Newsletter- 31/05/23
Kowloon Junior School’s latest newsletter is available to read now.
Dates for Your Diary
2 June Student Transition Day
22 June Dragon Boat Festival
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 this message finds you well. We have a busy and exciting week ahead at KJS, and I am thrilled to share some important updates with you.
KJS Transition Day – Friday, June 2
This Friday is our highly anticipated KJS Transition Day. We have many exciting events planned to ensure a smooth experience for all students:
– Incoming Y1 students from kindergartens will have an enhanced experience, including time in sessions with family members and teachers (classroom and specialist).
– Y6 students will spend half a day at KGV learning about their exciting secondary adventure ahead.
– Current Y1-Y5 students will spend the morning with their new teachers where possible.
We are delighted to welcome a number of new teachers, starting in August, who will be on-site to meet students. Rest assured, we have carefully mixed students into their new classes, considering factors such as friendship groups.
PYP Exhibition Update
Our Y6 students are working diligently on their PYP Exhibition projects. They are finding creative ways to present their research and take action to make a difference in the world. With a couple more weeks before sharing their learning with the KJS and wider community, we are confident they will amaze, persuade, provoke thinking, and provide a memorable experience for all.
PYP Programme of Inquiry Review
We believe it is essential for our families to understand the processes we undergo to provide the best learning and teaching experience for our students. The Programme of Inquiry (POI) review is a significant and challenging process at KJS. Our teams identify strengths and thoroughly evaluate aspects of the Units of Inquiry across the whole school to tweak, revise, reimagine, and possibly replace some units. This process also serves as valuable professional development for our staff.
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to an exciting week ahead at KJS. Together, we can make a difference.
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.
Parent workshop – “How Sensory Integration can enhanced Children’s Attention” – CANTONESE (31 May)
ChildPsy is organising a free online webinar for Chinese parents who may be interested to learn more about the topic “How Sensory Integration can enhance Children’s Attention.”
This workshop is catered to Cantonese-speaking parents and teachers.
Organizer: ChildPsy Assessment & Learning
Topic: How Sensory Integration can enhance Children’s Attention
Date: 31 May 2023 (Wed)
Time: 7:30-8:30 pm
Format: Online (Zoom)
Speaker: Ms. Kristan, Senior Occupational Therapist
Language: Cantonese (Powerpoint in English and Chinese)
Audience: Parents of 3 to 9-year-old children and teachers
Please contact us through WhatsApp if you are interested: https://wa.me/57281002
Join the virtual audience for ESF’s largest inter-school Esports Tournament (4 June)
I am pleased to share the exciting news that ESF is staging its largest inter-school Esports Tournament on Saturday 3 June (secondary teams) and Sunday 4 June (upper primary teams). This incredible event will see 25 student teams from across 18 of our primary and secondary schools come together to demonstrate their skills using this year’s chosen computer game – Minecraft. Minecraft was selected by our teachers and students, who are big fans of the game, which encourages players to collaborate creatively and problem-solve while tackling building challenges and immersing themselves in imaginative adventure-style puzzles. The tournament will be live-streamed on the ESF Facebook page so please join us in watching and supporting our talented students with encouraging comments and Likes.
The 13th Annual Hong Kong TCA Scholastic Championship 2023 (4 June)
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.
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,
We hope everyone is staying cool in this summer weather. With just one more month to go till the holidays, we are sure many families are making travel and activity plans.
But there is still a lot happening here at KJS before that! Our Year 6 students will be leaving us shortly for the next stages of their lives, and new kindergarten children will be getting very excited to be starting “Big School”.
Friday is the ESFC wide Transition Day and we will be welcoming the new families on site and supporting the school leadership team in the process.
And as you will have read in the Principal’s message, there will be a Dress Casual Day on 9 June to collect for the Student Council’s charity, Catherine’s Puppies.
We also have a surprise for the Year 6 students, watch this space! We will be sharing more information about that in a future Newsletter.
In the meantime, we welcome all KJS Community members to visit and enjoy the newly renovated PTA Office to chat and relax with a cup of coffee or even chai! Please just email Rekha on pta@kjs.edu.hk to arrange it.
We look forward to connecting with you soon!
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.
