Principal's Message

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

An entrepreneurial mindset and embracing opportunity for innovation are often quoted as key skills and competencies as our young people get ready for what might be regarded as an unknowable future. Over the past week it has been wonderful to see such attributes alive and well in the KGV student community.

The Year 13 BTEC students pitched their business ideas as part of the culmination of their course. Their creativity shone through in a variety of inspirational proposals, with their excellent communication skills ensuring the pitch was delivered in a clear, engaging and persuasive manner. Further to this, KGV students continue to take the initiative to develop and propose ideas that will improve the student experience at the school. Whether this is the development of an AI app to assist teaching, making KGV a more sustainable campus or creating educational approaches to the use of inclusive language, it is clear that our remarkable students have the entrepreneurial spirit that bodes well for their future. 

We will continue to strive for students to challenge themselves, and foster the conditions that enable students to acquire and develop the skills that will make them future ready.

Have a great weekend ahead.

Best regards,

Mark Poulsum

Our Year 13 students continue to impress us with their high levels of resilience displayed whilst coping with the demands of the examination timetable and our BTEC students are completing outstanding units of work.

Mr Wightman has shared the below schedule with our Year 12 IB students for their Assessment Week, beginning Monday 3rd June.

Y12 Assessment Week Schedule

Please note that there will be no timetabled lessons taking place during this week. The assessments are slightly longer than previous term 1 and 2 assessments as they will be more synoptic in nature and, hence, cover more of the syllabus.

Our Year 12 subject teachers will be providing our students with details about content that the assessments will cover i.e. syllabus statements to revise.

The assessments are designed to give our Year 12 students a realistic examination experience and so will be administered by invigilators.

Wishing you a great weekend.

Year 10 students continue to engage with their tutors in 1:1 conversations where they check on their progress and wellbeing, following up where necessary.

Students are getting towards the end of their first year of GCSE studies and by now should have regular study and revision routines set up. We encourage them to work steadily and that small but regular amounts of revision will be more beneficial than putting things off.

Please encourage your child to make sure they secure their possessions in their locker when going into an exam. If they do not have a locker, they can bring a padlock and get one straight away. Unfortunately, some students have been leaving their valuables unattended for long periods of time.

We have a big week of exams next week with all Y11 students involved. We have:

• Monday - Art practicals
• Wednesday - ICT and English
• Friday - English, Biology (triple and double) and German language.

Please keep an eye out for signs of undue stress and help your child keep a focus on sleep, exercise and healthy eating to support their revision.

For your reference:
Exam timetable
All exam regulations

We hope you enjoyed a rejuvenating break during the mid-week public holiday. It was a well-deserved opportunity to recharge and step back from our weekly routines.

Year 9 Maths/Science/WIN Pathway Selections

This morning, all Year 9 students attended an assembly on this topic. This follows on from information and individual discussions in Maths and Science lessons. You can access the slides used in the assembly here. 

The overall timeline for the process is: 

• Friday 3rd May – overview of the process shared with students in an assembly and parents via the newsletter

• Friday 10th May – students and parents will receive an email with personalised recommendations at the end of the school day. This will set out what teachers believe are appropriate pathways for students with regard to Maths (core, advanced, or extension), Science (single, double, or triple award) and WIN.

• Monday 13th May – hard copies of the pathway selection form will be given to students during tutor time

• Thursday 16th May – an online information session will be held for parents between 5 pm and 6 pm with an opportunity to ask questions about the process. Log-in details will be shared closer to the date. Also, a Google doc will be shared as part of this session if anyone wants to request a Pathway not recommended for their child.

• Monday 20th May – deadline for completed pathway selection forms to be returned to Ms Pang in the Year 8/9 Office (unless you have completed the Google doc mentioned above, in which case discussions may still be ongoing)

The critical point of the process is that two hours in the timetable can be assigned to Maths or Science or used as WIN time (additional support for students). As a rule, the choice is based on allowing students to spend more time on the areas they enjoy or where they need extra support.

Year 8 & 9 Inclusive Language -  Student leaders at KGV are collaborating with peers and staff to promote inclusive language campus-wide. We recognise that language profoundly shapes interactions, perceptions, and relationships, fostering personal and social growth. Addressing non-inclusive or offensive language and behaviour, and promoting respect, we embody KGV's values of courage and empathy, creating a safe and inclusive environment for all.

Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in fostering inclusive language at home. Here are some ways parents and caregivers can support and promote inclusive language at home: 

Be Role Models: Parents should be positive role models by using inclusive language. They can demonstrate respect for diversity, avoid derogatory language, and use gender-neutral or inclusive terms when referring to individuals or groups.

Educate and Discuss: Engage in age-appropriate conversations about the importance of inclusive language with your children. Teach them about different cultures, backgrounds, and identities, helping them understand the significance of using language that respects and includes everyone.

Correct and Explain: When children use exclusionary or offensive language, gently correct them and explain why it is inappropriate. Help them understand the impact of their words and encourage alternative, inclusive ways of expressing themselves.

