19 Jan 2018

Newsletter #19

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

This morning our Year 2 students had the opportunity to share their recent learning with their parents. The central idea was ‘People recognise important events through celebration and traditions’. They have been inquiring into features of traditions and celebrations, why people celebrate and different approaches to celebrating. They have been enjoying activities with clay, drama and music, learning techniques and being creative with technology and creating writing and lap books to deepen their understanding. The morning began with an enthusiastic introduction of dance and song in the hall before the children and parents moved to classrooms and other areas of the school to learn what the children have been doing. The children did a wonderful job this morning. They truly demonstrated their communication skills and that they are open-minded. Thank you to the whole Year 2 team of teachers and EAs along with specialist teachers who have made this a great unit for the children. Thank you also to parents for taking time out of busy schedules to share in your child’s development – it means such a lot to them and us! Photos can be found HERE.

The weather has been warmer this week and there has been less need for thick coats. When it was much colder last week I ‘turned a blind eye’ to some of the non-uniform items that were being worn. I would like to remind parents that we do have a school uniform and that I expect all children to follow the expectations. I am grateful for your support in ensuring your child comes to school wearing the correct uniform.

We always do our best to ensure the safety of the students in our care. We do need your help with this. One such time is before school when many of you drop your children off outside school. Please remember that drivers should not leave cars unattended here or wait – please drop off your child and then drive off immediately. This will enable our student buses to drop at their designated places.

This week we had the latest in our PTA Bake Sales which are always very popular! Sadly, the playground was left in quite a mess afterwards as cakes and cookies had been dropped on the floor, along with napkins resulting in quite an unpleasant environment. We will be reminding children of the need to be careful and to clear up after themselves and would appreciate it if you could remind your child too. For future bake sales you may want to let your child bring a small reusable container to school (named!) which they can use on the day to help avoid dropping the food.

On Friday 2nd March we will be having our Student Led Conferences. More information about this will be shared with you later, however I want to draw your attention to another event to celebrate our 50th anniversary – a ‘Silent Auction’ of student art that we will be holding on that day. Each class is currently creating a piece of art which will be on display in the hall on the 2nd March. Whilst you are visiting the school that day for the Student Led Conferences, we hope you will be able to visit the ‘Gallery’ in the hall where you will be able to make a secret bid for any of the pieces of art. The highest bids at the end of the day will be rewarded with the artwork in return for the amount of money bid. All funds raised from this will go towards school improvements – our Student Council will be deciding exactly how the money will be spent.

IMPORTANT DATES

Parent Education Resource

Some of you may be interested to join this online seminar focusing on ‘Resilience’ – https://resilientchildsummit.com/ . It will explain how to help your child “make friends” with stress and deal with anxiety. There is a simple sign up to join.

Finally, congratulations to Ms Jane Wu who will be getting married to Eddie tomorrow! I am sure you will join me in wishing them both a very long and happy future together.

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James Harrison

Principal

Chinese New Year at BHS

Community Choir

Our BHS Community Choir has started up again. Please sign up if you would like to come along. The evenings are fun and casual and no prior singing or performing experience is necessary.

https://goo.gl/forms/INxcht0TaEQXvyFR2

For existing members, click HERE for the audio files.

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Parenting Workshops:

We are delighted to welcome back Marie Marchand to present at Beacon Hill School on January 31st from 6-8pm. This year’s focus will be positive behaviour management strategies for parents- Discipline without Shouting. Please sign up via the gateway https://tg.esf.edu.hk The cost will be $50 per person.

Marie is an excellent speaker- both entertaining and informative and we thoroughly recommend any parents from year 1-6 to come and enjoy her presentation. Please see the details below:

New Counselling Service

BHS is pleased to announce a new service for our students commencing this month. We will be welcoming a psychologist and a counsellor from Central Health Partners- Child Development Team. Both practitioners are dedicated to establishing and nurturing a relationship between the school, families and the children with whom they are working. We are very keen to promote positive mental health and well being and although the service will be parent funded, the school is able to offer a subsidy to those children referred.

Ann Bridgewater is a clinical Psychologist with broad experience working with children with a range of developmental difficulties and disorders including eating difficulties / disorders, social communication difficulties, attention, emotional, behavioural difficulties and children on the Autistic spectrum. She has worked with children / adolescents and families in hospitals, private clinics, and school settings.

Alex Meyer is a counsellor with broad experience working with children with emotional / behavioural difficulties. She uses social thinking resources in line with ones we use currently at Beacon Hill School and helps with resilience, anxiety and coping strategies.

The referral process can be initiated by parents and / or teachers. If you would be interested to know more details about either of theses services and feel that your child may benefit from the therapies offered please contact Colette Davis- colette.davis@bhs.edu.hk for more information.

Colette Davis

Head of SEN

Calling All Gymnasts

The school is looking to enter the Hong Kong Inter School Primary gymnastics competition which will be held in April/May. If your child is currently doing gymnastics and their coach recommends they join this competition can you please email me (timothy.teahan@bhs.edu.hk) before Friday 9th February so we can start preparing the paperwork. The categories are:

A Grade: must be born on or after 1 Jan 2005.

B Grade: must be born on or after 1 Jan 2007.

C Grade: must be born on or after 1 Jan 2008.

Tim Teahan

Head of PE

BHS Road Race

Please note that the BHS Road Race trial is on Wednesday 24th January. The deadline for signing up is Tuesday 23rd. If your child is running they need to wear PE uniform to school on Wednesday 24th January.

Tim Teahan

Head of PE

‘ESF The First 50 Years’ is now published! This volume chronicles the ESF story, highlighting key events over the last 50 years. It also celebrates the successes and contributions of our students and staff, both past and current.

What’s in the Book?

Stories of ESF’s major developments and milestones over the past five decades
Interviews of all 22 ESF schools with key historic events and current whole school photos
Exclusive interviews of 22 prominent alumni
Interesting stories from 5 key leaders and 12 long-serving staff

The book is now available for sale via the ESF website: www.esf.edu.hk/50th-book/. Copies will also be available in major bookshops in Hong Kong by late December.

Enquiries: 50book@esfcentre.edu.hk

More details: http://www.esf.edu.hk/2017/12/11/esf50-book/

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