Dear Parents,

Just a quick note to let you know that we are absolutely ready for the transition to online learning next week, starting from Monday, for our students in Years 7, 8, 9, 10, and 12. We had a whole school online assembly today, where we explained the arrangements and our expectations for next week.

Students in Years 7 to 10 and Year 12 will be engaging primarily in online synchronous lessons, supplemented with opportunities for self paced asynchronous learning and checked by our teachers. Each Vice Principal will outline the arrangements in their messages below, and will be emailing our students directly.

The EDB has outlined that Year 11 and 13 can still access the school site, but that they must finish face to face learning by 2pm each day. Our exams for Year 11 will be completed by 2pm, and Year 13 will complete four full lessons face to face at school and then leave school at 1.25 each day, to then travel home and attend an online Period 5 check-in from 2.45pm to 3.20pm.

Below is a list of online expectations and tips we shared with our students today at assembly:

• Find a good work space, like a desk or a table, to work from at home - somewhere quiet or a shared space if you need to be somewhere where an adult can help to ensure you are concentrated. Use headphones if working is a shared space.

• Please write in a polite and formal way in the Google Meet chat, as suitable for a lesson. 

• Please also make sure you are appropriately dressed as you will frequently be requested to turn your camera on to participate in the lessons. You do not need to be in school uniform, but you should not be in your pyjamas. 

• Be fully engaged in your lessons. Close other tabs and apps and move your phone away so you are not distracted.

• Be on time to every lesson. Set recurring daily alarms that go off 5 minutes beforehand

• Print out your school timetable and the timings of different lessons and have them on your desk to refer to.

• 'Bookmark' the Google Meets or Zoom Meeting Codes for your different lessons in your web browser, so you can quickly access them for your lessons. You can place these links in a folder together.

• Have all your equipment you need handy - pens, notepads, rulers, textbooks, art supplies, calculator, etc…We are encouraging our teachers to provide you with work to do away from the screen.

We have also set up an all day help desk for students via a Google Meet room. Students can join to seek any assistance with technology, timetable, finding or connecting with their class, etc. The Google Meet helpdesk can be accessed here: https://meet.google.com/bcj-uhxu-afe

Please also see the parent guide to online learning here: Parent Guidelines

We again thank all our parents for their support in helping our students make this transition again to online learning. Our teachers are redesigning the lessons for next week, to make them more suitable and engaging for online learning and delivery. We appreciate the work they are doing and to transition so quickly.

Please reach out to our staff if you have any questions.

Enjoy the weekend.

Kind Regards,

Mark Blackshaw, Principal, KGV School

Year 11 mock exams will continue next week and you can access the mock timetable here. All mock results and feedback will be shared by Friday Feb 18th.

If there are no changes to the guidance we have from the EDB then, following the Lunar New Year break, Year 11 students will attend classes at school for periods 1 to 4 and then head home before lunch to complete lesson 5 online. Buses will run accordingly.

From next Monday, Year 10 students will be doing all lessons online. Please see the guidelines for parents here. It is vital that you support and encourage your child to remove distractions such as their phone from their study area and to participate fully in their lessons. 

We have provided students with clear guidelines of our expectations during this period. You can read them here.

Please get in touch with your child's tutor and teachers if you have concerns about their engagement or progress during this time. 

On Monday, the first two periods will be independent work set by teachers. Students will then meet their tutors live online at 10:35, followed by live lessons for periods 3 and 4. Period 5 is also independent to allow for teacher collaboration.

Tuesday to Thursday will be 5 period days with each lesson live online with their teachers, following our normal school day timings.

Year 13 students will be allowed to complete four full lessons face-to-face at school next week. Students will then need to leave school at 1.25pm each day in order to travel home and attend an online Period 5 check-in from 2.45pm to 3.20pm. Buses will continue to run.

Students have received exact timings for the week during our whole school assembly today and the slides have been emailed to all students.

