Parent Update - 26 February 2017

Parent Update - 26 February 2017

MESSAGE FROM THE SCHOOL

Dear Parents

Thank you to those of you who took part in the Parent Survey. We achieved 37% return rate (7% up on last year) and it is really important because it helps us to plan for the future as well as know what parents like and don’t like about the school.

However, I need your help with another survey.  The International School Inspectorate (ISI) will be inspecting the school from 7^th to 10^th March.  As part of the process, they will survey all the parents and only the pupils from Year 4 upwards.  The survey is shorter and can be quickly completed.  The link will be provided online today and the survey closes next Friday 3 March.

Please complete the survey and encourage others to do the same via social media and any way you can.  This forms an important part of the inspectors’ report and view of the school.  The lower the number taking part, the more negative view they have of the school as a community. The higher the number the more positive view of parent involvement.

I want the inspectors to know that we have a great body of parents who care about the school and their children’s education.  Thanks, in advance, for all your help with this.

Have a great weekend.

Brian Cooklin

Principal

 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

27 February

INSET Day – No School for pupils

3 March

Class Assembly 1C, Katie Malone

10 March

Class Assembly 6A, Emma Parker

Year 5 Residential

14 March

Primary Mandarin Parents Evening

16 March

NAIS PTA quiz night 7-9.30pm in the school hall.

Primary Mandarin Parents evening

17 March

Class Assembly 3E, Arwen Batiste

 

ISI PARENT SURVEY 

We ask for your support again this week in ensuring that we meet ISI requirements by getting all our parents to complete their inspection survey. The survey is very quick (5 minutes or less as only 18 tick questions) and is a crucial part of the inspection process. We will be holding a lucky draw for those who complete it, and you stand to win a lesson of your choice for the whole class e.g. PE.

The inspection team, which will be led by Mrs L. Donowho, invites all parents to complete a confidential questionnaire as part of the process.  The online questionnaire must be completed by Friday, 3^rd March 2017 to allow the results to be collated, so please complete the questionnaire as soon as possible. If you have more than one child at the school, you can complete a questionnaire for each child by following the prompts after completion of the first questionnaire.

The completed questionnaires provide a valuable source of information for the inspection team and are designed to allow you to make detailed comments for the reporting inspector should you wish.  Using the online system ensures that we are able to analyse and process feedback from parents quickly so that inspectors are aware of the parents’ views before the inspection begins. If however, you are unable to access the online version then you may request a copy of the questionnaire from the school and return it to the school in a sealed envelope, addressed to the Reporting Inspector. 

Finally, thank you to everyone who took the time to complete the school parents’ survey last week. We will keep you posted on the results once the information has been collated and analysed.

 

THIS IS WHAT GREAT TEACHING IS ALL ABOUT!

YEAR 2 CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATIONS

We shared some pictures last week of this great way to learn and investigate but now we have the movie version to share with you. See the students in action here!

 

YEAR 9 – TRIP TO TANZANIA

Our Year 9 students arrived in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, where they met their peers from our sister schools in Switzerland and Thailand. Since arriving they have already visited a local village, installed a solar panel and built a goat shed for the community. From the photos we have seen and the feedback we’re getting, it seems that everyone is working hard, enjoying the challenge and feeling a little tired! But despite the exhaustion, there is a great sense of satisfaction and positivity. They were very happy to see how the locals reacted to their hard work, and, to when the light went on in their house.

See for yourself what they’ve been up to here.  

                                       

COMPUTING UPDATE - 3D printing and drone programming

Year 8 pupils have been combining both of these cutting edge disciplines in Computing this half term as part of their Drones for Good project. The Drones for Good competition runs in Dubai each year and challenges teams from all over the world to come up with innovative solutions to real world problems using drone technology with a prize of 1 million dollars for the winners.

Pupils at NAIS Hong Kong are having a taste of this by competing in their own drones for good competition. They have been using 3D CAD software to design attachments for drones which can solve a problem they have identified. They are then 3D printing and testing their designs. Once their designs have been fully tested and refined they will program their drones before showing off their abilities in front of a judging panel who will decide our first drones for good champions.

