ESF News (June)

Latest development on conversation with EDB regarding subvention The ESF Board has set up a Subvention Steering Group comprising ten members of the Board. It is now chaired by the Chairman of the Board. Following an early exchange of letters setting up the review, the Group has met three times and there has been a formal meeting between its senior members and the Secretary for Education, Michael Suen. "There is no doubt of the good will on both sides,” said Carlson Tong, ESF’s Chairman. “We all want a solution that will confirm our shared view of the crucial contribution that ESF makes to the education of English-speaking children in Hong Kong. It is important to remove the financial uncertainty that has hung over ESF for more than a decade and increased the pressure on fees!" The Education Bureau will make a progress report on the review to the Education Panel of LegCo on 11 July 2011.

Thanks and farewells

This is the last e-newsletter until term ends, we have to say goodbye and express thanks to colleagues who are retiring or moving on to new challenges. Their hard work and support will be recognised within their school communities. While there isn’t room here to recognise all the people who have helped our schools develop, we would like to mention a few names

John Nixon, Principal of Sha Tin College,  is taking up a post in Brazil; Andrea Muller, Primary Curriculum Coordinator, will move back to New Zealand;  Max Muller and Robert Stearn of Renaissance College, Richard Bradford of KGV, Daniel O'Connor and Mike Saunders of South Island School, Ray Atkinson of Quarry Bay School and Denise McLaughlin of Jockey Club Sarah Roe School. 

We thank them for the years (some of them, decades) they have contributed to ESF and wish them all the best.  

Election and Appointment of Board and School Council members

Most of the committees within ESF’s governance structure have a three-year term of office for their members. This includes the Board, the Nominating Committee and the School Councils.

Members who were elected or appointed with effect from October 2008 when the Board held its first meeting will need to stand for re-election or offer themselves for re-appointment if they wish to serve for a further term. Two consecutive terms of three years in the same role is the maximum that anyone can serve so careful thought needs to be given to succession planning for 2014 when the next three-year term comes to an end.

Action is already under way to deal with the re-appointment / appointment of independent members of the Board (by the Nominating Committee); of School Council Chairmen (by the Board); and of School Council Community Representatives (by the School Council Appointments Committee of the Board).

A time-table for the election of parent and staff members of the Board and of School Councils will be issued early next term when the new parents and new staff will have joined us. There will be formal elections, conducted by secret ballot.

The Advisory Committees (of Principals, School Council Chairmen, Teaching Staff, Support Staff and Parents) have a two-year term of office, so the major change took place last year. However, because of the various factors that make people’s lives somewhat mobile, there will undoubtedly be a number of casual vacancies to fill.

The Chairman's visits to schools

Our Chairman, Carlson Tong, has visited every ESF school and kindergarten. Carlson said that it had been important to him to meet the Principals and some of the teachers, students and support staff.

“Our staff and students are the very heart of ESF,” he said, "and I felt that I must begin to understand the issues they are concerned about. I was delighted to see that the students are just as happy at school as my own children were five and ten years ago. The style of teaching and learning, with children doing their own research and using a good deal of sophisticated technology, are very impressive. As a result of the knowledge I have gained I feel better equipped to lead the debate with government on the subvention and ESF’s future funding arrangements.”

Perry Tunesi, the Chairman of the Committee of Principals said that the Principals were pleased with the priority Carlson had given to schools. “He set himself quite a gruelling schedule, but his interest and energy made every visit a positive experience for the school.”

Carlson’s familiarisation campaign continues with meetings and conversations with Board members, School Council Chairmen, parents and LegCo members. He met the press shortly after his election was announced.

ESF received Gold Award in Reader's Digest Trusted Brands Survey

The Reader’s Digest Trusted Brands 2011 was announced on 28 May. ESF have received the Gold award in the category of 'International Schools' in Hong Kong. The Gold Trusted Brand Award reflects the trust and confidence that ESF commands and the wide recognition of the quality and value of its education.

