eNews Issue 1

HKA eNews: Issue 1 Dear Hong Kong Academy Community, Welcome back for the new school year! We’re looking forward to seeing everyone next week. Please note: this year, school begins on a Tuesday: Tuesday, 16th August is a HALF DAY Wednesday, 17th August is a FULL DAY. We return to our regular schedule the week of 22nd August with a half day on Wednesday.

hkaEats! You’ve heard it said that there’s no free lunch. But next week we’ll celebrate the school’s new food service, hkaEATS, with just that. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 17th to 19th August, lunch will be FREE for all students. The staff has been enjoying the food this week and we’re eager for the students to also experience the tasty, healthy options available. You will soon receive an email with registration information for the hkaEATS online system, called "Campus", which allows students to use their ID cards for meals and snacks. Using Campus, you will be able to pre-pay and select meals for PS students, add value for SS students and note any dietary restrictions.

The start of the school year always brings a deluge of information and sometimes it also comes with a deluge of water. Please refresh your memory on HKA’s weather procedures in the event of heavy rain or a typhoon. And for a refresher on our morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up routines, please consult the 'Arrivals & Dismissals' section of the Family Guidelines. And thanks in advance for not parking on Wai Man Road in front of the school during these periods. The safety of our students is our top priority and using the bus stop in front of the school presents a serious hazard. If you are picking up your child(ren) by car, please proceed through the bus bay on Mei Yuen Street or park you car in one of the nearby lots and meet your child inside the main entrance.

Welcome Back!

Welcome back to HKA for the 2016-17 school year! The new teachers arrived the first week in August (click here to view their bios), followed shortly thereafter by our returning faculty. The school is once again buzzing with activity, and we eagerly await the arrival of students and families. Enrolment is over 640 for the beginning of the year, which is more than 5% growth in the student body. The first eNews of the year will be sent this Friday, 12th August, ahead of that, I wanted to reach out to you all with a few important items.

Food, glorious food! HKA is debuting a new food service this autumn, hkaEats. We’ve taken the catering in-house with our own chef, Chris Gallaga. Using the Zest model, our menus and service will emphasise fresh and freshly prepared meals at both the cafeteria and the cafe. There will also be a new payment feature using a student ID card where parents can top-up value with the ability to also enrol in meal plans...all online! More information regarding hkaEats and the new online systems will be announced soon!

Facilities Update. Over the summer, in addition to the regular repair and maintenance, we made a few significant changes. I hope you’ll swing by the fitness and multi-purpose space on the Upper Ground area that overlooks the gymnasium. This area has been transformed and provides a wonderful physical education space, especially for our youngest students. The area will also be available for other activities out of school hours. The renovation on this space constituted the first phase of the climbing wall project; we’re looking forward to inaugurating that resource in early 2017. The Extended Learning and ASA Office is now located near the gym, across from the changing rooms. We’re excited to have this programme housed near the PE office!

Class of 2016. Members of the Class of 2016 are now on their way to their next adventures! Over the summer, initial IB results were announced, and I’m happy to report that this year’s graduates meeting or exceeding their predicted scores. Most of HKA’s Grade 12 students choose to pursue the IB Diploma or IB certificates, arguably one of the most rigorous academic programmes in the world. The IB exams take place in May of each year, and most exam results are shared in July. Visit http://www.ibo.org/diploma for more information about how the IB Diploma works, including the scoring and grading system.

All of HKA’s students who pursued the full Diploma passed the exam, with the highest score being 40 out of 45. Students’ overall results were within one point of their predicted scores, a frequently cited standard of success. The students who took certificates rather than the full Diploma also performed extremely well. We are proud of them all! For an overview of HKA’s 2016 IB scores, please click here. To see where the Class of 2016 is heading next, check out the list of university and college offers, matriculations and other choices that are linked in the IB scores overview. Importantly, HKA graduates pursuing tertiary education are attending their preferred institutions. They are pursuing the pathways that are right for them. While I am always happy to share stories of HKA’s academic rigour and our students’ successes, it’s important to remember that exam results and university placements are only two measures of achievement. With our a student-centred, inquiry-based education, we believe a truly rigorous education prepares students for the lives they are meant to lead. We value a differentiated approach to teaching that stretches and engages all students and helps them develop their talents to their fullest. And we all work together to support this process, faculty, students and parents alike. It’s cliche to say that it takes a village, but it’s also true. And I thank you for being a part of this village.

