Archive Index
Newsletter: Friday 3 March 2023
- Principal's message
- Year 11 Message
- Year 10 Message
- Year 8 & 9 Message
- Year 12 Message
- Year 13 Message
- Year 7 Message
- Careers & H.E. Guidance
- KGV Sporting Stories
- CNN Freedom Day Sweatshop Challenge
- Canteen Menu
Principal's message
Dear Parents and Guardians,
There was a lovely atmosphere around KGV this week with plenty of smiles and expressions on show, with many students now not wearing masks. I know the teaching staff especially enjoyed teaching without masks, and many commented how it is now easier to ‘read the room’ and pick up feedback from expressions and facial cues. The biggest highlight was seeing the laughing and smiling faces at break times as students responded to each other expressions and emotions.
Having said all this, after three years of telling students to “please put your mask on”, we are taking a patient approach regarding students still wearing masks and realise there will be various reasons why students need to wear them. We will gently encourage students to consider not wearing masks in lessons like PE and Drama, where the masks make performance in these subjects more challenging.
I want to thank parents for supporting our school over the past years regarding issues such as mask-wearing. I also thank you for your ongoing support for ‘your child, our student’ as we support them in the journey back towards pre-covid behaviours. We appreciate that students will be navigating this journey in different ways and speeds, and our job as parents and educators is to guide and encourage them on their journey. Please get in touch with your child’s tutor if you have any questions or requests regarding your son or daughter.
A few shout-outs:
- I spent a few hours at the HKSSF Athletics event this week, and it was great to see our students performing so well. Thank you to Ms Knight, Ms Wilson, Ms Ip and Ms Cheung for supporting our students.
- This week, we enjoyed Kindness Week and seeing all the ‘kindness’ activities happening around the school was wonderful. It is important as a school that we demonstrate and celebrate the behaviours that we are seeking. No one is perfect, and we need to continue to work as a community to promote the behaviours that we wish to see. Kindness is highlighted in our KGV Lion Values of Empathy - Be kind, understanding, and respectful. To show empathy:
- We listen to understand and enable compassion.
- We acknowledge and engage with diverse beliefs, values, and experiences.
- We take care of ourselves and others.
Next week, we see the Inter-House Music competition; come to an exciting finale. Our students will compete in instrumental solo, vocal solo, live tech and vocal ensemble competitions from Tuesday to Friday. This event is such a highlight and showcases the incredible talent of our students.
I am also looking forward to the opening of the IB Art Show at 6.30 pm Friday, 9th March. It is always inspiring to see our students' creativity and originality on show. This is the first major show for several years due to Covid restrictions, and the students have worked so hard to produce work of such quality. Please use the QR code below to link to each student’s profile of work.
Finally, we look forward to celebrating International Women’s Day (IWD) next week. A highlight will be the IWD Breakfast held before school on Wednesday. We have some exciting guest speakers, including students who will share their stories of embracing equity, inclusion, and diversity.
I hope you all have a good weekend.
Kind Regards,
Mark Blackshaw, Principal KGV School.
Mr Mark Blackshaw (mark.blackshaw@kgv.edu.hk)
Year 11 Message
Students have submitted their option requests for Y12 and 13 this week. If your child still requires guidance, please encourage them to come to the Y10/11 office for help.
Once the option request is submitted, you will receive an app message that lists the choices made and asks you to approve. Just tap the link if you are happy with the choices. We will be in touch if we don't see that approval because it is vital that parents know and approve of the choices for their child for Year 12.
This week, we have also been working closely with students who didn't get the mock results they hoped for. If your child has any concerns about their grades or needs any help with their preparation for the final exams, then please encourage them to come and see us.
To help with revision, a full list of syllabus statements can be found in this document and the dates for the final exams are in this document. The times for the final exams are not set yet.
Easter and summer work experience opportunities can be seen here (link accessible by students and available in the student bulletin). The closing date for applications is March 6th.
Mr Tim Carrell (tim.carrell@kgv.edu.hk)
Year 10 Message
Year 10 students are currently working hard on several assessments.
Just a reminder that if your child feels unwell at school, they should see the school nurse. Some will try calling you first, so please ask them to go to the nurse. If the nurse judges that they are unfit to stay at school, she will get in touch.
For clarity, PE kit should only be worn to school if your child has PE period 1 and should only be worn home if they had PE last period. Tapping the timetable button in the ESF App will help them to get organised.
Mr Tim Carrell (tim.carrell@kgv.edu.hk)
Year 8 & 9 Message
This week's highlight is seeing the Year 8 & 9 students laughing and smiling as they travel to their classes and enjoy their break times. I have no doubt they are smiling in their subject classes too. At times it has also felt strange for everyone, as though we are seeing each other for the first time.
