Primary Principals' Newsletter

For the rest of this school term, Ms. Emily, Mr. John and Ms. Tong will publish a monthly newsletter to send out to families across the Kingston community. In each publication, you will find celebrations of learning, school and club initiatives, links to books and articles of interest and reminders of upcoming events. Please let us know if you have any feedback or suggestions on content!

We would like to take this opportunity to celebrate the tremendous success of our recent Y6 PYP Exhibition! Our students unleashed their creativity, passion, and knowledge as they delved deep into issues that captivated their hearts and minds.

The Exhibition was a remarkable showcase of our students' growth, resilience, and commitment. Each learner presented their unique projects with confidence and enthusiasm, enlightening all those in attendance. From research to impressive demonstrations and captivating presentations, our Y6 students left us in awe.

We extend our appreciation to our dedicated Y6 teachers who guided and supported our students throughout their Exhibition journey and to our exhibition mentors. Each year teachers from all grade levels volunteer their time to mentor a group of students. Their expertise, encouragement, and commitment have played an invaluable role in nurturing our students' passion for learning and fostering their independent thinking.

We also want to express our gratitude to our incredible Y6 parents, who supported their children throughout this experience. Parent involvement, encouragement, and engagement undoubtedly contributed to the success of our Y6 students.

Our Y6 students have not only acquired knowledge but also nurtured a sense of responsibility, empathy, and a genuine desire to make a difference. The Exhibition has not only been an educational milestone but also a testament to the power of collaboration, critical thinking, and the limitless potential of our students.

Congratulations once again to our incredible Y6 students, their families, and our entire school community for a truly inspiring and successful PYP Exhibition!

The Primary School Floor Hockey League season has officially started! The league, founded by Kingston, includes CAIS, ASHK, ICHK-HLY and Think International School. There are two divisions and Kingston has a total of 23 Upper Primary students spread across our Blue and Yellow teams.

The season has started off very well with both of our teams defeating Think in home games and ICHK-HLY in away games and no goals scored against our teams at all.

We have been very fortunate to have Ethan Man's Dad attend our games and take wonderful photos and videos of our superstars in action!

We will update the Kingston Community as the season and playoff progress.

Recently, Mr. John was asked by ICHK-HLY Primary if Kingston would be interested in taking on their Girls' Football Team after the Easter Break. Last week, Mr. John visited the Y5 and Y6 classes to ask if there were girls interested in forming a team and eventually travelling to ICHK-HLY for a friendly or two sometime after the break and before the end of the school year. The response was overwhelming, with 18 girls signing up to participate.

Details will be firmed up after the Easter Break, but the general overview is that we will train for the friendlies over a number of lunch times at school in order to prepare for the matches. The games themselves will take place after school (date TBD) at ICHK-HLY. Families of our squad will be informed of all details once the logistics are worked out between our two schools.

While the opportunity to play is limited to our Y5 and Y6 girls for the time being, we hope to extend the opportunity to Y4 girls in the future.

Rehearsals for the upcoming Annual Spring Concert are in full swing and our hallways and playgrounds are filled with wonderful music each day. Final touches are being planned and we are very much looking forward to the big event on April 26th. This year's theme is 'IMAGINE' and there will be performances by all grade levels, the KIS Choir, the KIS Orchestra and the KIS Kung Fu Club. Please check the March 20, 2024 notice for an overview and ticketing information for families. More details will follow after the break.

Congratulations to our SRC who, with the support of the Kingston Community, raised $19,862 during the Year of the Dragon Chinese New Year Flower Market!

The SRC has also planned a range of activities leading up to the Easter Break, including a Spring-inspired Dress Casual Day on March 27. Students who wish to dress casually on March 27 will be asked to donate to Crossroads through the SRC fundraising on the day.

The Kingston Newspaper Club will be publishing the 3rd issue of KINGSTON CREATIVE QUILLS shortly after the Easter break. Be sure to pick up your issue when you spot our young journalists selling the Spring Edition before and after school. As with every issue produced this year, all proceeds from sales of the newspaper will be donated to Feeding Hong Kong.

The Upper Primary KEG had a major planting event last week. The students planted bok choy, sunflowers, spinach and cabbage in our courtyard garden with the hope of a crop later in the spring for sharing with the rest of the students at Upper Primary. Even with compost, good soil, plenty of sun and water, growing a bounty for all to share can be challenging some years, easy in other. We will keep you updated on how the KEG fares with this latest planting.

