6th November 2026

Dear Samakee Community,

A Fond Farewell and a Warm Welcome

Saying Goodbye to Pauline Barker

With mixed emotions, we say goodbye to our Assigned Consultant, Pauline Barker, who has been an invaluable support to St Andrews Samakee for many years. Pauline has guided us through numerous inspections and annual visits, playing a significant role in helping shape Samakee into the outstanding school it is today. Her expertise, insight, and unwavering commitment to our school community have been truly appreciated by staff, students, and families alike.

As Pauline embarks on new ventures back in the UK, we extend our heartfelt thanks for her dedication and wish her every success and happiness in this next chapter.

Welcoming Joanna Hall

We are delighted to welcome our new Assigned Consultant, Joanna Hall, who many of you will remember from our recent outstanding accreditation inspection. Joanna already knows our school well and brings a wealth of experience and understanding of our community, values, and aspirations.

Following a positive preliminary online meeting, I'm pleased to confirm that Joanna will be visiting Samakee in February 2027 to advise and support our ongoing development. We look forward to working closely with her as we continue to build on our strengths and pursue excellence in all areas of school life.

Please join us in thanking Pauline for her years of support and guidance and in welcoming Joanna to the Samakee family.

Key Stage 4 Information Session

Thank you to all the parents who joined our Key Stage 4 Information Session on 5 November. It was a valuable opportunity to learn more about Samakee’s plans for Years 10 and 11, explore the curriculum structure and qualifications, and discuss the pathways available to our students.

We truly appreciate your time, questions, and contributions. Your continued partnership helps us plan and prepare for the next stage of our students’ educational journey.

KS4 - Samakee.pdf

Safeguarding Spotlight

Stay Safe Update: Healthy Eating and Nutrition

This week's focus: Building healthy eating habits for growing bodies and minds

✓ Did you know? Children who eat a balanced breakfast perform better academically and concentrate better throughout the school day. In Thailand's hot climate, staying hydrated and eating regular, nutritious meals is especially important for children's energy levels and overall wellbeing.

✓ What to watch for:

Skipping meals, especially breakfast before school
Excessive consumption of sugary drinks or snacks (particularly in hot weather)
Not drinking enough water throughout the day
Secretive eating behaviours or anxiety around certain foods
Significant changes in eating patterns or appetite

Action for parents: This week, try involving your child in meal planning or preparation. Let them choose one healthy meal that balances Thai and international foods, or help prepare a simple dish. Encourage them to drink water regularly, especially before and after outdoor activities.

Upcoming Events

Unpacking Puberty: Parent Workshops with Dr. Jom

Date: 11 and 18 November

Time: 8:30 - 10:00 AM

Registration link: Click here to sign up

These practical sessions will help parents better understand puberty and adolescence, build open communication with their children, and support them through physical, emotional, and social changes.

Topics include puberty and the teenage brain, peer pressure, healthy body image, and practical communication strategies.

We look forward to welcoming you!

Nightingale House Event: Rube Goldberg

Date: Wednesday 11 November

Time: From 8:50 AM

In your House groups, we want you to create your own Rube Goldberg machine. In the video we saw the aim was to water a plant.

Your aim is to create the ultimate machine that can drop a 7cm diameter ball into a bin.

We want you to be as creative as possible.

Please bring any recycled clean materials from home that you think may help you with your mini groups machine. Do not buy anything or bring in anything that is expensive. Do not bring anything without asking parents permission.

Dominos
Marbles
Toys
Blocks/Lego
Piping
Funnels
Balls
Pulleys
Toilet rolls
Rubber bands
Tape
Plastic bottles
string
Popsicle sticks… the list is endless.

Teaching and Learning Highlights!

Little Learners at Samakee

Big adventures start small! From outdoor rides to hands-on sensory play, our Little Learners are having the best time exploring and growing together at St. Andrews Samakee.

Football Fixture Samakee vs SISB Nonthaburi

A fantastic day of football for Samakee! Our students represented the school brilliantly, showing great effort, determination and teamwork throughout the fixture against SISB Nonthaburi.

A huge thank you to SISB Nonthaburi for being such fantastic hosts and making us feel so welcome. We would also like to say a massive thank you to all the parents who came along to support the students. Your encouragement and enthusiasm from the sidelines made a real difference!

We are incredibly proud of the effort, attitude and sportsmanship shown by all our players. Well done, Samakee!

BASIS Swim Meet

Well done to our Samakee Stingers at the weekend. BASIS Swim provided a great competition. Lots of Personal Best times acheived and in particular to one of our Year 5 students who achieved 3rd Place overall in the 25m Backstroke event. Congratulations to all.

Exploring the Forces of Friction!

In Science this week, we have started our new topic - Forces! The children worked in groups to explore how the force of Friction acts on moving objects. They used ice cubes and dice to measure the time taken for each object to travel down a ramp. Then they put these objects on different surfaces to see how each surface affected the speed. Afterwards, we analysed the results as a class and compared different groups’ conclusions. Great Science work!

Rain or Shine, Rugby Goes On!

Even with the rain outside, our Rugby After-School Club kept the energy high by moving indoors! Our students continued practising their skills, staying active, and enjoying teamwork together. A little rain couldn’t stop the Samakee spirit!

Year 1 - Year 9 Awards & Achievements

Growth Mindset Masters!

Congratulations to our Growth Mindset Masters for showing kindness, empathy, perseverance and a positive attitude towards learning.

They have worked hard, responded positively to feedback, learned from their mistakes, and always tried their best. Their willingness to help others, stay focused and go above and beyond is truly inspiring.

Well done!

Continued Tennis Success!

Well done to one of our Year 7 students who continues to excel on the Tennis court. We are always excited to hear how his Tennis competition participation is progressing. Congratulations and keep working hard.

Year 6 - Year 9 Credits

PE students of the month

This months focus has been Communication and teamwork. We are proud to recognise students who have demonstrated excellent communication and teamwork during PE lessons. They listen to others, share ideas, encourage their teammates, and work cooperatively to achieve common goals. Their ability to communicate respectfully, support one another, and contribute positively to group activities sets a wonderful example for their peers.

Lunch Menu for Next Week

Calendar of Events

November

7th-8th - ISB Swimfest
10th - Football Match @SISB NR
11th - Part 1: Parent Workshop: Unpacking Puberty with Dr Jom - 8:30-10:00 (AM)
11th - Nightingale House Event (AM)
12th - Farmers' Market
18th - Part 2: Parent Workshop: Unpacking Puberty with Dr Jom - 8:30-10:00 (AM)
20th - Y3 - Y9 Sports Day (AM)/ Swim Relays (PM)
24th - Loy Krathong Day
26th - Upper School Production

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

Lower Phase Lead, Tabietha Sudhirak: tsudhirak@standrews-samakee.com

Upper Phase 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.”