Year 1 Update – Week 10
Monday 5th November – Year One LEAP
Monday 5th November – whole school photo in the playground
Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th November – School photographs – school uniform both days please!
Tuesday 6th November 6 pm Raising Kids Who Love To Read An information session for parents
Wednesday 7th November – Diwali Celebrations – Non-Uniform – Wear bright colours
Thursday 8th November 2 pm – Helping With Home Reading A workshop for helpers
Thursday 8th November – the third session at the pitch
Friday 9th November – Diversity House Colours Day (Dress in GREEN clothing)
Tuesday 13th November – Year One Pizza lunch
Monday 19th November – Box of Hope collection in School
Positional language This week our maths focus was positional language. Examples of the vocabulary we teach and practise are on top, beside, behind, under, in front, between, forwards, backwards etc. Children cut and stuck pictures into the correct boxes, made small models or drew pictures and described them to a partner so that they could copy, played hide and seek games and told stories using positional language. Please can you practise positional language with your children at home. This can be done as you play games and encourage your children to follow instructions and directions at home or out and about.
First bake sale Tuesday was the first bake sale of this school year. Thank you for your support to the B.H.S P.T.A. We saw many, many happy children in the playground spending ‘their’ own money. We talked to the children about using their manners and waiting for change.
The Pitch – T3 Unfortunately we were not able to go to the pitch this Thursday. Sadly the T3 was hoisted around mid – day which meant that we had to stay in school for the afternoon. Instead the children has some time in the classroom revisiting some learning and then had some year one games and play time in the playground.
Box of Hope – Thanks to the children who have already bought in a box of Hope
Here is the information from the school newsletter:
This year, BHS will once again be supporting Box of Hope. Box of Hope is an annual charity event aimed at providing useful and educational gifts for underprivileged children who live in Hong Kong and Asia, some of whom may never have received a gift before. All you have to do is provide some small educational and interesting, useful gifts for a boy or girl and put them in a beautifully wrapped or decorated shoe box. Please wrap the box and lid separately and secure with an elastic band. All boxes will need to be checked before they are sent off for customs purposes. So if you have some empty shoe boxes, save them for this worthwhile cause. Students will need to put a sticker on their box. If you need more labels please go to this link: http://boxofhope.org/info/children/how/en/ If you would like to know more about Box of Hope please visit their webpage: http://www.boxofhope.org/home/main/en/
The deadline for the collection of all boxes is Monday 19th November 2018
- How we can get to know each other and ourselves (Connection)
- Different types of learning and play (Form)
- How to make our classroom a place for successful for learning (Function)
Next week we will be wrapping up our first unit of inquiry. The children will be reflecting on what they have learnt and will share their thinking about people they have connected with, what they have learnt through their play and what helps them with their learning in the classroom. The children will also have the opportunity to select a piece of work that they are proud of to put into their BHS portfolio.
School photographs
Our school photographer will be in Beacon Hill on Monday 5th and Tuesday 6th November. All children should come to school in their school uniform on these days. If your child has PE on Monday or Tuesday then please make sure that they bring their PE kit to school and they will be able to change at school.
Siblings Photographs
For those of you who have more than one child at Beacon Hill the siblings photographs will be taken on Friday 9th November. If you would like a sibling photograph then please click on the link below and fill in the online form to book a space.
https://goo.gl/forms/bdCfnkhWNvy46ank2
If you have any questions then please email me: chad.pheasant@bhs.edu.hk
Chad Pheasant
Vice Principal
News from the English Team
Please visit the Gateway bhs.tg.esf.edu.hk to sign up for our reading information sessions next week. The first on Tuesday 6th November at 6 pm is for parents who want ideas about how to read with their children to boost vocabulary, comprehension, develop critical thinking and importantly nurture their child’s love of reading. The second, on Thursday 8th at 2 pm, is for helpers only and will give ideas of how to support children with their home reading.
We look forward to meeting you there next week.
Mrs Dale, Mrs Fennelly and Ms Jeves
Please place your order online by November 23rd, 2018.
Many thanks,
BHS English team
This week we have been exploring positional and directional language. Through practical, hands on activities the children have had experience using language such as, behind, in front of, next to, beside, left, right, on, under, forwards, backwards.
We have noticed that some of the children have found this language quite challenging to use. The more experience they can have using this language at home when completing everyday tasks, the more familiar they will become with this vocabulary.
Mathletics:
Please help the children to complete the Mathletics tasks that have been assigned to your child. The children can also enjoy Maths Live and play other children live across the world.
Congratulations to the children who received a Golden Book certificate this week.
