3rd April 2026

Dear Samakee Community,

Today, our school came alive with colour and joy as we celebrated the traditional Thai New Year festival of Songkran. Children, teachers and parents arrived dressed in bright, floral Songkran outfits, for this special day.

The celebration began with a visit from nine monks from a local temple. Children, parents, and staff participated in the merit-making ceremony, offering food to be donated to local schools. This meaningful act of generosity was beautifully led by our Upper School students, who guided the ceremony with grace and respect.

Following the monks' blessing, we observed the traditional Thai New Year water-pouring ceremony. Children respectfully poured scented water filled with flower petals onto the hands of their elders – teachers, staff, and parents – a gesture symbolising respect and wishes for good health and happiness in the year ahead. This touching moment highlighted the values of gratitude and respect that are central to Thai culture.

The formal ceremonies gave way to the children's most anticipated part of Songkran – the water-splashing festivities! Armed with buckets, sponges, and hoses, children and teachers alike enthusiastically splashed water on one another. Laughter filled the air as everyone got thoroughly soaked, creating joyful, memorable experiences our children will treasure.

Thank you to all the parents who joined us for this wonderful celebration of Thai culture and tradition. These shared experiences help our school community grow stronger together.

Wishing everyone a safe and very enjoyable Songkran Break!

Songkran Celebrations

International Day 2026 – Get Involved!

International Day is once again on the horizon, and we're inviting parents to help us plan this exciting event on our school calendar.

Save the date: Friday 1st May 2026

Join our planning meetings:

When: Every Tuesday at 8:30 am
Where: Humanities Room, second floor, main building

Your ideas, cultural insights, and enthusiasm will help make this day truly special for our students. Whether you can help with planning, activities, food, or performances, we'd love to see you there!

Join PTG Line Group Chat

Back-to-School Survey

As we begin planning for the upcoming academic year (August 2026), we kindly ask that you complete the brief Back-to-School Survey linked below.

Your response will greatly assist us in finalising enrollment, staffing, and resource planning to ensure we continue to provide the highest quality educational experience for all students.

Please complete the survey at your earliest convenience: SAS_Back-to-School Survey

Should you have any questions or need assistance with the form, do not hesitate to contact the school office. Thank you!

Medical Fund Appeal

As a school community, we have the opportunity to make a real difference in a young student's life. We are launching a fundraising appeal to cover:

The cost of the surgical procedure
Professional nursing care during her two-month recovery period
Any additional medical supplies and support needed

All funds raised will be managed directly by the school. We will ensure that payments are made directly to the hospital and care providers, with full transparency and accountability.

How You Can Help

We invite you to contribute whatever you are able to give. No donation is too small – every contribution will make a difference to this student's future.

To donate:

Bank transfer:

Account name: ST. ANDREWS INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SAMAKEE
Account number: 2288222358
Bank: Kasikorn Bank
Reference: Medical Fund

Cash or cheque: Please deliver to the school office in a sealed envelope marked "Medical Fund"

"Together, we can support this student and their family during this important time.

Thank you for your kindness and generosity."

ISB Visit - Strengthening School Partnerships

Today brought a special visit to Samakee as we welcomed colleagues from ISB (International School Bangkok) to our school.

Our schools continue to work closely together, ensuring that students and families considering transitions in either direction receive the support and information they need to make the best decisions for their educational journey. Whether families are exploring ISB as their next step or choosing to join our Samakee community, these collaborative relationships make the process smoother and more supportive for everyone involved.

The visit was made even more meaningful by the presence of two ISB visitors who are also former Samakee parents – a lovely reminder that our school family connections run deep and last long beyond graduation!

Upcoming Events: A Quick Guide

Get Ready, Samakee! Book Week is Coming!

We are thrilled to announce that Samakee Book Week is officially on the horizon! Mark your calendars for a week-long celebration of stories, imagination, and literacy from April 20th to 24th.

We’re crafting a week full of inspiration that will bring your favourite stories to life.

Save the Date: Friday, April 24th

The grand finale of our celebration will be our Character Dress-Up Day! It’s time to start thinking about which literary hero, villain, or magical creature you’ll be channelling on the final Friday of the event.

We can't wait to celebrate the magic of reading with all of you!

Teaching and Learning Highlights!

Einstein House Event - Samakee SEA Games

Students from Year 1 to Year 9 came together in their houses for a fantastic day of fun, teamwork, and friendly competition at our SEA Games event. From adapted Mongolian horseback archery to traditional Thai games and tri-volleyball, there was something for everyone to enjoy.

A special well done to our Year 7–8 sports leaders for organising a charity football penalty shootout, alongside our SAS goalkeepers. This meaningful initiative aimed to support the local community, with funds raised going towards a medical operation for one of our students.

A brilliant day of collaboration, sportsmanship, and community spirit. Well done, everyone!

Science Week

Our Science Week has been full of excitement, curiosity, and discovery across the school!

With this year’s theme, Curiosity: What’s your question?, students worked in groups to create their own thoughtful and imaginative scientific questions, showing great creativity and inquiry skills.

Middle School students had a fantastic time watching Upper School share their science experiments, with plenty of “wow” moments along the way.

Our Early Years children also joined in the fun, exploring and experimenting through hands-on activities filled with wonder and excitement.

A brilliant celebration of curiosity and learning for all ages!

Year 1 - Coding

Our Year 1 digital explorers have been busy leveling up their coding game! Using Scratch Jnr, these mini-programmers have officially moved beyond the basics and are now the masters of their own digital universes.

From mastering the "Green Flag" to trigger a chain reaction, to using growth and movement commands, the creativity has been off the charts! We’ve witnessed:

City Slickers: Cars zooming through bustling urban landscapes.

Deep Sea Disco: Colorful fish navigating the mysteries of the ocean.

Who knows where our imagination will take us next week!

Awards & Achievements

Artist of the Week!

Artist of the weeks goes to a year 6 student who tries hard every week and has made great progress. He has created some wonderful pieces. Well done!

Congratulations!

Well done to all our Samakee Stingers for their achievements at the Puppy Dash Swim meet at Bkk Prep at the weekend. All acheived Personal Best times and an added bonus of some medals along the way!

Well done to one of our Year 6 students who continues to achieve amazing results on the Badminton court. Two wins this weekend in U12 Singles and Doubles - Congratulations!

Upper School Credits

Safeguarding Spotlight: Staying Safe During Songkran

Songkran Safety Essentials: While enjoying water festivities, keep your children safe by supervising them constantly during water play, teaching them to respect others' boundaries (not everyone wants to get wet!), and ensuring they wear appropriate footwear to prevent slips.

Hydration and Sun Protection: April's intense heat combined with active play can quickly lead to dehydration and heat-related illness. Ensure your children drink water regularly (at least 6-8 glasses daily), take breaks in shaded areas, and watch for warning signs like headaches, dizziness, or unusual tiredness. Apply SPF 30+ sunscreen before going outside and reapply every 2 hours, especially after water activities.

Calendar of Events

April

6th - 15th Songkran Break
23rd - Farmers Market

May

1st - International Day
6th - Open Day
7th - Farmers Market
9th - BKK Prep Bulldog Dash
11th - 12th School Photo
18th - 22nd BSO Inspection Week
21st - Farmers Market
22nd - Swim Gala

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.”