4th December 2025

Dear Samakee Community,

Thank You for Your Amazing Support!

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our wonderful St Andrews Samakee community for your incredible generosity and support this week.

Our Mufti Day and bake sale in aid of families affected by the severe flooding in Thailand were a huge success. The bake sale was particularly special, with a fantastic selection of treats for children, staff and parents to enjoy throughout the day.

A special thank you goes to the many volunteers who gave their time and baking skills to make this event possible. Your dedication and effort truly made a difference.

Together, we raised 52,765 BHT, which will go directly to supporting families who have lost their homes and belongings due to the devastating floods.

This response shows the very best of our school community – coming together to support those in need.

Thank you for teaching our children the importance of compassion, generosity and global citizenship.

Keeping Our Children Safe: Air Quality Management

As we enter the season when air quality can become a concern in Thailand, we want to reassure all families—especially those new to our school—about the comprehensive measures we have in place to protect our children's health and wellbeing.

How We Monitor Air Quality

We have air quality monitors at the school that continuously track air quality levels. Our coloured flag system provides a clear, at-a-glance indication of current conditions:

Green – Good air quality
Yellow – Moderate air quality
Orange – Unhealthy for sensitive groups
Red – Unhealthy
Purple – Very unhealthy

These flags are displayed prominently in the school lobby so that staff, children, and visitors can easily see the current air quality status.

Protecting Children Indoors

Every classroom is equipped with air purifiers to ensure that the air our children breathe whilst learning is clean and safe. These are maintained regularly to ensure they operate effectively.

Outdoor Activity Management

When air quality reaches certain levels, we adjust our daily routines to protect children's health. This may include:

Limiting outdoor play and PE activities
Moving activities indoors
In severe cases, halting all outdoor activities entirely

All decisions are made based on real-time monitoring data and follow our comprehensive Air Quality Policy.

More Information

Our full Air Quality Policy is available on our website and provides detailed information about how we manage different air quality scenarios. If you have any questions or concerns about air quality management at school, please don't hesitate to contact us.

Your child's health and safety are our top priorities, and we remain vigilant throughout the air quality season.

If your child falls into the sensitive category (yellow or orange), please let us know.

Family Christmas Fair

Today was a truly magical day as we hosted our Christmas Fair in the school garden for our youngest learners – Little Learners through to Year 2.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous, providing the perfect backdrop for a festive celebration. The atmosphere was wonderfully festive, with the garden transformed into a winter wonderland filled with Christmas cheer. It was delightful to see so many children dressed in their festive outfits, adding to the joyful spirit of the occasion.

The air was filled with music as students from across the school sang and played their hearts out, sharing their enthusiasm and spreading holiday joy throughout the event. The children, supported by Upper School students, enthusiastically participated in a variety of games and activities, their faces beaming with excitement and wonder.

A Heartfelt Thank You

A huge thank you to all the parents who joined us and participated in the fun. Your presence and involvement made the event even more special for the children, and it was wonderful to see our community come together to celebrate the season.

We're also incredibly grateful to all our staff who worked so hard behind the scenes to set up the activities and ensure everything ran smoothly. From planning and preparing the games to decorating the garden and coordinating the event this morning, your dedication and effort created a memorable experience for our youngest children.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making today such a success – the children will remember this special morning for a long time to come.

Parent Workshop Screen Smart

Thank You for Attending Our Screen Smart Workshop

A huge thank you to the parents who joined us for our Screen Smart: A Parent's Guide to Social Media and Internet Safety Workshop this week. It was wonderful to see so many of you there, engaged and ready to learn together.

The session was truly an interactive experience as Simon took us on a fascinating journey back in time, reflecting on the huge advances in technology. For many of us parents – largely Generation X – our childhood experiences with technology were vastly different from what our children, Generation Alpha, are navigating today. Where we grew up with limited screen time, perhaps a family computer or early mobile phones, our children are growing up in a world of smartphones, social media, instant messaging, and constant connectivity.

Supporting Our Children in the Digital World

The workshop prompted much reflection on how we can support this new generation as they navigate the digital landscape. As we continue to explore this important topic, we'd like to remind you of the key themes we regularly share in our

Newsletter Safeguarding Corner:

Understanding the digital landscape – recognising the platforms and apps our children are using, and the potential risks they may encounter, from inappropriate content to online interactions with strangers
Setting healthy boundaries – discussing practical strategies for managing screen time, establishing family rules around device use, and creating tech-free zones and times in our homes
Open communication – encouraging ongoing conversations with our children about their online experiences, helping them feel comfortable coming to us if something worries them, and building their digital resilience
Modelling positive behaviour – reflecting on our own technology use and how we can set a good example for our children in maintaining a healthy relationship with screens.

Moving Forward Together

As a school community, we're committed to working in partnership with you to keep our children safe online.

Please continue to read our Newsletter Safeguarding Corner for ongoing guidance and resources about keeping your child safe online and other important safeguarding information. If you have any questions or concerns about your child's online safety, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Thank you again for your commitment to keeping our children safe, both online and offline.

