Bradbury Newsletter 13 May 2016

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Greetings to you all!

Our newsletter this week gives a glimpse of some of the many and varied activities that our students enjoy.  This is a reflection of our mission and vision statements that aim to provide a dynamic, innovative and enjoyable learning environment.

Thanks again for all of your cooperation on Tuesday.  As you can imagine, our phones were ringing non stop with your enquiries.  Thank you to the majority of you who understood that our phone conversations needed to be brief and to the point so as to allow us to answer the call of the next parent phoning in.  The protocol around such a situation is to speak long enough in order to gain information for the next step and then phone back later if you have questions that need more of a conversation at an in depth level.

We are looking forward to hosting our Student Led Conferences and our students are busy preparing for these. We see these conferences as being a great opportunity for your child to articulate their learning as well as leading the conversation around their progress and achievement over the year.

Kind regards.

Sandra Webster

Principal

IMPORTANT DATES

AFTER SCHOOL PICK UP

Thank you.

Sandra Webster – Principal

THE YEAR 3 MARKET DAY

Ultimately, the students will determine whether they are successful social entrepreneur by whether or not they are able to make a profit from their enterprise.   All profits from the day will then be donated to the Year 3 students choice of charity, which is Mother’s Choice.   So, we are asking for the whole Bradbury community to get behind this day.  All class teachers have nominated a time for their classes to come and visit the Market.  The Year 3 team would really appreciate the support of the wider Bradbury community, by sending some money along with children to purchase an item that appeals to them.

Thank you in advance for your support!

The Year 3 teaching team.

STUDENT LED CONFERENCES 2015-16

In order to facilitate this valuable learning opportunity for our students, on the day of their conference they will attend school only at the time of their conference. We will be sending you the time of your child’s conference soon. In the meantime please note the dates of the Student Led Conferences this year:

Thursday 26^th May 2016:                        Years 5 & 6

Wednesday 01^st June 2016:                    Years 3 & 4

Tuesday 07^th June 2016:                         Years 1 & 2

We shall look forward to sharing this valuable learning experience with you.

John Ainsworth – Vice Principal/ Middle Phase Leader

WANTED YOGA MATS

Thank you in anticipation.

Carol Farrington – P.S.E. Leader

P.T.A. NEWS

Our first school disco will be held in the hall on FRIDAY 20 MAY.

Tickets are $100 and include 2 slices of pizza!

Times:  3.00pm – 4.00pm Years 1 to 3

5.00pm – 6.30pm Years 4 to 6

Ticket order forms were sent home in your child’s diary this week.

I have also included one in the newsletter that you can print. Please return the form and payment to your class teacher or to the PTA shop. Cheques made payable to ‘Bradbury School PTA LTD’.

DEADLINE FOR TICKETS IS MONDAY 16 MAY!

YEARS 1 to 3 – 3pm to 4pm

All children will need to be ‘Walkers’ on the day of the disco. They will need to be picked up by a parent or helper and signed in and out of the school hall at the beginning and end of the disco.

YEARS 3 to 6 – 5pm to 6.30pm

Please drop off and pick up your child in the School hall.

Don’t forget to bring your own water bottle!!

DISCO LIGHTS NEEDED!!! – If anyone has disco lights that we can borrow for the disco please email the PTA. Thank you!

We would love your help with this event! If you would like to volunteer please email me at PTA@bradbury.edu.hk

YEARBOOK COVER CONTEST

We are please to announce the WINNERS of the 2015-16 Bradbury School Yearbook Cover Contest!!

THANK YOU so much to all the students who submitted their designs. We had so many wonderful entries this year!!

Congratulations to:

Front Cover Winner – Joseph Ellul (6B)

Back Cover Winner – Hayden Curreem (3V)

2016/17 PTA BUS APPLICATION

The deadline for submission of the PTA bus application is Friday, May 20. Any application received after this date will be subject to a $100 surcharge.

