Principal's Message

Dear KGV Families,

Belonging to a caring, supportive community is a key aspect of ensuring each student is ‘Known, Heard, Safe and Successful.’ This has been the theme of our Mental Health Awareness Week. There have been a variety of activities aimed at building strong connections with other people and emphasising the importance of supporting each other to give a strong sense of purpose. 

A good conversation to have at home could focus on how your child feels a strong sense of belonging to different communities, both within and outside of school. We should also recognise this is sometimes difficult, and our young people may need support. In these situations we will always encourage our students to visit the WeTalk Hub where there is support from either our student wellbeing ambassadors, or a school counsellor if needed.

Another highlight from this week is a number of our Year 9 students starting their Limitless adventure in Australia. Our students will be joining others from across ESF secondary schools in what is sure to be a life changing educational experience. We wish them well for the next 6 weeks.

Have an enjoyable weekend ahead.

Best regards,

Mark Poulsum

Year 7 Message

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

This week, our Year 7s have been practising for the upcoming Spelling Bee. It was been wonderful to hear the ‘buzz’ of excitement around tutor bases as they test each other on their spelling!

Year 7s have also been role models in their approach to Phone Free, Gate to Gate. They are following the new expectations and embracing the opportunity of meeting new people and using unstructured time to be screen-free.

Mental Health Awareness Week has also been a success. Students have particularly enjoyed the homework-free week!

Enjoy the weekend.

The Year 7 Team

Year 12 & 13 Message

Our Year 13 students can pick up their tickets for their Graduation Ceremony now from Ms Shum in the Year 13 office.

Last Wednesday, our IB Career-related Programme students showcased their talent at the inaugural 'Our Home Through Our Eyes' photography exhibition - the first event of its kind to bring together IBCP students from across ESF. Held at Wyndham Social in Central, our KGV students impressed visitors with their technical skill and creative vision in capturing Hong Kong's identity and culture.

We're especially proud that our Year 12 student Kasra received a special recognition award for his outstanding portrait photography. The exhibition demonstrated how our students have applied skills from their Personal & Professional Skills course to create meaningful visual stories of our city.

We were honoured to have renowned photographer Michael Kistler judge the submissions, providing professional insight and recognition of our students' work. The exhibition was further distinguished by the presence of ESF CEO Belinda Greer, who delivered a speech highlighting the importance of applied learning opportunities within the ESF community. Her remarks emphasised how initiatives like this photography exhibition exemplify the IBCP's commitment to developing real-world skills through authentic creative experiences.

After exams, the photographs will be displayed in SSC1 and SSC2. You can also view their work on our website [Link].

Congratulations to all participants and thank you to everyone involved in organising this valuable platform to showcase our students' creativity.

Wishing you a great weekend.

Year 11 Message

This has been a huge week for exams with some students here until 9:30pm last night. Students have been positive and determined throughout the week. This is a challenging process for them and they are doing really well.

Please help your child to ensure they know exactly when and where all their exams are over the next two months. We will be here to meet them and support them before and after every exam. Students may choose to study at school during normal school days. Please wear normal uniform and work in the LRC.

• Full detailed exam timetable
• Exams overview

All exam instructions and reference materials are available here.

Results Website & Login Information

Two emails (Cambridge and Edexcel) regarding results websites and login information have just been sent to students.

Cambridge: On results day, follow the instructions in the email to check your results. Please keep your username and password safe. You may wish to print out a copy of the email for safekeeping.

Edexcel: Follow the instructions on the email to activate your ResultsPlus account as soon as possible. If you do not activate your account, you will not be able to check your results. During the activation process, you will be asked to input your email address. Please use an email account you have access to. If you are leaving KGV, you might wish to use your personal email address. *IMPORTANT* Do NOT wait until results day to activate your account. Account activation takes time and doing it on results day will cause a delay (up to 1-2 days) in accessing your results.

If you have registered for AQA subjects, please note that results will be emailed to you on results day.

