Weekly Update #30, 01 May 2026

Cherngtalay Campus Parent Committee Term 3 Meeting

On Wednesday 27 May, the Cherngtalay Campus Parent Committee will hold their Term 3 meeting with the school’s management team. Should you have any questions you would like answered or points to be raised at this meeting, please contact the Parent Committee directly via email at [email protected] by no later than Wednesday 20 May. The Parent Committee looks forward to hearing from you and working with you for the betterment of our school and its wider community.

For more information about the HeadStart Parent Committee, its role and involvement in working with our school leadership, visit our website: HeadStart Parent Committee.

Don’t Be Late for a Very Important Date

Step through the looking glass and witness spectacular student talent as Alice the Musical comes to life! With rehearsals now in full swing, our CAPA performers, Choir and Year 6 students are demonstrating immense commitment by combining rigorous practice, creative set design and seamless teamwork to build a truly magical Wonderland on stage. To see this hard work pay off, secure your tickets today for an unforgettable evening down the rabbit hole!

• Date: Wednesday 13 May

• Time: 18:00

• Price: 300 THB

• Campus: Cherngtalay Campus

• Booking Form: Alice in Wonderland: The Musical

Friday Market

Support local businesses and enjoy an afternoon of community connection at our upcoming Friday Market. Join us in the Atrium on 8 May from 14:40 to discover a diverse array of goods from local vendors.

Whether you are searching for fresh baked goods, unique handcrafted items, or convenient after-school snacks for the children, the market offers an excellent opportunity to browse and connect with our school community before heading into the weekend.

Parent Meeting: End of Year Assessments, Reports and Grades

Securing a clear picture of academic progress ensures teachers can target support, stretch capabilities, and celebrate student achievement. To detail how we achieve this at HeadStart, we recently hosted a Primary Parent Meeting at the Cherngtalay Campus focused on our approach to assessment and reporting. Thank you to everyone who attended. For those unable to join us, we have attached the presentation slides outlining how we measure student learning against Age Related Expectations (ARE).

The workshop helped explain how teachers monitor progress during daily lessons, alongside details about the upcoming Term 3 assessments and standardised GL Progress Tests in English, Maths, and Science. Students will take these assessments during regular school hours between 18 May and 29 May. These final assessments help generate the Progression Markers and Effort grades featured in your child’s end-of-year report.

Parents Meeting Assessment and Reporting in Primary Cherngtalay Campus

Navigating the Dual Digital World: Russian Language Parent Workshop

Is your child safe in a “dual digital world”? In Phuket, students frequently navigate between global platforms like YouTube and Roblox and regional apps such as Telegram and VK. This dual-presence presents a unique set of modern challenges, both obvious and hidden. We invite you to a practical workshop exploring our “Digital Compass” for online safety. This session moves beyond theory to address the latest digital risks, including the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI), providing a practical toolkit to ensure security and balance at home.

• Date: Thursday, 7 May

• Time: 8:30am to 9:30am

• Location: Cherngtalay Campus (Secondary ILC)

Alexandra De Rosa – Enrolled at HeadStart since Year 10

We are delighted to celebrate the achievements of Alexandra De Rosa, who has secured multiple offers to study in the creative and design fields at leading international institutions. Alex has received offers from SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences for Communication Design, ArtEZ University of the Arts for Cross Media Design, and IED for Graphic Design programmes in both Málaga and Barcelona.

During her time at HeadStart, Alex has consistently demonstrated creativity and passion for the arts. She has contributed to school productions through set and prop design, created visual materials for the music team, and explored the intersection of fashion and technology through independent research. Her artistic interests are further reflected in her engagement with art and dance, as well as customer service skills aquired completing work experience at the Pullman Phuket Panwa Hotel. A creative, motivated and resilient student, Alex approaches opportunities with enthusiasm and a strong desire to develop her skills across different media.

We congratulate Alexandra on her achievements and wish her every success as she continues her journey in the creative industries.

Soodpreda Srikatanyoo (Baimon) – Enrolled at HeadStart since Year 9

We are proud to celebrate the achievements of Soodpreda Srikatanyoo (Baimon), who has secured excellent offers in highly competitive healthcare fields in Bangkok. Baimon has received an offer from Mahidol University for Pharmacy and an offer from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL) for Medicine, which is currently his preferred option.

