Si Ri Panya News Highlights
- Nicola Bunchuay
- Sep 19
- 7 min read
Welcome to our Friday September 19th 2025 Newsletter (issue 21)This week, every year group has worked hard to settle in and fully immerse themselves in their new learning environments. It has been an exceptionally smooth start to the academic year — and that is thanks, in no small part, to you.
Whether you are a teacher, a parent, or a student reading this week’s newsletter, the efforts in the classroom, the support at home, and the dedication behind the scenes at school have all come together to create such a positive beginning.
So, before we share this week’s news and updates, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you for your encouragement, teamwork, and positivity as we continue paving the way forward together.
Get Involved!
As Week 3 draws to a close, we’re delighted to share a glimpse through the lens of our brand-new Photography Club, led by Teacher Simon. The club meets every Thursday and is open to students from Years 4–6.
There are still a few spaces left, so why not come along for a paid trial session this Thursday before signing up for the term? It’s already proving to be a fantastic club, sparking creativity and giving students the chance to see the world through a new lens.
You can explore more about our Photography Club and the other After School Activities on offer, and register HERE
A Parachute Investigation: Year 5 Science
In Science, Year 5 students have been busy constructing parachutes to investigate forces. Students carefully measured the area of their parachute material, weighed their various loads to ensure a fair test, and then dropped them from a height to record how long each parachute took to fall.
By comparing their results, they were able to explore how surface area and weight affect the speed of descent. Pretty cool! Have a look at this week's Science Gallery below.
Year 7 PE - the students asked... and we delivered!
Football was by far the most requested sport in PE last year, so we’re kicking off the Year 7 sports calendar with a bang!
From teamwork to technique, our students will be building skills, confidence, and having a blast on the pitch. Let’s make this term a winner!
Key Dates at a Glance
Looking Ahead: Key events and special days for the school year are published on our homepage.
Term 1 After-School Activity (ASA) sign-up information
See Newsletter Issue 18 for full details
2-Oct-25 Annual Family Beach Clean with Trash Hero
See Newsletter Issue 20 for full details
Parent Discussion Circle - every Friday
See Newsletter Issue 21 for full details
Links to our end of term event songs to practice at home
See Newsletter Issue 21 for full details
Join Si Ri Panya Basketball Club Phangan Slam
Phangan Slam is back in business and welcoming new players! If you are looking for a fun and active way for your child to build skills and confidence, our Basketball Club is now open for new members!
We welcome beginners just learning the game, as well as intermediate players with some experience who want to improve their skills in a friendly and supportive environment.
Location: Si Ri Panya Days: Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays Ages: 6-16
Our coaches focus on teamwork, skill development, and having fun—perfect for any child who loves the game or wants to give it a try.
Spots are limited, so don’t miss out!
To sign up or learn more, email teacher Kim (kimberley.f@siripanya.com), or visit the Si Ri Panya Sports Club Facebook Page. Hope to see you on the court!
Welcome to the Stone Age!
Walking around on one of our fascinating learning walks, where as Head of Primary, I go into different classrooms to see what wild and wonderful things our students are up to, is fast becoming a highlight of my week.
In fact, on Wednesday, I opened the classroom door to Year 3 and all of a sudden I was in the Stone Age! In their first full History lesson, students investigated what it meant to be from this era. They looked at how the use of stone was at the centre of every day life.
Students analysed images of what reconstructed Stone Age settlements looked like and learned about how these prehistoric homo spiens--who lived before us--made tools and made different useful items to aid their daily existence.
Teacher Amy talked to her class about making a timeline, so they can visually imagine the massive scale of time we are talking about--which is millions of years-- since our prehistoric relatives lived on Earth.
Week 3 Learning Gallery...
Browse our gallery to see more of our busy Primary students at work. From moments of Teacher Charles' Year 4 geography class and spelling practice to Teacher Olivia's Year 1 Physical Education session, our students could be seen putting our collective values to the test!
This week it's been great to see students making new friends and forging strong relationships with each other. You can almost feel from these photos taken during one of our learning walks, the sense of active collaboration between them.
What a positive start to the new academic year, to see students on task and listening carefully to their teachers.
