Early Years Campus Weekly Update 7 Sep 2026

Dear Parents,

One of the greatest joys of the start of a new school year is getting to know our children as individuals: their personalities, strengths, ideas and, perhaps most importantly, their interests. As I spend time in classrooms, I am continually reminded that some of the most meaningful learning occurs when we take children's interests seriously and use them as a starting point for inquiry, exploration and discovery.

Following Children's Interests

We know that children learn best when they are genuinely engaged in what they are doing. When learning connects to something that fascinates them, children are more motivated to persevere, ask questions, solve problems, and collaborate with others.

This week, one child's fascination with flying and aeroplanes quickly captured the imagination of a group of friends. What began as a simple conversation developed into an extended play narrative, with the children designing their own aeroplanes and assigning roles to each other. As they played, they naturally developed their speaking and listening skills, collaborating, negotiating, and sharing ideas.

Inspired by journeys across water, several children set themselves the challenge of creating boats for the water tray. Through experimentation and problem-solving, they refined their designs until they successfully made boats that float. Once they had mastered the skill, many were eager to teach their classmates how to make boats too, demonstrating both confidence and a growing understanding of the process.





These examples show how we use children's interests as a springboard for learning. When children are engaged in a meaningful context, they are more curious, motivated, and willing to take on new challenges. They build on what they already know while remaining open to new knowledge and experiences. As their play unfolds, new questions, challenges and possibilities naturally emerge, creating rich opportunities for inquiry, learning and development. In these moments, learning is not something children are simply asked to do; it is something they actively want to pursue.

Parent Partnership

This week, we will be sending sign-up information for our first Parent Teacher Conferences of the year. These meetings provide an important opportunity for us to discuss how children have settled into the new school year, celebrate their strengths, and talk about their next steps in learning and development.

Strong partnerships between home and school are central to a child's success. By bringing together your insights from home and our observations from school, we can develop a shared understanding of your child's progress and ensure they continue to thrive. I look forward to meeting many of you over the coming weeks and continuing these important conversations.

Mooncake Donations

As part of our preparations for the Mid-Autumn Festival, we are delighted to be accepting mooncake donations, which we will take to the Sai Kung Community Centre. These donations help children learn about the values of generosity, community, and caring for others, while also providing opportunities to explore the traditions, stories, and customs associated with this special festival.

We are extremely grateful for the support of our parent community and thank you in advance for helping us make a positive contribution to our local community.

Homemade Lanterns

One of the highlights of our Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations is always seeing the creativity of our families shine through in our homemade lantern display. We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our first homemade lanterns and cannot wait to see the imagination and creativity that will undoubtedly be on display. These special creations are always a wonderful reflection of the time, care, and creativity that families bring to our community, and we know they will help make this year's celebration particularly memorable.
Thank you, as always, for your continued partnership and support.

Yours sincerely,

Ruth Hanson
Head of Early Years