Don’t forget to check out the PTA Facebook page!!

https://www.facebook.com/BradburyschoolPTA/

Julia Dunn – PTA Chairperson

Bradbury School PTA Disco

 Years 1 to 3 – Friday 20^th May, 3.00 – 4.00pm

PLEASE RETURN FORMS BY MONDAY 16^TH MAY, 2016

PLACES ARE LIMITED SO APPLY EARLY!

$100 per student – includes 2 slices of pizza

Child’s Name ___________________________________ Class ________

Payment: CASH _____ CHEQUE _____ (Payable to Bradbury School PTA LTD)

Please Note: All students will need to be “Walkers” and have a Parent or Guardian with them until the start of the disco. Students will be signed in and out of the hall. Please provide the name and contact number of the Parent or Guardian who will be responsible for your child.

Parent /Guardian Name and Phone No: ________________________________­­­­­______

Please bring your own water bottle

★★★★★★ VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!! ★★★★★★

The Bus Service

The PTA-administered Bradbury School bus service is one of the most extensive and cost effective escorted bus services in Hong Kong.  Our network of routes transports about 600 children safely to and from school every day and the rates are very favourable compared with those charged for escorted bus services at other schools.

If you wish to use the bus service for the 2016/17 school year please complete and return the attached application form by Friday 20^th  May.  We need your cooperation to submit your application by this date so that routes and bus stops can be finalized. Please note that any applications received after this date will be subject to a $100 surcharge for current students.

Please read the following information before submitting your application:

• Students who subscribed to the bus service for the 2015/16 school year will not automatically be re-enrolled for the 2016/17 school year.  You must submit a new application and places will be allocated on a first come first served basis, and waiting lists will be maintained once buses are full.
• Please consult the attached provisional list of routes and bus stops when completing your application. Please note that this list is subject to possible revision once all applications have been received. We reserve the right to make changes as necessary to accommodate as many students as possible.
• Please also note that the bus service is not a ‘door to door’ service. Routes and stops will be determined based on student safety, practicality and efficiency. Requests for changes to routes and stops will be considered only in special circumstances, and are subject to the approval of the PTA committee and the bus company.
• Please note that the buses are air-conditioned, are equipped with seat belts and the children are supervised throughout their journey by a dedicated bus escort.  All users are obliged to comply with PTA rules for good behaviour whilst travelling on the buses and seat belt use is compulsory.
• You may choose to pay the full year’s bus fees in advance or in three installments (by sending in three post-dated cheques).  In either case, no cheques will be banked until July 4^th  2016.

Completed application forms, together with your payment (either one cheque for the full fee or three post-dated cheques for payment by term) must be submitted to the PTA shop by Friday 20^th  May 2016.  Note: $100 surcharge for any applications received after this date for current students.

No applications will be processed without the signed application form and cheque(s).

Places cannot be guaranteed in the event of late application.

Confirmation of bus places will be e-mailed to you before the end of the current school year with final details of bus number, stop and time.

If you have any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact me at 2893-2256 or pta@bradbury.edu.hk.

Lin Gong – PTA Administrator

FOOD  PACKING AND DISTRIBUTION

21  May, more families will be distributing these food bags to the elderly in various communities.

If you would like to participate in distributing the food bags please let Ms. Fritizi know.

Please find the details below;

When: Saturday 21 May (Distributing)

Where: Wong Wan Tin College Shatin

Time: 8.50am to 1.00pm

FEEDING PEOPLE IN NEED

Our next Sunshine Action community feed is Monday the 30 May and this will again be held in Nam Cheong from 6 p.m. – 7.30 p.m.  If you are interested in joining this event, please also let Ms. Fritzi know. Details will be sent out closer to the date.

Amanda Bremner – P.Y.P. Co-ordinator

Claudia Tarr – Year 4 Leader

YEAR 5 UNIT OF INQUIRY: PEOPLE CAN CREATE EMOTIVE MESSAGES

Amanda Bremner – P.Y.P. Co-ordinator

BRADBURY SCHOOL BATTLE OF THE BOOKS TEAM 2016

The competition was strong, and although our team was not selected as the team to go onto the final, all team members are to be congratulated on their great effort. I was very impressed with our students for reading and being ‘knowledgeable’ about such a wide range of books. Thanks also to Mrs. Glick, Ms. Balle and Mrs. Bousfield for all their hard work with this year’s team. Well done everyone!

