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

26-29 May: K1 PTCs (Separate App Message)

28 May: K2 Incursion - Move for Life

30 May: ESF-wide K2 to Y1 Transition Day

19 June: K1 Celebration of Learning 

20 June: K2 Celebration of Learning 

26 June: Last school day + Party Day

Dear Hillside Families,

This week, I want to share a recent book I came across. As educators, we constantly reflect on the best ways to foster their growth, happiness, and resilience. "The Anxious Generation" by Jonathan Haidt offers powerful insights that are particularly relevant to even our youngest learners.

While Haidt focuses primarily on adolescents, his core message resonates deeply with early childhood: the irreplaceable value of a childhood rich in play and real-world connection.

Haidt reminds us that for strong development, children need:

• Lots of Unstructured Play: This is how children naturally develop problem-solving, creativity, and social skills. It's their "work"!
• Real-World Exploration: Hands-on experiences, direct interaction with nature, and face-to-face conversations are vital for building strong brains and social-emotional intelligence.
• Delayed Gratification and Focused Attention: Allowing children to develop sustained attention and the capacity for delayed gratification without constant digital stimulation is crucial for future learning and wellbeing.

At Hillside, we champion these principles every day through hands-on learning, outdoor adventures, and fostering social-emotional skills through direct interaction.

[Call to Action] How You Can Help at Home:

We encourage you to partner with us in these efforts:

• Prioritise Play: Make time for open-ended, child-led play, both indoors and out.
• Limit Screen Time: For young children, minimal to no screen time is best. When screens are used, make them interactive and co-viewed.
• Foster Real-World Connections: Encourage playdates, family activities, and opportunities to explore the world around them.
• Consider "Device-Free" Times: Even simple habits like device-free mealtimes (for adults too!) can make a big difference in family connection.

By protecting this precious time of childhood and embracing the power of play, we help build resilient, happy and engaged learners.

Thank you for being such supportive partners in your child's education. With this said, please take note of the important events that are coming up ahead.

Warm regards
Audrey

As the HK government has gazetted the public holidays for 2026, please find attached the final 2025/26 school calendar (LINK). 

Please note that there will be a separate orientation schedule for K1s and K2s for the first week of term. The first day of school for K2s is scheduled for Monday, 18 August; we will share more details with parents before the summer.

We are delighted to invite parents to join our K1 End-of-Year Celebration of Learning - Art Day, which will be held on 19 June at Hillside for all K1 classes. Please take note of the following details:

• This is not a normal full-session school day. Children and parents will only attend during their chosen time slot.
• Families are invited for a 1-hour session. You will now receive a separate app message to sign up. If your child is in the AM class, please sign up for a morning session; likewise, if your child is in the PM class, please sign up for an afternoon session.
• We invite up to 2 grown-ups to accompany their child to Art Day.
• There will be no bus service on that day, and we ask for your understanding and assistance on this exceptional occasion.

If you need any support with signing up, please contact our admin team at 2540 0066.

The ESF transition plans are well underway for our K2 families. All primary schools will contact their new Year 1 families regarding induction plans. In addition, collaborative conversations between the kindergarten and schools will continue over the next few weeks.

Please check your email from your feeder school for details on transition activities and the ESF Transition Day. Parents will accompany their K2 child to primary school for familiarisation on this day. Children are welcome to return to Hillside after their transition day; however, please remember that it will be a big and exciting event for them, which can be overwhelming and tiring. Some families may choose to rest and recharge after the visits instead of returning to Hillside. This time will give the children the opportunity to process their experiences, talk and reflect on their feelings. We encourage you to discuss their new routines while they're still fresh in their minds.

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Please contact kinder@hillside.edu.hk for any general enquiries.