Glenealy School Newsletter
29th August 2018
Message from Brenda
Dear Parents, Caregivers and Students,
Meet the Teacher Evening
Thanks for attending the class-based and strategic information sessions last week. Feedback indicates that these were both interesting and informative. If you were unable to attend or would like to go back to refresh yourself with parts of the presentation, please click on this link which will take you to the Parents as Partners section of the Glenealy Globe. You will find the password in your child’s diary.
Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
You will have heard about the enhanced SEL programme for students and the weekly assemblies that are taking place to address key aspects of the programme. This week’s theme is empathy. We began by showing the students this video which demonstrates what empathy is. We defined empathy in this way: Empathy is when you are able to understand and care about how someone else is feeling.
There are a number of adult resources on this site to learn more about how to develop empathy in children and teens.
We certainly are a small school with a BIG heart!
On Monday we held a dress casual day to support the Shiu family. The response was both overwhelmingly positive and extremely generous. We raised a phenomenal $70,000 to donate to the family. The numbers are being added at the other participating schools and it is expected that we will reach $200K. I spoke to Jennifer (the Mum) last night and she and the family are so touched by the community support, the positive spirit and love, shared with their family. She commented that that knowing we are alongside them makes them feel stronger, more determined and gives them high hopes! She thanks all of you immensely from the bottom of their hearts. What an amazing community we have! Thank you!
PTA events
Thanks to the PTA for hosting the delightful coffee morning on Tuesday. Remember to also get your BINGO tickets - it’s always a fun night! More details and the booking form maybe found in the PTA section of this Newsletter.
School Counsellor - Erin Donahue
Each Tuesday, beginning 4th September 2018, Erin will work at school to provide counselling for students. If you feel your child would benefit from school-based counselling, please make contact with the classroom teacher, Jennine Harding or one of the Senior Management Team who will be able to organise this for you. For further information about Erin, please click here.
Workshops for Parents held at Glenealy School
Technology - Take back control of your child’s tablet or phone! Attend the workshop this Thursday 30th August and bring these devices with you. Be guided as to how to make these devices safer for your child. This will be a hands-on, informative workshop. Please click here to register for this and other technology evenings.
Island School Information Evening- to assist with arrangements, please Click here to RSVP.
For further information on this evening, please refer to the detailed description in last week’s newsletter
Kind regards
Brenda
Dates for your Diary
Thursday 30th August
Creating a Safer Internet Environment Information evening - adults only 6:30 - 8:00 pm
(Details and registration below)
Thursday 6th September
Deadline for all Vision Screening and Immunisation forms to be returned
(Please see details below from the Medical Room)
PTA Family Bingo Night 5:00 pm -7:00 pm in The Centre
Monday 10th September
Deadline to return Dental Service forms
(Please see details below from the Medical Room)
Thursday 13th September
Island School Information Evening for parents 6:00 pm -7:15 pm in The Centre
Monday 17th September
Glenealy Vision Screening
Thursday 20th September
Y1 and Y6 Immunisations
Monday 24th September
CPD Day - No students in school
Tuesday 25th September
Public Holiday- The day following Mid Autumn Festival
Thursday 27th September
PTA AGM (More details to follow)
Friday 31st September
Raising Happy and Resilient Young People Workshop
Monday 1st October
Public Holiday- National Day
Tuesday 2nd October
Happy Valley Sports Programme (Y4 - Y6) starts this week
Thursday 4th October
Creating a Safer Internet Environment Information evening - adults only 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
(Details and registration below)
Tuesday 9th October (pm) and Thursday 11th October (pm)
Three Way Student Conferences
Monday 15th October
Mid-Term holiday
Monday 22nd October
School resumes
PTA News
Family Bingo Night
The PTA are hosting the ever popular Family Bingo Night in The Centre on Thursday 6th September from 5:00 pm -7:00 p.m. Places are limited and tickets must be pre-booked. Tickets are $90 each which includes 1 slice of pizza. To get your tickets, please fill out the Google Form here. Tickets cannot be issued until payment is received. Additional pizza and refreshments will be sold at the event.
Send your cheque (payable to Glenealy School PTA Ltd.) to school in your child’s diary or leave it in the PTA tray in the school office. All payments must be clearly labelled with child's name and class.
We are also looking for volunteers to help on the night and to donate baked goods for sale.
Eureka Socks
ESF Glenealy is partnering with Eureka Bamboo Socks, a local garment company working with socially responsible manufacturing partners, to offer ESF students, parents and faculty members high quality, healthy and extra-soft Bamboo-based school socks.
In addition, Eureka Bamboo Socks shares ESF's vision of helping our community: Thanks to your purchase, a pair of socks will be donated to a charity of our choice.
Get the DISCOUNT CODE from your school's PTA in order to enjoy a 15% discount on your order (to use at checkout).
Year 6 Fundraiser
Year 6 will be kick starting this school years fundraisers with a bake sale on Friday 14th September. More details to follow in next week's newsletter.