Battle of the Books Team 2016

Therese Gallen – Vice Principal/English Leader

DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP 

Digital Footprints and Photo Sharing

Today’s social media makes photo sharing easy. Kids love to follow friends’ photos, share casual moments visually, and simply stay in touch. However, kids don’t always think through what they post. Photos they thought were private can easily go public. Likewise, their choice of photos can affect others as well. Together, discuss the importance of showing respect to oneself and others when sharing photos online.

Set boundaries together

Discuss your family’s values and expectations around photo sharing. Photos that show illegal behavior (for example, underage drinking or texting while driving) are clearly a no-go. But agreeing where to draw the line on certain other photos — for example, pictures of your daughter in her bikini or your son making a rude gesture to the camera — may pose a challenge. Start by discussing the possible consequences of posting these types of pictures. How will they affect your kids’ reputation? Remind your kids that once they post a picture online, it’s out of their control — such photos could be seen by a friend’s parent, a college admissions counselor, or a future employer. Online content is easily searchable and often ends up in hands of those we didn’t intend it for. And it is easily taken out of context. Lastly, it also is permanent, meaning it can resurface at any time.

Remind your kids to consider the impact of a photo on the people in the picture

It may not be realistic to expect your kids to get everyone’s permission before they upload an image, but it’s a worthy goal. When they’re about to upload a picture that someone has just snapped, encourage them to stop and ask, “Hey — I’m going to put this on Instagram, is that okay with everyone?” Ask your kid to think honestly if every person in the photograph would be comfortable with the photo going online. If she misjudges and someone asks her to take a photo down, tell her it is her responsibility to remove the photograph. The best way to drive this concept home is to set an example. If you want to upload a photo of your child from a recent family vacation, first ask permission to do so or ask for her feedback. This can also offer a great opportunity to model this type of respect with your child.

Encourage your kid to talk face-to-face with a person who posts an unflattering photo

Online photo sharing is a part of our world today, and opting out is unlikely. Even if your kids choose not to share photos online, their friends might upload photos of them. But it can be difficult to ask others not to post or to take down photographs. If your child is struggling with what to say, you can offer the following as an example, “Hey, I already untagged myself from the photo you put up, but I was wondering if you would be okay with taking it down. It’s not my favorite picture and I’d rather if it wasn’t on [Facebook/ Instagram/etc.]. I’d really appreciate it.” It may be helpful to have the conversation offline, face-to-face, so that it doesn’t end up further perpetuating a digital problem.

Steve Fennelly – Vice Principal/ ICT Leader

MINDSETS AND RESILIENCE

Resilience Strategies:

·  Accepting that challenges and setbacks are part of life

·  Reinterpreting negative events to give them positive meanings (changing red thoughts to green thoughts)

·  Giving self-reassurance that stressful events and hard times can be dealt with and don’t last forever

·  Viewing adversity as life lessons to be dealt with as they give opportunity for self-growth and wisdom

·  Using self-talk to consciously change thoughts

·  Facing fears rather than avoiding or running from them

·  Observing rather than overreacting to adverse situations

·  Imitating resilient role models in real life, fiction and biographies

·  Keeping a strong social network, particularly friends

·  Developing a strong body as self-esteem is enhanced when the body is physically fit

·  Developing family connections, memories and sayings that promote a sense of unity and strength

Sometimes telling a child that they can or that you believe in their ability to work through a challenge is not enough. Thy need clues or information about how to do this. However, the skill is in maintaining their autonomy. A positive message about how to act appropriately and be effective such as you believe in and support their autonomy which brings about a self-fulfilling prophecy  – you believe in me so I must have what it takes to work out what to do.

