Reflections

By Fiona Scott, Deputy Head of Foundation and Primary

When I was completing my teaching degree I always knew in my heart that if I worked hard enough it would allow me the opportunity to travel, work abroad, visit new countries and have the world at my feet. So after 15 years, the job I trained so hard for allowed me just that. I spent some years teaching in Scotland and England before applying to schools on the international scene and since working in Thailand, I have never looked back.

After working in Bangkok, I developed a love / hate relationship with the city. It is bustling, thriving and fast paced; a different story to the setting I now find myself in. However, living the dream is by no means an easy ride, the journey certainly has demands of its own.

Since becoming settled at HeadStart and getting to know more families, a common ground has come become apparent. There are a number of families here who are single parenting, bringing up children without spouses, many of whom are working full time whilst taking care of home life and ensuring that their children receive the very best from home and school. I have spoken to a number of parents who work long hours and worry about the negative effects this has on the family and that single parenting does not portray a secure family image. Some are worried that bringing up children on their own is frowned upon and they are scared of losing face. There is nothing negative about bringing up a family single headedly. Parents build strong relationships with their children, and in many cases the children recognise this and are able to contribute to family life in a number of different, positive ways.

Families can be apart from many different reasons. For many families here, work and businesses abroad mean that spouses are not around for a lot of the time, but what I have discovered from HeadStart, is a great network structure of families who recognise the demands of family life and who are there to support each other.

I just wanted to remind those parents of a quote shared by Mr. Whittaker at a parents meeting at the beginning of the year. ‘‘It takes a village to raise a child” and this is what is happening here at HeadStart; a community of supportive parents who are looking out for each other and providing an important network structure to many who are far away from their homes and immediate families.

I would just like to reflect and take the time to say well done to all those parents who deal with the heavy demands of home, work and school, who approach each day without their spouse; and a big thank you to all of those parents who do recognise the need to help and support one another. One thing is for sure, we are all working together to raise a generation of balanced and well-rounded children who show consideration and empathy towards others. Yet, above all friendships between parents are developing and friendships between children are blossoming.

Announcements

Year 3-6 End of Year Musical

Our end of year Musical is Ali Baba and the Bongo Bandits. This year we are doing two performances, on the 16th and 17th of June (Thursday and Friday). The shows will start at 7:00 pm. HeadStart is pleased to present the tickets are free of charge. Family and friends welcome! Please book your seat in the front office between the 6-10th of June.

It promises to be a celebration of music, drama and dancing and will definitely be entertaining! On the days of the shows all ASPs are cancelled so children and staff have a chance to go home, change, eat and come back for the show. We hope to see you all there! Ms Cramp and some of the performers will be live on 89.5 FM radio on the 14th of June at 8:00 am. Be sure to tune in and hear what they have to say about his exciting production!

After School Programmes Announcement

Please pay attention to the following points about ASPs and Academies in the final weeks of this academic school year.

• 14th June: Sports Hall will be in use. Badminton ASP relocated to Primary Computing classroom.

• 15th June: Sports Hall will be in use. Girls Basketball ASP relocated to the Fitness Gym.

• 16th June: Ali Baba End of Year Musical. No ASPs or Academies.

• 17th June: Ali Baba End of Year Musical. No ASPs or Academies.

• 22nd June: Final day of all Academies.

• 23rd June: Sports Hall will be in use. Y2-3 Basketball relocated to Secondary Computing 2 classroom.

• 24th June: Secondary Prom. Secondary ASPs cancelled. Final day of Primary ASPs.

• 27th to 1st July: Last week of school no ASPs or Academies.

Meeting Invitation for Primary Parents

By Mr Jazon Edouard

I would like to invite you to attend an important Parent Meeting in the Sport Hall at 8.15 am on June 7th. The meeting is scheduled to last 1 hour. The information we will present and share with you covers some of the changes and improvements which will be made to our programmes for the coming year. These changes will have an impact on your children’s education at HeadStart and as such, we feel it is important for you as parents to attend the meeting.

The meeting agenda will include the following points:

• Welcome from the Head
• Junior Choir performance
• Year 2 assembly presentation
• Year 5 and 6 presentation about their experiences and memories at HeadStart
• Sporting achievements
• Presentation of academic results from the Director of Studies
• Introduction of changes for the coming academic year
• Parent Orientation Day
• New Timetable
• New Teaching
• Staff in Primary
• New Deputy Head of Primary
• New Website
• School Counsellor
• Transitions - Reception to Year 1 and Year 6 to Year 7 Classes

Please make the time to attend this important meeting. I look forward to seeing you on June 7th.

Meeting Invitation for Secondary Parents

By Mr Jazon Edouard

We would like to invite you to attend an important Parent Meeting in the Sport Hall at 8.15 am on June 8th. The meeting is scheduled to last 1 hour. The information we will present and share with you covers some of the exciting changes and improvements which will be made to our programmes for the coming year. These changes will have an impact on your child’s education at HeadStart and as such, we feel it is important for you as parents to attend the meeting.

