Si Ri Panya News Highlights (issue 38)
- 18 hours ago
- 7 min read
Feb 13, 2026 - From Sports Day to Scuba Diving
Yesterday’s Primary Sports Day captured what makes Si Ri Panya special: a school where children are encouraged to take part, challenge themselves, and support one another — with real pride in their House Teams and a strong sense of belonging.
Across the morning, pupils rotated through short, active stations focused on key track-and-field skills — running, jumping, balancing, throwing and agility. The emphasis was on participation and personal best, and we saw exactly that: determination, resilience, laughter, and plenty of encouragement between friends (and across year groups).
A sincere thank you to all parents and family members who joined us to cheer the children on and follow their team around the events. Your support helps create the warm, community feel we value so highly at SRP — and it makes a big difference to the children.
Below are this week’s highlights from across Primary and Secondary.
Chess Club – Tuesdays (3:00–4:00pm) ♟️
Our Primary Chess Club is proving a real highlight of the week. The sessions are full of strategic thinking, friendly competition, and plenty of concentration — with pupils developing patience, focus and forward-thinking in a fun, social setting.
This week, Lisa (Head of Primary) joined for a game, the competition timer came out, and one group even named themselves “The Battle of the Brains”.
We are also enjoying some brilliant cross-school collaboration, with our Secondary Chess Champion dropping in to play and support our younger pupils.
We have space for a few more keen chess players — Tuesdays, 3:00–4:00pm. ♟️
Year 1 Cooking Class: Lemonade Scones
Year 1 enjoyed a highly successful cooking lesson this week as part of Design & Technology. The children baked lemonade scones and developed a wide range of practical skills, including measuring, counting, mixing, kneading, chopping and whipping cream. Throughout the session, pupils demonstrated excellent focus and patience, working carefully and collaboratively to complete each step of the process.
The afternoon ended with a well-earned taste test — scones served with jam and cream — and there was a real sense of pride in what the children had created. Many pupils were keen to recreate the recipe at home, and the link has been shared with families via email.
The Bluest of Blues - Year 3 explore the work and life of pioneer female botanist, Anna Atkins
This half term, Year 3 have been learning about Anna Atkins, a female pioneer botanist and photographer from England who lived in the 1800s. She was one of the first people ever to create a book filled with real photographs, using a special blue-printing method called cyanotypes to capture detailed images of plants, especially seaweed and algae.
She did this by placing them on light-sensative paper, leaving sunlight to do the magic-no camera needed!
Our young Si Ri Panya botanists explored her book The Bluest of Blues-a beautiful picture book of blue-and-white nature prints and then tried out sun-printing, flower pressing and different painting techniques diving into the different shades and tones of blue, inspired by this admirable lady and her interest in nature.
Year 3 studying the work of botanist pioneers Anna Aktins. (Centre Left) Teacher and student class agreements. (promises) to each other on what they can expect and be accountable for. Great stuff!
Si Ri Panya Goes Scuba Diving!
After lots of classroom learning and sessions in the pool to build confidence, last weekend we took our first group of Secondary students into the sea for a Discovery Scuba dive! We were blessed with perfect conditions in Chaloklum Bay, and the students saw some fabulous fish including a couple of large puffer fish.
We hope that in the future these Year 7 and 8 students will choose to do their full scuba diving training and continue their underwater adventures - and next week, a group of older students will be completing the training and dives to become fully qualified Open Water divers. All very exciting!
We will be starting a new Marine and Scuba Club group after half term in enrichment, for students who have heard about this activity and want to try it for themselves - if you would like to find out more or have any questions, please feel free to contact T. Jeanne by email or in the office.
Year 5 Learning Objective: Write a diary entry from the perspective of a child living in a Victorian workhouse in London
This was the task given to Year 5 this week, which involved the process of considering what life was like for a child growing up in very different circumsances than the ones they find themselves in. After reading and resesarching the subject, they were required to write a personal diary entry from the perspective of a child living and working in the terrible conditions of the Victorian era in Britain.
The class have been reading Street Child by Berlie Doherty and exploring what life was really like for poor children in Victorian England. They've compared Jim’s world to our own (with plenty of shocked faces at the thought of the workhouse!) and written from his perspective to build empathy and historical understanding.
Poverty, harshing living conditions, neglect, danger and even malnutrition are just some of the things that a child living in 1800s London might have encountered. Workhouses., were places where poor young people could live in return for their labour. Such places were often run by cruel adults, who subjected the children to terrifying work and living conditions.
As well as the diary entries, which were written on paper aged with coffee, to give it an authentic look of yesteryear, students worked hard on framing arguments using facts and evidence to back up their ideas about the realities of life for poor children in this era.
From Garden to Teapot: Secondary Students Leading Sustainable Learning
This week, our Secondary pupils continued developing our edible garden and tea project, working in structured teams to take responsibility for different stages of the process.
