Click to download the 2023-24 Hillside Calendar. You can also access the school calendar via the ESF App.

13 September: Parent Forum: Engagement and Parent Involvement (Rescheduled)

15 September: Parent Webinar: Hillside's Chinese Programme (Rescheduled)

20 September: Intro to PYP (Details below)

Dear Hillside Families

We hope this newsletter finds you and your families safe and well amidst the recent weather challenges that have marked the beginning of this school year. 

It has undoubtedly been an unusual start, with a severe typhoon and a record-breaking black rainstorm testing our resilience. We are grateful to report that our campus has emerged relatively unscathed, with only minor damages. Despite these disruptions, we are pleased to share that our children have displayed remarkable adaptability, settling into their routines and embracing their new learning experiences enthusiastically. Together, we have "weathered the storm," and let's look forward to a successful school year ahead.

Warm regards
Audrey
 

The ESF Admissions Team has prepared some information for our current ESF K2 parents to complete the Y1 transfer form to process your child's Y1 position at an ESF primary school.

Please click on the links below to access the information:

K2-Y1 Transfer Application Process Video

K2 to Y1 Presentation Slides

FAQs for K2-Y1 Allocation

We strongly encourage all parents to view the video before they submit their Y1 transfer form on Gateway. DO NOT apply via central Admissions. The deadline to submit the form on Gateway is Friday, 15 September 2023.

Currently, Y6 to Y7 transition follows the "associated secondary school" model. Please click here for more information on transition to secondary schools. 

If you have any further questions, please contact ESF Primary Admissions Team at primary.admissions@esfcentre.edu.hk

The Hong Kong Education Bureau (EDB) announced the new Student Grant Scheme. 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 applies to ESF and all of our schools. Click here to see the information from the Education Bureau (EDB). 

By way of highlighting, here are the procedures:

• ESF Schools and Kindergartens are NOT included in the e-submission channel (using the "iAM Smart +" App); therefore, paper application forms are still required for our parents this year. 
• For parents who applied for the grant last year (returning K2 families), EDB will issue a Hillside-specific form (Form B), and we will distribute these to parents once they arrive.
• For parents applying for the first time, or if your child has just joined our school this academic year (K1 families or any brand new K2 families) - Please download the blank EDB form here (Form A) and print it out.

We will be in touch again once we have a timeline for the distribution and collection of the forms in October. The deadline for submission is in November.

Volunteers have a significant role to play in any school setting. They bring expertise, enthusiasm and fresh faces to the programme. 

At Hillside, we welcome all of the children’s ‘important adults/carers’ to join our parent participation opportunities (i.e. parents, grandparents, helpers). These participation opportunities could include:

• Parent Experts 
• Open Play Visitors
• Mystery Readers/ Storytellers
• Shared Learning Days
• Special Festival Helpers
• Excursion/ Incursion Helpers

We will be introducing these various opportunities throughout the term. If you would like to become a parent volunteer, please CLICK HERE to read this important Parent Volunteer Guidance and login to ESF Gateway to complete all relevant declaration forms. 

What is the PYP? (especially for K1 families and anyone new to the PYP) 

Wednesday, 20 Sept, 2023 @2pm

In the session, PYP Coordinators across all ESF kindergartens will talk about "What is the PYP?" and what does it look like in the early years? Join us to learn more about our curriculum!

Zoom link: [Web Link] 

Password: 666918

RESCHEDULED DATE: Friday, 15 September, 1pm

What does learning Chinese as an additional language look like in the early years? Join our Chinese Team for a Q&A session on what Chinese Learning looks like here at Hillside and how you can support connections between your child's learning at school and home.

Zoom link: [Web Link]

We are delighted to invite parents to participate and support the children's learning of Mid Autumn's festival by signing up to volunteer for 2 Open Play stations (mooncake making & lantern making). This is a wonderful opportunity for you to actively engage with your child's school community and contribute to the festivities. We have allocated several spots for each class on their Chinese day, and we want to emphasise that this is just the beginning of our collaborative efforts. Throughout the year, there will be numerous occasions for parent participation, be it in classrooms or outside school community events. Sign up here to volunteer for Mid Autumn's Festival activities, and ensure you've read the parent volunteer guide and completed the ESF Child Protection Declaration on Gateway.

K1 parents, we want to give the children a bit more time to settle before inviting in parent volunteers, as we still have a few children who miss their parents. Thank you for your understanding and patience on this.  

Toileting accidents are part of the learning process and are to be expected. Children may sometimes be so interested in something that they forget about going to the bathroom until it is too late. These toileting accidents can happen with K1 and K2 children. Children who have learned to use the toilet may feel embarrassed if they wet their pants. Children who are toilet training might get upset because of an accident or setback. In both cases, please reassure your child that it's ok and there's no need to worry.

In general, toileting accidents are handled casually, and we would give the child a calm, matter-of-fact response. We would ask parents and other caregivers at home to do the same, as we've had some children worried about bringing home "wet clothing."

We are prepared for toileting accidents and wetness during this phase- please ensure spare clothes and underwear are in your child's school bag to facilitate us changing as needed. Please note that we will not return any badly soiled underwear as per CHP guidance. 

Thank you for your support and cooperation in building toileting independence at home.

Parent Handbook
Inclement Weather Arrangements
School Uniform