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

12&13 March: School Photo Days

14 March: ESF Parent Webinar on Sleep

18 March: K2 Excursion to Tai Tam (New Date)

21 March: Last School Day of Term- Dress Down Day

22 March: Spring Break Commences for Children (No School)

8 April: ESF-wide Professional Development Day (No School)

9 April: Term 3 Begins. Classes Resume

Dear Hillside families

As a PYP School, we firmly believe in the power of learning through play (not just play time), and we are committed to an "Inquiry, Play-based Approach". At Hillside, we recognise that play is a fundamental vehicle for children's growth and development, and we focus on fostering the children's play skills, which include social skills, language skills, and emotional regulation, to name a few. 
Through purposeful play, we create opportunities for children to engage in meaningful experiences that foster their curiosity, creativity, and problem-solving skills. By carefully planning and structuring our learning environment, providing open-ended materials, and actively supporting children's play, we ensure their experience here becomes a valuable learning journey. The interactions between our teaching staff and the children further enrich these experiences as they challenge and guide their thinking, resulting in deeper understanding and meaningful connections. 

With this said, we continue to plan fun and engaging experiences for the children. Please take note of the various excursions and incursions we've planned over these few weeks. Ask your children about them, as it will foster ongoing learning and exploration at home!

Warm regards
Audrey
 

We would like to provide you with a Parent-Teacher Conference (PTC) opportunity to meet with your child’s Chinese teacher, either Yammi Lao Shi or Joey Lao Shi. Sign-up slots are now available here, you will have a choice of 3 Fridays (a mix of morning and afternoon time slots). Please be sure to click on the correct class tab, here’s a brief video here to help you navigate. Zoom appointments are about 10 minutes long for each child. Please appreciate that these are the dates when we have arranged cover for teachers, and we would like to keep to them as much as possible. Outside of these scheduled PTCs, all families are always welcome anytime to directly reach out to Yammi Lao Shi at yammi.cheng@hillside.edu.hk and Joey Lao Shi at joey.zhao@hillside.edu.hk with any questions.

We would like to invite all children to come dressed down in casual clothing (non-uniform) on 21 March as we look forward to the term break holiday. Feel free to dress in bright spring colours as we welcome the beginning of Spring season!

ESF head office has reviewed the 2024/25 calendar (LINK). The calendar will need to undergo Hong Kong government gazetting for 2025, which is typically completed in May. At this point, we do not anticipate any issues.

Please note that there will be a separate orientation schedule for K1s and K2s for the first weeks of term. We will share the schedule with parents in Term 3.

As you may know, the teachers regularly blog about the children's learning in class. Please click on the Class Blog tile on the ESF App to access your child's class blog. The teachers will update the blog with photos to share and provide information on your child's recent learning in class. 

Our PYP Coordinator, Brenda, and our Chinese teachers, Yammi and Joey, will also guest blog to share other relevant information about the children's learning. So please do visit the blogs regularly to keep up with the latest class happenings. 

For computer access to the blogs, you can forward the App messages to your email for access. Some parents have asked about forwarding app messages and the timing of the push notification setting. Please review this Parent Guide to customise your settings.

We understand the importance of keeping you informed and equipped with the necessary information or resources to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for both you and your child at Hillside. To assist you further, we have compiled a list of helpful links below that cover various aspects of school:

Parent Handbook: This guide provides essential information on school policies, procedures, and expectations. Due to the dynamic nature of the document, the parent handbook is a "live document" that undergoes regular updates to ensure that it reflects the most accurate and up-to-date information. 

Inclement Weather Arrangements: Stay informed about our procedures for handling inclement weather situations.

NEW School Uniform: Follow this link to look for new uniforms, sizing information, and purchasing options. 

Pre-loved Uniform Swap: Support sustainability by participating in our pre-loved uniform swap program. This initiative allows you to exchange gently used uniforms with fellow parents, ensuring that your child always has a well-fitted and presentable uniform. 

Lost Property: Misplaced belongings can be a common occurrence. If your child has lost any items, please reach out to our dedicated team at kinder@hillside.edu.hk. They will assist you in reuniting your child with their belongings.

We hope that these resources will serve as valuable references throughout the school year. By providing you with a link, you can bookmark it or save it to your browser's favourites for quick access, and we can ensure that you always have access to the latest version.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. If you have any further questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Parent Handbook
Inclement Weather Arrangements
NEW School Uniform
Pre-loved Uniform Swap
Please contact kinder@hillside.edu.hk for Lost Property