Encourage Empathy and Respect: Foster empathy and respect by encouraging your children to understand and appreciate different perspectives. Teach them to listen actively, value diversity, and treat others with kindness and respect.

Diversify Media and Literature: Expose your children to diverse books, TV shows, movies, and other media representing different cultures, identities, and experiences. This helps broaden their understanding and promotes inclusive language and attitudes.

Address Stereotypes: Challenge stereotypes and biases by discussing them openly with your children. Encourage critical thinking and help them question assumptions to develop a more inclusive mindset.

Create an Inclusive Environment: Establish an inclusive environment at home where all family members feel comfortable expressing themselves. Encourage open dialogue, active listening, and mutual respect, fostering an atmosphere that values diversity and inclusive language.

The focus on inclusive language at KGV aligns with the aims and principles of the MYP. The MYP emphasises holistic education and aims to develop responsible, active, and compassionate individuals who understand the importance of intercultural understanding and respect. By promoting inclusive language, we are fostering an inclusive and respectful environment, which aligns with the MYP's objective of nurturing students' personal and social growth. The emphasis on effective communication and cultivating awareness of language's impact also aligns with the MYP's goal of developing students' communication skills and encouraging critical thinking.

Parents play a crucial role in promoting inclusive language and enhancing the impact of the MYP.  Ask your child - What is inclusive language, and how are you using it at home and school? 

Have a great weekend!

We hope you enjoyed a rejuvenating break during the mid-week public holiday. It was a well-deserved opportunity to recharge and step back from our weekly routines.

Year 8 & 9 Inclusive Language -  Student leaders at KGV are collaborating with peers and staff to promote inclusive language campus-wide. We recognise that language profoundly shapes interactions, perceptions, and relationships, fostering personal and social growth. Addressing non-inclusive or offensive language and behaviour and promoting respect, we embody KGV's values of courage and empathy, creating a safe and inclusive environment for all.

Parents and caregivers play a crucial role in fostering inclusive language at home. Here are some ways parents and caregivers can support and promote inclusive language at home: 

Be Role Models: Parents should be positive role models by using inclusive language. They can demonstrate respect for diversity, avoid derogatory language, and use gender-neutral or inclusive terms when referring to individuals or groups.

Educate and Discuss: Engage in age-appropriate conversations about the importance of inclusive language with your children. Teach them about different cultures, backgrounds, and identities, helping them understand the significance of using language that respects and includes everyone.

Correct and Explain: When children use exclusionary or offensive language, gently correct them and explain why it is inappropriate. Help them understand the impact of their words and encourage alternative, inclusive ways of expressing themselves.

Encourage Empathy and Respect: Foster empathy and respect by encouraging your children to understand and appreciate different perspectives. Teach them to listen actively, value diversity, and treat others with kindness and respect.

Diversify Media and Literature: Expose your children to diverse books, TV shows, movies, and other media representing different cultures, identities, and experiences. This helps broaden their understanding and promotes inclusive language and attitudes.

Address Stereotypes: Challenge stereotypes and biases by discussing them openly with your children. Encourage critical thinking and help them question assumptions to develop a more inclusive mindset.

Create an Inclusive Environment: Establish an inclusive environment at home where all family members feel comfortable expressing themselves. Encourage open dialogue, active listening, and mutual respect, fostering an atmosphere that values diversity and inclusive language.

The focus on inclusive language at KGV aligns with the aims and principles of the MYP. The MYP emphasises holistic education and aims to develop responsible, active, and compassionate individuals who understand the importance of intercultural understanding and respect. By promoting inclusive language, we are fostering an inclusive and respectful environment, which aligns with the MYP's objective of nurturing students' personal and social growth. The emphasis on effective communication and cultivating awareness of language's impact also aligns with the MYP's goal of developing students' communication skills and encouraging critical thinking.

Parents play a crucial role in promoting inclusive language and enhancing the impact of the MYP.  Ask your child - What is inclusive language, and how are you using it at home and school? 

Have a great weekend!

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Thank you so much for your positive and supportive emails in response to my message on Tuesday about our education around appropriate language. Our home-school partnership is essential for us to support your child, our student in learning how to confidently interrupt inappropriate conversations. We will continue to work with Year 7 students and keep you in the loop as to how you can further develop these conversations at home. 

I noticed in the Year 7 Parent WhatsApp this week that there were questions about our sex education programme.  We follow the ESF RSE (relationships and sex education) guidelines from Year 6 through to Year 13. There are several strands within these guidelines, which are year-group appropriate, and education is shared across faculty areas. Most of Year 7 RSE education happens in PSHE (Personal Social and Health Education) where they have covered puberty and consent. I am hoping to provide a more detailed overview in next week's newsletter.

Have a great weekend.

The Year 7 Team

The Education Bureau (EDB) has now opened the E-Submission of the Student Grant to International Schools parents. To submit online applications for the student grant, parents must have a user account of “iAM Smart+” with digital signing function. 

Parents may at any time register for “iAM smart+” in-person at the district “iAM Smart” self registration kiosks or registration service counters with around 170 locations including Post Offices in various districts.

