Dear Parents, 

I was lucky enough to be one of the judges for this week’s Junior Science Fair competition this past Wednesday.  I was very impressed.  Investigations into ideal building materials, food container technology, the relative fluffiness of different ice creams, ideal growing conditions for fruit, Thai temples, and many more.  The scientific skills in evidence were very strong and I was delighted to see such commitment and application from our young geniuses!

And it takes nothing away from those scientists to note that they did not do this work alone.  Many worked in pairs, sure – but they also had other sources of support: their parents, teachers, friends.  This got me thinking about our school itself.  Over the past nine years, we have gone from zero students (when I joined in 2017) to eleven hundred, and we are now one of the most well-respected international schools in the world (apologies for boasting a little).

That can’t happen without masses of support – a lot of it quite invisible.  Wellington (UK) have been a huge part of our success, most of all via Mr Iain Henderson; ISAT, the International Schools Association of Thailand; the British Embassy and the British Chamber of Commerce here in Bangkok;  FOBISIA and COBIS; CIS, our accreditors.  And you, our parents – especially the FoW committees, who have always been so visionary, and relentless, and dedicated to the good of the school.   

The great English poet John Donne famously wrote, ‘No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent….’  It means that we are all part of something bigger than ourselves, and that we all need support to flourish.   

Thank you for your support, of your children – and of the whole community.

Have a great weekend

Chris 

Dear Parents,

What an inspiring Book Week we have had! Our theme, ‘The Power of Words,’ opened up such a wonderful opportunity for students across the Junior School to explore language in meaningful and creative way. The children thought about the words that matter most to them - favourite words that make them smile, fascinate them, or simply sound delightful, as well as words they find less appealing and why. It was a brilliant springboard for rich discussions about vocabulary, communication and how words shape our world.

One of the highlights was our visiting author, Jonathan Meres, who captured the children’s imaginations with his energy, humour, and love of storytelling. His sessions sparked further curiosity and inspired many children to want to read more. Perfect! 

In addition to this, the school was buzzing with reading‑focused activities, including reading picnics, breaktime readers, Drop Everything and Read, and of course, dress up day. It truly was an amazing celebration of reading and language. A huge thank you to our reading leads and library staff for organising every detail with such care. 

This Wednesday also marked the grand finale of our Science Competition. Students from Years 1 to 6 showcased their impressive scientific thinking as they presented their investigations inspired by questions about Thailand. From packaging to plants, light to animals, their ability to explain their ideas clearly and confidently was a real testament to their thought and hard work over the past weeks. Thank you to Ms Layfield for coordinating such a fantastic learning opportunity. 

Looking ahead to next week, we will be taking our group and class photos. Please ensure your child is in full school uniform for the large group photos on Tuesday, and that they wear their correct uniform for class photos when required in the week. 

Wishing you a super weekend. 

Hannah