Newsletter- 11/10/17
Kowloon Junior School’s latest newsletter is available to read now.
Dear Parents,
Wow, Hong Kong is a beautiful place to live and play and have a balanced life! I had the pleasure of exploring the islands, the hills, the beaches and the New Territories over the last eight weeks and especially during last week. As I sent photos to New Zealand my friends could not believe the range of outdoor experiences and attractions available in Hong Kong. My favourite was kitesurfing at Shui Hau on Lantau Island, incredible to be closest to one of the most populated cities on earth and yet able to kitesurf in a secluded bay with other fanatics! Three of the IB learner profile dispositions are to be courageous (trying new things, giving things a go), being balanced (balancing work/school and relaxation time) and be inquirers (having curiosity and a desire to keep on learning). Hong Kong certainly has the space and facilities for parents and their children to live these dispositions on a daily basis! What things are you as families doing that provide your children for opportunities to be balanced and courageous? How do you model these and talk about these with your children?
I encourage you to talk about these worthwhile dispositions with your children and encourage your children to share family experiences with their teacher and class. Speaking of family communication, we have a few items which lend themselves to good chats at home….
Head lice: An international problem! I notice the same trends here as in New Zealand. A few children with head lice, becomes a few more, parents treat their children and then they are reinfected. Parents get angry and frustrated. Parents want the school to inspect every child. School cannot.
You can help. Please check your child. If he or she has head lice they must be kept away until they are treated and either need a doctor’s note to say they have been treated or on return have our nurse check your child. We cannot do ‘whole school checks’ so we do rely on the vigilance and honesty of our parents.
Safety online: This will be an ongoing challenge for parents each and every year. Heather Darling ran a parent education session recently to support families with online safety. We are aware of two apps that can help parents manage their child’s online access, Qustodio and Ourpact. We are neither recommending nor endorsing these apps rather we are wanting to promote parents’ conversations with their children and families having discussions about how they will stay safe online.
It is very exciting here at school as we start into the second half of the school term. We have so much to look forward to in the weeks and months ahead (have a look at the calendar). I do look forward to seeing you at school soon.
Neill O’Reilly
Principal
Kitesurfing at Shui Hau
Payment for Term 1 School Trips and 2017-2018 PTA Membership
Individual newsletters will be distributed to all students today. Please submit a completed reply slip and a crossed cheque payable to “Kowloon Junior School” by Friday 27 October 2017. Should you be unable to receive a copy or have any questions, please email our Finance Team at finance@kjs.edu.hk.
Parent Workshop
Mathematics is beautiful and creative: An introduction to the neuro-science of learning and the wonder of inquiry Maths – Friday 27 October at 4pm, KJS Library
Mathematics is beautiful, open, creative, and multi-dimensional. Some school and tutor maths classes can be uninspiring, procedural and one-dimensional – it is all about memorizing methods and procedures. This is one of the reasons so many students, especially girls, disengage from mathematics. Come and explore the latest neuro-science about learning and how inquiry Maths creates mathematicians rather than merely arithmeticians.
Dress Casual Day
Please do not forget that tomorrow, Thursday 12 October is our Dress Casual Day to raise funds for the Hong Kong Community Chest. Children can wear their favourite clothes to school for a minimum donation of just $20.
Garden Club
With the temperature finally cooling down we are very excited to get ready to begin the KJS Gardening Club 2017/18.
Sign up will open on Gateway at 4pm on Thursday 12 October, and the first session will be Wednesday 18 October. There are 40 places available for students in years 4, 5, and 6. Gardening Club will run every Wednesday from 3 – 4pm and as with all after school clubs, parents are responsible for arranging student pick up at 4pm. This club comes with a small fee of $50 per child in order to cover the cost of small pots, soil, seeds, and other necessary garden resources. Term 1 of Gardening Club will run until Chinese New Year, with a second term running after CNY until the end of the school year. We will be concentrating on two main projects this term; organic farming and creating ‘mini world’ gardens to improve the wellbeing of our school community by bringing a little bit of nature into our learning spaces.
Please note that sometimes gardening can get a little messy so feel free to send your child to school with an appropriate change of clothing. We would also like to invite any interested parents/guardians/family members to accompany your child to our gardens. We always appreciate any extra expertise and help.
Madagascar
Madagascar rehearsals are going very well, ready for performances on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 November 2017. Please read the following important information regarding your child’s participation:
- Students with speaking roles are expected to have memorised their lines by 9 October
- Costume and ticket information will be sent out soon
Remaining key dates:
| Wed 11 Oct | Rehearsal 3-5pm |
| Wed 18 Oct | Rehearsal 3-5pm |
| Wed 25 Oct | Rehearsal 3-5pm |
| Wed 1 Nov | Rehearsal 3-5pm |
| Sat 4 Nov | All day rehearsal 9-3pm- bring a snack, lunch and water. Children should be collected at 3pm |
| Wed 8 Nov | Rehearsal 3-5pm |
| Mon 13 Nov | Dress Rehearsal during school day |
| Tue 14 Nov |
Matinee Show 11:15 am Evening Show 5:45 pm |
| Wed 15 Nov |
Matinee Show 11:15 am Evening show 5:45 pm |
Y2 & Y3 Chinese Class Parent Consultations
This is a reminder for parents who have registered to meet with their child’s Chinese teachers on Friday 13 October to attend their sessions on the scheduled time slots.
PTA Update
Quiz Night
Join us at the Quiz Night to enjoy a fun filled evening from 5 to 7pm on the 27 October 2017.
Order now to enjoy the early bird break discounted price. There are many great prizes to be won. Our Quiz master Mrs Stewart has designed the questions to suit all levels. A light buffet will also be provided. Either form your own team of 8-10 people (adults and children); or come to us as a smaller group and we will match you with other participants. It will be an exciting evening full of laughter and good company!
Tickets are available from the PTA office. We accept cash, cheque, or EPS. Opening hours are Monday to Friday, 8:15 -11:00 am. You may also complete and return the slip below together with a cheque made payable to “Kowloon Junior School Parent Teacher Association Limited”.
Each ticket (adult & child)
$100 Per Participant and $70 Per Audience.(paid before Monday 23 Oct 2017)
$120 Per Participant and $90 Per Audience (paid after Monday 23 Oct 2017)
Children under 5 years old: Free of charge
Please click here to download the ticket order form.
We are also looking for volunteers to help out at the drink counter and scoring from 5-7pm. Please let us know if you can help out. Volunteers do NOT need to purchase tickets.
Winter Uniform
You may place the order for winter uniform on and before 20 October 2017 to ensure your child’s new uniform will be ready by 10 November 2017. Please click on this link to download the form and details.
Student Success
Mannat (5H) played Dayal International Badminton Tournament 2017 on 7 October and won the championship for the Father-Son Category. Mannat would like to share this news with the KJS community. Congratulations Mannat!
ESF and Other Notices…
ESF 50th Anniversary Marathon
Please click here for more information and to register for the ESF 50th Anniversary Marathon.
ESF Beach Clean Up Day
ESF would like to gather around 40 volunteers for its Beach Clean Up Day on 20 October 2017. Please click here to register if you are interested.
Date for your Diary
Thursday 12 October Dress Casual Day to raise fund for HK Community Chest
Friday 13 October 8:45am Parents Workshop: Introduction to the Primary Years Programme (PYP)
Friday 13 October Y2 & Y3 Chinese class parent consultations
Monday 16 October Y1 Immunization
Wednesday 18 October 9am Diwali Assembly
Friday 20 October Teacher training (no school for students)
24 – 27 October School photographer in
Friday 27 October 4pm Parent Workshop: Mathematics is beautiful and creative: An introduction to the neuro-science of
learning and the wonder of inquiry Maths
Friday 27 October Quiz Night for all the family
Tuesday 31 October Dress Casual Day to raise fund for UNICEF
Tuesday 31 October 3pm Y5 Camp Meeting
Tuesday 31 October 3:45pm Y6 Camp Meeting
Thursday 2 November 3-6:30pm Parent Teacher Meetings (including Y1 & Y4 Chinese classes)
Monday 6 November Teacher training (no school for students)
Thursday 9 November 3-6:30pm Parent Teacher Meetings (including Y1 & Y4 Chinese classes)
14 & 15 November Madagascar, KJS Musical
20 – 22 November Y4 Camp
Thursday 23 November Kowloon Netball Tournament
Thursday 30 November Y6 Immunization
28 November – 1 December Y5 Camp
4 – 8 December Y6 Camp
Wednesday 13 December Y3 & Y4 Sports Day
Thursday 14 December Y5 & Y6 Sports Day
Friday 15 December Term ends at midday
Disclaimer:
Kowloon Junior School, English Schools Foundation and its affiliates shall take no responsibility for any activities, events and services that are organised by other organisations or individuals and are mentioned in our newsletters..