Finally, students are no longer allowed to eat in SSC1-2 and are only permitted to eat in Leo's or the canteen.

We will continue to do all we can to support our Year 13 students with their learning.

Thanks again for all your help and understanding.

Wishing you a great weekend.

As Mr Blackshaw has stated, Year 12 students will resume online learning from Monday. Our students will be following the same timetable Monday - Friday. Therefore Monday times will change to be the same as every other day.

Monday Arrangements for Year 12:

Period 1 & 2: Asynchronous (work set by teachers for you to complete)

Tutor time: 10.35 Meet tutors on-line

Period 3 & 4: Online lessons

Period 5: Asynchronous. Teachers will set work for students to complete independently. This is in order to accommodate Monday Teacher Collaboration time.

For Tuesday - Friday, students will follow our normal timetable with lessons online. Friday 28th January, early school closure (12.15pm) for Lunar New Year holiday.

Students have received exact timings for the week during our whole school assembly today and the slides have been emailed to all students.

We will continue to do all we can to support our Year 12 students with their learning.

Thanks again for all your help and understanding.

Wishing you a great weekend.

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Online Learning

Our Year 7 students will begin online learning from Monday 24 January. The Year 7 team has every confidence that our students will do everything they can to make the most of this situation.

We met the students today to talk about our expectations and how they can best prepare themselves for Monday. Our first two lessons will be asynchronous, meaning teachers will set work for them to complete during this time. Students will access work, and google meet codes, through LIONEL and the online (homework) log. This log will be sent out to students in the evening to prepare them for the following day.

Students will meet their tutor, and register online at 10.30am on Monday and, following tutor/break, they will have two synchronous lessons (where the teacher will lead the lesson). Students will work independently during Period 5, completing work set by the teacher.

We will be following our usual Tuesday - Friday schedule for timings of lessons. To support students and their organisation during this period, the Year 7 Team have put together this template for students to record google meet codes and lesson times. Please spend some time over the weekend helping your child to prepare for Monday.

Students are also encouraged to have access to paper, pens, scissors, basic art supplies, as teachers look to balance work completed on the laptop, with activities which can be tackled away from the screen.

Students can log into the helpdesk at https://meet.google.com/bcj-uhxu-afe  at any time throughout the school day should they need assistance or support for online learning.

Year 7 Learning Review:

A reminder that the Learning Review appointment system opens at 6pm on Wednesday 26h January. Please go onto the App and select LIONEL 2 VLE and scroll down to the appointments icon. The Learning Review will take place on 10 February, with all appointments being held online.

Thank you to those parents who have agreed to be part of the group looking to enhance our reporting strategy. We are looking to meet at 9am on Friday 11 February and 4.30pm on Monday 14th February. Parents can choose which session they attend. Mr Turner will contact parents. Please let him know if you would like to attend, if you haven’t already signed up. (rowan.turner@kgv.edu.hk) 

Thanks in advance for your support during this period. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions.

Have a lovely weekend.

The Year 7 Team

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Our Year 8 students will begin online learning from Monday 24 January. The Year 8 team has every confidence that our students will do everything they can to make the most of this situation.

We met the students today to talk about our expectations and how they can best prepare themselves for Monday. Our first two lessons will be asynchronous, meaning teachers will set work for them to complete during this time. Students will access work, and google meet codes, through LIONEL and the online (homework) log. This log will be sent out to students in the evening to prepare them for the following day.

Students will meet their tutor, and register online at 10.30am on Monday and, following tutor/break, they will have two synchronous lessons (where the teacher will lead the lesson). Students will work independently during Period 5, completing work set by the teacher.

We will be following our usual Tuesday - Friday schedule for timings of lessons. Please spend some time over the weekend helping your child to prepare for Monday.

Students are also encouraged to have access to paper, pens, scissors, basic art supplies, as teachers look to balance work completed on the laptop, with activities which can be tackled away from the screen.

