Si Ri Panya News | 2026–27 Issue 2
- 17 hours ago
- 6 min read
Thirteen Years On: The Si Ri Panya Story Continues
Thirteen years ago, Si Ri Panya International School opened its doors, creating an opportunity for families to remain on Koh Phangan while providing their children with an international education.
Founder Nicola’s story, including the journey that led to the creation of Si Ri Panya and the school’s development over the years, was published this week in Thaiger. Read the full article in Thaiger
The beginning of the new academic year feels like an ideal moment to share the story, as our Secondary school launches its first Year 10 class and begins its two-year pathway towards internationally recognised IGCSE and BTEC qualifications.
Our teaching team brings together educators with a wide range of experience from international and UK-based education, alongside professional experience gained beyond the classroom. Together with our Thai teachers and wider school team, they bring different perspectives, skills and experiences to our school community.
Many of our teachers are seasoned practitioners with decades of combined experience, while others bring more recent training, fresh ideas, enthusiasm and a strong commitment to their students.
We are pleased to be part of Si Ri Panya’s present community and its future, as the school continues to develop and grow stronger with the support of our families.
A New Chapter: Year 10 Begins at Si Ri Panya
This week marks an important milestone for Si Ri Panya as our first Year 10 cohort begins the school’s two-year Upper Secondary pathway.
Over the next two years, these students will work towards a combination of IGCSE and BTEC qualifications, moving into Year 11 next academic year as they continue towards their final examinations and assessments.
The transition into Year 10 brings a noticeable change in the way students learn. Alongside subject knowledge, there is a greater emphasis on independence, organisation, longer-term assignments and taking responsibility for the quality and originality of their work.
One of their first lessons this week focused on plagiarism and referencing. Jeanne worked with the class on what plagiarism means, why simply copying words or ideas is not acceptable, and how to acknowledge sources properly when research contributes to their own work.
These are essential habits for BTEC assignments and project work, where students must show clearly which ideas and work are their own, but they are also important across Upper Secondary study more widely.
As the year develops, students will increasingly be expected to plan their own work, meet deadlines, respond to feedback and manage the demands of several different courses at once.
For Si Ri Panya, the launch of Year 10 is more than the addition of another year group. It represents the next stage in the school’s development, giving students the opportunity to continue their education with us through the two-year examination pathway into Year 11.
Value Launch: Courageous
We have launched our first value of the year with Courageous Cody!
Each term, we focus on two of our six school values, encouraging students to think about what they mean and how they can put them into practice in everyday school life.
In Primary, students may receive a certificate for demonstrating one of our six values: Balanced, Community-Minded, Resilient, Courageous, Honest and Respectful.
In Secondary, the values may also spark discussion during Friday assemblies, giving students opportunities to share ideas, reflect and develop greater self-awareness.
Families can help bring the value to life at home too. Talk with your child about what it means to be courageous and notice the moments when they show it. Courage might mean being brave, trying something new, taking a risk even when they feel a little unsure, or simply having the confidence to ask a question.
Our Brave Year 1s: Celebrating a Successful First Week!
Wai Khru Ceremony – Thursday 10 September
One of the special traditions that marks the beginning of our school year is Wai Khru, a Thai ceremony centred on gratitude, respect and the importance of learning.
On Thursday 10 September from 9:15–10:15am, our Primary and Secondary students will come together for this year’s ceremony. Students will learn more about the tradition from our Thai teachers before presenting flowers to their teachers and offering the wai as a sign of respect.
For families who are new to Thailand, Wai Khru provides a lovely opportunity for children to experience an important part of Thai culture alongside their classmates.
🌼 Children may bring flowers from home to offer to their teachers if they wish. This is completely optional, as flowers will also be prepared at school.
Parents are warmly invited to join us for the ceremony.
From First Notes to the Stage
Learning an instrument rarely begins with a performance. It starts much more quietly – finding the right notes, learning how to keep a steady rhythm and gradually putting a few bars of music together.
Last year, one of our beginner musicians started private lessons with Rupert with very little previous experience. Those first sessions focused on the basics: becoming comfortable with the instrument, understanding simple rhythm and learning to play short sections accurately.
Week by week, those sections became a complete piece.
And now comes a rather bigger step – playing it for somebody else.
One of the things we are developing through our private music programme this year is giving students a genuine reason to practise and somewhere to share what they have learnt. When beginner musicians are ready, they will have the opportunity to perform a simple piece during one of our Friday assemblies. More experienced students can work towards performances at our larger end-of-term events, in front of families and the wider school community.
Rupert offers individual tuition in piano, drums and singing during the school week, alongside his role as our school Music Teacher.
Most of this year's lesson timetable is already full, with just three private lesson spaces currently remaining.
Families interested in finding out more about lessons and availability can join the SRP Music Academy WhatsApp Community.
Get Creative: Join Our After-School Pottery Club
Students can explore clay, develop new techniques and create their own pieces in our after-school Pottery Club.
If you would like to join, you can sign up here.
Giving School Uniform a Second Life
At the end of last term, many families kindly donated Si Ri Panya uniform that their children had outgrown or no longer needed.
A big thank you to Josefina, one of our parents, who generously washed, folded and prepared the donated clothing during the holidays.
The new and gently used uniform is now available free of charge in the First Aid Room, and families are very welcome to take anything their children can use.
The collection also helps us keep spare clothing at school for those everyday moments when a child gets wet, muddy or simply needs a change of clothes.
We will run the initiative again at the end of Term 3, giving uniform another life rather than letting perfectly usable clothing go to waste.
Key Dates at a Glance
Wai Khru Ceremony 10-Sep at 9:15am
View all important school dates and events for 2026–27 on our homepage.
Weekly Reminders
🚗 Drop-off & Pick-up
Drop-off: from 8:30 a.m.
Primary pick-up: 2:50 p.m. or 4:00 p.m. for ASA
Secondary pick-up: 4:00 p.m.
Please be punctual.
🤒 Absence
Please inform your child’s class teacher (Primary) or form tutor (Secondary) if they are absent or unwell.
👕 Uniform
Please ensure your child wears the correct uniform each day.Primary Order Form | Secondary Order Form
🍎 Healthy Routines
Please send healthy snacks only, check regularly for head lice, and keep long hair tied back.
📖 Library Books
Please return any school library books to the Primary or Secondary library.
🎂 Birthdays
Primary birthdays (Years 1–6) are celebrated on Fridays at 2:00 p.m. during Enrichment Time. Secondary birthdays (Years 7–11) are celebrated during tutor time.
♻️ Bottle Caps
We continue to collect bottle caps for our Precious Plastic Project. Collection point: outside the Primary gate.Find out more about the Precious Plastic Project
🌬️ No Idling
Please switch off engines while waiting outside school.
📘 Family Handbook
For full school guidance, routines and expectations, please refer to our Primary and Secondary Family Handbooks.
Si Ri Panya News — Previous Issues
Explore earlier issues of Si Ri Panya News via our school blog archive.
