Newsletter #6
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
PTA News
ESF News
Other News
Dear Parents,
We’ve had another very busy week with various classes learning involving visitors to BHS or excursions to various places. Our Year 1s had a great time at Wisekids, our Year 2s went to Penfold Park complete with the sandwiches they had prepared themselves, Year 3s enjoyed a visit by two people from Dialogue in the Dark and then on another day visited Crossroads, some more Year 6 students visited Sai Kung Stray Friends and all of our Y6s continued with their swimming programme. Thank you to all parents who have volunteered and given their time to help on these excursions. In addition to all of these experiences, today our Year 4s shared their learning from their first Unit of Inquiry with their parents. They all began in the hall explaining their central idea ‘Beliefs and values can influence our attitudes and behaviour’ and sharing some dances they had prepared. Parents then had the opportunity to go to other areas of the school with their children to find out more about their learning. Thanks to all the parents who came to support the children and thank you to the whole Year 4 team for their work in setting this up. Photos from Sharing Day can be found HERE.
Next week we have our parent teacher consultation evenings, on Tuesday and Thursday. Hopefully you have already signed up for an appointment time via the Gateway. Children from Year 4, 5 and 6 are able to attend the meetings with their parent(s) so that they can participate in the session if they choose to.
Giving Back to our Community: Colours Day on Friday 29th September
Our House Captains have done a wonderful job raising awareness around the important work Sunshine Action are doing to support members of our community who struggle with the effects of poverty. From Monday 25th September there will a range of fundraising events to help us meet our target of 1500 food packets for our Action Day on December 8th.
Below is information regarding all the fundraising events. All donations are voluntary and gratefully received. We have given suggested amounts as a guide only. If a child forgets to bring in money on the day to join an event they are still welcome to participate and can donate later.
We have one other event where we have a group of teachers who have volunteered to be ‘dunked’ with ice cold water. Students can make a donation of their choice to select a teacher to be dunked. The collection boxes are in the school foyer. The ‘Dunk a Teacher’ event will happen at break time on Friday 29th September.
Sponsored Events
Your child was given a sponsor form this week. They will select to take part in either a sponsored read or run. Please help your child to collect different sponsors from family and friends to help raise the target of $250.
We would like to thank you all in advance for your support towards this event. It is a special opportunity to support the less fortunate in our community and we feel it is particularly relevant with this year being our 50th Anniversary. And of course, on Friday 29th all students should come dressed in their house colours.
IMPORTANT DATES
Parent Information Evenings Offered This Term
Please look out for emails asking you to sign up for these.
KGV Information Evening
Some of you may have attended the KGV Parent Information Evening earlier this week. Please click HERE to view the slides they shared.
BHS / ESF 50th Anniversary
A reminder of the ESF ‘Charity Run’ – which is actually a series of different length races – on Sunday October 22nd. For primary age children and their families there is a 1km race. Some of you may be keen, advanced runners and would like to participate in the 10k challenge (I’ve signed up, although I am definitely not a runner!). You can find out all the details and register for the races at this website:
https://marathon.esf.edu.hk/en/form/apply-now
If you have signed up please let me know via email – it would be great to have a BHS ‘Participants and Supporters Club’ at the event!
ESF is also organising a 50th Anniversary Golf Day on 4th November 2017 at Nansha Golf Club (China). The event is open to all teachers, support staff, parents, alumni and friends. For more information please contact Mr Steven Szeto – steven.szeto@esfcentre.edu.hk
Community Choir
Our BHS Community Choir will begin again on Thursday 12th October (that’s the first Thursday after the mid-term holiday) at 7pm. 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
Student Achievement Beyond School
Valerie (6Y) performed as a little cupid in Don Quixote by Hong Kong Ballet a few weeks ago. The rehearsals were intensive through the summer. Most excitingly, she was lucky enough to dance with the famous ballet star, Ms. Iana Salenko. Well done to Valerie.
The Year Group Weekly Updates and Single Subject Monthly Updates are available on the school website – so please remember to refer to the website or our app (https://www.beaconhill.edu.hk/mobile-app/ ) each week to learn about what is happening in your child’s class.
Best wishes,
_
James Harrison
Principal
Scholastic International Book Club
You should have all received an email this week about this exciting new initiative.
Don’t forget to visit our unique BHS Scholastic website to browse and order from a great selection of well-known and good quality children’s books!
20% of everything you spend is ‘rewarded’ to the school to be spent on new books to supplement the students’ learning.
Order deadline: Friday 13th October
Please contact me if you any queries.
