Island School PTA Newsletter
January 2013
Message from Co-chairs
Happy New Year and welcome back! We do hope you all managed to recharge your batteries, either during the Christmas break or afterwards.
We would also like to extend a warm welcome to the new families who have joined Island School this term.
We have a busy six months ahead of us starting with recruitment of a new PTA Administration and Liaison Officer. Currently, we are advertising in the South China Morning Post as well as on the School and PTA websites. An email was also sent out to the parent community at the start of the year. We will keep you posted with any further developments.
In the meantime, we are looking for a temporary administrator, so please drop us a line on pta@online.island.edu.hk, if you are interested in helping out for a few weeks.
We are very excited about the upcoming Spring Fair and the annual Raffle Draw that will be held on the 12th of April. Please mark that date down in your diaries. We already have a few amazing prizes for the Raffle and would welcome more support from any members of our community who are in a position to donate prizes, especially electronic goods and hotel accommodation.
For more information, please scroll down to view the sponsorship letter which explains how the proceeds benefit not only your child’s education at Island School but also enables us to grant scholarship funds to local secondary students who are in financial need and who would not otherwise be able to continue with their sixth-form education.
On a different note, we would like to inform you that ‘Lost Property’ is located in Block 5 (main playground) outside the Medical Room. Please ask your children to look for their items there and not outside the PTA office.
Once again, thank you for all your support and we look forward to working with you in the coming months.
Amani Sue and Toni Flynn
SAVE THE DATE
Year 10 Coffee Morning - January 29 (details below)
Year 9 Lunch - January 30 (details below)
Spring Fair/cultural evening - April 12 (details below)
Year 11 and Year 12 Coffee Mornings
Thanks for joining us!
The Year 11 coffee morning took place on November 13 at the Helena May. Mr Binge and Mrs Dewick shared their experiences and provided guidance on option choices and revising and preparing for exams.
The Year 12 Coffee Morning took place on December 13 at The Helena May. Mr Daniel Trump, Mrs Belinda Halcrow and Mrs Rebecca Lucas-Timpany shared their experiences and discussed the senior school process, predicted grades and higher education.
Upcoming Spring Fair/Cultural Evening
We now have our Spring Cultural Evening to look forward to when, once again, we will be looking for Raffle Draw prizes.
Over the past few years, the Raffle Draw has been a major fund raiser with all proceeds going to the ISPTA and the Nicola Myers & Kenneth McBride Memorial Fund (“the Fund”). The Fund was established in 1985 in memory of two very special Island School students who tragically lost their lives that year.
The aim of the Fund is to assist local Hong Kong secondary school students in continuing their education by granting scholarship funds to help defray the cost of books, travel, uniforms etc. The scholarship funds are awarded to students who are in genuine financial need and without which would not be able to continue with their sixth-form education.
Last year, the ISPTA was able to provide scholarship awards, through the Fund, to almost 100 students from schools throughout Hong Kong.
We already have some wonderful donations including: Cathy Pacific business class tickets to Tokyo, Island Shangri-la dinner vouchers and a case of wine.
We would be so grateful if you could let us know if anyone is able to donate prizes such as: hotel accommodation, electronic goods, spa vouchers, and, if so, would they kindly be in touch with PTA at pta@online.island.edu.hk
Year 11 Lunch Event
Year 11 Lunch at Giando Italian Restaurant
Join us for glass of Prosecco and an Italian Lunch.
Come and hear what we have planned for the Year 11 parents on the night of our children’s Dinner Dance in April! Looking forward to seeing you there!
Please R.S.V.P by Wednesday, 16th of January by emailing Sara Russell on: sararussell320@gmail.com
Sara, Becky and Amani
See invite below.
Wednesday, Jan 23, 2013, 12:00 PM
1 Lung King Street, Fenwick Pier, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Year 10 Coffee Morning Event
Year 10 Coffee Morning for Parents at the Helena May
You are invited to attend a coffee morning for Year 10 parents at the Helena May from 8:15am - 10:15am.
Mr. Binge and Mrs. Cathryn Hopkins will also be attending and will be discussing revision skills and exams.
Please note: There will be a $50 fee to be paid on the day.
Tuesday, Jan 29, 2013, 08:15 AM
Garden Road, 35, Central, Hong Kong
Year 9 Lunch Event
Year 9 Parents Lunch
Please RSVP by January 23 to Cecilia at gwkcecilbeans@gmail.com or Winnie at winnielai830@gmail.com
See invite below.
Wednesday, Jan 30, 2013, 12:30 PM
Wyndham Street, 60, Central, Hong Kong
PTA Committee meeting minutes summary for January 7, 2013
- Environmental student group (“WANBO”) are requesting support from PTA to fund a water fountain in block 5.
- The recruitment advert for the new administrator would be run in the SCMP this weekend and next.
- Fair: April 12th is the date of the spring cultural evening (please put it in your diaries!)
- Raffle: Amani will circulate a letter which all committee members may use to request donations. All members are requested to help with this exercise.
Principal's Report
- Chris noted upcoming events including athletics finals, model UN simulation, Mike Otterton’s visit
- The new VP, Monica Gilbert-Saez has now started
- With PTA funds the school has been able to, as decided last meeting, increase counseling services for students
- Activity buses are an issue. Prices have rocketed (increasing by over 150% in 2 years). Chris floated the idea of using pre-booked taxi services as a way to reduce costs to parents. The committee agreed this could be a practical solution and it will be further investigated as an option
Treasurer's Report
- Revenue is down slightly year on year (although showing as a surplus due to payment schedule being somewhat slower)
- Revised profit arising from the fair is $115,742
ISPTA Administrator and Liaison Officer Position
For further details, please see the advert below that will appear in the SCMP.
Please send CV to: ISPTAL@gmail.com
PTA MEMBERSHIP FEES
Dear Parents,
A gentle reminder that Island School PTA fees were due last term. The fees are $550 per family.
The funds raised from the membership fees go towards supporting the school by funding equipment and other items that directly benefit our students’ education. In addition, the fees enable the PTA to run the various services for students and their families such as operating the PTA shops as well as allowing for the administration of the ISPTA office.
We aim for 100% membership each year so that we can continue to provide the level of service that our school community has come to expect from us. As community involvement is an important part of the mission of the ISPTA, we do hope that you will support us by becoming a member.
Please click the link here to download the membership form.
Amani Sue and Toni Flynn
School Uniforms
PTA uniform shop opening hours are:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday: 10:00 am - 3:30 pm
Wednesday: 10:00 am – 2:30 pm
Island School PTA - Contact us
Email: pta@online.island.edu.hk
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/online.island.edu.hk/island-school-pta/home
Location: Borrett Road, Mid-level, Hong Kong
Phone: 2140 6806
Island School PTA is the owner of the copyright in all content of this publication. Distributing, modifying, copying or using any content of this publication in any manner for public or commercial purposes without written permission from Island School is strictly prohibited. Views expressed in this publication do not necessarily represent those of Island School or the English Schools Foundation.