Principal’s Message
Dear Parents,
This week has seen a wide range of activities and events take place. Our assemblies have focused on Remembrance Day. My wife, gave a presentation on the subject to our pupils at Sai Kung and Tai Tam. She told the personal story of her grandfather, who was a doctor in the army in World War I, who died and whose four children were orphaned soon after the end of the war. The Poppy Fund helped look after the children – one of them (my wife’s mother) was one hundred years old this year.
I think the personal story made it easier for young children to understand what poppy day was about but 100 years was hard for them to imagine as anyone over 21 seems positively ancient!
Last Saturday was a very successful Open Day, followed by assessments we were delighted to welcome hundreds of families to see and hear about our school. This Saturday we will have an Open Day at Tai Tam and on 18th November at Sai Kung.
Brian Cooklin.
Principal.
GENERAL ALL CAMPUS NOTICES
SIBLING PRIORITY
We are currently reviewing all the applicants for the next academic year (2018/2019). As you know siblings have a priority and we want to make sure that the siblings of our current students and families have submitted their applications. If you have not done this as yet please contact admissions@nais.hk by Friday the 24th November 2017.
PHILOSOPHY FOR CHILDREN TRAINING
For two days last week, seventeen of our teachers worked towards the Level 1 Philosophy for Children qualification. P4C (as it‘s called) is a proven enquiry based pedagogy, where the students take the lead and the teaching style is facilitated. The foundations of P4C are creative, critical, caring and critical thinking. During a P4C session, a teacher will initiate and facilitate a philosophical discussion in the classroom. As well as giving our teachers new strategies and skills, research has found that regular Philosophy for Children sessions boost children’s educational, personal and social development.
GENDER EQUALITY WEEK – Global Goals
Friday, 24 November is a non-uniform day when students should wear red (to match the Gender Equality logo). Our Student Council from the Lam Tin campus will visit our Sai Kung and Tai Tam campuses will have the following to read and discuss books that promote Gender Equality to EYFS children. (Monday 27th Sai Kung and Thursday 30th Tai Tam).
Such a great cause!
BOX OF HOPE – last chance to show your kindness – deadline extended till 15 March
We’ve had such a great response so far (and several families requesting more time to get their ‘Box of Hope’ ready) that we’re extending the deadline! You now have until Wednesday, 15 November to gift a ‘Box of Hope’. And make this a record breaking year. Let’s do this. Read about this great cause here.
LAM TIN UPDATES (scroll down for Tai Tam and Sai Kung campus updates)
UPCOMING EVENTS
13 November – 8:15–9:00am
Year 4 Parent Residential Presentation
15 November
International Day – woo hoo!
30 November
Christmas Concert
Save the Date
Primary Sports Day on Friday, 1 December
WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS
On Friday, our Year 4s went to the German Swiss International School for their annual football tournament. And boy what a great result we had. The first team won the whole tournament … again! The only points lost were against our own second team who we drew against and GSIS B-team who were the only team that managed to score against us in a 1-1 draw.
Max Robertson also won prize for the leading goal scorer of the tournament, he scored a true hat-trick in the last game as well. Harvey and Henry also scored goals in almost every match between them. Defense - Jonathan, Harry with Maximillian in goal - what can you say? - one goal conceded in seven games, perfect. GSIS had four teams in the tournament and Island school two. They were very good all of them. The four GSIS teams were all about the same level of our A-team, but they all lost against us.
The second team also did well too, winning some games and drawing some too. Harrys dad Rich coached them and everyone had lots of fun.
More medals for the collection. Keep the good work up.
ECA REMINDER
Please be reminded that, as per the original dates advertised on the sign-up forms, there will be no after school ECA’s from Monday 20th – Friday 24th November. This is due to staff hosting parents’ evenings and not being available to run the ECA’s. Please note the daily before school swimming sessions for the swimming squad WILL still take place here at NAIS from 7.00am -7.45am.
STUDENT COUNCIL
Last Friday, a few members of our Pupil Council were delighted to have the opportunity to meet with Mr. Cooklin to propose their plan for Gender Equality Week, beginning the week of 20th November.
At the beginning of the school year, the Pupil Council sent out a survey on Firefly to all the pupils in the school, to find out which of the United Nations Goals they wanted us to focus on. 'Gender Equality' came out as the clear winner so our Pupil Council representatives have now worked with Year leaders and other heads of school to come up with some fantastic activities that will help to raise awareness.
The children created a full proposal and presented their plan to Mr. Cooklin. He was very impressed with their efforts and has approved all of their ideas! We are now looking at how to get the Tai Tam and Sai Kung campuses involved too.
