Bradbury Newsletter 20th January 2017
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PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE |
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Dear Parents, In the absence of Sandra Webster, who is in London this week working as a member of an ESF recruitment panel, it is my pleasure to write the Principal’s Message in this edition of Bradbury News. It doesn’t seem too long since we were welcoming our students back from the Christmas break, however, the children are now getting very excited about the forthcoming Chinese New Year Holiday and our Chinese team are busy organising events for our Chinese New Year Celebration Day on Thursday, 26 January 2017. As in previous years, the day will culminate with a Lion Dance in the afternoon to welcome the New Year into the Bradbury School community. Congratulations to three of our students; Ashley Grantham (5C), Iona Nicholas (6DK) and, Declan Onslow (6C) who won medals in the recent HKSSF Athletics (East Island) meeting in the C Grade 60m, B Grade 100m and, B Grade softball throw respectively. Finally, may I wish you all Kung Hei Fat Choi, or Gōngxǐ fācái, if you prefer. Have a restful break with your wonderful children and we look forward to welcoming them back to school on Monday 6 February 2017.
John Ainsworth Vice Principal |
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IMPORTANT DATES |
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CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION DAY |
| The Year of The Rooster is approaching! This year the Chinese Team is planning a special celebration morning next week on Thursday, 26 January 2017. All children will participate in a range of cultural activities during their session. Any children who would like to are invited to come dressed in Chinese costumes on Thursday to build a festival spirit. This is an optional choice and children are also able to wear their regular school uniform.
HELP NEEDED! We still need a few more parent volunteers to help with activities in the morning. If you are available, please contact me at jenny.chen@bradbury.edu.hk. We will show you what to do and promises to be lots of fun. We thank you for your time in advance. I wish you and your family a prosperous year. 敬爱的家长： 鸡年即将来临，学校一年一度的新春庆祝活动将于2017年1月26日举行，上午学生们将有机会参与一系列游艺活动，下午可以欣赏白普理小学的传统节目舞狮。活动当天，学生可以穿唐装或校服上学。 如果您可以协助上午的游艺活动，请以邮件方式跟我联系:jenny.chen@bradbury.edu.hk 。谢谢您的宝贵时间。 恭祝大家新春快乐！万事如意！阖家幸福！ Jenny Chen – Head of Chinese Department |
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YEAR 6 SPEAKER |
| This week the Year 6 students have been learning about fair trade as part of a unit focusing on economic activity. Fair Trade Hong Kong taught the students about the production of cocoa, how to identify Fair Trade products and problems associated with growing cocoa such as child labour.
Amanda Bremner – P.Y.P. Co-ordinator |
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YEAR 5 ORGANIZATION SPEAKERS |
| The Year 5 students recently showed they were inquirers attending a variety of presentations by speakers who came into Bradbury to talk to the students about the organisations they work for or own. The students were finding out about the purpose of different organisations, their structure and function as well as what makes these organisations successful. The students enjoyed asking probing questions and inquiring into how these organisations operate.
A big thank you to Mr. Lovatt who spoke about the Australian Military, David Whalley from ESF, Tiffany Sturman from Mother’s Choice, Tom Franz from The Vine, Deano Herewini Valley Rugby, Wanda Huang from A Team Adventures, Marcus Thompson from Carnegies and Mrs Hulme – Shore Step Asia Pacific Limited.
Amanda Bremner – P.Y.P. Co-ordinator |
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P.Y.P. UPDATE |
| Our Year 6 students are beginning to think about the Exhibition Unit of Inquiry which is the most important unit of the IB Primary Years Program (PYP). In the lead up to this, students recently attended an Agents of Change day at Kowloon Junior School to learn about the work NGOs do in the community and over the next few weeks the students will be spending some sessions with Dr. Merrin Pearse, a sustainability strategist examining issues in the Hong Kong community and identifying possible opportunities for authentic action. Staff as well as parents are currently working with the students to review important skills needed during the Exhibition by running a series of workshops based on identified needs from surveys. This work will hopefully give the students a good platform to choose relevant, broad issues from and to be able to have a successful Exhibition.
What is the Exhibition? The Exhibition Unit is an exciting opportunity for Year 6 children to exhibit and celebrate what they have learned throughout their Bradbury schooling. Students are expected to synthesise the essential elements of the PYP programme and share these with the school community. They identify, investigate and offer solutions to real-life issues and problems while exhibiting the attributes of the PYP learner profile. In this unit, teachers and parents support students to utilise the many skills they have learnt throughout their primary schooling. It will be an expectation that students exhibit independence and will be given the opportunity to create their own plan for learning, to conduct learning activities, to demonstrate what they have learned and to assemble an exhibit where they can interact with an audience in a meaningful way about something that is important to the students themselves. Students are provided with opportunities to engage in action and are expected to reflect and apply their learning to choose appropriate courses of action and then carry it out.