Some pupils harvested herbs that were ready for collection,
carefully selecting and cutting stems using correct techniques. Others focused on maintaining the garden beds — weeding, clearing, and preparing the soil to support healthy future growth. Another group organised and stored previously dried leaves and flowers, ensuring ingredients are properly prepared for use in our upcoming tea blends.
Throughout the session, pupils worked collaboratively, supported by staff guidance where needed, but taking ownership of the practical tasks themselves.
This project goes far beyond gardening. It integrates sustainability, applied science, organisation, teamwork, and enterprise thinking. Pupils are learning how products move from cultivation to preparation — understanding both the environmental responsibility and the practical processes involved.
As the project develops, we look forward to sharing the next stage: finalising tea blends and preparing packaging designed by our students.
It is a strong example of learning that is hands-on, purposeful, and connected to real outcomes.
Secondary Assemblies -
Students Talking About the Si Ri Panya Values
Every half term the different form groups in Secondary take it in turns to present their ideas about the value that is our focus for that term. This term we have been talking about Balance, and all three forms presented their own unique take on what Balance means to them in their daily lives.
Year 9 presented different physical activities to develop focus and balance, which they demonstrated and then let the rest of the school practise. This assembly was so much fun that we definitely went over time, but for a good cause!
Year 8 focused more on mental and emotional balance, including examples of acts of kindness and how this can create a balance to stress and worry in the world. After presenting their own examples, they asked all students to consider and share what they do in their own lives to create balance through thinking of others.
Finally Year 7 looked at both physical and emotional balance, and presented different scenarios where people had a dilemma or problem and were looking for advice about what would be a balanced response. This started some good discussions about how to balance thinking about our own needs and the needs of others, and showed us just how reasonable and comapssionate our students can be - what wonderful human beings they are!
SRP Talent Show 2026 – Auditions (25 February)
Thank you to all pupils who signed up for the SRP Talent Show 2026. We are excited to see such a wide range of talents across the school.
Please note: Talent Show registration closed on 4 February 2026 (no late entries).
Next step: Auditions – Wednesday 25 February 2026 (during the school day)
Auditions will take place on campus. Pupils will be called out in small groups at their scheduled time, perform their act on the Drama Studio stage, and then return to lessons. A panel will be watching, made up of the School Director and parent volunteers.
What to bring / wear
Costumes: Optional (simple costumes are welcome, but not required).
Music: If your child’s act includes music, please email the MP3 track in advance to info@siripanya.com.
Time limit: 2 minutes maximum per act (strict).
Every child who takes part in an audition will receive a Certificate of Participation and a small golden microphone trophy.
We look forward to a joyful celebration of confidence, creativity and courage.
Key Dates at a Glance
Looking Ahead: Key events and special days for the school year are published on our homepage.
Year 1 September 2026 admissions
See Newsletter Issue 26 for full details
Leaps & Beats Holiday Camp
See Newsletter Issue 34 for full details
Term 2 Talent show
See Newsletter Issue 35 for full details
SRP Music Academy
See Newsletter Issue 35 for full details
World Book Day 5-Mar-26
See Newsletter Issue 36 for full details
Primary Sports Day 12-Feb-26
See Newsletter Issue 36 for full details
🌟 Weekly Reminders
🎂 Birthdays: Primary birthdays (Years 1–6) are celebrated every Friday at 2:00 p.m. during Enrichment Time. Secondary birthdays (Years 7-11) are celebrated during tutor time.
📖 Library Books: Please check at home for any school library books and return them to either the Primary or Secondary library.
♻️ Bottle Cap Collection: We’re collecting bottle caps for our Precious Plastic Project. Collection point outside the primary gate. Find out more about this exciting long-term project here: Precious Plastic Phangan Facebook.
🐞 Head Lice Checks: Please check your child’s hair regularly and treat if needed. Children with long hair (boys and girls) should keep it tied up.
👕 Uniform Orders: Please ensure your child is wearing the correct uniform each day. Uniform orders can be placed online:🔗 Secondary Order Form 🔗 Primary Order Form
🍎 Healthy Snacks: Healthy snacks only at break times. No sweets, crisps/chips or cakes.
🚗 Drop-off & Pick-up:
• Drop-off: from 8:30 a.m. only
• Pick-up:
– Primary: 2:50 p.m. (or 4:00 p.m. for ASA)
– Secondary: 4:00 p.m.
Please be punctual, as some children have been waiting for extended periods.
🌬️ No Idling Zone: Please switch off engines while waiting outside school to support a healthier environment for all.
🤒 Absence & Illness: Please notify your child’s class teacher (Primary) or form tutor (Secondary) if they are unwell or absent.
Si Ri Panya News Highlights — Previous Issues
Explore earlier issues of Si Ri Panya News Highlights via our school blog archive.
