BRADBURY NEWSLETTER – 10 NOVEMBER 2017

Greetings to you all

Today staff are enjoying an indepth CPD day looking at ways of implementing STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) into our classrooms.

So, we are the students, learning how to drill, hammer, glue, measure, cut and perfect material in order to make a finished product.  It is challenging, stimulating, engaging and best of all, fun.  All the things we want for our students.

We are looking at making connections to language, problem solving, thinking and team work.  All year groups have embraced this curriculum focus with enthusiasm and you will see lots of evidence of STEAM in action around school.

It is a great day for staff professional development and we are looking forward to using what we have learned throughout our school.

Sandra Webster
Principal

IMPORTANT DATES

                         ATTENDANCE IN AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES 

                                    S.T.E.A.M. – Y4 Gardening

By Lorinda Thomas, Environmental Leader

As part of the Year 4 STEAM workshops, students have been developing a garden space on the decking area of the Telly Tubby Land playground.  The location for a garden is ideal, as it is both sheltered and sunny.  Easy and safe access to the garden area also means that students are able to check on their plants and water daily.
We have had great success so far, growing most items from seed.  Presently we are nurturing along corn, pak choi, basil, tomatoes, chilies, broccoli, potatoes and a zucchini plant. Students have also experimented with growing items from vegetable scraps, whole vegetables and cuttings.

Students were very excited to see that the zucchini plant which was rescued from the tumbling compost bin is growing flowers and a zucchini.  Zucchini plants are a sprawling plants that are also able to climb as they grow their own tendrils.  Students have enjoyed encouraging the plant to grow along the metal safety barrier.

Plants are planted into a mix of commercially bought compost and bokashi compost.  The photo here compares two sets of basil plants, the ones on the left being those that are planted in a higher concentration of bokashi compost.  As you can see, the bokashi compost has resulted in the growth of some of the biggest basil leaves we have ever seen.  Mrs Phillips is looking forward to utilising this basil in her STEAM Food Technology sessions.

Mr Harris’ STEAM group are currently taking responsibility for the bokashi composting program at Bradbury School.  Fruit scraps from classrooms and the staff areas are gathered up weekly and added to the compost bin where they will decompose.  A fabulous bi-product from the bokashi bin is an organic fertiliser which students dilute and then water with.

Over the next few weeks we will be adding more planter boxes to the garden area.  Mr Flaherty’s Woodworking STEAM group have almost finished constructing boxes from recycled hardwood.

The Year 4 team are always happy to accept donations of seeds or other items which would benefit student learning. Feel free to come and have a look at our garden next time you are in the school.

CURRICULUM UPDATES

By Therese Gallen, Vice Principal/Language Coordinator

Year 1 Christmas Carol Concert
For all Year 1 Parents!
Our Year 1 students have started learning some Christmas carols and are getting excited about singing them for you at a special Christmas Carol Concert.

The date to put in your diaries is Friday, December 8th at 9 am, here in the school hall.  Parents and family members of Year 1 students are welcome to attend.

We look forward to seeing as many of you  as possible, as it’s a lovely chance to listen to, and sing a few songs with us as the students celebrate the upcoming Christmas season.  Your class teachers will provide you with more information, closer to the time,  about what students need to wear on the day.

Literacy Learning
Literacy learning works best as a shared partnership between home and school and I know that many of you are always looking for ways to support your child to develop their literacy aptitudes and skills. 

The Australian Literacy Educators’ Association has developed a free, online guide for parents and carers to help students develop the skills and understandings that support successful, lifelong literacy learning.  The resource has many examples of activities that you can enjoy with your child and even children not yet at school. Some of the activities are planned and some are incidental, but all are designed with an emphasis on learning through collaborative play and shared discovery.  
There are 18 different modules, covering areas that can really make a difference to literacy success.  I will share the one on “Speaking” with you in today’s newsletter, and some others over the next few newsletters.  You can access all 18 modules through the link below:

https://www.alea.edu.au/publicresources/resources-for-parents-and-community/little-peoples-literacy-learning

I hope that you find this useful and enjoy trying out some of the suggestions at home.

                          HONG KONG YOUNG WRITERS AWARDS 2018

By Therese Gallen, Vice Principal/Language Coordinator

Bradbury School is entered in this year’s Hong Kong Young Writers Awards.  This competition is an opportunity for children to write for different purposes, both for the competition and to showcase their writing at school, as all entries will be displayed in the school foyer.
A meeting was held this Wednesday over the  lunch breaks for interested students to gain information about how to enter and ideas about the theme. There will be another meeting next Thursday for any students who could not make this week’s meeting. Meetings are announced over the school tannoy system.   To further support students both myself and Ms Thompson will be available to answer questions and offer support  during scheduled morning tea and library sessions, where students can drop into the library to work on their entry, ask questions or get feedback.  
This year’s theme is ‘New Journeys to the West’ .

