Newsletter #25
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,
Today our Year 5 students and their teachers shared their ‘Big Business’ unit of inquiry with their parents and all the students in the school were able to purchase handmade products from their fabulous stalls. All of the children have done an amazing job with great support and guidance from their teachers and with help from parents at home too! I know the children have gained so much from this experience and at the same time, have raised money to support the Immanuel Kindergarten in Sudan. To view the children’s advertisements and for more photos, click HERE.
Our annual Year 1 and 2 Sports Day took place earlier in the week and we were blessed with perfect weather. The children had a great time enjoying the group activities and also having the chance to run some sprint races against classmates. Thank you to parents for coming along to support the children and creating a special atmosphere. For more photos, click HERE. Our Year 3 to 6 Sports Day is next Thursday. The weather forecast is looking good for that day too!
50th Fortnight – 12th – 23rd March
This week has been the first week in our ‘50th Fortnight’ with special activities and events happening with a focus on ‘50’. Here are some of the events to note:
| Throughout the fortnight | · Maths breaktime activities throughout the fortnight
· 50 Characters Book Hunt throughout the fortnight · 50 Brilliant Books Vote throughout the fortnight · The Brilliant BHS 50th Anniversary Reading Challenge · PE 50th Challenges in PE lessons · 50mm Challenge – growing seeds to at least 50mm within the fortnight · 50 Endangered Animals Hunt · 50 Seconds of Fame – on the BHS ‘Trashion Fashion Catwalk’ |
| Saturday 17th | · ESF 50th Carnival at KGV, from 3pm |
| Monday 19th | · China Culture Day – Dress up in traditional Chineseclothing |
| Tuesday 20th | · The Brilliant BHS Book Quiz at Lunchtime |
| Wednesday 21st | · Sarah Brennan – visiting author |
| Thursday 22nd | · Years 3 to 6 Sports Day
· Yr 1-2 Trashion Fashion Show Lunchtime in the hall |
| Friday 23rd | · BHS International Food Fair from 5pm – 8pm |
ESF Stakeholder Survey
This survey closes on Monday so if you can spare just a few minutes over this weekend to take part I would be very grateful. Latest figures show just 13% of BHS parents have responded so far. Our Year 5 and 6 students will be completing the survey in school on Monday afternoon. The data we get from the survey is very helpful in showing us what we are doing well but more importantly, what we can do better. This is an opportunity for you to tell us what you think.
IB (PYP) School Evaluation
Since last August, the staff have been busy working on a self-study and preparing a report to be submitted to IB. This is in preparation for an evaluation visit to school by two IB Evaluators (in this case, both travelling from Australia). They will visit us from Monday 23rd – Wednesday 25th April. During this time they will conduct meetings with representative stakeholders (staff, school council members, parents, students) and make visits to classrooms to evaluate the school against 73 standards and practices. We are well-prepared for the visit and will share the outcomes later this school year.
The final event of ESF’s 50th Anniversary Celebrations is taking place tomorrow with the Anniversary Carnival. Tickets are available on the day. It is being held at KGV from 3pm. Our BHS Ukulele group and our Hip Hop dance group will be performing at the event. We look forward to seeing many of you at the event.
The following Friday 23rd March is our BHS International Food Fair. I know the raffle tickets have been selling really well. I hope you, your family and friends will be able to support the evening which begins at 5pm. We ask that you bring your own reusable containers and cutlery if you wish to purchase the food as we want to avoid needless waste in our effort to be more environmentally friendly.
IMPORTANT DATES
Student Achievement Beyond School
Coen (4L) won the first runner-up prize in the 70th Hong Kong School Music Festival – Graded Piano Solo last Wednesday. Coen has been working very hard and was well prepared for this competition. The competition was very keen as the competitors are talented students from different schools in Hong Kong who possess very high levels of musical skills and abilities. Coen managed very well and performed consistently. Naturally Coen’s family is very proud of him, as are we! Well done Coen.
Temporary Changes to the Leadership at BHS
I emailed all parents, staff and School Council members today to inform them that I have been approved a one-year sabbatical with effect from the end of this academic year. This means that an Acting Principal will be appointed who will continue the schools progress and development during my absence. Please rest assured that the high standards and the positive culture that make Beacon Hill School the place it is will continue. Business as usual!
Have a lovely weekend – I hope to see many of you at the ESF 50th Carnival at KGV tomorrow from 3pm.
Principal
News from the English Team
50th Anniversary Reading Challenge
As part of our anniversary celebrations the English Team have launched a special reading challenge that we hope all the children can get involved in. The children need to read 50 books between now and the 18th June, however rather than any books they need to choose ones that match the descriptions on the challenge sheet. This will be sent home with the children in Year 1 and 2 but is accessible for the remaining year groups via Google Classroom. The children need to record the title they have read and in the case of the older children the date they did this. There are a couple of rules to keep things fair:
- The books must be read between March 12th and June 18th.
- The books chosen can be read with an adult or independently but they must be titles suitable to the child’s age group.
We hope that you support your child with this challenge, as you will know there is a great deal of research that indicates the importance of reading as many books as possible to improve children’s vocabulary and comprehension skills. The challenge gives them the opportunity to read some new things and it will be fun! Certificates and prizes will be awarded to those children who complete the challenge.
An extract of the reading challenge for Years 3 to 6:
Best Borrowers
WELL DONE to these classes who were the best borrowers in the library from December to February.