Please contact Exams Office (exam@kgv.edu.hk) if you have any questions. Thank you!

Year 10 Message

This week has been Mental health awareness week. Students have enjoyed activities like badge making during the week and we have been wearing our pins to show support.

We have also clarified our expectations for mobile phones this week, asking that they be turned off and put away in bags from the moment students enter the school to the moment they leave. Some students have chosen not to bring phones at all.

The term 3 inter-tutor group challenge has started and will see students enjoying quizzes, table tennis, bingo and more in a good-natured competition.

Year 8 & 9 Message

This week, KGV focused on elevating mental health awareness and recognised the vital role our school community plays in supporting our mental health. Being part of a nurturing and supportive environment like KGV is essential for our mental health and overall wellbeing. We flourish when we form meaningful connections with one another and engage with our school community, which reassures us that we’re not alone. This community offers a sense of belonging, security, and assistance during challenging times, while also instilling a sense of purpose in our lives.

Within the MYP framework, several Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills are closely linked to mental health awareness. These skills are instrumental in fostering students' understanding of mental health, enhancing emotional wellbeing, and supporting overall mental wellness. Here are some key ATL skills relevant to this initiative:

1. Social Skills: This aspect of the ATL framework emphasises effective communication, empathy, and teamwork. By honing these skills, students can cultivate positive relationships, seek help when necessary, and engage in meaningful dialogues about mental health.
    

2. Self-Management: Self-Management skills involve self-awareness, self-regulation, and motivation. With these skills, students can identify and manage their emotions, cope with stress effectively, and establish healthy habits that contribute to their mental wellbeing.
    

3. Communication Skills: Proficient communication is crucial for mental health awareness. Students learn to express their feelings, listen actively to others, and participate in discussions regarding mental health topics, which helps reduce stigma and fosters understanding.
    

4. Thinking Skills: Critical thinking and reflection enables students to analise and assess information related to mental health, challenge preconceived notions, and gain a deeper insight into mental health issues.
    

By weaving these ATL skills into the curriculum, the MYP strives to enhance mental health awareness, empower students to tackle mental health challenges, and foster a supportive and inclusive learning environment. These skills nurture empathy, resilience, and a better understanding of both personal and communal mental wellbeing.

Limitless 2025

Today we bid farewell to the 14 Year 9 students from KGV taking part in the ESF Limitless Programme, an experiential learning programme based in Kenilworth, Australia. This pioneering programme was developed specifically for ESF students and provides them with opportunities to develop resilience, leadership, social skills and global engagement as they live within a tight-knit community over the course of 6 amazing weeks. For more information on the programme please log onto the limitless website.

A big thank you to Mr. Mitchell and Mr. Goff who will be accompanying our students.

Yr 9 Community Project Assessment, Exhibition and MYP Graduation

We are working on the Year 9 MYP Community Project Assessment and Exhibition and Year 9 Graduation Ceremony for students, teachers and parents. Please save the date in your calendars for the afternoon of 16 June 2025, 3.30 pm - 5.30 pm. More details about the event will be shared in due course. 

Have a lovely weekend!

We are starting a phased renovation of the student toilets across the KGV campus. This will begin with the toilets in the New Block. In order for the work to be completed in time for next academic year, some of the toilets in the New Block will be out-of-action until the end of term. There will still be nearby toilets that students can access, and there will be clear signage in place. Any noisy construction work will be limited to out-of-school hours.

Whilst this may cause some minor inconvenience in the short term, the upgrade to these facilities will bring a longer term benefit for our student community. Thanks for your understanding.

U14 NETBALL

The U14 netball team is one of cohesion and support. Since team selections at the start of the school year both the HKSSF team (female only) and ISSFHK team (mixed) have been training hard every Wednesday afternoon at the school courts. Players start the session with a good warm up run by different members of the group each training. This is excellent practice for game day as captaincy has needed to be shared around with selected captains injured. Our focus has been on building solid foundation skills like body control and footwork, strong throwing and catching, and finally clearing and driving. These skills have improved tremendously throughout the year so far. We hope to be strong competitors in the ISSFHK competition and continue to focus on our team, our game, and improving the core skills needs for successful netball play.