Carol Farrington – P.S.E. Leader

HONG KONG YOUNG WRITERS ENTRIES

DIARY OF A TERRACOTTA STATU(ETTE!) MODEL

By: Sienna Park – 5 G

A diary was found recently by an archaeologist. This diary reveals a shocking unknown secret about the true identity of the Terracotta Warriors. The dates you see in this diary are inserted by the archaeologist and not by the writer.

SEPTEMBER 3, 210 BC

Yes……No. Yes! No. I’ve been saying that line over and over again to myself this morning when I heard about the news. The emperor is getting sick and he is planning to have this thing where there would be statues of soldiers who participated in the war buried with him in his grave to protect him in his after life. But the soldiers are fighting in the war and it takes a long time to make a statue of someone! I think? So they went to different villages all over the country to pick out some girls to be the models for the statues instead! Anyway the problem is that I was chosen! So I’m not sure if I should do it or not. I heard rumors that if you do accept to be a model you will get paid 2000 yuan! Oh that would be great! I think that if you do accept you will probably have to stay still for a long time when the artist is modeling you. My family’s poor so I might go for the 2000 yuan and it might be a good experience! I’m going! I got a slip about it saying we will be staying there for a long time. But the coolest thing is that no one in the village knows that the girls are  being the models except the girls who were chosen! My parents were told I was going on a special trip and they know I will be gone for a long time. PS: WE’RE LEAVING TOMORROW!

SEPTEMBER 4, 210 BC

I woke up really early today. We are leaving at 6 a.m. to the Emperor’s palace. We were told to put on the armor as soon as we arrived because we didn’t have much time. We are now going to the Great Art Center Hall. That’s where we’re going to be models! I heard that they’re going to make the statues out of terracotta which is baked earth. The Great Art Center Hall is really big. We were told that there would be sessions of breaks so we wouldn’t have to stand still forever! I saw the artist mold the two footplates first with his firm hands and nicely molded the two feet right above the two foot plates. By then, it had been like 9 hours already. After the break, the artist started to mold the legs, skirt and a hollow torso. They had said that the Emperor’s grave will be in Xi’an, Shaanxi province. That was all we did today. I had to stay still for 19 hours! We will do the second half tomorrow.

SEPTEMBER 5, 210 BC

Today we are going to do the second half of the statue! We put on the same armor as yesterday and headed off to the Great Art Centre Hall. Now we were doing the arms, fingers and neck. Now I saw the artist molding the arms and fingers for 10 hours! I found it cool how the statue is three dimensional. In my break, I remembered seeing on the sheet of paper I got in the village saying we will be staying here for a long time. But actually we will be finishing tomorrow and I feel like that three days isn’t so long. Maybe they got confused? After the break, the artist  spent 2 hours making the neck. I heard that they said that some of the statues are holding real weapons! Today I only had to stay still for 12 hours! Tomorrow is the last day of modeling.

SEPTEMBER 6, 210 BC

Today we are doing the last part of the statue. The head, face, hair and armor. We put on the same armor as yesterday. But this time we also had to do the hair. My hair was a bun with two chopsticks poking out. The artist did the head shape and face perfectly! During break I was thinking about going back home. I find it weird how no one talks about when we’re going home? After break the artist did the hair and armor. When it was done I was so exhausted and  surprised! Two different feelings at the same time! The statue looked incredible! But I had to stay still for 22 hours! They said that they would paint the statues later with many colours. Also some of the statues were taller because they were more important than others. I need some rest.

SEPTEMBER 7 210 BC

You would not imagine where I am now! In a dungeon! This is what happened: Someone from the Emperor’s court came and said to follow him and we did because he said there was a surprise. So we packed our stuff and followed the man and then it was a trap! It wasn’t a surprise, it was a trap! The Emperor said the money will be sent to our families but we will stay. They want us to stay because they don’t trust us that we can keep a secret that they used girls for the statues instead of boys. So now I get it that’s why it said on the paper we will be staying for long time. Well I have a plan. I’m escaping tonight. This may be the last time I will write in this diary. I may succeed. I may not…but wish me luck.

