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September 27, 2005

 

Dear Parents,

 

The big news on Friday was election results.  Students campaigned, gave speeches, and went through the democratic process of running for Student Council.  I commend and congratulate all students who demonstrated the courage to step forward and participate in this process.  Our Student Council is sometimes the first active experience students have with democracy and the issues that come with it. Our thanks to parents who supported their candidates and helped them through elections.

 

We finished up our Beads for Needs service project on Friday, collecting $4,588.40 for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.  With bracelets costing $5 or 3 for $10, this is an extraordinary contribution of our students towards a good cause.  We'd like to thank the parent volunteers, especially Mrs. Angkana Jetton, who coordinated and supported our efforts as well as Margaret Carpenter, who spearheaded the project.

 

We begin our PFO parent coffees this morning with third grade.  These mornings are an opportunity for us as a school to share information about some big picture initiatives on which we are working, answer some questions parents may have, and provide some social time for parents and teachers to get to know each other better.  We thank the PFO for hosting these events.

 

Grade Five P.E. night had a record crowd last week of nearly 70 participants and they had great fun.  It's fourth grade's turn this week on Wednesday night.  Please take advantage of this evening of active participation of both parents and students.  You'll learn first hand why Physical Education is such a popular class!

 

Please remember that Friday is a half-day this week.  Classes will be dismissed at 11:30am and buses will leave at 11:40am.  Faculty in Upper Primary will be working on many projects.  Classroom teachers will be scoring student writing using 6 + 1 rubrics.  This will give us a good idea of writing levels in the fall and what areas in which students need to improve during the year.

 

Wishing you a good week,

 

Dr. Bruce Kelsh, Principal

 



Announcements


Student Council Elections
Congratulations to our newly elected Student Council:
 
Representative
Alternate
3A1 Lukas Dong Deanna Taylor
3A2 Katerina Biniaris Colin Eschweiler
3A3 Andrew Dai Tik Kwun Chan
3B1 Emma Gammons Robert (Dallas) Haskins
3B2 Alec Dunivant Armaan Grewal
3B3 Hannah Quinlan Nicole Beck
6A1 Carla Achcar Nicholas Chong
6A2 Isabel Chun Emily Van Kirk
6A3 Grace Shi Brendan Mallery
6B1 Edward Abraham Carleen Wenner
6B2 Thomas Kim Onno Ho
6B3 Daniel James Isabelle Rowland
4A1 Jangho Ro Diego Blandon
4A2 Maggie Ryan Nathalie Brick
4A3 Leah Mathew Jayne Beselt
4B1 Jacqueline Yung Ben Gavlik
4B2 Ellie MacQueen Jonas Lim
4B3 Jackson Neagli Justin Tan
5A1 Isabelle Ng Brittany Brassard
5A2 Christopher Yeung Sharon Lau
5A3 Jessica Tan Kristofer Siy
5B1 Julia Graves Harry Matheson
5B2 Cassia Patel Brendan Hung
5B3 Abigail Van Buren Charlie Shin
5C1 Jonathan Tan Cameron Regan
5C2 Abby King Zackary MacQueen
5C3 Curtis Chiu Felice Chan
 
Note from the Health Office
The Repulse Bay Health Offices are open from 7:00am through 4:00pm Monday through Friday.  The Upper Primary Health Office is open from 7:00am through 3:15pm.  The Lower Primary nurse, Maggie Heaton, provides coverage for UP students from 3:15-4:00pm.  Mrs. Heaton's office is located on the ground floor of Lower Primary opposite the gymnasium.
 
Our school nurses provide a safe and friendly place where the students can go with confidence if they are sick, injured or unhappy.  First aid and assistance will be provided to students who become ill at school and arrangements made for the student to be sent home if necessary.
 
In addition, our nurses promote a healthy lifestyle to students and also work with teachers in this regard.
 
Listed below are a few health reminders:
  1. If your child has a fever, it is best to keep him/her home for 24 hours after the temperature has returned to normal.  In this way children can recover properly from the infection and there is less likelihood of passing the infection on to others.
  2. Please let us know immediately if your child catches head lice, and keep them home from school.  Before your child returns to class, please stop by the nurse's office so that she can ensure your child is free of nits (lice eggs).  This will help prevent the spread of lice to other students.
  3. If your child develops a new condition during the course of the year, please remember to inform the nurse.  It will help her to better care for your child if she is aware of all your child's health conditions.
  4. We have a number of students with allergies to peanuts, walnuts and cashew nuts. These allergies can often be severe and effects can be life threatening.  Therefore, we ask that parents be mindful when sending food (lunch and/or snacks) into school and avoid these nut products and by-products when possible.  The left hand side of the cafeteria has been designated a "Peanut Free Zone" and no peanuts, peanut butter, walnuts, cashews or nut by-products are allowed in this area.  We appreciate your support in helping to create a safer environment for these children.
Please click here to read an article about healthy snacks!
 
If you have any health concerns for your child, please contact Shannon Hilliard at shilliard@hkis.edu.hk or by phone at 2812-5333.  She is always more than happy to hear from you.
 
