Dear Parents,
Our Reception classes enjoyed a very special live call this week with our sister school in Guangzhou, providing a vibrant and authentic opportunity for Chinese teaching and learning. The 20-minute session was full of energy, creativity and collaboration. Our children took part in an engaging guessing game, confidently giving clues both verbally and through actions, and demonstrating their growing language skills with enthusiasm.
The session concluded on a high note with beautiful Chinese singing. A particularly special moment was seeing our children teach their peers in Guangzhou some finger exercises to accompany the songs, creating a genuine exchange of learning and culture. We also thoroughly enjoyed listening to the Guangzhou children sing so beautifully. Experiences like this highlight the powerful opportunities that come through our China Region sister school network—bringing language learning to life while building confidence, connection and cultural understanding in a meaningful way.
Alongside these enriching experiences, we continue to prioritise children’s language and communication development. Strong early language skills are fundamental to learning, social interaction and overall wellbeing, and early identification of need is key to ensuring the right support is in place. In school, we use a range of strategies including modelling rich vocabulary, creating purposeful opportunities for talk, and using visual supports to scaffold understanding and expression.
This week, Ms. Henri Olesen will be leading a staff training session focused on effective approaches to supporting language and communication development. This professional learning will further strengthen our consistent, evidence-informed practice across the school, ensuring we are well equipped to identify needs early and respond in ways that reduce barriers and support every child to thrive.
We are also excited that our Reception and Year 1 children will take part in their first Sea Scouts session this week at Clear Water Bay Beach. This is a wonderful opportunity for children to further connect with our local environment through hands-on, outdoor learning. The sessions will include a range of engaging activities such as exploring the shoreline, developing teamwork through group challenges, and learning practical skills related to the sea.
A key focus of these sessions is developing an understanding of beach and sea safety. Children will begin to learn how to recognise potential risks, follow safety guidance, and build confidence in and around the water in a safe and supervised way. This knowledge is essential in helping them enjoy the beach responsibly and make the most of the incredible natural environment we are so fortunate to have. We look forward to seeing the children grow in confidence, independence and respect for the outdoors through this exciting programme.
With these wonderful opportunities ahead, we look forward to another exciting and memorable week of learning and growing. Thank you, as always, for your continued support.
Yours sincerely,
Ruth Hanson
Head of Early Years
