where they immersed themselves in traditional agricultural practices and food preparation. The hands-on activities included planting rice in the paddies, with some brave students wading knee-deep into the water to get the full authentic experience. They learned the careful process of sifting rice for cooking and discovered how to transform fresh coconut into creamy coconut milk. Students ground aromatic spices by hand to create authentic curry paste and watched a fascinating demonstration of rubber tapping from trees.

The adventure continued with tin panning in the water, where students once again rolled up their pants and stepped in knee-deep to try their luck. The day concluded with a delicious treat of fresh pineapple, picked and enjoyed right on the farm. This memorable trip gave our students a deeper appreciation for where their food comes from, the traditional skills that have been passed down through generations, and the agricultural heritage of our region. The Year 6 Team

Learning about Animal Welfare & Conservation at Phuket Elephant Sanctuary

Our Year 5 students demonstrated true HeadStart spirit at the Elephant Sanctuary, focusing on animal welfare and conservation. Feeding the elephants and observing them from the canopy walk offered a practical lesson in empathy. The students approached the experience with respect, deepening their understanding of how we can protect natural habitats. The Year 5 Team

Secondary Students of the Month

Congratulations to our Secondary Students of the Month for demonstrating the learner attribute of Kindness. These students have shown genuine care both in their subjects and around the school, acting as positive role models for our whole community. Looking ahead, next month’s focus is Open-Mindedness. We encourage all students to listen to others, try new ideas, and approach challenges with a positive attitude. We look forward to seeing everyone’s best efforts as they work towards becoming our next Students of the Month.

Student Council Steps Up

Our Secondary Student Council members are showing fantastic leadership skills this term. They recently attended a planning meeting to organise activities for the upcoming Christmas Fair. It was inspiring to see them preparing to run activity stands and support our Primary students, ensuring everyone has a memorable time. Their dedication to service and helping others really sets a positive example for the school. Thank you! Ms Matsushita – Deputy Head of Secondary

Sea-Rene Studio

We are delighted to welcome you to the soft opening of Kru BT’s (HeadStart’s parent yoga instructor) new Yoga Studio; Sea-Rene Studio. The soft opening will be an Inversion and Handstand workshop, led by HeadStart Swim Coach Ella Ackerman (also a certified yoga instructor). The workshop will be tailored for all levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners, in a safe and fun environment; so don’t be shy to attend. Please check out the flier for all the information you need to know. See you on the mat… where balance begins within.

OH NO IT ISN’T! Get Ready to Shout, Sing, and Cheer!

Forget the tragedy! Theatrix proudly presents Romeo and Juliet: The Panto, which takes Shakespeare’s classic star-crossed lovers and transforms their tale into a hilarious, loud, and incredibly interactive family comedy.

Expect dazzling songs, slapstick routines, terrible jokes, and plenty of opportunities to cheer for the heroes and boo the villains! This is Phuket’s must-see holiday show for all ages.

WHERE: Junkyard Theatre (Bypass Road – next to IKEA)DATES & TIMES:

• Sunday, Dec. 7th, (Matinee) – 1:00pm
• Monday 8th – 6:30pm
• Tuesday 9th – 6:30pm
• Thursday 11th – 6:30pm
• Friday 12th – 6:30pm

TICKETS: Book Now! https://www.junkyardtheatre.com/copy-of-shows (Select the date and reserve now)

All Ages: 850.00 THB

Ages 2 and under enter FREE!

Get in Early for Phuket’s biggest, funniest family night out!

Pre-order Special Christmas Goodies

Dear Parents, With the holiday season just around the corner, I’m excited to share special festive Christmas goodies for you and your family. This year, I’ve prepared a selection of homemade delicious cookies and fun DIY kids’ activity sets (Ginger Bread House, Polar Express Train, Reindeer & Sleigh) — perfect for creating joyful, hands-on moments together. If you’d like to pre order some of the items please feel free to reach out. I’d be happy to help make your holiday season a little sweeter and a lot more magical! Alexandra (HeadStart mum with two boys)

The Flying Lizard, Thalang

The recently opened Flying Lizard Family Club is only 3 mins from the HeadStart Cherngtalay campus and currently has an Opening Promotion for all HeadStart families. Show that you are a HeadStart family at the entrance for free entry for all family members (usually 400THB per child). Whether it’s an after school coffee or weekend family time, Flying Lizard have you covered! https://flylizard.com/

Just Run Phuket

The “Just Run Phuket” weekly run has been a wonderful success, and it’s been brilliant to see so many of our HeadStart parents and teachers joining in the fun. Don’t miss out on the next one! It’s a free, friendly run for all levels, with various pace groups. Meet every Saturday at 7:15 AM at Open Kitchen (opposite Cassia) for a 7:30 AM start. It’s a perfect way to get active and connect with our amazing community.

Festive Events at Thanyapura