Newsletter 1/2017-18
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
Timetable Changes
Expressive Arts News
Student Health Centre/ Dental Centre Forms
Clubs Information
ESF Sports Clubs
QBS PE Kit
Class Timetables / Calendar
PTA News
Principal’s Comments
Key dates for Term 1
Please click here
Key dates for next week
- Thursday the 24th of August – Welcome back to QBS Evening
Welcome back to another year of learning at QBS. I hope your family has enjoyed a smooth transition back to school this week – the students impressed me with their attitudes and readiness to learn. It has been a very positive start to the new school year. Thank you for the support this week – it makes a big difference.
I would like to extend a very warm welcome to new parents and their children joining the QBS community. QBS has an open door policy to parents, so please approach us if you need assistance with your child’s life at school. Please note teachers may not respond to emails during teaching time as they are busy with the children.
We have welcomed new teaching staff this week – Miss Helen Mutter (1M), Miss Rachel McCorkell (1R), Daniel Thomas (3T) and Jennifer Barbour (6B). Welcome to new support staff – Mr Sebastian Stones (Resource Assistant, Learning Centre), Mr Kyle Haynes (Education Assistant, 3C) and Mr Steve Jeon (ICT Technician). If you would like to see the teacher and education assistant placements for the new school year please click here.
Two important emails have been sent home to parents this week, please read through these messages:
Our school hall has been renovated over the summer and we held our first whole school assembly together on Friday. It was so good to hear the students singing again in our ‘new look’ hall. The assembly was about showing grit and the importance of grit when learning new things which might be difficult. Perhaps you could ask your child how they showed grit during their first week back at school.
Next week the students at Chinese International School (CIS) will resume and traffic on Braemar Hill will be busier than it has been during this week. Please consider this when making travel plans for the start and end of the school day. I urge any parents or their drivers to be considerate during these peak traffic times. Last academic year CIS community made a considerable effort to improve traffic flow and QBS supports this initiative. Next week a meeting will take place with QBS reps and Hong Kong Police Officers about the traffic conditions in Hau Yuen Path and how things might be further improved.
On behalf of everyone at QBS I would like to extend congratulations to Ms Mona Abidi on her recent marriage to Terry. Ms Abidi’s wedding story is quite romantic and if you see her, be sure to ask her about her lovely news.
Next week Ms Webb will begin maternity leave and everyone at QBS wishes her all the best for the safe arrival of her first baby. We will all look forward to hearing news from Ms Webb in a few weeks time. Ms Webb will return to teach in Year 2 in January 2018.
Regards,
Timetable Changes
Dear Parents
We would like to update you on some changes to the school timetable that have been put in place this year. The changes were made after an LMT review of the previous timetable. This highlighted some areas of improvement to ensure children in all year groups had a more balanced timetable across the week.
The main changes to the timetable are:
- 8:05 – 8:15: Soft start.
From 8:05 the children will begin to be sent to their classrooms to prepare for the day. This allows for a more smooth transition into classrooms in the morning. The official start of school is still at 8:15. Children arriving between 8:05 and 8:15 are not late! - Break times are now at 10:00 – 10:20 (snack) and 12:00 – 12:50 (lunch). This balances the timings of the school day for children.
Please click here to view the new school timetable.
There have been more considerable changes made to the Mandarin timetable. It was noted last year that having Mandarin at the same time every day made the learning day quite challenging for children in certain year groups. In order to make access to learning more equitable across the school, the following Mandarin provision is now in place:
Years 4, 5 and 6: 2 x 60 minute sessions and 2 x 50 minute sessions per week
Years 2 and 3: 3 x 40 minute sessions and 2 x 50 minute sessions per week
Year 1: 2 x 40 minute sessions and 2 x 50 minute sessions per week
This provides children with the same time allowance for Mandarin within a week. For the upper school, the children will have longer Mandarin sessions four times per week. This is more aligned to secondary school provision which will support the upper school children in their transition. These extended sessions also allow for deeper learning opportunities with the children.
In addition, the timing of the Mandarin session will be different each day. Please click here to view the new Mandarin timetable.
More information regarding the Mandarin timetable will be provided on the Chinese Information Night on Wednesday 30th August.
Katie Trethewy
Expressive Arts News
QBS THE VOICE
QBS loves to sing and this week QBS THE VOICE was launched. This is where children can audition to be part of a singing showcase! Please click here to access all the information about QBS THE VOICE and for the entry form. The entry form will be closed at the end of lunchtime on Friday 25th August.
Student Health Centre/ Dental Centre Forms
Today all the Year 2-6 children have been given each the forms for the 2017-2018 Student Health centre and Dental Centre Government Forms.
(The Year 1 students will receive them on Tuesday 22nd August since the entire class will be together).
