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

9-13 October: K1 Parent-Teacher Conferences

16-20 October: K2 Parent-Teacher Conferences

23-27 October: Mid-term Break (No School)

30 October: ESF-wide CPD (No School)

31 October: Dress Casual Day

1 & 2 Nov: K1 Discovery Dome

Dear Hillside Families

We hope all our families were safe and dry during the unexpected typhoon. Our campus survived with minor water damage from the black rain, but otherwise, all intact. As the season changes, we are approaching the flu season as we welcome the cooler weather. We want to thank you for your cooperation and support in staying vigilant and keeping our community safe. Please continue to keep unwell children at home to rest before it manifests into a full-on URTI, as the CHP continues to be prudent about influenza-like illnesses.

Warm regards
Audrey

After the October term break, K1 children will be tuning into their next unit of inquiry “Sharing the Planet”. In continuing to develop their learner profile attribute of being open-minded to scientific concepts and new perspectives, we have invited Discovery Dome to bring their mobile planetarium to Hillside! Each class with be experiencing the dome together with their teachers and making new discoveries together.

1 Nov - Frog & Monkey class
2 Nov - Dolphin & Panda class

We are so excited about this upcoming incursion, and we are certain it will be a positive learning experience for everyone!

Monday, 30 October, will be an ESF-wide Continuous Professional Development (CPD) day. All Hillside staff (Teaching and Educational Assistants) will be involved in this full day of training, focusing on enhancing our curriculum knowledge, specifically looking at the Early Years in the Primary Years Programme (PYP).   

The upcoming IB evaluation visit is a significant milestone in our journey, and we want to ensure that we are thoroughly equipped to showcase our practices in early childhood education, focusing on inquiry-based learning and developmentally appropriate practice through play. 

Dress-up days are a great opportunity to express ourselves, so we would like to invite all the children to join us for a Dress-up Day (not necessarily Halloween-related) on 31 October. Children can come to school on this day dressed as a character that they enjoy. Costumes do not need to be elaborate or detailed – just something fun (and safe) for the children to wear. The children will be enjoying some fun and games within their own class. However, due to health and safety (with allergies) and sustainability reasons, please do not send any goodie bags, sweets or treats.

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:

• For parents who applied for the grant last year (returning K2 families), EDB will issue a Hillside-specific form (Form B). Please refer to the App message on Monday for distribution details. 
• 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.

Once the form is completed and signed, submit the original copy of the completed form to Hillside by Friday, 20 October 2023. If you are returning the completed form via your child's school bag, please send a message to let us know, as it can easily be missed.

Parent Handbook
Inclement Weather Arrangements
School Uniform