During the exhibition there should be many opportunities for student leadership and ownership and an increased emphasis on:
The entire learning process is done in small, collaborative study groups according to PYP inquiry principles and practices. The eight-week unit ends with an impressive day, where all the students gather to share their work to an audience of students, invited guests and staff from ESF and Bradbury as well as, from several visiting schools and, of course, parents. This will take place on the 29 March 2017.
Amanda Bremner – P.Y.P. Co-ordinator
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LIBRARY NEWS |
| The first two weeks of this term have been spent teaching all the students how to self-circulate their library books. This involves students logging into our ‘Oliver’ computer system using a barcode, scanning their own books in and out of the library and shelving their returns. The children are enjoying the responsibility of self-circulation as well as learning how we shelve books and organise the library.
The self-circulation system will not allow students to login and borrow if they have overdue books. The majority of overdue books from the Christmas holidays have now been returned to the library and the students are conscientiously renewing books and checking their loan status. Please help your child to remember to return their library books. Books can be returned either on the day of their library session or anytime before or after school or at breaktimes. Jane Thompson (Teacher Librarian) & Connie Leung (Library Assistant) |
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MEDICAL NEWS : INFLUENZA SEASON |
| We are entering the influenza season.
Health is important in our school community and this is a small reminder to prevent illnesses from spreading. Parents should not send their child to school if the child is unwell with cold/flu symptoms, as well as any signs of nausea, vomiting or fever (37.6C or above). If the child becomes feverish at school they will go to the medical room and the school nurse will determine if the child needs to go home or is able to stay at school. If your child is unwell, please contact the office or the school nurse to report any cold/flu symptoms.
COLD/FLU Symptoms consists of: · Fever 37.6 or Above · Sore throat/ Itchy throat · Dry Cough · Runny Stuffy Nose/ Nasal Congestion · Child states feeling unwell/ tired. When your child does contract cold/flu symptoms : · Try to avoid antibiotics, as it does not cure the cold/ flu symptoms · If child has a fever, let them rest at home till their fever is reduced, and take them to see a medical doctor. · If symptoms prolong more than 7 days, take your child to the doctor. Prevention of Cold/Flu: · Educate the child to frequently wash their hands. · Educate child to cover their nose and mouth, when they need to sneeze or cough. · Try to avoid taking children to overcrowded places. · Provide a healthy nutrition for the children. · Educate children to have a regular exercise regime. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact me. Lauren Lau – Health Professional |
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BUSES – IMPORTANT NOTE FOR PARENTS OF STUDENTS IN YEARS 1, 2 AND 3 |
| We have had a number of days recently where we have spent time trying to locate students who have been collected by parents or helpers as they come down to get on the bus, without letting the bus mother or the teachers know. This means that buses are delayed as we need to locate the student.
Please note that you must write a ‘walker’ note in the blue diary on the day that your child is not to catch the bus, and if you have a last minute arrangement where you must collect your child from school you must go to the bus and let the bus mother know that you are taking your child. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Therese Gallen – Vice Principal |
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HONG KONG YOUNG WRITERS AWARDS |
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| Well done Bradbury writers and artists, as this year we had 40 entries in this year’s competition.
Congratulations to the following students whose entries have been selected for the ‘shortlist’ and have been forwarded to the competition to represent Bradbury School this year.
Following the Chinese New Year holiday there will be a display to celebrate and display all entries so feel free to drop into school to read some. We will also publish some of the shortlisted entries in this newsletter over the next few months. Well done everyone! Therese Gallen – Vice Principal |
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P.T.A. NEWS |
| 23 January 2017 – Monday
Please note that the P.T.A. Shop will be closed for today as the P.T.A. Administrator needs to attend an E.S.F. meeting.
Curry and Quiz Night – Friday 17 February 2017
★★TICKETS ON SALE NOW ★★
$250 per person – This includes quiz entry and a delicious Curry Buffet provided by Jashan Restaurant
Cash Bar ★ Teams of up to 8 people ★
★ BRADBURY FACTOR 2017 ★ Sign up NOW for the Bradbury Factor AUDITIONS! If you are an actor, singer, dancer, gymnast, musician, comedian or have amazing sports skills then grab some friends, come along and have a go! Originality is encouraged!!
AUDITION: Saturday 25 February 2017 SHOWCASE: Saturday 25 March 2017
TO ENTER PLEASE FILL IN THE ONLINE APPLICATION FORM BY CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW:
https://goo.gl/forms/sDZNw9TScX5xjWXE2
APPLICATION DEADLINE – FRIDAY 10 FEBRUARY 2017 Entry fee is $50 per person. Please send payment to Lin Gong in the PTA office. Cash or Cheque (payable to Bradbury School PTA Limited)
VOLUNTEERS needed to help out at the auditions! If you can spare some time please email bradburyfactor@gmail.com
Julian Dunn – P.T.A. Chairperson
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P.E. NEWS |
| HKSSF Athletics – East Island
On Friday, we had a team competing at the HKSSF EAST ISLAND Athletics competition. All athletes competed well with 3 medals places being achieved, all in 4th place.