CRYSTAL’S AMAZING ADVENTURE

By: Natalie Li – 5C

“Good night mum,” said Crystal tucking herself in bed. “Good night my darling,” as her mum bended her head down kissing Crystal’s cheek. Crystal had big blue eyes that shined like glitter, a small nose and freckles on her smooth cheeks.

After ten minutes, Crystal had fallen asleep and so were her parents. The house went silent but suddenly, Crystal heard a BANG on the front door. Crystal was shocked. “Who is in the front door when it is already twelve o’clock and everyone’s asleep?”

Crystal decided to go out. She tiptoed passed her parents’ room, around the dining room and as quiet as she could, she opened the front door but no one was there. Crystal was perplexed. Then, she passed through the stinky bushes and she saw a bright glowing hole.

“Crystal, go inside and you’ll find out what it is,” the bright glowing hole whispered.

“ Who are you?” Crystal shouted.

“ I am the glowing hole of the dark and I just come out in the dark. You can find out what is inside me,” the glowing hole of the dark replied.

Crystal slowly stepped into the hole and a big wind blew her up and up and into a new world.

“ Wow! Look at all these, are these… soldiers?” cried Crystal.

“ We are the amazing soldiers, and what’s bringing you here?” the soldiers said the same time all together.

“ I think I’ve heard about this story, my mum told me that in China, there are about 8,000 soldiers, each soldier has a footprint of 2.25 square feet and the average soldiers stands 5 feet, 8 inches tall,” Crystal thought to herself.

“ Hello, um, my name is Crystal and the bright glowing hole of the dark brings me here,” she said nervously. Crystal looked up at those soldiers and their faces are not the same. “You may go to the king,” yelled the soldiers.

Crystal slowly walked in. “ Who are you?” Qin Shi Huang the king asked.

“ Hi your majesty, I am Crystal. “How can I go back home because the bright glowing hole of the dark sent me here,” continued Crystal. “ I can tell you the magic word to sent you home but only if you give me a daisy flower before sunset,” Qin Shi Huang said.

“ I’m on it!” Crystal said confidently.

She tied her shoelace and was ready to go. She walked through the jungle then, she saw an enormous wall blocking her way.

“Hi there, I am Mooney the monkey and the only way to pass this wall is to say the magic word, ‘Open Says Me’,” giggled the monkey.

“Wow! Thanks Mooney. Here goes, Open Says Me!” Crystal shouted to the enormous wall. The wall shoke, and the door appeared. Crystal pushed the door and she saw the tallest hill that she ever had seen. “Here goes,” she said rubbing her hands together. She climbed and climbed until she met a goat.

“Oh! Hi little goat, my name is Crystal and I’m going up to get the daisy flower for Qin Shi Huang the king,” mumbled Crystal.

“Oh! Very nice, but you need this warm jacket because it’s going to get rather freezing up there!” replied the goat.

“Wow! Thanks!” Crystal smiled, and she walked and walked. “Oh my god, I am exhausted!” cried Crystal. Until, she met a cow.

“Oh hi! You must be Crystal, the goat said you are going to get the daisy flower for Qin Shi Huang!” whispered the cow.

“ Yes you’re right!” replied Crystal.

“But before you go, I’m going to give you these mittens to keep your hand warm because when you get to the top, it will be even colder!” said the cow.

‘Wow! Thanks!” cried Crystal. She walked up and up. Crystal checked her watch and the sun was going down. Crystal already knew what she was going to do, she ran as fast as she could up the steep hill and then, she saw the beautiful daisy and a giant bird next to the flowers. That bird had two blue wings, huge brown eyes and a beautiful blue body.

“Hello giant bird, may I have the daisy please. It is for Qin Shi Huang so I can get back home,” she said softly.

“Well, only if you give me your warm clothes and your mittens then I can give you these daisies,” the big bird said.

“Okay!” shouted Crystal happily.

