Newsletter- 01/11/24
Kowloon Junior School’s latest newsletter is available to read now.
Dates for Your Diary
5-8 November School Photo
29 November CPD Day-School Closed
3-6 December Y6 Camp
13 December Last Day of Term (school ends at 12:00)
6 January First Day of Term 2
Principal’s Message
Dear KJS families,
I hope this message finds you well and you are enjoying the beautiful sunny days we have been having.
This week was all about Year 5 camp in Pui O. I had the pleasure of attending the first camp, and I must say how impressed I was with the children’s independence, teamwork, and spirit. They truly made the school proud! The second group arrived on Wednesday morning, and despite a bit of wind, they also had a fantastic time, enjoying a movie night indoors as a cozy alternative.
Looking ahead, Year 6 camp takes place in a few weeks, and I am sure they will have just as wonderful a time.
A reminder that our school photos will take place next week. Please refer to the information sent out by your child’s class for the specific schedule. The whole school photo is scheduled for Friday afternoon. We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring that your child is prepared for this special day.
I would like to wish all families celebrating Diwali over the coming days a joyful and meaningful time. May this festival of lights bring happiness and prosperity to you and your loved ones.
Have a lovely weekend.
Mr Gavin MacGregor
Principal
School Photo
Students will be taking their individual portraits and group class photo next week. There will also be a whole school photo session on Friday.
A few things to note:
- The whole school photo (all Y1 – 6 students plus all teaching staff) will take place Friday afternoon at 2:10 p.m.
- All children should wear normal school uniform and NOT PE kit on the day of the photoshoot. Class teachers will be in touch if there is any special arrangement for your class or if you are not sure, please do not hesitate to reach out to us for clarification.
- For students who are absent on the day, we have several time slots throughout the week for individual portraits. You may send your child in with normal school uniform the following day and the class teacher will help arrange another time for your child.
- If your child happens to be away for the entire period (5 – 8 Nov), please get in touch with Techni Photo directly to schedule another session which will take place at their studio in Lai Chi Kok – Flat C1, 3/F Spinners Industrial Building Phase 5, 760-762 Cheung Sha Wan Road.
- All the photos will be available for purchase before the end of the month. Details are to follow.
Please refer to the schedule below for the photo shoot this year:
ESF Christmas Card
(Submission Deadline: 20 November at 8am to Office Email)
ESF is searching for a piece of student artwork to appear on this year’s ESF Christmas card. All students are welcome to submit one piece of artwork for the chance to be featured on the card.
FORMAT & THEME:
- The theme of the art can reflect each student’s unique interpretation of the holiday season.
- Please submit JPG or PNG– not HEIC. NO hardcopy is accepted.
- Please name the title of your file with your child’s full name and class
- Please send the file to the KJS office via email at office@kjs.edu.hk before 8am on 20 November 2024 (Wednesday). No late submission and no hardcopy will be accepted.
- The ESF logo and a festive greeting message will be embedded, so artwork without words is preferred
- The art piece must be the student’s original work without infringing any intellectual property rights.
- Parent permission and consent should be granted for the child’s name, photo, and artwork to be posted on social media.
Parent Workshop- Flexible Thinking and Growth Mindset in Children
Flexible thinking, often associated with a growth mindset, is crucial for helping children adapt to new and challenging situations. It involves teaching them how to assess situations, solve problems, and tolerate uncertainty. This topic dovetails with bravery, our school theme for this year.
Importance of Flexible Thinking
- Adaptability: Enhances a child’s ability to adjust to change, such as transitioning to a new school or trying unfamiliar activities.
- Problem Solving: Encourages creative and effective solutions to conflicts or challenges.
- Resilience: Builds emotional strength to cope with setbacks and uncertainties.
Strategies to Foster Flexible Thinking
- Encourage Curiosity: Promote asking questions and exploring different perspectives.
- Model Flexibility: Demonstrate adaptability in your own behaviour and decision-making.
- Teach Problem-Solving Skills: Use games and activities that require planning and decision-making.
- Promote Open-Mindedness: Encourage children to consider alternative solutions and viewpoints.
Benefits of Teaching Flexible Thinking
- Increased Independence: Children become more self-reliant in managing their emotions and decisions.
- Enhanced Confidence: Success in overcoming challenges boosts self-esteem.
- Improved Social Skills: Better conflict resolution and cooperation with peers.
- Activities to Develop Flexible Thinking
- Role-Playing Scenarios: Practise different ways of handling challenging situations.
- Puzzle and Strategy Games: Encourage thinking ahead and adapting strategies.
- Storytelling and Reflection: Discuss stories where characters face and overcome difficulties.
Conclusion
By promoting flexible thinking, we equip children with vital life skills that enhance their independence, success, and confidence. Encouraging adaptability in various environments—home, school, and community—ensures they are better prepared for the future.
Discussion Points
- How can we integrate flexible thinking into daily routines?
- What role do parents and educators play in modelling and teaching these skills?
- How can we measure the impact of flexible thinking on a child’s development?
- By focusing on these aspects, we can create a supportive environment that nurtures growth and resilience in young learners.
