Weekly Update #15, 4 February 2022

Upcoming events can be found on the website under School Life → Calendar and are outlined here for easy reference.

School Communication

Reading school information is vital to keeping the home-school relationship strong. Emails and the weekly update are our main sources of communication but if you don’t have a lot of time and want brief announcement style updates, subscribe to our LINE & Telegram apps in English, Thai, Russian and Mandarin. For daily updates on social media, follow the HeadStart International School Facebook page, Instagram page and our YouTube channel.

Based on last year’s numbers, 797 students applied to study Psychology and Behavioural Sciences at Cambridge University (all Colleges) and only 99 (12.42%) were offered places. Whilst application numbers have risen over the last 5 years, the numbers of students being offered places has remained static. The numbers speak for themselves.

This is a huge achievement and Nutcha, enroled at HeadStart since Preschool, worked hard on her application in order to secure this fabulous offer. It goes without saying, the entry requirement is high too: A*AA. Nutcha is an incredibly motivated, intelligent, capable and hard working student. This success is testament to Nutcha’s brilliance and the team of teachers who have supported her on her learning journey at HeadStart. We are very proud of Nutcha and so very happy for her. -Ms Indu Bedi, Head of Sixth Form

Here is the updated parent fitness schedule. We hope that everyone will join the classes and benefit from this offer to the community.

• Monday - Dance with Anna in the fitness studio/Run with Erik on the running track.
• Tuesday - Yoga with BT in the fitness studio
• Wednesday - Pilates with Maya in the fitness studio
• Thursday - HIIT with Suzanne in the fitness studio
• Friday - Yoga with BT in the fitness studio

Lunar New Year is one of the most important holidays in many Asian countries. It’s a time for families to come together for a large meal on New Year’s Eve. 2022 is the Year of the Tiger 🐯 which will bring a confident and authoritative energy to all. HeadStart International School also gets in on the fun with decorations around the campus and educational activities for students on the first day of the Lunar New Year. As the Lunar New Year approached, the campus was surrounded by a lovely festive atmosphere. Teachers and students of all year groups had fun wearing festive colours, making lanterns, and learning about New Year stories and traditions. We wish everyone a Happy New Year！虎年大吉，万事如意！-Mr Mike Opaliski, Head of Languages

A selected U11s team travelled to UWC Thailand to play their first game. The boys worked extremely hard and played some fantastic football which earned them the win. Well done boys!! - Coach Stef Frost

This week all of KS3 and KS4 enjoyed PSHE workshops exploring gender topics: Modern Masculinity and Empowering Women. These sessions were designed to lift up our young people and empower them to make positive and sustainable changes within our school community and wider society as they journey to adulthood. We explored many different aspects of the gender divide during these lessons including; inequality, toxic masculinity, gender roles and mental health. The students left these sessions not only more knowledgeable but better equipped to take care of themselves and those around them. These conversations are imperative as we prepare our young people for the wider world; empowering students to be able to confidently communicate and to understand how to play their part in a brighter future. We encourage you to continue these conversations at home. Thank you to all the teachers involved in these workshops and for continuing to demonstrate dedication to the school and our students. -Dr Sillett, Deputy Head Teacher-Secondary

Primary Student of the Month for Humanities

These wonderful pupils have been awarded the accolade of Primary Student of the Month for Humanities. Our humanities curriculum covers history and geography subject areas and has been carefully designed to ensure that our pupils continue to develop essential enquiry skills, and a greater understanding of the world and their place in it. Over the course of this academic year, these pupils have consistently demonstrated a relentless commitment, and positive attitude in this subject area, that has impressed their teachers and served as a shining example to pupils in their class. They should be justifiably proud of receiving this award. -Mr Sam Khan, Head of Foundation and Primary

Congratulations to Molly, Senna, Henry, Roni, Rada, Albert, Nara, Karina, Alex, Charlotte, Anna, Sienna, Natcha, Mangkron, Ashley, Tete, Emilia, Joshua.

Year 10 ‘Writing to Describe’ Trip to Rawai

Year 10 Shakespeare was delighted to be able to go on a trip this week, having patiently waited for restrictions to lift. On Tuesday we visited Rawai beach to give the students an opportunity to prepare for their second piece of coursework: Writing to Describe. For this piece of coursework, students are tasked with writing a 500-800 word descriptive passage. To enable and encourage the students to be successful, we used the beach as our inspiration.

After a quick lunch break, the students spent an hour photographing and writing about their surroundings, focusing particularly on the sensory responses they experienced. This trip, and the resources created, will inform their coursework writing over the next two weeks. I am looking forward to reading their work in due course. -Ms. Sillett, English and Drama

Revision Priorities for Year 11

Year 11 First Language English students received a ‘State of the Nation’ style address on Monday where we outlined their revision techniques priorities and schedules in the remaining weeks before their IGCSE examinations. Specifically, the importance of coursework was emphasised. In recent years, the year-on-year improvement in English results since 2018 has been built on students having a firm foundation of coursework- which accounts for 50% of the overall grade- to take with them into the examination. This particular cohort of students is both studious and talented and I have no doubt that, with careful application and active revision, they will continue this sequence of outstanding results. -Mr. Pollicutt, Head of English

At regular intervals, English Literature A Level students sit VIMAs: timed assessments to help prepare them for their examinations. These have contributed to students achieving some outstanding results over recent years. As part of the feedback process, teachers sit the assessments at the same time as students, providing them with a model essay which helps students understand the text, writing process and discursive style required to access the highest grades. It is part of the intellectually rigorous process we take with the course. To the best of my knowledge, such measures are unique to our school in Thailand. Please take a moment to read and (hopefully!) enjoy the piece I wrote this morning for the Year 12 Component 2 of the course on Ian McEwan’s Atonement. -Mr. Pollicutt, Head of English

Last week was our first mangrove planting trip, where some Headstart students joined together to plant 500 mangroves in Ao Po, Pak lok. Each person contributed in the replantation of the forest by trekking the mud filled land, and securing each seedling into the soil. It was amazing to see how determined everyone was, and proved - just 39 people can make a huge impact.

This plantation was organized by a group of students who are trying to reestablish the eco system, with the aid of each school in Thailand. Mangroves are in great threat right now, as land is being cleared out for infrastructure, and their ability to diminish floods and provide shelter with their root system for young animals is going unrecognized. The Mangrove Teens organisation is fighting back against those clearings, and is helping the ecosystem regain their homes. After all, we all deserve a home.

Anyone who is willing to help out is welcome! More updates about future plantations will be provided as soon as possible. -Anya Belova, Year 13 student

Student Success Out of School

Congratulations to Tiger in Year 2 for winning the trophy in the Thailand Junior Development Tour (TJDT) #6 at Blue Canyon Country Club Lake Course Phuket on the 28-30 of January 2022.