Newsletter #21
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
Sports
PTA News
ESF News
Other News
Dear Parents,
Well done to 1P who shared their class assembly with the school this morning. They described how they felt on their first day at BHS and then showed how they have developed and grown in every way during their first 100 days of school. They certainly showed their confidence and determination to ‘give everything a go’! Thank you to Mrs Pickering, Mrs Kashish and Ms Kannis and to parents for coming along to support and encourage your children. They did a great job!
The weather this week has been cold and is expected to remain so for a few more days. Some of our Year 1 children and teachers wrapped up warm and enjoyed a fabulous experience at Ark Eden on Lantau. Please take note of the information I shared yesterday regarding influenza – you should check the temperature of your child each morning prior to sending them to school.
Our Mandarin Department is working hard preparing for the upcoming celebrations for Chinese New Year. We look forward to some exciting events.
As part of our ongoing commitment to continuous development and in support of one of our key areas of development this year, writing, we have been working this week with Dr Misty Adoniou, Associate Professor in Language, Literacy and TESL at the University of Canberra. She has been at BHS, modelling teaching methodologies and planning alongside all of our teachers. Also this week we had about 70 parents attend the workshop presented by Marie Marchand on Wednesday evening. I hope you found the session helpful. We are fortunate at BHS and ESF to be able to draw on the expertise of such individuals to ensure that our children receive the best education.
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.
The final event of ESF’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations is taking place on Saturday 17th March. Tickets are available online and also on the day. It is being held at KGV from 3pm. We look forward to seeing many of you at the event.
The following Friday 23rd March is our BHS International Food Fair. As part of this we will be holding our regular raffle prize draw. Raffle ticket packs will be sent home with each child soon. It is very important for you to keep the money from sales of tickets and ticket stubs safe as the correct balance of money, ticket stubs and unsold tickets need to be returned as per Hong Kong Lottery License requirements. All proceeds go back to the school so it would be fantastic if everyone can sell their tickets to friends and family over the Chinese New Year break. Also included in the pack are flyers provided from some of the prize sponsors.
Please note a change to our normal end of school time on Thursday 15th February when we will finish at 12pm for the start of the Chinese New Year.
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.
Student Success Beyond School
On Sunday 28th of January, Sophie (5F) entered the 5th Hong Kong International Youth Performing Arts Festival and won the Silver Prize in the Final Grade 8 Piano Competition.
Sophie played her favorite piece Dr. Gradus ad Parnassum, which is a very lively melody written for children.
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James Harrison
Principal
Year 1-6 Student-led Conference
Dear Parents
You are invited to attend Beacon Hill School for the student-led conference with your child’s teacher on Friday 2nd March. The student-led conference is an opportunity to share in the education of your child. The process empowers the student to report on his/her progress at school to parents.
The student-led conference will take 50 mins and involve 4 families at the one time in the classroom. Please ensure you arrive with your child at least 10 minutes before your allocated time. As this process involves all students and teachers in the school your child will only be at school for the given conference time only. Formal classes will not be in operation on this day for Year 1-6 students; children will come and leave with their parents.
During the conference process students will share their learning with you and you will experience 4 conference stations; English/unit of inquiry, Maths, Mandarin and participate in a 3 way interview with the class teacher. There will be approx 10 mins per station. If you are a new parent to BHS, please view the information video HERE.
At this student led conference, there will be an opportunity for Year 1 and 2 students to show their parents the Perceptual Motor Programme that they have been involved in. This is a drop in and no appointments are necessary for this but we suggest you visit the PMP room before your Student Led Conference appointment time. Please note that the children should wear comfortable clothing and parents should be prepared to take their shoes off.
To make your appointment, please log in to the Gateway to select your preferred slot.
bhs.tg.esf.edu.hk Communication > Student Led Conference 2018 > Select time
For parents with more than one child at Beacon Hill, we are opening the system for booking on Monday 5th February and giving you until Monday 12th February to make your appointment, after which date; the system will be open for all other parents to book. This, we hope gives you the opportunity to secure times for your children near each other. The deadline for all parents is Monday 26th February.
Please also remember to visit the Art Gallery in the hall on this day to make a bid for a class piece of Art.
If I may be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me: susan.chung@bhs.edu.hk
Yours sincerely,
Susan Chung
Vice Principal
Parent Volunteers
Our Year 5 children are currently in the middle of creating businesses for their Market Day to help raise funds for the Immanuel Kindergarten in Sudan. As part of this unit the children will be presenting to a panel of experts on Tuesday 6th and Wednesday 7th March. If you have any experience in selling, or are interested in seeing what the children have created and are able to give up some time on either of the above dates, please email Mr. Pheasant – chad.pheasant@bhs.edu.hk stating the dates and preferred times of your availability. Priority will be given to parents of children in Year 5.
Thank you,
Chad Pheasant
Vice Principal
KGV Road Race
On Saturday 27th January we had 54 students running in the ESF cross country fun run at KGV. Well done to all those competed and tried their best. For many it was the first time experiencing a running race. Our best place finisher was Mia (6H) who was 7th in the Year 6 girls race. Photos can be viewed HERE.
Tim Teahan
Head of PE
Basketball Friendly at RCHK
On Tuesday 30th January, 20 students from Y5 and Y6 were invited to participate in some friendly basketball matches at RCHK. We won a few matches and lost a few matches. This was a valuable experience for the students as it was a great opportunity to practise their skills in a competitive setting and, for many of them, it was the first time they have played against another school in this sport.
Photos can be found HERE.
Jane Wu
Calling All Gymnasts
We are still looking for gymnasts especially boys to sign up for the inter school gymnastics. The deadline for enrolling will be Monday 5th February.
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 Trail
Well done to Marcus (6D) for winning the Under 12 race last week at the Beacon Hill Road Race Trial.
Raffle
Our 2018 lottery license for the IFF Grand Raffle Lucky Draw has been Approved! We have sent out two sets of Raffle Tickets to each BHS student on 1 February. Please check with your child that they have brought the tickets home & ensure all tickets & monies are safe guarded and correct balances returned to BHS PTA as all numbered tickets & monies are Audited under requirements of the HK Lottery License. All proceeds from Raffle ticket sales will be directly donated to BHS for “school butterfly garden enhancement”. Prizes include cruise vacation, iPhone X, camera, Play Station, Nintendo Switch and many more. Some promotional brochures were included in the pack from our prize sponsors. Additional tickets are available on request. The top selling class in Y1-3 and Y4-6 will be awarded with a class event/outing.
Bake Sale
Y2 Bake sale shall take place on 6 February. Please give your child some money so they can buy a treat during break time. It would also be much appreciated if they can bring a small container for this treat to prevent dropping food and helping to keep the playground clean.
DeliFresh
Menu for February has been sent home. Please note deadline for ordering is 9 February Friday.
Uniform Shop
Uniform Shop Opening hours are:
Mornings : Monday – Friday, except Tuesday 8:15-9:15
Afternoons : Monday and Friday only 2:45-3:15
Reminders:
- Tuesday 6 February 2018 Y2 Bake Sale
- Tuesday 27 February Y5 Pizza Lunch
Regards
BHS PTA
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.
