Dear Parents,

I am Principal Wong. I believe you are not unfamiliar with me. This year marks my 40th year in the education industry and my 28th year working at Kingston International School. I witnessed the school's opening in 1996 and the subsequent expansion to two primary schools. I actively participated in the planning of these primary schools, often visiting the construction sites. These experiences have been invaluable and precious. Since 2009, I have also served as a member of the ICHK board of directors, which has further enriched my administrative experience, for which I am truly grateful!

I am fortunate to work in a field I am passionate about. I treat every student in our school as if they were my own child. Seeing their lovely smiles is my greatest motivation. During my time at Kingston, I have accumulated many joyful moments and gained a remarkable amount of body weight, yet my childlike spirit remains undiminished. Just look at these photos, and you might guess that I'm quite the playful old child!

In the days to come, I will continue to accompany your children as they grow in the loving, positive, and trust-filled Kingston family. Keep it up, parents! Go Kingston!

Our 4 Year Old Extended Day classes had an enriching field trip to Brighter Smiles Playland, where they learned about proper tooth brushing techniques and the importance of dental care through interactive demonstrations. The children were thrilled to explore the child-sized dental office, practice brushing on oversized tooth models, and meet one of the dentists there, who made learning about oral hygiene fun with engaging stories, songs and hands-on activities.

Our 4 and 5 Year Old Classes embarked on an exciting adventure at Ocean Park's Ocean Carnival workshop, where they explored marine life with an expert guide and experienced the wonders of underwater creatures firsthand. The highlight of their visit was touching a real starfish and sea cucumber, followed by an engaging puppet show that taught them about ocean conservation and the importance of keeping our seas clean. The children were fascinated to learn how their daily actions can help protect marine animals and their habitats. In addition we were able to visit the meerkats and giant tortoises.

Our 3 Year Old Class students had a wonderful time exploring Urban Oasis Farm, where they discovered how fruits and vegetables grow and observed helpful garden insects in their natural environment. The young gardeners were delighted to help water the plants and experienced the joy of planting their very own seeds, which they proudly took home to nurture and watch grow.

Kingston students enthusiastically participated in the Community Chest Dress Casual Day 2024, embracing the meaningful theme "Wear to Care". Through this wonderful initiative, our young learners demonstrated that even small actions can make a big difference in helping others. We are deeply touched by the generous support of our Kingston families, whose participation not only contributed to an important cause but also helped instil valuable lessons about empathy and community service in our children.

Our dedicated teaching team participated in an intensive two-day IB PYP workshop, "The Role of Mathematics," on October 25 and 26, deepening their understanding of mathematical instruction in early childhood education. The professional development sessions focused on innovative approaches to integrate mathematical concepts into play-based learning and daily activities, ensuring our young learners develop strong foundational skills. This workshop aligns with our commitment to providing high-quality education, as our teachers gained valuable insights and strategies to make mathematics more engaging and meaningful for our kindergarteners.

Spooky smiles and giggles filled our campus as Kingston students celebrated our annual Halloween party in their creative costumes. Our little superheroes, princesses, animals, and characters had a fantastic time trick-or-treating throughout the school, visiting different classrooms and offices for treats.

Squeals of delight echoed through the playground as our kindergarten students enjoyed a special treat - a bouncy castle set up in our play area. The children had a wonderful time jumping, bouncing, and practising their gross motor skills while making joyful memories with their classmates.

Our 3 Year Old classes have embarked on their fascinating journey exploring "How the World Works," focusing on understanding how living things change through their life cycles. The children began by investigating the differences between living and non-living things, eagerly participating in a school-wide scavenger hunt to identify and classify objects in their environment. Their excitement peaked when they became young gardeners, planting seeds in both their classroom gardens and individual pots. The children were thrilled to discover their first sprouts emerging after just a few days, providing them with a hands-on experience of witnessing the beginning of a plant's life cycle. This engaging start to the unit has sparked their curiosity about growth and change in the natural world around them.

Our 4 & 5 Year Old Classes have begun an exciting exploration of their second PYP Unit, "Sharing the Planet," discovering how water is essential to life. The unit began with a powerful provocation featuring sea creatures tangled in nets alongside ocean debris, sparking meaningful discussions about how human actions impact marine life and ocean ecosystems. Building on their curiosity, the children became water detectives, conducting investigations around our campus to discover various water sources. This hands-on learning extended into their homes through their Unit research homework, where they documented different water sources in their daily lives, helping them understand the vital role water plays in our world.

Establishing good oral hygiene habits early in life is crucial for children's dental health and overall wellbeing. Regular tooth brushing not only prevents cavities and gum disease but also helps children develop lifelong healthy habits. We encourage parents to complete the checklist in the article below to evaluate your child's current dental care routine. This helpful tool will allow you to identify areas where you're already supporting good oral health and discover new ways to enhance your child's dental care habits.

Checklist: Good Oral Care For Young Children

In Term 2 our 2-5 Year Old Class students will have the opportunity to have a simple dental check up conducted by dentists from The Hong Kong School of Dentistry from The University of Hong Kong.

Further reading in Chinese: Children’s Dental Health: What should I do if my child has cavities? Treatment options according to the severity of dental disease

Here are some books that you may consider reading with your child at home.

Simple songs with playful lyrics about brushing can turn toothbrushing from a chore into a fun activity for children. Songs can help children remember the important steps while making the experience more engaging.

For a suggested song in Chinese, please read the Chinese version of this newsletter.

We are delighted to showcase our students' remarkable achievements beyond our classroom walls. At Kingston, we believe in celebrating the diverse talents and interests of our young learners as they explore and excel in various activities. Please join us in congratulating our students who have demonstrated their skills and passion in sports, arts, music, and other extracurricular pursuits.

If you would like to share your child’s talents with us please fill in the Google Form below:

https://forms.gle/RyJjm94PfiNxfVFi7

• Certificate of Excellence Level 1 – GAPSK Kindergarten Mandarin (Intermediate) Proficiency Test
• Champion of English (Intermediate) at Hong Kong Junior Literacy Contest (Chinese/English)
• Runner-up of Chinese (Intermediate) at Hong Kong Junior Literacy Contest (Chinese/English)

• Certificate of Completion: Pre-Theatrical and Performing Arts (SDM Jazz and Ballet Academie)
• Politeness and Kindness Award (SDM Jazz and Ballet Academie)

• Participation in a ballet performance
• American Ninja Course

Stay connected with our school community by following us on social media! Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Xiaohongshu for updates, event highlights, and a glimpse into our daily activities. We love sharing our exciting moments with you and fostering a vibrant online community!

Email: enquiry@kingston.edu.hk

Website: www.kingston.edu.hk

Address: 12-14 Cumberland Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong

Phone: 23379049