Dear Samakee Community,
It has been a great first week back after the half term break. We hope you and your family feel rested. We hit the ground running as usual, with lots of events and activities on the calendar in the lead up to Christmas. The first of these events is Science Week next week.
We were excited to welcome two delegates from the US state department on Monday. There were some insightful conversations as to the role they fulfil for the US citizens in our growing Samakee community. In the latter half of the week, we hosted our postponed PTG gathering, and we welcomed back the Farmers market. Another lovely week in the life of Samakee school.
Wishing you all a pleasant weekend.
PTG Meeting Thursday 2nd November 2023
On Thursday we welcomed many parents to the first of our PTG workshops – the focus was Restorative Practice. Samakee’s ethos of inclusion and positive relationships aligns itself perfectly with the culture of Restorative Practice. It is a way of thinking that enables a community to build, maintain and repair relationships. It is not a soft touch or turning a blind eye when faced with negative behaviour. It is about developing a culture that brings about a willingness to do the right thing. Samakee is on a continuing journey with embedding restorative practices in school. It takes time to build relationships., we know that relationships can happen naturally but we need to build them intentionally.
For an infographic on the key takeaways from this workshop please see here: Restorative Practice Infographic
We look forward to welcoming parents again at our next PTG meeting held on the first Thursday of each month.
Farmers’ Market
Teaching and Learning Highlights!
EYFS Music
On our wonderful journey of early education, we celebrate the magic of music as an integral part of our free flow learning. Every morning, as we arrive at school, the air is filled with laughter and harmony, as many choose to sing, play instruments, and create a special bond.
Through music, we connect, we learn, and we grow. It’s not just about notes and lyrics, but the joy it brings, the friendships it nurtures, and the creativity it ignites.
Year 3 – Bua Loi Chocolate Lava
Year 3 students explored the world of cacao and chocolate in Thailand as part of their cross-curricular topic in Year 3. They got to check out real cacao pods, learn interesting facts, and even test cocoa powder from different places in Thailand to discover different flavours. The most exciting part was when they used their chocolate knowledge to make a tasty Thai dessert called “Bua Loy Chocolate Lava”. This hands-on activity not only taught them about cacao and chocolate but also let them enjoy the yummy side of Thai culture.
KS2 SMARTS Showcase – Homework Heroes
WOW! Well done to our Y3 and 4 students for their incredible SMARTs homework!!
The Middle School team were so impressed with the dedication, precision, and effort that has gone into the children’s projects. Students were eager to share their projects with Year 1 and 2 students, as well as other members of the Samakee community. Thank you to those of you who were able to join us and celebrate the children’s hard work.
High-five for their exceptional attitude to learning!
Upper School – 20 Minutes Reading
Reading is a very important part of life at Samakee. We want our students to develop a lifelong love of reading. This year, Upper School students have been busy creating book reviews, filling in reading journals and regularly visiting the library. We have also been discussing our favourite books in English classes. US students should be reading for a minimum of 20 minutes per day, in order to be exposed to over a million words per year. Let’s make some more word millionaires!
Flying Away With Maths!
Year 8 students are working on projects for a fictional aeronautics company under a demanding CEO – Ms Sophie! Students have been challenged to apply their maths learning to a real-world brief. They must design accurate scale drawings of the floor plan of their own celebrity private jet and create their own schedule and timetable for their jet’s flights across Thailand. Students are applying their knowledge of bearings, angle rules, constructions and scale factors to produce a product which would impress a private client! It’s been wonderful to see the students working closely in teams utilising their imaginative, innovative and intrepid mindsets, alongside their mathematics skills.
Upcoming Important Events
Middle School Growth Mindset Master
Even though he has only been at Samakee for a few weeks, he is already showing an increase in his perseverance and developing a more positive attitude when faced with challenges. Keep it up!
SAS LINE Communication Platform
LINE is a widely used communication platform in Thailand, and it’s a platform that Samakee has been utilizing for quite some time. We encourage all our families to connect with our official SAS LINE account to ensure we can easily disseminate important school-wide updates to our entire school community.
Monica L Sudhirak
Head of School
Head of School, Monica L Sudhirak: msudhirak@standrews-samakee.com
First School Phase Leader, Tabietha Sudhirak: tsudhirak@standrews-samakee.com
Middle School Phase leader, Hannah Riddi: hannah.ridd@standrews-samakee.com
Upper School Phase Leader, Nicky Page: npage@standrews-samakee.com
“Samakee is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of all students and expects all staff and visitors to share this commitment.”