Dates For Your Diary

Full calendar and term dates here. The calendar for 2023-24 is now published. However, please note that the final calendar will be issued in May/June following the Hong Kong Government gazetting of public holidays.

12-16 June	JCSRS Transition Week
23 June	2023-24 IEPs and End of the Year Reports shared with parents
23 June	Leavers Assembly
30 June	Last day of Term 3; students will finish lessons at 11.45 am with buses leaving school at 12 pm
16 August	First day of school for students
5 September	Meet the Teacher
27 September	PTA Annual General Meeting

Principal's Message

Dear all,

The last weeks were filled with continued great learning but also with some special events during which we were able to celebrate our students learning and recognise their accomplishments.

Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting two groups of principals, one from local special schools and another from ESF primary schools. All of them commented on the excellent provision offered at JCSRS, the happy and purposeful ambience at our school, and the unique personalised curriculum that our students benefit from. These visits serve as a testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff and the positive impact we are making on our students.

The comments from principals were also echoed by our School Council members who were recently invited to an Open Day. During the visit, they had the chance to engage with the staff, interact with students and learn first-hand about the great work that takes place at our school. I would like to thank the Student Council for their support of the event and for their outstanding representation of our school. Their excellent communication skills and steadfast confidence have truly reflected the values of our school.

The ESF Esports Tournament, ESF Art Exhibition and Aquathon were other highlights of last week. Our JCSRS eSports Team made us proud at the tournament and the way they executed themselves and the skills they demonstrated were reflective of their commitment to be their best. The artistic abilities of our JCSRS students displayed at the Art Exhibition left us all impressed. Also, students that represented our school at the Aquathon demonstrated great determination and athleticism throughout the event, which involved a challenging swim and runs. These opportunities are excellent platforms for our students to showcase their talents and encourage them to pursue their passions. As members of our school community, it is wonderful to see our students engage with students from other schools and represent our school in such a positive way. Congratulations need to also go to the ESF team for their successful execution of all events, and a big thank you to the JCSRS staff for their invaluable support of our students.

However, the highlight of the last two weeks was no doubt the Graduation Ceremony for our two students. It was a beautiful and heartwarming event, and it was wonderful to see our students receive their diplomas with such pride and joy. We are incredibly proud of their achievements, and we know that they will go on to do great things in their lives.

I want to take this opportunity to thank our staff for making the school's vision and mission a lived experience for our students. Their tireless efforts in creating a safe, supportive, and engaging learning environment have made a significant impact on our students' lives. Their dedication to providing a personalised curriculum that meets the unique needs of each student is truly commendable, and we are lucky to have such a talented and passionate team of educators.

I also want to express my gratitude to the parents of our students for putting their trust in us. Your involvement in your child's education and your commitment to our community is invaluable. Your partnership with us has helped us create a school that is truly focused on the needs of our students, and we are grateful for your continued support.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the PTA Committee for organising the recent social event for parents, teachers, and therapists. It was a great opportunity for us to come together as a community and celebrate our successes in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. We appreciate your hard work and dedication towards making this event a success.

Today, we had a successful class swap that allowed students to meet the staff that will be supporting them next year and make new friends. This was a great end to a very busy week that leaves us reassured and excited about the next academic year.

Once again, congratulations to our two graduates, and thank you to everyone for your continued support.

Warm regards,

Anna

Graduation

On Friday, 9th June, our JCSRS community came together for the graduation of Paolo Medalla and Sze Yan Fong. The event was a wonderful opportunity for the students to share their educational highlights, acknowledge friendships and showcase their talents.  

Special thanks to the Jade class team for their collaborative efforts in creating such a memorable experience for all.

Belinda Greer joining our graduates and families

Young Paolo	Young Sze Yan

HKPSSA Aquathon

What a great effort by our swimmers and runners last Saturday. It was a great way to conclude our PE class swimming sessions and return to running as in Term 2.

Students swam 2 x half lengths and had the option of using a kickboard or swimming independently. And more able swimmers were offered the opportunity to swim full lengths. 

We hope to expand participants next year and see more students swimming full lengths. Please keep swimming and running to stay healthy over the summer, everyone.

