Newsletter 21/2016-17
Quarry Bay School’s latest newsletter is available to read now. Find out the latest news around the school and upcoming events.
Principal’s Comments
ESF 50th Anniversary – Sports Gala
Hong Kong Inter-School Chess Championships 2017
Science Alive 2017!
Parent Volunteers at QBS
Sports News
Clubs Update
Diane Frankenstein Reading Workshop
Managing behaviours talk at SPOT clinic
Supervision of students at after school clubs
ESF Sports and Language Spring Camps
PTA News
Principal’s Comments
Key dates for Term 2
Please click here
Key dates for next week
- Monday the 27th of February – QBS PTA Readathon starts
- Tuesday the 28th of February – Hotdog Sizzle & Pizza Lunch for Upper School
- Wednesday the 1st of March – Hotdog Sizzle & Pizza Lunch for Lower School
- Thursday the 2nd of March – Parent Teacher Consultations (School closure at 12:00 noon)
This week I was invited to the ESF 50th Secondary Concert which was extremely enjoyable. The collective talent of the students across the ESF secondary schools was impressive. It was great to see some ex QBS students on stage performing to such a high standard too. You might be interested to know the QBS Senior Choir are busy rehearsing for the ESF 50th Choral Concert coming up in a few weeks time. I am looking forward to this event at the Queen Elizabeth Stadium.
Next week the parent teacher consultations begin. These are very important 1-1 meetings with the teachers. Students are not required to attend. We view these meetings as crucial at this stage of the academic year. The focus will be on updating parents on learning progress, work habits, areas of strength and next step targets. Please be reminded school will close at 12 noon next Thursday the 2nd of March to allow the consultations to begin.
In recent weeks the Year 6 students have commenced the QBS Exhibition. This is a significant learning process for our older students as they approach the end of their primary schooling. The students have been involved in a range of taster experiences with staff and visitors along with opportunities to meet and listen to a wide variety of guest speakers from across Hong Kong. The students are investigating human rights and how these look for groups of people in our city. It is a very through provoking issue for the students.
The week finished positively with a fun and energetic class assembly by the 3K and 3S students. Thank you students for reminding everyone how important it is to use strategies to be a successful reader!
Regards,
Parent Volunteers at QBS
Thank to all the parent volunteers that come into help at QBS.
A gentle reminder is that when you come into the classrooms
- help all the children (not only your own child)
- support the class teacher
- support children well being
- respect the confidentiality agreement
Please be reminded if you see behaviour that is not in line with school policy to report it immediately to the class teacher.
We are very happy that parents come into school to support learning however please remember it is not to be used as an opportunity to watch your child at school. Please do not take photographs or make any video recordings without prior consent of the school.
Thank you
Hong Kong Inter-School Chess Championships 2017
On Sunday February 19th sixteen QBS students took part in the Hong Kong Inter-School Chess Championships 2017 at West Island School. The event was organised by the Hong Kong Juniors Chess Club.
The players were:
- Hong Liang, Jason C, Jason AY, Sean, Marcus Y, Adrian, Andrew, Marcus L, Max, Philip, Esther, Victoria, Charlotte, Alexander, Ken, Jeremiah
QBS Team A won the 5th runner up in the Primary Section. Hong Liang won the 4th runner up for Board 1.
Equally pleasing was the student who said, “I lost every match but I took longer and longer to lose each time so I know I was getting better at playing chess.”
All the team members were really excited about the event and were excellent ambassadors for QBS.
Science Alive 2017!
From 4-17 March, the British Council is hosting a range of science workshops for this year’s Science Alive! Every year for the past 24 years, Science Alive has invited leading UK academics and communicators in various fields of science to engage Hong Kong’s students, teachers and the public in activities that promote a wider understanding of science.
The focus of the workshops this year is on appreciating, understanding and acting to preserve the beauty and complexity of the Earth. The workshops take place at the Science Museum and feature a range of family workshops and drama shows.
If you are interested in attending, please click here for further information:
ESF 50th Anniversary – Sports Gala
On Saturday all the Primary Schools celebrated ESF’s 50th Anniversary in a celebration of sport at King George V School.
