Si Ri Panya News | 2026–27 Issue 5
Updated: Oct 10
25 September 2026
What Does It Mean to Be a Values-Led School?
It is easy for a school to have values. It is much harder to live by them.
Six words can be printed on a wall, added to a website or repeated in an assembly. But that isn't really where values exist. They show themselves in the choices we make when nobody is reminding us what they are.
Do we tell the truth when it would be easier not to? Do we try again when something is difficult? Do we have the courage to do something that makes us uncomfortable? Do we notice when somebody else needs our help?
At Si Ri Panya, our six values — Balanced, Community-Minded, Resilient, Courageous, Honest and Respectful — give us a shared language for these moments.
We won't always get them right. Children won't, and adults won't either. Perhaps being values-led isn't about getting it right all the time. It is about having something to come back to: a shared understanding of how we want to treat one another and the kind of community we want our school to be.
For me, that is when values become more than words.
Courage Is Something We Practise
There is a difference between knowing what courage means and actually having to be courageous.
This half term, our Secondary assemblies are focusing on one of our six Si Ri Panya values: Courageous. Each week, a different class takes responsibility for leading the assembly, sharing their own ideas about what the value means and how it can shape the way we think, learn and contribute to our community.
Last week, our experienced Year 10 class led the way — quite literally — by standing up and singing in front of the whole of Secondary, accompanied on guitar by Teacher Tom.
For some, that may come naturally. For others, it is exactly the sort of thing they would rather avoid. And perhaps that is the point. Courage is often less about feeling confident and more about being willing to have a go.
Year 10 certainly did that, bringing plenty of joy and energy to the start of the week at the same time.
By giving pupils responsibility for their assemblies, they are not only hearing adults talk about leadership, confidence and courage. They are getting the chance to practise them.
These moments may look small, but this is often how confidence is built — one experience at a time.
Explore our six Si Ri Panya values and what they mean in practice.
Another Chance to Be Courageous — Bugsy Malone Auditions!
There was another opportunity to be courageous this week as students took to the stage to audition for our upcoming production of Bugsy Malone.
Students stepped into the world of 1920s urban America, reading and memorising sections of the script and performing some of the musical’s best-known songs.
They did brilliantly, and we hope to announce the cast next week.
Alumni Update: Alison
We were very happy to hear some fantastic news from former Si Ri Panya student Alison, who achieved AAA in her A-levels this summer.
Alison is now studying Biology and Psychology at McGill University in Montreal, Canada, and is thoroughly enjoying university life.
It is always special to hear from former students and to see where their next steps take them after Si Ri Panya.
Congratulations, Alison — a fantastic achievement! 🎓
New Date - Family Beach Clean with Trash Hero
Last Sunday’s beach clean was unfortunately called off because of the weather, although the Trash Hero team still made it out and showed just how much rubbish remains to be collected.
We will therefore try again on Sunday 27 September, joining Trash Hero Koh Phangan for their next clean.
Students, parents, siblings, friends and staff are all very welcome to come along and help.
📍 The Navy Ship at Thong Sala Pier
🗓️ Sunday 27 September
⏰ 8:00–9:00 am
Hopefully we will have better weather this time and can finally get our Si Ri Panya community out there together.
From Bottle Tops to Something New
Our first Precious Plastic Enrichment workshop saw students working through the first stages of transforming discarded plastic into new products.
Working in groups, students sorted bottle tops, shredded plastic lids and tested new moulds to create ocean- and flower-themed pieces.
Over the coming sessions, these will be developed into items such as keyrings, jewellery and bookmarks, giving students the opportunity to follow the process from waste material through to a finished product.
It was a strong first session in our new dedicat
ed Precious Plastic workshop, combining practical skills with a clear understanding of how plastic can be reused rather than simply discarded.
Lunchtime Together
Sometimes the simplest moments say a lot about school life. At lunchtime today, Teacher Olivia joined pupils of different ages for a rather competitive round of arm wrestling — one of those everyday moments of play, laughter and connection across the school.
Si Ri Panya Recognised by OPEC for Quality Assurance 🌱
At Si Ri Panya, we believe that strong schools are built through reflection, evaluation and a commitment to continuous improvement.
We are proud to share that Si Ri Panya has been recognised by the Office of the Private Education Commission (OPEC) for successfully completing our 2024–25 Self-Assessment Report (SAR).
As part of OPEC’s Educational Quality Assurance Seminar in Bangkok, certificates of recognition were presented to a selection of international private schools that had successfully completed and submitted their Self-Assessment Reports in line with OPEC’s quality assurance requirements.
Our SAR is an important part of our annual reflection process, allowing us to review our progress, celebrate our strengths and identify areas where we can continue to develop as a school.
Thank you to everyone involved in preparing this important report and contributing to the ongoing development of Si Ri Panya.
Reading Buddies
Year 1 and Year 4 took their books out into the playground this week, finding their own favourite spots to read together.
Our older pupils encouraged and supported their younger reading buddies — sharing stories, practising reading and building friendships across year groups along the way.
Key Dates at a Glance
Halloween Costume Celebration 30-Oct
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.