Drones and 3D printers here.  

 

SPECIAL FOCUS ON MUSIC:

It has been a busy and exciting time in the Music department! 

Watch our clips from Jasmine Choi’s visit and her interview on RTHK  here.

 

Juilliard Artist Visits:

Last week we had an awe-inspiring visit from Juilliard Alumni and world-class flautist, Jasmine Choi.  Jasmine led a masterclass with our flute group, giving them top tips to improve their technique.  She also performed for students, playing a wide variety of pieces that demonstrated many unique and interesting ways to play the flute, even recreating the sound of a train!  In the afternoon, Jasmine spent time in an intimate family ‘House Concert’ where she openly answered personal questions from the audience about her journey into music and gave stunning performances.  Thank you to all parents who attended and enjoyed this magical evening.  If you were unable to attend, we hope you enjoyed the short video on Facebook, showing highlights of the day.

 

“It was inspiring to see the joy and skill that Jasmine has for the flute and it was great for the children to learn more about her approach to life and the determination she needed to achieve her dream. Aside from the incredible music, we thought it was very special to hear a musician of such quality talking about her life in an honest and humble way. It meant the children could relate to her as a real person and engage with her story at a deeper level – this was evident in the car on the way home where we had many interesting conversations about whether you are born with determination, what is success, the importance of finding things you love doing… and a slightly scary discussion of whether you would leave home soon to do something you loved. Anyway – we all enjoyed it and she is a fabulous role model.”

Kerry Merrill (Parent)

 

These Juilliard Artist visits are an amazing opportunity for our young people and I am delighted to announce that our next Artist, trumpeter Liam Day will be in school on Monday 20^th March for another fun-filled and inspirational day.  If you would like to find out more about Liam, please take a look at his website www.williamblakeday.com!

 

Juilliard Curriculum Specialist Visits:

Next week, we have our second visit from Juilliard Curriculum Specialist and Juilliard Alumni, Erin Wight.  Erin is a Teaching Artist for both Carnegie Hall and the New York Philharmonic, and also works with the Juilliard team on the development of resources and activities used in our classrooms.  Whilst here, Erin will teach and observe lessons, lead professional development sessions, and lead a masterclass with our string group.  We are delighted to be welcoming Erin back and know that the students are also excited to see her again!  If you are interested to see what the Juilliard Programme means for your child on a daily basis in the classroom, please do follow our music twitter feed @MusicNAISHK for regular updates!

 

Global Virtual Choir:

KS2 Choir and Advanced Choir have been working extremely hard over the past weeks, learning a piece of music commissioned for an exciting challenge!  Over 2000 students from all 43 schools across the Nord Anglia Family have been recording and making music videos for ‘Wondrous Garden’, a piece specially commissioned by NAE, written by film and vocal composer Jack Blume (http://www.jackblume.co.uk/).  The piece has complex vocal harmonies, however, each of the 43 schools has a different part!  Once recorded, each school will submit their part and these will be pieced together to form a truly international and spectacular performance, breaking the world record for the World’s largest ever children’s virtual choir.  The ‘big reveal’ will take place in May, and we will perform this for you at our Summer Concert on Tuesday 13^th June.

 

Finally, a date for the diary!  As always, we are learning new music in our ECAs ready for our next concert which will take place on Friday 7^th April.  Please save the date and come to see our own musicians taking joy in performance!

 

EMMA PICKERING - CURRICULUM FELLOW FOR EARLY YEARS

Emma Pickering, Nord Anglia’s Curriculum Fellow for Early Years, visited our school this week. In addition to  working with our newly recruited Early Years staff to plan our second campus, she gave a workshop to new parents on how to set your child up for success in Early Years.

As well as covering the development of Early Years practice, she outlined the research behind personalised learning, how can you help at home to prepare your child for learning through play and tips for identifying and supporting reading readiness.

On Saturday, Emma is running a workshop for local early years teachers as part of Nord Anglia’s outreach programme.