eNews Issue 39

Thank you to everyone for participating in Portfolio Share Day and the Renaissance Festival. The students were beaming with a well-deserved sense of accomplishment! What a great opportunity for them to share their learnings with us as parents, and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

This is our last eNews of the school year. We bid a special farewell to those families who are moving on from HKA this year. You will be sorely missed, and we hope you’ll stay in touch. We already have HKA events planned in London for 2nd February 2017 and in Singapore for 27th April 2017, so if you’re heading to those cities, please mark your calendars now! And for all of us, whether staying in Hong Kong or moving elsewhere, please follow our Facebook and LinkedIn pages to help our global HKA community stay in touch.

Please note that school starts on a Tuesday next year, which is a deviation from our normal pattern. See you on Tuesday, 16th August for a half-day of school, followed by a full day on Wednesday, 17th August.

Our annual Back to School coffee morning will be on Friday, 19th August. The eNews will resume on Friday, 12th August with more details.

Have a wonderful summer!

eNews Issue 38

The theme of this week was gratitude.

Last night, our Grade 12 students received their HKA diplomas. 26 strong, they did this in much the same way as other Secondary School students around the world. But one of the things that set them apart last night, I believe, was their sense of community and spirit of gratitude.They gave their parents and teachers a round of applause. In their speeches, they thanked each other for friendship and support. And of course, everyone in attendance congratulated them and thanked them for all they’ve contributed to HKA.

Last night, our Grade 12 students received their HKA diplomas. 26 strong, they did this in much the same way as other Secondary School students around the world. But one of the things that set them apart last night, I believe, was their sense of community and spirit of gratitude.They gave their parents and teachers a round of applause. In their speeches, they thanked each other for friendship and support. And of course, everyone in attendance congratulated them and thanked them for all they’ve contributed to HKA.

The Primary School focused on gratitude this week as well, with their Service Learning Fair. At this fair, we celebrated many of our philanthropic partners, and students had a chance to take part in a variety of activities to support the local community. The photos tell the story. We’ll continue the theme of appreciation next week by thanking you, the parents. Please join us at the Parent Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast on Tuesday, 8th June at 8:30. If you haven't already done so, please rsvp via this online form so that we have enough coffee and pastry on hand. I’m looking forward to thanking you in person.

eNews Issue 37

Between the Hot Cocoa House and the Art Show, the school was buzzing today with artistic expression. The Hot Cocoa House never ceases to amaze me; our students are truly remarkable in their gifts and how they share them. The student leadership involved in the Cocoa House is also always impressive; the kids take on a lot of responsibility for making the morning a success. Thanks to everyone for supporting our students as they learn, grow and understand!

At HKA, a big part of how we think about learning, growing and understanding has to do with how we engage in responsible action both locally and globally. We want students to understand concepts of global citizenship as they apply to them as individuals. We are all leaders in our own way, and it’s important to define leadership broadly to encompass our own strengths and interests. With that in mind, HKA has become a member of the Global Citizenship Diploma programme, Programme co-ordinator Damian Pitter was with us from Yokohama International School to talk with Secondary School students and parents about the opportunities the GCD facilitates. I’m looking forward to sharing stories with you as it evolves.

And I hope many of you were able to enjoy the wonderful visual arts showcase around campus. Our students create exceptional and thought-provoking work!

eNews Issue 36

The end of the year is a good time to reflect on highlights from the previous months and be grateful! We have a tradition at HKA of thanking volunteers at an annual breakfast, and I am delighted to invite you to join us for light fare on Tuesday, 7th June at 8:30am in Room 319. I promise no long speeches except to say thank you for your ongoing support of the school and to offer you a token of our appreciation. Please rsvp online by Friday, 3rd June.

We truly benefitted from parent volunteers this week as we made the decision to take our food service in house next year by engaging Zest as our caterer. A task force comprised of parents provided valuable insights and feedback, and we thank you for being an essential part of this process.