We are all really looking forward to seeing the impact of our Gender Equality Week! Stay tuned …
CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to Cecily Bowen, Evi Bowen, Eva Simmonds, Yuha Choi and Zoe Dewar who have each won one of the free spaces on Joline Henry’s workshop. Joline Henry played for the New Zealand Silver Ferns from 2004-2015 will be hosting a workshop here at NAIS on Sunday 26th November 9am-12noon. Don’t worry if you didn’t win a free place this time, you can still sign up for a place on this workshop. Check out the attached flyer for full details of the workshop and how to sign up for a place.
PRIMARY SPORTS DAY 1/12/17 - KOWLOON BAY SPORTS STADIUM (ADVANCED WARNING)
More detailed information will be in next week’s Parent Update but please see the outline of our primary sports day below for information:
Drop off: Pupils should report straight to Kowloon Bay Sports Ground for 8am (do not come to school). School buses will collect children at normal times and will drop off at the venue where our teachers will meet them.
Years 1 & 2 – 9.00am - 11.15am
Years 3 & 4 – 9.00am - 12.15am
Years 5 & 6 – 9.00am - 2.00pm
Years 9 – 9.00am - 2.00pm (Sports Leaders)
INVOLVED IN WATER?
First it was the aviation industry and now it’s time for the water industry. If you’re involved in the water industry, be it treatment, distribution, or environmentally then we need you!
Our first Lego league team are working on a project entitled Hydro Dynamics which is all about the human water cycle and as part of the challenge they need to come up with a product to improve the way humans use water. We have an idea and now want to share it with someone from the industry and get feedback.
Sound interesting? Contact Mr Darren Sutton here.
FIREFLY – YEAR BLOGS
Please continue to check the blogs for weekly information about what your child has been learning in school.
MIT – STEAM PROJECT: The Launch of Greener Skies STEAM month for Year 7
As part of our collaboration with MIT, we are running a month-long STEAM project entitled Greener Skies. We are delighted to have some of the parents from the aviation industry to share their professional knowledge to us. The whole of Year 7 will be working on this theme during a month-long project in November where they will be learning about the history of air travel, the impact it has had on the planet. Finally, our pupils will contribute to work on a future greener plane design on their own. They have to design it detail, model it and work on a presentation for it.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT - Thursday, 30 November (3.45pm)
With only four weeks to go until our fabulous Christmas Concert, we would ask all parents to save the date and encourage all students to practice at home. Choir words, orchestra music and string ensemble music are available on Firefly!
WHO’s WHO & WHEN TO CONTACT THEM
TAI TAM UPDATES
Message from the Head of School
Dear Parents,
It has been a fantastic week watching as the staff have turned different learning areas into new and exciting spaces. We now have a lookout area where the children can watch the birds and wildlife from the windows using their personal binoculars they have made. Mermaids and mermen have appeared on the beach in the Nursery area and all are seen diving into a crystal blue sea – all designed and created by the children. My personal favourite has to be the messy play area as it is so beneficial for all the children and the impact this has on their development is incredible. If you are looking for me next week, I suggest you try this area first!
We welcomed Mrs Cooklin to our Remembrance Assembly this week where she talked to the children about her personal experience of the Poppy Fund. She discussed her grandfather and his part in the First World War, linking this to her own grandson, Oscar, to enable the children to understand the impact war has had on individual families. The children were very engaged and interested to hear this, especially seeing the photos of Oscar, Mr and Mrs Cooklin’s grandson. She also commented on how great the school looks and the amazing behaviour of all the children while she was speaking to them. We were very proud of our TaiTam children.
During our training sessions for teachers today, they will be focusing on the importance of feedback to children to enable them to succeed further in their learning. We will also be welcoming the techers from Sai Kung to Tai Tam to discuss the learning environements fro children and how this supports and extends their learning. We encourage all our children and teachers to be lifelong learners!
Have a have weekend.
Kind regards
Mrs Sarah Harley
Head of School
NOTICES
10 November
INSET DAY
School is closed to all pupils for staff training.
15 November
International Day
23 November
Individual Online Learning Journal information session 8:30am (followed with coffee and cake!)
STARS OF THE WEEK
Nursery: Serena Wan
Lower Kindergarten: Aldrick Tsang
Upper Kindergarten: Eric Fang
GENDER EQUALITY WEEK – Global Goals
Friday, 24 November is a non-uniform day when students should wear red (to match the Gender Equality logo). Our Student Council from the Lam Tin campus will visit Tai Tam on Thursday, 30 November to read and discuss books that promote Gender Equality to EYFS children.
Such a great cause!
STEAM WEEK – 20-24 November 2017
Please can you start collecting boxes and send them into school on 20th, 21st and 22nd of November. Sarah Williams in Year 1 will be coordinating our MIT work from Tai Tam, so please feel free to contact her if you have any questions or want to support in any way.
TEACHER SPOTLIGHT – ALLYS STAFFORD
Miss. Stafford began her teaching career at Canon Evans C of E Infant School in Bedworth, Nuneaton where she shared a Reception class and taught IT to Key Stage 1 for 1 year. Following that she moved to Henley Green Primary School, Coventry where she taught Reception and was responsible for design technology across Key Stage 1 and 2 for a year.
After that I moved to Hong Kong where for the past two years I have been at an ESF International Kindergarten. Here I have been responsible for the implementation and development Pedagogical documentation across the Early Years setting.
Outside of school love to travel, dive and partake in lots of water sports. Swimming is a passion of mine. I am also a keen photographer.
INTERNATIONAL DAY – 15th November
Children on this day will be able to come to school wearing something celebrating their culture and country. This could include national dress, colours from the countries flag or even a football top. Parents are welcome to come into school first thing to watch our celebration of costumes from around the world.
INDIVIDUAL ONLINE LEARNING JOURNAL INFO SESSION - 8:30am on Thursday, 23 November
This information session about our online learning journal that will give parents an opportunity to see how their child is developing through the year. It will also give you an opportunity to spend time with your child in their classrooms as they show you some of their learning and a chance to meet other parents. We will end with a parent coffee and cake morning.
CHRISTMAS SHOW - Tuesday, 12 December at 10am
Save the date for our Tai Tam show on Tuesday, 12 December at 10am– all the children will take to the stage and parents will be invited.
CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY – THURSDAY, 14 DECEMBER
It is time to get into the festive spirt and don those fabulous Christmas jumpers we all love (to hate sometimes)! On this day we will be celebrating Christmas by asking all our children and staff to wear Christmas jumpers. We will also have our Christmas parties on this day.
BLOGS
Please continue to check the blogs for weekly information about what your child has been learning in school.
SPORTS DAY
Year 1 children will join in the whole of Primary Sports Day on Friday, 1 December – EYFS will have a separate sports day with Sai Kung EYFS in the Spring. More information will be given about both events nearer the time.
NO NUTS
We are a ‘nut free school’ as we have a number of children with severe nut allergies. This includes peanuts and tree nuts. Please remember this when packing your child’s snack and lunch. We cannot allow nut/nut products of any kind in the building. For a snack we suggest a small piece of fruit or bread.
SPARE CLOTHES
We do have a small supply of spare clothes for emergencies, can we remind everybody to add a spare set of clothes to your child’s bag every day, just in case!
WHO’s WHO & WHEN TO CONTACT THEM
Quick list guide of who to email for what:
SAI KUNG UPDATES
Message from the Head of School
Dear Parents,
Our week started off with an extraordinary event on Monday morning. We came into school to find the tables turned over and huge muddy footprints trailing through our library. As you can imagine, this created a tremendous buzz in the school and the excitement was high as all the children wondered, exclaimed, chatted and investigated ‘what on earth had happened?’ We call this staging of an event, a ‘hook’, and it’s the way the teachers plan to get the children really involved and motivated to learn. The result was a lot of maths work as the children measured the footprints and compared the sizes.
This event followed on from a week of Reception getting very excited about a strange egg they had found. They studied it, wrote about it and skyped a ‘professor’ to get as much information as they could. After the events this weekend, we have concluded that it was a dragon’s egg and the muddy footprints have been caused by the mother dragon coming to get the baby as it had hatched. The photo-shopping talents of our teachers have added to the tale. Now the children are watching the news for sightings of it and have created wanted posters to try to find it. They are even calling up Year 2 over in Lam Tin to see what they know.
In addition to this, we also had a visit from Mrs Cooklin, later on Monday, to speak to the children about Remembrance Day in our assembly. Mrs Cooklin told the children a very special story about her Grandfather who was a Doctor in the war. She connected the story to Oscar, Mr and Mrs Cooklin’s grandson, and cleverly told her real-life story to explain how wearing poppies helps children like her mother and Oscar be ‘safe and happy and loved’. When you visit the school, you can also see the photos from this assembly.
We hope to see you all at our first PTA event on 22nd November. Parents from EYFS are invited to come in at 6pm for a presentation about Tapestry. Parents from Year 1 and the other campuses are invited to join us at 7pm for drinks on the roof. We hope to see you all there.