The day kicked off with a X-country run in which QBS were proud to have over 70 students competing. Our teams all ran well and created a great team atmosphere by supporting each other throughout.
- Abby
- Campbell
- Lizzie
- Hamish
- James
- Jessie
Saturday’s 50th Anniversary Celebration at KGV was a fantastic event and our students were excellent representatives for QBS.
A special mention to Gary, Robbie and Luca who represented the ESF Football Island Select team as did Emma and Jessie in the Netball.
Sports News
Rugby Tournament
Our Rugby teams competed in the D.B.I.S. Touch Rugby Tournament on Friday 17th February, at King’s Park. We had two boys teams entered, who both played really well and won the majority of their games.
Our girls’ team played brilliantly, and won all of their games to reach the Cup Final, where they were beaten in a ‘Sudden Death’ play off by Kennedy School, after 3 minutes of extra time.
Well done to all of our teams.
Year 3 and 4 Athletic Events
We are looking forward to hosting our middle school athletics event at QBS in a few weeks time. The events will take place at Quarry Bay School between 9:00 am – 12:15 pm.
Year 3 – Tuesday 28th March
Year 4 – Tuesday 21st March
Further details of the events will be sent to year group parents.
Clubs Update
There are Parent Teacher Consultations in 2nd and 16th March.
All QBS clubs on March 2 and 16th are NOT on. The only club that will go ahead will be QBS Rugby on the 16th March.
All the ESF sports clubs are ON, since they are outside.
Diane Frankenstein Reading Workshop
QBS parents and carers are invited to Chinese International School for a high quality workshop on reading with your child, with Diane Frankenstein. See the brief description of the presentation below. Please help us to know numbers, by filling out this Google Form so we may pass this on to our host, Jeffrey Comer, at CIS
Date: Tuesday 14th March 2017
Time: 18.30 – 20.30
Venue: Chinese International School, Hong Kong Auditorium
Topic: Conversational Reading
Overview of the Workshop
Your child loves books and stories. They are learning how to read and probably reading independently.
Learn the art of ‘conversational reading’ from the lady who coined the phrase herself, Diane Frankenstein.
Conversational Reading follows a simple equation: Read a Book, Ask a Question, Start a Conversation
In our hectic schedules and media saturated world, reading with our children and talking with them about what matters, is more important than ever before.
Books help to jump start conversations that are important to children.
Topics covered include: self-esteem, bullying, friendship, boasting and being true to yourself.
As QBS will be holding their book week during this week, this will be a great addition for parents to the programme of events at school.
Managing behaviours talk at SPOT clinic
The course is for parents and professionals and focuses on managing behaviour around screen time. Please click here for more.
Supervision of students at after school clubs
Unfortunately we have had some incidents recently where students have been left alone in the playground after school either waiting for a club or after finishing a club. Students must have an adult with them if they are joining the after school clubs please. There is no staff supervision after school. Please understand we are monitoring this situation due to safety concerns for our students. Thank you to those families for supporting this request.
Active supervision of students during the after school clubs is expected and there have been times recently where staff have needed to remind some adults to do this. It would helpful if parents could remind their domestic helper or designated guardian that when waiting with children after school, they must actively supervise the children at all times.
After school play dates in the QBS playground are not allowed. We encourage children to socialise with friends beyond school. Unfortunately the school’s playground after school cannot be used for such activities. Thank you for your cooperation.
ESF Sports and Language Spring Camps
PTA News
Upcoming PTA Events
Term 2
- Readathon: 27th February – 20th March, 2017
- Hotdog Sizzle & Pizza Lunch (Upper School): 28th February, 2017
- Hotdog Sizzle & Pizza Lunch (Lower School): 1st March, 2017
Term 3
- Spring Disco (Years 1-4): To be confirmed
- Movie Afternoon (Years 5-6): To be confirmed
- New Year 1 Student – Induction Day: 2nd June, 2017
ON THE LOOK-OUT FOR EVENT-LEADERS:
The PTA is looking-out for parents who would be interested to be event leaders for any of the above events, with assistance and guidance from PTA Committee and Staff.
