Principal's message

Dear Parents and Guardians,

It was a big week at KGV with the graduation of our Year 13 class. Many students have been with KGV since Year 7, and many also went to ESF primary schools and have experienced the 13-year ESF journey. In this sense, it was an honour to be representing KGV and all ESF schools, at this moment in time. We are proud of our Year 13 students, and we wish them all the best in the future.

Due to COVID-19 protocols we held the Year 13 Graduation Ceremony across two evenings, which resulted in a more personalised and conversational experience. On both nights, I had the opportunity to speak to many parents about their experiences and how they felt during the course of the week. From my reflections of the many conversations, our parents touched on:

• A deep sense of pride in their child’s achievements to graduate from KGV. This was in many ways, an acknowledgement and recognition of how hard many of our students worked in the context of COVID challenges, and how they deserved this special moment.
• A mixture of emotions that they all felt. I sensed strong feelings of excitement at this rite of passage, but also a lingering sense of uncertainty, with a new phase of life presenting itself.
• There was a realisation for some, that their son and daughter could be moving away from home for the first time in 18 years!
• I could also feel a deep sense of self-accomplishment, even satisfaction, of a job well done as a parent. No matter our imperfections and flaws as parents, our Year 13 graduates would not have gotten to this point without this care and support.

It was a big couple of nights for our staff as well. Many have invested a lot into the students, and it is gratifying to see them graduate and move on. We made sure that we acknowledged the work of our staff last night and the role they have played in the lives of our students.

Finally, in the context of some ongoing challenging times, I felt privileged to be part of this celebration and to witness the power of parenting and the concrete and intangible rewards that flow at moments like this. In a way, seeing your child work hard, achieve, and set a course for the future, is what leaving a legacy in life is all about.

Have a good long weekend.

Kind Regards

Mark Blackshaw

Principal, KGV School

Year 12 Message

Our Year 12 IB students began their Assessment Week on Wednesday and these will continue until next Friday, 10 June. Our BTEC students continue to have lessons as normal during this time. All IB students will be off timetable for the duration. The schedule is below.

Year 12 Assessment Week

We would like to remind all of our students to please reach out to any of our Year 12 team if you need any help or support at this time.

Wishing you a great weekend.

Year 13 Message

We have had a fantastic week, celebrating with our Year 13 students as they completed their KGV journey. Our students looked fabulous as they graduated on Wednesday and Thursday evening.

We are very proud of all of our Year 13 students and wish everyone a restful summer break before embarking on their next adventure.

Year 7 Message

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Another short week comes to an end. The weeks certainly seem to be rushing past to the much-needed summer break.

Students met with the new tutors again on Monday and spent time with their new tutor group. This is aimed at helping them transition smoothly to Year 8.

Swimming lessons will start in PE lessons next Week Monday, 6 June and continue until the end of term. We understand that some parents may have concerns about their children swimming due to COVID-19 or otherwise. Please be assured that our approach complies with the guidelines issued by the Education Bureau (EDB) and Centre for Health Protection (CHP), and KGV will continue to ensure strict adherence to those guidelines by staff and students alike. If you do have any concerns, or if your child is not able to take part in swimming lessons, please contact your child’s PE teacher to discuss. Students MUST be double vaccinated and have completed their 14 days after vaccination before they are allowed to enter the pool. Vaccinated students will not be wearing a mask whilst moving around the pool and when swimming. Students have access to further information in the student bulletin.

Have a great long weekend.

The Year 7 Team

Year 8 Message

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

On Monday we welcomed a group of students who will be joining Year 9 in August. A big thank you to all the current students who acted as buddies and supported the day. As they left many of the new students commented on how welcome they had been made to feel which was great to hear and had much to do with the many students who invited them into their activities during the day.

