Newsletter #24
Beacon Hill School latest newsletter available to read now. Find out the latest news around the school and upcoming events.
Principal’s Words
Important Dates
Around BHS
SEN News
Sports
PTA News
ESF News
Other News
Dear Parents,
Today I have been fortunate in being able to spend time with a group of Year 6 children and Ms Yu attending an Art Competition on the opening day of the Hong Kong Flower Show in Victoria Park. This is an event we have participated in for several years. On one occasion a BHS student did win an award, but regardless of whether we win or not, it is a wonderful opportunity to be involved in a Hong Kong community event and to continue to promote creative arts.
This was just one event in what has been another packed week. Last Thursday our choir participated in the Primary Arts Day at RCHK. They had the opportunity to perform and to be an audience (photos HERE). We have also taken part in the Mixed Basketball Tournament yesterday, had a visit to the Year 4 children by Graeme Base, one of the world’s leading creators of picture books, our Chamber Choir taking part in the Sha Tin Junior School ‘Neighbourhood Watch Day’ (photos HERE), Marie Marchand gave a talk to parents about ‘dealing with pre-teens’ and to top it off 4W shared their assembly this morning. Their assembly was based around fables and the morals from some of them, shared through drama, video, art and music, around the campfire. I am sure we would all do well to try and remember some of these morals as we rush through our busy lives. Thank you to Mrs Wu, Mr Lee, Ms Sammi, Ms Kannis and Mr Gibson and well done to the children!
I would urge you all to check the school website weekly for the Newsletter and the Weekly Updates. This is our main channel of communication and we rely on parents spending a few minutes each week to keep up-to-date with what is happening in school. https://www.beaconhill.edu.hk/bhs-news/#weekly-updates
Our main fundraiser of the year, the International Food Fair, will be underway this time next week – from 5pm on Friday 18th March. We are hopeful that the weather will be kind to us so please book the date and time in your diaries and we look forward to seeing you there and raising as much money as we can to improve the school environment for the children.
IMPORTANT DATES
| MARCH | |
| 12th | CIS Road Race |
| 14th-18th | Green Week |
| 14th | Teachers and students from KGV, IS and SC visiting Y6 students |
| 15th | Girls Touch Rugby |
| 16th | Parent meeting – Update on KLC progress – Ed Wickens and Belinda Greer. Hall, 9am |
| 16th | Watchdog Parent Meeting |
| 16th | ESF Invitational Tag Rugby Tournament |
| 18th | 4J Class Assembly, 9am |
| 18th | Year 1 trip to LNEC |
| 18th | International Food Fair, 5-8pm |
| 22nd | Spring Concert, Junior Choir. Hall at 3.30pm |
| 23rd | Year 3 Sharing for Parents, 9am |
| 24th | School closes at 12pm, end of Term 2. |
Please note that you can view our calendar on the school website.
ESF Stakeholder Survey
Stakeholders will soon be invited by email to participate in the biennial ESF Stakeholder Survey, which will be open from 14th to 24th March 2016. Through this survey we aim to find out about the impressions that parents, staff and students have formed about the education we provide. The feedback from the survey will help us build on our strengths and inform our future planning.
A parent invite will be emailed to the primary contact parent in your family on 14th March. [If you have a child at another ESF school you will receive a separate invite by email to participate in that school’s survey].
Students in Years 5 and 6 will also receive an email inviting them to participate in the survey – WE WILL PROVIDE TIME IN SCHOOL FOR THEM TO COMPLETE THIS.
We would be very grateful if you would spare the time to complete the survey. It’s shorter than in the past and takes about 15-20 minutes to complete (though may take a little longer if you wish to add comments in the optional comment boxes).
BHS Community Choir
This brand new choir started in January. If you would like to join, please just come along. New recruits are welcome any time – you don’t need to have any musical background; just enthusiasm. Rehearsals are on Thursday evenings from 7pm in the school hall. Our next performance will be at the International Food Fair. Please click HERE for music.
.
.
JAMES HARRISON
PRINCIPAL
Green Team
Student Continuation 2016-2017 – Year 1 to 5 only
Dear Parents,
We are now making plans for the 2016-2017 academic year. In order to help our future planning we would like to determine the existing number of current students who will continue at Beacon Hill School next year. This will help us to organize the classes and plan for new intakes for next year. Your assistance is greatly appreciated and helpful.
Please complete the following response form and return it to your child’s class teacher / the school office on or before Thursday 24th March 2016
Please kindly click on the link below to download the letter of Student Continuation for 2016-2017 for your use.
Student Continuation 2016-2017 - Y1 to Y5 only
Many thanks!
