Newsletter- 18/08/17
Kowloon Junior School’s latest newsletter is available to read now.
Dear Parents,
A very warm welcome (very, very warm for me coming from Christchurch, New Zealand!) to the 2017/18 school year at Kowloon Junior School. The staff have had a very productive start to the year starting last week when we worked together to prepare for the year ahead and to ensure we all focus on achieving our vision of “Success for every child”. We also had a shared lunch with the staff of KGV and JCSR as we continue to work together to ensure we can provide a seamless education from Y1 through to High School graduation.
We have such a dedicated and passionate team at KJS who work so hard to ensure that your child has the best possible learning experiences and opportunities. I have been delighted to see their commitment to providing personalised learning experiences that will challenge and stretch your child while supporting and encouraging them to be the best they can be. I know the teachers are looking forward to meeting with you next week (see details below) and learning more about how they can best support and stretch your child.
On Tuesday we welcomed the parents of our newest students to the school with our VP, Jane Parker, sharing important reading strategies with families. All of what Jane shared is worth repeating, however the key points were:
- Continue reading to and with your child each day (yes read up the the age of 11+!)
- When children are learning to read, ‘real books’ are best, not digital books
- Reading should be an enjoyable experience, encourage them!
- Let your child see you reading for pleasure and talk about what you are reading and why you are doing it.
- Set time aside for reading with your children without distractions from screens or phones
- Have a special place where books are kept and display your own collection of books
- Give books as presents or a treat
- Have a selection of reading materials such as comics, magazines available at all times
- Teach nursery rhymes, songs and action rhymes, say them, sing them or clap them
- Join your local library
- Model how reading is used around us every day.
and if they get stuck with their reading…
- Wait and give them time to work it out
- If they are not sure ask them what sound the word begins with
- Then get them to look at the picture
- Ask them what would make sense, looks right and sounds right
- If they still can’t work it out tell them.
Reading to your child has many benefits, take the time to enjoy a book with your child. As a parent and a grandparent I can attest to the value of taking 15 minutes a day to read to your child. Can I also encourage you to put phones and screens away while you read and ‘be present’ with your child.
We have a number of important events coming up so please look below and make sure you have the Year Ahead Meeting, Home School Partnership Meeting and the Lantern Festival in your calendars.
I look forward to meeting with you in the weeks ahead.
Neill O’Reilly
Principal
Straight into our learning!
Year Ahead Meeting (Thurs 24 Aug 2017)
On Thursday at 5pm all parents are invited in to our annual “Year Ahead’ meeting. This is your opportunity to find out about your child’s classroom routines and the expectations in their new year group. We run two sessions to support families with more than one child. The evening is divided into a welcome address from the new leadership team and a classroom visit with the teachers. Timings are as follows:
5pm: Y1, Y4 and Y5 parents in the hall. Y2, Y3 and Y6 parents in classrooms.
5.40pm: Y2, Y3 and Y6 parents in the hall. Y1, Y4 and Y5 parents in classrooms.
This is the combination which enables the majority of parents with more than one child in school to attend both classroom sessions. We apologise if you are unable to make both sessions – if this is the case, please contact the class teacher for any key messages you may have missed.
Home School Partnership ( Mon 28 Aug 2017)
As you know, at KJS we believe a partnership between home and school is vital for your child’s success. Please make sure you have made an appointment to meet your child’s teacher at their Welcome Meeting (dates overleaf) and put Monday 28th August in your diary to join us all for the Year Ahead meeting. The Welcome Meetings will provide you with the opportunity to tell the teacher all about your child. Please note that the children will not be at school on this day.
This year Monday 28th August
From 8.10 – 4.20
Registration on Gateway open from tomorrow 18 Aug 2017 at 9am.
How to Register:
Logon to gateway https://kjs.tg.esf.edu.hk/login.php?CurPage=/
Go to COMMUNICATION > PARENT CONSULTATION to register booking
Lantern Festival ( Fri 22 Sep 2017)
Please mark your calendar for Friday 22 September starting at 5:00pm. More details to come from the PTA soon!
Madagascar Jr.
All children who were auditioned will be in the show in November – we now need to finish allocating parts. Rehearsals for all children who auditioned will start next week on Wednesdays at 3pm. Please ensure that your children are picked up promptly from the lower playground at 5pm.
Admissions Reminder
Please be reminded sibling applications for Year 1 (born in 2013), Central Applications application period, is from 1-30 September 2017. Year 1 application key dates can be found at http://www.esf.edu.hk/year1-key-dates. For current Year 6s, the submission of the Y7 secondary transfer applications (located on Gateway) is during the period Monday 4 September- Friday 15 September 2017. Allocation for secondary school will be determined by residential zone at the start of Year 6.
For further details, parents should refer to the information available on the ESF website at http://www.esf.edu.hk/year6-to-year7-key-dates/ for key dates and http://www.esf.edu.hk/esf-zones for school zones. All newly joined Y6 are guarantee a Y7 place but not necessarily for the school of zone.
Student Achievement
In July MinKyu (3C) participated in “2nd Hong Kong Music talent Piano & Violin” completion. He won 4th place in Junior 1 violin session.
Aiden Chau (4L) and Trevor Yung (4K) are competing in the 2017 Asia Youth Hockey League tournament from 17-22 August in Beijing. The tournament comprises 70 teams from 17 different countries. We wish Aiden all the best in the competition!
Other notices
Book Launch!
Former ESF student, teacher and parent Ritu Hemnani will be launching her children’s book, Gope and Meera – A Migration Story, on Saturday, 19th August 2017 and the entire KJS community is invited! Her book tells the historical fiction story about a cherished homeland reluctantly left behind during the Partition of India and the subsequent mass migration that impacted millions. It is a tale of tragic loss, determined hope, preserved culture and spirited victory that will captivate readers of all ages! Children are welcome with food and games provided and the Indian Consul General will be present to inaugurate Ritu’s book! Please see the attached invitation for more details.
Enjoy the book trailer by clicking the link:
Sindhi Association of Hong Kong and China is an independent company and Kowloon Junior School shall take no responsibility for any services provided by Sindhi Association of Hong Kong and China or any other organizations that are not affiliated to Kowloon Junior School or English Schools Foundation.
Junior Baking Classes
Baking class starts 4th September but new junior bakers can sign up for a free trial class on the 28th August. For more information, please see the attached brochure & enrolment form. To reserve a place or arrange for a trial class, please email Ms. Hong: flourhk@hotmail.com
See the Junior Bakers in action by clicking on the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOW88jsc8A0
Flour Unlimited is an independent company and Kowloon Junior School shall take no responsibility for any services provided by Flour Unlimited or any other organizations that are not affiliated to Kowloon Junior School or English Schools Foundation.
Dates for your Diary
Tuesday 15th August 8.30am: Term 1 starts
Tuesday 22nd August 8:30am: Whole school photo for ESF 50th Anniversary
Thursday 24th August 5pm: Year Ahead Meeting – for parents
Monday 28th August: Welcome Meetings (no school for students)
Friday 22nd September: PTA Lantern Festival/AGM for all the family
2nd – 6th October: School closed – Half term holiday
Thursday 12th October Dress casual day
Thursday 19th October 9am Diwali Assembly
24th – 27th October School photographer in
Friday 27th October Quiz Night for all the family
Friday 3rd November Orchestra Day (possible)
Monday 6th November Teacher training – no classes for students
Tuesday 14th November KJS Musical
Wednesday 15th November KJS Musical
20th – 22nd November Y4 Camp
28th November – 1st December Y5 Camp
4th – 8th December Y6 Camp
Wednesday 6th December Y3 & Y4 Sports Day
Wednesday 13th December Y5 & Y6 Sports Day
Friday 15th December Term ends at midday