1L – Hailey Lee
1P – Kieran Schroeder
1W – Aidan Leung
Escape the urban concrete jungle and head to the great outdoors with the family… on bicycles! From the best seaside cycling trails in Tseung Kwan O, Tai Po and Hong Kong Island to BMX hills in the New Territories, there are a ton of options within easy reach across Hong Kong for beginners to advanced. Get those helmets on, saddle up, and go! Here’s our guide on where to go biking and cycling with kids in Hong Kong! What’s more? We also included options for renting and buying bikes in Hong Kong!
Prepare to be impressed by the maze of bike paths for families at Tseung Kwan O! These wheel-friendly (not-car-friendly) roads are not only well-done but offer a slew of variety for bikers and bladers of all ages. Journey through tunnels, stop for a picnic or play at one of Hong Kong’s largest playgrounds. We recommend starting at the Velodrome where you will find a bike rental company catering to kids and adults (they have tandem too). The trail is directly in front of their store. One famous route is starting at Veledrome and biking along the seaside to Tiu Keng Leng where you can grab a coffee at the impressive Hong Kong Design Institute and then explore a very groovy outdoor playground and the Tiu Keng Lane library (English section here too). Note, the Velodrome has an awesome playground and park by the entrance making it a favorite stop once you return the bikes. Want more? Take the kids inside the Velodrome to see the professional cyclists – it’s a real sensory experience.
Bike Paths In Tseung Kwan O, Start at Velodrome, Po Hong Road, Tseung Kwan O. Rent your bike at the entrance of Velodrome and start your journey on the paths. Click here for more details on ways to access Tseung Kwan O paths.
Take a ferry to Cheung Chau Island from Central Ferry Pier for a full day of adventure. With kids we suggest you head past the main areas and into the tiny streets to explore local life. For bike rentals, you will find plenty! The area that has the most rental options is Pak Tai Temple area (Pak She Praya Road by basketball court). For little legs, you can also rent tuk-tuks. You can bike the whole island including the seaside (packed with yummy restaurants), the beachside, the town (a real local feel), and up to Reclining Rock and Cheung Po Tsai Cave. Inspired – we hope so!
Cheung Chau Island Biking, www.littlestepsasia.com/hong-kong/articles/play/cheung-chau-island. Catch the ferry from Pier No. 5 at Central Ferry Pier. The journey takes 30-45 minutes.
Gear up! Hong Kong’s very own BMX Park is sure to get your little rider’s adrenaline going. All young adventurers and adults are welcome – from first-timers to experienced little Evil Knievel’s! With over 39,000 square meters of trails and tracks, this BMX Bike Park is sure to thrill. This is fun for adventure-seeking kids ages 3+ and more info can be found here. Watch our Little Steps video here to get inspiration.
BMX Bike Park, 91 Kwai Hei Street, Kwai Fong, Hong Kong, +852 2419 9613, info@bmxpark.org.hk, www.facebook.com/hkbmxpark. Parking is available on site.
Escape to Discovery Bay for a day! It’s lush and green, and there is a plethora of lovely restaurants by the waterfront to enjoy pre or post riding, and most of them are super family-friendly. Ferries run around the clock from Central Pier 3 approximately every 20-30 mins. There is a bicycle track alongside Discovery Bay Road, which is perfect for novices and young ones.
Discovery Bay Biking, Lantau Island, Hong Kong. Click here for a route map.
Combine a bit of Hong Kong culture with easy biking for kids at this circular bicycle path located right at the gates of the Kowloon Walled City! The trail is small so it is ideal for young ones. You can pair it up with a journey through the very interesting Kowloon Walled City, check out historic landmarks, explore Chinese gardens, and have a play on the children’s playground. The bike path is fenced in and ideal for little ones. Be sure to visit one of the many famous Thai restaurants in this area for lunch!
Kowloon Walled City Bike Path, Tung Tau Tsuen Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Park at the mall and access at the Carpenter Road entrance to the park.
The Tolo Harbour Cycling Track starts in Shatin via the Hong Kong Science Park, extending to the Tai Po Waterfront Park and Tai Mei Tuk. Rent your bikes in Shatin or Tai Po Market, and then enjoy the ride and seaside scenery. In addition to the harbor, you can also see the dam in the Plover Cove Reservoir in the distance.
Tolo Harbour Cycling, Click here for more info.
Throw the bikes in the car, and head to Quarry Bay Park for a ride on Hong Kong’s longest cycling track. No matter their level, your kids will love freely racing around the scenic 640-meter loop. And you’ll love that it’s flat and cushioned and never too crowded. There’s even a nearby jogging path that runs alongside the entire length of the bike path, so runners are welcome also! More info here! Want a cool sightseeing option? Be sure to take a stop at the Fireboat Alexander Grantham Exhibition Gallery where kids can explore a historical fireboat.