Many thanks,
Charlotte Fennelly
charlotte.fennelly@bhs.edu.hk
Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations at BHS
Y1 Admissions 2018-2019
Central Applications (2013 birth) Year 1 admissions in 2018-2019 enewsletter (revised).pdf
2017-2017 School Levy/PTA Fees
BHS Action in the Community
Mother Tongue Story Telling and Mother Tongue Book Donations
Last year a group of parents read stories in their mother tongue to our students on a Tuesday and Thursday lunchtime. The students and parents had a wonderful time sharing stories in their language. If you are interested and have the time please click here to sign up. Any time that you can offer will be greatly appreciated.
We would also like to increase the range of books we have in the range of languages we have spoken within a community at school. If you have a book that you would like to donate, gently used or new, please ask your child to hand in to the school office.
If you have any questions or some ideas on how to promote your Mother Tongue please get in contact with me via email, andy.thompson@bhs.edu.hk
Andy Thompson
Vice Principal
John Hopkins Centre for Talented Youth – Year 3-6 Parent Information Evening
Dear Parents,
Greetings from the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth! As part of the Johns Hopkins University, CTY conducts the oldest and most extensive university-based Talent Search worldwide by offering above-grade level testing to students in grades 2 through 8 (years 3 through 9). For qualified advanced students, CTY offers challenging summer and online courses as well as family academic programs.
CTY is hosting an upcoming information session at Beacon Hill School (BHS). The schedule is below:
| Date: | Wednesday, November 1, 2017 |
| Time: | 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. |
| Venue: | BHS Main Hall |
| RSVP: | https://centerfortalentedyouth.formstack.com/forms/2017_18_info_session_bhs_rsvp
(on or before Friday, October 27) |
During the session, we will provide information about assessments, CTY summer and online programs, including their benefits to students and admission requirements. We look forward to seeing you!
Best regards,
Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth
T: HK–(852) 3104-3494 | CN–(86) 15507574758
cty.jhu.edu
Susan Chung
Vice Principal
IBO Evaluation
Welcome back to a new school year, it has been great seeing our students settle back into class. As part of our continued drive to be the best school for our school community we are evaluated by the IBO every five years. This is a chance for us to celebrate, reflect and to grow. As parents you are an important part of this process. Please take 10 minutes to complete the survey, click here. All responses are anonymous. We only ask for you to mark which year group your child/ren is/are in.
If you have any questions please contact me at andy.thompson@bhs.edu.hk
Andy Thompson
Vice Principal
PTA Social Bowling
Fantastic to see such a great turnout for the PTA Social Bowling last Friday night. Thank you for your support and look forward to further events.
For photos from the night, please click HERE.
Uniform Shop
Book bags are now back in stock. If your child does not already have one, please purchase one from the pta uniform shop.
Winter Uniform pre-order forms shall be distributed to all Y1 and new students on 27 September 2017. Forms will be available in the foyer for remaining students.
The uniform shop shall close from 27 September – 19 October 2017 for processing of these orders.
To expedite orders please submit as soon as possible and ensure the correct total is written on cheques, with name, class and tel no. on the back.
For orders of more than one item please include $0.5 for plastic bag levy so that it can be properly packed and sent out.
Once processed, orders will be sent directly to classrooms with an acknowledgment form to sign and return.
Uniform samples will be available to view outside the uniform shop from 27 September 2017.
DeliFresh
DeliFresh lunch order for October has lapsed. Please contact DeliFresh directly for further orders and payment.
PTA AGM
Nomination Form for the PTA Executive Committee has been distributed and AGM will be held on Wednesday 11th October 2017. New members are welcome with open arms. To find out more about what we do, how to get involved or support us, please visit www.beaconhill.edu.hk/pta-2.
Have a great weekend
BHS PTA
70th Hong Kong Schools Music Festival
The application form for entering 70th Hong Kong School Music Festival will be ready for you to pick up at the school front desk from Monday 25th September. If your child/(ren) wants to participate in this competition, please return the application form and application fee in a cheque payable to “Beacon Hill School” to the school office on or before Tuesday 10th October, 2017. Any late application received after the deadline will not be accepted.
Please note that ESF school education level is not equivalent to the local school system. If you enrol in the year group programme, please cross check with the following table for the correct age group. HKSMSA is based on the local school system for enrolment.
Should you have any queries, please contact Ms Shiree Yam at the office.
| ESF Level | Local School System |
| Y1 | K3 |
| Y2 | Y1 |
| Y3 | Y2 |
| Y4 | Y3 |
| Y5 | Y4 |
| Y6 | Y5 |
Shiree Yam
HR/Finance Manager
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.