“ Almost 1400 years ago, a brave young monk made a multi-year journey from China across the southwestern mountain to India. His trip was celebrated in a novel called Journey to the West, written about 500 years ago.”  

Many of our students will already have heard the story of Xuanzang and his magical companions – including the Monkey King, a friar and a talking pig. There have been many books and movie/video versions (including ‘monkey magic’) , of this story.

Students are able to enter the following categories with the following word limits:

• Fiction– Years 1-3 up to 500 words, Years 4-6- up to 1000 words
• Non-fiction– Years 1-3 up to 500 words, Years 4-6 up to 1000 words
• Poetry – no word limits
• Cover Art–  Must be A3 size and portrait orientation (not landscape)

Entries over the word limits cannot be accepted. A3 paper is available from Ms Fritzi at the front office.

Please click on the link below for more information about the competition.

http://www.hkywa.com/

I am also including a link for a cartoon series of “Journey to the West” with English subtitles that students may like to watch to get an idea of the story- you may need to read them out for younger students.  However, there are many, many episodes!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKbgNS5-h2I

Students’ completed entries are due into school on Monday January 8th, which is the first day back after the Christmas holiday. This allows students over 8 weeks to work on their entry, including the Christmas holiday if needed. Students are also welcome to hand their completed entry into  Ms Fritzi at the front office before the Christmas break. Students must submit a hard copy of their entry- printed or handwritten- but may be called upon to provide an electronic copy if they are selected as a school entry.

It is important for parents to note that all work must be the student’s’ own work,  unassisted by adults or older students. Of course parents are able to help by looking at the online website with students and supporting them in researching the competition’s theme, discussing their ideas and following through with them.

COMMUNITY EVENTS

By Amanda Bremner, PYP Coordinator

Thank you to the families that volunteered to Feeding People in Need on 6 November.

CONGRATULATIONS TO BRADBURY STUDENTS!!

Emily and Eveline’s team placed 3rd and qualified for the Irish Dancing World Championships in Poland recently.  Additionally, there were four dancers from the school who qualified as individuals for the Worlds (two of whom are former Bradbury students, Maya Tobback and Sofia Brantingham).

BOX OF HOPE

By Steve Fennelly, Vice Principal

Dear Parents,

Thank you all SO  much for your generosity so far in our collection for the Box of Hope charity! We have had a huge response from Bradbury parents and students. The very impressive amount of boxes donated is already forming the ‘Great Wall of Bradbury’ in our entrance hall! Please feel free to pop in and take a look.

Box of Hope is an annual charity project aimed at providing useful/educational gifts to underprivileged children in Hong Kong & Asia, donated by Hong Kong school children and local organisations.  You fill old shoe boxes with NEW, interesting and EDUCATIONAL gifts at home and drop them off at a collection point. Bradbury School is a collection point! The boxes are then collected and delivered directly to the children in need. Some of these children have never received a gift. Each child has been given a set of stickers that they will need to stick on their Box of Hope.

The boxes will be collected from school on Monday 20th November. Thank you all again.

You can find out more information at
http://boxofhope.org/home/main/en/

What to Pack:

All items must be NEW. Please try to include 2 items from each category.
Remember to make your box both FUN and EDUCATIONAL!
Please include essential hygiene items.

TOYS – something to love – Bear, soft toy, tennis ball, finger puppet, jigsaw, yo-yo, small musical instrument, torch (incl batteries), playing cards, small trucks and cars, doll, jewellery, makeup, hair accessories

EDUCATIONAL SUPPLIES – something to do – books – (simple English), Felt pens, pens, pencils, pencil sharpener,

rubber, colouring book, notepad, picture/puzzle book, chalk, pencil case, stickers, calculator, etc.

HYGIENE ITEMS – something to use – Toothbrush & toothpaste, hairbrush, comb, hair clips, bar of wrapped soap, flannel. NO LIQUIDS PLEASE.

OTHER ITEMS – something to wear – Sunglasses, cap, sun hat, bangles, necklaces, watch etc…

What not to Pack:

NO FOOD / MEDICINE / WAR RELATED ITEMS (toy guns/soldiers/knives)

CLOTHING  / FRAGILE ITEMS (Glass containers/mirrors) / LIQUIDS of any kind including (blowing bubbles/shampoo/bubble bath/toiletry sets/aerosols) / DANGEROUS ITEMS (Marbles/sharp objects/scissors/razors).

