Glenealy School Newsletter
10th October 2018
Message from Brenda
Dear Parents, Caregivers and Students,
Three-Way Conferences
Thanks for coming to the three-way conferences this week to find out about your child’s learning and to become more aware of their strengths and targets for continuous development. It’s hard to believe that we have nearly reached half term already!
Support the HK Community Chest and Dress Casual this Friday 12th October.
This year the Community Chest have themed their dress casual day ‘WEAR I AM!’ This is a chance for your child to wear something which they really like to school on Friday and give a donation to charity at the same time. All funds raised by the Community Chest go to over 160 member social welfare agencies without any deduction of administration expenses.
Book week - Themed ‘Languages Matter’
This morning you will have received a separate newsletter from the Library Team and in this publication is all the information you need to know about Book Week. This popular celebration takes place during the week after the mid-term break. This will culminate in the annual Book Character Parade. Please start thinking about your child’s costume over the holidays. The PTA will be adding to the festivities by providing refreshments for adults during the parade which will take place in the playground on Friday 26th October from 8.40 am. Please read the Library Newsletter to find out all of the details.
PTA School Fair - Secondary school volunteers
We are looking for ex-Glenealy school students who would like to volunteer to help with our school Fair.
When: The evening of Friday 23rd November.
Every year we welcome back many students for this occasion and they have a wonderful time and we really appreciate their help. If your secondary student would like to help out please fill in this form.
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
Our SEL assembly last week focused again on the difference between Tattling and Telling. It’s important that children understand the difference. Please talk these ideas through with your child to help them deepen their understanding.
Sometimes students tattle:
to get someone in trouble
about a small problem they can handle on their own
about something they know was an accident
about something that is harmless
about something that is unimportant
about something that is nothing to do with them
Students should tell (report) when it is:
about unexpected behaviour that is being done on purpose
about a big problem that you need help from an adult to solve
about something that is harmful to you or to others
about something that is important
to keep others safe
See you after the mid-term break!
Kind regards
Brenda
Dates for your Diary
Friday 12th October
Dress Casual Day and donate money for The Community Chest
Monday 15th October
Mid-Term holiday
Monday 22nd October
School resumes
Wednesday 24th-Friday 26th October
Mini Book Week
Friday 26th October
Character Dress Up Day and Parade- 8:40 am Lower Playground
Monday 12th November
Vision Screening
Friday 23rd November
PTA School Fair- 5:00 pm - 8:30 pm Lower Playground
Monday 26th November
Year 1 and Year 6 Immunisations
Friday 30th November
Sports Day
PTA News
The Fair is coming!
The PTA Committee has already started planning for our annual School Fair on Friday 23rd November. This wonderful community event is a highlight of the school calendar, featuring performances by all year groups, delicious international cuisine, some great shopping with our external vendors and lots of fun games for the kids.
If you’re planning a clear out over the half-term holidays, remember that we will be collecting for our second-hand book stall and last year’s very popular ‘Spin and Win’ game will be returning. Start collecting jars and things to fill them, click here for inspiration and ideas! We will also be collecting new or nearly-new toys, games and puzzles in good condition – gently loved items only please. We will advise collection dates and times in the newsletter – watch this space!
The PTA also welcomes donation of new items – toys, shoes, clothing or accessories – to sell at the Fair. If you have contacts in import/export or know someone wanting to move quality samples, please get in touch with Becky by email to pta@glenealy.net.
Bingo Prizes
We still have a number of prizes that have not been claimed from the Bingo evening. Please contact Becky at pta@glenealy.net if you won a prize on the night and are yet to receive your tickets.
Top Tech Tips
Roblox
Roblox is a very popular online game which advertises itself as a platform where you can create games and play with a worldwide community. Over half of our current Year 4's report having an account, which they use to play mainly with their friends.
Some concerns that parents need to be aware of if your child is playing Roblox:
Commonsense media recommends Roblox for 10 year and over. The Apple store recommends it for children over 12.
Anyone can sign-up and misrepresent their age. Ensure that your child is using an "Under 13" account as there are some safeguards in place. There are no measures in place to ensure that adults are not posing as children.
Very few children create their own games, so they are mostly using the platform to be consumers of media.
Many of the games have scary themes or violence.
Inappropriate language is blocked but users can get around these, however unkind language is not blocked.
You can make friend requests to anyone. We put in a request for five random friends (not Glenealy children) and four of them accepted the request. There are parental controls which should prevent friend requests and it is worth making yourself familiar with these and review them regularly.
While looking into Roblox, we found many blog posts, including those written recently, suggesting that parental controls are not sufficient and that it is not a platform for younger children to explore. It is also noted that as changes are made to the program, parents may encounter new difficulties. Although families can choose the platforms to use at home, we cannot recommend Roblox as safe.
