West Island School Weekly Bulletin 10th September 2011

We have an upcoming open day which will be on Friday, September 16th, 2011. Please note that the date printed in the diary is incorrect.

You are welcome to attend.

Please refer to the attached letter and reply slip here.

Jane Foxcroft
Principal

I write to give notice of the election of a parent member to the School Council of West Island School. (NB this is separate from the election to the ESF board)

Under the arrangements approved by the Board of ESF, our School Council will have 3 parent members.  Currently we require one more council member due to a member stepping down from duty.

Parents who are employees of ESF may not stand for election as a parent member of the School Council.

The election arrangements require each candidate to have a proposer.  I attach a Nomination Form to enable you to propose a candidate.  The candidate must indicate in writing his/her willingness to stand and should be attach a brief Personal Statement setting out his/her relevant experience and stating what he/she would hope to contribute to the Council and the School. (see attached)

The last date for the receipt of nominations, which should be handed in or posted to the school office, is Monday 12th September at 3.30pm

Ballot papers will be issued on Friday 16th September.  They should be returned, in an ESF envelope provided, and be placed directly in the Ballot Box in the school office or posted to the school to arrive no later than 12 noon on Monday 26th September.  Ballot papers not in the correct envelope will not be counted. 

Please note that ballot papers will need to be carried home by students on Friday, 16th September.  It would be helpful if you could ask your son/daughter for the ballot papers to make sure they are not overlooked.

please click here to download the attached.

Yours faithfully

Jane Foxcroft
Principal

On behalf of ESF please find attached four documents in regard to the election of parent members to the Board of Governors of ESF for your information and action.  If you have any enquiries, please contact Susanna Chiu at ESF Centre <susanna.chiu@esfcentre.edu.hk> direct.

please find the following links to the attached

Letter to Parents
Nomination Form Category 1
Nomination Form Category 2
Candidates Statement

ESF

This year, as in previous years, it’s our intention to host a number of parent forums designed to address learning issues at West Island School with parents in an informal setting. The forums are run by teachers, or organisations associated with the school, and this year’s schedule includes some exciting and interesting sessions. Each forum involves a brief presentation and opportunities for discussion. All forums start at 6pm and run until approximately 7.15pm. 
Forums for 2011/2012 are as follows:

 **Year 7 and Year 8 Parents

All students entering WIS take a Computer Based Adaptive Online test known as MIDYIS. This online test, which takes around 60 minutes to complete, provides interesting information on the students developed abilities in the areas of Vocabulary, Maths, Non-verbal and Skills. The results contribute to an overall measure of ability which strongly indicates the "chances" of achieving different grade levels at the (i)GCSE exams in Y11. This session will also look at how the information can be applied within the school to inform teaching and learning.

If you intend to attend Mr. Deuchars’ interesting session looking at the use of student testing and data on the 27th of September, we would be very grateful if you could email Ms Monica Motwani at monica.motwani@wis.edu.hk before 21st September to ensure that adequate seating is provided. In the meantime please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.

Yours sincerely,

Paul Tough
Vice Principal

Richard Lant
Head of PE and Sports

As you are aware Monday is professional development day at West Island School, therefore the students are not expected to come to school. The teachers will be working on three main areas for the coming year. We will be focusing on the provision that we make for our gifted and talented students, the use of data and how we may employ it to further ‘fine tune’ our teaching, and also a session on reporting for year 7 students and parents. This year the assessments for year 7s will appear on the Gateway and the teachers will be receiving training on that during the day too. Have an enjoyable weekend!

Ian Clayton
Vice Principal

Dear Parent

We have an exciting year ahead of us in the Creative Arts Faculty and I would like to take this opportunity to share with you what is happening and what wonderful creative opportunities students can join.

