Weekly Update #21, 06 February 2026

International Day 2026

We are delighted to extend a warm invitation to all our families to join us for our International Day celebrations. This event promises to be a vibrant and culturally enriching experience, showcasing the diversity that makes our school community so special.

📆 Date: Friday 13th March 2025

⏰ Time: 14:30-16:30

📍 Venue: Cherngtalay Campus

Our International Day event will feature a colourful array of cultural performances, international cuisine, interactive exhibits, and a warm atmosphere of unity. It’s an excellent opportunity for us to come together, celebrate our global community, and foster a deeper understanding of the rich tapestry of cultures represented at HeadStart.

We encourage families to collaborate with one another to run booths representing their shared country or region. This may include preparing performances and organising booths that serve food, as well as displays during the half term break.

We would be honoured by your presence as we celebrate diversity, promote cultural exchange, and strengthen the bonds that make HeadStart International School a truly international learning environment.

Registration & Tent Booking

To register and book a tent to represent the culture of your country, please complete this registration form: International Day 2026 Registration Form Cherngtalay Campus

Please note the following conditions:

• This event is dedicated to showcasing your culture and traditions. We encourage participants to share their unique heritage and offer visitors a chance to learn about your country.

• Any products or items distributed at the event should be offered free of charge to ensure the spirit of generosity and cultural exchange.

Tent Information:

• There are 19 tents available in total for booking.

• Tents are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

• The Events team reserves the right to change the order of tent bookings if necessary.

Additionally, this event is a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with your fellow community members and strengthen connections. To facilitate this, we request:

• Each country has one representative to register and book the tent.

• Permission is given to share your email with other members of your community to help you coordinate effectively.

• If there are duplicate registrations from the same country, our Events team will inform you of other representatives’ email addresses to streamline communication and teamwork.

Performance Registration

This is a unique opportunity to showcase your traditional dance or any cultural performance from your country.

We request a maximum of 2 performances per country to ensure diversity and balance in the schedule. Performances should be group-based, emphasizing unity and collaboration within your community.

👉 Registration is now open! For any questions, please write to: [email protected]

Our Events team will assist in connecting members of the same community to work together on tents and performances.

Calling All Academy Athletes – 24 Hours to Make a Difference @ Chaofah City Campus

It’s that time again when we rally all of our Academy Athletes, Coaches, and Parents together in order to raise much-needed funds for our chosen charity in the ‘24 Hours to make a Difference’ event. Following this week’s launch assemblies, we are delighted to share information about our chosen charitable foundation for this year – Life Home Project Foundation. Find out all about the invaluable work they do and how the funds raised by our Academy athletes will help support this foundation based in the Koh Sirey area of Phuket. We look forward to working with our sporting academies and wider community to raise funds and awareness for this important foundation.

Sports Days 2026

We welcome parents to join us for our Sports Days next week – an opportunity to watch your child take part in fun fitness events with their friends.

Parent Pass

For safeguarding reasons, all parents must wear their Parent Pass at all times while on site. If you do not have your Parent Pass, you will be asked to exchange one form of ID (e.g. driving licence) for a Visitor Pass at Security.

Site Access

Please refer to specific information shared by your child’s homeroom teacher regarding access to the school site for each of these events. Doors will open 15 minutes before the start of each Sports Day. We look forward to welcoming you!

Lunar New Year Stay & Play

We invite parents of our Foundation stage children to join us for a special Lunar New Year Stay & Play. Celebrate the Year of the Snake together with your little ones on Thursday 12th February 2026, from 8:30 to 09:30 in our Foundation classrooms and Indoor Learning Centre.

6th HeadStart Chess Tournament

Fight for cash prizes totaling 4000 THB, medals and a bunch of other attractive awards for all participants! All HeadStart students are welcome and all players are going to be awarded!

🗓️ Date: Saturday, 14th February

🕘 Time: Attendance check 11:15AM

📍 Location: Canteen, Chaofah City Campus

To register and reserve your place, act fast! Double entry fee if you register on the day of tournament! Contact coach Dawid.

Spark a New Passion this Half-Term!

