Newsletter 8/2016-17
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
Fifth Disease
ESL Programme and Community Event
PTA News
Principal’s Comments
Diwali Celebrations
October 30th is Diwali, the Festival of Light. In the run up to this festival, students will be learning about Diwali through a range of storytelling, dance, and art activities that will be led by parents, students and teachers throughout this week. Thank you very much to all those adults and children who are supporting these activities. This Friday, 28th October, students are invited to dress in brightly coloured clothes, or traditional dress, to enjoy the event.
Welcome to New Colleagues
At the start of the year, we were pleased to welcome several new colleagues to the Educational Assistants team, and also to the support staff team. They have already made a positive contribution to the school, and have taken time to share information about themselves, which you can read here.
Camp Season
Camp season continues, with year four students this week out on Cheung Chau at Bradbury camp. There was great excitement this morning as they departed, and I’m sure they will have a fantastic time. I will be out of school from Monday to Wednesday, joining 4S and 4W classes for their camp, and am looking forward to enjoying this experience with the children. In my absence, Mr Dewey will be Acting Principal on Monday and Tuesday, with Mrs Yee continuing in my stead on Wednesday. Feel free to contact them should you have any queries or concerns.
Future Events
As ever, we have busy half term ahead with lots going on. Please find attached a list of dates for key events here.
Thank You
Thank you for your understanding of changes last week made necessary due to the adverse weather. The flexibility and support from the whole school community was greatly valued. We hope to enjoy more settled weather this week.
Regards,
Fifth Disease
We have recently had a few cases of Erythema Infectiosum (Fifth Disease, Slapped Cheek) reported in different year groups.
Fifth Disease is a mildly contagious viral illness. It usually occurs in small outbreaks in children over the age of two. The most distinctive symptom of the disease is red rash on both cheeks.
Typical incubation is 4 to 14 days after which the following symptoms appear:
- Bright red cheeks, contrasting with a pale area around the mouth.
- Fever.
- A rash develops 1 to 4 days after the cheeks become red. The rash appears on the arms and legs and occasionally on the trunk. It is a blotchy or lace-like rash and can last 7 to 10 days.
- Joint pain.
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.
Please note that pregnant women should minimise contact with this illness during the first trimester. If this impacts on a family member, we recommend advice from a medical practitioner.
Regards,
Delia Guastella Monti
School Nurse
delia.guastellamonti@qbs.edu.hk
ESL Programme and Community Event
ESL Programme
Community Event – Terry Fox Run Hong Kong
Please be a part of the Marathon of Hope in Hong Kong 2016
Terry Fox Run Hong Kong (TFRHK) is now calling for registrations
The Terry Fox Run Hong Kong is an annual charity event inspired by a courageous, young, Canadian, activist and hero. This is a volunteer-organised event with 100% of funds raised donated to Hong Kong based cancer research projects.
TFRHK has proudly contributed HKD 700,000 to Chinese University of Hong Kong Oncology Research Department in support of a new biomarker-driven approach for the clinical trial of the most common type of liver cancer, Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
In addition to promoting cancer awareness and raising research funds, the event allows families and friends of cancer victims to show their support by taking part in the Marathon of Hope. In 2015, over 1,000 runners and walkers participated.
The Terry Fox Run is a 3km, 5km or 10km, non-competitive, family-oriented run or walk. With no enrolment fee for participation or minimum donation required, TFRHK welcomes everyone from running enthusiasts to families with kids to school groups and corporate teams – to join.
Event Details:
Date: 5 November 2016 (Saturday)
Time: 10am to 2pm
Venue: Renaissance College, Hong Kong, Ma On Shan
Please look us up on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/HKTerryFoxRun/
and register at http://www.terryfox.org/InternationalRun/Hong_kong.html
PTA News
Upcoming PTA Events:
- Wednesday, 9 November 2016: Pizza Lunch – Lower school (Year 1, 2 and 3)
- Friday, 11 November 2016: Pizza Lunch – Upper school (Year 4, 5 and 6)
- Thursday, 17 November 2016: PTA Annual General Meeting
- Friday, 2 December 2016: Christmas Fayre
- Sunday, 22 January 2017: Junior Chess Star Competition 2016
Pizza Lunch
- Lower School – to be held on Wednesday, 09 November 2016
- Upper School – to be held on Friday, 11 November 2016
Order forms will be distributed to students on 18 October 2016. The deadline date for submission of orders is 1 November 2016.
