International College Hong Kong Hong Lok Yuen (Kindergarten) Nursery Handbook September 2015 A S S O C I A T I O N O F I B W O R L D E C H O O L S
International College Hong Kong Hong Lok Yuen (Kindergarten)
Nursery Handbook September 2015
AS
SO
CI A
T I O N O F I B WO
RL
DE
CH
O
OLS
Welcome to our Nursery Classes
Principal: Mrs Ruth Woodward Deputy Principals: Mrs Nerys Notley Mr Brett MacKenzie Lower School Leader: Ms Katie Saunter Nursery Teachers: NR -‐ Red Room: Mrs Holly Ayonote NG -‐ Green Room: Mrs Lynda Sze Nursery Assistant Teachers:
Mrs Andrea Lai Ms Bibi Chen Ms Wingki Cheung Ms Lixia Chen
Nursery Hours: Half Day: 8.15 a.m. – 11.30 a.m. Full Day: 8.15 a.m. – 3.00 p.m (Except for Wednesday when school finishes at 2.00pm) Telephone: (00 852) 2658 6935 Fax: (00 852) 2651 0836 School Email: [email protected] Website: www.ichkhly.edu.hk Teacher email addresses: Holly Ayonote [email protected] Lynda Sze [email protected] Katie Saunter [email protected]
What your child will need for Nursery classes: All Children: • A red book bag (available from the Uniform shop) • A snack box / bag • A healthy snack – fruit, sandwich, biscuit and a small
drink or water bottle • A set of spare clothes to be left at school (cooler
clothes for Summer, warmer for Winter) • A school hat • Uniform In addition – Full day nursery children will need • An insulated lunch bag • A healthy lunch and drink (juice, milk or water) • Cushion / blanket for nap time as advised by the teacher
Nursery Class Times It is a positive start to the day when all of the children are there for the start of the first session. This is the time when teachers welcome children; explain any special things happening that day and generally provide a calm, happy start to the Nursery class. Please arrange to bring and collect your child from school on time. Communication with the Teacher Parents are encouraged to use the home-‐school communication books for messages and notes to staff e.g. change of person collecting the student. This book will be given to every student at the start of the school year. • If you need to speak to the teacher, there will be some time in the
mornings, but if it requires more time, please arrange an alternative time to meet the teacher.
• Email the class teachers (see first page) • Log in to class message wall in the Orchard regularly • Parents may telephone the school for urgent messages during the
Nursery class time.
Clothing Nursery students wear the school uniform every day. Please ensure that all of your child’s belongings are clearly named. The uniform is available from Aston Wilson, at the school Uniform Shop, located in the undercover area of the main school. Black leather shoes are also part of the uniform, as well as white trainers or plimsolls for sports. Opening hours: Thursday 8:00am – 4:00pm Closed for lunch 12:30 – 1:00pm
School Uniform - Nursery
Red Polo Shirt
Red Cardigan or Red French Sweat top – V
Neck
Green 2 in 1 Windbreaker
Beige Shorts (full elastic/half elastic)
Beige Trousers (half elastic/without
elastic)
ICHK HLY tag attached on the uniform
Please remember to name
all of your child’s belongings.
Health and Safety Please support our safety policy by not sending your child to school wearing jewellry, including earrings, watches etc. These things can be dangerous during play situations. Illness If your child is unwell, please keep him / her at home until fully recovered. If your child is taken ill or has an accident in the Nursery, you will be notified. Please ensure that the school has relevant emergency contact numbers for your child. Medicines If your child has been prescribed antibiotics, please keep him / her home until the end of the course. Sleep Young, active, growing children need lots of rest. Nursery children need lots of sleep and early nights on school days. The Bus: A bus service is available for Nursery students living in certain locations. To find out more about this, please contact the school office.
Birthdays: We celebrate all children’s birthdays equally – singing songs, lighting candles on a ‘pretend cake’ and giving children a special sticker. It is not necessary to send a cake to school.
Staggered Entry for the Start of Nursery • Our policy is to stagger the entry of students, to enable children to
start their nursery day in smaller groups. This strategy really helps when children are adjusting to new routines and teachers and are becoming familiar with the school environment and program.
• Please follow your date for entry, as advised in the letter you have received.
Giving your child the best start….. The start of school is a milestone that's often anticipated with great excitement and joy, it is also often accompanied by tears and separation anxiety. (From both parents and children!) Each person is different and will react in different ways. We have a wealth of experience in managing all the aspects of starting school and there are many ways in which you can help make this transition easier for your child and for yourself. • Saying Goodbye:
The way you say goodbye and speak to your child will have a huge impact on the way that they react to the teacher and being left in school. Don’t slip off, not saying goodbye to your child, make sure that you are positive and they will know that you trust the teacher that they are being left with. Make your goodbyes short and to the point with a hug and a kiss and saying ‘I’ll see you soon, you’re going to have a great day!’ if you are standing up straight and smiling, your child will know you are happy, they react to your mood and body language. If you're nervous and anxious when you drop your child off, they will sense it and it will make them even more anxious. Remain calm and be upbeat, even if you don't feel 100 percent cheerful. Your children are in safe, caring hands. • Being Honest
Please don’t tell them that you are waiting in the playground, or that you are just outside. This makes the children even more unsettled when they realise you are not there.
• Talk positively about school: Children are very good at reading mums and dads, if you aren’t positive about what school will be like your child is likely to be unsettled. When you child gets home ask questions about what they have been doing at school each day, ‘What was your favourite thing you did today?’ ‘I saw your picture in the window it looks beautiful, can you tell me about it?’ If you focus on the positive aspect of school you children will also start to understand that it is wonderful place to be and they will happy to stay without the tears. • Make sure that you are on time:
Consistency is key when it comes to making school a part of your child's new routine. Arriving on time everyday will make a big difference, if they are going into class with others then it makes it easier than joining a group mid session. If you are able pick them up at the end of the day, reinforce the idea that you came back, just like you said you would. This way, each day's drop-‐off won't feel like you're both starting teary and upsetting goodbyes all over again. Other Ideas to help • Read books about starting school.
• Label all their belongings clearly. • Involve the children in packing their bag and being
responsible for this. • Ensure they have a hat every day. • Encourage your child to have a good night’s sleep so that
they are not tired and rushed in the morning. • If your child has difficulty settling, encourage them to bring
something special from home with them to share with the class, e.g. a favourite book, a special photo.
Notes:
My child’s teacher is…… My child’s class is ………. My child’s start date is…
International College Hong Kong -‐ Hong Lok Yuen …
The best start to your child’s education
2015/2016 School Term Dates Term 1: 26th August – 18th December, 2015
Half-‐term break – 16th – 23rd October (inclusive) Term 2: 4th January – 25th March, 2016
Chinese New Year Holidays – 8th – 17th February Term 3: 11th April – 24th June, 2016