Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been great to welcome the students back, and there has been a vibrant and positive atmosphere around the KGV campus. It has been really pleasing to see the students settle quickly back into their healthy habits and routines, I am sure this will continue as we move forward.

A highlight of this week has been seeing the Year 7 Media and Music students working towards the completion of their Interdisciplinary unit (IDU) in the MYP. Their creativity, technical ability and collaborative skills have come to the forefront as they finalise their animations in preparation for what I am sure will be an exciting exhibition later in January. A big thank you to all of the teachers involved in creating this important learning experience.

Looking ahead, we have a number of events happening over the next week. Good luck to all the students involved in the Model United Nations debating competition over the weekend, and our Year 9 students will experience the launch of the Community Project next Wednesday. We also welcome future KGV students into school on Thursday, as current Year 6 enjoy a ‘taster day.’

We look forward to continuing to build on this early momentum, and I hope you and your family have an enjoyable weekend ahead.

Best regards,

Mark Poulsum

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Happy New Year! We hope you and your family had a wonderful time over Christmas and the winter break. It has been lovely to see Year 7 students back at school and enthusiastic to start the term.

Octopus Cards

Thank you for your emails and feedback regarding your experience with octopus losses and, in some cases, theft. We take these issues very seriously and have been discussing how we can enhance our current systems to ensure students are aware of the procedures for looking after their valuables as well as making our community aware of the consequences of stealing.

As a school we are;

1. Speaking to all students in tutor time about the importance of
   1. Considering putting their octopus in a wallet, rather than storing next to the timetable on the lanyard
   2. Using lockers to store valuables, particularly at break and lunch
   3. Using PE valuable boxes in PE lessons and not leaving items in changing rooms. Remembering to put their octopus in the valuables boxes, if the octopus is stored separately to their wallet.
   4. Reporting to Year teams (tutors and Heads of Year)  immediately if they find their belongings are missing.
2. Putting signs up around changing rooms to remind students to use valuables boxes and not leave octopuses/ money etc in the changing rooms
3. Working with PE teachers to ensure they explicitly check with students at the start of the lesson that no valuables have been left in changing rooms

Please can we ask parents to consider using the Octopus App as a method for tracking use and location. As parents have been mentioning, it is more effective if your child has a personalized octopus card. These can be obtained from MTR stations.

Challenge Week

Plans are underway for next year’s Challenge Week, where current Year 7 students are to be given the opportunity of joining overseas trips. Please check your App messages for information from Mr Carrell who is reaching out to Year 7 parents to seek your feedback on whether this is something you would like your child to be considered for.

Have a great weekend.

It was lovely to welcome back our Year 12 and 13 students back to school this week and we would like to wish everyone a happy 2024!

Our Year 13 IB students have made a promising start to their Mock Exams and we are looking forward to our first assembly of 2024 with our Year 12 students next Wednesday 17th January, to be held in the hall during tutor time.

The Year 13 IB Mock exam schedule is below.

Year 13 Mock Exam Schedule

Wishing you a great weekend.

Year 10 & 11 Message

It was great to see our students back and with lots of energy after the winter break.

For Year 11s the mock exams are their major focus. They will run from January 22nd through to February 2nd. The mock exam schedule is here. We want students to take the exams seriously so that the experience prepares them for their final exams, however, they must remember that these results are for feedback only and there is no need to get over-anxious about them.

During the mock exams, Y11 students only need to come to school for their exams. They should look carefully at the schedule and ensure they are here at least 20 minutes prior to the start time. They can also use our study facilities at any time if they wish. Students have been given an exam pass to gain entry and exit from the school. Full uniform should be worn when they are in school.

On Wednesday we ran an assembly to outline procedures for mock exams and a reminder about revision strategies and managing stress. This was presented to Year 10 and 11 students. 

We have students involved in Model United Nations at school this weekend and with a leadership program next weekend.

Year 8 Message

Happy New Year, and Welcome to 2024!

