5 Oct 2016

Newsletter #8

Beacon Hill School latest newsletter available to read now. Find out the latest news around the school and upcoming events.

Other News

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Dear Parents, Family and Friends,

Today the children found out which BHS House they are in and I know they are very excited about this. Please see below for some background to this initiative. We are really looking forward to starting the system after the holiday.

Thank you for supporting our Dress Casual day today. I am delighted to announce that we raised HK$9969.10 which has already been donated to the Hong Kong Community Chest.
Thank you for attending several events that took place this short week – the John Hopkins Gifted and Talented Information Evening, the PTA AGM and the Camp Information evenings. I hope you found them helpful.

We have school CPD days this Thursday and Friday and on Monday 17th October we have the ESF CPD day so students need to return to school on Tuesday 18th October. I hope you are able to spend some quality time with your families during the mid-term break.

IMPORTANT DATES

BHS SLT Awards

Here are the recipients of this award this week:

Devona Chick (6H)	For helping others during ISA testing week
Valerie Law (5P)	For her excellent attitude during number maths
Chantal Chan (6F) and Ronny Yeung (6D)	For being helpful by assisting Mr Harrison in assembly

Congratulations to them!

BHS House Teams

After the mid-term holiday we will begin our brand new House Points system, with all of our children being allocated into one of four houses. We are introducing a House system for the following reasons:

to encourage a sense of belonging and a collective spirit
to provide opportunities for positive competitive spirit
to strengthen pastoral care – especially vertically (Y1-6)
to provide opportunities for students to develop social and leadership skills
to develop school pride, involvement and participation

I introduced the concept and how it will work to the children in assembly and they are very, very excited – especially with the exclusive app that Mr Lowe has created which will be used to award and record points. After much discussion and deliberation last year we have decided on the names of the houses – they reflect the values of our vision and mission and also the importance we place on Chinese language. Hence we have names which I believe are rather distinctive. They are:

Every child has been allocated into one of the houses and they should have been informed today. Silicone bracelets will be given to each child after the holiday so that teachers know which House they belong to. Siblings will be in the same house and if new siblings begin the school at a later date then they will also be in the same house as their older brothers or sisters. At the end of each week the house points totals will be calculated and then shared in Golden Book assembly on Mondays where the House with the most points that week will be presented with the House Trophy. Students will be encouraged to earn points through four different aspects of school life. They are called BEAC points (because we are BEACon Hill School!):

Behaviour
Effort
Attitude
Caring

Self-improvement will be encouraged, with the children striving to better themselves rather than compete against friends. However we think the friendly, competitive element is important hence the recognition of the House Trophy each week. We will have two House Captains for each House and Year 6 children who are keen to be these representatives will be sharing their thoughts with Year 5 and Year 6 children after the mid-term holiday and the eventual captains will be decided upon through a ballot. We are looking forward to introducing and developing this initiative over the coming years.

BHS Community Choir

Last January we held the inaugural meeting of the BHS Community Choir and went on to perform at the International Food Fair, the Chinese New Year show and the Summer Music Concert. The choir will re-form this year, starting on Thursday October 20th at 7pm. Everyone is welcome – no experience necessary! New and existing members are very welcome. Please click on this link to register: https://goo.gl/forms/fERvdJNghaaC1YYa2

Best wishes,

_

James Harrison

Principal

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Green Team

School Photographs 24th – 25th October 2015

Our school photographer will be in Beacon Hill on Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th October. All children should come to school in their school uniform on these days. If your child has PE on Monday or Tuesday then please make sure that they bring their PE kit to school and they will be able to change at school.

Siblings Photographs

For those of you who have more than one child at Beacon Hill the siblings photographs will be taken on Friday 28th October. If you would like a sibling photograph then please click on the link below and fill in the online form to book a space.

https://goo.gl/forms/8bykkRWa8NbVvSXr2

If you have any questions then please email me at chad.pheasant@bhs.edu.hk

Thanks,

Chad Pheasant

Annual Parent Maths Workshop for Parents of Y1, 3, 5

On Thursday the 27th October at 6pm to 7pm in the Beacon Hill School Hall there will be our annual Parents’ Mathematics Workshop for parents of students in Year 1, 3 and 5. In this workshop we will share how we are challenging our students in Mathematics. We will share examples of lessons and you will then have an opportunity to try out some tasks at your child’s year group level. If you wish to attend please click here to sign up.

Parent Workshops 2016-17

Term 1

Date	Workshop
5 October	Y4 / Y6 Camp Information Evenings
18 October 6:30-8pm	Positive Parenting Workshop Marie Marchand – Sibling Rivalry
27 October 6pm	Year 1 Maths
27 October 6:45pm	Year 3 Maths
27 October 7:30pm	Year 5 Maths
8, 10, 22 November – Day Appointments 24, 30 November – Evening Appointments	Mandarin Parent Teacher Consultations
9 November	English Reading Workshop for Helpers
9 November	English Reading Workshop for Parents
29 November	Introduction to PYP (Year 1 parents and new parents)

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Sibling Rivalry – parenting workshop with Marie Marchand

‘How to help your children live together so that you can live happily too!’

October 18th from 6.30 – 8.00pm in the BHS hall.

Please click HERE to sign up.

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Winter Uniform Pre-Order Forms will be distributed before Half Term Break 5 October 2016. The BHS PTA Uniform Shop will close between October 18 – 28 2016 to process New Student and Year 1 Pre-Orders, then Year 2-6 year groups. Please pay attention to sample sizing (displayed outside Uniform Shop) and correct payment by cheque to avoid delays in order processing.

Now is the time of year when we ask for our BHS Community support for the Grand Raffle Prize donations towards our International Food Fair (“IFF”) Lucky Draw which will take place Friday March 24 2017. In the past we’ve received over HKD$60,000 worth of prizes or donations, offering wonderful anticipation and sales for our IFF Grand Raffle Tickets which is governed by the HK Home Affairs Office under an approved HK Lottery License. Our BHS Community has benefited directly from these proceeds with a new playground, ICT equipment, new library, new ICT room and new playground equipment, overall improved environment for teaching and learning. Appreciate your donations and support to BHS PTA and BHS and our thriving children. All IFF Grand Raffle Ticket Sales proceeds are donated directly to BHS and this coming 2017 IFF Grand Raffle Ticket Sales proceeds will be pledged towards school grounds anniversary enhancement in conjunction with our Beacon Hill School 50th Anniversary!

Enjoy the midterm break!

Rowena Chow

Chair, BHS PTA

Health

Immunization (Part One): For Primary One & Primary Six Students ONLY

For Primary One Students: Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.

For Primary Six Students: Hepatitis B vaccine and / or Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Each year, we are requested by the Department of Health to distribute application forms for MMR vaccine to Primary One Students plus forms for Hepatitis B vaccine and/or for MMR vaccine to Primary Six Students ONLY.

The forms and the information have arrived and we have passed them to your child’s class teacher.

If, you have not received one, please can you let me know ASAP.

2016 / 2017 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination Arrangement for Children

Also, by request from the Department of Health to give out the letter to each student’s parents or guardians about seasonal influenza vaccination and to encourage them to bring their child/ren for vaccination.

Please note that 2016 / 2017 Seasonal Influenza Vaccination will NOT be held at Beacon Hill School.

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.