The meeting agenda will include the following points:

• Welcome from the Head
• Choir and orchestral recital

Investment and Development

• Revamped website including revision materials for exams
• Development and delivery of Design and Technology curriculum
• Investment in sound insulation
• Investment in a new school counselor

Rewards

• Checkpoint results from last year
• Sporting achievements from this year
• Short presentation from some of our Year 10 students about their experiences at the school

Moving forwards

• New teachers for next year
• Introduction of new Deputy Head of Secondary
• New timetables and schedules

Please make the time to attend this important meeting. I look forward to seeing you on June 8th.

Sport Academies Awards and BBQ Invitation

The P.E. department would like to invite all Football and Swimming academy students and parents at 4:00 pm on the 23rd of June in the Sports Hall. There will be a presentation to reflect on our first year of running the academies: what we have accomplished and what changes need to be made for the coming year. Awards will be given out to high achieving athletes along with recognition for the students who have made great strides of progress. Once this is finished we will move to the Dining Hall for a BBQ organised by Chef and kitchen team. We would like to request that all parents contribute with either food, nibbles or drinks as there will be a very large crowd of hungry athletes! Thank you for your participation.

House News

Last Friday’s Weigh your Waste competition saw the Blue House in the lead, wasting 8.1kg between Primary and Secondary. Red House came second with a total of 8.3kg. The Green House and Yellow Houses wasted the most amount with 9.3kg and 9.8kg.

We are getting very close to announcing our winning house for this year.

The totals as they stand are:

1st - 2430 Yellow

2nd - 2377 Green

3rd - 2361 Red

4th - 2278 Blue

Student News

Primary Student of the Month for P.E.

Jake Coates, Stella De Lucca, Axel Martin, Sofia Fisher, Andrew Amonoo, P.P Tata, Cameron Smith, Eva Ducasse, Mat Zakharov, Anastasia Legrand, Romeo Perthius, Juliette Guillerey

Art Department

Year 7 finished their clay masks recently with some colourful results. By Mr Fairbain, Creative Arts

Foundation Pirate Day!

Ahoy there me hearties, and shiver my timbers. Foundation have had a jolly rogers of a day role playing as pirates during our pirate and maps topic weeks. Luckily there were no scallywag pirates on the Foundation ship today, so no-one had to walk the plank or be fed to the sharks! We’d like to thank all the pirate mummys and daddys for getting all hands on deck, and for making such a great effort with the costumes. Argh haaargh, and tara, the Foundation Pirate Team

Year 4 Romans!

Year 4 have been learning about the Romans in Humanities. The children had a go at making mosaics but with a twist. Instead of using tiles they used vegetable sticks and paints to make mosaic prints. It was a fun and therapeutic afternoon! Mrs Thongsen

Building our first robot in DT after school program

Samba Time!

In Music lessons this term Year 9 have been studying Samba Music from Brazil. Year 9 Yellow performed with instruments, dances, presentations and even made their own floats!

Saturday Thai Culture Club for Early Years to Year 1

Early Years, Reception & Year 1 Thai students learned about bananas. They did lots of activities which used different parts of the banana fruit and plant. In Thailand we use every part of the banana. Students and parents took part of this activity nicely.

Saturday Thai Culture Club for Year 2-4

The Year 2-4 students took part in Thai weaving activity. We made fish mobiles from coconut leaves. ‘Mobiles’ are usually hung above a baby’s cradle to entertain the child and keep disturbing spirits away, according to Thai beliefs. At first it was difficult but as soon as they got the first one right, they couldn’t stop making them! Some students took 10 fishes home to show their work to their parents!

Saturday Thai Culture Club for Year 5-7

Year 5-7 students participated in making handcrafted bags for the sick children in Vachira Hospital. They then went to Vachira to visit the sick children and give out the bags with second hand books in them. This was a great time of learning t make other people happy!

Drama Group Presentation

On Monday, May 31st, the drama department of Hayley Milner and Joel Adams presented a double header event featuring a play from both the Primary drama club and the Secondary.Primary performed ‘Even Baughfmann’s Rom 3.0 and Julia,’ a Romeo and Juliet-like story between robots and humans. Secondary presented their comic look as ‘A Brief History of Theatre’, which they had created during their drama sessions. Both the Primary and Secondary actors did a great job for an audience of family and friends and a great time was had by all.

Duke of Edinburgh Adventurous Journey Assessment Week

Year 10 Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Award - Adventurous Journey Assessment Weekend - kayaking & overnight camping (14-15th May). The students did really well considering that they had to cope with a storm that raged through the camp on Saturday night!

Sports and P.E. Department News

Upcoming Sports Fixtures

• Football- U 13 and U 15 Boys Teams in Action at Hong Kong Schools Invitational

We wish our Under 13 and Under 15 football teams the best of luck for the ‘Hong Kong Schools Invitational Football Tournament’ held at BISP on the 3-4th of June. We will let all know how well they got on next week.

Sports fixtures for next week

Around the Island

Special Spa Promotion from HeadStart Parents. Grab it will you can!