Newsletter- 08/11/24
Kowloon Junior School’s latest newsletter is available to read now.
Dates for Your Diary
14 November Students Seasonal Influenza Vaccination
21 November 3-Way Conferences (3-6pm)
22 November 3-Way Conferences (all day, no school for students)
29 November CPD Day-School Closed
3-6 December Y6 Camp
10 December Y1 & Y2 Athletics Day (9:30am- 12:30pm*)
11 December Y3 & Y4 Athletics Day (Y3 9:30-11am, Y4 12-2pm*) *times are approximate
12 December Y5 & Y6 Athletics Day (Y5 Y3 9:30-11am, Y6 12-2pm*) *times are approximate
13 December Last Day of Term (school ends at 12:00)
6 January First Day of Term 2
Principal’s Message
Dear KJS families,
We hope this newsletter finds you well. It is always a pleasure to connect with you and share the wonderful happenings at our KJS.
Thank you to all the parents who attended the Year 4 Art Exhibition on Wednesday morning. The fantastic art, photography, and sculptures on display showcased our children’s creativity, and I was impressed by how articulate and proud they were to share their learning. A special thanks to the Year 4 team for their hard work in organizing this wonderful event.
A huge congratulations to our three football teams who participated in the tournament at TKO yesterday. The girls and boys teams represented our school with incredible effort and determination. Additionally, we had teams attend Kowloon School’s netball tournament at Fa Hui Park on Tuesday morning, where they demonstrated outstanding teamwork and sportsmanship. Well done to all our athletes for their dedication and hard work.
Netball Team
Football Team
Also this week, we had the pleasure of hosting a fantastic theatre group “Faust’ that performed for our Year 1 students. It is so important to plan these engaging activities as part of their learning experience, and the excitement in the room was palpable!
We were delighted to see so many smiling faces as our children had their class and individual photos taken this week. The whole school photo was a bit more of an event, requiring careful organization with over 1,000 people involved!
We’ve noticed a number of students coming to school with Apple watches (or similar) . Please be reminded that students must keep these in their bags at all times when on site.
As always we are grateful for your continued support and involvement in our school community.
Mr Gavin MacGregor
Principal
Message from School Nurse (SIV on 14 Nov)
Please kindly be reminded that a vaccination team from the clinic appointed by the Department of Health will visit KJS to administer the Seasonal Influenza Vaccination (SIV) to consented Year 1 to 6 students on Thursday 14th November 2024.
Library News – Year 6 Library Monitors Ready for Action!
We are thrilled to announce that our Year 6 Library Monitors have officially begun their duties in the library!
Last week, our new “Decorating” Team worked tirelessly to adorn the library with vibrant Diwali and Halloween themes. The transformation is stunning, creating a captivating space filled with suggested reading materials. Be on the lookout for our upcoming Christmas decorations!
Our dedicated library monitors play a crucial role in supporting our daily library operations, assisting with shelving books and keeping everything organized.
A highlight of the week for many of our Year 1 and 2 students was the launch of Lunchplay Storytime, beautifully read by our Year 6 Library Monitors. Just look at the fantastic turnout during the first few days!
Stay tuned for more exciting news next week as we welcome our new Year 4 and 5 library monitors!
Three-Way Conference
The sessions with classroom teachers are 15 minutes in length with appointments available on Thursday 21st November between 3pm and 6pm and on Friday 22nd November between 8am-3pm.
School will be closed for all students on Friday 22nd November
You can sign up via your gateway login, looking for ‘Three-Way Conferences.’
2SQ and 3AN will not hold their conferences on these dates. In order for their new teachers to build relationships and knowledge of the children in their class these will take place on the 16th and 17th January. We will share the booking arrangements for these on Monday 6th January.
2GH will have their meetings on the evening of Wednesday 20th November, instead of Thursday 21st. The meetings on Friday 22nd remain unchanged.
Bookings open at the following times:
Parents with siblings and Y1: Monday 11th November at 5pm
All other parents: Tuesday 12th November at 5pm
Bookings will close at 12pm on Sunday 17th November
Year 1 parents note:
For our year 1 families there is an option to meet with your child’s Chinese teacher as well as your child’s classroom teacher.
Please refer to here for details.
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,
Another busy week has flown past with the successful completion of our important AGM last Wednesday 6 November.
Our dynamic Chair, Mrs Anna Rayton, has stepped down after 6 years of dedicated service to the PTA and we take this opportunity on behalf of the whole school to say a huge “Thank You!” for her tireless work, time and dedication given to the school and all the stakeholders.
The new Committee for 2024-25 was duly constituted and the members are:
Wacky Wednesday 13 Nov 2024
To support student mental wellbeing in our school and in honour of World Kindness Day, the PTA is happy to organise this special day.
Children will come to school in their own uniforms but can wear mismatched socks and funny hats.
Choose two socks that don’t match in colour, pattern, or style and let your children proudly wear them throughout the day.
Let them wear unique and unusual hats to make each other laugh and promote mental wellbeing, as well as being kind to each other. Use the day as an opportunity to educate each other about the importance of embracing diversity and promoting inclusion.
Engage in conversations with your children about the value of being unique and how it contributes to a richer and more vibrant society.
We suggest a donation of $20 per child which will be collected and donated to SENsational Foundation, an organisation working with young people with special employment needs. Sealed collection boxes will be placed in each shared area and all funds will be given to SENsational Foundation for their ongoing work.
Winter Festival 29 Nov 2024
Only three weeks to go to the festive celebration event here at KJS!
But we still need volunteers to make this event a success….
Volunteers will receive complimentary entry, but spots are limited. Don’t miss out – sign up now and be part of the excitement! Please sign up on this Google Form for specific time slots and booth assignments. Check in on the day of the event at the separate “Volunteers check in” line, complimentary entry will be given there.
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.