Year 8 students had an assembly today with Mr Blackshaw and Mr Tranter where they talked about expectations with regards to uniforms as well as the return to more normal school life. After more than two years of disruption, we are looking forward to the return of some of the key events of school life such as Swimming Gala, Evening of Music and Dance and Interschool Sports. It was also great to acknowledge the achievements of several students who achieved a gold certificate in the UKMT Junior Mathematical Challenge - well done to all the winners.

Swimming lessons will start in PE lessons next Week Monday, 6 June and continue until the end of term. We understand that some parents may have concerns about their children swimming due to COVID-19 or otherwise. Please be assured that our approach complies with the guidelines issued by the Education Bureau (EDB) and Centre for Health Protection (CHP), and KGV will continue to ensure strict adherence to those guidelines by staff and students alike. If you do have any concerns, or if your child is not able to take part in swimming lessons, please contact your child’s PE teacher to discuss. Students MUST be double vaccinated and have completed their 14 days after vaccination before they are allowed to enter the pool. Vaccinated students will not be wearing a mask whilst moving around the pool and when swimming. Students have access to further information in the student bulletin.

Have a great long weekend.

The Year 8 Team

Year 9 Message

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

On Monday we welcomed a group of students who will be joining Year 10 in August and along with the current Year 9, they joined their new Year 10 tutor for tutor time. A big thank you to all the current students who acted as buddies and supported the day. As they left many of the new students commented on how welcome they had been made to feel which was great to hear and had much to do with the many students who invited them into their activities during the day.

Following last week’s newsletter you should have received an App message today from Mr Tranter regarding any change requests for IGCSEs next year. Please remember that we cannot guarantee to be able to fulfill these requests as it is dependent on class sizes and where different subjects have been placed in the timetable. The window for requests is open between 6 - 10 June, and all requests will be looked at once the timetable for next year has been finalised.

Students are now entering the final stages of their Community Project. Over the next week, students will begin to reflect on the entire process, finding evidence of their initial research and investigation, leading up to reflect on how well they were able to execute their ACTION plan. Students will then prepare their final presentation, which will be presented to their tutor and their peers. Students shouldn’t feel too anxious about the process and should be seen as a celebration of their achievements.

Swimming lessons will start in PE lessons next Week Monday, 6 June and continue until the end of term. We understand that some parents may have concerns about their children swimming due to COVID or otherwise. Please be assured that our approach complies with the guidelines issued by the Education Bureau (EDB) and Centre for Health Protection (CHP), and KGV will continue to ensure strict adherence to those guidelines by staff and students alike. If you do have any concerns, or if your child is not able to take part in swimming lessons, please contact your child’s PE teacher to discuss. Students MUST be double vaccinated and have completed their 14 days after vaccination before they are allowed to enter the pool. Vaccinated students will not be wearing a mask whilst moving around the pool and when swimming. Students have access to further information in the student bulletin.

Have a great long weekend.

The Year 9 Team

Year 10 Message

A reminder of the Year 10 Parent Options Information evening. We strongly encourage parents to attend so discussions can start over the summer. It is a Zoom webinar on Monday, 6 June at 6pm.

Link to join the webinar: https://kgvhk.zoom.us/j/94337544080 Passcode: 825208

We have had a few conversations with Year 10 students who are anxious about the assessments they are having at present. The English IA counts towards their final grade, but other assessments do not.

We have been reminding students that the purpose of most assessments is for them to see how they are going and to get feedback. This is best if they treat them seriously and prepare well, but they should not get over-anxious about the result because they are part of the learning process preparing them for the final exams, and it is only the final exams this time next year, that count towards their grade.

Please check in with your child to ensure they understand the constructive purpose of assessments and look out for any signs of anxiety. Please contact us if we can help.

Year 11 Message

I hope students and families have had some rest from the pressures of exams this week. They are back on next week:

• Psychology at 7pm on Monday
• Maths at 12:30pm on Tuesday
• History at 1pm; either Physics or Science at 3:30pm on Thursday 

After that there are only two weeks to go.
Thank you for continuing to help your child conduct a RAT each exam day, update the app and check they are in uniform, on time and have all their equipment.

