Week 9: Community, Culture and Celebration

Welcome to Week 9

Thank you to the parents who attended our Parent-Teacher Meetings last week. It was a pleasure to speak with you and reflect on the children’s progress together.

This Week

• Makha Bucha Day & Lunar Eclipse: On Tuesday, Makha Bucha Day, there will be a total lunar eclipse, during which the moon will appear ‘brick-red’. The blood moon will be visible from approximately 6:20 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

A few of the Halio teachers will be heading to Sip Kao Rai at 6:00 p.m. to watch it, and we warmly invite students and parents to join us. You may wish to bring some dinner and enjoy the evening together.

• Café and Live Music: Our café will open on Wednesday 4th instead of Thursday this week to allow for a live performance from the Halio Band.

  
  

Daniel, CJ and Luca will be running the café, and live music will be provided by Alex, Mathew, Ping An and Sarah. We hope you can join us.

• Wednesday Coffee Morning: Coffee Morning with me will run from 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. as usual.

Friday Trip

This Friday, the whole school will visit Wat Wat Bo Fai. We will depart at 1:00 p.m. by songthaew. Upon arrival, we will walk up to the temple and gather in the main hall to listen to a short story about Makha Bucha Day (approximately 10–15 minutes).

There is no obligation for children to participate in any religious activities. However, this visit provides a valuable opportunity to develop cultural awareness and deepen understanding of our host nation. After the talk, we will take small walks around the temple grounds before returning to school.

Looking Ahead

• The Ministry of Education (MOE) will visit us on Thursday 12th March for their annual inspection. Grade 6 students will complete a test during this visit.

• Due to logistical reasons, our end-of-term showcase has been moved to Thursday 26th March instead of Wednesday 25th March like originally planned. This term, it will be a Movie in the Garden event, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and finishing at 7:30 p.m.

Highlights from the Week

• We held a student-led flea market at the café, where students applied for a ‘business licence’ in order to sell items to their peers. The café was run by Prin, Alesso and Alex, who used homegrown bananas from our farm and successfully made a profit.

• The winners of our Valentine’s Day writing competitions were announced:

- Agent Owls: 1st Liana, 2nd Boyko, 3rd Winston

- Summer Hummingbirds: 1st Bella, 2nd Dylan, 3rd Ben

- Winter Hummingbirds: 1st Nari, 2nd Xi Ai, 3rd Willow

- Sabertooth: 1st Cheewa, Myia and Arina

- Silver Sharks: 1st Jude, 2nd Vicky, 3rd Patee

- Penguins: 1st Amanda, 2nd Davide, 3rd Harris

- Ninjas: 1st Sern, 2nd Ping An, 3rd Milin

- Crystal Tigers: 1st Matthew, 2nd Paploy, 3rd Alex

• Vicky has volunteered to support in the library, helping younger students select books, showing them how to check them out properly, and ensuring they are returned neatly.

• Project Y students (Ninjas and Crystal Tigers) visited Prosana Old People’s Home. They introduced themselves, spoke about Halio and what they are studying, and asked thoughtful questions such as, “What did you enjoy when you were my age?” and “In your experience, what makes life meaningful?” They also played memory games with staff. It was a meaningful experience, and at times confronting, as students met some residents who were unable to speak or walk due to health conditions.

• We had a highly successful trips to swimming and Cha Am park respectively  

Student Achievement

• A huge congratulations to Winner, who not only gained entry to Samsenwittayalai School, widely regarded as one of the top government schools in Thailand, but placed 3rd overall, achieving 1st place in English and Maths in his entrance examinations.

• Congratulations also to Grace and Milin for passing their entrance examinations to Benjamah School. We are extremely proud of all of them.

Circle Time Highlights

• Dance Club, run by Kacie and Laura, performed during Circle Time.

• Movie Club leaders Paploy and Grace shared their latest film projects, while Art Club displayed their recent work. Alisa also shared her story created for Stop Motion Club.

Relationship Education

Agent Owls - Students explored the topic of the body through learning about the belly button and its connection to life in the womb. Through a simple and age-appropriate story, they developed an understanding of how babies grow and are cared for before birth.

Hummingbirds - Students took part in a teamwork activity called The Shared Path, where success depended on collaboration and coordinated movement. The activity reinforced shared responsibility, trust, and cooperation.

Sabertooth Group and Silver Sharks - This week in Relationship Class, Silver Sharks and Sabertooths discussed and reflected on the person they look up to. We talked about what it means to admire someone and the qualities that make a good role model, such as kindness, honesty, bravery, and perseverance.

Students shared thoughtful examples from their own lives, including family members, teachers, and community figures. They also reflected on why they admire these people and how they can practise those same positive qualities in their own daily actions.

Penguins - Students began exploring discrimination and its different forms. They discussed how individuals and communities can work to reduce discrimination and support those who may experience it.

Crystal Tigers and Ninjas - Students reflected on recent peer interactions and considered how actions are experienced by others. Discussions focused on responsibilities towards others and what kinds of experiences genuinely contribute to happiness.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Warm regards,

Vincent