Participating students:

Aden	Diamond	Aryan	Silver
Colman	Silver	Jadon	Ruby
Jessica	Jade	Joshua W	Ruby
Krisha	Sapphire	Michael	Ruby
Nicklaus	Silver	Shivansh	Ruby

ESF Art Exhibition

The ESF Art Exhibition was a truly mesmerising display of creativity and talent. It was a fantastic celebration of student creativity and passion and will feature wonderful art pieces from across all ESF schools from K1 to Year 13.

Our students have been truly inspired by this year’s art theme, which is Reimagining: New Beginnings. 

In response to this thought-provoking topic, our talented students created an outstanding collection of artworks spanning an impressive range of mediums such as painting, drawing, sculpture, and mixed media. It was an absolute delight to see our JCSRS students showcasing their artistic skills, and we were all impressed with the diverse range of artwork presented by them.

Watch the ESF Art Exhibition 2023 Opening Highlights.

PTA NOTICE

Dear Parents,

The academic year is quickly drawing to an end and the summer holidays are in reach. 

Just a few things to bring to your attention and mark in your diaries:

1. Please save the date. Our PTA Annual General Meeting will be on Wednesday 27th September 5:30 - 6:30 pm in the JCSRS hall.

As JCSRS parents you are all part of the PTA and are warmly invited. It will be a chance to hear about what the PTA has been doing this past year and to elect the PTA officials (Chair, Vice-Chair, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer) and the 3-8 Parent Representatives. If you are interested in being part of the PTA Committee there will be more details at the beginning of the new academic year about how you can do this. Looking forward to seeing you all at the AGM.

2. Our PTA Committee consists of 16 members. These members are:

Official Positions: Chairperson

                             Vice Chair

                             Honorary Secretary

                             Honorary Treasurer

Parent Representatives: 2-8 Parents

Teacher Representatives: 1-3 Teacher Staff Members

Principal, ex officio

There are 5 - 6 meetings per year including the AGM. If you are interested in being involved or would like to find out more about one of the above roles please email Megan McCoy at jcsrs.pta@jcsrs.edu.hk. Nomination forms will be included with the PTA AGM notice which will go out 2 weeks before the AGM. Nomination forms need to be completed and returned to school no later than Friday 22nd September. 

3. PTA Annual Subscription Fees. This is a notice to let you know that Annual PTA Subscription Fees will resume at the beginning of the new academic year. All families are required to pay the PTA Annual Subscription Fees. During Covid these fees were waived by the PTA due to social gathering restrictions. The PTA Annual Subscription Fees are used to help provide resources to the school and host events. Previously, PTA Annual Subscription Fees were $600 per family. Starting in the new academic year the PTA Annual Subscription Fees will only be $200 per family. These fees will be collected via e-payment at the beginning of the year. 

The PTA are still finalising the transition process from a Limited Company to an Association. As an association, the PTA cannot employ any staff. As part of the agreement between the PTA and ESF to reduce PTA Annual Subscription Fees, ESF will fund a part-time (10-14 hour/week) PTA Administrator. This job will be advertised over the summer holidays. Closing date for applications will be 10th August. For all interested applicants, please go to the ESF website to their Job Vacancies to see how you can apply. 

Wishing you all a very happy and safe summer holiday.

Warm regards,

Megan 

JCSRS PTA Chair

Jurassic Garage School Visit

The primary students along with Emerald students were thrilled and amazed this week with a visit from Jurassic Garage. This was a wonderful opportunity for students to get up close and personal with some exotic animals to enrich their understanding of living things and life cycles as part of The World Around Me curriculum. Our students showed curiosity, kindness and self-regulation skills while interacting with snakes, a bullfrog, a millipede, a Tegu lizard, a hedgehog, a tortoise and a parrot.

Congratulations

Congratulations to our teacher Liezel Kemp and her family on the arrival of baby boy Luka on 12th May.

Five weeks old today - mum and baby are all doing well.

JCSRS Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Calendar

The world is rich with diversity, which is reflected in the observances celebrated by its various cultures and populations. We hope that knowledge of the holidays and celebrations for diversity in this calendar can enhance our school's diversity and inclusion efforts.

5-11 June	Carer’s Week
18 June	Autistic Pride Day
19-25 June	Learning Disability Week
22 June	Dragon Boat Festival
26-30 June	World Wellbeing Week
28 June	Eid al-Adha, or the “Feast of Sacrifice,” one of Islam’s most important holidays