The half-term break is a fantastic time for discovery! Our special interest camps, taking place over the February half-term break, are designed to challenge young minds and bodies in new ways. It’s a chance for your child to dive deep into a new hobby, unlock hidden talents, and develop valuable skills like critical thinking, discipline, and creativity.

Explore these unique opportunities:

At our Cherngtalay campus:

• KGA Gymnastics Camp: Build strength, balance, and coordination through fun gymnastics skills and activities, guided by experienced coaches.

• Tech Skills Camp: Learn the basics of programming through fun, hands-on projects and games, perfect for sparking creativity and problem-solving skills.

Register using the QR code in the poster or by clicking this link.

At our Chaofah City campus:

• Chess Camp: Master strategy, tactics, and critical thinking while playing and competing in friendly matches.

• Robotics Camp: Design, build, and program custom machines while mastering the fundamentals of engineering and code.

• Hobby Crafts Camp: Explore a world of DIY creativity through hands-on projects involving pottery, textiles, and model making.

• Tennis Camp: Elevate your game on the court by refining your serve, footwork, and match strategy through expert-led drills.

These popular camps have limited availability, so register using the QR code in the posters or by clicking this link.

Give your child the gift of a new skill or a newfound passion. To find out more, contact [email protected].

Half-Term Sports Camps

Over the February half-term holiday, our three sports academies are offering 3 days of training to help keep your child fit and healthy, continuing to improve their skills and develop friendships through their chosen sport. All camps will take place from Monday 16th to Wednesday 18th February at our Cherngtalay campus. Contact our Head Coaches or scan the QR code in the poster below.

Samuel Gluck – Enrolled at HeadStart since Year 5

We are delighted to share that Samuel (Sami) Gluck has received multiple offers to study Computer Science in the UK, reflecting his strong academic focus and commitment to the subject. Sami has been offered places at the University of Brighton, Keele University, University of Portsmouth, University of Surrey, and the University of Wolverhampton, all for Computer Science-related degrees beginning in September 2026.

Throughout his time at HeadStart International School Phuket, Sami has developed a clear interest in Computer Science and Mathematics, coupled with his completion of both the Bronze and Silver levels of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. He has demonstrated analytical thinking and coding ability alongside a strong work ethic and independence in his approach to learning.

Beyond the classroom, Sami balances his studies with regular sporting activity, including weekly football, gym training and participation in the Badminton ECA. He has also shown commitment to service through teaching and volunteering with Sunny Side Up.

Congratulations to Sami on securing this excellent range of offers. We wish him every success as he prepares to take the next step towards a future career in computing.

Salina Philips (Cooper) – Enrolled at HeadStart since Preschool

We are delighted to share that Salina Phillips (Cooper), who has been part of the HeadStart International School Phuket community since joining in Preschool in 2011, has received an offer to study a BA in Creative Media Design at Stamford International University in Thailand.

Throughout her time at HeadStart, Salina has demonstrated consistent creativity, commitment and academic focus. Her achievements include the 2025 Secondary Award for BTEC Information Technology, multiple Student of the Month awards across Humanities, Creative Arts, and Computing and Commerce, and completion of the Bronze level of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Beyond the classroom, Salina has pursued her creative interests through extended art sessions and independent arts and crafts, alongside active participation in sport, including football, tennis and rock climbing. She has taken on leadership roles as a House Captain for the Yellow Team and as a football team captain, and gained valuable experience through placements with LiZenn and within the HeadStart Art Department.

Congratulations to Salina on this excellent achievement. We wish her every success as she embarks on the next stage of her creative journey.

Focus on Collaboration

One of our 9 Learner Attributes encourages our students to be collaborative – to understand that learning is a social, active and interdependent process where knowledge is shared and refined through dialogue, negotiation and collective effort. It is defined by the ability to work together. At HeadStart, this is embodied not just in our students, but as instructors, colleagues and a community, actively seeking to construct knowledge, solve problems and achieve shared goals. We see it in the classroom, in our sports teams, at community events and throughout our school campus. A community working together for the betterment of us all.

Panthers Boys Teams in Action

Last week was another action-packed one for the HeadStart Panthers Academy teams. Both the U11 and U13 Boys faced fixtures against Bangjo Academy, with the U13s also coming together to bid farewell to two valued teammates.

The U11 Boys’ match against Bangjo was a fantastic, end-to-end and highly competitive game. The boys held their own throughout, defending diligently and creating several excellent goal-scoring opportunities through intelligent dribbling and effective switches of play.

Oscar and Rufus co-captained the U13 team in their final appearance as Panthers. The match was closely contested, and despite falling behind, it was excellent to see the entire team dig deep and respond positively in the face of adversity. The progress across both teams was clear to see—not only in their technical ability on the pitch, but also in the players’ attitudes and resilience when things didn’t go their way.

A huge well done to all players involved in the recent matches. We would also like to wish the Warr family the very best of luck with their move back to the UK. They have been a valued part of our academy community, and their absence will certainly be felt. Coach Rothwell – Football Coach

Grace, Discipline and Artistic Expression in Ballet Classes

Part of our wider dance program, our Ballet classes provide a beautiful foundation of discipline, grace, and technical precision for our dancers. Starting from Foundation and continuing through to Year 6, our classes focus on correct body placement and coordination, helping students develop a strong physical awareness and a deep appreciation for the artistry of movement. This elegant journey is a wonderful way for our students to celebrate their hard work and artistic progress throughout the school year.

Cheetahs Charge to Victory

This Friday, Primary students won points for their house with a good old fashioned relay race. The Red Phoenixes were the most organised and enthusiastic with their running, with Eno seemingly to have endless energy! Our Green Dragon and Tiger Tiger House Captains, Lev and Matthew, were enjoying running alongside other students in their House until more students arrived to run. In fourth place were the Blue Tigers, followed by the Green Dragons and Red Phoenixes with first place going to the Yellow Cheetahs. Go Cheetahs!!

Year 6 Science Fair: A Celebration of the Human Body

Next week, our Year 6 students invite you to experience science in action at their Circulatory System and Healthy Body Fair. But this is more than just a display of facts – it’s a showcase of collaborative learning, where students have worked together to transform complex biological concepts into engaging, accessible presentations.

Through creative information boards and hands-on interactive activities, students will demonstrate their understanding of how our hearts, blood vessels, and organs work together to keep us alive and thriving. Expect to see resilient learners who have grappled with challenging scientific concepts and emerged ready to teach others.

This exploration of science education goes beyond memorisation – students have become health advocates, connecting what happens inside our bodies to the lifestyle choices we make every day. Their inquisitive nature shines through as they guide visitors through experiments and answer questions about keeping our bodies healthy.

Learner of the Month – Computing

Congratulations to our winners for Learner of the Month for January, where the focus was the area of Computing. During the assembly, we shared a selection of slides showcasing examples of students’ computer-based work, which gave everyone a glimpse into the range of skills being developed, from coding and digital creativity to problem-solving and logical thinking. It was wonderful to see the pride students took in their work and to celebrate both our Learner of the Month recipients and the wider learning happening in Computing across the school.

Collaboration in Action: Lessons from our Secondary Residentials

At the end of January, our Year 7, 8, and 9 students embarked on memorable three-day residential trips to Koh Lanta, Phang Nga, and Chiang Mai, providing rich opportunities for learning beyond the classroom. These experiences brought our learner attribute of Collaboration to life as students worked together in new environments, faced shared challenges, and supported one another through clear communication and team problem-solving. Whether managing shared spaces or tackling group activities, students discovered the value of compromise and mutual respect, while also reinforcing key academic skills such as strategic thinking and resilience.

We are delighted to congratulate our Student of the Month award recipients, who embodied our attributes of collaboration, kindness, resilience, and respectfulness. These students proved that meaningful growth happens through the journey itself, demonstrating independence and reflection throughout their time away.

HeadStart Students Shine

We are delighted to congratulate our students on their significant achievements in recent music and sports competitions, representing HeadStart with pride on both local and international stages!

• Annalisa (1 Blue) Silver Kid / solo classical ballet at the PTDC / Phuket Thailand Dance Competition.

• Mikhail (2 Yellow) 1st place in the U-8 Division of the HeadStart International School Chess Tournament.

• Jasmine (5 White) Piano Prodigy Gold Prize and Classical Gold Prize at the AD LIBITUM Piano Competition, awarded to pianists who seek and discover their own personality through music.