Newsletter- 07/06/23
Kowloon Junior School’s latest newsletter is available to read now.
Dates for Your Diary
16 June Y6 PYP Exhibition (Y6 Parents)
22 June Dragon Boat Festival
29 June Y6 Leavers Assembly
30 June Last Day of Term 3 (school ends at 12:00)
16 Aug First Day of School
Acting Principal’s Message
Dear KJS Families,
I hope everyone had a fantastic week! We have had a busy and exciting few days here at Kowloon Junior School, and I am thrilled to share some highlights and updates with you.
KJS Transition Day: A Day to Remember
Last Friday, we celebrated ESF and KJS Transition, and I must say, it was nothing short of a fantastic day! The energy from our students was palpable, and the support from our incoming Y1 families was truly heartwarming. Our teachers, EAs, and site staff exhibited amazing enthusiasm and warmth, which made the day even more special.
It was a joy to see our current students enjoying their time connecting with their new teachers. Our Y6 students are beginning to see themselves as secondary students after their visit to KGV, and our incoming Y1 students had a blast getting to know their new school. A huge thank you to everyone involved for making it such a memorable and useful experience.
Lunch Provider Update
We have some exciting news regarding our lunch provider! The ESF tendering process is now complete, and a KJS provider has been selected after this rigorous process. The name and details of the provider will be shared once we have gone through the School Council approval process. At this stage, we aim to begin the service in August. Thank you to everyone for their patience, as it has been a long journey. A special thank you also goes to everyone who supported the ESF tendering process.
ESF E-Sports Competition
Last Sunday, the ESF Centre hosted an E-Sports Competition where primary and secondary schools came together for a fun-filled day of Minecraft challenges. The KJS team showed great spirit, fair play, and performed well in the competition. Congratulations to the eventual primary school winner – Beacon Hill School! Thank you to everyone who supported the event along the way and on the day. This is just one example of the ever-growing opportunities for students that ESF is providing to get involved with things they love and try new experiences.
As we move forward, let’s keep the positive energy flowing and continue to support each other in creating a nurturing and inclusive environment for our students.
Wishing you all a fantastic week ahead!
Kind Regards,
Dr. Jamie Schmitz – Acting Principal
Sale of 2022-2023 Yearbook (Year 1 to Year 5 Students Only)
We are pleased to announce that the production of this year’s yearbook is underway. The details are as follows:
- The yearbooks are available on a first come, first served basis while stocks last.
- Year 1 to Year 5 parents can only order one copy per student – HK$98 per copy including a payment processing fee.
- To place an order, please log in to Gateway, sign the eNotice “2022-2023 Yearbook” and pay by PPS, PayPal or credit card. Other forms of payment including cheques and cash will NOT be accepted. To know more about how to pay via eNotice on Gateway, please refer to this webpage kjs.edu.hk/payment.
- Distribution is scheduled in late June 2023 and parents will be notified accordingly.
- Delivery by mail or courier will NOT be an option.
Same as previous years, each Year 6 student will receive a free copy as a farewell gift.
For any questions, please contact our Finance Team at finance@kjs.edu.hk.
Refund of KJS Yearly Fee Balance (Year 6 Students only) (Deadline: 11 June)
Near the end of this school year, we will refund the balance of Year 6 students’ yearly fee before they leave KJS. This applies to the students who have paid the fee for camps, activities and classroom stationery in 2022-2023. After deducting all the expenses, the balance is now stored in each student’s eWallet under the Payment System.
In order to receive a refund, parents will be required to submit online requests through the Payment System on or before Sunday 11 June 2023 and we will process them before the end of June 2022.
- In addition to a refund request, parents can also choose to transfer the balance to another child in the same family providing that he/she will still be attending KJS in August 2023.
- Parents can also choose to donate the balance to the school for the purchase of teaching and learning supplies.
- For those who fail to submit a request, we will not be able to arrange any refund. The balance will be donated to the school automatically in August 2023.
- Refunds will be made by crossed cheques in HK dollars and will be distributed in June 2023. Parents will be notified in due course.
To know more about how to access the Payment System, please refer to this website www.kjs.edu.hk/payment. To submit an online refund request, please refer to the section “eWallet, Refund & Account Closure” on the same website. Should you still have further questions, please contact our Finance Team at finance@kjs.edu.hk.
Student Council
Recruitment (Deadline: 8 June)
We have an exciting leadership opportunity for students moving into years 4, 5 or 6 in the 2023-2024 school year. The KJS Student Council is recruiting for students from the above year levels who are passionate about student voice, and taking positive action to make KJS an even better place for their fellow students, parents and staff!
Please see the attached slideshow which explains the skills needed to take on this important role and the application process.
The 2023-2023 Student Council Application Process
If you have any questions about the Student Council or how to apply, please contact Mrs. Bailey at bailea5@kjs.edu.hk
Dress Casual Day (9 June) and Recycled Dog Toy Drive (2-16 June)
The KJS Student Council recently had a visit to Catherine’s Puppies, a dog rescue shelter in Sai Kung. During this visit we met Catherine Lumsden, the founder of Catherine’s Puppies.
The Student Councillors had a chance to get up close and interact with the puppies and adult dogs. We learnt what it looks like day-to-day to run a dog rescue charity and realised what it takes to keep the shelter going.
Did you know that it costs around $100,000 per month to run Catherine’s Puppies? Sadly, half of this money goes towards vets bills for dogs that are abandoned because they are sick.
As a school, we really want to support Catherine and her shelter and this is where we need your help!
On Friday, 9th June, we will hold a Dress Casual Day to support the valuable work of Catherine’s Puppies. Students can choose to come dressed as anything inspired by dogs! For example, you could come to school dressed as a dalmatian or why not dress up as a dog toy? It’s up to you! We ask that students make a minimum donation of $20 if they wish to dress up. As always, this is completely optional.