Looking to get involved? Opportunities in the new school year
One of the things that makes Glenealy such a special school is its sense of community. There are many ways in which you can contribute. Why not become a Class Parent next term, join the PTA or help at one of the many events and fundraisers held over the course of the year? We welcome all new ideas and thoughts. Please contact Becky at pta@glenealy.net if you are interested in hearing more.
If you have any questions or need more information about any aspect of school uniform please email Becky at pta@glenealy.net.
Year 1 and Year 7 Admissions
Year 1 Central Application period for children born in 2014 commences on 1st September and closes on 30th September 2018. Please click here for Year 1 key dates.
For Year 6 students, the submission of the Year 7 secondary transfer application on Gateway commences on Monday 3rd September and closes on Friday 14th September 2018.
Allocation for secondary schools will be determined by residential zone at the start of Year 6.
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.
News from the Medical room
Student Health Service and Dental Care
This is an optional service provided by the Hong Kong Government.
Forms will be sent to out today via the children and the deadline to return them is Monday 10th September.
Please note that there is a $30 charge for this service.
Payment by cheque should be made out to "Glenealy School."
If paying by cash, can we kindly ask for notes only, no coins (for administrative purposes), thank you.
Glenealy School Vision Screening
Will take place on Monday 17th September with Suzan Salnikow
Please click here for the flyer.
Interested parents may print out the form and return it along with their cheque to the class teacher if you wish to enrol for this service. The deadline for enrolment is Thursday 6th September.
Year 1 and Year 6 Immunisations
The Department of Health Immunisation Team will visit the school on Thursday 20th September.
Forms must be returned completed (either by consent or refusal) along with their immunisation records to their class teacher by Thursday 6th September.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the school nurse on
Nut Free Zone Reminder
Please be reminded that Glenealy is a Nut Free Zone and sometimes less obvious sources (like Nutella) are being sent to school. We kindly ask all parents to be mindful about this, as many children may have quite severe reactions to any nuts or nut products, thank you.
Glenealy students (and many Glenealy parents) are part of a group referred to as ‘Digital Natives’, people who grew up with technology all around them. There was a popular belief that because of their constant immersion in all things technological, that they are hardwired to just be successful with technology. However, recent research suggests that Digital Natives do not have innate skills or naturally use technology in any more meaningful ways than older generations. This is why at Glenealy School, time is dedicated to ensuring that our students use technology purposefully and not simply to consume media.
As HK weather continues to be rainy over the next few weeks, we will make suggestions about different apps that you can explore with your child to help unleash their creativity
Garageband on ipad and iphone or Magix Music Maker Jam for Android devices create music in seconds. There are many interesting songs online that you can listen to. Help sheets for getting started with Garageband are here and here. These helpsheets were uploaded to the Times Educational Supplement by the user iamsomewhere
Raising Happy and Resilient Young People
This is a fantastic opportunity for parents to hear from one of the worlds experts on adolescent well being. Suitable for parents of Year 5 and above or those who want to prepare early.
For those interested, more information on Dr. Michael Carr-Gregg can be found here.
Parents can sign up using the following links below.
The cost would be $200 per person and the deadline to register is Friday 31st August.
The dates, venues and the links for sign up for these talks are:
Renaissance College Monday 3rd September 6.30 pm -8:00 pm http://bit.ly/ESF_Parents03
West Island School Tuesday 4th September 6.30 pm -8:00 pm http://bit.ly/ESF_Parents04
Assessing Wellbeing in Education
As part of an ESF wide initiative we will be gathering data through an online questionnaire about student wellbeing. This is a very brief survey which will take no more than 8 minutes of class time and will be carried out over the next couple of weeks with all students from years 4 - 6. The purpose of the survey is to measure and track the wellbeing of our school community as well as a temperature check on the well-being of students across the ESF. At Glenealy it will also be helpful as an additional data point to support the future development of our Social and Emotional Learning Programme (SEL). As we are mainly looking at trends we do not anticipate feeding back the results of this survey to parents on an individual basis. If however any concerns are raised through the survey then of course we would follow up on a case by case basis.
If you would like further information about AWE, please refer to the website here or feel free to contact me directly psangster@glenealy.edu.hk
Kind regards
Phil Sangster
Vice Principal
Glenealy Brownie Pack
The Glenealy Brownie Pack has places for girls in Y3 and Y4 starting this term. The Brownies meet from 3:00 to 4:30 on Tuesdays at Glenealy School. Brownies is run by volunteers so our fee for each term is $400 or less.
We offer a varied programme that aims to equip the girls with the knowledge and skills to become more independent and develop character. They learn in a fun, non-formal way by having a go and doing a wide range of activities that may include sewing, first aid, crafts, personal care, safety etc. Brownies is structured to give the girls opportunities to develop teamwork and leadership skills. The highlight of each year is an overnight camp in dormitories where they can put the skills they have learnt into practice.
Our pack belongs to the Hong Kong Girl Guide Association and is part of the Worldwide Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. If you would like your daughter to join the Brownie Pack, please complete the application form and email it to pennykennington@hotmail.com
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.