2 Nov 2018

Newsletter #11

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

This morning 5C wowed us with their amazing dance talent in their Class Assembly. They performed a range of dances from around the world such as Australia, Ireland, Scotland, Africa, America and China. Well done to 5C and all the adults that helped them.

We also took students to KJS to participate in an ESF Orchestra Day. The children were grouped according to the instruments to play and practised with other students from other ESF schools before coming together to perform as a collective group in the afternoon.

Wellbeing Focus

In Monday’s assembly, one of our Confidence House Captains, Ryan Schroeder shared with us how ‘Be Active’ is one of the ways he looks after his Wellbeing. Ryan spoke about his interest in Rugby and encouraged everyone to get outdoors.

Activity is more than just exercise. It is important for children to take part in regular physical activity such as PE and Games lessons at school but it is even more important to cultivate a love of being active and taking part in activity outside. Research from the World Health Organisation has shown that physical activity can help children perform better academically and improve their control over symptoms of anxiety and stress as well as supporting their social development by providing opportunities for self-expression, interactions and integration.

Staff CPD on Saturday

On Saturday, our EAs took part in a Wellbeing Day designed to foster teamwork, cooperation and communication through team challenges. Whilst our teachers engaged in a Technology and Wellbeing CPD day. This was a highly motivating day as teachers were challenged to create something to enhance wellbeing using technology, textile and wood work skills. Ideas ranged from a Motivating Abdominator, Smile Giver, Foot Spa, Calming Spaces and Sensory blanket. In the afternoon, teachers experienced other activities linked to the 5 Ways to Wellbeing. We had groups ‘Be Active’ in a Fitness Session, ‘Keep Learning’ through cooking, ‘Take Notice’ by honing their Calligraphy Skills and ‘Giving’ by participating in a Kindness Walk around Tai Kok Tsui with the charity organisation Impact HK which cares for the homeless in HK. We will continue to develop our Wellbeing through a Student Wellbeing Day later in the year.

Diwali

Next Wednesday we would like invite all students to come to school dressed in their brightest coloured clothes to celebrate Diwali. There will be some special performances during our whole school assembly to recognise this celebration.

Sibling Photos

Sign up for sibling photos will remain open until 8am Monday morning. Siblings in Diversity House will be wearing their casual clothes (something green) on this day so will need to bring in their school uniform shirt to change into for the sibling photo.

Annual Report 2017-18

We are pleased to share with you the BHS Annual Report for 2017-18 which showcases the highlights and achievements of our previous academic year. Please go to the website www.beaconhill.edu.hk and you will find it under the About Us – School Evaluation & Development tab.

Mandarin Mondays

We have been sharing fun and exciting stories in our Mandarin Club every Monday. This coming Monday, we will continue with another story in our “Journey to the West” series. If you joined us last time, you must remember the princess with a banana-leaf shaped fan made of iron and her husband who can morph into a white bull, right? If you missed out, no worries. We will share a story about their son this time. Their son is no ordinary boy. After all, how can he be with such powerful parents! This boy always dresses in red so people call him the Red Child. Under his deceiving babyish looks lies a destructive force: Fire! Scorching fire gushing out of his mouth! Water is useless in front of this fiery blaze. Even our hero Monkey King got burnt badly. So, how did the story end? Did Monkey King conquer the Red Child? Could the fellowship continue with their journey? Come, come to Mandarin Club. Let’s find out together!

Student Achievements

At BHS we value the importance of developing the ‘whole’ child and this means valuing their achievement and interests outside of school. If your child has achieved something special, we would be happy to share that with the BHS community through this newsletter. Please email details and a photograph to kannis.tsui@bhs.edu.hk

Important Dates

Have a relaxing weekend everyone and I may see some of you at Arts in the Park on Sunday where some BHS students will be performing at 1:30pm.

Kind regards,

Susan Chung

Acting Principal

Mandarin Consultations

Scholastic Book Club

Don’t forget that our latest Scholastic Book Club is now online at http://world-schools.scholastic.co.uk/beacon-hill-1. There are hundreds of fantastic children’s books to choose from, and every £1 you spend on this month’s Book Club will earn 20p for our school in Scholastic Rewards.

Please place your order online by November 23rd, 2018.

Many thanks,

The BHS English team

School Photographs 5th-6th November, 2018

Our school photographer will be in Beacon Hill on Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th November. 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 unless a different arrangement has been made via Year group weekly updates.

Siblings Photographs

For those of you who have more than one child at Beacon Hill the siblings photographs will be taken on Friday 9th November. 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/bdCfnkhWNvy46ank2

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

Chad Pheasant

Vice Principal

Social Thinking Workshop at ESFC

Using Social Thinking to Understand Social Communication Challenges

Jean McPherson and Belinda McLaughlin (ESF SEN Advisory team) will be offering a parent workshop this term ‘Using Social Thinking to Understand Social Communication Challenges’

This 60-minute session aims to increase parent understanding of the ways in which children with social communication differences experience the social world. Parents will be guided through the Social Thinking framework around ‘The Four Steps of Communication’ with opportunities to reflect on their own child’s level of social communication and how best to support them.