 

PTA BAKE SALE SUCCESS!!

They baked, they came, they ate, and they raised a lot of money. Well done to everyone who helped to raise a total of $13,390.50.

 

REPORTS

Thank you to all of those who gave us feedback regarding the new reporting structure and for highlighting that it is not reader friendly. We’re taking your comments and suggestions into consideration and will use this to shape future reports.

In the meantime, check out how well our students are doing and progressing in this article that highlights where Years 4-9 are compared to the benchmark here.

 

SWIMMING POOL UPDATE

I am very happy to let you know that timetabled swimming classes will resume from Tuesday next week! Happy days. Swimming kit and goggles at the ready …

 
SUGARY SWEETS AND TREATS

We all love to indulge in something sweet now and again (more again and again in my case) however as a school, we are committed to helping the children understand and enjoy eating healthily.

We have recently noticed a number of children are bringing in unhealthy treats for their daily snack (basically made up of sugar and E numbers) so wanted to ask for everyone’s support to ensure children are eating healthy snacks. As you know nutritious snacks give them the extra energy and nutrients they need to focus and to stay healthy.  Potato chips, lollies, sweets, chocolates, cakes and biscuits may taste great but they’re also full of fats, sugar and salt.

 

PRIMARY ASSEMBLY – Class 5B, Przemyslaw Budzinski

Brrrrrrr …. Our children from 5B showcased what they have learnt about the two Poles, the Arctic and Antarctica in a performance called Life of the Poles in this morning assembly. Dressed in costume and taking the stage, they became famous explorers on an expedition (we think we spotted Captain Robert Falcon Scott and Roald Amundsen). Using role play, they introduced the history and background of Man’s expeditions to the Poles whilst also introduced us to the nature, climate, animals and resources found in there. Watch them here.

 

SECONDARY ASSEMBLY

Mr David Sheehan, our Head of Pastoral Care, gave our Secondary students a talk this morning about how not to feel overwhelmed in life, pointing out that when emotions or situations feel stressful, where and how to look for support and help.

 

PTA St PATRICK’S DAY QUIZ NIGHT 16 March, 7pm

Have you organised your team yet?

Registration is now open at https://naisptaquiznight2017.eventbrite.hk.

 

STARS OF THE WEEK – English

Another week and more to celebrate. Congratulations to the following students:

 

Year 1: Derrick Lee, Aiden Adams, Yuji Takuku, Sam Dore, Connor Hirst

Year 2: Natalie Wan, Minnie Wang, Lewis Wong, Harry Kilmartin, Brandon Wong

Year 3: Erin Tohill, Abigail Swan, Saffron Haigh, Sheryl Wan, Jocelyn Rayner

Year 4: Ivy Hatherall, Izabela Budzinska, Morris Hsieh, Sophia Xu, Howard Wang

Year 5: William Smith, Cyrus Chan, Soleil Chan, Cool Zhang

 

HIGH COMMENDATION AWARDS – English

Year 7: Ebee Lee

Year 8: Janice Ooi

Year 9:  Marcus Wong

 

See their smiling faces here.

 

FACEBOOK

Make sure you don’t miss out on what’s happening in school! Check that you have changed your settings and selected the “turn on the notifications” from our posts.

 

KEY CONTACTS

Quick list guide of who to email for what:

 

• Bus related  - bus@nais.hk
• ECAs - Tom.Ferguson@nais.hk
• Homework related – Class Teacher (firstname.secondname@nais.hk)
• Pastoral related - david.sheehan@nais.hk
• School Lunches  - katherine.chan@nais.hk
• Admissions and Marketing related – admissions@nais.hk
• General enquiry - receptionist@nais.hk
• Absences  - Class Teacher and receptionist@nais.hk if your child is sick or for medical reasons, and  Sarah.Harley@nais.hk (Year 1-4), Christian.Bishop@nais.hk  (Year 5-9) to request a leave of absence.

 

Please do not use the info@nais.hk for any of the above queries.

 

Have a lovely weekend.