Parent Volunteers: if you would like to be a parent volunteer at either of the Pizza Lunch, please fill in the application at the bottom of the order form and send it in. Due to limited classes per Pizza Lunch the Parent volunteers will be confirmed on first-come-first serve basis.
Please click here for Order Form – Lower School
Please click here form Order Form – Upper School
5th Junior Chess Star Competition 2016
Rescheduled Date is Sunday, 22 January 2017
Firstly, thank you to all the parents and students for registering for the “5th Chess Star Competition 2016”, and sending in your registration fees.
We are pleased to confirm that the rescheduled date for the Chess Competition is Sunday 22nd January 2017.
The closing date for registrations has been extended till 5 December 2016.
The QBS PTA LTD will be banking in all registration fees within the next week. Following this you will receive an email of “Confirmation of Participation” for the Chess Competition.
For further details or clarifications please do not hesitate to contact Mona Diwan on mona.diwan@qbs.edu.hk or by phone on 28871004.
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.
Christmas Winter Fayre 2016
Save the date…
Friday, 2nd December 2016
Mark this date on your calendar! Our biggest festive and fun event of the year is coming up and preparations are underway. Come along with your family and friends to enjoy the festivities………
Last year’s Christmas Fayre was a huge success and the funds raised were given to school towards the School Renovation Project – which is now complete!
Wanted: Lucky Draw/Tombola Prize Sponsors:
We are looking for donations for the lucky draw/tombola prizes. Examples of prizes donated last year were: Gift hampers, I.T gift vouchers, headphones, wine bottles, brand-new board games, brand-new toys, brand-new stationery, chocolates, brand-new housewares, dining vouchers, and a lot more. Cash donations are also welcome. This will allow the PTA to purchase additional prizes for the stall.
If you would like to sponsor/donate a prize please email your contribution to mona.diwan@qbs.edu.hk, specifying your name, your child’s name, class number and contact number. Please ensure all prizes are NEW and in good condition and all vouchers should be valid till 30 June 2017 or after. All donations sent in must be labelled: “LUCKY DRAW PRIZE”, and sent into the PTA Office to the attention of Mona Diwan – not later than 10th November 2016.
Wanted: Parent Volunteers – for International Food Stalls & Other Areas:
We are pleased to invite parents to run the International Food Stalls and Other Stalls at the event. As in the past, we encourage parents to group together and run their food stalls, selling food specialities from their countries.
Please click here to register as a Parent Volunteer for the event.
(Our events team will liaise with you and assist you closely to make all the arrangements of supplies for the event.)
Invitation: Commercial Vendors
We are pleased to invite Commercial Vendors for the event.
Please click here for the vendor applications form.
As there are limited spaces available, please send the original form and fee to the PTA office as soon as possible. All vendor spaces are available on first come first serve basis. For further queries please do not hesitate to contact Mona Diwan (PTA Coordinator) on mona.diwan@qbs.edu.hk.
PTA School Buses
All students are required to be at the bus stop 5-8 minutes prior the scheduled times to avoid missing the bus. The school bus will NOT wait for any late students. All students who are not collected at the stops by guardians in the afternoon, will be brought back to school by the bus mum, for which extra transportation charges are applicable (as stated in the bus rules). The buses will operate according to the Hong Kong Standard Time which can be matched by the clock on the bus, the TV or Radio.
Change in Daily Travel Schedule: Parents are requested to inform the PTA by email ONLY to pta@qbs.edu.hk for any change in daily travel schedule for their child/ren before 12:00noon. You are also required to inform the school/class teacher separately.
PTA SHOP
Parakito Mosquito Bands: NEW Design Bands and Refills are available for purchase now!
Parakito Mosquito Sprays: NEW Sprays are available for purchase now! Sprays will only be sold to parents & carers (adults) and are not to be used by students in school.
Winter Uniforms: will be available for purchase from Tuesday, 25 October 2016 onwards. Winter uniform order forms will be available on the PTA section of the website. You may place your pre-orders. All pre-orders can be collected after 25 October 2016.
Parent Volunteers – Shop: we request for parent volunteers to help during the transition period on Tuesday 25 October and Wednesday 26 October 2016, and assist with checking stock and stocking up uniforms. If you would like to assist please contact Rathi Nandakumar via email on ptashop@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”