LIBRARY NEWS

By Jane Thompson, Teacher Librarian & Connie Leung, Library Assistant

BOOKAZINE BOOK FAIR

A big thank you for your support with this year’s Bookazine Book Fair. It was a wonderful success with many of our students purchasing books. It was lovely to hear the discussions about which books to buy as well as seeing them use their mental calculation skills to work out how much they were spending!

MOTHER-TONGUE BOOKS

We are always looking for new books which represent the variety of different languages spoken by our students at Bradbury School. Our children enjoy choosing books in their home language to read and share with family. If you are going back to your native country this Christmas and would be able to buy children’s literature in your mother-tongue, the school will refund up to five books if you provide the receipt.

We are particularly looking for books in:

• Mandarin
• Cantonese
• Korean
• Japanese
• Russian
• Punjabi
• Hindi
• Bengali
• Dutch

The library will also accept second hand children’s books. If you have books that need a new home and are still in good condition we are always delighted to accept these.

SECOND HAND BOOKS FOR WINTER NIGHT MARKET

We are also collecting second hand books for the night market. If you can make a donation of books that are in good condition for adults, teens or children then please send them to the library. Please note that we do not need text books.

MEDICAL NEWS

Year 6 MMR / Hep B ( 2017/2018)

Please be reminded, that the School Immunisation Team of the Health Department will visit our school on 15th of November (Wednesday), to administer the Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Hepatitis B ( Year 6 students only).

I would like to remind those that have not given their medical records, with their consent forms, to bring their medical records on that day.  Please inform the teacher on the day of the vaccination, if your child is sick or absent, or not fit for being vaccinated.  Parents who have not received  MMR consent forms, please contact me immediately.

If you have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

PTA NEWS

By Julia Dunn, PTA Chairperson & Lin Gong, Bradbury School PTA Limited

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

16 November          Sausage Sizzle
23 November          Working Bee
1  December            WINTER NIGHT MARKET

The Winter Night Market is the major annual fundraiser for the Bradbury School PTA and we need YOUR help to make it a success!

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED:

VOLUNTEERS
We need LOTS of parent volunteers on the night for it to be a success. You can help with setting up, manning stalls and games or with clean up at the end of the night. Any time you can give us makes all the difference.

Please use the link in the individual PDF version emailed to parents to sign up. We rely on each and every one of you to help us make the Night Market an amazing evening so please sign up!!!

RAFFLE TICKETS
Raffle tickets will be distributed on the 14th November. Please return completed stubs and payment to your class teacher by 24th November.  Additional tickets can be obtained from the PTA shop.  Any unsold tickets MUST be returned to the school for auditing purposes by 24th November, otherwise $200 must be paid for lost tickets as required by the Office of Licensing Authority, Home Affairs Department.

WIN an iPad!!!!!!!!!!!
The student who sells the most raffle tickets will win this amazing prize!!

YEAR GROUP HAMPER
Some of the most popular prizes in the raffle are our year group themed gift hampers. Please send your donations in a sealed envelope labeled with your child’s name, class and ‘Hamper Donation’.

We really appreciate any contribution you are able to give. Thank you!!

YEAR GROUP GAME STALLS
Following last year’s success we will be running year group game stalls again this year. Your class parent will send more details, but we need volunteers to man these stalls on the night and to help with planning and set up. Please sign up to support your class; the children love the games and we can’t run them without volunteers!

THE GREAT BRADBURY BAKE OFF!
This year we will be running a cake/baked goods stall. Please sign up on the volunteer form to donate something delicious to sell on the stall.

USED BOOKS
We are now collecting books for the used bookstall. This is a great opportunity to go through your bookshelves and cupboards and have a clear-out! Children’s books, adult fiction and cookery books are particularly popular.

Please drop off in the PTA shop.

WORKING BEE
Please join us in the PTA office for a morning of coffee, cake and fun at our Night Market Working Bee on Thursday 23rd November from 8.30 onwards. Please let you class parent know if you would like to join us.

Don’t forget to like our Facebook page for news and updates about the Winter Night Market and other upcoming events!

Julia Dunn
PTA Chairperson
Email: pta@bradbury.edu.hk
Website: https://www.bradbury.edu.hk/pta-2/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BradburyschoolPTA/

ESF EVENTS

By Steve Szeto, ESF Events Manager

Thank you very much for the continuous support on the ESF 50th Anniversary celebrations.

