Dear Parents

A warm reminder of the ESF transition day for our K2 families will take place this Friday (27 May). We believe all primary schools have been in touch with their new Y1 families about induction plans. If you have not received any communication yet, please contact your ESF Primary school as soon as possible.

Classes and buses at Hillside will run as per usual for those who are able to attend.

Familiarisation will occur on-site at the primary school for a short time during the day, with parents accompanying their K2 child to the primary school. A warm reminder: All visiting parents must confirm a negative RAT test ahead of entry to the school and sign in at the school using the Leave Home Safe App.

Kind regards

ESF Hillside Team

Dear Parents

I am writing to let you know that starting from the next academic year, I will be undertaking a dual-principal role as Interim Principal for Tung Chung Kindergarten whilst continuing as Principal of Hillside Kindergarten.

I am honoured to accept the request to undertake this position, and I believe this interim arrangement will strengthen the early years experience in the kindergartens. It will also provide opportunities for collaboration to enhance learning and teaching.

We will work to ensure all is in place for Hillside to be well prepared for the year ahead. Our existing Senior Leadership Team (SLT) will remain to ensure consistency. Our Vice Principal / Student Support Coordinator, Laura Bousfield, and PYP Coordinator, Brenda Yuen, are well-known within the Hillside community. I have every confidence in our SLT and staff to maintain the standards of learning, teaching and well-being provision for our children. 

Being part of the founding team, Hillside will always have a special place in my heart. It is my absolute privilege to be the principal of this wonderful kindergarten. At the same time, the dual-principal role is an exciting opportunity for early years development, and I look forward to bringing new synergy to both communities. 

Thank you again for your unwavering support, and please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

Kind regards
Audrey

Principal - ESF Hillside

Confirmation of School Place and Advance Fees for 2022/23

Dear Parents

As we approach the end of the school year, we are writing to let you know the procedure to confirm your child’s place for 2022/23. If you will be withdrawing your child and have submitted the Withdrawal Notice to your school, please ignore this letter.

Every year, parents need to reserve a school place for their child for the following year by making an advance payment of September’s fees as a surety.

Advance Payment

The advance fees for K2 students in the next academic year 2022/23 are HK$7,700. These advance fees will be used to offset the tuition fees for September 2022. If there is a revision of fees in the next academic year, the difference will be payable in September 2022.

Please note that your child’s school place will not be confirmed if we do not receive your advance fees before the payment due date or if there are any outstanding tuition fees on the account without prior arrangement at the beginning of the next academic year.

Settlement

The advance payment will be debited from your designated bank account on 1 August 2022. Please ensure that there are sufficient funds in the account.

If you have not set up the direct debit authorisation yet, please complete the Direct Debit Authorisation Form and send it back to ESF Centre, G.P.O. Box 11284, Hong Kong by 1 June 2022 as it may take up to six weeks for the bank to process the direct debit.

If your monthly tuition fees are being settled by your employer directly, please make the payment by cheque on or before 15 July 2022:

1. Click here to download and complete the cheque payment slip;
2. Send the cheque payment slip together with a crossed cheque made payable to “ESF Educational Services Ltd” to “G.P.O. Box 11284, Hong Kong” on or before 15 July 2022. Post-dated cheques are not accepted.

Student Withdrawals

If you are withdrawing your child at the end of this academic year, please submit the student withdrawal notice via the ESF App by 1 June 2022. Otherwise, we will assume that your child is returning after summer and parents are liable for the tuition fees for September 2022 even if the student does not return to school.

Should you have any queries regarding the above, please contact our Billing Team at billing@esfcentre.edu.hk

We would like to thank you for your cooperation on this matter, and we wish your child every success in 2022/23.

Yours sincerely

Vivian Cheung
Chief Financial Officer

Dear Parents

School Fees for the Academic Year 2022/23

ESF Hillside International Kindergarten

I would like to personally thank you for your ongoing support and commitment that makes ESF such a success. The challenges we have all faced over the last few years, have brought into sharp focus the importance of your engagement in your child’s learning. Simply put, we could not do it without you.

It has been a productive year but one that has challenged us to continuously review and adapt our practice. We can, and will do even more to ensure your children thrive, no matter what. My promise to you is that we will be relentless in our efforts to support each and every one of our students, your children, to flourish.