Next week is InterHouse Music. There is much excitement about having this event in person for the first time in 3 years. Various events will happen during the school day, ending with a broadcast to the whole school next Friday afternoon. We look forward to supporting all students, with particular attention to our Year 8 & 9 students participating.
Thank you for supporting your child in completing their Options Choices. Year 8 will confirm their choices in May, and Year 9 will confirm their Maths and Science pathways.
Please remember that if your child feels unwell at school, our guidelines state that they should see the school nurse. Some children will try calling parents/guardians first. If this happens, please ask them to go to the nurse. If the nurse judges that they are unfit to stay at school, they will contact you. I appreciate your support with these guidelines.
Have a great weekend.
Kiely Murphy (kiely.murphy@kgv.edu.hk)
Year 12 Message
We are very much looking forward to our upcoming IB Visual Art Exhibition for Year 13 next week. It is the first show we have had without major Covid restrictions, and the students have worked extremely hard. We are so proud of what they have achieved so far.
We are also excited about the upcoming Inter House Music Competition, and our students have been putting in a huge effort to get themselves ready for this special KGV experience.
A reminder for our BTEC Internship students to complete their code of conduct and return to the Year 12 office before Friday, 10th March.
Wishing you a great weekend.
Rory Mckeague (rory.mckeague@kgv.edu.hk)
Year 13 Message
We are very much looking forward to our upcoming IB Visual Art Exhibition for Year 13 next week. It is the first show we have had without major Covid restrictions, and the students have worked extremely hard. We are so proud of what they have achieved so far.
We are also excited about the upcoming Inter House Music Competition, and our students have been putting in a huge effort to get themselves ready for this special KGV experience.
Wishing you a great weekend.
Rory Mckeague (rory.mckeague@kgv.edu.hk)
Year 7 Message
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
Congratulations to our Year 7 athletes who represented KGV School at the HKSSF Athletic events over the past couple of weeks. We are super proud of our students and their eagerness to participate.
This week, we have been speaking to Year 7 students about language and the importance of thinking carefully before we speak. We have discussed the importance of thinking about how our words and actions could impact others and whether our words and actions match our intentions. Please reinforce this message at home.
Next week, we celebrate our amazing musicians and singers. In our Inter-House Music competition, I am looking forward to seeing some Year 7 performances. I know parents have been invited to some of these sessions. Please see below in this newsletter for more details.
Have a good weekend.
Ms Carole Beer (carole.beer@kgv.edu.hk)
Careers & H.E. Guidance
Our email address: careers.office@kgv.edu.hk.
KGV Careers Website is another platform where we share information and resources on higher education, scholarship, external events, enrichment programmes and many more.
HE Resources via Google Classroom for Y12 & Y13. All resources for higher education applications are available via Google Classroom, including internal deadlines. Students should look out for announcements & reminders. Y13s should ensure they are keeping their paces with applications.
Student official full names are used on school transcripts. We would like to ask parents to check that their children’s official full name in the school record matches that on their identity documents. This is especially so when students are known in school by their preferred names which may not be their official names. Unmatched names may cause difficulties with university offers.
Year 13
- Close communication with HE Counsellors. Apart from keeping to internal deadlines, students should work closely with their HE Counsellors and keep informed of their HE applications. Any missed communication may result is a delay in providing necessary support for applications, which may result in missed offers.
- Application Status & Offers. Applicants are starting to receive offer decisions. Students should have regular communications with their HE Counsellors on their application status.
- IBO Result Service. Students doing IBDP or IB courses are recommended to subscribe to the IBO Result Service that sends student’s final results to the institution they specify. Students were briefed at Tutor Time on 2 Mar on how to do this. Our Exam Office is coordinating this service and an email was sent to Y13 students about subscribing to this service. For queries about IBO Result Service, please email exam@kgv.edu.hk.
- Y13 Exit plan. The Careers & H.E. Team will be briefing our Class of 2023 next week. A parent presentation is planned after Easter.
Year 12
- 1-1 session with HE Counsellors. The 1-to-1 meetings are well underway. Students should have received an email with their individual appointment details and preparation before the session. If students don’t know their appointment date/time, please contact the Careers Office. There is a questionnaire for students to complete before they attend their appointment. It is important that they attend the session to discuss their post-KGV intentions.