We held the school’s Annual General Meeting this week. For those of you who were not able to join us, you may find copies of the school’s audited financial report and annual report on our website.

eNews Issue 35

Dear Hong Kong Academy Community, The Grade 5 Exhibition is certainly a highlight for the Grade 5s and the Primary School. It’s also a highlight for the entire school as we enjoy learning from these dedicated students about issues that matter to them. The photos say it all: eager Grade 5 students sharing their knowledge with peers, other students, parents and other adults. The Grade 5 Exhibition demonstrates rigorous learning. It also reminds us of the joy of learning together. Congratulations to the students, and many thanks to their teachers and the exhibition mentors. This year, we expanded the mentor team to include Secondary Students from the GIN team. Having more student leadership involved was a great addition to the process!

And in more good news: we’ve reached the top! With the success of last Saturday’s Rocktail Party and bowl for the goal, we have surpassed our goal of HK$1 Million for the school’s first ever annual fund effort. And more importantly than the funds raised, support for the effort has been extraordinary, with well over half of our families contributing time, talent and treasure to this effort. Thank you to everyone for your support! With a few weeks left in the school year, we’ll see by how much farther we can go beyond our goal.

eNews Issue 34

We know the end of the school year is nearly upon us when our Grade 12s are taking their IB exams. These exams represent the culmination of a demanding and also exciting learning experience. HKA is an International Baccalaureate school for enduring reasons. We value the learner profile and the IB’s emphasis on inquiry-based learning. We all know that there are fads in education, just as in everything else, but we also know that the core values and practices inherent in the IB are ones that will remain relevant for students far into the future.

Who of us really has any idea what students will need to know in 10, 20, 30 years? The smartphones we carry around with us are themselves only about a decade old! What we do know is that students who are flexible, resilient and open-minded will be able to respond effectively to new knowledge and new challenges. We know that students with grit will succeed in challenging environments. We know that empathetic students will have quality relationships with their peers.

We wish our Grade 12s well with their exams, knowing full well that exams only tell part of the story. We’re proud of all of our students for the people they are, not just the students they are in the classroom.

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.

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!

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.

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.

eNews Issue 29

A short but busy week! The Grade 2 exhibition kept the Upper Ground and cafe area hopping with many examples of creativity and self-expression. Well done, Grade 2s, and special thanks to the Grade 2 team for supporting the students.

This week was also our Grade 3 Community Evening. I’m always grateful to parents who share their evenings with HKA, whether it’s a back-to-school night, curriculum evening, sporting event, play, concert or Coffeehouse. HKA parents give generously of their time and the conversations we have together make a real impact on the life of the school.

And kudos to the students involved in last week’s Coffeehouse. As the rain clouds gathered, they exhibited real leadership, flexibility and initiative in moving the venue from the Verandah to the Theatre in very little time, making it possible for us all to enjoy the wonderful performances with very little disruption. Thanks!

Have a wonderful Spring Holiday and looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday, 6th April.

eNews Issue 28

Last weekend, Hong Kong Academy was privileged to host the Thinking Collaborative Conference. Over 150 educators from over 40 international schools attended, including 25 of our own faculty. The Thinking Collaborative is a leading global organisation that is committed to the idea of being “self-directed”. Students - and adults too! - who are “self-directed” are able to think deeply, reflect wisely, and engage empathetically with their peers. At HKA, we have been using many Thinking Collaborative strategies across the entire school community to develop our dynamic community of learners. If you’d like to read more, please see my recent article in hkaVoices on parents and partners and how we use the seven norms of collaboration at HKA.

It’s exciting to see how much HKA has grown in its approach to professional development for our teachers. One of the key foci of our strategic plan is the recruiting, development and retention of quality faculty and staff. Essential to that strategy is providing meaningful and challenging professional development opportunities. With this conference, as with NFI last autumn, HKA both hosted a conference and led aspects of it, and it was exciting to be able to offer this sort of leadership to our colleagues.

Thanks to everyone who attended Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences this week. Conferences are just one way in which the school fosters communication with parents, and it was great to see so many families on campus. Conferences are only one avenue of communication, though, and please know that our doors are always open.

eNews Issue 27

Many of us read the article in this week’s South China Morning Post about Harrow School’s decision to move to mandatory busing next year in response to community concerns in their area over traffic related to arrival and dismissal routines. And as I’m sure you are aware, a number of peer schools have already adopted a mandatory busing policy because of the impact that private vehicles have had in their neighbourhoods. The SCMP story is a timely reminder that while safety is the most important issue to consider with arrival and dismissal, it is not the only challenge. How a school impacts the local community is an ongoing concern and one that we take very seriously. Thank you for partnering with us as we make safety our top priority and also strive to be a positive presence in Sai Kung.

