Parent Update - 17 April 2015

Dear Parents,

It’s been lovely to see all our pupils back at school and to welcome 13 new children. Thank you to all our young “buddies” who have been helping our new pupils to settle in quickly and happily.

UPCOMING DATES …

- Wed, 22 April (8.00pm onwards): Evening at the Races for parents and teachers – Happy Valley Racecourse – Public area (Please email Mary Berry on maryrberry@gmail.com for more details).

- Fri, 24 April (7.45am to 9.30am): Coffee Morning hosted by the PTA. All parents welcome. Please RSVP Jessica Bruser on jessica.bruser@gmail.com (The PTA plans to hold these coffee mornings on a monthly basis, so please also put 29 May in your diary now.)

- Monday 27 April: Extra-Curricular Activities (ECAs) start. If you’ve selected any ECAs (and received confirmation by email that you’ve got a “ticket”), then please make sure that you’ve also completed the “How is My Child Getting Home” form. Click here please.

- Thurs, 30 April: World Book Day & Official Opening of our Library! More details below.

Now for some important SAVE THE DATES …

- Wed, 20 May (7.00pm to 8.00pm): Presentation by Mr Cooklin on our Secondary School Development. Please put this one in your diary as it’s an important opportunity to learn more about our plans for the upper years. For parents who can’t make this evening, we’ll be sharing the presentation via email.

- Sat, 6 June: NAIS Gala Dinner! The PTA are working hard to create a great fun evening – and a fitting way to celebrate our first year! Tickets are on sale next week. Look out for the email!

- Wed, 24 June: End-of-Term Performance by Years 3, 4, 5 & 6. Evening performance open to all parents in these years. More details to follow.

- Fri, 26 June (8.30am start): End-of-Term Speech Day. More details to follow.

- Tues, 30 June: Last Day of Term. 1pm finish.

- 6 July onwards: Summer Camps at NAIS – We’re delighted to partner with Kids Gallery, All Round Education and the Academy of Jazz to offer a range of sports (touch rugby, football, basketball), arts, creative writing and dance classes. We’ll be sharing all the details next week. These Camps will be open to NAIS and non-NAIS children.

A few other things …

UNIFORM – We feel that it’s really important that all our children take pride in their uniform as it’s a real reflection of the respect we all feel for our school and teachers. Can we please ask that children wear official uniform items only. We’re seeing too many colourful tops, tights and hair accessories. Also, please be reminded that PE trainers should be predominately white (and worn with white socks) and schools shoes should be black, and worn with NAIS black socks. Thank you all for your understanding.

HATS – The weather is really heating up. Can we please remind you that children must wear their caps outside (we’re also looking at Legionnaire-style hats to keep the sun off the children’s’ necks). Our rule is: No Cap – No outdoor play!

OFFICIAL OPENING OF OUR LIBRARY + Request for Parent Volunteers to read to children (30 April)

We’re delighted to be joined by one of Hong Kong’s most colourful characters and authors, Nury Vittachi. As well as being the successful author of more than 30 books for children, he is a major advocate of the value of reading and writing in children. I’ve heard him speak on a number of occasions and always come away inspired. We’d also love to have some parent volunteers to come in and read to our pupils sometime between 9am and 2pm. Could you please email Katie Byrne on Katie.byrne@nais.hk.

MARCH TO ATHENS – Thank you to everyone who has already sent in their sponsorship money!

We have been delighted by how enthusiastic our children and teachers were about getting fit and healthy in March. Not only did we “March to Athens” (all 8,566 km), we marched straight past Athens, swam across the Atlantic Ocean and ended up in the Mid-West (close to Chicago!). What an achievement. Thank you all for getting behind our COBIS Team. We’re totting up the sponsorship money we’ve received so far, and Mr Pate will be sharing with the whole school the exciting projects we’ve planned for the funds!

LUNCH MENU FOR MAY – Please click here to view the lunch options for May.

STAR OF THE WEEK –English

A great start to the Summer Term as we celebrated our Stars of the Week in English, as well as enjoying a recital on the piano and violin from Justin Suo (Y6) and Boco To (Y4).

Year 1: Arianna Villaflor, Callum Burns, King Tong Ngai, Yahya Saad, Oscar Law

Year 2: Sunny Li, Elliot Taylor, Finn Edwards, Christopher Kay, Vanishka Samad

Year 3: George Su, Karl Evans, Stephanie Kwan, Hana Horie

Year 4: Meisa Chi, Ronny Chu, Wayan Singson, Ally Cheung

Year 5: Sofia Gonzalez, Collin Kam, Susan Lu

Year 6: Vic Jiwattanakul, Janice Ooi

Year 7: Alice Dong, Michael Chen

PARENTS YOGA – Don’t forget that yoga with Jenny Smith (one of our great NAIS mums) starts again next week. The day has changed to Wednesday mornings (starts at 7.45am). Please email jenny@geckoyoga.com to book your place.

Have a lovely weekend and please feel free to come back to us with any questions. It’s a long Parent Update this week!