If you would like to register your child to this service please complete the form and return it to Nurse Delia. Please remember if you enrol in the dental scheme there is a $20 charge and it needs to be submitted with the form (cash only)
The deadline will be Monday 4th September. No late forms will be accepted.
Clubs Information
Another busy year for our after school clubs. Please click here for the procedure on how to register for QBS clubs.
ESF Educational Services and Private clubs please contact the club leader.
These are the dates for Term 1 clubs:
QBS Academic Clubs Sept 18- Nov 17
QBS Sports Clubs Sept 18- Nov 24
ESF/ Private Clubs Sept 11- Dec 8
ESF Sports Clubs
A reminder that ESF Services clubs begin on the week of September 11th . If you have not signed up and wish to do so please click the links below.
ESF Services provide a sports program which offer sports classes for children all year round. It is also an excellent opportunity for younger students to begin learning fundamental movement skills from an early age.
Basketball
Football
Multi Sports
Netball
Swimming
Gymnastics
Kung Fu
Tennis
QBS PE Kit
All students should have purchased their PE kit from the PTA office. This kit represents the house team that they are in; Red (Fire), Green (Water), Earth (Orange) and Yellow (Air).
In addition to this PE kit it is essential for all students to have a QBS Hat.
We appreciate your help in reminding your children of the following points regarding P.E dress code. This will help to ensure the safety of all children in PE.
Jewellery
A reminder to all parents that on PE days, students should not be wearing any jewellery (earrings, necklaces or bracelets etc). If you can help to remind your children to leave these items at home when dressing in PE kit that would be very helpful.
Watches
The best option is not to wear a watch on PE kit days or for students to leave them in their school bag before coming to the PE class.
Hair Accessories
It is important that students with longer hair have their hair tied back and all hair ties are of the soft type in blue or black.
PE Shoes and socks
PE Shoes and socks should be all white.
Class Timetables / Calendar
The QBS Calendar for 2017/18 is now available from here. An overview of term dates can also be downloaded.
Student organisers are available on your child’s Qoodle Year Group Home Page. These aim to help students prepare independently for school. More detailed class schedules for parents will be finalised shortly and published on the Gateway. Parents will be notified as soon as these are available.
PTA News
Dear Parents and Carers,
On behalf of the QBS PTA LTD Chairman, Committee Members and staff we would like to welcome all of you to a new academic year.
We look forward to receiving your continued support and trust.
This year we look forward to hosting exciting events, as well as continue to offer you with high level of service by our PTA shop and school bus service, so please do not miss the upcoming weekly newsletters. Keep updated on our status.
SCHOOL BUSES
The PTA offers a standard bus service with nominated stops. With nearly 83% of our students travelling on the school bus daily, it is difficult for us to offer a door to door service. We therefore request parents and families to select a nominated stop closest to your residence to avoid later changes in bus routes and or stops, especially since most of our bus routes are completely full. If you would like assistance to decide your bus routes, please contact the PTA Office on pta@qbs.edu.hk.
School Bus Schedule in the upcoming weeks is as below:
- Tuesday, 22nd August 2017: 1st Day of School Bus for Year 1 Bus Riders.
[Bus Buddies will be appointed by the Bus Mums to take care of Year 1 Bus Riders and bring them into school in the mornings.] - Bus Mother – List: Please find the Bus Mother List with their pictures for your reference.
- Bus Whatsapp Groups: Each Bus Mother has set up a whatsapp group of parents. Please note that as per the privacy ordinance, this whatsapp group is only to be used to notify parents of bus delays or any urgent bus related matters only. This platform is strictly NOT to be used for social purposes.
(If you would like to remove your contact from this platform please inform the group admin and you will be removed.)
PTA SHOP
- Shop Hours: The PTA Shop will not be operating normal shop hours due to staffing issues.
Parents and Students are requested to drop off your orders in the drop box with the payment. You will be contacted to collect your orders as soon as they are ready.
PTA JOB VACANCY : SHOP SUPERVISOR
We are urgently looking for a Shop Supervisor to manage our PTA Shop with immediate effect.
Requirements:
- A dymanic self-starter, who can work independently.
- The shop supervisor will be required to work 5 days a week, 4 hours per day (as per the shop schedule), in which you will be required to carry out daily shop operational duties, as well as assist the PTA.
- You should have basic accounting knowledge, as well as be service orientated.
- The applicant must be physically fit and active in order to replenish stocks in the shop.
- Salary Scale : depending on experience.
- Please send in your application to: ptasuggestions@qbs.edu.hk.
PTA JOB VACANCY : BUS ESCORT / BUS MOTHER
We are urgently looking for Bus Escorts / Bus Mothers to take care of the students, and ensure safe and disciplined travel, to and from school daily.
- Salary Scale : depending on route confirmed.
- [The job entails approx. 1 hr in the mornings and 1 hr in the afternoons)
- Please send in all your application to: pta@qbs.edu.hk.
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”