Throughout his time at HeadStart, Baimon has demonstrated a strong commitment to the sciences, supported by his EPQ exploring the connection between neuroscience and personality, as well as valuable hands-on experience at Hua Hin Governmental Hospital. Alongside his academic work, he has contributed to the Sunny Side Up Project teaching English in local schools and completed both Bronze and Silver Duke of Edinburgh awards.

We congratulate Baimon on his achievements and wish him every success as he prepares for a future career in healthcare.

Lighting Up the Dance Floor at Our Inaugural Junior Prom

Our inaugural Junior Prom for students in Years 7 to 9 at the Ramada Chaofah was a resounding success. The event provided a wonderful opportunity for students from both the Chaofah City and Cherngtalay campuses to come together in a celebratory setting, and it was fantastic to see the enthusiasm with which they embraced the “Northern Lights” theme. Students arrived dressed in a wide variety of creative interpretations, contributing to a vibrant and visually striking atmosphere throughout the evening.

We extend our sincere thanks to our Chaofah City Deputy Head Boy and Girl, Vlad, and Alicia, as well as Noumea and Fionn, our Cherngtalay Campus Head Girl and Head Boy, for their dedication and support in the preparation of the event. Their willingness to give their time earlier in the day to assist with decorating and setting up the venue played a significant role in ensuring the evening ran smoothly. In addition, they organised and led a number of engaging activities, including games such as musical chairs, which were thoroughly enjoyed by students and helped to build a sense of fun, inclusivity, and community.

Students also enjoyed the refreshments provided throughout the evening, with a selection of food and fizzy drinks available, allowing them to relax and socialise in a comfortable environment.

As the evening progressed, the event transitioned seamlessly into an opportunity for students to enjoy the dance floor. The energy and enthusiasm displayed during the dancing and singing towards the end of the evening reflected the positive spirit of the occasion and ensured that the prom concluded on a high note.

This first Junior Prom, designed specifically for Secondary students in Key Stage 3, marks an important addition to our school’s calendar of events. It was extremely encouraging to see how well the format was received, and we are delighted with its success. We now look forward to building on this momentum and hearing about the Senior Prom scheduled for next month.

📸 A full album of photos can be found here: Junior Prom 2026

Going Green and Growing Strong with FOBISIA

Collaborating with a network of British international schools across Asia ensures our community benefits from shared expertise and regional standards. As a member of the Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA), HeadStart connects with educational leaders to strengthen crucial practices in areas such as safeguarding, professional development, and student wellbeing. The latest FOBISIA newsletter highlights a growing regional commitment to environmental action and student voice. These wider themes closely mirror our own ongoing initiatives to reduce environmental impact, empower our students, and build sustainable habits across our school. Read the complete FOBISIA update via the link to discover more about the collaborative network supporting our students and staff.

Federation of British International Schools in Asia eMagazine: Issue 50

Navigating the Digital World: Combating Mental Health Misinformation

As children increasingly turn to digital platforms for information, equipping them to critically evaluate online content is essential for protecting their mental wellbeing. While platforms like TikTok and Instagram offer vast amounts of media, they also frequently host unqualified influencers sharing unverified mental health advice. This exposure can lead young people to misunderstand complex clinical terms, self-diagnose inaccurately, and adopt unhelpful coping strategies. By relying on digital content rather than expert support, students may inadvertently delay seeking the professional help they truly need.

Tackling this challenge requires a united front between home and school. We encourage parents to foster open, non-judgemental conversations about what their children are viewing online, helping them to discern fact from fiction. Jointly guiding young people to identify reliable, evidence-based sources builds their digital literacy, resilience, and confidence.

We understand that managing these online challenges can feel overwhelming, but you do not have to navigate them alone. To provide ongoing support, we have attached a comprehensive guide from National Online Safety this week, offering practical tips on how to identify and combat mental health misinformation online. If you have any immediate concerns about your child’s digital habits or wellbeing, please feel free to reach out to Ms. Cusworth ([email protected]) at any time. We are always here to support you and your family.

Pitch Perfect Preparations for the Panthers

Focused on aggressive defence and creative attacks, the HeadStart Cherngtalay Panthers U13 Boys have sharpened their tactical skills in final preparations for the upcoming Bangkok Patana 7s tournament. During a recent friendly fixture against Srisoonthorn Academy, the Panthers made a strong start, demonstrating excellent creativity in attack while remaining well-organised in defence. This momentum continued as the boys faced a mixed HeadStart side of U11 players and strong U13s, providing a valuable test and highlighting the importance of aggression in our defensive third, a vital strategy we will carry forward.

A massive well done to the teams for their hard work and dedication during training! This year, we are taking eight teams, the largest group we have ever brought to a tournament, and we are looking forward to creating some fantastic memories together. We wish all HeadStart teams the very best of luck at Patana! Coach Paul – Football Coach

Basketball Teams Ready for Two Weeks of Competition

Good luck to all our Panthers basketball teams competing at the PISAC Tournament in their respective age divisions over the coming two weeks. We look forward to seeing competitive action on the court, backed by our HeadStart supporters. Remember that teamwork, collaboration and sportsmanship are the keys to creating great memories. Go Panthers!

PISAC Badminton: North Campus Takes Gold on Home Court

The shuttlecocks were flying and the stakes were high at our Cherngtalay campus this week as the U13 PISAC Badminton Championship came to a thrilling conclusion. In a display of tactical depth and athletic prowess, HeadStart Cherngtalay officially claimed the championship title, while their counterparts from Chaofah City secured bronze with BCIS completing the medals taking silver.

A Test of Versatility

The tournament’s unique format pushed players to their limits. Each school fielded a balanced squad of four boys and four girls, competing across three disciplines: Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles. The diversity of the events meant that success relied on the collective strength of the roster rather than individual players. Cherngtalay’s path to gold was built on strong performances across all disciplines. The doubles matches were a highlight, where student coordination and communication proved to be deciding factors.

Final Standings

While our Cherngtalay team stood atop the podium, the Chaofah City players demonstrated strong resilience and teamwork to take home the bronze. This outcome cements the Cherngtalay campus as a rising powerhouse in the Phuket International Schools Athletics Conference (PISAC) and sets a high bar for the future at HeadStart international school’s sports teams.

Young Chess Strategists Shine in the Under 8 Category

Forty strategists brought their best tactics to the board during our recent chess tournament, maintaining a highly competitive atmosphere throughout the event. It was particularly encouraging to see 11 players in the Under-8 category showing focus, determination, and a willingness to compete. Following the matches, participants enjoyed a celebration for Georgiy’s birthday, making his overall tournament victory even more of a special occasion.

Congratulations to our top performers. Georgiy(6 Blue Chaofah City) secured the overall win (8.5), followed byBogdan(8.0, 6 Blue Chaofah City) andPoppy(6.0, 9 White Chaofah City), who also claimed the Best Girl title ahead of Eliana (3.5, 4 Yellow Cherngtalay) and Elsa (3.0, 2 Blue Cherngtalay). In the Under-8 category,Raphael (2 Blue Cherngtalay) took the lead (5.5), closely followed by Beatle (5.0, 2 White Chaofah City) and Misha (5.0, 2 Yellow Cherngtalay). Next on the board is our Parents, Teachers and Students competition in May, paving the way for the grand inter-school finale in June.

Exploring Thai Heritage Through Culinary Arts

Students across Primary and Secondary recently engaged in hands-on Thai culinary masterclasses, exploring regional ingredients and traditional techniques. During Thai First Language classes, Year 6 students learned to prepare Thai Mango Salad with Crispy Fish, gaining practical experience in balancing the sour, salty, sweet and spicy flavour profiles characteristic of central and southern Thai cuisine.

In Secondary, students in Years 7 to 9 welcomed guest speakers to master Pad Mee Korat, Ba Bin and Mango Sticky Rice, discovering how these regional dishes reflect broader Thai heritage and family life. A sincere thank you to Ms. Paweena, alongside Khun Jariya, Khun Pearin and Khun Ruenruedee, for generously sharing their expertise to guide our students through these valuable cultural experiences.

Where Did the Suspicious Paw Prints Lead Our Early Years Explorers?

Following the discovery of unusual paw prints and claw marks in the classroom, Early Years students embarked on a school-wide bear hunt! Inspired by the classic story We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, the children became real explorers during this immersive adventure, developing fine motor skills by making their own binoculars before working collaboratively to follow the clues and track the bear using a special treasure map:

When students peeked inside the cave, they found a sleepy bear and quickly ran all the way back to class to share their ideas about what it might do next. A huge thank you to the Foundation team for dedicating extra effort to bring this story to life; the high level of engagement and insightful questions from the students demonstrate the true value of these immersive learning experiences.

Celebrating Scientific Inquiry at the Year 7 and Year 8 Science Fair

Tackling real-world engineering and environmental challenges head-on, our scientists delivered an outstanding display of rigorous hypothesis testing at the Year 7 and Year 8 Science Fair! Investigating 22 diverse research questions, students applied the scientific method to a wide range of topics, from optimal plant agriculture to complex physics.

Driving their research forward, standout projects showcased innovative problem-solving and meticulous variable control. Becky, Jean, Jeason, Jina and Ryan explored the cathodic protection of iron to prevent rust on ships. Designing practical acoustic solutions, Danil, Dima and Max tested sound-damping materials tailored specifically for environments like our very own Indoor Learning Centre. Adding to the impressive array of experiments, Leo, Oskar, Shanjin and Uliana conducted a detailed analysis of the impact of frequencies on Tesla coil voltage. Through their own hard work and dedication to this analytical approach, these young scientists have proven they are highly Inquisitive, Collaborative and fully prepared to tackle the academic demands of IGCSE studies. Congratulations to all participating students for their impressive hard work, innovative ideas, and outstanding contributions to this year’s event! Mr Gossland – Secondary Science Teacher

Recommended Reading: Supporting Teenage Wellbeing

Navigating the teenage years presents unique challenges, and we recognise that growing up today can feel more complex than ever. While we offer dedicated counselling support in school and explore mental health through our PSHE (Personal, Social, Health and Economic) programme, there are many additional resources available to support student wellbeing at home. If you have concerns, please reach out to our pastoral team, and consider sharing some of these highly recommended books with your teens:

You Are Awesome by Matthew SyedAn excellent all-round choice focusing on confidence, resilience, and learning from mistakes. It is easy to read, full of real-life examples, and serves as a great starting point for practical, understandable advice.Stuff That Sucks by Ben SedleyThis visual and honest book helps teenagers understand that their thoughts are not always facts. Based on real psychological strategies, it is a strong option for those seeking practical ways to manage stress and overthinking.Turtles All the Way Down by John GreenFor those who prefer fiction over traditional advice books, this engaging novel explores anxiety and intrusive thoughts. It provides a relatable story that helps readers understand mental health challenges and how others might feel.The Self-Esteem Workbook for Teens by Lisa M. Schab
A practical, step-by-step workbook filled with tasks, questions, and reflection activities. This is an ideal option for students who prefer hands-on activities to build their confidence and self-esteem rather than simply reading.

Applying Critical Thinking in the UKMT Mathematics Challenge

Thirty-eight of our Year 7 and 8 students from across both campuses put their problem-solving skills to the ultimate test in the prestigious UKMT Junior Mathematical Challenge. As one of the largest school mathematics competitions in the world, the event is designed to stretch high-attaining learners and encourage advanced mathematical thinking.

Working independently on their laptops, our students dived into a series of brain-teasing multiple-choice questions. The challenge required them to apply logical reasoning, demonstrate critical thinking, and crack some genuinely tricky mathematical puzzles.

It takes a great deal of focus and an inquisitive mindset to take on an international competition of this size. We commend all participating students for their resilient approach and fantastic effort, and we look forward to sharing the official results once they are released!

HeadStart Students Shine

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

• Jasmine(5 White) received the Gold Prize in the Piano Category (Age Group B) at the Ravel Award International Music Competition.

• Moumou(4 Yellow) was awarded Second Prize at the Mostra Diamo International Art Exhibition in Italy for outstanding creativity and artistic expression.

• Dmitrii(6 Yellow) won 1st Place competing against adult players in a padel tournament at Padel Bay.

• Rafael(6 White) earned both Gold and Silver Medals at the 27th Southern Taekwondo Championship 2026.

• Congratulations to our students who competed at the Malaysia International Judo Championship in Penang! Lev(2 Blue) was awarded the Gold Medal,Lea(2 Yellow) achieved 1st Place,Jonathan(3 Yellow) earned the Silver Medal,Nikolai(5 White) secured 1st Place and the Gold Medal,Daniil(3 White) claimed 1st Place,Dmitrii(8 Blue) took home the Gold Medal and 1st Place, andSagit(7 Blue) achieved 3rd Place.

Sign Up for Phuket’s Premier Running Event

We are delighted to share an opportunity for members of the HeadStart community to join one of Phuket’s most popular international running events – the Phuket Laguna Marathon. Organised by one of our very own HeadStart families, this year’s event promises to be a wonderful celebration of community and fitness with options for all the family. Taking place over the weekend of 13-14 June 2026, there are shoter distance races for young runners and those new to the sport, while the main event will take place in Sunday 14 June. Scan the QR code in the poster and use the the code to get a special 10% discount on the registration available to all HeadStart families.