Weekly Update #3, 8 October 2021
| Dates for Your Diary |
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 YouTube channel.
| Date | Time | Event | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 October | 3.30-5.00pm | Creative & Performing Arts Auditions | Sports Hall |
| 13 October | 3.30-5.00pm | Year 7 Parent/Teacher Conferences | Secondary Hall |
| 18-25 October | Mid-term break/Camps/Teacher INSET | ||
| 29 October | Halloween Dress Up/Activities | Within classes | |
| 8.15am | UPrep Talk - Applying to US, Canada, Australia, Asia | Secondary Hall | |
| 13 November | 8.15am | UPrep Talk- Applying to Thai Universities | Secondary Hall |
| Meetings |
Year 7 Settling In Parent Teacher Conference
All Year 7 students and parents are invited to attend a Parent-Teacher Conference based in the Secondary Hall and surrounding classrooms on Wednesday, 13th October 2021 from 3.30 - 5.00 pm. Students and parents will be able to meet with their Homeroom and Subject teachers to discuss how the students are settling in and to discuss their experience in Secondary so far. More details will be sent directly to Year 7 parents via email. -Secondary Management Team
UPrep Talk
Thank you to all of the Year 13 parents who came to the UPrep presentation on the 8th of October. We hope that it was helpful. If you were not able to make it, the information is provided in the download below. As always, please feel free to contact our Sixth Form team Ms Indu Bedi at [email protected] and her Thai speaking assistant Peepo at [email protected] for inquiries or assistance. Year 13 parents are once again invited to a talk on the topic of ‘Applying to US, Canada, Australia, Asia’ on the 29th October at 8.15am in the Secondary Hall on the 4th floor.
| After School Programme (ASPs) Notices for Term 1 |
We are happy to announce that the After School Programmes (ASPs) and LAMDA classes will be starting up again after the mid-term break. For a general overview of policies, procedures and how to sign up, visit our webpage HERE. If you have questions or need support with your child’s after school activities, please email Ms Anisa Van Der Laan at [email protected] or come visit in the front office. Detailed information for term 1 ASPs is provided below.
- Free ASPs - Primary and Secondary students can select up to three activities from the ‘free ASP’ list. Bookings will be on a ‘first come, first serve” basis.
- Fee Paid ASPs - Sign up your child up to a fantastic range of activities including Dance, Gymnastics, LAMDA, Instruments, Mandarin, Tennis, Jiu-Jitsu, Chess, STEM and Advanced Arts Clubs.
- Additional free ASPs - A number of additional activities are set up for our passionate or gifted and talented students including Project Recycle; Aqua Cubs (Pre swim Academy); the school choir, orchestra and band; Thai traditional dance; academic and sports competition teams.
- Pre enroled ASPs - Students will be pre enroled into academic Boosters, EAL sessions, Academies and VAPs.
- important Note - please do not select a free ASP if your child is enroled in an academic booster.
| Monday, 11 October | ASP list posted on the website/bulletin board |
| Thursday, 14 to Monday 18 October | Online Booking for Parents & Secondary students |
| Friday, 23 October | ASPs are enrolled: parents & students can view on Parent Portal in the ‘Booking tab’ or timetable table (go to week that it starts) |
| Tuesday, 26 October | All ASPs, LAMDA classes and Academies begin |
| Creative Arts Department Notices |
For all inquiries regarding the advertised programmes below, please contact Ms Erika Cramp, Director of Creative & Performing Arts at [email protected]
Instrumental & LAMDA lessons
Instrumental lessons will resume after the half-term break. If you wish your child to learn piano, voice, guitar, ukulele, flute, clarinet, saxophone or drums please complete this Google Form: Instrumental lesson sign up. Our LAMDA classes are resuming on the 26th of October. Students from Reception to Year 13 have the opportunity to sign up at the same time as ASP sign-ups.
Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) Auditions
Calling all budding actors, singers and dancers in Year 6 -13. Come out, come out, wherever you are and join the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA) family! Auditions for this year’s production will be held on Monday 11 October from 3:30 - 5:00pm in the Sports Hall. You don’t need to prepare anything. Just come along and have fun learning a song and dance together. Sign up for auditions outside Music 1. If you are unable to come to school, please contact Mrs Cramp so we can arrange an alternative audition for you. Rehearsals will be held on Mondays from 4:30-6:30 starting on the 1st of November.
| Mid-term Activity Opportunities |
Looking for something active to do during the mid-term break? Why not consider joining one of the HeadStart camps advertised below. Contact the front office to sign up by emailing [email protected] or call 076612875.
| Thai/Mandarin/Russian Updates |
Stay up to date with regular updates and announcements from HeadStart in Thai, Mandarin and Russian. Simply scan the QR code and subscribe. If you aren’t able to scan using the camera on your phone, visit the announcement board in the atrium where the QR codes are posted.
| Upcoming Events |
Halloween Dress Up, Treats & Activities for All!
Inviting everybody young and old, students and teachers, parents and grandparents to join in on a ‘spooktacular’ day of Halloween dress-up, photos at our ‘horrific’ photo booth, a themed lunch and snacks, games and activities in classrooms and the chance to join in an online photo competition which will include fantastic prizes for the winners!
You have to be in it to win it and all you have to do is take a picture of yourself, or your family, and send it to [email protected] by 6.00pm on the 29th of October. The categories will be 1. Most scary! 2. Best presentation! 3. Most original! 4. Best Halloween family portrait! 5. Best Halloween teacher portrait!
A panel of judges will announce the winners the following Friday on the weekly update and Facebook page. The winners will be contacted on when and how to pick up their prizes!
| Focus on Education: Developing Assessment in Primary |
Sam Khan
I was born and grew up in London, England. If any of you are familiar with the sport of Rugby Union, I grew up very close to Twickenham Stadium! I graduated in History from the University of Teeside in 1992, and in 1999 completed my P.G.C.E. and have now been an educationalist for over 17 years. As well as my teaching experience, I have a total of 12 years of experience as a curriculum manager and school leader, having served as an Assistant Head, a Deputy Head and Head Teacher. In my most recent role, in the Middle East , I worked as a School Improvement Consultant. I am a passionate believer in the transformational nature of education and learning. I believe that children learn best when they enjoy their learning and feel secure when facing tasks that are stimulating and challenging. Pupils should feel valued in the classroom and feel confident that enthusiasm and good learning will be met with recognition and praise from the teacher and peers. As a school leader I am committed to the challenge of motivating the whole school community to help every individual pupil realise his or her talents, whilst at the same time ensuring that our pupils are empowered with the essential skills to be able to make a positive contribution in an increasingly globalised world of rapid change and innovation. I believe that schools where success is celebrated, and challenges faced head on in a professional culture of support, trust and honesty are schools that ensure the best possible outcomes for all its students. As a school leader I am committed to creating an empowering and enabling school culture with a powerful ethos of positivity and hard work.
At HeadStart International we are continuously looking at ways to further improve the quality of our curriculum and assessment. Our curriculum is what we teach, and our on-going assessments enable us to effectively track the progress each pupil is making in every subject.
The HeadStart Curriculum takes its inspiration from the English National Curriculum. The HeadStart Curriculum is both creative and innovative and recognises that children learn best when they are curious and enthused by what they are being taught. We call it the HeadStart Curriculum because we make adaptations to the English National Curriculum in order to make our curriculum more engaging, and relevant, for our culturally diverse HeadStart pupils.
As our curriculum has evolved, we have also made improvements to our assessment cycle. Last year marked the first year of Primary moving away from Cambridge Progression Tests and Checkpoint Examinations. There are three main reasons why we have moved away from Cambridge Progression Tests and Checkpoint Examinations and started to use the GL Assessments Progress Tests for English, maths and science:
- the Cambridge Progression Tests and Cambridge Checkpoint Examinations no longer align with our curriculum
- our new end of year assessments provide us with better information regarding the attainment of our pupils, and their future focus areas for learning
- our new end of year assessments cover all year groups from Year 1 to Year 6
The GL Assessments Progress Tests are world class assessment tests which enable us to assess our pupils in a more effective and ‘smarter’ way.
