Peak View 16th September 2011

16 September 2011

arrowWelcome
arrowPTA News Order Form Attachment
arrowMessage from the PTA Administrator
arrowMandarin News
arrowCalling all Musicians - Band on the Run!
arrowPE News
arrowSchool Photographs
arrowElection of Parent Members to Board of Governors of ESF
arrowParent/Teacher Consultations
arrowCommunity Chest Dress Casual Day - Thursday 29 Sept 2011
arrowCentral Application Process for Y1 and Y6 to Y7 For August 2012
arrowPerpectual Motor Programme(PMP) for Year 1 and Year 2
arrowCarmen Project - An ESF & Scottish Opera Collaboration
arrowAfter School
arrowGolden Book
arrowKey Dates

 
Welcome
Dear Parents/Caregivers
 
It was great to see so many parents attend our “Year Ahead” meetings last Wednesday as well as the presentation by the leadership team. Your on-going support, encouragement and participation is greatly appreciated. I am excited about attending my very first Peak School Lantern Festival as are a number of new parents and staff. We hope to see you there.
 
Our children continue to remain settled and our Year 3 to 6 children have almost finished their INCAS testing for another year. We will share this data with you once it becomes available later in the term. We will also use the information to track any trends and to identify any areas of development across the school. Our Year 1 and 2 children have been sitting the PIPs testing these past two weeks as well. Our Year 4 to 6 children have also been busy completing the ISA writing test. This test involves two 45 minute writing tasks and is marked by independent markers back in Australia. Again all data collected is useful for tracking individual and school wide progress in particular areas.
 
Next month our Year 4-6 children will also be participating in the ISA maths and reading tests. We are only one of a small number of ESF schools who have opted to fund this testing ourselves. The detailed data will be analysed and allow us to work on areas across the school that are highlighted as needing developed. It will also enable classroom teachers to have a very clear picture of the strengths and weaknesses of each child in the class. The testing is designed for children Year 4 and up so we are unable to offer it to our lower classes.
 
I hope to see you all tonight. Have a great weekend.
 
Bill Garnett
Principal
PTA News Order Form Attachment
Dear Parents
 
I hope everyone has fun at the Lantern Festival this evening. It is always a great family event and I am sure this year will be no different. If you are still wavering and it is not too late, the fun starts at 5:30 and we will be partying until 8:30 – tickets are available on the door.
 
Next week is the PTA Annual General Meeting (AGM) – we will be presenting our annual accounts and electing the new committee for this academic year. The AGM will be held at 12:45 on Thursday 22nd September in the library - everyone is welcome to join in. All parents are automatically members and we need a quorum to start proceedings, so please come if you are able. The PTA will be providing refreshments and there will be opportunities for questions from the floor.
 
We are still looking to fill 4 places on the PTA committee and would welcome any parents who are interested in getting more involved in the school to volunteer. There are a number of key skills we are missing on the committee, namely an additional finance person to assist the Treasurer, a graphic design or advertising or editing person to help with marketing materials, and a fundraising specialist. If you have any of these skills and a little time to spare we would be most grateful for your contribution. We also need people who are passionate about their children and the school, no other special skills required! Nomination forms are available from the office - nominations can be made on the day of the AGM if any vacancies remain – it is not too late!
 
Of course, we also need a new Chair and it seems currently no-one is willing to step up into this position. I am conscious this may be because of the considerable amount of time I have devoted to the position in the last year. Rest assured that there will be much less work involved this year as the 100th anniversary winds down! We have one big event left to celebrate the Centenary, and that is the Gala Dinner, which will be held on November 12 at Café Deco. There is a very capable sub-committee in place for this and most of the initial organising has already been done. Look out in your children’s bags and by email for the invitation which will be coming out soon. If you are interested in helping out with the Gala Dinner please contact pta@peakschool.net.
 
I know I have said it before, but this really is my last Peak View and I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank everyone who has helped make this a very special past year for me. All of my fellow committee members (new and old), the Senior Management Team – particularly Bill and Annette – all the teachers, office staff, and site staff, all the wonderful parent volunteers and of course the students of Peak School – I couldn’t have done it without you! I truly hope that someone sees in the position what I did and decides to step forward and take over the reins – it is a fantastically rewarding job and you will not regret it.
 