When asked what he enjoys about the team, Year 8 student Dip Kalathiya said “I enjoy working as a team. I enjoy playing with people from my club and outside clubs, people from rival teams. I enjoy meeting together and playing as one team.”

Year 9 student Isabel Toller said “I love being part of the team because I love everybody and they’re really really fun and I hope that we can get stronger as a team, and we can get more goals in and we can become such an amazing strong team”

Year 8 students Gemma Brewin and Mia Leigh both commented on how supportive the team is with each other. This creates a very positive environment where everyone is accepting of mistakes and students are thriving.

The ISSFHK competition kicks off in Term 3 and we wish both teams all the best for the upcoming season.

KGV U12 NETBALL TEAM JOURNEY 2024/25

The journey for our KGV Year 7 netball team began with an exciting talent search, followed by a rigorous three-week trial. From a pool of enthusiastic young athletes, we proudly selected 14 players to represent KGV in this year's ISSFHK and HKSSF netball leagues. What makes this team truly special is its diverse blend of talent. We have both boys and girls, some who are just discovering the thrill of netball, and others who are already representing Hong Kong at an elite level.

Despite our league matches being scheduled for Term 3, the dedication of our players has been truly inspiring. Throughout the year, they have consistently turned up to training sessions, eager to learn and improve. This commitment has created a fantastic opportunity for our beginner players to rapidly develop their fundamental netball skills. Simultaneously, our more experienced players have embraced their roles as leaders, guiding their teammates through position-specific drills and fostering a supportive learning environment.

Looking to challenge themselves and gain valuable match experience, our U12 team bravely entered a U14 tournament during Term 2. This step up in competition proved to be an incredible learning curve. While we ultimately finished in 4th place with one victory out of four games, the resilience and teamwork displayed were remarkable. The narrow margins in our losses truly highlighted the growing cohesion and skill within this young KGV squad.

Our core focus for the year has been twofold: enjoyment and development. We've consciously worked hard to cultivate a supportive team culture where everyone feels comfortable taking risks, learning from mistakes, and striving for continuous improvement in every session. The positive atmosphere at training is a testament to the wonderful spirit of this team.

Adding to the excitement, we have some incredibly talented players within our U12 ranks who are achieving exceptional things. We are thrilled to announce that four of our team members – Charlotte Chan, Ella Turner, Ella Barns, and Bai Deakin – have been selected for the U14 regional Hong Kong team! They will be competing in a prestigious regional tournament sometime in May, and the entire KGV community wishes them the very best of luck in this fantastic opportunity. We know they will represent KGV with pride and skill.

Here are a few words from the team:

It has been fun to experience new drills and techniques. I have enjoyed practising my skills and using them on a court. I am looking forward to playing more matches and trying out for next year. It has been useful to use a nice court to practice your new skills, techniques and tricks. - Ella Barnes

Netball this year has been extremely enjoyable and fun because I get to do it with my friends, but it has also been quite frustrating because I wasn't allowed to participate in certain games as I am a boy, but other than that, it was amazing. - Luca Joy

So far in my netball journey, I have enjoyed playing netball and learning new tactics and skills that we can apply to the game. I found playing with my friends and classmates during netball training sessions was really fun and exciting. I have learned how to be a better netball player by doing practices that enhance my catching skills, my passing skills, game tactics and how we can communicate to each other more effectively. My favourite thing so far is having fun and enjoying myself whenever I'm playing netball with my classmates and friends, being able to feel the excitement of the game. Even if I make some mistakes, it's okay because I will learn how I can improve next time. The thing I am most looking forward to is playing in the upcoming netball fixtures against different schools. - Verona Lau

Hi, my name is Ella, and I am proud to be a part of the KGV Lions D-grade netball team. It has been a wonderful experience being part of the KGV netball team. I have learned so much about friendship, teamwork, skills, and how to adapt to my teammates. All of those traits combined make us the KGV Lions. Everybody in the netball team is kind, has good sportsmanship, and is a great team player. I enjoy netball because it helps me play with others and brings me joy when playing with my friends. My coach helps us so much, and I am so grateful that Mr Turner teaches us and gets us prepared for the tournaments. Overall, KGV netball rules!! - Ella Turner

This year is proving to be an exciting one for our U12 netball team. With a strong foundation of teamwork, a commitment to development, and the incredible achievements of individual players, the future looks bright for KGV netball! We can't wait to see what Term 3 brings.