Barbara Woo
School Office
Basketball
On the 10th of March, Jake, John, Ellie, Manika, Ethan, Ryan, Marcus and Courteney were selected to participate in the ESF mixed basketball tournament at Kowloon Junior School. The team started out strong and won their first game against Harrow 8-6 with baskets and free throws scored by Ryan, Jake, Ethan and Manika. They then tied their next game 3-3 against Shatin Junior School. Unfortunately, despite excellent defense and improved teamwork, the team saw a loss in their last two games against Kowloon Junior School and Quarry Bay. Ryan and Ethan were chosen as All Stars from Beacon Hill School. Miss Wu and team would like to thank all the parents who came to support the games and Mr Teahan for organising the tournament.
International Food Fair – Friday, March 18th, 5-8pm
Our Friday, March 18, 2016 International Food Fair (“IFF”) Grand Raffle Draw and IFF evening preparations are underway! A Food Donation &/or Parent Volunteer Form has been sent-out. We greatly appreciate however way you can contribute! In addition to tasty donated Homemade foods, there will be exciting Hall Games, Bouncy Castle, Talent Show & other surprises, so mark your calendars and come join the fun & friendly family atmosphere!
This year proceeds from Raffle ticket sales will be pledged towards BHS Playground Equipment. Besides Grand Raffle Draw fabulous prizes, the highest number of tickets sold by lower & upper school classes will enjoy a BHS PTA sponsored class outing!
Two Grand Raffle Ticket booklets have been distributed to each BHS student for sales to family & friends in a labelled plastic bag. If your child & family want to sell more, please indicate on the labelled bags. Please assist your children to ensure that all SOLD & UNSOLD tickets and monies are accounted for upon return to BHS PTA office per labelled information as BHS PTA must comply to strict HK Lottery License guidelines and audit. All SOLD ticket stubs including Monies & UNSOLD tickets have extended to be returned to the BHS PTA office by March 11, 2016.
Find out how much your child enjoys Coding and 3D printing in the new ICT Room “the Cloud” and the wonderful Family Library Card and Teacher Librarian initiatives in our new Learning Resource Centre library. These projects are happening as a DIRECT result of IFF Grand Raffle tickets sales and our enthusiastic BHS Community Support!
Kowloon Learning Campus Parent Consultation – Wednesday March 16, 2016, 9am
I strongly encourage our BHS Community to participate in this consultation and find out how the current pilot will impact BHS when the ESF Board confirms the KLC as a permanent arrangement for 2017.
Our BHS School Council Chair, Mr. Malcolm Keys, currently sits on the KLC Council, (ex-officio The School Council Chair of either Beacon Hill School or Clearwater Bay School).
Learn more about the KLC Council Governance, current actions, future action plans and find out how BHS is included as an important and historic Kowloon District feeder school to KGV here at this ESF KLC website,klc.edu.hk (not currently linked to ESF or KGV websites).
Island School Redevelopment
BHS is also a feeder school to Island School as the West Kowloon area overlaps in the ESF catchment zone distribution.
Find out more about current status and developments at www.esf.edu.hk/Island-School-Redevelopment and subscribe to the newsletter.
Reminders:
- We need more FOOD Donations & Volunteers! Please let us know if you can help.
- Deli Fresh Lunch Order Forms have been sent-out and posted on the BHS website. Please hand-in orders with payment by March 16, 2016.
See you next Friday at the BHS IFF!
Rowena Chow
Chair, BHS PTA
Kowloon Learning Campus Update
We have had a very encouraging start to our work “breaking down barriers” between the three ESF schools in Kowloon and developing a new way of working across the KLC. In 2016, we will continue to work on our 7 goals: Developing curriculum continuity, increasing teacher collaboration, improving access and opportunities for inclusion, coordinating student support, increasing use of specialist facilities, developing learning technology solutions, and encouraging lifelong learning.Parents’ opinions are vital to us. We will be holding a parents consultation on Wednesday 16th March 2016, starting at 9am in Beacon Hill School. All parents are welcome to attend and hear a brief report on progress before having the chance to ask questions.
We look forward to seeing you.
Ed Wickins
Executive Principal, Kowloon Learning Campus
Health
Chickenpox
We would like to inform you of the fact that “one” child is on sick leave with Chickenpox (at present). The child has consulted the doctor, is taking rest at home and is due to resume school as per doctor’s advice.
Usually the child presents with fever and itchy skin rashes.
- It is very contagious, especially in the early stage of rash eruption.
If you suspect that your child has Chickenpox, please seek prompt medical advice and please let him / her rest at home until he / she has fully recovered (as per doctor’s advice).
- Please exclude from school until all vesicles have dried up to prevent the spread of this disease to others.
Always Keep Hands Clean.
Thank you.
Ms Chen
Disclaimer: Beacon Hill School and the English School Foundation do not recommend or endorse any external events in this newsletter. There is no contractual arrangement between BHS/ESF and the event organisers.
