Newsletter- 01/03/23
Kowloon Junior School’s latest newsletter is available to read now.
Dates for Your Diary
27 February- 03 March Book Week
28 February- 02 March Book Fair
18 March KJS Friends and Family Fun Day
23- 24 March Year 4 Camp
03- 14 April Term Break
Acting Principal’s Message
Dear KJS Families,
It was lovely seeing the smiling faces of many of our students this morning, so I would like to expand a little on KJS’ stance on mask wearing after the removal of the mask-wearing mandate. While there is no conclusive evidence at this stage that mask wearing impedes language and social development in children, research does show that mask wearing makes it more challenging for children to read social and emotional cues. Additionally, mask wearing makes it more difficult for students to communicate verbally and non-verbally. I respectfully ask that you consider the above-mentioned information if you have decided to continue to send your child to school wearing a mask. As stated yesterday, I acknowledge your right to make a choice, however, I think that it is important that you have enough information to do so. Please rest assured that we will support our students in terms of good hygiene habits and the potential fear associated with mask removal through a social-story approach. Also, if you would like additional support for your child, then please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher directly.
The incredible KJS Times team continue to inform and entertain with enthusiasm and flair. This initiative has gone from strength to strength, and it strongly highlights what primary school students can achieve if the conditions and environment encourage and support them. If you haven’t had the opportunity to read the latest edition, then please take a few moments to do so by clicking on this link.
The KJS Book Week has been a great success so far and has seen students engaging with visiting authors, mystery staff readers, parent readers reading in their home language, special guests at the gate in the morning, and a brilliant book fair. Please note that you still have the chance to visit the book fair before or after school if you haven’t had the chance to do so already and that students can choose to dress up as their favourite book/story character if they would like to on Friday.
You may recall that I recently shared that we would reinstate a food provider at KJS in the near future. The reinstatement of a food provider based on all of the priorities I previously mentioned – food quality, good value for money, and environmentally sustainable practices – will still happen, however, the process will take a little longer than we first thought. This is because we have decided to go through a full tendering process with the support of the ESF Centre team to ensure that we adhere to the highest Hong Kong health and safety standards. I appreciate that this delay will be felt as disappointing news by some of our families, however, we are not willing to compromise on the wellbeing of KJS students and this process will support us in meeting that aim.
Dr. Jamie Schmitz
Acting Principal
Kowloon Junior School
Book Week 27 February- 3 March 2023
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
We hope you and your children have been enjoying Book Week!
What an exciting week! We’ve been greeting students at the gate with different Book Characters to welcome students to school.
We started off the week with a 2 day author visit with authors, Dr. Melissa Giglio and Ms. Daisy Geddes, who shared with us their book “Bravery Grows”. Students had the opportunity to ask the authors what inspired them to be authors, asked them about the writing process and how to grow their “brave muscles”. If you didn’t order your copy of the book, the authors have extended the deadline to this Friday, March 3rd. Here is the Google Form.
The Book Fair started yesterday. If you haven’t had a chance to visit, Book Fair ends tomorrow, March 2nd.
Of course, you can always visit our Book Week Page on our KJS Virtual Library or visit our Book Week padlet page if you want to see more highlights of our special week.
Happy Book Week!
KJS Library Team
News from the PTA
Hello KJS Community,
Book Collection
As part of Book Week, we have collaborated with the Library Team to collect gently used or new books that will be exchanged for donations at the Friends and Family Fun Day (not long to go!). If your child wishes to dress up as their favourite book character or dress casually this Friday 3 March, please send in gently used or a new book to the PTA Office, we will have collection boxes ready outside for them.
Friends and Family Fun Day 18 March
The countdown is really on now for the Friends and Family Fun Day! To give us an idea of numbers, please pre- register your intention to attend this event via this Google Form here. This is a whole school community event and we urge parents to attend, especially now that we do not have to wear masks! We hope to see all of you there on Saturday 18 March for a really Fun Day.
Have a great week ahead!
The KJS PTA Team
Student Success
The celebration of student success will channel to our Facebook page. You can find the school’s Facebook here. Please keep the photos and stories coming of our children shooting the AAROW’s of Success!
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.
- Our newsletters may contain direct marketing materials that are related to students’ daily school activities and the KJS community. Parents who choose not to receive such materials should use their own discretion.
In accordance with our Personal Data Handling Policy, Kowloon Junior School and English Schools Foundation may place your child’s photos, name, school work, activities and accomplishments in our newsletters or other publications (including but not limited to our websites and social media sites). If you would like to opt out, please email the school office at office@kjs.edu.hk.