Progress Tests provide us with valuable information regarding a pupil’s current attainment, and also help us to identify gaps in their learning. The insights gained from the Progress Test Series help teachers to plan for each of our pupils. Helping us to ensure that every child has the best chance to enjoy and achieve at school.
In March of this year, I hosted a parent meeting explaining the exciting changes we were planning in our assessment. Please find attached the presentation from that meeting. I hope you find the slides useful in gaining a better understanding of the recent changes we have made in Primary assessment.
| Spotlight on Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) |
This week in Primary and Secondary school we introduced students to our Self Science curriculum in PSHE. We began by thinking about who we are and who we want to be this year. Secondary Students created collages to represent their goals and intentions for the year ahead. Primary students discussed with their peers what they wanted for themselves in the year ahead both personally and academically. The children began to make posters to represent their ideas. -The Pastoral Team
| Foundation |
Parents with children in Foundation are invited to join the Foundation Facebook group HERE. The group is closed to the public and your membership will be approved by group admin once you have answered the questions provided.
Last week children in Early Years loved playing in the garden. They commented that there were no flowers, so this week we have been busy planting some! Children have also been exploring the core resources in the classroom including playdough and painting. Painting has many benefits including supporting the development of children’s hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. -Ms Jasmine Gray & Ms Suzi Chaemchaeng
Reception Blue had a wonderful time in their swimming class this week! Remember, even if it looks rainy, make sure to pack your child’s swimming bag as the weather often clears up and the children are able to swim.
| Meet the Team Feature |
“My name is Ashley and I joined HeadStart International School in 2018. I teach English Language and Literature at HeadStart, and I am also the Coordinator for Years 8 and 9. As an English teacher, I always try to make English an exciting journey for all of my students. Competent reading and writing skills are so essential – with a strong foundation, doors can be instantly opened to the many wonders the world has to offer. I also love that I get to play such an instrumental part in shaping the pastoral care at HeadStart International School. Of course, it goes without saying - for students to thrive academically, they have to be happy and healthy”. Mr Ashley Paice, Key Stage 3 Coordinator & English Teacher
“It has been quite a challenge working in many different school systems throughout the years but I have enjoyed all of the new things I have learned and my experiences have allowed me to develop my skills and become a good teacher. What I enjoy most about teaching is when my students can express themselves in Thai and understand conversations. To enhance their experience, I source new materials for lessons. My method is mostly based on communication and I like to add cultural and language games for a more enjoyable learning environment. This will be my 4th academic year teaching at HeadStart International School Phuket and I am very excited about the new academic year!” -Kru Gen
| Secondary |
History Update
One thing we like to do in History class is to appeal to the interests of our students by offering them a ‘History Learning Menu’. This is essentially a list of options the students have to demonstrate their learning and allows them to take ownership of it too. In Year 13 the students are learning about American history between 1945 and 1993. We kicked off looking at the 1950s and I’d like to show the community some outstanding pieces of work from our budding History students. They had to answer the question “How great was the social change experienced by the USA in this period?” and had a range of options from the menu, of which documentary videos and infographics were deemed the most popular. Below are some examples of the work, enjoy. -Mr Richard Cramp, Head of Humanities
Year 13 English Literature students wasted no time in getting together to prepare collaboratively for their upcoming AS Level examinations. This class has shown excellent resilience in completing their last VIMA assessments two weeks ago and will do another two VIMAs in a few days. They continue to impress with their drive and ability! -Mr. Pollicutt, Head of English
Over the last few months, English teachers have put together a huge order of dozens of new book titles aimed at supporting the school library in our shared vision of developing a community of young readers. From timeless classics such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy to new and exciting texts like Playing Atari with Saddam Hussein, we’ve tried to span genres, interests and ages so that our books will ‘speak’ to every student in Secondary. Books can be chosen by students and signed out by their respective English teachers. In conjunction with regular book talks given by their teachers, we hope that you will see your child reading at home even more often. If parents would like to come and give a book talk to a group of students, please let me know and we can arrange it: [email protected] -Mr. Pollicutt, Head of English
| Around the Island |
