Si Ri Panya News Highlights (issue 50)
- Jun 5
- 8 min read
June 5th - What Truly Matters in a School Community
Returning after half-term always brings a sense of perspective.
The final part of the school year is often when we see most clearly just how much children have grown — not only academically, but in confidence, independence, resilience and their understanding of themselves.
It is also a time when many parents reflect more deeply on education itself and what truly matters in a school community.
In a world increasingly shaped by trends, noise and constant comparison, it can sometimes feel as though education is becoming more focused on image than substance. Bigger promises. Faster results. New ideas replacing old ones before they have even had time to prove their value.
At Si Ri Panya, we have always tried to take a more grounded approach.
We believe children thrive best in environments that are calm, stable, values-driven and built on genuine relationships. Places where learning is taken seriously, where children feel known as individuals, and where growth happens steadily over time rather than through pressure or performance alone.
Good schools are not created overnight. Trust is not created overnight either.
It is built gradually through consistency, care, professionalism and a long-term commitment to doing what is right for children, even when that path is not always the loudest or most fashionable one.
As an established international school community on Koh Phangan, we remain deeply committed to providing an education that balances academic progress with emotional wellbeing, structure with creativity, and high expectations with kindness.
As we begin the final half-term of the year, we are proud not only of what our students achieve, but of the thoughtful, capable and compassionate young people they are becoming.
Matilda the Musical Hits Town!
After months of hard work, dedication and enthusiasm from our students and staff, we are delighted to invite you to our production of Matilda the Musical!
Based on the beloved novel by Roald Dahl, Matilda tells the story of an extraordinary young person whose intelligence, courage and love of learning help her overcome seemingly impossible challenges. This year, we are proud to bring that magic to Si Ri Panya, where students from across the school have worked together to create a production that celebrates imagination, resilience and the joy of learning.
Since October, students from across the school have been rehearsing, singing, acting and preparing to bring this much-loved story to life on stage. The production also features performances from our Primary School Choir, along with a particularly charming appearance from some of our Year 1 students that you won’t want to miss.
Performance Dates
Wednesday 10th June – 6:30 PM
Thursday 11th June – 6:30 PM
Primary students will also have the opportunity to watch the full Dress Rehearsal on Tuesday 9th June.
Tickets: 100 THB per person
Tickets are available for purchase from the school office.
As part of this year’s production, all profits from ticket sales will be donated to a charitable cause selected by the cast, choir, crew and production team. By attending the performance, you will not only be supporting our young performers, but also helping our students make a positive impact beyond the stage.
We kindly request no children under 5 years of age, so that everyone can focus on the performance.
We would love to see as many families as possible come along to support our talented young performers and celebrate the tremendous effort they have put into this production.
EDT Annual Quality Assurance Visit
This week, we welcomed Bill Burn from Education Development Trust (EDT) for our annual advisory visit. EDT accredits Si Ri Panya through the International Schools Quality Mark, and their ongoing partnership supports schools in building on strengths and continuing to improve against international benchmarks. Initial feedback from the visit was very encouraging and reflected the continued progress being made across the school.
It was a positive and valuable three days, with Bill spending time across the school as part of our ongoing quality assurance cycle. We look forward to receiving EDT's written feedback report in the coming weeks and will share key highlights with parents once it is available.
The Amazing World of Forces - Push, Pull & Parachute: Yr. 3 Science
In Science, Year 3 have kicked off an exciting new topic on Forces!
Their first investigation was inspired by Jack, George, and Nico, students in Year 3, who have been busy crafting their own parachutes in their spare time.
Next up, we will be exploring the mechanics of pushes and pulls.
Taking a leaf out of their book, the whole class investigated how the size of a canopy affects a parachute's descent.
"The children blew me away with their curiosity—we even introduced the concept of air resistance, which is actually a Year 5 topic!" -
Teacher Amy
Next up, they will be exploring the mechanics of pushes and pulls.
Year 9 Turning Clothes Into Art
Year 9 have been busy turning plain white lab coats into wearable works of art!
Over the past few weeks, students have explored a variety of printing techniques and are now bringing these skills together in a mixed-media project. Using colour, pattern, texture and their own creative ideas, they are transforming simple lab coats into bold, personalised fashion statements.
It has been fantastic to see the students experimenting with different methods, taking creative risks and developing their own individual style. What began as a blank white coat is quickly becoming something expressive, original and completely their own.
Year 5 Business Enterprise Project and Interdisciplinary Studies on the Ramayana
Our Year 5 Business Enterprise project is now in full swing. The students have been developing their own body scrub company, beginning with the design of a company name and logo. They worked hard to bring their individual ideas together into one shared brand identity.
The class has also been testing and refining recipes for their body scrubs, exploring which ingredients work well together and in what ratios. This has involved plenty of teamwork, problem-solving and practical discussion as they considered how to improve their product.
To support the next stage of development, the students carried out market research with other pupils to find out which scrubs were most popular and how much customers might be willing to pay. This feedback will now help them finalise their product.
It has been a fantastic example of purposeful, hands-on learning, combining creativity, collaboration, maths, enterprise and real-world thinking.
Elsewhere, Year 5, pupils explored traditional Indian folk stories, including the Ramayana, developing their understanding of storytelling, culture, and moral values.
Cross-curricular links with Geography helped provide context by locating India on a map, exploring its diverse landscapes, climate, and cultural traditions.
This enabled children to better understand the setting of the Ramayana and appreciate its significance within Indian history and culture.
Year 8 Precious Plastics Workshop
The second Year 8 group took their turn in the Precious Plastic workshop and kept the momentum going.
Instead of just talking about sustainability, the students got straight to work — shredding plastic tops, setting up the moulds and running the machinery to create their own recycled products.
It was great to see them taking the process seriously, working together seamlessly and thinking about how small changes can make a real impact.
Another excellent session in the books!
Thai Culture in the Kitchen!
Year 7 and 8 were also busy cooking this week - learning how to make everyone's favourite, Pad Thai. It looks fantastic!
Term 1 ASA Bookings Are Now Open
We are pleased to share that bookings are now open for our Term 1 After-School Activities Programme, beginning in September 2026.
👉 View the full ASA programme and sign-up form here: www.siripanya.com/asa
Our ASA programme gives students in Years 1–6 the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of activities beyond the school day, including sport, creativity, music, STEM, problem-solving and hands-on learning.
Sessions run Monday to Friday, 3:05–4:00pm, with a range of clubs available across the week.
Places are limited in order to keep groups well organised and ensure a positive experience for all students.
Please note that ASA places do not carry over automatically from last academic year. All families wishing to join a club for Term 1 must complete the sign-up form, even if their child attended the same club previously. Once a place has been confirmed for Term 1, your child may keep that place for the academic year, unless you choose to make a change.
💬 Questions? Please contact us at asa@siripanya.com
Counting to 100! Check ✔
Year 1 got into teams and rolled a dice, counting all the way to 100!
Please do keep practising at home as much as possible — counting forwards, counting backwards, counting in 5s for the 5 times table, and counting in 10s.
Another box ticked for our Year 1 superstars!
Supporting PACS Volunteers on Koh Phangan
As part of our ongoing commitment to community service and charitable giving, we are pleased to be supporting PACS and the dedicated volunteers who help care for Koh Phangan’s animals.
These volunteers give their time, energy and expertise to support animal welfare across the island. Their accommodation is very simple, and we would love to help make their stay more comfortable and welcoming.
We are appealing to our school community for donations of clean, good-quality household items and small comforts, including bedding, towels, kitchen items, storage, fans, soft furnishings, toiletries and welcome-pack items.
We would also be very grateful for support from local businesses, including resorts, cafés, restaurants, wellness centres and spas. Vouchers, discounts, complimentary meals, drinks, massages, activities or experiences would all help the volunteers feel valued during their time on the island.
If you have any items you would like to donate, please send them into school with your child and pass them to the class teacher or Teacher Faye.
Thank you for helping us give back to those who give so much to our island community.
Key Dates at a Glance
Looking Ahead: Key events and special days for the school year are published on our homepage.
SRP Music Academy
See Newsletter Issue 35 for full details
Primary End of Term Event
See Newsletter Issue 48 for full details
Primary Term 1 After-School Activites
See Newsletter Issue 50 for full details
Primary End-of-Term Celebration: Ticket Reminder
For full details, please see Newsletter Issue 48.
🌟 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.