Everyday Math Components
Interested parents may still purchase Everyday Math Student reference books, math card decks and calculators.  A reminder that these items are being made available to parents but are optional and not required.  Please return the form and payment to your child's home room teacher if you wish to purchase any of these items.  If you did not receive the letter or order form and would like one, please contact Alison Buxton by email or phone at 2812-5365.
 
UP Parent Conferences
Upper Primary Parent Conferences with homeroom and Chinese Studies teachers will be held on Thursday, October 20 and Friday, October 21 between 7:30am to 4:00pm.  Each conference for the homeroom teachers will be 20 minutes and with the Chinese Studies teachers for 15 minutes.  Should you wish to meet with your child's P.E., Music, Art or Student Services teacher, please contact them directly to arrange an appointment.  Their contact details will be shown on the "Specialist" page of the website.
 
Electronic scheduling of conferences will start on Wednesday, October 12th at 9:00am and you should go to the Dragonnet homepage at http://dragonnet.hkis.edu.hk/ to look for the Parent Conferences link to sign up.   Please note that you will be unable to schedule any conferences prior to this time.  Lower Primary will also have conference scheduling at the same time.
 
The online sign-up will end on Tuesday, October 18th at 9:00am.  If you have not signed up by that date, please contact your child's teachers directly to schedule a conference.
 
If you do not have internet access, please feel free to use the UP Library computers to schedule your conferences.  If you have any questions, please email Virginia Field or contact her by phone at 2812-5364.
 


Events


Grade 4 P.E. Parent Night
The Grade 4 Physical Education Parent Night will be held on Wednesday, September 28th in the Upper Primary Gym from 7:00-8:00pm.  This is an excellent opportunity for students and parents to share in a fun filled evening.  Come prepared to participate and learn more about the physical education curriculum.  Don't miss this opportunity to see what physical education is all about at HKIS!
 
Upcoming Parent PE Night dates:
October 18th - Grade 3/4 PE Night
November 10th - Grade 3 PE Night
 
Mark your calendars so you don't miss your child's night!
 
Upper Primary Parent Coffee Mornings
The Parent Coffee Mornings are being held this week.  Please RSVP to the PFO hostess for your child's respective grade.  These events start at 8:15am and conclude around 9:15am.  Please also let your hostess know if you would like to raise a topic for discussion.
 
Grade 4      Sept. 27; Hostess Jenya Hayhoe
Grade 3/4   Sept. 28; Hostess Shirley Tan
Grade 5      Sept. 29; Hostess Claryss Jamieson
 
We thank the PFO for graciously hosting these events.
 
Outdoor Education Camp Parent Meetings
Please turn in your child's permission slip if you haven't already done so.  Also, a reminder of parent camp meeting dates:
 
Grade 3:  Monday, October 3rd at 3:00-4:00pm in the 3B cluster area (room 503) with parent volunteers meeting afterwards from 4:00-4:30pm.
 
Grade 3/4:  Monday, October 17th at 3:15-4:30pm in the Church of All Nations.
 
Grade 4:  Monday, October 17th  at 3:00-4:00pm in the 4B cluster area (room 703).
 
Grade 5 - Friday, October 14th at 8:00-9:00am in the Church of All Nations.
 
Upper Primary Calendar
Upper Primary events are available to parents via our online calendar.  Click here to view the calendar or go to the Upper Primary Home Page and select "Online Calendar".

 

Events This Week


Tues, Sept 27

Gr 4 Parent Coffee Morning

8:15-9:15am

6/F Faculty Lounge

 

Wed, Sept 28

Gr 3/4 Parent Coffee Morning

8:15-9:15am

6/F Faculty Lounge

 

Gr 4 P.E. Parent Night

7:00-8:00pm

1/F Gymnasium

 

Thurs, Sept 29

Gr 5 Parent Coffee Morning

8:15-9:15am

6/F Faculty Lounge

 

Fri, Sept 30

Half Day for Students

11:30am Dismissal

 

11:40am Buses Depart

 


Events Next Week


Mon, Oct 3

Gr 3 Parent Camp Meeting

3:00-4:00pm

Gr 3 Cluster Area (5/F)

 

Fri, Oct 7

School Holiday

NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS


Principal


Bruce Kelsh
2812-5303
bkelsh@hkis.edu.hk



Associate Principal


Gary Woodford
2812-5302
garyw@hkis.edu.hk



Associate Principal


JohnEric Advento
2812-5382
jadvento@hkis.edu.hk



Support Staff


Joy Okazaki
2812-5303
jokazaki@hkis.edu.hk



Alison Buxton
2812-5365
abuxton@hkis.edu.hk


Ginny Field
2812-5373
vfield@hkis.edu.hk


Remy Kaur
2812-5304
rkaur@hkis.edu.hk



EMERGENCY CONTACTS


GENERAL
Until 4:00pm
2812-5304

Until 5:00pm
2812-5000

BUS SITUATIONS
School Hours: 
Kenny Chu 2812-5419

After school until 6pm: 
Kenny Chu 6086-1143




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