Newsletter #35
Beacon Hill School’s latest newsletter is available to read now. Find out about the latest news around the school and upcoming events.
Message from Brenda
Useful Forms
PTA News
Other News
Dear Parents, Caregivers and Students
It’s been fabulous having the children back in school. After a quiet, cautious start the kids are now getting used to school life again and are participating actively in learning and playing with friends in the playground. We have been super impressed with the way they are maintaining 1 metre social distance and also managing their masks, personal hygiene, eating arrangements and new routines. Students are listening well and quickly learning new ways of operating in the school. Well done BHS!
If your child is bringing a snack box (we would prefer disposable wrapping for snack) – please put this in a little supermarket carry bag so they can manage carrying their belongings around the school at snack time.
Staff Leavers
At the end of this year we will be saying farewell to some of our teaching staff and support staff. We wish all of these staff well in their new adventures in new schools, new countries or with new personal plans and thank them tremendously for everything they have contributed to BHS.
Normally at this time of the year we would enjoy special celebrations to farewell our leavers with the staff and the community. We know these staff have made a positive impact on your family, your child and the wider BHS community. Given the current restrictions this is a little more difficult. We hope to be able to ‘farewell’ our staff in some shape or form so they are acknowledged and thanked for their significant contributions.
We have decided to move Mr Gibson’s and Mrs Woo’s joint retirement farewell to August so that hopefully we can then do a lovely farewell for them both given the amazing number of years they have dedicated to the BHS and ESF community.
The teaching staff leaving BHS at the end of this academic year:
- Mr Scott Gibson (Music teacher)
- Ms Laura Fisher (Y2)
- Mr Rory Douglas (Y6)
- Ms Haymen Mak (Learning Support)
- Mr Matt Glencross (Y1)
- Mrs Michelle Palmer (Y6)
These support staff will be leaving BHS:
- Barbara Woo (Admissions – will retire at the end of August)
- Helen Tang (SEN EA)
As we know – once you join the BHS family, you’ll always be part of the community. We hope these staff stay in touch and remember the wonderful time they had at BHS. They will certainly be remembered by all of us. Once a Beacon Hill-er, always a Beacon Hill-er.
New recruits or staff currently employed at BHS taking on classroom teacher roles next year include:
- Shannon Schonegevel – Expressive Arts (moving from another international school in HK)
- Melisa Baldwick (moving from another international school in HK)
- Lena Kennedy (experience working in international schools in HK)
- Emily Jeves – currently BHS Learning & Teaching Coach
- James Whyman – Currently Year 5 teacher at BHS
- Jane Wu (returning from Maternity Leave)
Welcome to all of our brand new staff who we look forward to working with in the future.
Calendar for Next Year
Please find the calendar for the 2020/21 academic year HERE. Please note that Thursday 13th August will be the first day back for all year 2-6 students. Having two full CPD days prior to the start of the term will allow us to do necessary training that we were unable to complete this year due to school closure.
Susan Chung will communicate with all new year 1 parents for 2020/21 to advise on return dates and times as part of the induction process for our new year 1 students.
Uniforms
Please note below more information for the PTA about the new BHS uniform.
Kind regards,
Brenda Cook
Principal
Medical Authorisation Form
Please click HERE
Student Withdrawal Form
Please click HERE
Uniforms
Many of you may be wondering the status of the new uniforms. The Uniform Committee have just met with Central Procurement who have confirmed that the new uniform will be available for the incoming Year 1 intake at the start of the 2020-21 school year. A sample is currently being made and we shall reveal this to all shortly.
The new uniform will also be available for the remaining years however there will be a two year transition (2020-21 & 2021-22) where students can wear either set. There are still a large quantity of the old stock which we will be selling at a further discounted rate. Purchasing of the uniform, both old and new will change as the new uniform supplier takes over and the PTA uniform shop will wind down. Exact details will be announced later.
Last orders from our Uniform Shop will be 12 June as we need to stock take. We are still finalising the details for purchasing uniform after the summer break and will let you know as soon as possible.
Keep your eyes posted for the long awaited reveal.
Winter track pants (Recall)
The new navy winter track pants from the Central Procurement supplier which we started selling last November had some quality issues regarding “bobbling”. They have agreed to replace these with an alternative 100% cotton fabric which eliminates this issue. If you purchased a pair of these track pants and would like them replaced please can you bring them into PTA office by 19 June where we will exchange them for a new pair. Note, you will not be allowed to change for a different size.
DCK Lunch
DCK have advised that refunds will be provided for the February lunch orders. They are still working on how to process this, whether it be in the form of credits or a cash refund. Thanks in advance for your patience and we’ll keep you informed as soon as we hear from them.
Kind regards,
BHS PTA
Online Cyber Safety
Susie Mclean has just launched a “10 week Keeping Safe in Cyberspace Education” series. It is provided free of charge. There are 10 videos, one per week on a Monday night 8pm AEST and then every second Wednesday. Susie will run a Facebook live event where parents and children can sit together to learn. There is an information video HERE.
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.