Our students have returned from the winter break refreshed, excited to be here and ready to embrace all that KGV offers. As a Student Development Team, we have noticed more positive behaviours across the school and how they improve our school community. Our students' positive attitudes and actions, big and small, contribute to the nurturing, inclusive, and thriving environment we are proud to be a part of. These positive behaviours link directly with our KGV school values and the IB Learner Profile attributes of being ‘Communicators’ and ‘Caring’. 

After last year's success, we continue with a termly Honours Award focusing on the KGV expectations for students’ attendance, punctuality, uniform and behaviour. Students who achieve the expectations stated below in Term 1 will receive an Honours Award certificate.

• At least 95% Attendance

• No more than two lates to school

• No uniform slips

• No behaviour concerns

KGV School promotes an excellent punctuality record across all years to ensure students and staff have the maximum possible time to enable effective teaching and learning. A reminder that every student needs to swipe in when they arrive at school. Students who swipe into school after 8:10 am are considered late. Please review our KGV Punctuality Guidelines for more information and our tiered response. 

MYP Approaches to Learning (ATL) Focus for our Parent Newsletter: Self-Management Skills - Challenges and Setbacks

Whether it’s an unmet expectation, a belief that they deserve better or that inability to control an outcome, your child will be disappointed at different points in their lives. However, there are more helpful ways for your child to deal with this challenging emotion than just wallowing in their sorrows. 

Below are some top tips designed to help you help your child face disappointments head-on. 

1. Allow your child to feel disappointed. 

Squashing down, ignoring, or casting aside negative emotions doesn't make them disappear. It makes them stronger. So, acknowledge the hurt and the pain and allow your child to feel sad… but not forever; make sure your child moves to number 2. 

2. Express themselves 

Please encourage them to journal, write, and talk about it with their TEAM. Studies have shown that writing about your deepest thoughts and feelings can help you process them and lessen feelings of hopelessness. 

3. Show self-compassion 

We tend to feel unhappy about things that don't go to plan. However, disappointing outcomes are sometimes out of our control. So, if your child is blaming themselves for something out of their control, remind them they did their best. 

4. Get some perspective 

Although disappointments can feel overwhelming at the time, encourage them to take a moment to step back and ask themselves - how much will this matter in 5 days, five weeks, five months or five years? Rather than thinking their world is about to end, help them recognise that this setback is a painful inconvenience they can overcome. 

Disappointments can feel devastating at the time; however, achieving anything worthwhile in life will come with challenges and setbacks. Supporting your child in dealing with disappointment well is the most critical factor. 

Additional Actions for Parents:

What two strategies can you encourage your child to use to help them handle disappointment? 

Year 9 Message

Happy New Year, and Welcome to 2024!

Our students have returned from the winter break refreshed, excited to be here and ready to embrace all that KGV offers. As a Student Development Team, we have noticed more positive behaviours across the school and how they improve our school community. Our students' positive attitudes and actions, big and small, contribute to the nurturing, inclusive, and thriving environment we are proud to be a part of. These positive behaviours link directly with our KGV school values and the IB Learner Profile attributes of being ‘Communicators’ and ‘Caring’. 

After last year's success, we continue with a termly Honours Award focusing on the KGV expectations for students’ attendance, punctuality, uniform and behaviour. Students who achieve the expectations stated below in Term 1 will receive an Honours Award certificate.

• At least 95% Attendance

• No more than two lates to school

• No uniform slips

• No behaviour concerns

KGV School promotes an excellent punctuality record across all years to ensure students and staff have the maximum possible time to enable effective teaching and learning. A reminder that every student needs to swipe in when they arrive at school. Students who swipe into school after 8:10 am are considered late. Please review our KGV Punctuality Guidelines for more information and our tiered response. 

The Year 9 MYP Community Project starts on Wednesday, 17 Jan, during Period 3, followed by their Ideation Day the following week (Wednesday, 24th Jan, Periods 1 to 4). Through the Community Project, our students can hone their project management skills, utilise design thinking to solve problems, embrace responsibility and accountability, develop empathy towards others, and improve their ability to communicate and connect with community members. 

