Dear Parents,

Thank you for your continued support and cooperation as we approach the 2.00pm dismissal. I understand that the unexpected change of school schedule has not been the news any of us hoped to hear. Should there be any EDB approved opportunity to resume the 3.00pm school finish without the designated canteen model, I will act immediately and inform you. 

Across the school this week the students have been positively engaged in their lessons. Next week will be my seventh week at Kennedy School and I continue to be so impressed by the learning attitudes and routines across the school. The staff work very skillfully to ensure students are working at their potential, active learners and progress their learning in all lessons. I am considering a way of taking parents on a virtual ‘walk with me’ classroom tour so that you might have the opportunity to enjoy some aspects of daily school life at Kennedy. Please watch the newsletter for details about a chance to ‘walk with me’ after the half term break.

School Gate

The school gate will open at 7.50am to accommodate the 8.15am start and arrival of school buses. Please be aware that after the half term break the school gate will close at 8.15am daily so that learning begins promptly across the school. All students (including walkers) are expected to arrive at school on time for their lessons. Students arriving late (i.e., after 8.15am) will be required to register at Reception and will be marked late in the class register. Thank you in advance for your understanding as we maximise learning time for your child.

Best Wishes Mrs Beedham (1B) and Mrs Evans (2E)

Next week we will say farewell to Mrs Amy Beedham and Mrs Danielle Evans as both teachers are expecting their babies in the near future. Everyone wishes Mrs Beedham and Mrs Evans the best of luck in the weeks ahead.

After half term we will welcome Mr Corrie Kruger (1B) and Miss Jenny Wong (2E) who will teach the students in these classes for the remainder of the year.

It was fun to finish the week with a free dress Maths day - there were some creative efforts to celebrate mathematics on display today. Enjoy the long weekend.

Regards,
Mina Dunstan
Principal

• 1 Oct - Public Holiday - National Day

• 4 Oct onwards - new school schedule begins (8.15 am - 2.00 pm).    Staff led after school activities begin from 2.15 pm. (Please collect your children promptly after the activities.)

• 5 Oct - Online Parent Consultations

• 7 Oct - Online Parent Consultations

• 8 Oct -  Gateway registration close for Year 6 Parent Consultations with Chinese teachers (12 noon)

• 11 Oct - 15 Oct - Mid term break

• 18 Oct - Year 6 Parent Consultations with Chinese teachers via Zoom

• 25 - 29 Oct - School Photographs 

• 1 Nov - Year 6 DTaP/IPV Immunisation

• 8 Nov - Year 1 DTaP/IPV Immunisation

1  HK Student Grant 2021/22

The Hong Kong Education Bureau (EDB) announced the new Student Grant Scheme for 2021/22. The government's Student Grant Scheme applies to every student attending a Secondary, Primary, or Kindergarten school in Hong Kong, making them eligible for a HK$2,500 grant payment. This scheme also applies to ESF and all of our schools. 

For details, please refer to the App message which was sent out today, 30 September from Kennedy School.

2  Admissions

The Central Application period for children born in 2017 (for entry to Year 1 in August 2022) will be from 1 to 30 September 2021.  

Applications can be submitted online via the ESF website at https://www.esf.edu.hk/application-form/.  

Please note that siblings of students already attending an ESF school will also need to submit their applications during the central application period. (https://www.esf.edu.hk/year1-key-dates/ for Key Dates)

3  Parent volunteers for snack time supervision at Stanley Ho Sports Centre

Children from Year 4 and Year 6 have the opportunity to go across to Stanley Ho Sports Centre during their first snack time from 4 Oct this term.  This has proved to be hugely popular with the children. To enable us to supervise the children we need some volunteer parents who are willing to come across with us one or more days a week.  The time commitment is 10.30 am to 11.15 am each day.  If we get 2 or 3 mums/dads who can commit to a day each week that would be fabulous. For the safety of the children, we will request that parent helpers must have completed 2 doses of Covid-19 vaccination at least 14 days prior to volunteering at the school.  Please fill in the Google Form here if you are able to help and your help is much appreciated. Thank you.

 

Thank you to everyone who took part in Maths week.  We have had a huge response both in school and at home to all of the activities set.  We hope you have had fun attempting the array of challenges and have recognised that Maths truly is all around us.

Click here for a link to the ongoing competition slides. The closing date for the daily individual medley is Sunday 3 October at 8.00 pm and all entries for the specialist competitions must be handed in by 12 noon on Monday 4 October.

Tetrapak collection

Thanks for sending in all of these tetrapaks ready for recycling. We are currently one of the top schools in HK for tetra recycling. This happens every Monday before school starts. The students worked very hard to check, weigh and sort all packs every Monday. 

Latest totals:
Lions - 14.5kg
Phoenix - 8.78kg
Dragons - 12.15kg
Unicorns - 12.1kg

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Swimming Schedule for the next week.

This will be the final week of swimming for this term.

Kennedy School Boot Upcycling Programme

My thanks to everyone who has contributed their football boots and training shoes for upcycling to be used with the Pass it Back initiative with Laos Rugby. The Redbox upcycling bin outside of reception was filled in less than a fortnight and the shoes have already been collected for redistribution.

This is an ongoing initiative, so please continue to send in any football boots and training shoes for upcycling.

When you see children playing barefoot it makes you appreciate how much of a difference this initiative is making in terms of providing children the opportunity to play rugby as well as preventing injuries - Friends of Laos Rugby Video

For further information on the Pass it Back Foundation please click HERE.

Girls Football Club Opportunities

Spaces remain in the Girls Football Club. This club is open to students from Years 4 to 6.

This is the final opportunity for new registrations. Please check the school Gateway system for further information. 

School Uniforms

Second Hand Items - As we await delivery of the new Kennedy Shirts and Blouses we are looking for any really good quality donations of the items below. Please only donate items you would want to buy yourself - no rips, stains and missing buttons!

Boys School Shirt - Sizes : 11 / 11.5 / 12 / 12.5 / 13

Girls School Blouses - Sizes 32 / 34

Girls Summer Dresses - Sizes 26 / 28 / 30 / 32 / 36

For other items please try to contact members of your child's peers, people in your building as for now we cannot house too much more!
 

Christmas Card Competition

Hot off the press - the annual Kennedy School Christmas card competition is back - click on the link to read all about it ….

Christmas Card Competition

Music opportunities and clubs

As part of the extensive and diverse Music and performing Arts programme here at Kennedy School, we would like to offer you the opportunity for your child to learn a musical instrument on a one to one or small group basis.

Instrumental tuition helps students in numerous ways. Here is a link you may wish to explore. http://musiced.about.com/od/beginnersguide/a/pinst.htm

If you would like to start lessons you should contact the teachers directly.

The lessons are FEE PAYING and will take place within snack time or directly after school. Fees depend on the group size and the teachers. Some lessons can be delivered in different languages.

If you would like more details, contact the tutors.

Chinese Clubs