Volume No: 2003-04/16

Date: 30 January 2004

Dear Parents

I hope all of you enjoyed the break for Chinese New Year. I have never seen the roads of KK so quiet… what a delight!

Lion Dance

Just before we broke up for Chinese New Year the PTA arranged a spectacular Lion Dance that was enjoyed by the whole school. A fairly tame beginning rapidly gave way to some alarmingly impressive jumps and gymnastics which had us all on the edges of our seats - and some PTA members were quite unable to watch! It was a fine show and the children were also pleased to receive ang pow. I have to say that my Mandarin also improved after repeating Gong Xi Fa Chai over a hundred times, once for each child in the school.

Year 11

By now parents of Year 11 students will have received the results of the mock-IGCSE examinations and I know that a number of you have already taken advantage of the school’s “open-door” policy to talk with staff. You will also by now have received a letter outlining our proposals for mentoring examination students. I would like to stress, once again, that education is at its most effective when there is a real home-school partnership and I would urge you to come and talk to staff about any concerns you might have. I am pleased to report, though, that there was plenty of good news in those examination papers!

School Play

The Demon Headmistress rehearsals have now started and a schedule has been published that runs right through to the performances in March. I am not confident that we shall actually be able to stick to it (!) but I am sure that the show will be a lot of fun as well as a memorable experience for the students involved. We have tried to arrange the early rehearsals so that only those students required to rehearse particular scenes need attend. This saves a lot of bored waiting around, so please check with your children when they are needed. All rehearsals, at least at this stage, will finish promptly at 4.30 and it will help enormously if you, or your driver, are there ready to pick them up at this time.

Year 1/2  Classroom Assistant

Miss Dora Richard has been forced to take leave for a month for personal reasons. I am delighted that Mme Michelle Luk has offered to take her place.

Absence From School

There seem, once again, to be a lot of viral and flu infections going around and we have had a number of children away from school sick. Please phone the office if your child is going to be absent and please send a doctor’s note, or write a message in the student’s Homework Diary or Personal Organiser, on your child’s return.

Primary Show Photos

The photographs of the primary Christmas presentation, Let’s Celebrate, are still on display on the notice board above the stairs at the school entrance. They have attracted a lot of interest and there is still time to give your order to the school office.

Swimming Gala

My apologies to those of you who thought the Swimming Gala might be today. We did originally too - but we had to change the date because our booking was usurped! I will let you know when we have a fixed, and hopefully definite, alternative.

Hari Raya Haji

Finally, can I remind you that the school is closed on Monday, 2 February for Hari Raya Haji.

Enjoy the long weekend.

 Best wishes,