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Dear all,

We had a very exciting two weeks at school filled with activities that enriched our students’ knowledge of different cultures, developed an appreciation of our diversity and celebrated our successes while working together.

World Day for Cultural Diversity was a true celebration of diverse cultural experiences in our JCSRS community. It was a great reminder that we can all lead by example and demonstrate respect for diversity in our actions and interactions. We can model inclusive behaviours, challenge biases, and promote understanding and empathy for different cultures within our family and community.

It was wonderful to see so many parents who were able to join us for the assembly last week. It was an afternoon of celebrating students' achievements and collaborative work on the NPDL project "Together We Can." I want to express my sincere gratitude to all staff for their dedication, hard work, and commitment to the planning and delivery of this project. Their efforts have truly made a positive impact on our students and the entire school community.

I am incredibly proud of our students who represented our school at the ESF Art Exhibition. I want to express my gratitude to our staff for supporting the students in their preparations and for providing guidance and encouragement. The message conveyed through the exhibition was a powerful reminder that we are all capable of achieving great things.

Four students from Diamond class attended a talk by Lonnie Bedwell, a blind military veteran and extreme adventure athlete, at Kowloon Junior School. Lonnie’s mission is to motivate and inspire others to embrace life with confidence and courage. His key message for students was that no one is like us and that we all have our set of gifts that we have to keep focusing on and define ourselves on our own terms. You can find out more about Lonnie here.

On Friday, during the Transition Day at JCSRS, we welcomed eight new students and their parents. All students had a fun-filled session in classes, and we are confident that they will have a successful start to the new academic year. We hope that the New Family Welcome Session provided parents with the information they need to support their children's transition to JCSRS.

Thank you all for your continued support. Together we can celebrate diversity, encourage positive dialogue about differences, and create an inclusive environment.

Warm regards,

Anna

On the 22nd of May, we celebrated World Day for Cultural Diversity.  Cultural awareness is vital in our diverse world. As part of the JCSRS curriculum, we prioritise promoting cultural understanding. It encompasses knowledge, appreciation, and respect for different cultures. Nurturing cultural awareness equips students to thrive in a multicultural world and develop essential life skills. 

During JCSRS Cultural Diversity Day, teachers turned classes into different countries, and for the morning activity, students travelled between countries with their passports. They explored different cultures through activities aimed at developing their knowledge of the country, traditional games from the country, music and art. In the afternoon, we all enjoyed dancing to music from different countries, with students selecting songs and learning which country they were from.

During the day, we also celebrated our staff's cultural backgrounds by sharing food from our countries, sharing our family's cultural traditions, customs, and stories and taking part in discussing cultural identity and bias.

Friday, 24th May, was the final day of our whole-school NPDL project - Together We Can. Students, staff and parents came together in assembly to celebrate the learning that had taken place over the six-week period. The project aimed to enhance well-being by building community and increasing our sense of belonging. Primary and Secondary classes were paired together and met weekly to work on a variety of activities that supported the development of global competencies: communication and citizenship.

In the assembly, we learned that a group of secondary students were selected to be student PE teachers to coach and support younger students. We listened to live letter readings from primary students who had written letters to their secondary pen pals in Literacy lessons.

Pearl and Silver Class celebrated their crafting and storytelling skills with a joint rendition of The Very Hungry Caterpillar using puppets that they had made together. Jade class students honed their presentation skills by sharing their new understanding of friends in Emerald Class. Ruby and Gold shared a video montage of their work together, and Sapphire and Diamond students led the whole school in a sing-and-sign version of Down By the Bay.

Thank you to all the parents and members of the community who came to cheer our students on as we reflected on a meaningful project that has brought our community together like never before.

Colourful murals, imaginative sculptures and heartwarming portraits - these were just some of the amazing student artwork featured in our ESF Art Exhibition 2024. This year’s theme - Faster, Higher, Stronger - was inspired by the upcoming Paris Olympics and is all about humans and their extraordinary power to achieve and strive to be the best they can be. Across ESF, hundreds of our students from K1 to Year 13 have created an outstanding collection of artwork spanning painting, digital art, photography, mixed media and more.

We are very proud of the JCSRS students who took part in this foundation-wide event. Their artwork was truly inspirational and, as always, very creative.

Sapphire and Silver class have been learning about ‘working animals’ as part of their vocational curriculum. This included class visits from therapy dogs Willow, Cooper and Mia, along with the team from Ryze Wise.

The students learned about the role of a therapy dog, which included participating in some fun children’s games such as musical chairs and red light, green light. These shared experiences also included practical opportunities for grooming and care. Overall, the three sessions provided practical, hands-on opportunities for the students to consolidate their learning and enjoy the benefits of these impactful animals.

Another fantastic sailing achievement was earned by one of JCSRS's students, thanks to Kay and Sailability, at the Leo Wealth Steering the Course Women’s Sailing Festival on Saturday, 25th May.

Elia came second thanks to Alice, the volunteer who raced with her, in the ladies section of the race. We are very happy Elia got a chance to be on the podium again for her fourth race. Thank you to the entire Sailability team for creating opportunities for our students.

Following a successful celebration of cultural diversity, we would like to ask families to donate a book to the library that reflects the culture of your home. This can be an existing book that you have outgrown or a new one - anything that expresses something about your culture at home. Ideally, the books will have lots of pictures and a simple writing style. Some ideas are:

• Books about your home country or city

• Traditional tales from your culture

• Children’s picture book in your native language

• Books about a religion or festival that you celebrate

• Children’s recipe books that reflect your culture

While travelling this summer, please consider picking up a book that will enhance our library and help all our students be represented. These will be collected after the summer break.

Over this school year, JCSRS have continued to work with Riding for the Disabled (RDA) to offer opportunities for our students to gain new experiences. RDA offer a horse riding program aimed at supporting sensory needs, physical development and confidence in new activities. Horse riding builds self-confidence, improves concentration and self-discipline and, at the same time, provides recreation and sport.

RDA is a non-profit organisation working with individuals of all ages and needs across Hong Kong. Please see this flyer for more information on how to support the organisation’s fundraising event.

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.

June is recognised as Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) Global Awareness Month, dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of this rare genetic disorder. HHT can cause abnormal blood vessel formation in various organs, leading to complications such as strokes, aneurysms, and lung and liver problems. Unfortunately, many people with HHT go undiagnosed due to a lack of awareness and understanding of this condition.

To help spread awareness and education about HHT, follow the Instagram page @hht852, which focuses on raising awareness of HHT in Hong Kong. The page shares information about HHT, personal stories from individuals with HHT, and updates on events and initiatives related to this condition. You can also find more information on HTT here.

Additionally, if you or someone you know has been diagnosed with HHT or suspects they may have it, seeking medical attention and receiving proper care is crucial. You can also reach out to HHT852@hotmail.com for more information and support. Together, we can help those affected by HHT and promote greater understanding and awareness of this condition during HHT Global Awareness Month and beyond.