Upcoming Dates

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

1 December: Bradbury Night Market 

8 December: Family Beach Picnic (Separate App Message)

11 December: School Holiday (HK District Election)

13 December: Last School Day of Term

14 December: K1 Admissions 2024/25 (No Classes)

15 December: Staff Meeting Day (No Classes)

18 December: Winter Break Commences (School Closed)

8 January: Term 2 Begins. Classes Resume

 

Principal's Message

Dear Hillside Families,

Last week, two representatives from the IB spent three days at Hillside evaluating all aspects of our programme under four key pillars: 1) Purpose, 2) Culture, 3) Learning, and 4) Environment. 

The programme evaluation is both a requirement and a service the IB Organization provides to IB World Schools. The aim is for the IB to ensure the standards and practices of the programmes are being maintained.

The Programme Standards and Practices is the foundational document used by schools and the IB to ensure fidelity and integrity in implementing its programmes in IB World Schools. 

Here's some initial verbal feedback received at the 'Exit' meeting with the IB PYP visiting team members. Anything mentioned is something we’re doing over and above the requirement.

Opening comment:

• The whole community oozes authenticity (one conceptual word to describe the school), and the leadership style is very inclusive and authentic.

Purpose:

• We value IB education, from the choice of learning environment, resources within the school, and play-based child-centred approach.
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) permeate and frame the entire school.
• Caring, responsive, and effective communication throughout our community 
• Living the learner profile, it’s in our actions and who we are

Environment:

• High level of vision and knowledge in implementing the programme. 
• Lots of time for collaborative planning to respond to the interests and needs of the children ( i.e. BMLs, increasing number of Chinese teachers).
• 1 hour of open play is reflective of what we believe and in the interests & needs of children.
• Student support - student needs and learning outcomes drive our decision-making around resources. 
• Evidence of learning all around the school.
• Social, and emotional wellbeing - have support in place both for students and staff. Values that come out are diversity, fairness, and a high level of trust. 
• Strong parent participation and support - i.e. storytellers, OP participation.

Culture:

• Policies are consistent with the school mission and support school goals. We are living those policies.

Learning:

• ATLs (learning skills)- children are actively involved in their own learning, i.e. independent inquiry, moving from one space to another.
• The way the learning is designed purposefully develops healthy relationships and caters to children’s needs and interests.
• ATTs (teaching skills)- learning engagements and strategies especiallly during open-play. It helps children become thinkers and inquirers by critically analysing their situations during play.
• Teachers are really strong in helping children collaborate. The children are highly valued in school and are a part of the planning process.
• Assessment - teachers continuously provide feedback and feedforward in a timely manner. 

At Hillside, we are proud of our ability to deliver a rich, inquiry-driven, play-based educational programme for every child. Every staff member has worked hard to implement and build the PYP at our school. However, I would like to thank Hillside's PYP Coordinator, Brenda Yuen, for providing outstanding leadership and guidance throughout all stages of our PYP implementation journey. I know you will join me in congratulating Brenda on a job well done!!!

Thank you again to our entire community for working in partnership to create a positive learning environment for the children. 

Warm regards
Audrey

Health and Safety (Influenza & Pneumonia)

We want to address the concerns raised within our school community regarding the recent pneumonia outbreak in China. The health and safety of our students are of utmost importance, and we assure you that we are taking proactive measures to prevent large-scale infections and maintain a healthy environment within our school.

Following the guidelines provided by the Centre for Health Protection (CHP), our dedicated site staff diligently cleans and disinfects frequently touched surfaces, toys, furniture, toilets, and all class areas during each session. We are committed to thorough cleaning after every session, ensuring a sanitised environment for our students. Moreover, we have installed a continuous disinfection system containing activating agents that safely eliminate pathogenic sources before and after each session, ensuring thorough disinfection and minimising the chance of infection.

We remain vigilant against the disease and emphasise the significance of personal and environmental hygiene within our school. The children are encouraged to practice good hand hygiene. By instilling these habits, we aim to minimise the risk of any potential outbreaks.

While we appreciate the efforts of those who wear face masks to protect others, it is important to consider the age and ability of our young children to manage masks appropriately and effectively. In addition, it hinders speech development as young learners struggle to imitate teachers' mouth movements when pronouncing words if they wear masks. For this reason, we have decided to send all unwell children home to rest and recover. This approach allows us to prioritise their health and prevent the spread of illnesses to teachers and classmates.

In addition to these preventive measures, we strongly encourage everyone in our school community to consider vaccination a crucial step in protecting ourselves and others against infectious diseases. Vaccinations have proven to be effective in preventing and reducing the severity of illnesses. We encourage families to consult with their medical providers and get vaccinated to strengthen our collective defence against pneumonia and other contagious diseases.

Together, we can create a safe and nurturing learning environment for our children, and that learning continues in person at school.

 

Vision Screening (26 Jan, 5, Feb, 6 Feb)

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 26 Jan, 5, 6, Feb 2023. 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]

Hillside Winter Picnic

We cordially invite all families to join us at our Hillside Winter Picnic on Friday, 8 December. It will be an informal social event as it's the first social community gathering with all the families. We want to provide an opportunity for families to mingle and enjoy the time together. We will run two separate sessions for the morning and afternoon classes. 

Please complete the trip eNotice to confirm your attendance. You can access the Gateway eNotice via the ESF App, and see a "new eNotice to fill in now."

The logistics:

• We will meet all families directly at Repulse Bay Beach. 
• 9:30-11:15am (morning classes) and 12:30-2:15pm (afternoon classes)
• Meet your class teacher by your class picnic area for a quick greeting.
• You may wish to go on an optional scavenger hunt along the beach.
• After the hunt, everyone can return to their class picnic area to socialise and spread some holiday cheer. 

What to bring:

• Wear your choice of festive colours and comfy clothing
• Water and a light snack
• A picnic mat
• Buckets and spades
• Sunscreen and sunhats

We plan to run a bake sale on this day, with all proceeds contributing to enhancing the children's excursions and learning experiences (e.g. paying for the sports day venue). Please bring some cash to support this fundraiser. We are looking forward to seeing you all!

 

ESF Explore

Join us for some fun and adventure this December with ESF Explore! Our Winter Camps run from 18 December - 5 January. Offering Language, Sports, Playgroup, STEM, Christmas workshops and even online programmes, we cater to children between 6 months and 17 years old. Discover our Winter Camp programmes here!

Helpful Links

Parent Handbook
Inclement Weather Arrangements
School Uniform
Please contact kinder@hillside.edu.hk for Lost Property