Newsletter 13/2016-17

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

 PE Help Urgently Needed

 Fifth Disease

 Student Voice News

 ESF Winter Camps

 PTA News

Principal’s Comments

Dear Parents,

I have enjoyed this week as acting Principal whilst Mina and Michael have been away. Congratulations to the Dewey family who have had a new addition to their family, a lovely baby girl.

The Year 2 assembly was wonderful this morning. 2J and 2T showed the school about their Unit of Inquiry about showing emotions through the Arts. The assembly was full of dancing, singing and poetry as well as showing some wonderful pieces of art that the children have created. Thank you to Ms Williams, Mr Tobin, Mr Kade and Mrs Ko for organising the assembly.

We are still monitoring the outbreaks and confirmed cases of Fifths disease therefore it is very important that you report confirmed cases to Nurse Delia immediately. Please do not send your child to school if they have a fever or cold like symptoms. Please learn more about the fifth disease below.

The Year 5 camp was very successful despite the weather and the children kept positive, high spirits throughout the three days. Many thanks are extended to the Year 5 staff that supported the camp as they were extremely attentive to the well being of the children. The children were tired but happy when they returned back to school on Wednesday.

The weather is becoming a little cooler so please remember that the school has a uniform that is designed to be layered. The appropriate fleeces and sweat shirts can be purchased from the PTA. Remember that the children are encouraged to self-regulate their own temperatures and will be asked to remove clothing if they become too hot in school. Winter school uniform should be worn from 1st December onwards.

The PTA Christmas fair is coming soon, on Friday 2nd December. This event is very popular with the children and wider community and is the biggest PTA fundraiser. Please put the date in your diary and come along for a fun night!

Regards,

Sue Yee

Vice Principal

PE Help Urgently Needed

Dear parents,

The year 1 and 2 children each week are involved in a fundamental movement program, which helps to develop their gross motor skills, coordination and cognitive ability.

You can find out more in the following reading: Perceptual-Motor Activities for Children: An Evidence-Based Guide to Building Physical and Cognitive Skills by Jill A. Johnstone and Molly Ramon. http://www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerpts/helping-children-develop-to-their-full-potential-through-perceptual-motor-experiences

The following quote from the excerpt sums up the importance of running such programs within a school…. “Educators who want to help children develop to their full potential must educate the whole child by addressing physical, mental, and emotional needs…….. In fact, more and more modern research shows that programs focused on improving children’s physical skills enhance not only their physical health but also their academic and emotional health!”

For the program to be successful, we need at least 5 parent volunteers for the remainder of the year who are willing to help with a small group of year 2 children every Friday morning from 8:30 to 9:45am.

As well as getting to know the children in another academic capacity outside of the classroom, it is also good fun watching the children grow in confidence with their physical and social well being.

If you are able to commit to helping the PE department every Friday morning, could you please contact your child’s class teacher directly or email Mr Leone at rick.leone@qbs.edu.hk

Kind regards,

Rick Leone PE/SEN Specialist Teacher

Fifth Disease

We have recently had cases of Erythema Infectiosum (Fifth Disease, Slapped Cheek, Parvovirus B 19) reported in different year groups.

Fifth Disease is a mild viral illness. It usually occurs primarily in children. The most distinctive symptom of the disease is a red rash on both cheeks.

The incubation period is 4 to 20 days after which the following symptoms appear:

• The child is infectious for 7 days prior to the rash appearing
• Rash appears on the face and other body parts such as limbs and trunk. The rash is blotchy or lace-like.
• Low grade fever, tiredness, joint pain and itchiness are other symptoms

Please take your child immediately to your family doctor if you notice any of these symptoms. Do not send your child to school. If the doctor confirms that your child has the illness, please inform the school. Once the child is allowed back to school we require a doctors certificate stating the child is fit for school.

Pregnant women and high risk person (Auto Immune Deficient) we recommend you seek advice from a medical practitioner.

For more information on Fifth Disease please see the link from the Centre of Health Protection.

http://www.chp.gov.hk/en/content/9/24/22.html

Regards,
Delia Guastella Monti
School Nurse
delia.guastellamonti@qbs.edu.hk

Student Voice News

The charity group section of the Student Voice wish to let people know about the upcoming West Morninghope Christmas Charity.

Each year, Quarry Bay School donate different presents to children who are less fortunate than us. This has been going for a very long time and we wish to continue this tradition.

The year 5 and year 6 student voice children will be going to visit the school and take all the presents that our community bring in. The day that they will be going will be Wednesday 7th December. So we need all families to donate a gift before Monday 5th December. When your child brings the present into school, they can put it under the Christmas tree in the school hall or give it to their class teacher.

The types of gifts that you may wish to donate could be soft toys, action figures, small easy Lego/Duplo sets, top trump cards, stationary, children’s picture books and puzzles. But any gift will be much appreciated. The gift needs to be new, not expensive, wrapped and labelled with whether it is for a boy or girl and what age it will be suitable for.

Thank you for kind support and generous offers.

Year 5 and 6 Charity Action Group

ESF Winter Camps

PTA News

Upcoming PTA Events:

• Friday, 2nd December 2016: Christmas Fayre
• Sunday, 22nd January 2017: Junior Chess Star Competition 2016

Christmas Winter Fayre 2016

Countdown continues : 7 days to go!
[Proceeds raised at this event will go towards the upgrading of the Learning Platforms for the benefit of all QBS students.]

With the festive season coming up soon, preparations are underway and in full swing for our biggest event of the year. We welcome you all to join us in organising (as a parent volunteer), participating, or contributing to the event.

Checklist for all Parents and Students

Assistance required in the following areas for the Fayre…

• Christmas hamper wrapping: From 8:45am – 11:15am, on 30th November 2016
• 2nd Event Photographer: required for the later half of the event
• 2nd DJ: required for later half of the event

If you would like to assist please send an email to mona.diwan@qbs.edu.hk or contact the PTA Office on 28871004.

We are still looking for:

• Lucky draw prizes (new items)
• 2nd hand books
• White Elephant 2nd hand items: must be in good condition
• Bakers to bake for our Bake Stall

If you would like to assist please send an email to mona.diwan@qbs.edu.hk or contact the PTA Office on 28871004.

5th Junior Chess Star Competition 2016

Rescheduled Date is Sunday, 22 January 2017

The closing date for registrations has been extended till 5 December 2016.

So if you have not yet registered please do so now!
See here for more information on the Poster.
Please click here for online registration.

Parent Volunteers – Chess Competition
We welcome parent volunteers who would like to help with the event. Please contact us as soon as possible at mona.diwan@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”