Students can log into the helpdesk at https://meet.google.com/bcj-uhxu-afe  at any time throughout the school day should they need assistance or support for online learning.

Thanks in advance for your support during this period. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions.

Have a lovely weekend.

The Year 8 Team

Dear Parents and Caregivers

Our Year 9 students will begin online learning from Monday 24 January. The Year 9 team has every confidence that our students will do everything they can to make the most of this situation.

We met the students today to talk about our expectations and how they can best prepare themselves for Monday. Our first two lessons will be asynchronous, meaning teachers will set work for them to complete during this time. Students will access work, and google meet codes, through LIONEL and the online (homework) log. This log will be sent out to students in the evening to prepare them for the following day.

Students will meet their tutor, and register online at 10.30am on Monday and, following tutor/break, they will have two synchronous lessons (where the teacher will lead the lesson). Students will work independently during Period 5, completing work set by the teacher.

We will be following our usual Tuesday - Friday schedule for timings of lessons. Please spend some time over the weekend helping your child to prepare for Monday.

Students are also encouraged to have access to paper, pens, scissors, basic art supplies, as teachers look to balance work completed on the laptop, with activities which can be tackled away from the screen.

Students can log into the helpdesk at https://meet.google.com/bcj-uhxu-afe  at any time throughout the school day should they need assistance or support for online learning.

Thanks in advance for your support during this period. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you have any questions.

Have a lovely weekend.

The Year 9 Team

Mon 24 Jan Year 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12 online learning, Year 11 Mock Exams continue, Year 13 Period 1-4 classes are face to face and Period 5 online. 

Fri 28 Jan MYP summaries released

Fri 28 Jan Chinese and Lunar New Year Assembly, 1/2 Day Finish, Dress Casual

Mon 31 Jan to Fri 4 Feb  Chinese and Lunar New Year Break - no classes

Mon 7 Feb Classes resume (format to be confirmed)

Thu 10 Feb Year 7 Learning Review

Wed 16 Feb Year 13 Learning Review

Careers & H.E. Guidance

ESF University Fairs, January 2022

It is mandatory that all Y12 students sign up to at least one event, but of course we hope students will attend all countries they are considering.

The last Fair is on 27 Jan for universities in North America. Y11 and Y13 students and families who are interested in the Fair can refer to the Student Bulletin for registration details. Please do not share with anyone outside of the KGV community: Day 3 (27 Jan 2022) – N. America

The event poster was attached in the last two newsletters.

Timing of talks are still being confirmed and will be updated on the registration sites. We understand that there can be clashes as there is so much information available. We would suggest families to prioritise or adopt a “divide and conquer” strategy. You can always pop back to ask questions if you miss a talk that you’d like to attend.

The list of attending institutions on the registration sites are changing as some universities are yet to complete the registration on the website. We would encourage families to create an account for each event they’d like to attend, but check back to create a schedule a couple of days before the actual event day.

Parents are reminded that with the online fair, students could be having a one-to-one conversation with a university representative unsupervised. If this is of concern, please attend the event with your child, and of course a student can leave the Zoom meeting at any point they wish.

Kindly note that the Careers Team will be attending the Fair at the same time. Any problems with registration, please email: support@maialearning.com

Y13 Higher Education applications
Communication between students & their H.E. Counsellors are key. This is especially so when application deadlines for many institutions are fast-approaching. Submitting an application without informing the H.E. Counsellor in advance may result in missed relevant documents to support applications. Students are reminded that they MUST inform their H.E. Counsellors of applications they are making, to ensure that supporting documents are sent in time.

Y12 1-1 H.E. meeting
The H.E. Team will be meeting Y12 students individually after the CNY break to discuss students’ post-KGV plans and intentions. Emails with appointment details (during students’ non-contacts) have already been sent out to the students. Details of the upcoming Yr 12 higher education presentation series will be shared next week. We are also planning a Y12 parent information session after CNY. Parents will be informed once the date is confirmed. Stay tuned.