MYP Approaches to Learning (ATL) Focus for our Parent Newsletter: Self-Management Skills - Challenges and Setbacks

Whether it’s an unmet expectation, a belief that they deserve better or that inability to control an outcome, your child will be disappointed at different points in their lives. However, there are more helpful ways for your child to deal with this challenging emotion than just wallowing in their sorrows. 

Below are some top tips designed to help you help your child face disappointments head-on. 

1. Allow your child to feel disappointed. 

Squashing down, ignoring, or casting aside negative emotions doesn't make them disappear. It makes them stronger. So, acknowledge the hurt and the pain and allow your child to feel sad… but not forever; make sure your child moves to number 2. 

2. Express themselves 

Please encourage them to journal, write, and discuss it with their TEAM. Studies have shown that writing about your deepest thoughts and feelings can help you process them and lessen feelings of hopelessness. 

3. Show self-compassion 

We tend to feel unhappy about things that don't go to plan. However, disappointing outcomes are sometimes out of our control. So, if your child is blaming themselves for something out of their control, remind them they did their best. 

4. Get some perspective 

Although disappointments can feel overwhelming at the time, encourage them to take a moment to step back and ask themselves - how much will this matter in 5 days, five weeks, five months or five years? Rather than thinking their world is about to end, help them recognise that this setback is a painful inconvenience they can overcome. 

Disappointments can feel devastating at the time; however, achieving anything worthwhile in life will come with challenges and setbacks. Supporting your child in dealing with disappointment well is the most critical factor. 

Additional Actions for Parents:

What two strategies can you encourage your child to use to help them handle disappointment?  

We are starting our brand new Gardening Club for parents, led by the renowned botanist, Mr. Paul Melsom. If you have a passion for gardening, this is the perfect opportunity for you!

Mr. Melsom is highly regarded for his expertise and he currently leads the successful KGV Student Gardening Club. Now, he is extending his knowledge and guidance to parents who are eager to explore the wonders of gardening and make a positive impact on their children's school environment.

By joining our Gardening Club, you will be assigned an area of the school grounds. Working closely with Mr Melsom, you will receive hands-on guidance, ensuring that you learn the best techniques and practices in gardening and, even better, connect with fellow parents who are like-minded.

Places are limited; please contact michelle.tsang@kgv.edu.hk for information or to sign up by Friday 19th.

This year, we are delighted that the annual Inter-ESF Maths Race will return to being held in-person at Renaissance College on Saturday, 20th January! The competition comprises of three rounds: a maths relay, a buzzer quiz and either a maths trail or surprise round.

This is open to all students in Years 7 – 10; the Y7+8 competition will run from 8am – 12pm, and the Y9+10 competition from 1pm – 5pm. Note that students must get themselves to and from the venue and bring their own snacks and water bottle.

Should your child wish to take part, please:

1. help them find and follow the instructions in the Student Bulletin for signing up to a team (note they will need to be logged into their school account), and
2. fill in the parental consent form here: https://forms.gle/edxMMgzMw6jYro738

Please note the deadline for signing up is this Sunday, 14th January.

Wishing all our teams of students a great day of mathematical fun and go KGV!

The UKMT IMC is a 60-minute, 25 multiple choice question Challenge that encourages mathematical reasoning, precision of thought and fluency to make students think – past papers may be viewed here: https://ukmt.org.uk/current-past-papers/jsf/jet-engine:free-past-papers/tax/challenge-type:70/

It is open to students in Years 11 and below, though students in Years 7 + 8 should look through the past papers linked above before deciding whether to enter this specific competition, or wait for the UKMT Junior Mathematical Challenge taking place in Term 3 this academic year.

This Challenge will take place after school on Thursday 1st February. The entry fee is between $220 – $250 (depending on the currency exchange rate), which parents will be invoiced for through our school’s ePayment system.

All students receive a certificate of participation. To recognise the highest performers in the Challenge, the top-scoring 50% of participants are awarded Bronze, Silver and Gold certificates in the ratio 3:2:1. Students that are 'Best in Year' or 'Best in School' also receive a badge to denote this on their certificates. Students who did not sit the UKMT Senior Mathematical Challenge or the AMC 10/12 earlier this year, and who wish to be considered for nomination to HKAGE’s International Mathematical Olympiad later this year, should take part.