Circle in the Water
The Creative Arts faculty is dedicated to excellence in both academic and artistic performance and exhibition. Circle in the Water is a name that we have given to identify and celebrate all arts performances and events presented by the Art, Drama/Dance, Film and Music departments.  Like concentric circles, which form and develop, Circle in the Water aims to foster creativity and influence and enrich the lives of WIS students and our community.  Performances, arts events and exhibitions will give students opportunity to create, inquire and express themselves.  We encourage all students to experience and develop their creativity by being part of Circle in the Water either as performers, artists, creators, makers, designers, producers, managers, directors or audience. Students can also be involved by joining the Circle in the Water committee. Please email Ms Dalgarno if your child is interested in being in the Circle in the Water committee.  leigh.dalgarno@wis.edu.hk

What's happening this term?
Circle in the Water invites you to be our audience this term at the following performance events.

Friday, September 23       
ESF musicians and WIS film students in collaboration with Scottish Opera will perform and produce an abridged version of the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts.  Tickets available through www.hkticketing.com.

Thursday, December 1
20th Anniversary Gala Concert – a celebration of WIS Music at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts

Thursday, December 8
Blood Wedding – a drama/dance department theatre production at West Island School, Auditorium.

CAS Activities – Get Creative!
Creative Arts staff and visiting specialists offer an amazing range of arts activities.  All five disciplines: Film, Music, Drama, Dance and Visual Arts, offer various activities that cater for musicians, actors, dancers, visual artists, film directors, technicians and creative crews.

This year we have introduced dance as a formal part of our curriculum and our newest member of the faculty; Ms Scarlett Keyworth (Welcome, Ms Keyworth!) is offering Wired Dance Co. as part of the Term 1 CAS activities. 

The music department invites students who play a musical instrument or sing to join a band, orchestra, choir, Rock School, Clarinet Ensemble or Chinese Music.   We ask parents to help us by encouraging their child to join a music group, especially if they play an instrument.  Student leadership opportunities within Creative Arts activities are also available.

We encourage all students from Year 7 to 13 to have a balance of Creative, Action and Service experiences.  Please refer to the School’s website which gives details of our Creative Arts - CAS activities. Sign up now for ‘Creativity.’

Music Lockers
Students who play a musical instrument in a music group at school or have private music lessons at WIS are eligible for a music locker.  Students who wish to register for a locker should see either Ms Dalgarno or, Lok, the Theatre and Music technician.

Private Music Tuition
West Island School offers private music tuition throughout the year during lunch and after school. Tuition in the following instruments is available now.

Clarinet
Saxophone
Guitar (acoustic and electric)
Piano
Drum-Kit
Theory

Please note, private music tuition is arranged directly with the teacher. 

For more details of private music tutors, please email Ms Dalgarno or Mr Gleeson canice.gleeson@wis.edu.hk.

If you have any other questions about the Creative Arts please don’t hesitate to ask.  We hope you’ll join us at our Circle in the Water events this year.

Ms Leigh Dalgarno
Head of Creative Arts/Music

There are a number of second hand IB study guides, across all disciplines, available in the Bookshop from past students.  Please come in a browse through the shelves.

There are still a number of pre-ordered stationery items which students have not collected even though they have been notified through the notices.

Bus Users

No student should be using the school bus service without a valid bus pass.   Spot checks will be made and anyone using the bus without a valid pass will be reported to the school.

Bus Routes No 2/2A/2B/2C/3/4  are now full.  Anyone wishing to use these routes can put their name on a wait list – please leave your details with the PTA office.

We have had complaints from Kwoon Chung that students are throwing their rubbish on the floor – please can you ensure you do not leave any rubbish behind when leaving the bus.

PTA

This is to inform you of an important date change on the Upper School Assessment Calendar.

Please note that the IB A1 English Individual Oral Commentaries (IOC) will now take place on Tuesday 8th, Wednesday 9th and Thursday 10th of November and not as stated in the school diary.   

The date changes are to reduce the weekly assessment burden for some students and at the same time provide slightly longer preparation time for this examination for all of Year 13.

Yours faithfully

Ben Astley
Head of English

Upper School Calendar – Parents of upper students

Dear Students and Parents,

Please find attached a copy of the Upper School Calendar. This is a very useful document and contain all the major dates and deadlines for the coming academic year.

please click here to download the calendar

Regards,

Robert Stitch
Vice Principal

Information about the Assessment - Parents of upper school students

Please note important information about the Assessment, Recording and Reporting at Post 16.