The Reader's Digest Trusted Brands Survey, conducted annually by Nielsen Media Research since 1999, is recognised as one of the most representative branding surveys in Asia. The award is based on responses received from 1,000 telephone and postal interviews conducted across different sectors of Hong Kong society. Respondents are asked to name, unprompted and top of mind, the single most-trusted brand in each category. They are also asked to rate the brands based on six factors: trustworthiness, credible image, quality, value, understanding of customer needs and innovation. The final results are calculated based on both the qualitative and quantitative scores.

New Speech and Language Therapist at the ESF Therapy Centre

We are pleased to announce that Vanessa Sweeny, Speech and Language Therapist, has joined us on 14 June.

Vanessa studied Speech Sciences at University College London, and graduated in 2003 to work as a qualified Speech and Language Therapist in a private special needs school in London.  Vanessa also holds a Master’s of Science degree in 'Applied Psychology of Intellectual Disabilities' from the University of Portsmouth.
Since her arrival in Hong Kong in 2006, Vanessa has worked at The Nesbitt Centre on the combined role of Programmed Director and Speech and Language Therapist.

The Speech & Language Therapy and Occupational Therapy services will start at the beginning of the 2011/12 academic year.

In May, our Educational Psychologists, Nicki Holmes and Tim Conroy-Stocker visited all schools to meet key staff and started planning work for the next academic year. They have also started supporting schools this term by carrying out consultations with staff, individual assessment work with pupils and presenting training sessions in schools.

On 18 May, a workshop was held at  ESF Centre introducing the Psychology Service and giving an overview of Educational Psychology Assessment to the ESF school community. The workshop was well received and generated a lot of interest from colleagues about the range of assessment techniques and tools. In response to this, two twilight CPD sessions are planned for the new school year to explain on Solution Focused techniques and Personal Construct Psychology.

Summer works programme

Planning for the current year is complete with all contracts awarded. By way of example, some items of work include:

• Air Conditioning replacement to three schools as part of our rolling programme;
• Replacement of underground drainage to one school;
• Classroom renovations at three schools;
• Renovation of toilets at four schools;
• Floor resurfacing at three schools;
• Installation of improved fume extraction systems at two schools;
• Improvements/ replacement of playground equipment and surfacing at two schools;
• Upgrading of main electricity supply to one school;
• Replacement of roof waterproofing at three schools;

The amount of work being undertaken this year is significant. As part of the planning process, it is critical that each school and the Facilities Department work closely together to ensure success. This continues to happen throughout the year in the run up to starting work in schools. The total investment being made in maintaining, replacing and improving our teaching facilities this year will be in the region of HK$70 million.

 Advance fee reminder

Further to our email to all parents dated 12 May 2011, we would like to remind you that advance fee for the 2011/12 academic year will be debited from your designated bank account on 1 August 2011.   Please maintain sufficient funds in your bank account for the settlement. Should you wish to pay the advance fee by cheque instead, please refer to the link below for details.

http://www.esf.edu.hk/node/1803

ESF Hong Kong Schools Film Awards
 

Applied Learning information evenings for parents

We have hosted two meetings, one on the island side at Bradbury School on 19 May and the second in Kowloon at Beacon Hill School on 26 May.  Attendance was very good and we had parents of students from Year 5 through to Year 10 from across ESF. The purpose of the meetings was to explain the Applied Learning Pathway being developed in secondary schools, the type of learning that occurs and the current range of subjects offered. 

Students who take this pathway spoke about their experiences: how they flourished in a continuous assessment environment, felt in control of their learning and were confident about their progression into further and higher education.  We had specialists talk about the routes into university for students following these programmes. Parents were encouraged to ask questions and a range of practitioners from across our schools provided extensive information.

ESF Environmental Conference

Over 200 members of the ESF Community, came together to celebrate their work on making the world a better place.  This year’s ESF Environmental Conference, the sixth, called for us to reflect on the plight of our forests and to understand how product lines work so we can choose more sustainable practices. The theme, ‘Branching out for a Sustainable Economy’ supports the United Nations Year of Forests and the World Environment Day theme,  'Forests – Nature at our Service’. Both themes highlight the intrinsic link between quality of life and health of forests and forest ecosystems. Most importantly, taking action on forests requires an on-going commitment to changing the process through which we source our products.

