22nd May 2026

Dear Samakee Community,

As many of you are aware, we welcomed our British Schools Overseas (BSO) inspectors to St Andrews Samakee International School this week for our three-day inspection.

Over three days, our two inspectors conducted a thorough review of our school. Their visit included:

Observing lessons across all year groups and subjects
Meeting with school leadership and teachers
Speaking with children about their learning and experiences
Engaging with parents to gather your perspectives
Reviewing our policies, procedures, and documentation
Evaluating our safeguarding practices and provision

The inspectors were able to see our school in action and gain a comprehensive understanding of the education and care we provide for your children.

We are pleased to report that the inspection was very positive, and we are happy with the outcomes. The inspection team was professional, thorough, and took time to understand our unique culture as an inclusive international school and our SMKE values.

It was particularly valuable to have an early years specialist, as well as a primary and secondary specialist on the team as they could fully appreciate our child-centred approach and learning environment across all phases.

The final approved inspection report will be published by our inspection body in July 2026, and we will share the link with you as soon as it's available. Once we receive the official report, we will share the full findings with you and celebrate our successes together.

We would like to thank all the parents who took the time to speak with the inspectors and share their views about our school. Your engagement and support are invaluable to us.

A huge thank you to our wonderful staff and children who showcased the very best of St Andrews Samakee International School throughout the inspection. We are incredibly proud of our school community.

We look forward to sharing the full inspection report with you in July.

Recycling Reminder

A frindly reminder that the recycling bins around school are for card, paper, and clear plastic bottles only. They should not be used for general waste.

This week, a number of bins contained leftover liquids and unsuitable rubbish, which caused unpleasant smells and made it difficult for students who help empty the bins.

Thank you for helping us keep our school environment clean, safe, and eco-friendly by using the recycling bins correctly.

Samakee Library Updates

Please note that the last day for borrowing books this term will be Friday, 29th May. We kindly ask families to check at home for any library books and return them by Friday, 4th June.

Books not returned after this date will be considered lost and a replacement fee of 500 Baht per book will apply. End of Year Reports may also be temporarily withheld until outstanding books are returned or paid for.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us care for our library collection.

Upcoming Events: A Quick Guide

Parent Consultations

Next week, on May 26th and 28th, we look forward to Parent Consultations once again. This will be our third and final parent meeting for this academic year, and we hope you can attend. We offer virtual or face-to-face meetings, and you have been sent full details on how to book appointments via email.

Face-to-Face Parent Consultations - Tuesday, 26th May. The face-to-face sessions will take place at school between 14:40 and 18:20.

Virtual Parent Consultations - Thursday, May 28th, from 15:40 to 19:00

We use Google Calendar Appointments for these virtual consultations.

Tuesday, 26th, and Thursday, May 28th, are regular school days; however, due to Parent Consultations, no School Clubs/ECAs are scheduled on these days.

During the meetings, teachers will discuss your child’s progress in school. However, please note that although we have three scheduled meetings per academic year, we are always more than happy to meet with parents at any time if they have questions or concerns about their child.

We look forward to talking with you.

Booking Page

Celebrate Creativity at our Annual Art Exhibition

Join us next Friday, 29th May, from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM in the school hall for a vibrant showcase of student artwork! Our annual Art Exhibition will feature a stunning collection of creative work from every corner of the school, from Nursery through to Year 9.

This exhibition is a wonderful opportunity to admire the talent and imagination of our young artists and see the diverse projects they've been working on throughout the year. The event will culminate in a lively and fun auction featuring unique pieces generously donated by both our talented students and dedicated teachers.

We warmly invite all students and parents to attend and share in this celebration of creativity. We truly hope to see you there!

Middle School Class Assembly Dates

You are invited to your child's end of year show case assembly in the music room at 8:30 am.

📅 Friday 29th May: Y4

⏰ Time: 8:30AM – 9AM

Whole School Photo Friday 29th May

Please be reminded that all students should wear their school uniform on this day. Thank you.

Teaching and Learning Highlights!

EYFS - Learning Through Play

Building, creating, and learning together! Our Early Years used teamwork, imagination, and problem-solving skills to design amazing structures during play-based learning.

