Upcoming Dates

Please click to download the 2024/25 Hillside Calendar. You can also access the school calendar via the ESF App.

7-11 October: Mid-Term Break

17 October: Parent Webinar: Health Eating Habits

21-24 October: K1 PTCs (Separate App Message)

28-31 October: K2 PTCs (Separate App Message)

Principal's Message

Dear Hillside Families

We hope you've enjoyed the mid-week public holiday. 

We are excited to share some insights from the recent professional learning all our teachers and some Educational Assistants (EAs) engaged in over the past two weekends. These learning experiences reaffirmed our approach and beliefs in early childhood education.

Conference 1: "Connection-Centered Learning and Teaching" 

• Theme: Emphasising the importance of student wellbeing and connection in the learning process
• Focus: Moving beyond traditional behaviour management to create inclusive and supportive learning environments
• Key Takeaway: Understanding that play is a crucial component for children to develop critical and creative thinking skills

Conference 2: Chapters Early Years Conference 

• Theme: Exploring the interconnected nature of play and thinking in early childhood education
• Focus: Highlighting how play is central to children's cognitive development and critical thinking skills
• Key Message: Play is not just a pastime; it is how children make sense of the world, build on prior knowledge, and foster connections between key concepts

At the heart of these conferences and workshops is the recognition that play is not just a form of entertainment for children; it is their way of exploring, experimenting, and understanding the world around them. Through play, children build upon their existing knowledge, make connections between significant ideas, and nurture both critical and creative thinking abilities.

I want to thank our teaching team for giving up their weekends. This is a testament to their dedication and commitment to integrating these valuable insights into our teaching practices, ensuring that your child receives a well-rounded and enriching early learning experience.

Warm regards
Audrey

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Both K1 and K2 PTC sign-ups are available. Please check the separate app message with further information and make an appointment at your earliest convenience. You will have a choice of 2 dates, and appointments are 10-15 minutes long for each child. Please appreciate that these dates are when we have arranged cover for teachers, and we would like to keep to them as much as possible. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us on 2540-0066. 

These meetings will take place via Zoom, so please be reminded to Zoom from a quiet space to avoid poor audio connections. Please also note classes will continue as usual for the children throughout the PTC week.

Save the Date: K2 Excursion to the Science Museum 12 November

Please mark your calendars for 12 November, as our K2 children will visit the Hong Kong Science Museum on an educational excursion. AM classes are scheduled to join us from 10 am to 12 noon, and the PM classes from 2pm to 4pm.

The trip is designed to complement their upcoming unit of inquiry, "How The World Works." The Science Museum offers a wealth of interactive exhibits that will allow our young learners to explore a variety of scientific concepts and think more deeply about how things are designed and created.

We kindly request that one parent or caregiver accompany each child. Your presence will offer unique perspectives that align with your child's interests, making the learning even more meaningful and engaging. By helping to connect their learning to their personal experiences, you can support your child in deepening their understanding.

We will share more details about the trip, including logistics and consent forms, after the term break. We look forward to this exciting learning opportunity!

Parent Webinar Recording: Chinese Curriculum 

What does learning Chinese as an additional language look like in the early years? Last week, our Chinese Team shared what Chinese learning looks like here at Hillside and how you can support connections between your child's learning at school and home.

Thank you to parents and carers who joined us for last week's webinar to learn more about our Chinese curriculum. Here are the slides and webinar recording.

HK KidsFest (No Booking this Year)

One of our annual community events is watching a live theatre production at the HK Academy of Performing Arts (HKAPA). We have always found these live theatre shows by ABA Productions Ltd, organiser of KidsFest, to be of an extremely high standard, along with having characters from well-loved books targeted to the age group of our children.

We know many returning parents are keen to see if we will attend the show this year. Unfortunately for us, the performances are oversubscribed. Despite our efforts to wait for the booking to come live online, we could not secure a school booking for Hillside this year. They are more challenging to secure than your average concert tickets!

FREE Parent Workshops on Healthy Eating Habits

Childpsy is one of the therapy service providers that serves Hillside families. They are dedicated to empowering families and educators with knowledge about parenting and neurodiversity. Due to high demand, we are excited to announce their upcoming free workshop in October focused on nurturing healthy eating habits and addressing picky eating in young children.

Do you want to help your child try new foods, shorten feeding time, and increase your child's interest in eating? Then, don't miss this free online sharing session!

Title: Food - Is it that hard to conquer? (食物：有那麽難征服嗎？ )

Audience: Parents of 2 to 5 year-old children

Speaker: Matthew Lee, Senior Speech and Language Therapist

Organised by: Childpsy Assessment & Learning

Language: English (Powerpoint in Chinese and English)

Date: Thursday, 17 October, 2024

Time: 12:30-1:30pm (Online)

To Register: WhatsApp: [Web Link]

For more details, please refer to the attached flyer.

Helpful Links

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