Crystal took the daisy flowers and the tiny bird took the warm clothes and the mittens. The daisy felt soft, it had so many white pedals on it and a beautiful light green stem. It smelled like lavender and there were beautiful yellow seeds inside the white soft pedals.

There was no time to loose, Crystal ran down the hill, passed through the forest and the giant wall and finally, through the soldiers.

“Here you go my majesty, your lovely daisies!” cried Crystal out of breath.

“Hum, not bad. I will tell you the magic word to go back to your home,” mumbled Qin Shi Huang.

“Yay! Thanks so much my majesty!” Crystal said excitedly.

“Right, all you have to say is ‘Magic magic, sent the power for me to bring me home’!” laughed Qin Shi Huang.

“Okay, Magic, Magic, Sent The Power For Me To Bring Me Home!” shouted Crystal.

Not long enough, the wind blew Crystal up and into her home again. Crystal ran back to her house, she ran up stairs tucked herself in bed.

It was morning time.

“Crystal, time for breakfast, you don’t want to be late for school!” yelled Crystal’s mum.

“Coming, mum!” shouted Crystal. Crystal ate her breakfast and thought, “Was that story real or not? Well, it was an amazing adventure any way” laughed Crystal!

EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES BY THIRD PARTIES

ESF Educational Services Ltd. – Language and Sports Programme, contact Candy Leung at 2760 3900 or cleung@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/#!basketball-schedules/c1ovn

Brainchild Ltd. – DIY Robotics and Technology Workshop, contact Ice Chan at 2528 6862 or icechan@brainchildltd.com website: www.brainchildltd.com

Brilliant Learning International Ltd. (Sanskriti) – Sanskriti/Hindi Language Class, contact Geeta Dhar at 3563 4300 or sanskriti@sanskriti.com.hk website: www.sanskriti.com.hk

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

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

RugBees Ltd. – Rugby Play Programme, contact Kit Wong at 2117 3055 or kit@rugbees.com website:  www.rugbees.com

Starlit Voice Ltd. – Drama Programme, contact Clarissa Evans at 2108 2182 or info@starlit.hk website: www.starlitvoice.com/site2/voice/home/page.html?cid=5&aid=137040132800913

World All Styles Martial Arts Association – Martial Arts Class, contact Ka Lok Ho at 9120 4689 or wamakfyip@yahoo.com website: www.wama-karate.com

Percy Mak – Finance & HR Manager
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 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.

A few weeks ago I had the wonderful experience of visiting a school  in Phnom Penh in Cambodia to work with the students and teachers there. The ISF School  is run by the Indochina Starfish Foundation which is an  international charity that  helps some of the poorest and most disadvantaged children in Cambodia. They focus on working with up to 700 children from the Stung Meanchay district in Phnom Penh. Many of the children come from families who  make a living from sorting rubbish from dumps outside the main city.   As the families are dependent on the children working with them to collect and sort the rubbish, the ISF organization provides families with a payment of rice so that they can allow the children to attend the school. The school then  works with the students to ‘catch them up’ enough so that they can attend their local school after a few years, and they also run an English program for the students which is seen as a key to employment success.  ISF also works with the community to improve health care, living conditions and to find employment for successful students .

ESF has developed a professional  partnership over the past three years to volunteer time, expertise and resources to support teacher education and student learning at the school.  Literacy leaders from a number of our ESF schools have be working directly with teachers at the school to support their identified professional development needs running the English program. This was the third team visit that we have run.  We took over  many books and resources and worked with the teachers to model lessons with their students and worked on planning to support them using the new resources. It was a great experience, even with the 40 degree heat and no air conditioning! Even though the living conditions are very challenging  there was  such a positive feel in the school and community and we could see that great progress is being made with the students. It was a privilege spending time with the staff and students who welcomed us, looked after us and showed a great enthusiasm for learning. The ISF teachers have identified their next areas of interest for professional development and I look forward to working with the ESF team here in Hong Kong and the ISF teachers through this partnership.

Therese Gallen – Vice Principal/English Leader

PEAK EXHIBITION

Amanda Bremner – P.Y.P. Co-ordinator