Quarry Bay School Workshop- URSTRONG
Dear Parents/Carers,
Quarry Bay School is pleased to announce that they will be hosting URSTRONG, an internationally recognized Social Emotional Wellbeing program, on Thursday 25th October.
The aim of URSTRONG is to empower children with the skills, language and self-confidence to be better friends and develop healthier relationships. To learn more about URSTRONG and their programmes please watch this short video which describes the impact of URSTRONG on children and parents around the globe.
URSTRONG will be holding two Language of Friendship workshops on Thursday, 25th October at Quarry Bay School. The workshops have been designed for parents/carers to attend with their children.
Parents can register via the attached electronic advertisement/poster:
-Language of Friendship Jr. (Years 1 and 2 plus parents) from 4.30pm to 6.00pm
-Language of Friendship (Years 3 to 6 plus parents) from 6.30pm to 8.00pm
If you have any questions or queries regarding this event then could you please contact URSTRONG directly using the following email address: megan@urstrong.com
We look forward to welcoming you at one of the workshops.
Kind Regards,
Quarry Bay School.
Ms Mina DUNSTAN
Principal
Quarry Bay School (Hong Kong)
Ph: +852 2566-4242
6th Annual Terry Fox Run 2018
The Terry Fox Run Hong Kong is coming soon on Saturday 3rd November and this year will be held at ESF Renaissance College.
The Terry Fox Run Hong Kong aims to continue Terry Fox’s “Marathon of Hope” and keep his aspiration of a cancer-free world alive. Since its Hong Kong debut in 2013, the Terry Fox Run has become one of the key charity events in Hong Kong.
All proceeds from the event will go towards supporting cure-oriented, biomedical cancer research in Hong Kong.
For more details visit: http://www.terryfox.org/hongkong/
Year 1 and Year 7 Admissions
Year 1 Central Application period for children born in 2014 has now closed. Please click here for Year 1 key dates for the next steps.
For Year 6 students, the submission of the Year 7 secondary transfer application on Gateway has now closed.
For further details, parents should refer to the information available on the ESF website at http://www.esf.edu.hk/year6-to-year7-key-dates/ for key dates and http://www.esf.edu.hk/esf-zones for school zones.
Please note, ESF reserves the right to redirect students based on majority of transferring cohorts in primary school should there be overcapacity at any of the secondary schools.
Year 7 offer letters will be sent to parents from the respective secondary schools on Friday 30th November 2018 and the Year 7 deposit payment deadline to secure their secondary school place is Friday 14th December 2018.
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 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
ESF/Glenealy Calendar for 2018/19
Please refer closely to this calendar for any important events, (e.g . booking your holidays) for the next academic year.
Extra Curricular Activities Term 1 2018-19
Disclaimer Notice: Glenealy School does not endorse or represent the accuracy, truthfulness or reliability of these advertisements placed by outside agencies.
- ESF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES - Soccer
2711 1280
- BANANA ART CLUB (Art)
Michelle - 6020 5476
- FOUNDATION ACADEMY (Film Makers)
Namrata Bindra -3107 8810
namrata.bindra@foundationge.com
- Creative Dance
TUESDAY
- ESF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES - Sports Clubs & Tennis
2711 1280
Website: http://www.esf.org.hk/index.asp
- Brownies
Penny Donowho - 9181 7318
- CHESS CLUB
Yin Ping Ho 2884 1420 / 9215 2682
- CENTER STAGE STUDIOS (Musical Theatre)
Imogen Taylor - 5236 7960
admin@centrestagestudioshk.com
WEDNESDAY
- ESF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES - Basketball
2711 1280
website: http://www.esf.org.hk/index.asp
- CENTER STAGE STUDIOS (Drama)
Imogen Taylor - 5236 7960
admin@centrestagestudioshk.com
- THE CLASSROOM BY MG (Litteracy)
Mary Godridge - 9103 4378
THURSDAY
- ESF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES - Tennis
2711 1280
Website: http://www.esf.org.hk/index.asp
- APPDEV-X (Coding)
Joey Ngai -
- ACTIVE KIDS (Stormy Chefs)
Elsie - 3480 4199
FRIDAY
- ESF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES - Tennis & Gymnastics
2711 1280
Website: http://www.esf.org.hk/index.asp
- MOK'S TAEKWONDO SELF-DEFENCE (Tae Kwon Do)
Charles Mok - 9494 7636
- ACTIVE KIDS (Science Adventures)
Elsie - 3480 4199
- BRILLIANT LEARNING (Sanskrit)
Geetnajali Dhar - 9830 0612
geetanjali@sanskritiglobal.org
SATURDAY
- ESF EDUCATIONAL SERVICES - Tennis & Gymnastics
2711 1280
Website: http://www.esf.org.hk/index.asp
- READ FOR MEANING (Reading)
Mary Barker - 2523 0062 / 9401 4559