If your child wishes to sign up, please have them fill in the google form posted in the Student Bulletin by the deadline of Monday, 15th January – note that they will need to be logged into their school account to access this.

And please encourage them to keep an eye on the Bulletin for other maths competitions, such as the University of Waterloo CEMC Contests, that are coming soon!

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

The KGV Careers Office coordinates all our student references including exit & summer schools.

For students’ privacy, parents must give KGV their permission to release their child’s reference to a specific list of schools they are applying to. KGV only liaise directly with those schools with parents' permission.

To facilitate a smooth reference process, parents are suggested to contact the Careers Office (careers.office@kgv.edu.hk) with a list of institutions and names of teachers nominated to write references. Please allow at least 4-6 working weeks for teachers to work on school references. School references for higher education applications are done in a separate process.

If students are pursuing gifted and talented programmes outside of KGV, they should contact Mr. Krishin Hotwani directly.

KGV Careers & H.E. Team

Careers & H.E. Guidance

Our email address: careers.office@kgv.edu.hk.

Year 13
- Our Y13 IB students started their mock exams this week. Best wishes and do your best!
- Universities have started sending out offers. Students are most welcome to chat with their HE Counsellors any time.

Year 12
- We hope our Y12s have settled into their IB/BTEC/IBCP routines by now.
- Term 2 is when we start engaging our Y12s on post-secondary aspects, including presentations, individual 1-to-1 meeting with HE Cousellors, parents evening, etc. Stay tuned.

- Google Classrooms. Our HE Team has set up Google Classrooms for Y12 students for communication on higher education issues.

KGV Careers Calendar
Check our KGV Careers Calendar for known H.E. events. Some highlighted events are:

KGV is not responsible for the quality of any external events. All information is subject to change by event organisers.

Visit @ KGV
22 Feb, after school: Imperial, KCL & UCL (more details to be available)

U.K.

17 Jan: University of East Anglia Subject Taster Lecture: Navigating the Future: The Influence of AI and the Metaverse on Marketing Strategy
17-18 Jan: Bournemouth University – Virtual Undergraduate Open Day
Jan-Feb various dates: University of Cambridge Subject Masterclasses (Online)

Europe
17 Jan: Carl Benz School Info Session: Application & Admission
17 Jan: Queen Mary, Malta Campus Webinar: MBBS Programme
20 Jan: Hanze UAS Webinar: Study & live in the Netherlands
23 Jan: Studyin in the Netherlands – Joint webinare by Avans, Buas, Fontys, HZ and Saxion

U.S.A.
21 Jan: Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineer: Info Sessions & Event

KGV Careers & H.E. Team

Music Department Notices

Teacher led Music CAS:

Rehearsals will start after the CNY break: Junior/Senior/Chamber Orchestras and Jazz Band. Junior and Senior Choirs will start after IH Music (Week beginning 11th March). Sign up on Lionel!

Singers / IH Music:

Please encourage your singers to get involved in the IH Music Ensemble. These are fun House group choirs led by our fantastic Music Captains and we do need more students to join. Students can email melody.leung@kgv.edu.hk for info, or contact the Music Captains directly. Our annual IH Music competition will take place 4-8th March 2024.

External Music CAS groups or Private instrument tuition: Trumpet, Trombone, Flute, Clarinet, Cello, Harp, Viola groups etc. Please contact Mr Rex Chow directly (Music Technician) for info and sign up. Brief details are updated and are on the CAS info Lionel page.

Best Wishes - Music Department

Well done to Chloe Chiu who competed at the 2023 China Inline Freestyle National Championships in Chengdu over the Xmas break. Chloe achieved the following results;

2nd in Free Jump (women open)

5th in Speed Slalom (junior women, 13 to 18 years old)

Her free jump performance saw Chloe win her first China National Championship medal.

Chloe’s recent success has also seen her move into the top 10 in the world for the jump and slide category. An amazing achievement to be one of the best 10 people in the world at those events.

We look forward to seeing Chloe’s continual success in the sport of inline skating.

15-19 January, 2024