School reference (non-higher education purposes)
The Careers Office coordinates all KGV student references including exit & summer schools. All requests should be directed to careers.office@kgv.edu.hk. Please allow at least 4-6 work weeks for teachers to work on school references. School reference for higher education applications are done in a separate process.

External Events
Our Careers Calendar lists many university events. Refer to the Calendar for event details and registration links. Some highlights in the coming weeks:

General
- 1-5 Feb: Unifrog Webinar Series: Skills Development,

U.K.
- 24-28 Jan: University of Nottingham – International Virtual Open Week
- 26 Jan: UCAS 2022 Entry Application Deadline
- 5 Feb: Warwick Economic Summit
- 9 Feb: Queen Mary, University of London Webinar: Student Finance

Europe
- 29 Jan: Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen: Study & Live in the Netherlands
- 2-3 Feb: Dutch Research University View Event

Japan
- 30 Jan: Ritsumeikan University: How to Apply to the English-medium Bachelor Programs

KGV Careers Team

Dear Parents,

The KGV Charity Committee is running a Chinese New Year charity drive. For this drive, we are aiming to collect donations for clothing, canned food and toys. It would be highly encouraged if you could contribute to our charity drive by donating any used clothing or toys you come across that are no longer used but in good condition as it’s just around the right time for Chinese New Year winter-cleaning.

We aim to collect donations before the end of the half-term (28 January, Friday), and any support is greatly appreciated! Our collection boxes are located at school (near the PTSA) and we would appreciate it if your child could just place the donated items there.

In case you are wondering, the clothes will go to Impact, the toys will go to Mother's Choice or Christian Action (depending on the type of toy), and the food will be donated Feeding Hong Kong.

The KGV Charity Committee

Friday 25 February 2022, 10:30am

We are committed to supporting our parents through their journey at KGV, therefore have created several opportunities for you to engage with the school.  ‘Feedback Friday‘ is one such opportunity for you to engage in a personalized, small group session on a Friday morning, to chat with the Principal, Mark Blackshaw on various topics or areas you would like to discuss.

Sessions will run online from 10:30am to 11:15am, and are limited to 15 parents.

Our upcoming session will be on Friday 25 February 2022.

Once you sign up for a session/s, a link will be sent to you closer to the time of the meeting.

If you would like to attend this or other sessions this term, please sign up on this form.

For enquiries contact Kiran at kiran.budhrani@kgv.edu.hk

Youth Alcohol Consumption and Communication
(By Kely Support Group)

Date: 15 February 2022
Time: 7:30pm - 9pm
Mode: online zoom

Talking about alcohol with young people is never easy. But as parents, teachers or trusted adults, we are responsible to provide them with correct information about alcohol consumption and keep them safe. Join our Parents and Teachers Workshop on Youth Alcohol Consumption and Communication 

In the upcoming session we will be covering the following topics:

• General knowledge and trends on alcohol in Hong Kong

• Parental protective factors against youth alcohol consumption

• Practical communication skills with youth

• Channels for help-seeking around alcohol and other issues

Click on https://forms.gle/kM1Er9ya6V1ZTV6f6 for more information and registration!

*This talk is organised by Kely support group and is a free for parents.

Evelyn Wong: NYT honourable mention
Congratulations to Evelyn Wong, a year ten student at KGV. Evelyn received an honourable mention in the New York Times 'Coming of Age' multimedia contest for teenagers.

During their PSHE Health & Wellbeing unit, year ten students explored the concepts of identity, change and resilience.

The #NewYorkTimes brief asked, 'what it's like to be a teenager now?' All KGV PSHE students who entered deserve recognition but big congratulations to Evelyn on her prestigious accolade - from over 4000 entries, an honourable mention from the New York Times!

You can find her artwork here, alongside the artist's statement and other featured works from KGV PSHE students.