Katrina Needham
Retiring PTA Chair
Message from the PTA Administrator
Thank you for returning the Notification of All activities reply slip. 
 
Any changes to a child's bus service arrangements (such as playdates or after school activities), MUST be made to PTA or Office before 2:00pm on the day of the change."
 
Thank you.
Jackie To
PTA Administrator
Tel: +852 2849 8376
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Mandarin News
Dear Parents,
 
Hope you had an enjoyable Mid-Autumn Festival!
 
In the last two weeks the children have made a great start at their learning in Mandarin! For updates on Mandarin class please visit your child’s year group folder on Planet Peak. Always welcome your feedback and wishing you a fulfilling school year!
 
Apart from that, I would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to those who have expressed your interest in helping our Mandarin program.   Your support is very much appreciated. We will contact you for details in the near future. 
 
Have a good weekend!
 
Mary Liu
Head of Chinese
btm
Calling all Musicians - Band on the Run!
In an exciting new collaboration with the Performing Arts Department at Bradbury School, we are starting a combined school band. Not so much of an orchestra but a fun musical group where children of different abilities can have a chance to play in an ensemble situation.
 
Initially the schools will practise the pieces separately and then combine once a month either at Bradbury School or here at The Peak School. (Day to be confirmed but possibly Tuesdays after school)
 
Prerequisites
·         Must be able to play an instrument, (If piano must have passed grade 3 ABRSM). Recorders unlikely to be included unless quite advanced.
·         Should have your own instrument or access to one.
·         Must be able to read music or if playing untuned percussion should have an excellent ear and sense of rhythm.
·         Must be ready to ROCK!!!
 
If you are not quite ready to join this group and are interested in learning an instrument (clarinet, flute, guitar, piano, violin) we have a collection of musical instruments available to hire and an increasing number of instrumental teachers coming to The Peak School.
 
If interested in finding out more please email me at engelmannj@peakschool.net for more details or pop into the music room after school sometime.
 
Jane Engelmann
Performing Arts Coordinator
PE News
It's been a great start to the sporting year and it gives me great pleasure to announce our new house captains for 2011-2012. These students have promised to lead their respective houses with pride and display leadership, encouragement and understanding towards their peers.
 
The first big occasion for the captains will be when they lead their houses during sports day - Friday 25th November at Stanley Ho sports ground.
 
Congratulations to our new house captains -
 
 
House
House Captain
Cameron
Issy Carey
Cormac Caines
Kellett
Raf Nieto
Gili Shvarzman
Nicholson
Sophia Openshaw
Xavier Keogh
Victoria
Justin Wong
Ottavia De Rosa
 
School Photographs
The school photographer will be in school on Monday 19th, Tuesday 20th and Friday 23rd September. Please make sure that your child(ren) are wearing the school uniform rather than their PE Kit. PE Kit should be brought in a separate bag on these days. Just as a reminder:- Black shoes and white ankle socks should be worn.
Election of Parent Members to the Board of Governors of ESF
The deadline for the submission of Nomination Forms and Personal Statements to ESF Centre is 5:00 pm on Monday, 19 September 2011. They may be submitted by post or by hand. They should be marked for the personal attention of Susanna Chiu.
 
Please find documentation from ESF head office with regards to parent member election to the Board of Governors of ESF at
 
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact Ms Susanna Chiu on 3762 2672 or email susanna.chiu@esfcentre.edu.hk.
Parent/Teacher Consultations
All parents should call the office to make an appointment to meet their child(ren)’s teacher(s) either on 28th Sept or week beginning 3rd Oct:
 
Yr 1 – Yr 6
Wed 28th Sept 
3:15pm – 6:45pm
Yr 1
Tue 4th Oct
11:15am – 3:30pm
Yr 2
Tue 4th Oct
8:20am – 12:20pm
Yr 3
Thu 6th Oct
8:20am – 12.20pm
Yr 4
Mon 3rd Oct
8:20am – 12:20pm
Yr 5
Mon 3rd Oct
11:15am – 3:30pm
Yr 6
Fri 7th Oct
8:20am – 12:20pm
Music
Fri 7th Oct
1:30pm – 3:30m
Mandarin
Fri 7th Oct
1:30pm – 3:30m
ICT
Fri 7th Oct
1:30pm – 3:30m
(Year 1 & Year 2 only)