From Friday, 2nd June to Friday, 16th June we will also host a recycled dog toy drive. Please send in long socks and old balls (around a tennis ball size) for our school community to make toys for dogs in need!
Your support is greatly appreciated.
Return your Library books
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
I hope your children have enjoyed borrowing books home. As we approach the end of the school year, we kindly ask that all library books are returned to the library by Friday, June 16th.
To see what books your child has on their account, please click here to access Orbit. Please click on the top right hand corner to login in and use your splat login (without the @kjs.hk) and use the password kjs1234.
Students can continue to enjoy reading books online through Wheelers, our digital library. EPIC is also available during school hours and should you wish to read it outside that time, a subscription is required. This is optional for families to join. Of course, you can always go on to our KJS Virtual Library for some Fun and Useful Links for more ebook options.
If you are in Hong Kong this summer, we ask that you take the time to apply for a Hong Kong Public Library (HKPL) card for your children. You can apply in person at any of the branches or you can apply online for your child. This will allow them access to online books and databases which will be taught during the school year. This will especially be important for upcoming Year 6 students.
If you have any questions on the above, please contact Ms. Lau at macy.lau@kjs.edu.hk.
Kind regards,
KJS Library Team
Join us in celebrating student creativity at our upcoming ESF Art Exhibition 2023 (7-11 June)
Beautiful sunrises, imaginative self-portraits and a six-metre-long rainbow-bright collage – these are just some of the amazing student creations featured in our upcoming ESF Art Exhibition 2023, which takes place at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre from June 7 – 11. Across ESF, our students have been truly inspired by this year’s art theme, which is Reimagining: New Beginnings.
In response to this thought-provoking topic, our talented children have created an outstanding collection of artworks spanning painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, and mixed media.
Please do join us for this wonderful celebration of creativity. The venue address is Exhibition Gallery, Level 4, Hong Kong Cultural Centre in Tsim Sha Tsui. The exhibition runs from June 7 until 11 (6pm – 8pm on 7 June; 9am until 8pm from 8 – 10 June and 9am until 6pm on 11 June).
News from the PTA
Hello KJS Community,
Congratulations to Dr Jamie Schmitz!
The KJS Community is delighted to congratulate Dr Jamie Schmitz on his new appointment as Principal of Beacon Hill School. Dr Schmitz has provided valuable leadership and steered this school and its community members through two very challenging years with steady guidance, in depth connections and stable support to this point, where finally, the school is getting back to its full strength. We commend him for his dedication to the school and we are sure that Beacon Hill School will benefit greatly from his leadership and experience. Please add your good wishes to ours when you see him next around the school site!
Welcoming New Year 1 Families
As you all know, Friday 2 June was the ESF wide Transition Day where all the children got to meet their new teachers and classmates. We also welcomed the new Year 1 parents and caregivers in school and gave out free Dr Kong backpacks to the soon-to-be students.
For the first time in a brand new format, the families joined the children over a range of activities and got to experience first hand the classrooms, the Library, PE, Music and Mandarin lessons and then received their complimentary school bags. It was a big success and masterful timetabling! Well done to the SLT and especially Mrs Dawn Doucette.
KJS FB Community Group
Do make sure that you join the new FB Community Group by clicking on this link.
It’s the best place to keep ahead of all the happenings at KJS and share what your children are up to with others in the community. We actively encourage everyone to strengthen our ties by connecting on this closed group page that is only for our KJS Community.
Have a good week ahead,
The KJS PTA Team
ESF Sports & Language – Summer Camp
3 July to 25 August, 2023
Looking for a fun and educational summer camp experience for your child? Find the ideal summer camp program for your child’s interests and needs at ESF Sports & Language! We understand that every child is unique, which is why we offer a wide range of summer camp options to suit all interests and schedules.
With a variety of options to choose from, including playgroups, sports, language, arts, STEM workshops, and online courses, there’s something for every child at ESF Sports & Language. Our experienced educators provide a safe and supportive environment for kids of all ages to develop their skills and enjoy a summer of fun and learning. This year’s highlight is the Eager Explorers Expedition, a four-week English programme (weekly basis enrolment available) that takes students on exciting quests to different areas of discovery.
Our Full Day Camps are a popular choice for students ages 5 to10 years, featuring multi-disciplinary class activities in the morning to strengthen language efficiency or develop STEM skills , followed by a multi-sports class in the afternoon.
For those looking to focus on sports, we offer our signature multi-sports and Up to 13 single sports camps, including swimming, football, basketball, tennis, gymnastics, lacrosse, tag rugby, krav maga, netball, hockey, fencing and outdoor adventure camps. These options are perfect for developing children’s sporting skills through play, developmental games, and game-based sports.
Spaces are limited. Sign your child up for an ESF Sports & Language summer camp today and give them a summer they’ll never forget!
Online Coding courses available!
Full Day Camps (King George V School, Kowloon): HERE
Half Day Camps Course Listing (Kowloon): HERE
Hotline: 2711 1280
Email: info@esf.org.hk
Student Success
Dear parents,
Thank you for sharing your child’s achievements with us over the past year. As the school principal, I am always delighted to hear about the accomplishments and growth of our students. We appreciate your enthusiasm in wanting to share these achievements with our school community.
In recent times, as we continue to adapt to the post-pandemic context, our focus has shifted back to the original purpose of our school’s social media channels. Our goal is to use these platforms to strengthen the school community by highlighting the many events, activities, and collaborative projects that involve our students, staff, and families. Through this approach, we aim to foster a sense of unity and celebrate the collective accomplishments of our school community.
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.
Kind regards,
Dr. Jamie Schmitz
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.
