Friday 29 April 2016

eNews Issue 33

The talent of our student body never ceases to amaze and impress us all. This week the main event was the Grade 4 play. As usual, the students took on key leadership roles in all facets of the endeavour, including writing, acting, dancing, and providing music and tech support. Well done Grade 4! All the students did a great job, making us laugh along the way.

And behind every extraordinary student event like the Grade 4 play is our exceptionally skilled and dedicated faculty. Our teachers are tireless in helping students on their pathways to individual success and allowing them to achieve their learning goals. Thank you to the Grade 4 team for their work behind the scenes with the play, and thank you to all our faculty for their work with our students every day.

Parent volunteers are of course also central to special moments like the play. Many thanks to all the parents who helped in different ways!

On the subject of volunteers: please note that this year’s volunteer thank you breakfast will be held on Tuesday, 7th June at 8:30am. This is a change in date, so please note this for your calendars. All parents are invited to attend. Please rsvp online if you plan to join us.

The Rocktail Party is right around the corner! There’s still time to buy a ticket! Bidding on the silent auction will open online next week for ticket holders who don’t want to wait until the night.

Friday 22 April 2016

eNews Issue 32

This weekend HKA is hosting and taking part in the Mathematics Specialists in International Schools (MSIS) Spring Institute. Secondary School Assistant Principal Warren Needham has been providing leadership for this event which is an important conference on maths education, both for HKA teachers as well as for others. It’s been a special privilege to have Steve Leinwand on campus to both work specifically with HKA teachers and attend the conference. Steve is an internationally renowned maths education expert who brings much insight and expertise to the table when working with teachers.

We are also happy to welcome educators to campus for the Collaboration for Growth (CFG) Conference. CFG is a consortium of five lead international schools who are committed to inquiry-based learning. It’s a great opportunity to get to know like-minded educators and learn from one another.

And looking ahead … as May approaches, so does the possibility of inclement weather. Please review our typhoon and rain procedures and make sure your mobile phone numbers are updated in Veracross so that we can notify you by SMS in the event of a school closure or delay.

And hoping to see you all at the Rocktail Party on 7th May!

Friday 15 April 2016

eNews Issue 31

The fun is just ahead! On Saturday, 7th May we’re looking forward to seeing you at our Rocktail Party at Tikitiki Bowling in Sai Kung to eat, drink, bowl, dance and support our school! I’m told the wine is great and you will recognise a few faces in the band! We’ll have auction items and a great lucky draw with wonderful items donated by and sourced by our community. See below for more information. Purchase tickets online or in person at the hkaShop. All proceeds will support the school’s annual fund. Ticket price includes buffet, bowling and gratis alcohol for the first hour. After the first hour, the cash bar helps raise funds for the school.

Friday 8 April 2016

eNews Issue 30

Welcome back after what I hope was a pleasant holiday for you and yours!

I’m pleased to invite you to attend HKA’s first formal music recital, which will be held in the theatre next Friday, 15th April at 5pm, followed by a reception. The response to the call for auditions was enthusiastic, and music teachers Nick Antolini and Lee Holt have organised a wonderful evening for us all. The music recital is another great example of parents as partners at HKA. Over the years, several parents have encouraged the school to hold this sort of event, which is a great expression of the school’s commitment to pathways to individual excellence. Several parents have been key to getting this event off the ground and for that we are grateful.

This week and next week are important ones for professional development at HKA. Many of our faculty and staff are participating in a course on cognitive coaching, which emphasises deep listening skills and effective communication. Over the last three years, more than 70 faculty and staff have taken the training, with some of us receiving training to be trainers, for our own community and beyond. As Head of School, I feel it’s one of the most important skill sets we cultivate in ourselves as we engage our students as thoughtful and precise communicators.