Ashley Grantham – C Grade – 60m. Iona Nicholas – B Grade – 100m Declan Onslow – B Grade – Softball throw
These are excellent achievements competing against strong fields.
ESF Cross Country Practice On Saturday morning, we had a team of runners from Y4, Y5 and Y6 competing in an informal cross country practice at King George V School against most of the other ESF schools.
I was really impressed with the efforts of all the competitors with a few surprises shining through. It shows the promise for the coming running season.
After School Activities (ASA) All our ASAs commenced last week with great success. A full house at Basketball and Running club has shown a real desire and demand for these activities. We hope all the participants enjoy their time playing and learning this term.
Healthy Active Bradbury Bradbury Active Mornings (B.A.M) – We are continuing to develop B.A.M as we introduce morning activity to the Year 1, Year 2, Year 3 & Year 4s after the Chinese NEw YEar. This is an exciting time as it’s going to be led by our Year 5 & 6, B.A.M leaders who have been trained up to teach them the movements to kick-start their day.
HEALTH BLOG – This is a work in progress and is being developed as we speak by the P.E. curriculum team. A really exciting project which will allow teachers, pupils and parents at Bradbury to generate a positive, healthy information hub. This could be one of a kind in Hong Kong which is a step in the right direction.
Ally Maclay – P.E. Leader |
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THIRD PARTY AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES |
| The following companies are currently hiring our facilities to provide extra curricular activities for students. You may browse the school website under “LIFE AT BRADBURY” for their programs and enrol your child directly to the company:
ESF Educational Services Ltd. – Language and Sports Programme, contact Candy Leung at 2760 3900 or cleung@esf.org.hk website: www.esf.org.hk
Adventure Sports Academy Ltd. – Soccer & Basketball Training, contact Eilis Cheung at 3998 4042 or info@adventuresportsacademy.com website: www.adventuresportsacademy.com
Backershagen B.V. (LanguageOne) – Global Mother Tongue Education, contact Leandra Lok at 5501 5262 or leandra.lok@languageone.nl website: www.languageone.nl
Banana Art Club – Art Class, contact Megan Lee at 6020 5476 or bananaartclub@gmail.com website: www.bananaartclub.com
Brainchild Ltd. – DIY Robotics and Technology Workshop, contact Ice Chan at 2528 6862 or icechan@brainchildltd.com website: http://brainchilddiyworks.wixsite.com/brainchild/school–activites or https://www.facebook.com/Brainchild-DIY-Workshop-305849122876304/?fref=ts
Brilliant Learning International Ltd. (Sanskriti) – Sanskriti/Hindi Language Class, contact Geeta Dhar at 3563 4300 or geetanjali@sanskritiglobal.org website: www.sanskriti.com.hk
Canadian Children’s Technology Workshop (Asia) Ltd. (The Genius Workshop) – Engineering & Mechanic Workshops, contact Vince Fung at 2591 0100 or vince@g-workshop.com website: www.g-workshop.com/schools/bradbury_2016-17
CentreStage Studios HK Ltd. – Singing, Acting, Dancing – Ballet, Jazz, Tap Dance, contact Imogen Taylor or Kaijah Bell at 5236 7960 or 2689 2272 or admin@centrestagestudioshk.com website: www.centrestagestudioshk.com
Discovery Dome Hong Kong Ltd. – Astronomy Club with a Portable Mobile Planetarium (Year 3-6 students), contact Lorne Ali at 9754 4081 or lorneali@hotmail.com, website www.discoverydome.hk
HoYinPingChess / Hong Kong Junior Chess Club – Chess Class, Holiday Camp, Tournament, contact Yin Ping Ho at 9215 2682 or hoyinpingchess@gmail.com website: http://www.hoyinpingchess.com/index/lesson.html / http://www.hoyinpingchess.com/index/camp.html or www.hkjuniorchess.org
Kate’s Kids – Kindermusik, Music & Movement Activity, contact Kate Leung at 9019 6793 or catherine@kindermusik.hk website: www.kateskids.com.hk
Primary Matters – Writing Workshop, contact Marion McNally at 9465 4468 or primarymattershk@gmail.com website: www.primarymattershk.com
RugBees Ltd. – Rugby Play Programme, contact Kit Wong at 2117 3055 or kit@rugbees.com website: www.rugbees.com
Starlit Voice Ltd. – LAMDA Musical Theatre & Group Drama, contact Vincent Warren at 2108 2182 or info@starlit.hk website: www.starlitvoice.com
Sport4Kids Ltd – Gymnastics & Multi-Sports, contact Pami at 2773-1650 or info@sport4kids.hk website: www.sport4kids.hk facebook: @sport4kids.hk
Percy Mak – Finance Manager
N.B. Bradbury School is not responsible for the quality and safety of programmes offered by third parties. However, please note that all hirers are required to provide third party liability insurance. Parents are urged to take steps to ensure that they are satisfied with any and all aspects of the after school programme(s) they elect to opt in to. |