Quarry Bay Park Cycling Track, Quarry Bay Park (near Hoi Tai Street), Quarry Bay, Hong Kong, +852 2513 8499, www.lcsd.gov.hk
If you’re done with Mickey and Minnie, why not take a few hours out by the Inspiration Lake. You can cruise around the lake on a pedal boat, as well as cycle around the walkway. The lake itself is Hong Kong’s largest artificial lake and features water jets shooting 18m high streams of water into the air, waterfalls, and mountain views. Pedal boat and bike rental service available every day from 10am to 5pm. This is one of the few places in Hong Kong where all wheels are welcome and super easy for little ones.
Inspiration Lake, Disneyland Hong Kong, Lantau, Hong Kong, Click here for more information.
For those seeking easy trails and top views of Hong Kong harbor – head to Nursery Park in the renovated West Kowloon Waterfront Park. What’s more – they have SmartBike here which is a bike sharing programme designed to complement the future provision of cycle paths in the West Kowloon Cultural District. Explore the art park, take in the views, and organize a picnic. This bike path has the best views of the Victoria Harbour. For kids, be sure to bring their bikes as Smart Bike does not rent bicycles for kids.
West Kowloon Waterfront Park, Nursery Park Hong Kong, www.westkowloon.hk
This is one of the most popular cycling routes in Hong Kong. From Sha Tin Park, cycle along the easy track along the Shing Mun River and continue along the coastline of Tolo Harbour, until you reach the grand dam at Tai Mei Tuk. This is a beautiful bike ride so make sure you pack a picnic and take in all of the scenery. Families can also start at Science Park (bike rentals are available here as well). Science Park offers lots of food, coffee, and drinks so it is also a nice place to start your journey.
Sha Tin to Tai Mei Tuk, From MTR Sha Tin Station Exit A, walk to Shing Mun River via New Town Plaza and Sha Tin Park. Alternatively, start at Science Park where you will find The Contact Store.
This is an excellent 8km route that’s easy for all of the family to enjoy. Start and finish at MTR Yuen Long. The journey takes around 1.5-2 hours depending on how quickly you cycle and how much you want to explore en-route. There are places to stop off along the way including a lot of fantastic bird watching at the marshlands. You can see Shenzhen on clear days! Note, some of the trail is open to cars too so if you are with little ones, take note.
Nam Sang Wai, MTR Yuen Long – trail starts directly behind the MTR. Rent bikes at Tin Fung Bicycle Company, Shop B, G/F, Lee Kwan Building, 37 On Lok Road, Yuen Long, Hong Kong, www.yl.hk.
Discover Hong Kong’s ecological diversity by bike – a sneaky way to get a geography/biology lesson over the weekend! Take the kids down to the Hong Kong Wetland Park for a relaxed stroll around the mangroves. You can not take bikes into the actual Wetland Park, but you can visit the park then jump on one of the bike paths directly in front of the park and cruise all the way past old Hakka style villages, ancestral halls, and temples – to Kam Tin and Yuen Long. Note, you should bring your own bikes for this route. Rentals are available in Yuen Long if you want to go from there to Hong Kong Wetland Park.
Wetland Park Road, Tin Shui Wai, New Territories, Hong Kong, www.wetlandpark.gov.hk.
This lovely little green area is filled with families on the weekends, and you can bring doggie too. It’s the perfect place to teach little ones how to ride a bike as it is flat. They will be off their training wheels in no time! Just remember to BYOB (bring your own bike) as there is no bike rental. Enjoy a weekend brunch at the nearby Le Meridien Cyberport hotel or grab a takeaway picnic from the nearby supermarket.
Cyberport Waterfront, Click here for more information.
For a fabulous day out, hop on the ferry to Mui Wo on Lantau. Check schedules online and take the fast ferry, although dogs are only allowed on the slow ferry. The Friendly Bicycle Shop, near ParknShop (on the left, just beyond the bus station, as you arrive on the ferry) rents ordinary bikes and mountain bikes for a day. Cycle around the paths and small roads along and behind Silvermine Beach or head to the northwest of Mui Wo basin to the Silvermine Waterfall. Or, head over post-biking to the seaside local favorite, China Beach Clubon your route for sangria and snacks.
Mui Wo Biking, Lantau Island, Hong Kong, website.
In the Western New Territories, Tai Lam Country Park is the largest riding area in Hong Kong, with almost 20km of trails open to mountain biking and 25km of country park roads. The loop around Tai Lam reservoir is a scenic trail for all levels and a good choice for families. There is also some tougher terrain for Mom and Dad and older kids who are into mountain biking.
Tai Lam Country Park, Hong Kong. Click here for more info.
Want your own ride? These are a few spots that sell bikes for kids and adults:
BUYING BIKES/WHEELS:
Buying Bikes/Wheels In Hong Kong – Hong Kong top shops for bikes!
TOP BIKE RENTAL COMPANIES IN HONG KONG
HANDY WEBSITES:
