Wishing everyone a wonderful Songkran holiday! Stay safe and see you again in term 3!

Upcoming events can be found on the website under School Life → Calendar and are outlined here for easy reference. For daily updates and news follow the HeadStart Facebook Page and You Tube channel.

University Applications

University applications happen at different times throughout the year and here at HeadStart we are constantly supporting students through the process and then celebrating their successes as decisions come in. We are delighted to share our most recent successes: well done to Valentine Guillerey who will be studying Biological Science and has received offers from 5 universities and has chosen to study at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. Also successful was Suphatchaya Phewgnam who will be studying medicine and has been successful in securing a place at Khon Khaen University. -Ms Indu Bedi, Head of Sixth Form

Thank you very much for your participation in last Friday’s Russian Language Club event! The event was hugely successful, and all of your energy and support is greatly appreciated. In addition to the abundant and appetizing food that was on offer, the live performances in the afternoon gave the entire school community insight into the beautiful music, dance and costumes of the region! Please click HERE to visit the school’s Facebook page where all of the photos from Friday’s Russian Language Club event have been posted.

Friday’s event was an amazing way to introduce the entire school community to the culture and heritage from the region, but it’s just the beginning. Moving forward, we plan to host a Russian Language Club event every term in order to raise more awareness of the Russian speaking community at school and across Phuket. If you have any suggestions for future Russian Language Club events, please contact us because we would love to hear your ideas! -Sincerely, Dina, Tatiana, & Mike

The Early Years, Reception and Year 1 students were excited to attend the Saturday Thai Culture Club before the Songkran Holiday. The students enjoyed learning about elephants through fun activities and making crafts. Meanwhile, the Year 2-6 students learned about food preservation and learned how to make a salted egg by themselves. All students were proud to bring their salted egg’s box home to show their parents. -Kru Dia, Head of Thai

This year’s Swim Galas have been quite competitive between houses, but more importantly, we were so pleased to see our students show up with big smiles on their faces, ready to show off their new skills for family and friends. We’d like to give a big THANK YOU to our teachers and supporting staff members that were able to make time to help organize and time our swimmers, and for cheering them on during every race! Each Year did such a fantastic job that they broke at least one individual school record! -Sarah Dorman

2021 New School Records!

The Cheetahs are leading the race, with the Dragons hanging on to 2nd place with a 2-point lead in front of the Phoenixes. The Tigers trail in 4th place with 27 pts, but with Year 4 & 5 still up to compete, there is no doubt these numbers will change! More stats will be provided as soon as we can reschedule the final Gala events. OVERALL SCORES:

• 1st Place- Cheetahs (50 pts)

• 2nd Place- Dragons (44 pts)

• 3rd Place- Phoenixes (42 pts)

• 4th Place- Tigers (27 pts)

Stay and Play Dates

Year 7-9 Residential Trips

In the last weeks of Term 2 we took Year 7, 8 and 9 on much anticipated residential trips. We visited islands around Phuket and took part in snorkelling or scuba diving. We stayed overnight in a hotel and then followed up the next day with more activities like Dragon Boat racing, water polo and traditional Thai crafts. The students reached the end of their two days tired but happy and a great time was had by all. For most of them, they probably just saw the 2 days as a “fun” time where they got to hang out with their friends outside of school. However, one of the reasons HeadStart invested so much time, effort and resources into the running of these trips is that the benefits of experiences like these far outweigh the surface “fun” factor or even the learning that was done in the specific activities themselves.

Of course, we learned how to scuba dive, paddle board, race, make kites, paint batik etc. - but also much much more.

Some of our Homerooms reflected afterwards on what they had learned from the trip. Many of their ideas showed that what was staying with them were real lessons about independence. Taking seasickness medication once you start to feel sick is too late. Drinking loads of fizzy drinks before heading out to sea is not a good idea. If you don’t put on sunscreen regularly, you will end the day very pink. If you go to sleep late at night, you’ll be tired the next day and won’t be able to enjoy what you are doing as well as you might. If 3 of you have a room key and you all go outside at the same time each without it, you’ll have a long walk to reception to get back inside. And so on.

General social skills are also important - we were really impressed with how well our students behaved being in public places shared by other adults and families. They listened carefully to instructions on the boats and during the activities, understanding that this was necessary to enjoy themselves safely. They waited patiently when there were delays and took changes to plans with maturity, even when they were maybe disappointed. They looked after each other with kindness if someone was not feeling well or was nervous. They shared their food and personal spaces with each other and, whilst they did not always tidy up after themselves as nicely as we might like, they understood that they were there together as a team, not as individuals.

Most lovely for teachers on these trips is getting to see another side of students than we might not see in the classroom. Sharing their music, listening to their jokes, chatting to them about all sorts of nonsense, watching them change their mind about an activity because of nerves and then decide to try it after all: every minute spent with them helped us get to know each other and understand each other better. So, as parents, perhaps you enjoyed a night away from your children? I hope you appreciate it even more thinking about how much more than just fun their time was!

A-Level English

As you may know, A-Level English students have had regular milestone assessments over the course of this academic year. These ‘VIMAs’ are designed to best prepare students for their final examinations by not only recreating the controlled environment of the exams but also in the rigorous and dialogic marking they receive. I believe that all students have benefitted from the process and this is certainly supported by the data. One of the students who has made particularly impressive progress is Aleksandra Godzievskaya. Prior to her most recent (sixth) VIMA of the year for me, I had never awarded full marks for an A-Level essay. However, the sophistication of her analysis; structural cohesion and sustained discursive, critical style impressed me so much I was left with no choice. Hearty congratulations to her and I feel sure that students in both Years 12 and 13 can use what they’ve learnt from the VIMAs in their impending examinations! -Mr. Pollicutt Head of English

Last year, I posted about ‘The Wall Game’, an unapologetically cutthroat contest played in Year 10 Language and Literature, where students have to show mental acuity in order to answer differentiated questions about words: definitions, spellings, usage, and how to use them in context. Last week, this challenging but very popular game was partaken in once again. Students had come armed to the lesson having learnt all the words below in preparation for their study of Orwell’s 1984. Happily, the vast amount of the answers were correct. -Mr. Pollicutt Head of English

Five Headstart students participated in MACA’s Junior Aerial Championships last Sunday at BIS. Emma, Berta, Si Si, Anabel and Sophie worked extremely hard with Ms Irisha the last past weeks to be ready for this event and did so well. The competitors performed at quite high level in the Youth category and it’s with pride that we are happy to announce that Sophie and Anabel got the Bronze Medal with their exceptional duo. -Ms Fabienne Mester

Steps with Theera Phuket would like to invite students (age 12+) to attend our Summer Programme from July to early August 2021. Steps with Theera Phuket is a UK accredited training centre based at Blue Tree Shopping complex in Cherngtalay. The centre is led and managed by Stacey Patterson, a trained Occupational Therapist who has a passion in facilitating young people to develop their independence in everyday life activities, find their purpose and empower them for the future.

The Summer programme will run over 5 weeks and families only need to sign up for a minimum of a full week at a time. We at Steps, encourage students to learn by doing, using practical activities. We use a plan, do and review framework with all tasks to allow for the development of critical thinking and self-evaluation skills. The programme is aimed to stimulate an interest and develop students/trainees life skills and vocational skills to promote self-confidence, independence and responsibility.

The cost of the summer course is 8500THB/week excluding lunch time meals and travel costs (if we go on an excursion). Activities and skills that may be included but not limited to:

Daily Life Skills

• Following of routines and schedules
• Social interaction and team work with peers
• Basic health and safety
• Planning and executing outings - in Blue Tree and in the local community
• Meal preparation and cooking
• Simple money handling and budgeting

Business Enterprise Skills

Over the Summer we will be looking into how to make different products from different recycled materials and try have 1-2 projects per week. The trainees will work through the full process of learning how to make the product, planning how they will make the product, making the product and then evaluating the end product. Trainees will also learn different life skills such as money handling, weighing/measuring, cooking/baking and navigating the community.