Please refer to the attached announcement in the weekly parent newsletter regarding requests for school references and grade summaries.

Parents are kindly advised to submit requests for school references via this form by 6 pm on 23 May 2025. This allows teachers sufficient time to complete the references before the end of the school year.

Requests received after this deadline will be processed, but we cannot guarantee completion before the summer break. Such requests are expected to be fulfilled upon the school's resumption in August.

School references for higher education application process for Year 12 and Year 13 are handled in a different process.  There is no need for a request.

Parents are also encouraged to use their parent Lionel login to access semester summaries on their child's CCF page. Grade summary requests will be processed in July, following the release of the 2024-25 Semester 2 summaries.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

KGV Careers & H.E. Team

Year 13

Link of the week: Staying safe at university (UCAS).

Next week is the last week of the IB exams. More positive vibes to our students!

IBO Result Service - Deadline: 23 May 2025.  Students should  check the exam pack sent by our Exam Office who looks after all matters related to IBO Result Service. This service allows IBO to send students’ final IB exam results directly to specified universities right after result release. This is crucial to confirm offers and for updating universities in case of improved grades after remark,

Applications & Decisions. Students should continue to keep their H.E. Counsellors informed about their applications and regularly check Google Classroom for updates and resources related to higher education.

Year 12

Link of the week: EducationUSA - Scholarships & Financial Aid Resources

Google Classrooms for Y12s, set up to share H.E.-related information.

The Y12 1-1 H.E. meetings. All appointments are now scheduled. Students should refer to the schedules posted on Google Classroom for their appointments.

Y12 H.E. Presentation Series. The HE Team started presenting to Y12 students on various topics related to higher education. Topics covered so far: Personal Statement – Part A&B, H.E. Refresher+Unifrog , Advanced Unifrog, UK Applications & HK Applications, Oxbridge, and Medicine, Dentistry & Vet, and USA Applications. Coming up: USA Personal Essay, Canada Applications, Non-mainstream Applications, UCAS Setup and Summer Action Plan. Students can find the full schedule on Google Classroom.

H.E. Events

Our KGV Careers Calendar lists known H.E. events.

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

H.E. Visit @ KGV (Lunch break)
23 May: Foothill & De Anza Colleges + University of San Francisco
28 May: University of Nottingham

General
4 Jun: Unifrog University Fair

U.K.
23 May: The Medic Portal Webinar – Verbal Reasoning Tips & Strategies
29 May: University of Bath: Supporting your child’s UCAS application for courses starting in 2026
30 May: The Medic Portal Webinar – International Applicant Advice
20 Jun: Cambridge: International Undergraduate Q&A Webinar (2026 entry)

U.S.A.
21 May: EducationUSA – Introduction: Community College Seminar
28 May: EducationUSA – Pre-departure Orientation 2025

New Zealand
29 May: Massey University webinar – Make a Difference: The Future of Social Work

KGV Careers & H.E. Team

19 - 23 May 2025

To express our appreciation for the ESF community, we are pleased to provide a special 10% discount for all ESF students who apply using the code ESF_FAM10. This code can be used at check out and is valid until 31 August 2025.

For programmes specifically for Secondary students (ages 12+), please check out our Summer Academy Website and brochure here: Summer Academy Brochure.

For our other Summer Camp programmes for students <12 years in age, please visit our summer camp website: Summer Camp Website and check out our brochure here: Summer Camp Brochures.