Upcoming Dates

Click to download the 2022-23 Hillside Calendar. You can also access the school calendar via the ESF App.

14-15 March: School Photo Days 

17, 24 March: Vision Screening 

21, 23 March: K2 Tai Tam Excursion

28 March: Parent Webinar: Parenting using Emotional Coaching

31 March: Staff Meeting Day (School Closed)

3-14 April: Spring Break (School Closed)

17 April: Term 3 Commences

17-21 April:  K2 Beach Clean up (Details to follow)

9 May: Parent Webinar - Why Sleep Matters

2 June: K2 to Y1 Transition Day

12-15 June: Save-the-date for K2 Celebration of Learning

 

Principal's Message

Dear Hillside Families

It was lovely to see so many smiling faces at the beach event last Friday. Thank you for coming out to support us, and we hope you enjoyed the opportunity to connect with the community. It has been wonderful to see and hear the laughter, chatter and sounds of children enjoying their learning with their friends and teachers mask-free! 

It has been valuable to connect with our parent community and get some helpful feedback on working together to enhance the children's experience. Please take a look at an upcoming Parent Workshop on supporting children's emotional needs. 

Warm regards
Audrey

Emotional Regulation and Behaviour Management (Parent Webinar)

Many parents have shared that they would like to understand more about supporting children's emotional regulation and helping children resolve conflicts. 

For young children, identifying emotions and using self-regulation strategies is just hard. Young children feel their emotions before they know what they mean. Understanding how the child feels when they are upset or having trouble regulating is an important step when responding to children's behaviour.

From time to time, different things can affect your child's ability to self-regulate. For example, tiredness, illness and changes to your child's routine can all affect your child's ability to regulate their reactions and behaviour.

As your child grows, self-regulation helps them:

• learn at school – because self-regulation gives your child the ability to sit and listen in the classroom
• behave in socially acceptable ways – because self-regulation gives your child the ability to control impulses
• make friends – because self-regulation gives your child the ability to take turns in games and conversation, share toys, and express emotions in appropriate ways
• become more independent – because self-regulation gives your child the ability to make appropriate decisions about behaviour and learn how to behave in new situations with less guidance from you.

(Reference: Raising Children Network)

To better understand your child's emotions and improve your child's emotional regulation, please join this upcoming parent workshop.

Title: Parenting using Emotional Coaching (如何運用 "情緒教練" 育兒方法) 

Audience: Parents of 2 to 5-year-old children

Speaker: Dr. Helen Ko, Registered Clinical Psychologist (and an ESF parent)

Organised by: Childpsy Assessment & Learning

Language: English (Powerpoint in Chinese and English)

Date: 28 Mar 2023 (Tue)

Time: 1:30-2:30pm (Online)

To Register: WhatsApp: [Web Link]

Developing Pre-Reading Skills

There were some parent questions about developing early literacy skills. Please take a look at this short video we've put together with some tips and tricks on developing pre-reading skills and what you can do at home.

[Web Link]

School Photos (14-15 March)

We have scheduled Peter Inglis, a professional photographer, to come on 14-15 March to take photos of children in school. We have worked with Peter in the past, and he has been fantastic with the children. Peter has a selection of puppets and tricks and lots of patience to make the children smile. The children are now developing their confidence and personalities; I’m sure there will be many fun sessions throughout the day. 

Four classes are scheduled for each day:

Tuesday, 14 March - All K1s

Wednesday, 15 March - All K2s

Please note each child will have their face mask off for their individual photoshoot, and for their whole class photo. Please inform your child’s class teacher in advance if you DO NOT wish for your child to participate in the photoshoot. 

 

Vision Screening (17, 24 March)

Hillside has arranged for an optometrist to visit our school for Vision Screening. This important screening is available to all children and we encourage you to register. Optometrist Suzan Salnikow will visit on Friday, 17 and Friday, 24 March 2023. The deadline to sign up is on Tuesday, 14 March. Suzan runs a children’s and baby’s optometry clinic at The Matilda International Hospital. The fee is $300.

Ten aspects of vision are screened, please see the attached information sheet. Reports and receipts will be distributed after the screening, together with further advice if needed. 

Registration is via this Eventbrite link [Web Link]