Year 4 - Farm Fun

This week, Year 4 enjoyed another wonderful visit to the farm! The children loved making s’mores over the fire, meeting the new baby goats, and helping to feed them.

They also explored the sand area, working together to build a moat and channel water through it. It was fantastic to see their teamwork, creativity, and excitement throughout the day.

A lovely experience filled with outdoor learning, laughter, and adventure!

Year 5 - Plant Dissection

In Science this week, the children completed a plant dissection! We were learning about the male and female reproductive parts of flowering plants. The children watched the demonstration carefully and then had a go at finding the parts themselves. Amazing working scientifically!

Year 7/8 - Science Investigation

Our Year 8 scientists explored the reactivity of metals through a hands-on practical investigation, reacting different metal samples with acid to compare their relative reactivity and construct their own reactivity series. Students then carried out the classic “pop” test with a lit splint to confirm that hydrogen gas had been produced. Activities such as these help students develop scientific thinking, practical laboratory skills, and confidence in applying their learning through real experimental work.

Awards & Achievements

UKMT Mathematics Challenge Success

We are delighted to celebrate some fantastic achievements in the UKMT Mathematics Challenge this year.

Our students achieved an excellent range of Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards, with several others narrowly missing out by just one or two marks. These results reflect the students’ hard work, resilience, and enthusiasm for mathematics.

In the competition, the top 50% of participants receive Gold, Silver, and Bronze certificates in the ratio of 1:2:3.

Well done to all students who took part and represented the school so brilliantly!

Congratulations!

One of our Year 6 students continues to go from strength to strength in his early singing career. He won First Prize with Honors in the USA Musical Theatre, Broadway, Disney International Music Competition, held in April 2026, organised by IYMC. He has been invited to New York for an awards event in September 2026.

Congratulations!

Well done to one of our Year 6 students who continues to excel on the Badminton court.

Upper School Credits

Safeguarding Spotlight: "Secrets vs. Surprises"

This week, we want you to help your child understand the difference between safe surprises and unsafe secrets:

Safe surprises are fun and temporary - like a birthday present or party that will be revealed soon. These feel exciting and happy.

Unsafe secrets are when someone asks you to keep something hidden that makes you feel worried, scared, confused, or uncomfortable. These should always be shared with a trusted adult.

Please talk to your child about this difference and remind them:

If a secret makes you feel bad or worried, tell a trusted adult
Adults should never ask children to keep secrets that make them uncomfortable
It's always okay to tell a trusted adult, even if someone told you not to
At school, trusted adults include: all teachers, TAs, LSAs, phase leads, and the headteacher.

Calendar of Events

May

26th & 28th - Parent Consultations
27th - Y7-9 Thai Trip in Ayutthaya
28th - US Science Fair & MS SMARTs Showcase
29th - AM: Whole School Photos

PM: Art Exhibition

30th - 1st June - Regional 1 Swimming Championships - Thammasat Uni

June

1st - School closed - Staff INSET Day
2nd - Move On Morning
3rd - School closed - Public Holiday
4th - Swim Gala
5th - Shakespeare's House Event - Talent Show
11th - Key Value Award Assembly / Year 9 Leavers
12th - Last Day of School - Early Finish 13:00

Academic Year 2025-2026

Academic Year 2026-2027

SAS LINE Communication Platform

LINE is a widely used communication platform in Thailand, and it's a platform that Samakee has been utilizing for quite some time. We encourage all our families to connect with our official SAS LINE account to ensure we can easily disseminate important school-wide updates to our entire school community. Click to add

Monica L Sudhirak

Head of School

Head of School, Monica L Sudhirak: msudhirak@standrews-samakee.com

First School Lead, Tabietha Sudhirak: tsudhirak@standrews-samakee.com

Key Stage 1 Lead, Alice Munenge: alice.m@standrews-samakee.com

Key Stage 2 Lead, Alyssa Pay: alyssa.p@standrews-samakee.com

Upper School Lead, Nicky Page: npage@standrews-samakee.com

“Samakee is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare and safety of all students and expects all staff and visitors to share this commitment.”