Each week we encourage students to challenge themselves both at home and at school, and to work on developing good attitudes toward learning.
We want our students to be confident decision makers and not afraid to make mistakes in their quest to find answers.
We also want our them to develop a life-long appreciation of learning, and want their lives to be positively impacted education.
Finally, we're really proud of the good start our students have made this year. What a courageous start to the year it has been! Well done.
Parent Discussion Circle
An informal, welcoming space for parents to share, listen, and connect ✨
Parenting comes with plenty of questions, and it helps to know you’re not alone. Our weekly discussion circle offers a relaxed setting where every voice is valued. Expect friendly, informal conversations (not workshops or lectures), a chance to share experiences, hear from others, and pick up practical tips along the way. Above all, it’s a safe and supportive space for families.
📅 When: Every Friday, 9:00am – 10:00am
📍 Where: Boardroom
👩🏫 Hosted by: Pastoral Lead - Faye Reading
📝 Theme of the Week: Reminder sent via parent WhatsApp & newsletter
What We’ll Be Talking About
Friday 26th September: How do we balance screen time, online safety, gaming and social media pressures?
Friday 3rd October: How can we help children build friendships, handle peer pressure, and feel included?
Friday 10th October: What helps children develop resilience, manage stress, and build confidence?
Friday 17th October: How can we support motivation, homework routines, and adapting to structured learning?
Friday 31st October: What role do sleep, nutrition, and physical activity play in family life—and how do we manage overstimulation?
Friday 7th November: How can we guide children through the changes of adolescence—puberty, self-confidence, relationships, and risk-taking?
Friday 14th November: Where’s the balance between independence and boundaries at home? How do we manage sibling rivalry?
Friday 21st November: What approaches to parenting work best—discipline or guidance, independence or support? And how do we care for ourselves as parents?
✨ Come as you are—whether to share your thoughts, ask questions, or simply listen in. Every parent is welcome.
Sing Along with Us at the End-of-Term Show!
Although our End-of-Term Event isn’t until Wednesday 10th December, we’d like to share the songs now so that families can begin enjoying them together at home.
To make things simple, we’ve included a link next to each song that will take you to the correct YouTube version. Here’s what each year group will be performing:
We hope you’ll enjoy starting to sing along at home and look forward to a joyful celebration together in December!
Join the Primary Choir (Years 3–6) — Tuesdays
We’ve a few spaces and would love a few more voices! This term the choir will learn ‘Naughty’ (from the wildly popular musical Matilda). Choir is a warm, friendly space for pupils to sing as part of a group, build confidence and make new friends.
Hear the song: ‘Naughty’ on YouTube
Who: Years 3–6
When: Tuesdays
New to Choir? You can book a paid trial session first.
How to join: Complete the ASA sign-up form
Ongoing Weekly Reminders
Library Reminder: Please check at home for any lost books and return them to the Primary or Secondary library so everyone can enjoy them!
Bottle Cap Collection: We're collecting bottle caps for our Precious Plastic Project! Please bring your bottle caps to the collection point located inside the Primary school gate on the left. Secondary students can bring theirs to the Design and Technology Lab. Find out more about this exciting long-term project here: Precious Plastic Phangan Facebook.
Drop Off and Pick Up: Drop-off is at 8:30 am (not earlier). Pick-up times are 2:50 pm for Primary (or 4:00 pm if attending an ASA) and 4:00 pm for Secondary. Please be punctual, as some Primary children have been waiting up to 30 minutes after 2:50 pm, which can be distressing for them.
No Idling Zone: Help make the area outside our school a NO IDLING ZONE which means switching car engines off while you wait for your child. We appreciate your action for the environment and health of all.
Absence and Illness: Notify your child's class teacher (Primary) or form teacher (Secondary) directly to inform them of absence and sickness.
Head Lice Check: Continue to check your child's hair for head lice regularly and treat accordingly. Boys and girls with long hair need to tie it up.
Uniform Orders: Ensure your child wears the correct uniform each day. Uniform orders can be placed online: 🔗 Secondary Order Form 🔗 Primary Order Form
Healthy snacks: Healthy snacks only. No sweets, crisps/chips or cakes at break times. Birthdays are the exception and dealt with per class policy.