Dates for sessions are – Kowloon November 20th at KJS and HK island November 28th at ESFC. Both sessions will run from 5.00 – 6.00pm.

Parents should sign up using the link : https://goo.gl/forms/nbjMdp1Aspaect7q1

Colette Davis

Head of SEN

Boys Football Club Training Schedule

Tuesday 6th November – Kowloon Tsai Park – 4.45pm up from King’s Park

Girls Football Club Training Schedule

All sessions will be held at Kowloon Tsai Park. 4.45pm pick up at school.

Girls Football Team

On Saturday 27th October the girl’s football team participated in their first football tournament of the year. They performed exceedingly well in finishing runners up in the Peak School girls football tournament. Our first match against Peak was a really exciting game with the lead swapping a few times and in the end we narrowly won 3-2 thanks to a hat-trick from captain Kanna and superb goalkeeping from Stella. Our next game we improved even more and beat Quarry Bay 4-1 with all the goals coming from Kanna. The midfield of Sophie, Linda and Crystal worked tirelessly in this match.

In the final we played a very strong Kennedy School and lost 3 nil. In the final we played excellent defensive football with Cameron, Kaeli and Ingrid being very solid in defence.

Thanks to all the parents who came to support us. The team chose Ingrid, Kanna and Linda as their players of the tournament.

Thanks to Kanna and Kaeli’s dads for taking photos on the day. They can be viewed HERE.

Tim Teahan

Year 6 Bake Sale

Huge thanks to the Y6 students and families for your home made Bake Sale goodies. Y6 helped to raise $4170 for BHS PTA to help support BHS.

Hot Lunches

Please keep an eye out here for news on December order forms. A reminder that order forms are customised and will only be provided to students with existing accounts. If you are ordering for the first time, blank order forms will be available at reception. We’ll keep you posted as to when these are issued.

Uniforms

The new winter order form can be downloaded from BHS website as per the following link: https://goo.gl/forms/Dw5w9CiJ7QCfE0CI3

To order, please fill in the form then your child can hand the cheque into reception. Upon receipt of cheque your order will be processed and sent direct to classroom. Unfortunately our suppliers have still not been able to deliver PE jackets & long bottoms, fleeces and windbreaker. They have advised delivery will be some time in November. There is limited stock still available in the larger sizes.

We shall continue to process orders which have been placed. Where items are out of stock your receipt will be marked up accordingly and as soon as these items come in they will be sent direct to the classroom. This also applies for exchange items and they will be sent to classroom as soon as stock comes in.

Christmas Hamper Donations

An eNotice has been sent out requesting for donations to fill our Christmas Hampers which will be raffled during the Christmas Concert.

To make the raffle a success we kindly need your generous donations.

Ideal Christmas Hamper items include :

Chocolates, biscuits, pastries
Candies, dried fruits
Mince pies
Health and beauty products
Wine
Honey

Please note, all items must be new and in their original packaging.

Please send them into the PTA office by 30th November.

We have modified the list to reflect the concern of a parent on the consumption of Foie Gras. He pointed out that “Foie Gras is produced in an immensely cruel way leaving birds suffering and suffering from liver disease, which is actually what is eaten as Foie Gras. In fact, many jurisdictions have banned this product due to the cruel nature in which it is produced.” We are taking on board his concerns and will not include this in the hampers, please do not send this in. Thank you.

Tickets for Christmas Concert

An eNotice has been sent out for tickets to Christmas Concert to be held on 12 December. If you wish to purchase tickets please click on the eNotice and send in the cheque, tickets are $60 each. Deadline for ordering is Friday 3rd December. Note, tickets will not be available to purchase at door and must be bought in advance. All performers will be given free pass into the event.

Upcoming Events :

13 November Y1 Pizza Lunch

12 December Christmas Concert

Have a great weekend.

Regards,

BHS PTA

HEALTH

IMMUNIZATION RECORDS RETURNED

All documents submitted by parents or guardians, they have been returned to your child (together with any instructions for you to follow-up, if applicable) via the class teacher or the class educational assistant this week.

That is:

On Tuesday, 30 October 2018, to Primary Six Students and
On Wednesday, 31 October 2018, to Primary One Students.

SCARLET FEVER (SF)

We would like to inform you of the fact that one child was on sick leave diagnosed with Scarlet Fever. The child has recovered and returned to school as per doctor’s advice.

It is a bacterial infection caused by Group A Streptococcus.

Signs & symptoms include fever, sore throat, a rash (usually the upper trunk and neck which spreads to the limbs).

If you suspect that the child has SF, please consult the doctor for confirmation of diagnosis.

To prevent the spread of the disease, please do not send the affected child to school.

Always Keep Hands Clean.

Thank you.

Rosalind Chen

School Nurse

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.