And mark your calendar for our upcoming student recital. At HKA, we talk a lot about pathways to individual excellence. Many of our students express that through music and study and practice music beyond the school’s music programme. We’re excited that these students will have the opportunity to share their talents with us on 15th April.

eNews Issue 26

Another big week for HKA! Thanks to everyone who supported another fantastic Primary School Literacy Week, complete as usual with PJ day, the continuous reading chair and dress-as-your-favourite-character day. Our continuous reading chair went for 12 full hours this year! Check out the great photos that have been posted in our School Gallery (VC) and also via our Twitter, Facebook & Instagram timelines - all of them telling a great story!

A packed week for the Secondary School, too. Grade 12s sat their mock exams, and our Grade 6-11s are now on their way back from various adventures after a wonderful week of Learning Outside The Classroom. Deviating from normal routines offers our students many ways to grow and stretch, engage in service and for some, practice their Mandarin language skills. So this is always a highlight of the year.

Service learning and thinking beyond the HKA campus are intrinsic to the HKA experience, and with that in mind, I am very pleased to announce that HKA is the newest member of the Global Citizen Diploma consortium. Please see Assistant SS Principal Richard Reilly’s remarks below for more information.

Service learning is core to the HKA mission. It complements the rigour of the academic programme by providing authentic opportunities for student voice and student action, gives students new opportunities to tap into their interests and strengths, and promotes the ongoing process of self-reflection. At HKA we believe education has real currency when learners understand and value the importance of contributing to their local and broader communities. Being caring and responsible global citizens needs to be a part of the student learning DNA. The Global Citizen Diploma encourages students to explore a range of real world challenges and develop the inclination to take action while providing opportunities to develop leadership skills and to be recognised for the results of their hard work. We are all looking forward to developing this programme at HKA.

eNews Issue 25

Thank you to everyone for making our arrival and dismissal process much safer this week! Everyone at HKA appreciates these efforts.

The annual Diploma Programme Theatre Evening, held last night, is always a highlight in the school calendar. Congratulations to all the students for their hard work and creative performances. Thanks, too, to Drama Teacher Jo Crimmins for guiding these students. 

And mark you calendars for the Rocktail Party on Friday, 7th March at the Tikitiki Bowl. It promises to be a great evening of food, bowling and dancing, along with a silent auction, some quick bid activity and raffle prizes. Proceeds will help us rock the park and build our climbing wall, which is now scheduled for installation over the summer. We’re two-thirds of the way to our goal - help us get to the top!

eNews issue 24

Earlier this week, we sent HKA families an email reminding us all of our procedures to ensure a safe arrival and dismissal process for our students. Safety must be our top priority. At present, we are concerned that unless we all renew our efforts to abide by our safety procedures, we run the risk of an accident that could cause injury.

If you did not have a chance to read the arrivals and dismissal safety procedures email, please do so here.

Starting next Monday, staff on duty for morning drop off and afternoon dismissal will approach families as issues arise. Staff will redirect cars and pedestrians in accordance with our procedures to ensure the safety of students. Drivers of vehicles parked illegally will be asked to move, including those parked in front of the school on Wai Man Road.

I apologise if this seem heavy-handed but please know that the school’s leadership team feel that, at present, it is potentially not so much a matter of if an accident might occur as whenan accident will occur. We are deeply concerned and thank you for your support.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.

eNews Issue 23

We say it so often we sometimes forget it’s true: HKA is a global community. I was reminded of this again when I was in Boston and London these last two weeks for faculty recruiting fairs. In both cities I was able to have dinner with former families, students, graduates and even prospective families. It’s wonderful to reconnect with HKA’ers now living out of Hong Kong, to see how well former students are transitioning to new schools and to university life and to hear stories about HKA has shaped their lives.