Dr. Willie Smits (Masarang Foundation – www.masarang.nl/en/) as our key note speaker at this year’s event, highlighted the need to be clear about taking action to save the planet but to help people  to see the benefit from sustainable practices. Dr. Smits has dedicated his life to saving the forest habitat of orangutans and now as a social entrepreneur is involved in vital and far-reaching solutions. One of his forest projects has taken a barren deforested area with poverty and crime and begun to regenerate biodiversity that had been lost.  The planting of Sugar Palms allows local people to generate income, and in replanting forest species alongside food crops. ESF schools have pledged to support the Masarang Foundation so please support our schools to help improve the biodiversity of our region.

Also in pursuit of our aim to make ESF a greener place, we held a market place where students sold their wares from their micro- and roof gardens and small enterprises sold organic and green products, including  bamboo fibre clothes, T-shirts made from recycled plastic bottles, water retaining planters as well as bokashi recycling systems.  All will sustain our futures more effectively.  Thanks to Jenny Quinton of Ark Eden for coordinating such an event and also thanks to all students, teachers, parents  and support staff who continue to make a difference in school, in Hong Kong and across the world.

Admissions update

Primary schools have continued to interview for the few remaining Year 1 places for August. All schools have waiting lists should unexpected vacancies occur before the start of the year.

Secondary schools have been able to fill any Year 7 places released since original offers were taken up from their entry waitlists of external applicants who successfully passed the assessments that took place last October.

The corporate surety scheme has once again proved popular and placements will continue to be made throughout June.

Parents wishing to apply for a 2007 birth child to enter Year 1 in August 2012 are reminded to submit an application during this year’s central application period which will run from 1 September 2011 to 30 September 2011.

Frequently asked questions are available on our website

In June, we have launched a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section on our website. In this section, you will be able to find answers to questions or concerns you may have on various matters, such as admissions, curriculum, human resources, subvention, finances and so on.

If you have further questions about ESF, please submit them through the Contact Us page and they will be answered by the relevant member of staff.

West Island School is HKSSF Overall Girls Hockey Champion

ESF schools continue to be very successful in Hong Kong Sports, This is highlighted by the success of West Island School in hockey, rugby, netball and basketball.

Within the Hong Kong Schools Sports Federation (HKSSF) the combination of junior and senior team league results are combined to find the overall Hong Kong schools champion. We are pleased to announce that West Island School have been victorious in winning  the 2010-11 Hong Kong schools Overall Champions Award in hockey, netball and rugby.

In hockey WIS took the Overall champions title for the third successive year and highlights the depth and quality of hockey at WIS. The WIS Hockey Senior A team were crowned Division One champions for the first time in WIS history and the Junior A team retained their title as Junior Division One champions.  In rugby WIS took the league title in both A and B grade. In netball the C grade team were league champions.

In addition, WIS completed their Basketball season with a strong overall first place finishing in the ESF Basketball Tournaments for students in Year 7 – 10. With five out of eight first place finishes in all tournaments WIS ended up taking the overall title.

ESF Educational Services update

Summer Sports 2011
ESL’s ever-popular multi-sports camps and sport-specific clinics will again be offered at school locations during the summer holidays.  What better way to give your child something fun and rewarding to do over the long holidays? There are activities for young children with multi-sports camp, Gym Tots and Fun Football Camp, and multi-sports camps for primary aged children.  Sports clinics are available in swimming, gymnastics, trampolining and football.  To find out more, visit the ESL website www.esf.org.hk

Language Camps
Is your child interested in learning Spanish?  Try an introduction with ESL’s Summer School programme Click here for more information.

ESL will also be offering English Summer School, including preparation for the Cambridge Young Learners of English exams.  To find out more about ESL’s English classes and ESL’s Cambridge in Summer programme, click here.