As the ending of the 50th Anniversary celebrations, we are holding a Gala Dinner on the evening of 6 December at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) in Wan Chai. We are hoping that this final event of our 50th Anniversary calendar will be a joyous occasion to end a year of celebration with the entire ESF community. Kindly refer to attached poster  of the upcoming ESF 50th Anniversary Gala Dinner.

Details of the Gala Dinner:

Date: Wednesday, 6 December 2017
Time: 7:00pm (Reception begins at 6pm)
Venue: Grand Ballroom, Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC)
Early Bird Price: $1,700 (early bird offer valid until 1st November 2017)
Sales of tickets are already available through ESF website at http://www.esf.edu.hk/gala
Shall you have any questions, please feel free to contact me or Ally Shum at esf.50@esfcentre.edu.hk.

The ESF Golf Day will be a recreational reunion event for ESF staff, parents and friends. Through a day-long golf experience in Guangzhou. Members of ESF community will have an opportunity to reminisce about the past while practicing their drives or strolling out on the greens.

Registration or enquiries:
steven.szeto@esfcentre.edu.hk
joe.leithhead@dc.edu.hk

To mark ESF’s half-century, we are publishing a commemorative book: ESF The First 50 Years. This volume will chronicle the ESF story, highlighting key events over the last 50 years. It will also celebrate the successes and contributions of our students and staff, both past and current.

The book will be published in November 2017.

Place your online order before 30 October to enjoy 10% off and the very special ESF 50th Anniversary Commemorative Book Jubilee Gift Set!

Order link:
http://www.esf.edu.hk/50th-book/

Enquiries:
50book@esfcentre.edu.hk

THIRD-PARTY ORGANISED AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Dear Parents,

The following companies are currently hiring our facilities to provide extra-curricular activities for students. You may browse the school website under “LIFE AT BRADBURY” for their programs and enroll your child directly to the company:

ESF Sports Programme, contact at 2760 3900 or sports@esf.org.hk website: www.esf.org.hk

Adventure Sports Academy Ltd. – Soccer & Basketball Training, contact Eilis Cheung at 3998 4042 or info@adventuresportsacademy.com website: www.adventuresportsacademy.com

Backershagen B.V. (LanguageOne) – Global Mother Tongue Education, contact Leandra Lok at

5501 5262 or leandra.lok@languageone.nl website: www.languageone.nl

Banana Art Club – Art Class, contact Michelle Chan at 6020 5476 or bananaartclub@gmail.com website: www.bananaartclub.com

Brilliant Learning International Ltd. (Sanskriti) – Sanskriti/Hindi Language Class, contact Geetanjali Dhar at 3563 4300 or info@sanskritiglobal.org website: www.sanskritiglobal.org

Discovery Dome Hong Kong Ltd. – Astronomy Club with a Portable Mobile Planetarium (Year 3-6 students), contact Lorne Ali at 9754 4081 or lorneali@hotmail.com, website www.discoverydome.hk

Foundation Academy Ltd. – Foundation’s Filmmaker, contact Namrata Bindra at 3107 8810 or academy@foundationge.com website: http://www.foundationacademy.co/filmmaker/

HoYinPingChess / Hong Kong Junior Chess Club – Chess Class, Holiday Camp, Tournament, contact Yin Ping Ho at 9215 2682 or hoyinpingchess@gmail.com website: www.hoyinpingchess.com/index/lesson.html /www.hoyinpingchess.com/index/camp.html or www.hkjuniorchess.org

Move For Life Ltd. – “Move” Dance Class, contact Rosie Martin at 5491 2473 or info@moveforlife.asia website: www.moveforlife.asia

Primary Matters – Writing Workshop, contact Marion McNally at 9465 4468 or primarymattershk@gmail.com website: www.primarymattershk.com

Starlit Voice Ltd. – LAMDA Musical Theatre & Group Drama, contact Vincent Warren at 2108 2182 or info@starlit.hk website: www.starlitvoice.com

Valley Rugby Football Club Ltd. – Netball FUNdamentals 12 week Programme, contact Chanelle Candy at 2815 3670 or netball@valleyrfc.com website: http://www.valleyrfc.com/netball—junior-academy.html

N.B. Bradbury School is not responsible for the quality and safety of programmes offered by third parties. However, please note that all hirers are required to provide third party liability insurance. Parents are urged to take steps to ensure that they are satisfied with any and all aspects of the after school programme(s) they elect to opt in to.