- BTEC Internship (W1: 20-24 March; W2: 27-31 March). Parents should have received an email on Friday, 24 Feb with a link to a Google Form to give their consent to let their child to do the internship. An individualised “Code of Conduct” form was included in the email. Both student and parent must sign the “Code of Conduct” and return it to the Careers Office by 10 March. Students had a session on work etiquette and expectations on 3 Mar.
KGV School References
The KGV Careers Office is coordinating all references for students. KGV School has a closed reference policy. School references are treated with the strictest confidentiality and are sent only to the institution that makes a request. Students and their families do not get to see their school reference.
- Reference for Y13s’ higher education application: All current Y13 students have a school reference in place as one of the support school documents. There is no need for students to make a request. Students should work closely with their H.E. Counsellor for their applications.
- References for non-higher education purposes, including potential exit, summer school, scholarship, etc.: Parents should inform the Careers Office by email, providing purpose and contact for sending the reference. The normal lead time for teachers to work on school references is 4-6 working weeks.
University Events on the KGV Careers Calendar
Highlight of upcoming events:
University visit @ KGV, during lunch time at Senior Student Common Room
15 Mar: Bath
17 Mar: Massey (New Zealand) & Falmouth
20 Mar: Leeds Beckett
21 Mar: Nottingham, York, Cardiff, Leicester, Durham, Exeter, York & Huddersfield
18 Apr: Calgary
19 Apr: Keele
Hong Kong
5 Mar: HK Academy of Performing Arts Open Day
Europe
Mar-Apr (various dates): Carl Benz School of Engineering webinars
10 Mar: Constructor University (Germany) webinar: Building your future in IT
11 Mar: Hanze University of Applied Sciences webinar:
14 Mar: IESEG School of Management webinar: Bachelor in International Business
Canada / U.S.
March (various dates): Toronto Metropolitan University various sessions
Singapore
Until 6 Mar: NUS Online Open House
KGV Careers & H.E. Team
Ms Elaine Fung (elaine.fung@kgv.edu.hk)
KGV Sporting Stories
Gymnastics
Congratulations to Year 11 student Esmee Mook who won 1st runner-up at the Hong Kong Artistic and Gymnastics Open held in January. Alongside this placing, Esmee was also the overall champion for the bar's discipline. Esmee is undoubtedly making a name for herself in HK gymnastics with lots of success, and as a result, the Hong Kong Institute of Sports has offered her a full-time training position.
Tennis
Congratulations to Year 9 student Kevin Chan for his achievement as a seeded entry in the Hong Kong National Junior Tennis Championships 2023. Since last December, he has trained hard with extra sessions after school to prepare for this event. Kevin has played evening matches in Victoria Park over the past few weeks. Kevin has placed 1st runner up for the Under 14 Boy's doubles category in this annual National Championships on Feb 26 2023. Well done, Kevin!
Rugby
We would like to recognise several KGV students selected to participate in the Hong Kong Rugby Union Skill Development sessions. They are Emily Fisher (U16 girls), Joseph Tranter, Oliver Fisher, Sho Kitamura (U16 boys), Liam Jordan, Joshua Bailey, and Fritz Mahn (U19 boys).
Josh and Fritz were also a part of the U19 HK squad, which won the U19 Asian Games tournament in Dubai in November.
The Hong Kong Sports Institute have invited Liam and Fritz to train as a part of their HK 7s programme. The programme involves training at their venue during the week and receiving coaching from the top HK coaches.
Congratulations to all these players!
Mr Scott Davidson (scott.davidson@kgv.edu.hk)
CNN Freedom Day Sweatshop Challenge
I would like to invite you to be part of a very exciting, but worthwhile opportunity.
In collaboration with the Mekong Club Hong Kong and CNN in support of CNN’s Freedom Project (March 16th), we are inviting parents and students to take part in the ‘Freedom Day Sweatshop Challenge’, offering participants a taste of what it is like to experience a sweatshop situation and to raise awareness/funding for the Mekong Club and it’s aim to reduce modern slavery across the globe.
- Date: Tuesday 14th of March
- Time: 3.30pm - 6.30pm
We are looking to recruit 30 - 50 student/parent teams for this event and will allocate on a first-come first served basis. Please complete the following form to express an interest in the event. Application Form
Due to COVID restrictions, we ran this event online last year, but are excited to bring this event back in person. To see the coverage and snapshot of the event, please see the linked video: KGV Sweatshop Simulation.
Dean Beard
CAS, Service-Learning and Activities Coordinator
Mr Dean Beard (dean.beard@kgv.edu.hk)
For 6 - 10 March
Attachments: KGV menu 6-10Mar2023.pdf Elaine Chan (elaine.chan@kgv.edu.hk)