As always, this is a busy term for us. Next week is international week with our dress up day on Wednesday. Following that is our STEAM week and after that we will take part in Gender Equality week, as organized by our Pupil Council to help us meet our UN Global Goals challenge. More information will follow but please make a note that children will be asked to wear red on Friday 24th November to mark this occasion.
Kind regards,
Naima Charlier
Head of School
NOTICES
10 November
INSET DAY
School is closed to all pupils for staff training.
15 November
International day
22 November – 6pm
Our first PTA event will be held at Sai Kung on the roof. We will have a session on ‘Tapestry’ which is our online assessment system for early years followed by a drinks evening for parents. Please save the date in your diaries.
28 November
Parent Consultations
GENERAL UPDATES
STARS OF THE WEEK
Nursery: to be filled
Lower Kindergarten: to be filled
Upper Kindergarten: to be filled
INTERNATIONAL DAY – 15th November – Please don’t forget that this is a non-uniform day and children can come to school dressed to represent their own or another country. Thank you to all the parents who have volunteered to come into school to help us learn about their country. We look forward to seeing you in school next week. Any question please email emma.coleman@nais.hk
GENDER EQUALITY WEEK – Global Goals
Friday, 24 November is a non-uniform day when students should wear red (to match the Gender Equality logo). Our Student Council from the Lam Tin campus will visit our Sai Kung Monday 27 November, to read and discuss books that promote Gender Equality to EYFS children.
Such a great cause!
MIT/STEAM Project:
As part of our MIT collaboration we will take part in our first STEAM challenge of the year, which is called ‘Greener Skies’. We will launch this project on Monday, 20 November which will then start a whole STEAM week, where the children will be imagining what the future of flight will look like. On Wednesday, the children will take part in a House challenge to build a giant plane. We need your help for this. Please can you start collecting boxes that then need to be sent into school on 20, 21 and 22 of November. Eliza Man in Year 1 will be coordinating our MIT work from Sai Kung, so please feel free to contact her if you have any questions or want to support in any way. We will be looking at all things to do with flying including, animals, parasailing, rockets and planes. So, if anyone has any connections to these area, please let us know.
TEACHER SPOTLIGHT – SARAH TILLOTSON
Sarah undertook her undergraduate degree in Psychology (Bsc Hons) from the University of York before completing her PGCE and Masters in Education at the University of Cambridge. Prior to joining NAIS she taught Reception for 4 years at a primary school in Hackney, East London and was Early Years Leader for over 2 years.
Sarah loves to try new things and has array of hobbies. Whilst she enjoys singing with her choral troop and listening to political podcasts, she has recently discovered amateur floristry. She’s a keen traveller and is looking forward to making the most of Hong Kong’s flight connections, as well as hiking and camping in Hong Kong’s famously picturesque landscape.
Sarah is a strong advocate of the importance of child-led learning and empowering children to learn through purposeful play in a responsive environment. Her practise embraces children’s love of story telling and encourages children to develop resilience and independence.
PARENT CONSULTATION INFORMATION – YEAR 1 - Tuesday, 28 November
If your child is in Year 1, you should have already received information about a suitable appointment form Miss Man. You will also be able to meet with Miss Lo about Mandarin at this time.
SPORTS DAY – 1 December
Year 1 children will join in the whole of Primary Sports Day on December 1. EYFS will have a separate sports day with Tai Tam EYFS in the Spring. More information will be given about both events nearer the time.
CHRISTMAS SHOW – 13 December
Save the date for our Sai Kung show – all the children will take to the stage and parents will be invited. More details will follow.
CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY – THURSDAY, 14 DECEMBER
It is time to get into the festive spirt and don those fabulous Christmas jumpers we all love (to hate sometimes)! On this day we will be celebrating Christmas by asking all our children and staff to wear Christmas jumpers. We will also have our Christmas parties on this day.
CURRICULUM OVERVIEWS
You can find detailed information about the curriculum for the coming term on our Firefly pages. Please do take a look and ask your teacher if you have any questions.
BLOGS
Please continue to check the blogs for weekly information about what your child has been learning in school.
Click here for the Nursery.
Click here for the Reception.
Click here for the Year 1.
There is also a section of photos from Sai Kung in general - you can find this in the “Welcome to Sai Kung” section of Firefly.
WHO’s WHO & WHEN TO CONTACT THEM
Here’s a quick list guide of who to email for what:
Primary Campus
11 On Tin Street
Lam Tin, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Secondary Campus
19 Yuet Wah Street
Kwun Tong, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Early Years Campus
285 Hong Kin Road,
Tui Min Hoi, Sai Kung,
New Territories