If Yes, please contact us immediately on mona.diwan@qbs.edu.hk. We will be happy to furnish you with all related details.
Paddyfield’s Winter Bookclub
The PTA will not be receiving orders for this term’s bookclub as the deadline is past. You are requested to send your orders directly to Paddyfield’s for processing.
“Readathon 2017” – a Reading Marathon!
All students are requested to participate in this year’s “Readathon” and promote your love of reading.
LOTS OF PRIZES/AWARDS TO BE WON!
The “Readathon” Awards are:
- Top 3 Students – Lower School
- Top 3 Students – Upper School
- Top Class with Highest Consolidated Reading Time – Per Year Group
- Will receive: a) Pizza lunch for class students, teacher and EA; & b) $1000 Paddyfield gift voucher to order new classroom readers.
Guidelines & Forms: have been distributed to all students on Tuesday, 21st February 2017. Please click below to download the forms.
- Readathon 2016-2017: Guidelines – click here
- Readathon 2016-2017: Reading Record – click here
- Readathon 2016-2017: Sponsorship Record – click here
Deadline for all submission of all sponsorships is: Monday 20th March 2017.
Hotdog Sizzle & Pizza Lunch
Order taking has now been closed.
- Upper School (Year 4-6) will be held on: 28th February 2017
- Lower School (Year 1-3) will be held on: 1st March 2017
This event is a “Bring Your Own Plate” Event!
Parent Volunteers Required:
If you are free to assist as a Parent Volunteer on Tuesday, 28th February 2017 for the Upper School Hotdog & Pizza Lunch, please email us at mona.diwan@qbs.edu.hk as soon as possible, as we are short of Parent Volunteers.
School Buses
PACIFIC PALISADES STOP – BUS CHANGE/RE-ASSIGN
There will be a bus change/re-assign for all QBS Bus Riders from Pacific Palisades stop. The bus change will take effect on the morning of: Monday 27th February 2017.
Please note:
- Your bus number will change from Bus 11 to Bus 12.
- No change in bus schedule (i.e. Pick-up and drop-off times).
- No change in drop-off or pick-up location.
- All affected families have been notified via email.
This change is to facilitate accommodating students on wait-list for the 1st and 2nd stop on Bus 11, as well as offer more comfortable/less congested travel for students to and from school on a daily basis. For further queries please do not hesitate to contact Dorothy Ho on pta@qbs.edu.hk.
Early School Closure – Thursday, 2nd March 2017
School will close at 12:00noon due to Parent-Teacher Consultations.
School Bus Schedule for Early School Closure – click here.
Change in Travel: all notification of change in travel of your child on this day is to be emailed to pta@qbs.edu.hk not later than 10:00am.
Change of bus travel arrangement:
We still have many parents who do not inform the PTA if their child/ren have a change in afternoon travel arrangements on the buses. The above results in a delay in departure of the buses from school, while the PTA and Senior Management of the school is looking for the missing students.
We therefore request your cooperation to notify us before 12:30pm of the day for change in travel arrangement of your child. This procedure is imperative and in the best interest and safety of your child. (Parents are requested to inform PTA via email at pta@qbs.edu.hk as well as copying the message to the Class Teacher/School before 12:30pm.)
Feedback or Suggestions
If you have any feedback, or suggestions you would like to make for our events or services provided, please email them directly to: ptasuggestions@qbs.edu.hk. Your email will be received directly by our Chairman, who will reply to you at the earliest available moment.
HELP US – IN OUR DRIVE FOR A GREENER ENVIRONMENT
We request all parents to support a greener environment by BYOB “bring your own bag” when you come to purchase items from the shop.
[With immediate effect the PTA Shop will no longer provide any shopping bags].
Please contact us on 2566 4242 (ask to transfer to PTA), or 2887 1004 for further queries, or by email to pta@qbs.edu.hk, during operation hours.
“Click here for PTA Office and Shop Operation”