We are proud of ESF’s strong record of exceptional academic results but more than that, our reputation for creating a safe and nurturing environment for all. We know from your feedback that parents not only want their children to be confident and successful learners but also to be happy in school.

It is time for us to set the budget for the next academic year. The ESF Board has approved the annual budget for 2022/23 and has set the school fees for the year ahead.

In setting the budget, the Board balanced a range of considerations, including the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on our families and staff and the need to ensure ESF continues to provide a premium education service into the future.

I would want to reassure you that delivering the best quality learning experiences for your children remains our utmost priority.

The quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers and support staff. The Board is of the firm view that our success is dependent upon ESF attracting and retaining a team of high-quality teachers. The budget for 2022/23 takes into account the need for ESF to provide competitive salary levels, which have now been frozen since the start of session 2020.

I know how much you appreciate the great efforts of our teachers, and thank you for the many messages of support and gratitude recognising our work during these challenging times.

ESF operates a ‘best value model’ which ensures costs are carefully controlled and funds are used wisely. I want to assure you that our financial planning takes careful account of the need for financial prudence as well as the impact that any fee increase has on our parents.

No one wants to pay higher fees than necessary, however, the Board needs to ensure that costs are covered and that students and teachers have high quality support and resources in their classrooms.

ESF's tuition fees have been frozen since 2020 in recognition of pressures on our families. The Board has put in place additional funding for the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) and furthermore, has agreed to use over HK$30m of ESF reserves to help absorb some of the rising costs and in doing so, keep the fee increase to a minimum.

The average fee increase of 2.9% for 2022/23 across all schools is at the minimum level required to ensure we cover our costs and maintain the quality of education.

The table below outlines the range of school fees for 2022/23, subject to final approval by the Education Bureau (EDB).

Once again, I would want to personally thank you for your ongoing support and for entrusting your child’s education to ESF.

Yours sincerely

Belinda Greer
Chief Executive Officer
ESF Educational Services Ltd.

Dear Parents

School Fees for the Academic Year 2022/23

I would like to personally thank you for your ongoing support and commitment that makes ESF such a success. The challenges we have all faced over the last few years, have brought into sharp focus the importance of your engagement in your child’s learning. Simply put, we could not do it without you.

It has been a productive year but one that has challenged us to continuously review and adapt our practice. We can, and will do even more to ensure your children thrive, no matter what. My promise to you is that we will be relentless in our efforts to support each and every one of our students, your children, to flourish.

We are proud of ESF’s strong record of exceptional academic results but more than that, our reputation for creating a safe and nurturing environment for all. We know from your feedback that parents not only want their children to be confident and successful learners but also to be happy in school.

It is time for us to set the budget for the next academic year. The ESF Board has approved the annual budget for 2022/23 and has set the school fees for the year ahead.

In setting the budget, the Board balanced a range of considerations, including the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on our families and staff and the need to ensure ESF continues to provide a premium education service into the future.

I would want to reassure you that delivering the best quality learning experiences for your children remains our utmost priority.

The quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers and support staff. The Board is of the firm view that our success is dependent upon ESF attracting and retaining a team of high-quality teachers. The budget for 2022/23 takes into account the need for ESF to provide competitive salary levels, which have now been frozen since the start of session 2020.

I know how much you appreciate the great efforts of our teachers, and thank you for the many messages of support and gratitude recognising our work during these challenging times.

ESF operates a ‘best value model’ which ensures costs are carefully controlled and funds are used wisely. I want to assure you that our financial planning takes careful account of the need for financial prudence as well as the impact that any fee increase has on our parents.

No one wants to pay higher fees than necessary, however, the Board needs to ensure that costs are covered and that students and teachers have high quality support and resources in their classrooms.

ESF's tuition fees have been frozen since 2020 in recognition of pressures on our families. The Board has put in place additional funding for the Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS) and furthermore, has agreed to use over HK$30m of ESF reserves to help absorb some of the rising costs and in doing so, keep the fee increase to a minimum.

The average fee increase of 2.9% for 2022/23 across all schools is at the minimum level required to ensure we cover our costs and maintain the quality of education.

The table below outlines the range of school fees for 2022/23, subject to final approval by the Education Bureau (EDB).

Once again, I would want to personally thank you for your ongoing support and for entrusting your child’s education to ESF.

Yours sincerely

Belinda Greer
Chief Executive Officer
English Schools Foundation