Dear Parents and Guardians

On behalf of our KGV learning community, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all our students, parents, caregivers and community partners a wonderful winter vacation, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

As we move towards the end of this calendar year, I cannot help but look back over what has been a unique and challenging time. I can still clearly remember emailing the Vice Principals on Tuesday 28th January during the CNY break, and asking them to meet me in a local café to start to talk about a possible school closure. Things moved quickly, and a few days later on Monday 3rd February we were teaching 100% online. Honestly, I did not expect back then that now, in December, I would be writing a newsletter and again we would be in a 100% online learning situation. It has reinforced to me that we are on a journey with many twists and turns, as we work through this pandemic and all that it brings.

I think that the events of this year have reminded me of the importance of leadership. Leadership in our families, relationships, businesses, and organisations. In many ways, I am very proud of our community and what we have been able to achieve together. Our students have shown significant personal leadership and resilience. Our parents have been supportive, patient and understanding as we have adapted and adjusted through the process. Our KGV staff have been incredible in their agility to adapt to support and maximise student learning and belonging. 

I would like to extend my thanks to the community and acknowledge what we have achieved together across the last term. We do not know what 2021 will mean for us and our school, but I am confident that we will continue to support one another, learn and lean on one another. I am proud of our community, and feel privileged to be the Principal at KGV. 

As we break for the holidays, I would like to remind you that we are having a Christmas celebration assembly on Friday this week, with online lessons finishing at 12.45pm. All students have been emailed the schedule for Friday. We will also update parents and students across the break as to whether we will be online or a combination of face to face learning when Term 2 starts on Monday 4th January.

Finally, I hope all our families get to spend some quality time together over the school break. I know the latest restrictions will mean we may not be embarking on our usual winter break traditions, but I hope you are able to make the most of the time away from online learning and focus on relationships, gratitude and self care. 

Happy and safe holidays.

Kind Regards,

Mark Blackshaw

Principal, KGV School

Dear Year 13,

As we approach the last couple of days of term, I wanted to take this opportunity to wish you all a very peaceful and Happy Christmas.

I also want to thank you for your continued understanding and cooperation during what has been an extremely difficult period of learning for everyone.

Our Mock Examinations are due to begin on Monday 4th January. At this stage we are confident that they will proceed as planned. However, we are required by the EDB to make changes to our Examinations Timetable. This is because students, at this time, are permitted to be in schools for half-days only.

Please refer to the live examinations timetable below as we may have to make further changes nearer the time. This is a live document.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oWEiT1nwlrZtnlBGPgq8weykBSS6NakVYVrEgnr2R2Y/edit?usp=sharing

Thank you and kind regards,

Rory McKeague

Vice Principal

KGV

Ahead of the Mock exams, Year 11 students have received revision resources and study advice this week. If we are stiil in a fully online learning situation in January, we will need to alter the Mock exam timings in order to meet government regulations. The order of the exams and the days will not change, we just need to move them earlier in the day. This means students with a morning exam will need to be onsite by 7.55am, but will finish the day earlier and can get home to rest and prepare. You can see the Current Mock exam timetable and the revised Mock timetable in case of continued class suspension. We will confirm with parents and students in the first week back after the break.

Please keep an eye on your child to ensure they are getting a balance of sleep, exercise and revision so they feel prepared for January.

Wednesday 9 Dec: Year 12 Learning Review

Friday 11 Dec: Last Day of Term 1 for students

Monday 4 Jan: First day of Term 2 for students

Monday 4 Jan: Year 13 Mock Exam Week

Monday 11 Jan: Year 11 Mock Exam Week

In the event the whole school returns to full days at some point in term 2 we plan to run a modified CAS Activities program. The CAS activities will run during an extended lunch break time, once we have approval to return to a whole school full day model.

The CAS website is especially designed and dedicated to all things relating to the activities program ([Web Link]). Browse through the site, have a look at the brochures specifically designed for each year group, and then follow the instructions on how to sign up via Lionel. 

Activities are open for sign up on Lionel, Thursday December 3rd (8am), until the Sunday December 13th (8pm). A reminder that it is not a first in, first allocated process, as all students who register in oversubscribed activities will go into a lottery allocation process. Therefore, it is very important that you ask parents to approve your participation in CAS activities, by responding to emails sent once you have signed up through Lionel 2, otherwise you miss out on the opportunity to participate. Please note that upon completion of sign-up, some activities may not run.

For more information about signing up, withdrawing, allocation and parental approval click here.

Term 2 Activities start date will depend on when all students are allowed back in school for full days and when we can provide a safe environment for extracurricular activities.

Check the activities website or the bulletin for the latest update.

Dean Beard

CAS and Service Learning Coordinator

dean.beard@kgv.edu.hk

To celebrate the winter holiday, we have collected some artwork from our students. Here we have some remarkable artworks selected by Mr. Croft, our Head of Visual Art.

We would like to thank all parents for your support and we wish each and everyone of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

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