Glenealy School Newsletter
23rd January 2020
Kung Hei Fat Choi!
Message from Chris
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Kung Hei Fat Choi!
What a fabulous time we have had today in our Chinese New Year celebrations. I want to thank the community for being part of such a wonderful event and congratulate all of our performers for their fabulous efforts! I would also like to thank our dedicated Chinese team who helped children prepare for the various performances, while also ensuring Chinese culture is celebrated within our curriculum and community. It is once again a pleasure to be part of such a wonderful community.
Taking Action - Australian Bushfires
This week has seen plenty of community spirit. On Friday last week, children and parents raised $14,345 to be sent to the WWF and Red Cross Australian bushfire relief funds. As part of this process we also raised awareness of the various challenges faced by communities affected in Australia. I want to thank the children involved in helping to organise and promote the fundraising efforts on Friday - it was a very successful day.
Year 5 Bake Sale
I would also like to thank the Year 5 parents who created and organised a very successful Bake Sale on Friday - with children and families enjoying the many treats on offer. The Year 5 parents raised just under $13,000 in a little over half an hour of selling - a wonderful achievement. All money raised by parents in these sales goes to the PTA who will then allocate funds to real projects that support our children in school. The next big event will be the School Fair on the 21st February - which we are all looking forward to with great anticipation.
Sports Day
I am delighted to confirm that our rescheduled Sports Day has been confirmed for Monday 23rd March. Please mark this in your diaries. We are also very pleased to announce that it will be held at the Hong Kong Football Club. More details will follow, but we are very excited about bringing our Sports Day to Hong Kong island. Mr Pattison, who delivered an exceptional House Competition Day back in November, is working hard on the logistics in this new venue - we will share more information closer to the time.
Education Bureau $2,500 Grant
Many parents have asked about the EDB Grant Application - you can find more details about this a little further down in the Newsletter. If you are yet to apply for this grant, our office team stand ready to assist should you have any questions about the process.
Farewell to Site Staff Team member - Edmund Ho
Edmund Ho, a member of our excellent site team, will be retiring at the end of January. Edmund has been with Glenealy since 2017 and has done a great job as a member of our hard working and dedicated team. I want to take this opportunity to thank Edmund for all he has done for Glenealy, and wish him well in the future.
Wuhan Virus and Flu
I am sure you are aware of the current situation with regard to the confirmed cases of a coronavirus emerging from the Chinese city of Wuhan. As a school and foundation we are currently monitoring the situation and have prepared further actions. This has included ensuring thorough cleaning practices are used throughout the school.
To help us be prepared for and to monitor any potential cases of this and other flu or respiratory illnesses, please check your child’s temperature in the morning prior to school. If your child has a fever and/or if your child is showing any flu like symptoms, please do not send them to school. In addition, If your child is absent for any reason, please inform the school so we can maintain accurate records.
Feel free to contact us if you have any further questions with regard to this.
Finally, I would like to wish you all a hearty ‘Kung Hei Fat Choi’ along with a successful and prosperous Year of the Rat. I hope all our families have a good break and we look forward to seeing you all back at school on Monday 3rd February.
Best Regards,
Chris
Dates for your Diary
Friday 24th - Friday 31st January (inclusive)
Mid term break
Monday 3rd February
School resumes after Mid term break
Monday 10th February
Tetrapaks collection - Playground 8:00 am - 8:30 am
Deadline for submitting EDB Grant Forms to school
Wednesday 12th February
Understanding ISA and INCAS Assessment Data Workshop
(Years 3-6)
Friday 21st February
School Fair 5:30 - 8:00 pm
Thursday 5th March
Student Led Conferences 3:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Friday 6th March
Student Led Conferences all day- school closed for lessons
PTA News
Games Galore, International Food Court, Bar, Silent Auction, Entertainment, Shopping
What happens at the Fair?
Games - Our children love the games stalls and this year we’ll be welcoming some exciting new games including:
Soak the Teacher
Giant Twister
Nerf gun target shooting
Glenealy Spa
Remote control car racing
Water or wine (adults only) - think adult lucky dip
And much much more!
Bar – Our Endless Summer themed Bar will be serving soft drinks, wine and beer. It’s the place to be! As in previous years our bar is kindly sponsored by Swire, who donate all of the soft drinks in support of Glenealy School.
Silent Auction - This years silent auction sees the return of much loved favorites such as “Principal for The Day” and “Movie Night” in the Library alongside new offerings including “Be a Pop Star” and the opportunity to bring your toys to life in their very own movie.
Shopping – We have a great line-up of vendors and stalls this year offering a quality range of products for children and grownups. For high quality, great value kitchenware look no further than the homeware stall. At the new Pre-loved Accessories Stall, you can refresh your look for a fraction of store-bought prices – re-use, recycle, and embrace that ‘Shabby Chic’.
Entertainment - Mr Benzie has been working with our children who will provide entertainment on the evening of the Fair. Each Year Group will perform a number of songs.
Year 1 - 5.30 pm
Year 2 - 5.45 pm
Year 3 - 6.00 pm
Year 4 - 6.15 pm
Year 5 - 6.30 pm
Year 6 - 6.45 pm
Senior Choir - 7:00 pm
Orchestra - 7.15 pm
All donations can be left at the Glenealy Money Sales Stand in the playground the mornings and afternoons the week of the Fair.
Volunteer – we need help to set-up and run the games and stalls on the night of the Fair. Please sign up using the Google Form here. Even if you completed the volunteers form for the Fair in November we ask that you please complete this new form. Given diary commitments we are aware that those that signed up previously may not be available on 21st February.
Volunteer your teenager – if you have older students at home, we’d love to have them come and help out on our games stalls. Please sign up using the Google Form here.
Year 5 Fundraiser
Education Bureau Subsidy for all students
ESF has now come up with an arrangement with the Education Bureau so that ESF parents will be able to make an application for the subsidy. Parents should follow the steps below:
1. Starting from Monday, 20 January, you may log in to Gateway, where you will find the Student Grant Application Form.
2. Download and print out the Form which is already pre-printed with the child’s details, with the ESF stamp.
3. Check if all student details are correct, then complete the rest of the form.
4. Remember to sign, and submit the completed form to your child’s school by Monday, 10 February (DO NOT send it to ESF Centre or the Education Bureau).
For those of you who may have already completed and handed in a form, this pre-printed form containing the ESF chop supersedes any previous form, so please re-submit.
If you have any enquiries, please contact our school office at 2522-1919.
Parents as Partners 2019/20
We would like to thank parents for their survey suggestions for our Parents as Partners events this year. We may add to this programme over the year, but wanted to share the initial schedule with parents at this time.
Details of timings, and registration for each workshop, will be announced closer to each event.
Understanding ISA and INCAS Assessment Data Workshop (Years 3-6)
Workshop
Wednesday 12th February 2020
Inquiry at Glenealy
Parent Circle
Date change of 4th March - new date to be confirmed.
Social Emotional Learning at Glenealy-Building Resilience
Workshop
Wednesday 29th April 2020
Understanding the Teaching of Language at Glenealy
Parent Circle
Term 3 - Date To be confirmed
Important Reminder
Has your child's visa status changed?
As a reminder, all children attending an ESF school need the appropriate and valid visa status to do so. Please inform the school if your child's visa status changes. For more information, you may refer to the Immigration section on the ESF website.
Useful School Forms
Medical Authorisation Form - required should your child need to take medication whilst at school, on a school trip or camp