The ARR cycle in the Upper School supports the tracking of students during their final two years at WIS. There are a number of reporting points during this cycle and these reports are supported by Parents evenings. The aim of the AR&R cycle is to ensure that students can be fully supported in terms of reaching their academic potential.

A. Year 12

Term 1

September – Rapid response Cause for Concern Report - The main purpose of this report is to determine whether or not a student has opted for the correct subject, level or course. Changes to courses are generally not possible after the October half term.

December – Parent/Teacher/Student evening - This will be the first opportunity to discuss the progress of students formally with parents.

Term 2

January – Achievement report giving Current Predictor Levels. This will be the first report highlighting the progress of students and predicting final results based on current performance. The aim is to extend the Gateway Online system to include additional subjects.
(Previously only Science used this system)

March – Strength and Target Report with Current Predictor Levels. This report will give detailed information on how students can improve upon their current predictors. (This will be a full pilot of the Gateway system of reporting)

Term 3

May – Parent / Teacher/ Student evening. This will be a full parent evening and coming towards the end of the first year of upper school this will serve as a good opportunity to discuss realistic university aspirations.

June - Achievement report giving Current Predictor Levels. The final reporting point of year 12 will come after a rigorous assessment process in most subjects in May and June. This report will be online through the Gateway system. The Upper school team will look carefully at these results and may need to have individual meetings with students and parents concerning levels of progress.

B. Year 13

Term1

September - Parent/Teacher/Student evening. The main purpose of this evening will be to discuss the progress of students around the time that they are finalising their University application choices.

October – University Application Level Report. This report will provide the levels supplied to Universities for the application process. Although these levels are Current Predictors they will have a degree of optimistic realism in order to help students receive
offers.

Term 2

January – Mock Examinations always take place in the two weeks prior to Chinese New Year. These exams will mirror, as far as possible, the real IB examinations.

February - Achievement report giving Current Predictor Levels. Although these levels will take into consideration the Mock exam results they will not be entirely based on these.

March - Parent/Teacher/Student evening for Causes for Concern. This will be a targeted Parent Evening only for those students who are serious causes for concern.

Term 3

May – Final IB exams. These always begin during the first week in May.

Please note:

CABT data – There will be an on-going discussion about the use of this data in terms of the analysis of results, tracking and reporting to parents. This discussion will take place during the academic year of 2011-12.

Robert Stitch
Vice Principal

There will be a Parent Forum held on the 14th September at 6pm in the Upper School Area. This Forum is for parents of students in Years 7 -11 and will look at the Upper School Curriculum and University Pathways. If you are interested in attending please email Monica Motwani at monica.motwani@wis.edu.hk

Please note that there will be no parking available at school. Parents should enter the school through the main 6th floor entrance, where they can sign in. Refreshment will be available.

Regards,

Robert Stitch
Vice Principal

We have introduced electronic textbooks for these years which as well as containing the usual text and diagrams, offer interactive multiple choice questions, animated diagrams and explanations. The textbooks can be accessed through the school’s WISDOM site and all students have also been e-mailed the links.

If you wish to buy additional hard copies of these 3 books, or the revision guides offered in each of Biology, Chemistry and Physics, the ISBN numbers and details can be obtained from this link, or ordered from this site:

Please click on here to the Science text books page

(Students do not use the Double Science Guide or Human Biology book)

If you have any questions about the science courses or e-books, please do contact me.

Jon Gilchrist
Head of Science

The West Island Community School for Adult Education offers a range of special interest courses to West Island School parents, students aged 16 or above (where appropriate) and the wider community.

Commencing in the August - December 2011 term, the West Island Community School for Adult Education will begin to offer daytime courses on a Tuesday, Friday and Saturday in addition to our normal Tuesday evenings.

Courses on offer this term are as follows and a full course programme and booking form are attached below.

Course Programme

Booking Form

Email community@wis.edu.hk or Phone: 60177068  for more information.