Si Ri Panya News Highlights (issue 40)
- 20 hours ago
- 6 min read
Mar 6, 2026 - From Beach Fossils to Books: A Week of Discovery
Learning this week has taken place both inside and beyond the classroom, with pupils exploring history, literature and sustainability through a range of hands-on experiences.
As we move further into March, the school calendar becomes particularly lively, with additional events, rehearsals, assessments and performances taking place across the campus. It is always rewarding at this point in the term to see students growing in confidence and taking increasing ownership of their learning.
Our six core values continue to guide daily school life. They help pupils understand not only what they are learning, but also how they conduct themselves as members of the school community.
This half term our focus value is Resilient. At this stage of the year we encourage students to recognise that resilience is already something they possess — the ability to persevere, remain positive, and work steadily towards their goals as the term progresses.
We hope you enjoy this week’s newsletter.
Fossil Hunting at Ban Tai Beach
As part of their learning about Mary Anning, the pioneering British fossil collector and palaeontologist, pupils visited Ban Tai Beach to search for fossils and explore local geology.
Experiences like this allow students to connect classroom learning with the natural world around them, bringing historical scientific discovery to life in a meaningful way.
Si Ri Panya Celebrate World Book Day
World Book Day began with a whole-school assembly bringing together both Primary and Secondary pupils. During the assembly, Secondary Head Teacher Jeanne read an excerpt from Harry Potter, while Primary Head Teacher Lisa announced the winners of the best-dressed character competition.
The celebration continued with a book swap organised by Lavender Blue, a parent-owned bookshop in Thongsala, giving students the opportunity to exchange books they had already enjoyed for something new to read.
Across the school, pupils also took part in buddy reading activities. Year 2 and Year 5 students paired up to read together, while Year 1 and Year 4 spent time sharing stories both inside and outside the classroom.
Activities such as these build reading confidence while reinforcing our Community-Minded school value. By reading together, older and younger pupils strengthen connections across the school and develop a shared enjoyment of books.
World Book Day is always a wonderful reminder of the power of stories and the importance of nurturing a lifelong love of reading.
Community Notice:
Lavender Blue Bookshop
In celebration of World Book Day, Lavender Blue Bookshop in Thong Sala is offering free book vouchers for Si Ri Panya students.
Families can collect theirs by popping in on any Saturday from 9:00–10:00am, when the bookshop also hosts its weekly free library and Book Swap.
Year 7 Learning About Sustainability and Coconut Weaving
Year 7 recently visited Indigo Coral House for a hands-on coconut weaving workshop led by the Indigo Coral team. Coconut weaving is a traditional craft, and the session provided students with an authentic practical experience that is difficult to replicate in the classroom.
Beyond learning a new skill, the workshop supported our wider focus on sustainability. Students explored how natural materials can provide creative and functional alternatives to microplastics, while also discussing fair trade, fair pay, and the importance of being thoughtful consumers.
Students approached the workshop with enthusiasm and perseverance. A special mention goes to Marlene, who quickly mastered the technique and successfully wove an entire coconut leaf independently with impressive care and precision.
We are very grateful to Indigo Coral House for hosting our students and sharing their knowledge of traditional craft and sustainable practices.
Meet our Year 5 Library Volunteers
This week we are pleased to introduce our Year 5 Library Volunteers, who have been helping to organise and care for the school library.
The library is open each morning from 8:30–9:00am, and students are welcome to borrow books during this time by signing them out and returning them to the office once they have finished reading.
Our volunteers have spent time sorting, organising and refreshing the space, helping to create a welcoming environment for reading and research.
We also take this opportunity to remind students to treat books and library spaces with care. Books should be handled respectfully, stored properly and returned once they have been read.
The library is kept intentionally quiet so that students can enjoy reading in a calm environment and allow their imaginations to travel into the many worlds found within books.
We are Resilient!
Our core value this half term is resilience, which includes finding ways to adapt when things are not ideal. The all-day power cut at the end of last week was a chance for everyone to show their adaptability and resilience, and the use of outdoor spaces for learning was one creative approach that helped us to get through the day. Well done everyone for helping to make it work!
Time Travellers Event – End of Term Celebration
Our Primary pupils have spent this term exploring different moments in history, and we look forward to welcoming families to our Time Travellers Event.
The afternoon will begin with short class performances in the Drama Studio, followed by a garden exhibition where each class will host a themed gazebo showcasing historical learning. Themes include historical medicine and nursing, scientific discoveries, Victorian life, and food in the past.
1) Arrival windows (shown on tickets)
Please arrive in your child’s year-group arrival window to allow time for seating before performances.
Year 1–2 families: 13:05–13:10
Year 3–4 families: 13:20–13:25
Year 5–6 families: 13:35–13:40
2) Performance start times (in the Drama Studio)
Please attend the performance time allocated to your child’s class.
Year 1–2 performance starts: 13:15
Year 3–4 performance starts: 13:30
Year 5–6 performance starts: 13:45
3) What happens after performances
Families move to the Primary garden for:
Class gazebos (pupils presenting learning + activities)
The Learning Trail (worksheet + questions + values stamps)
Learning Trail
Children collect a worksheet at the entrance and visit each class gazebo, answering a question linked to the topic. Correct answers earn a school values stamp, and pupils who collect all six stamps receive a certificate and sticker before leaving.
Tickets
Event tickets are available from the school office from today. Tickets are issued on a voluntary donation basis, with all donations supporting improvements to our school edible garden project. Families are welcome to pop into the school office and collect their tickets.
Precious Plastic Project – Now Live
We are proud to launch our dedicated Precious Plastic Project page, showcasing how students are transforming locally collected plastic into purposeful products.
This student-led circular economy initiative integrates materials science, design thinking and enterprise. All proceeds are reinvested into workshop development and community outreach.
Annual outreach commitment: we aim to deliver at least one session per school on Koh Phangan each year, with additional sessions where possible.
Explore the full project here: siripanya.com/precious-plastic-project
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
Term 2 Talent show
See Newsletter Issue 35 for full details
SRP Music Academy
See Newsletter Issue 35 for full details
Time Travellers end of term event
See Newsletter Issue 40 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: www.siripanya.com/precious-plastic-project
🐞 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.
