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.