 
Please contact Cary Yim in office to make an appointment. Bookings will close 2 school days before consultation date.
Community Chest Dress Casual Day - Thursday 29 Sept 2011
On Thursday 29th September children are invited to bring in a small donation ($20) to the class teacher for being allowed to wear special clothes to school. All money will be sent to the Hong Kong Community Chest, a charity which works with local organizations. For details, please go to:
 
http://www.commchest.org/filemanager/uploadfiles/events/dcd2011/eng/index.html
Central Application Process for Y1 and Y6 to Y7 For August 2012
Applications for Year 1 and Year 7 are required to apply for a school placement for admission in August 2012 during the month of September 2011.
 
Year 1 (born 2007)
The ESF online application form can be located on the ESF website. There is a $150 application fee payable online. Please be reminded that siblings need to use the ESF central application process.
 
Year 7 (born 2001 – current Y6)
Current Y6 children please complete and return to school office the ‘Secondary Transfer Application Form” on or before 20th September 2011.
Perpectual Motor Programme(PMP) for Year 1 and Year 2
PMP is an activity based program that develops a variety of skills in a safe, organised environment and any parent support given will be gratefully received! There will be 5 sessions this term and they will be on the following Thursdays: Oct 27th, Nov 3rd, Nov10th, Nov 17th & Nov 24th.
 
If you are able to help Rose as a volunteer on any of the above dates please either email her on nimrod@hkstar.com and she will be delighted to hear from you.
 
1M PMP will be from 8.45 - 9.30
 
1R PMP will be from 9.35 - 10.20
 
2A PMP will be from11.00 - 11.45
 
2E PMP will be from 11.45 - 12.30
Carmen Project - An ESF & Scottish Opera Collaboration
Around 200 Year 10 to 13 students from seven secondary ESF schools will be working with the artists from Scottish Opera to produce a cross-curricular expressive arts project based on the music and plot of Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen. They will be taking on various roles---as singers, orchestral players, composers, librettists, costume designers, stage designers and film makers. 
 
It is an innovative education initiative which integrates music, arts & design, theatre studies and film making into an integrated learning experience for both teachers and students. Through this partnership with Scottish Opera, students will be taken from their classrooms to an artistic realm where there is no limit to creativity.
For more information about this project, please visit http://www.esf.edu.hk/carmen.
It will be held on 23 September 2011 at the Drama Theatre of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. There will be two performances at 3:30 pm and 7:30 pm. Tickets are now available at Hong Kong Ticketing and Tom Lee Music Stores at HK$150 (adult) or HK$75 (full-time student / senior citizen/ disabled). The project is sponsored by Zurich Insurance Company Limited and L’hotel Island South.
After School
Please find the information concerning enrolment for a range of activities on offer in autumn term in the Peak View.
Golden Book
Every week teachers nominate children to be included in our ‘Golden Book’ assembly. In addition to this, the children nominate one another for the ‘Brolga Award’ which is given to someone who has demonstrated attributes of the Learner Profile. Please find the nominees on 5th September in the Peak View.
Key Dates
Mon 19th , Tue 20th &
Fri 23rd Sept
School Photographs
Thu 22nd Sept   
PTA Annual General Meeting – 12:45pm
Wed 28th Sept &
Week beginning 3rd Oct
Parent Consultations
Thu 29th Sept  
Dress Casual Day (Annual Community Chest Fundraiser)
Fri 30th Sept      
CPD Training Day across ESF (No school for students)
Fri 14th Oct       
Mid Term Break begins (1 week)
Sat 12th Nov
100th Anniversary - Gala Dinner – Adults only
Peak School | 20 Plunketts Road, Hong Kong

 

 

AttachmentSize
golden book September 5 2011.pdf452.93 KB
Chito Tyu Karaedo.pdf336.42 KB
SW L1 Applicationform 201110.pdf194.48 KB
Hotshots Soccer.pdf23.22 KB