1L 2K 3S 4L 5D 6Y
A special well done Stella Chen in 5F, Luca Zabbialini in 3S, Davy Wong in 3S and Carlson Lam in 3S who are the students who have borrowed the most books from the library during this time. A special well done to Stella who has kept her crown as queen of borrowing since last academic year! It is wonderful to see the children borrowing regularly and sharing their love of reading with each other. Please help your child to be ready for their library day and ensure that they are keeping library books in a safe place. We have had lots of borrowing from our family card members too, we welcome parents into the library and if you haven’t registered for a card you still can by downloading the form from the school website. https://www.beaconhill.edu.hk/letterspage/
Year 4 busy in the library:
If you have any questions about English at school do not hesitate to get in touch.
Emily Jeves
Community Choir
For community choir members, please click HERE for music backing tracks.
Scott Gibson
Inter School Road Race
Well done to all the Beacon Hill students who ran in the Discovery College Inter School road race on Saturday 10th March. They were all fantastic runners and tried to run as fast as they could and they did a great job of representing BHS!
A big thank you to Miss Fuchsluger, Mr Thompson and Miss Chung for being marshalls on the day.
Results:
Photos can be viewed HERE. If any parents took any other photos could you please share them with me timothy.teahan@bhs.edu.hk
Tim Teahan
ESF Mixed Basketball Tournament
On Wednesday 14th March, Joshua, Isaac, Adam, Dylan, Rachel, Mia, Tianwen and Carrie represented BHS in the ESF Mixed Basketball Tournament. The first game was a loss against RCHK, with great baskets scored by Isaac, Joshua and Rachel. With better communication and a tighter defence, the team went on to win their next two games against KJS(B) and SJS. Even though the team lost their last game against DBIS, they got through to the quarter- and semi-finals, winning against QBS and finally losing to RCHK. Everyone demonstrated great sportsmanship and Joshua and Mia were named all-star players of the day. Thank you to Mr Teahan for organising the event, to Mr Thompson and Rachel’s mum for keeping score and to all the parents who came to support the team!
Click HERE for more photos.
Jane Wu
Touch Rugby Tournament
Well done to the girls touch rugby for finishing 2nd at the Kellett Kowloon girls touch rugby tournament. A very special achievement considering only one of the team plays rugby outside of school. During the tournament we played 8 tough games and we won 3, drew three and only lost two. We started with a win against Kellett PFL B with the winning try from Mia in the corner. Our second game against the very physical Harrow resulted in a two nil win with Carrie scoring a spectacular try. Our third game against Kellett Kowloon Bay was a close game. We started with a great intercept try scored by Mia and they scored late in the game to equalise. Our next game was against Kennedy and it was a very close game with both sets of defense working hard in a nil all draw. Our only lose in the group stage was against DBIS. Against SJS we managed to score an amazing 5 tries with Sophia(2) and Andrea scoring their first ever rugby tries. Mia also scored two in the match. Coming into the last match we knew that a draw would put us in the final and we defended really strongly and held on to draw nil all. After the group stage we had finished 2nd overall.
In the final game it was a very close game against Kellett Pok Fu Lam and the girls played really good rugby and were unlucky in a 2-1 loss.
Well done to all the girls. You should be very proud of your effort!
Results
| BHS vs Kellett PFL B | 1 – 0 | Mia |
| BHS vs Harrow | 2 – 0 | Carrie 2 |
| BHS vs Kellett KB | 1 – 1 | Mia |
| BHS vs Kennedy | 0 – 0 | |
| BHS vs DBIS | 0 – 1 | |
| BHS vs Shatin Junior | 5 – 1 | Mia 2, Sophia 2, Andrea |
| BHS vs Kellett PFL A | 0 – 0 | |
| Final BHS vs Kellett A | 1 – 2 | Carrie |
Tim Teahan
International Food Fair
23 Mar 2018 (Friday 5-8pm)
One more week until our major fundraiser. We really appreciate your contribution. Please return the food donation and/or parent volunteer form which was sent out or contact pta directly on pta.bhs.edu.hk or 23378932. In addition to homemade treats from around the world, there are hall games, bouncy castle, live entertainment and of course our grand raffle draw so make sure you come join the fun with family and friends.
Remember this year we’re going green and trying to cut down on the waste produced, especially plastic plates, bowls, spoons and forks. Please bring your own containers and eating utensils on the day. For those unable to do so we will have disposable containers available for purchase.
Please return the sold / unsold tickets and money to pta office. All numbered tickets & money are strictly audited under requirements of the HK Lottery License. There are still around 30% of tickets yet to be handed back. Please check with your child to make sure they have been returned. Huge thank you to all those who have already returned. Remember the top selling class in Y1-3 and Y4-6 will be awarded with a class event/outing.
Y6 Pizza Lunch
This will take place on Tuesday 17 April. Deadline for order was Wednesday 14 March.
Uniform Shop
Reminder that we are closed as we’re busy preparing for the Food Fair. However orders can still be placed and left with reception. These will be processed as soon as possible and sent direct to classroom.
DeliFresh
Deadline for April DeliFresh order lapsed on Monday 12th March. If you still wish to order please contact DeliFresh directly on 2116 2207 or feedback@delifresh.com.hk
Regards,
BHS PTA
Health
“No nuts” to school please.
Reminder
A box of Nutella was found opened and unattended on the playground at the end of 1st break on Friday, 16 March 2018. It was disposed of properly.
We have students and staff who are allergic to all kinds of nuts leading to mild to severe reaction (that is, life threatening which require immediate medical attention).
Please do not provide snacks for your child containing any kind of nuts or nut products to consume in school.
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.