Swimming lessons will start next Week Monday, 6 June until the end of term. 

The Physical and Health Education department sees it as a life skill that all should have to feel safe and confident in and around water.  With the summer holidays coming up and more water opportunities, we would like KGV students to have these important skills and confidence. 

We understand that some parents may have concerns about their children swimming due to COVID-19 or otherwise. Please be assured that our approach complies with the guidelines issued by the Education Bureau (EDB) and Centre for Health Protection (CHP), and KGV will continue to ensure strict adherence to those guidelines by staff and students alike. If you do have any concerns, or if your child is not able to take part in the swimming lessons, please contact your child’s PE teacher to discuss. 

Students MUST be double vaccinated and have completed their 14 days after vaccination before they are allowed to enter the pool. Vaccinated students will not be wearing a mask whilst moving around the pool and when swimming.  

Two classes will be allocated together at the pool so that those unable to swim or not vaccinated yet will still have a PE teacher to conduct a practical PE lesson on the field or activity space.  So they should be in full PE kit. 

Swimming Kit List

• Swimsuit should suitable for swim development and confidence.  Not baggy.  Full body suits are allowed but no bikinis/two piece swim suit.

• KGV House Swimming Cap

• Goggles 

• Rash/ Suntop (optional) can be worn. 

• Towel

• Dry Bag/ plastic bag for wet stuff and to prevent other school essentials from getting wet.

• Spare Mask for after swimming.

All swimming abilities are catered for and the focus will be water confidence, safety and fun games. 

We are pleased to offer a clearance sale for all uniform items stocked at the KGV shop, beginning Saturday, 21 May - Sunday, 19 June 2022.  Please visit the uniform website to place your orders.  

Students may try on uniform samples at the KGV shop if they require a fitting. Orders must be placed on the above website and can be picked up from the KGV shop. 

Y11 >> Y12 students

Current Y11 students who will transition to Y12 in the coming academic year are required to wear the senior uniform in Y12  and Y13 - the khaki shorts/trousers/skorts.  We encourage parents to purchase their child’s senior uniform within the above-mentioned period.

For enquires, please email tiffany.chau@kgv.edu.hk 

Friday, 10 June 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 personalised, 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, 10 June 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 Budrani at kiran.budhrani@kgv.edu.hk

School reference (non-higher education purposes) (Link to policy on Lionel)

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 references for higher education applications are done in a separate process.

TO ALL KING GEORGE V SCHOOL PARENTS AND TEACHERS

Notice is hereby given that an EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING of the KING GEORGE V SCHOOL PARENTS TEACHERS STUDENTS ASSOCIATION LIMITED (Company No: 1258660) will be held on Tuesday, 7 June 2022 at 5:00pm in the Boardroom, King George V School, 2 Tin Kwong Road, Homantin, Kowloon, Hong Kong.

All parents and teachers are invited to attend via Zoom. Please sign up here to get the link.

KGV PTSA is a group of parents, staff and students who work closely to build community spirit and organise various events throughout the year to raise funds for the school.

At this EGM, our members are to consider some special resolutions regarding the transition of the King George V School PTSA from a company limited by guarantee to an Association or Society. Please review the following documents carefully.

• Draft Constitution for the King George V School Parents Teachers Students Association

• Formal Notice for the EGM, including the resolutions to be passed

• Frequently Asked Questions re: KGV PTSA Transition to an Association

If you have any questions regarding the transition, the resolutions or any other matter relating to the proposed changes, please email our Engagement Manager, Kiran Budhrani at kiran.budhrani@kgv.edu.hk

For the EGM to be legally valid, we need a minimum number of parents and teachers to attend. Please support the PTSA and the school, by completing the sign-up form and joining us on the 7 June.

Regards,

Purvi Shah                          Mark Blackshaw
PTSA Chair                          Principal