Date: 13 November 2024
Location: KJS Library, 1st floor
Time: 3-3:45pm
Attendees: KJS Parents and guardians
Facilitator: Ian Ong, School Counsellor
*Registration through the gateway will open at 9pm on Tuesday 29 October 2024
and close on Tuesday, 12th November at 6pm (Under “Activity” on Gateway)
** The presentation will be recorded and made available for everyone to view.
News from the PTA
Hello KJS Community,
The festive season is just around the corner, and we’re thrilled to announce our upcoming Winter Festival! Join us on November 29 2024 from 4:00 – 7:00 pm right here at KJS for an evening of fun, celebration and holiday cheer.
We need your support to make this event truly special! Whether you can help for an hour or more, we’d love to have you join our team. Setup will begin earlier in the day, and cleanup should take no more than 30 minutes after the event.
The more volunteers we have, the more activities we can offer to make this a memorable experience for everyone! As a thank you, all volunteers will receive special welcome offers, which we’ll share in a dedicated Volunteers WhatsApp group, it will be used as a key communication channel before and during the event.
After you fill out and submit the volunteer form, you’ll receive an email with a link to join the WhatsApp group. Be sure to join, as it will be our main channel for updates and communication leading up to and during the festival.
Sign up here to volunteer!
The deadline to sign up is November 7th. We would need to know how many volunteers we have to be able to decide on the amount of tickets to keep the event safe.
Let’s come together again to create another wonderful celebration for our school. Thank you for being the heart of our community events!
Warm regards,
The KJS PTA Team
Celebrating Diwali at KJS
Last Friday, October 25, KJS celebrated Diwali, the Festival of Light, with an amazing assembly of talented students reciting poems and stories, classical and Bollywood dances, all of it culminating in a fabulous Teachers Dance.
See the video and photographs on the PTA FB Community Group.
Not a member yet? Simply send a request to join and be part of a private group of almost 1000 parents.
Celebrating the Festival of Light -Dress Colourful
Also last Friday, as part of the Diwali celebrations, children came to school dressed in traditional and colourful clothes. It was a lovely display of dazzling colours and high spirits.
We are pleased to inform you that a total of $7,325.00 was collected from all year groups.
The donations received by the PTA as a general collection will be donated to the school for future school learning projects.
KJS PTA AGM
6 November 2024 via Zoom
Parents would have received this important notice on Wednesday for the Annual General Meeting.
We encourage you to read the information below and sign up to attend the meeting (on 6 Nov).
KOWLOON JUNIOR SCHOOL PTA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (AGM) 2024
Dear Parents and Teachers,
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Kowloon Junior School Parent Teacher Association Limited will be held on:
Wednesday 6 November 2024 at 3:30 pm online via Zoom
Link: https://zoom.us/j/5887075656 Zoom ID：588 707 5656
Agenda:
- Approval of the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 8 November 2023
- Chairman’s Report
- Principal’s Report
- Presentation of the PTA Accounts and Auditors Report for 2023-24
- Appointment of auditors for 2024-25 financial year
- Transition update
- Proposed Budget for 2024-25
- Election of Committee members for 2024-2025 academic year
To view the Minutes of the 2023 AGM, click HERE. If you have any questions regarding any matter related to the above, please email pta@kjs.edu.hk.
As members of the PTA, all parents and teachers are invited to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting. Please register your attendance in advance HERE
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you at the AGM.
BY ORDER OF THE COMMITTEE
Anna Rayton Gavin MacGregor
Chair Principal
Kowloon Junior School PTA Ltd Kowloon Junior School
16 October 2024
The Kowloon Junior School Parent Teacher Association (PTA) is a non-profit organisation. Its purpose is to facilitate close cooperation and contact between KJS parents, students and teachers to support student’s general welfare. More information about the PTA as a company and official compliance documentation can be found here
This is your chance to get involved and have a voice in the PTA and all its work. For any questions around this, feel free to contact the PTA Office.
School Uniforms
We would like to remind all families that the old school uniforms (beige colour) for shorts, skorts and long trousers will not be used in school after December 31 2024.
From 1 January 2025, only the new navy blue colour items will be considered as official school uniforms. For more details, please contact the uniform supplier www.schooluniform.hk directly.
Enjoy the weekend and see you all on Zoom next Wednesday for the AGM!
Best wishes,
The KJS PTA Team.
Tel: 3765-8709 | Email: pta@kjs.edu.hk | Whatsapp: 6211-4154 | Website: www.kjspta.com
Student Success
Thank you for sharing your child’s achievements with us over the past year.
While individual achievements are undoubtedly significant and provide a source of pride for both the student and their family, sharing every student’s accomplishments on our social media channels is no longer feasible. Our intention is to create an inclusive environment where all students, regardless of their individual accomplishments, feel valued and celebrated.
That being said, we encourage you to share your child’s achievements with their teacher and peers, as well as within your personal social media networks. This way, your child’s accomplishments can be recognized and celebrated by those who know them best.
We appreciate your understanding and support as we continue to navigate the post-pandemic educational landscape. Our school community’s strength lies in our collective efforts to celebrate the diverse talents, achievements, and experiences of all our students.
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.