Upcoming Events: A Quick Guide

EYFS & KS1 Christmas Concert

End of Term Production: "The Snowman at Sunset"

Date: Wednesday 10th December

Time: 8:45 am

Location: School Hall

Who: Nursery, Kindergarten, Reception, Year 1 & Year 2

At the end of term, our youngest students will be performing "The Snowman at Sunset" by Niki Davies, a charming Christmas musical designed especially for children in EYFS and KS1.

This production beautifully reinforces many of the values we teach at Samakee:

Resilience: Finding solutions when faced with challenges
Teamwork: Working together to overcome obstacles
Creativity: Thinking imaginatively to solve problems
Friendship: Supporting one another through difficulties
Joy and celebration: Embracing the magic of the season

We're incredibly proud of our Nursery, Kindergarten, Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 pupils, who have been rehearsing enthusiastically and can't wait to share their performance with you!

We look forward to seeing you there to celebrate our young performers!

Teaching and Learning Highlights!

EYFS - Christmas Concert

The 10 Tubby Snowmen are busy rehearsing for their big debut in our annual school Christmas show!

Mark your calendars for December 10th — it’s going to be magical!

EYFS - Farm Visit

The children thoroughly enjoyed their visit to the farm, taking part in practical activities such as planting and preparing salad for the goats and Pumi the tortoise. This hands-on experience supported their Understanding the World curriculum and helped develop a sense of responsibility.

KS1 - Investigating Materials

The children explored different everyday materials and their properties. We began by identifying and naming materials such as metal, glass, wood and fabric. Together on the carpet, the children helped Miss Fran sort and categorise a range of objects by looking closely at what they were made from.

We also investigated the properties of each material, discussing whether they could stretch, bend, twist or squash. Using a torch, the children tested whether materials were transparent or opaque, making thoughtful predictions and observations. It was a wonderful hands-on session that helped build their scientific vocabulary and confidence in describing the world around them!

Inclusion - Growing Together, Supporting Together

At St. Andrews Samakee, we are grateful for the fantastic team of adults who guide, support and cheer on our children every day. Their presence creates moments of connection where learning feels safe and joyful. It truly takes a village to raise a child, and we are proud of the caring village our school community has built together.

Year 5 - Maths Magic!

In Year 5 we have been exploring the wonderful world of fractions. The children have been busy using practical resources and hands-on activities to deepen their understanding of:

🟣 Equivalent Fractions - discovering how different fractions can represent the same value using fraction walls, counters, and number lines.

🟡 Comparing and Ordering Fractions - using visual models to compare sizes and confidently sort fractions from smallest to greatest.

🔵 Improper Fractions & Mixed Numbers - building, breaking apart, and converting between the two using real-life contexts and manipulatives.

Shakespeare House Event: Planting for Cleaner Air!

On Wednesday, students across the school participated in a fantastic and hands-on Shakespeare House event focused on environmental awareness and improving our air quality here at St. Andrews-Samakee.

It was wonderful to see students from Year 1 all the way up to Year 9 working together!

Creative Recycling & Planting

The main goal was to plant air-cleansing plants to promote a healthier environment. The process was highly engaging:

Upcycled Pots: Students showcased their creativity by decorating recycled milk bottles with powerful environmental messages, turning them into unique plant pots.
Choosing Greenery: Each student carefully selected their plant from varieties known for their air-purifying qualities: Pothos, Chinese Evergreen, or Arrowhead.
Recycled Planters: The planting process took place in specially designed, larger planters, which were also created from recycled materials, reinforcing the theme of sustainability.

It was truly inspiring to see students interacting across year groups, thinking critically about the environment, and getting enthusiastically stuck in with the planting!

Keep an eye out for the beautiful new additions! The decorated plant pots and planters have been placed around the school grounds, adding a refreshing touch of greenery for everyone to enjoy.

Safeguarding Focus: Keeping Our Children Safe - Air Quality Management

What parents can do at home during poor air quality periods:

Keep windows and doors closed – This helps prevent outdoor pollutants from entering the home, particularly during peak pollution times or when air quality alerts are in effect
Limit outdoor physical activity – Encourage children to play indoors and reschedule outdoor sports or exercise until air quality improves, as physical exertion increases the amount of air (and pollutants) children breathe in
Monitor symptoms and seek advice if needed – Watch for signs of breathing difficulties, persistent coughing, or worsening of existing conditions like asthma, and contact your doctor if you have concerns about your child's health

Awards & Achievements

Gymnastics Sucess

Congratulations to our talented young gymnast who proudly represented St Andrews Samakee at the Thai Canadian Gymnastics Bambi Game International Meet, winning three golds and one silver! She was the only Kinder Level 0 participant from our school and truly shone.

ISB Snowflake Meet

27 Samakee Stingers took to the pool at the annual ISB Snowflake Meet on Tuesday afternoon. This is a special event for us - a tradition that started 10 years ago. It is a super event for introducing swimmers to competition in a warm and friendly environment. We had 8 swimmers making their debut this year together with those students who have competed before.

A lovely afternoon of swimming. Thank you to the staff and parents who came out in support of the children.

Congratulations to one of our Year 6 students who continues to be successful in his young Badminton career. Well done!

Upper School Credits & Celebrations

Calendar of Events

December

5th - Father’s Day (No School)
10th - EYFS & KS1 Christmas Concert - 8:45
12th - Last Day of Term: Early Finish - 13:00

January

6th - Term 2 Starts

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.”

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