As educators, we are continually inspired by the diverse talents and achievements of our learners. Every accomplishment, whether inside or outside the school environment, contributes significantly to the growth and self-esteem of young people.

Recently, Head Principal Eliza Wong invited Kingston families to share student successes beyond their academic life, such as dance, music, art, sports, and more. The goal was to acknowledge and encourage our students in all their endeavours, as well as fostering a supportive and enthusiastic school community.

Many families participated in this sharing and we have been pleased to post these achievements at the entranceways of both primary campuses.

Participating students were presented with the Principal' Achievement Certificate signed by Ms. Wong.

On Wednesday, March 13 morning, eight Y7 students from our through-train secondary school ICHK came to Kingston for their Deep Learning Programme - Teaching for Learning. They worked together with the Y1s and explored together different habitats of the animals and engaged in various Inquiries, group reading and writing activities. Our Y1 students enjoyed the time with them!

Did you know that Kingston has partnered with ChildPsy, a renowned provider of specialized services for children? This partnership enables us to offer valuable resources and enhanced support to our students, helping them thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.

One essential aspect we would like to highlight is the immense benefits of early intervention, particularly when it comes to Speech Therapy and Occupational Therapy. These interventions, when initiated early, can have a positive impact on children's lives.

Early intervention in Speech Therapy can help children overcome communication challenges that may hinder their academic progress and social interactions. By addressing speech issues, articulation difficulties, and language delays, Speech Therapists work with students to improve their communication abilities, fostering stronger connections with peers and building self-esteem.

Occupational Therapy focuses on promoting healthy development and enhancing physical, sensory, and cognitive skills. Occupational Therapists collaborate with students to enhance fine and gross motor skills, sensory integration, and self-regulation. Through specialized interventions, students gain the foundation they need to participate fully in classroom activities, pursue their interests, and excel in various areas of their lives.

The collaboration with ChildPsy ensures that our students have access to highly trained and compassionate Speech Therapists and Occupational Therapists. By partnering closely with our teaching staff, parents, and the students themselves, these therapists create personalized intervention plans that cater to each child's unique needs and strengths.

The benefits of early intervention are numerous. By addressing concerns as soon as they arise, we can mitigate the impact they may have on a child's development and learning. Early intervention promotes improved academic performance, enhanced social skills, increased self-confidence, and overall well-being. It sets a strong foundation for future success, empowering each child to reach their maximum potential and thrive.

We are excited about the opportunities this partnership with ChildPsy brings and the positive impact it will have on our students.

The ChildPsy occupational therapist and speech therapist can work with your child here at school to eliminate the need for you to transport your child to another location. Additionally, they are happy to arrange sessions at their centre for families who prefer this option. The ChildPsy facility is located on Suffolk Road in Kowloon Tong which may be convenient for many of our families.

Parents are billed for services directly through ChildPsy and the therapists communicate with families regularly about goals for your child and the progress they are making. The partnership with ChildPsy allows us to pair our educational expertise with their specialist expertise to tailor our classrooms and learning engagements to best meet all learners' needs.

Please feel free to reach out to your child’s classroom teachers if you have any questions or would like to learn more about the specific benefits of early intervention for your child. We are here to support you and ensure the success and well-being of your child on their remarkable journey of growth and development.

Kingston Alumni drop by often to say hello to their primary school teachers, have a walk down memory lane and find out what's new at their old stomping grounds. We are always pleased to see them and catch up on what they are doing now. The Alumni Corner section of our Newsletter will highlight these visits and update the community on what our Alumni have been up to in the time since they graduated.

The Cai Family attended the Y6 PYPx to support their younger brother Yu Yeung. Each of these siblings made a big impact when they attended Kingston, and each of the four have made considerable contributions to our hockey teams throughout the years. Here is what they are up to right now:

From left to right:

Cai Yu Yeung: Y6 student at Kingston

Cai Yu Kin: Currently on gap year after completing secondary in the UK. Will attend U of London in September

Chloe Cai: Y8 student at ICHK

Cai Yu Ka: Y11 student at ICHK

ICHK Y7 students and Kingston Alumni (from left to right) Kam Ho Long, Elise Chong, Lok Tsz Ting, Harry Chan and Regina Wong visited the Y6 PYPx to see their former teachers and to quiz our Y6 students on their presentations.

Screens That Eat Children by Ross Parker, Director of Technology and Assessment, Teacher of Free Learning at ICHK. Link: Screens That Eat Children