December Newsletter

As we enter December, Annabel’s is full of festive excitement and warm community spirit. November was a month filled with joyful learning, shared experiences, and wonderful moments together, and we are grateful for the support and involvement of all our families.

With classrooms now busy preparing for our Christmas celebrations and the year’s end approaching, we look forward to a magical month ahead. Thank you for being such an important part of our Annabel’s community, we cannot wait to enjoy this special season with you!

FOOD TASTING

This month, we were truly delighted to welcome our parents to our Food Tasting Event, where parents had the chance to experience the same healthy, delicious meals we prepare for the children each day. To showcase the variety in our menu, we held the event over two days, one featuring our vegetarian dishes, and the other highlighting our non-vegetarian options.

Parents enjoyed sampling a range of flavours, learning more about our cooking methods, and seeing the care that goes into planning balanced meals. We were thrilled to hear so many positive comments and thoughtful feedback.

A heartfelt thank-you to the parents who joined us and to Chef P’Dao whose hard work and passion made the event so special. 

P’Dao

We would like to take a moment to celebrate the heart and warmth behind our kitchen: P’Dao. Every single day, she fills our nursery with the comforting aromas of freshly cooked meals, lovingly prepared with your children in mind.

Whether she is planning vegetarian or non-vegetarian menus, P’Dao puts great care into every detail ensuring the food is nutritious, balanced, and above all, delicious. Her dedication, creativity, and genuine love for the children are felt in every bite they take.

We are incredibly lucky to have her as part of our Annabel’s family. 

Healthy and Safe Eating Tips from Teachers and our First Aid Trainer:

• Talk about and model a balanced plate (protein, vegetables/fibre, carbohydrates).

• A balanced plate should be colourful! 

• When taking second servings, ensure the plate is balanced again. 

• “White and golden” (fried) foods should be served only in small portions.

• Walking  while chewing can be dangerous (choking hazard, biting the tongue or lip).

• Talking with a full mouth increases the risk of choking. 

• Fibre is essential; it supports digestion and helps maintain regular bowel movements.

• Introduce new or unfamiliar foods repeatedly.

• Involve your child in shopping and preparing food. Ownership encourages them to have a varied diet..

First Aid Training 

Our team recently completed another round of CPR and first aid training, the energy was fantastic. Keeping our Early Years safe and caring is always our top priority, and regular refresher sessions ensure every staff member is confident and prepared. This session focused on hands-on practice: responding to choking, managing severe bleeding, and  performing CPR calmly and effectively.

A big thank-you to our amazing first aid trainers from First Aid Training Bangkok, whose real-life stories and dynamic, practical exercises kept us fully engaged from start to finish. Thanks to this training, we feel more prepared than ever to respond calmly and effectively in any emergency situation.

Y1 Transition Morning

Parents from K1 and K2 came together to share their expectations, wishes, and uncertainties regarding their children’s transition to Year 1. Naina (Year 1 Teacher) and Olivia (Curriculum Coordinator) shared insights into the differences between the well-known curricula, the rising expectations in Year 1, and the various criteria that shape families’ decision-making.

Thank you to all parents for your openness and support, and a special thank you to Lauren (Otto’s Mum) for sharing her family’s experience of the move to Year 1 and later to a larger school.

K2 and Y1 Field Trip 

The children had a fun and educational day exploring the Rama 9 Museum, a place filled with exciting exhibits about nature, science, and the world around us. As part of their Geography, the children learned about the equator and how the closer a place is to it, the hotter the climate tends to be while places farther away are colder. The children explored different climate zones around the world and discussed how temperature and weather change across regions. This learning was beautifully reinforced during the field trip to the National Science Museum where the children ventured through exhibits showing the different climate zones, from Antarctica and the Arctic to tundra, taiga, desert, temperate and tropical regions. They completed a fun sticker book challenge, hunting for animals that live in each zone and matching them to the correct environments. It was a wonderful way to bring classroom learning to life!

The day ended with a cheerful bus ride back to school, filled with stories, songs, and happy memories after lunch. A big thank you to the parents who took time away from their busy schedule to support our children during the field trip. We truly appreciate your time, energy, and enthusiasm. It was wonderful to see our parent helpers not only guiding and supporting the children but also enjoying themselves, sharing laughs, exploring alongside the children, and making the day even more memorable.

Ploenchit Fair

This month, we were proud to take part in the annual Ploenchit Fair, a wonderful charity event that brings together families, friends, and staff from many international schools. It was a fantastic day filled with community spirit, laughter, and lots of colourful activities.

Our team hosted a Face Painting Stand, which quickly became one of the busiest spots of the fair! From sparkly butterflies to brave little tigers, our talented team helped transform children’s imaginations into bright, happy artwork. Thanks to the enthusiasm and generosity of our families, we successfully raised funds that will go directly toward supporting local charities.

A big thank you to everyone who visited our stand, volunteered their time, or contributed in any way. Your support helped make this year’s Ploenchit Fair a meaningful and memorable event for all.

Charity Appeal 

As Christmas draws near, we are reminded of the season’s spirit of kindness and gratitude. This year, Annabel’s is supporting 84 less-privileged children living along the Laos and Myanmar border in Amphoe Wiang Kaen, Chiang Rai. These children are cared for by the Catholic Mission Foundation of Wiang Kaen under the guidance of Father Viboon.

Please help us brighten their Christmas by filling one of our charity bags. If you have not yet collected a bag, you may pick one up from either office during drop-off or pick-up. Thank you for your generosity and support.

Annabel’s Christmas Show

Our classrooms are transforming into festive workshops, with children creating their beautiful ornaments for our Christmas tree, wrapping pretend presents, busy drawing and mark making festive notes, and joyfully rehearsing their Christmas performances. Please make a note in your calendar to join us for our Winter Wonderland Christmas Show on Thursday, 4th December, a magical celebration of the season together with our Annabel’s community. 

New Chinese ECA – Mandarin Sing & Learn

Next term, we are delighted to introduce Mandarin Sing & Learn for our Extra Curricular Activities choices. It will be a fun, music-filled Mandarin class designed to spark curiosity and confidence in our Early Years learners. Through songs, movement, stories, and playful activities, children will absorb new vocabulary naturally while enjoying a joyful, engaging learning experience.

The class will be led by Rosie Zhang, an Annabel’s parent with four years of experience teaching Mandarin to young children in the United States. She is excited to share her passion for language learning with our community.

Max’s Baby Sister

We are delighted to share the happy news that Max has a new baby sister, Michelle! Max is very proud to be a big brother, and we’re all excited for him as his family welcomes their newest little member.

We wish Max, Michelle, and their whole family lots of love and joy during this special time.

Cards for a Cause

This Festive Season, our Annabel’s community is proud to support the children of the Mission for Children Foundation in Chiang Rai through our Cards for a Cause project. The beautiful cross-stitched artworks were lovingly handmade by the children in the foundation, and our Y1 and K2 children added their own festive embellishments to bring each card to life.

We will be holding our Seasonal Greeting card sale on 9th and 10th December, with our K2 and Y1 children helping to run a small stall in the garden. It is a wonderful opportunity for them to experience generosity, teamwork, and the joy of giving.

Every card carries a story of creativity, compassion, and community. All proceeds will go directly to the foundation to support the children in their daily needs. Thank you for helping us make a meaningful difference, one card at a time.