Newsletter #19
Beacon Hill School latest newsletter available to read now. Find out the latest news around the school and upcoming events.
Principal’s Words
Around BHS
Sports
PTA News
Other News
Dear Parents,
We are rapidly approaching the end of this school year with just two weeks left. Please note some important dates coming up:
IMPORTANT DATES
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Monday 15th June |
New Year 1 Induction |
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Wednesday 17th |
Y5 Swimming |
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Thursday 18th |
Y4 Swimming |
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Thursday 18th |
Thank you Tea for Parent Helpers (by invitation), 2pm |
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Friday 19th |
1G Special Day Out (PTA Raffle Ticket Selling Winners) |
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Monday 22nd |
Children visit their ‘new’ class |
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Monday 22nd |
End of Year Reports available on the Gateway |
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Monday 22nd |
Letters sent home about your child’s class for the new academic year |
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Wednesday 24th |
Y6 Production of Mulan, 7pm |
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Thursday 25th |
Y6 Graduation |
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Friday 26th |
End of School Year, 12pm |
New Beginnings
At the end of a school year we often say farewell to some staff members. It is always sad to see people leave BHS but it is also uplifting to see people really moving on with their lives with passion and drive. This year we have the following staff leaving: Mrs Sarah Westmacott who has been spending time at home with her new family. She will be taking up a part-time position at Kennedy School. Also moving to Kennedy School, taking up a promoted post, is Mr Rudi Dray. Ms Frances Burley who has taken time off this year to be with her new family has decided she would like to continue this for the foreseeable future so will sadly be leaving us. Miss Hannah Woollard has decided to return to the UK after spending two years in Hong Kong. I would like to thank all of these teachers who have really added so much to the life of Beacon Hill – they really are a part of the family and if they ever desire to return I would gladly welcome them. I am sure they will be missed by everyone here and that you will join me in wishing them all the very best for their futures.
As you may be aware, Mrs Marie-Claire Mulligan will soon be welcoming a baby into her and her husband’s lives and she will be taking extended maternity leave until February 2016 when she will return to school. We wish her well and look forward to seeing the new addition to their family very soon!
We have two Educational Assistants leaving us this year. Ms Sarah Sanderson in 2F and Ms Cassie Chan who has been working with the Year 1 and 2 SEN children. Sarah and Cassie have both qualified as teachers. Sarah has gained a position at a school in Malaysia and Cassie is looking to start her teaching career. It is a testament to the quality of Educational Assistants we have at BHS that they love working with children and often make the decision to embark on a teaching degree – congratulations to both of them and good luck in their first teaching positions.
Of course, as people leave, we also welcome some new staff members to Beacon Hill School. In August we have three teachers joining BHS. Mr Michael Hoskins, who is from Wales but is currently teaching in the Middle East; Ms Tamar Younie who is from Scotland, and has links to Hong Kong and Antony McCallum, who is also from Scotland. They are all very excited to be coming to Hong Kong and joining us and I look forward to welcoming them in August. In addition, Mr Stuart Lowe, who worked at BHS in the past and who is currently the ESF Learning Technology Advisor for Primary and Kindergartens will join us in August to teach Learning Technology. He will continue with his ESF advisory role but be based here at BHS.
If you have a child in years 1 to 5 who will be returning to BHS in August, you will receive notification of who their new class teacher will be, on Monday 22nd June. As you may be aware, the children don’t remain in the same class groups as they move on to the next academic year. The teaching staff and Senior Leadership Team work very hard when planning these groupings to ensure the new class groups will be effective and cater to the needs and requirements of all the children. Many, many factors are taken into account. We are not able to make changes to these groupings now they have been finalised. We are looking forward to a really positive and energised beginning to the new school year.
The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) – With increasing numbers of reported cases if the MERS virus in Korea the Government has decided to raise the response level under the Preparedness Plan for the MERS from Alert to Serious. The Centre for Health Protection is keeping schools informed of necessary precautions we need to take. Please also ensure good hygiene practices are followed at home and that you reinforce these with your children so they can apply them whilst at school
The Government advice is to avoid travel to Korea for the moment if possible. If any of our families are visiting Korea we advise them to read the advice and information available on the Centre for Health Protection website at www.chp.gov.hk
Please remember to click here to go to my Blog to find out about just some of the activities and events that have been happening at BHS over the last couple of weeks.
http://beaconhillschool.
Best wishes,
James Harrison
Dear Parents,
Our school values all children equally and endeavours to ensure that each child should have the opportunity to realise his/her potential in a challenging and supportive environment. With this in mind, the teaching staff have recently worked in collaboration to formulate a Gifted and Talented Policy. Over the next year, we will focus on developing strategies to identify and cater more effectively for our Gifted students. A copy of the policy can be found on the Gateway – Documents – School Documents – School Policies.
Please do get in touch with me if you have any questions.
Susan Chung
Vice Principal
Sports Results
ESF cricket tournament
Aquathon
Kowloon Learning Campus (“KLC”)
HEALTH
Herpangina and Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD)
Just to keep you updated that we have had a few students with the above named illnesses.
Both Herpangina and HFMD are caused by a virus from the same family, Coxsackie A virus. The virus is common in the summer and fall.
With Herpangina, the child may feel generally unwell, lacking energy, headache, fever and sore throat.
With HFMD, the child may experience all the above (as Herpangina) and in addition, spots on the hands and feet (that is, skin rash with vesicles).
The prevention is by means of maintaining good personal hygiene and good environmental hygiene.
Please consult the doctor about pain relief medication for the (very) painful mouth ulcers.
It is important to keep the child as comfortable as possible and hydrated. Due to the (very) painful mouth sores, the child may not want to eat and to drink oral fluids. Parental support or guardian support is part of the treatment.
Please re-visit the doctor, if the pain relief medication is ineffective and the mouth ulcers remain for more than ten days.
“Always Keep Hands Clean”.
Thank you.
Ms Chen