I also had a chance to provide updates on HKA in its local community and to talk specifically about the school’s work with the Sai Kung Community Center. Through the efforts of the Secondary School, especially the Coffeehouse, HKA has been able to donate more than HK$40,000 to the community center in support of youth programmes. This year’s Coffeehouses are also raising funds for the Community Center and we look forward to contributing more. Happy New Year to you all in this year of the monkey. I wish you a wonderful holiday and look forward to seeing again on the 15th!

eNews Issue 22

One of the HKA’s top priorities is environmental sustainability. This commitment is evident in our building, which earned a BEAM+ Provisional Platinum rating, in our curriculum and in our co-curricular programming. The commitment is equally clear among you, our parent community and of course among our faculty, staff and students as well. 

This week we were presented with a challenge to our commitment to sustainability. The company that collects our plastic recyclables has informed us that, due to market conditions, they will no longer recycle our plastic. From what we can ascertain, we know that HKA is only one of many organisations impacted by this decision.

We have already begun to research alternatives and will keep you informed of our progress. But in the meantime, this is a good reason for all of us to redouble our efforts to limit our use of disposable plastic. This is especially important when preparing student lunches. If your child brings his/her lunch to school, please pack food in reusable containers and avoid single-use plastic items, such as apple sauce and yoghurt cups. At HKA, we strive for a waste-free lunch as much as possible.

I am happy to confirm that HKA ensures that all metal, paper, glass, batteries and other e-waste leaving our campus continues to be tracked and recycled appropriately. In addition, HKA repurposes food waste through two vermicompost systems, donations to the SK community center and a collaboration with Foodlink. But for now, we are without a plastic recycling option and ask for your help to keep our plastic disposal to a minimum. I know that environmentally friendly practice is a priority for us all and thank you for your help!

eNews Issue 21

Thanks to everyone who attended our community information evening last Monday. For those of you who weren’t able to be there, we began the evening with a presentation from our Director of Finance and Operations, Dale Willetts. Dale overviewed the school’s financial health and shared with us how the school is operating sustainably and moving towards its strategic financial goals.

We also reviewed some of the data from last October’s parent survey. Highlights are included in this brief overview. ISM, the professional organisation who conducted our survey, was extremely complimentary about our community and the survey results point to our many strengths. The survey also helps us identify and think about our areas for growth. 

We’ll be following up on the survey in a number of ways, including our Grade Level Community Evenings. At these evenings, now in their fourth year, I facilitate conversations around specific questions with parents from a particular grade level over a potluck dinner. The Principals attend these evenings as well and are eager to speak with you and answer your questions. We hold about 4-5 of these evenings in a 12-month period, usually in PK1/PK2 and Grades 3, 5, 6 and 9/10. Dates for the next community evenings will be announced shortly.

Not every class has a Grade Level Community Evening every year. But my door is always open, potluck dinner or not! Please don’t hesitate to schedule a time with kitty.lau@hkacademy.edu.hk to see me with any questions or concerns. And good news stories also always welcome!

eNews Issue 20

Sometimes when it rains, it pours. Weather like we had today is challenge enough for the morning arrival but today we also had a malfunction with one of the gates in the bus bay. The gate can be fixed easily but the faulty gear this morning certainly impacted the beginning-of-the-day routine.

As is typical at HKA, everyone swung into action. The usual morning bus bay team reacted quickly, other faculty and staff members appeared to lend a hand and everyone behind the wheel of a bus, van or car did their best to make things go smoothly. Thank you all so much for your help! We didn’t miss a beat and everyone got to class on time.

Looking forward to next week! I hope to see you at Monday’s Community Information Evening where we will have the opportunity to review the results of our recent community survey. Light refreshments will be provided, so please rsvp to let us know if you’ll be attending. For Primary School Parents, I hope you’ll also be able to participate in the Primary School Curriculum Evening on Tuesday, 19th January.

eNews Issue 19

Greetings from Bangkok where I’m attending one of Asia’s largest teacher recruiting fairs. It’s always exciting to meet so many talented and dedicated professionals. As I’ve written before, recruiting quality faculty and staff is core to our strategic plan. This year we have very low teacher turnover at HKA but we continue to search worldwide for top educators who share the school’s mission and vision.

The results of our recent parent survey are now in and I’m looking forward to sharing more with you about the survey on Monday, 18th January at 6:30pm. Please rsvp to let us know if you will be able to attend. I’m happy to report that the data reflect the school’s priorities and speak clearly to the school’s strengths. As always, too, there are areas for improvement and the leadership team will be reviewing the report carefully. And we are keen to hear your thoughts as a part of this process. I hope to see you on the 18th.