Besides, to facilitate parents to get well prepared for using the e-platform, EDB will arrange promotion activities and set up booths for on-site “iAM smart+” registration for parents at designated schools in various districts. Details of the registration activities to be held in May and June as well as the booking method are provided in the attached poster for reference. 

Parents are encouraged to participate in one of these sessions to get more information about this new submission process.

For the registration activities schedule, please click this LINK here (please scan the QR Code on the top right hand corner of the poster to register). 

You can attend any session that is convenient for you (if they are available). Please bring along your mobile phone and your Hong Kong Identification Card to register for “iAM Smart+” at the venue.

**Parents with Hong Kong Identification Cards can apply via E-Submission of the Student Grant. Other parents holding passports will have to submit via paper submission like in the previous years.**

This is a message for parents on how to register for “iAMSmart+” and  NOT the application of the Student Grant 2024/25. The application will only start after the summer holidays. 

Please contact me if you have any questions via email: michelle.tsang@kgv.edu.hk

Thank you!

Careers & H.E. Guidance

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

Parents’ Support for KGV Careers Fair and Careers Exposure
The Careers Office organises various opportunities for our students to explore careers options. The annual September Careers Fair and various work experiences are some of them. These could not have happened without our wonderful parent’s support. We are hoping to introduce more opportunities for our students.

For parents who would like to collaborate with KGV, please take two minutes to complete this form here. Our team will get in touch with you to discuss further the opportunities that you may bring to community.

We truly appreciate your support. Thank you!

Year 13
- Year 13 Exit Presentation on 2 May.  Thank you to those parents who joined us last night.  Slides of the presentation were already emailed to all Year 13 parents.  If you have any queries, please do reach us to us.

- IBO Result Service. It is a service provided by IB to send final results directly to the institution(s) students have chosen. Students are briefed about the procedures. Students have until 24 May 2024 to complete the request coordinated by the KGV Exam Office. It is necessary for IB students to sign up to this service so that their final IB results will be delivered directly by IBO to the higher institutions as soon as results are released. This ensures no delay in securing offers.

- Universities have started sending out offers. Students are most welcome to chat with their HE Counsellors any time.

- If students plan to take a gap year or apply to Australia after graduation, we would appreciate it if they can inform their HE Counsellors about their plans so that we can support them when it’s time for them to make their applications.

Best wishes to our IB students with their upcoming exams, and to our BTEC students in mastering remainder of their coursework.

Year 12
- Google Classrooms. Our HE Team has set up Google Classrooms for Y12 students for communication on higher education issues.

- Y12s’ 1-to-1 meeting with their HE Counsellors. Meetings have resumed since our return from the term break.

- Y12 H.E. presentation series. We have done presentations on H.E. Refresher, Unifrog, Personal Statement, UK Applications, Advanced Unifrog, HK Applications and Oxbridge so far. Other upcoming presentations will cover these topics: Medicine, Dentistry & Vet. (8 May), USA Applications (15 May), USA Personal Essays (22 May), Canada Applications (29 May), Non-mainstream destinations (5 Jun), UCAS Setup (12 Jun), and Summer Action Plan (19 Jun). Students have received the presentation schedule via Google Classroom.

Enrichment/Summer Programmes
- Our Careers website has a page that lists known opportunities by region. Check this page for ideas.
- KGV does not take responsibility for the content or quality of external events and courses.
- If students need school references to support their application to enrichment/summer programmes, they should email careers.office@kgv.edu.hk. Our normal lead time for teachers to work on recommendations is 4-6 working weeks.

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.

Hong Kong
4 May & 18 May: HKUST “Unboxing Admissions”
29 Jun: HK IVE Hospitality “Fun Day 2024”

Australia
7 May: Australia University Fair @ St Paul’s College HK
19 May: Australian National University – HK Information Day

Europe
15 & 29 May: EHL Taster Classes
22 May: Bocconi (Italy) Open Lecture for High School Students – AI Evolution: From Leonardo to ChatGPT

Others:
16 May: St George’s University, School of Medicine “Introduction to Medicine Webinar Series: Clinical Skills

KGV Careers & H.E. Team

GOLF

We would like to congratulate Anson Tam on his performance at the recent 15th Faldo Series Asia Grand Final in Vietnam. Anson earned 1st place for the U16 boys category after a play off and finished the tournament in 9th position overall across all participants. This was a significant achievement as this tournament attracts the best junior golfers from 12 nations. An outstanding accomplishment for Anson.

His next tournament will be The 75th Singapore Junior Golf Championships 2024. We wish Anson the best of luck for this tournament.

FOOTBALL

Well done to our A Grade boys football team who won the ISSFHK league on Monday. This team has performed extremely well during the season and played some great football. The final drew them up against WIS, who beat KGV 3-2 during pool play. This was going to be a tough match but the team played very well and were eventual winners 4-1, with goals to Arjun Moorjani, Shaun Bhojwani, and a brace to Eldon Chan.

A lot of this team are year 12 or younger so next year's team will be strong competitors for HKSSF and ISSFHK competitions. We look forward to seeing their performances next year.

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

6 - 10 May