Newsletter- 12/9/16
Kowloon Junior School’s latest newsletter is available to read now.
MESSAGE FROM HEAD OF SCHOOL
Creative Challenge – September
Diwali Auditions
Communication
Toys in school
Mosquitoes
School Fair
Library News
New Year 1 enrolment (Children born in 2012)
Invitation to Island School for Y6 parents
Junior Chess Invitational Competition
Student achievement
Upcoming parent workshops
IMPORTANT DATES
Message from Head of School
The Lantern Festival on Friday was a wonderful way to end a rainy week. Thank you to everyone who came – there was a great turn out and we were amazed by your lantern making creativity. Photographs will go on the website soon and are already available on our Facebook page. It is always a pleasure to see families toegther having fun at school – the children certainly had a super time being in school after hours – their smiles the only thing brighter than their lanterns!
At the PTA AGM we were updated on last year’s events and subsequent money raised by the team. I would like to take this opportunity to thank William Wan and Avisha Shamdasani who stand down from their respective roles of Chair and Vice Chair this year and offer a warm welcome to the new committee:
Chair: William Wong (Lara and Archer, 2T)
Vice Chair: Saloni Melwani (Serena 3C)
Treasurer: Sheila Gridley (Emily 6RB)
The PTA are still looking to fill the role of Hon. Secretary. Please send an email to pta@kjs.edu.hk if you would like to be considered for this position.
Class teachers are currently trying to find volunteers to be ‘class parents’. The role of the class parent is to liaise between home and school and to support the PTA by attending committee meetings. I will be hosting a coffee morning for the class parents as soon as all the positions have been secured.
The next PTA event is the Family Quiz night on Friday November 4th. Make your own Team which should consist of 8-10 participants (e.g., teachers, parents, siblings of KJS students) with a minimum of 4 KJS students. The entry fee will be $100 per participant. If you don’t want to join a team but would like to watch all the fun and participate as an audience member, the ticket fee will be $70 per person. The tickets for all team and audience participants include a light buffet and the opportunity to enter 10 standalone quizzes. A prize will be won for the first correct answer drawn from each standalone quiz box. All team members will also have the chance to win fantastic prizes. Last year Quiz night was extremely successful – I imagine tickets will be selling very quickly from the PTA office and places are limited so please buy yours sooner rather than later.
Please enjoy the days off with your children this week. My oldest went off to university this weekend… it’s amazing how quickly their childhood is over – enjoy them while you can!
Warmest regards,
Karen Thomas
Head of School
Creative Challenge – September
Last year, for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, we asked students to make giant candies to decorate the hall. This year, for Annie Jr. we would like students’ help to turn the hall into 1950s New York! I have cardboard and picture of the signs we need to create ready – if your child is interested they can collect these materials from my office from tomorrow morning.
Diwali Auditions
Diwali auditions will be held next week. Please sign up on this Google Doc if your child wishes to share a song, dance or presentation. For group auditions only one sign up is necessary.
Communication
In order to ensure you know exactly what is happening at KJS we offer the following methods of communication:
Teachers will contact parents should there be any concerns about their child. Parents are asked to contact teachers with any queries they may have.
Teachers are currently developing a new style of reporting which we hope will
be more informative for parents. An update will be shared with you soon.
Toys in school
Please be reminded that, unless children have been asked to bring something to school for Show and Tell, we do not expect to see toys in school. This week I have heard that children are bringing in Nanodots. As these can cause harm if swallowed I ask you kindly to make sure they are kept at home.
Mosquitoes
We continue to be vigilant about mosquito prevention. In line with other ESF schools regular thorough precautions are taken at KJS. Please make sure your child has mosquito protection applied before coming to school.
School Fair
Our school fair will be on March 18th. We are now starting to collect major donations and high level sponsors for the raffle. We are specifically looking for some fabulous ‘top’ prizes in order to make the raffle as exciting and attractive as possible to the community. you are able to help us please contact me or the PTA: pta@kjs.edu.hk
Many thanks for your support.
Library News
Please note that Scholastic orders are due back by September 19th.
New Year 1 enrolment (Children born in 2012
Y1 enrolment commenced on 1st September with a closing date of 30th September. Please refer to the following URL link for full detail (http://www.esf.edu.hk/Yr1_central_application_dates for key dates). Supporting documents required are by registered mail to the ESF Admissions Office at the following address:
Year 1 Enrolment, English Schools Foundation, 25/F, 1063 King’s Road, Quarry Bay, Hong Kong
Once you have completed the on-line application you will receive an e-mail with a reference number. Should you have any query regarding the on-line application please contact the Admissions Hotline no. 3762-2411.
Invitation to Island School for Y6 parents
Island School will be having an Opening Morning on September 27th at 11.00am. There will be an induction session with Mr Chris Binge, Principal of Island School, and a school tour with our Prefects on the day. Please contact Betty Tsu if you would like to attend. betty.tsu@online.island.edu.hk
Junior Chess Invitational Competition
We are pleased to announce that Quarry Bay School PTA LTD will be hosting the 5th Junior Chess Star Invitational Competition 2016, sponsored by Quarry Bay School, on Sunday, 25th September 2016. We invite all students studying in ESF & PIS primary schools, for the academic year 2016-17, to join the event.
See here for more information on the poster.
Please click here for online registration.
Student achievement
Well done to Khloe (2M) who received two bronze medals for 25m freestyle kicking with kickboard and 25m freestyle for five year olds at the YMCA Gala at the end of August. Khloe has been attending swimming classes since she was three years old – all that practice seems to have paid off!
Both Bryan and Jayce competed in Disney’s fun run this weekend. These medals are very impressive!
Upcoming parent workshop
Tuesday 20th September An introduction to the Primary Years Programme 5pm – 6pm
Tuesday 4th October Y1/Y2 Learning to Write 1.30pm
Tuesday 25th October Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds 8.45am
Please sign up for these workshops on Gateway.
Important Dates
Wednesday 14th September: School closed – Staff training
Thursday 15th September: School closed – Staff training
Friday 16th September: School closed – Public Holiday
Tuesday 20th September Parent Workshop – An introduction to the Primary Years Programme 5pm – 6pm
Thursday 22nd September 3pm Y3 Sailing information session for parents
Tuesday 27th September: Y1 Immunization in the hall (am)
Tuesday 4th October Parent Workshop – Y1 Learning to Write 1.30pm
10th – 15th October: School closed – Half term holiday
Monday 17th October: School closed – Staff training
18th – 21st October: School photographer in
Tuesday Oct 25th: Parent Workshop – Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds 8.45am
Friday 28th October: Diwali Assembly 9am
Friday 4th November: PTA Quiz Night for all the family
Tuesday 1st November: Parent Teacher conferences 3 – 6.30pm including meetings with Mandarin, PE and Music for Y1 and Y5 parents
Thursday 10th November: Parent Teacher conferences 3 – 6.30pm including meetings with Mandarin, PE and Music for Y1 and Y5 parents
Thursday 17th November: KJS Musical
Friday 18th November: KJS Musical
21st – 23rd November: Y4 Camp
22nd – 25th November: Y5 Camp
28th Nov – 2nd Dec: Y6 Camp
Friday 9th December: School Disco for all the family
Tuesday 13th December: Term ends at midday
Parents will be informed of any date changes in the school newsletter.
