Week 2: A New Term, Off and Running
Updated: 5 days ago
Welcome to Week Two
We’ve had a wonderful first week back at Halio, and it has been lovely to see the children settling so quickly into their new classes and routines. There has already been lots of energy, enthusiasm and learning across the school, and we’re looking forward to another great week ahead.
This Week
We are pleased to announce that Khun Gary has kindly volunteered to lead Rugby Club again this term. We are very grateful for the time and effort he gives to the children. Rugby Club will start this Monday from 4:00–5:00 p.m.
Football Club will take place on Wednesday. Girls’ Football will be at school from 4:00–4:45 pm, while the mixed Football Club will be at the school field from 4:00–5:00 pm.
On Wednesday morning, I will be available from 8:30–9:30 am for any parents who would like to drop in for a coffee and a chat. If you have any questions, would like to discuss something, or simply want to catch up, please feel free to come in during this time.
Trips
Lower Primary will be returning to Hampton Swim School for their swimming lessons. Please make sure children bring their swimwear, goggles, towel, a change of clothes, a hat, sunscreen and, if possible, a long-sleeved swimming top.
Upper Primary and Middle School will be heading to Cha Am park. Children are welcome to bring their bikes, scooters, skateboards or anything else they would like to use at the park.
Highlights from Last Week
We had perfect weather for our trip to Suan Son Beach, where the children had a fantastic time exploring, spotting fish and crabs, and playing in the ocean.
Lower Primary had a successful first swimming lesson of the term, settling quickly back into their swimming routines with the support of three coaches from Hua Hin Swim School.
All Upper Primary students returned to their different Areas of Responsibility this week, with several new projects already getting underway. It has been great to see students taking ownership of different parts of school life so early in the term.
Toa, Amanda, Ping An and Alisa have been incredibly proactive in their Area of Responsibility group, helping to plan our school trips for the whole term. A big thank you and well done to them.
Sarah, Matthew and Prin have been busy supporting classes and learning across the school throughout the week.
Seren, Xi En, Linus and Vicky helped the Polar Bears during their art class, exploring surrealism together. The Polar Bears then proudly showcased their artwork during Circle Time.
The Sabertooth Group, completed the Kindergarten mud kitchen play area that they began last term. The Kindergarten children had their first play session there this week and certainly made the most of it! The group also created a bench and started work on a water garden, with Mia developing plans for a water wall to add later this term.
On Monday, children joined their new Cleaning Family Groups and Farming Groups. Everyone will visit the farm at least once each week to help care for it and contribute to the space.
There was lots of spontaneous music happening during self-directed time this week. Wawa, Pya and Willow asked teachers to help them begin learning guitar, while other children gathered around the piano and explored music together. It was lovely to see their interests naturally developing into new learning.
Circle Time Highlights
Students discussed and voted on important school rules and expectations. Patee, Jom and Pohn volunteered to demonstrate how tools and digging equipment can be used safely, including teaching everyone about the “blood bubble”, the safe space we need to keep around ourselves when using tools.
Maithai and Toa kindly donated some prizes for our contests this week, including a pencil case and some Korean money.
Our anonymous contests continued, with Alisa winning an elephant pencil case, Ticha a gel candle and Bella Bean a notebook.
Chafia kindly donated a book to the school, and we also unveiled some new additions to our library, with more books from authors from India, Southeast Asia and the wider region.#
Our Improv Theatre Club gave us a small performance during Circle Time, and Dance Club also shared a short dance routine.
We saw some of the children’s homemade Play-Doh creations, as well as another group sharing the squishy toys they had been making.
Relationship Class
Polar Bears
The Polar Bears began the term by getting to know the expectations and routines of Relationship Class. They discussed some of the ground rules for working together and helping to create a space where everyone feels comfortable joining in, sharing ideas and asking questions.
Agent Owls
The Agent Owls discussed the difference between mature and immature behaviour, using the old Goofus and Gallant comics for inspiration. They then practised telling the time using an analogue clock, focusing on when their different classes begin, before discussing strategies to help themselves and others arrive at class on time.
Hummingbirds
The Hummingbirds focused on friendship and inclusion. Students discussed times when they had felt left out and explored the idea that friendship groups can be a “wall”, keeping people out, or a “door”, letting people in. They then played Friendship Bingo, mixing with classmates they do not usually talk to and discovering things they have in common. They finished with the idea: “Being a good friend means being a door, not a wall.”
Sabertooths
The Sabertooths established their ground rules for the term, including respect, listening, allowing everyone to have their say and keeping the room a safe space for honest discussion. They also chose some of the topics they would like to explore this term, including internet safety, AI, phone and video game addiction, religion, God and what happens when we die. We will explore these questions together as the term progresses.
The Silver Sharks
The Silver Sharks began the term by exploring leadership and what it means to be a positive role model. Through different activities, they considered a range of leadership styles and discussed what makes an effective leader. Over the coming weeks, they will build on this by exploring teamwork, communication, supporting others and developing their own individual leadership styles.
Penguins & Crystal Tigers
The Penguins and Crystal Tigers began by exploring what Relationship Class will be about and the different topics and questions they might investigate this term. Students used Post-it notes to share questions, ideas and subjects they would like to discuss. Together, they also created a class agreement, establishing ground rules to make Relationship Class a safe and respectful space where students can explore difficult questions, express different opinions and seek information.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support. We are looking forward to a wonderful and successful term ahead and to seeing all the different learning, projects and ideas that develop over the coming weeks.
If you have any questions or need to discuss anything with us, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Warm regards,
Mr Vincent and the Halio Team
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