Weekly Update 18

Parenting Tip

Allow obsessions! Kids love a challenge and will immerse themselves in something they are trying to crack. Even if you can’t understand why your child might want to try to write down all of the numbers to a million, get to the top level of a computer game or learn to skip backwards, be tolerant! Seeing a job through to the end is a trait worth acquiring.

Students often ask me questions such as ‘how do you spell …’? or ‘Should I write …?’ Real learning isn’t about providing the right answer, but it is about facilitating what students need to learn. As teachers, we need first to inspire students and motivate them to want to be successful learners. Then we need to point them in the right direction - show them where to look for the answers they seek. In doing this, effective teachers create active involvement in the learning process that forces students to construct their own responses. It personalises the learning experience. This, in turn, results in the processing of information much deeper than the mere memorisation of facts.

Announcements

A Message From the Director:

I am pleased to announce that on January 14th, HeadStart obtained building permits for the new campus. Construction will commence at the end of January, which will be ahead of schedule.

Parent Portal is Ready to Use!

We are happy to announce the launch of our new online Parent Portal.

The Parent Portal will allow you easy and convenient access to important information regarding your child’s education. The Parent Portal has information which includes:

• Student details / Parent details - Student Homework / Merits / Sanctions - Timetables and Events - Attendance - Medical Records / Accident Notifications and Records - Contact details of Homeroom Teachers - School Reports (Week, Term, Year)

We look forward to improving the efficiency of our student’s education through the enhanced Parent - School communication, which the Parent Portal will now offer and we ask for your support and patience during the initial launch phase of this project.

Quick Instruction: Please login to our website using Google Chrome: headstartphuket.com> Portals > Parent Portal or come directly to this link: https://portal.headstartphuket.com:444/parentportal/

Pick Up Time Reminder

We would like to remind all parents to please remember to place your child’s name in the left hand section of your dashboard as you are driving into the school to pick up your child in the afternoon. This way, our assistants will be able to call out the student’s name on the sound system giving him/her enough time to get ready to be picked up at the exit of the waiting area. Thank you in advance for your co operation.

Foundation News

Early Years Learns About Light With a New Light Box!

Rec A and B Swim Carnival

Thursday January 16th both Reception classes competed in a mini swim carnival. This was a highly successful event and I would like to thank everyone who assisted me in making it such a positive experience for the kids.

Primary News Year 4 Learns About Natural Habitats — Claire Smyth, Year 4 teacher

This week Year 4A were researching different habitats as part of their current unit in science. The class was asked to bring iPads to school and, in pairs, they used these to research two habitats.

Art and Antarctica — Heidi St. Hill, Year 5 teacher

Year 5A continued to explore the mysteries of Antarctica when they learned about striped icebergs (melting icebergs that refreeze). They also learned about animals that live in that frozen desert continent. They created their own striped icebergs and animals on a lovely sunset and sea background.

Year 6 Has an Electrifying Time — Kevin Reynolds, Year 6 teacher

As part of their work on electricity, pupils in 6B have been investigating how different components fit together to make series and even parallel circuits. Due to the excellent theoretical knowledge shown in lessons earlier in the week, Mr Kevin decided to allow the children to get hands-on early on in the topic. The children really did themselves proud in the way they worked together and in the fantastic circuits that they created. Definitely a few budding electrical engineers in the making!

Year 6 Assembly on Ancient Greece — From Katrina Dietrich, Year 6 teacher

Year 5 Visited the Bird Park on the Last Day of Term 1 — From Katrina Dietrich, Year 6 teacher

Congratulations to Krittat Phaisamran in Year 2B for earning 100 merits so far this year!

Thai Department News

Parents Weekly Meeting

Dear parents,

We would like to invite you to a presentation of our online parent portal. With the help of this parent portal you will be able to track your child’s progress in school. The meeting will be held on Tuesday the 21st of January 2014 for the Foundation parents. Tuesday the 28th of January for the Primary parents. Tuesday the 4th of February for the Secondary parents. The presentation will be from 08:30 – 09.30am in the ICT room.

Please confirm with Kru Nee by Monday 12:00pm ([email protected]) if you would like to attend.

เรียนผู้ปกครองที่เคารพ

ทางโรงเรียนขอเชิญท่านเข้าร่วมการประชุม เรื่อง Parent Portal ซึ่งเป็นโปรแกรมที่จะช่วยให้ท่านสามารถตรวจสอบความก้าวหน้าทางการเรียนของนักเรียนที่โรงเรียนได้ทางคอมพิวเตอร์ส่วนตัวของท่านที่บ้าน การประชุมมีกำหนดการดังนี้

วันอังคาร ที่ 21 ม.ค. สำหรับผู้ปกครองระดับอนุบาล

วันอังคาร ที่ 28 ม.ค. สำหรับผู้ปกครองระดับประถม

วันอังคาร ที่ 1 ก.พ. สำหรับผู้ปกครองรับมัธยม

หากท่านประสงค์จะเข้าร่วมประชุม ขอความกรุณายืนยัน โดยตอบกลับมาที่อีเมลครูนี ([email protected])

จึงเรียนมาเพื่อทราบ

ครูนี

Saturday Thai Culture Club

Saturday Thai Culture Club, for January Term 2, will be held on Saturday, 18th of January 2014. We will be going on a fieldtrip to the rice fields at Mai Khao Beach. For registration, please contact our Thai teachers.

Preschool Learns about Transportation

Art Department News

Year 3 students created landscapes using warm and cool colours.

Year 8 made clay relief tiles with an underwater theme.

Year 6 made clay gargoyles.

Year 2 is learning about the work of Vincent Van Gogh and painted their own version of Starry Night.

Sports Department News

Super Six League Information

Plukpanya Football Challenge

On Saturday the U9, U11 and U13 football teams (including many students who learn football with Coach JR at the weekend) joined the Plukpanya Junior Football Cup for a Children’s Day tournament. Students made a great effort despite long waits between games and very hot weather! It was also the players’ first chance to wear their new kits!

Basketball Friendly for U15’s