EY1 to Year 13 will resume face-to-face classes on Tuesday 19th April.
Nursery and Reception will resume face-to-face classes on Thursday 28th April.
Home Learning Programme
The home learning programme will resume for all children in Nursery and Reception from Tuesday 19th April. Please access Seesaw and your child’s virtual classroom in the same way as before. We are excited to be celebrating Book Week during the first week of Term 3 and have ensured the home learning programme provides plenty of opportunities for the children to engage with this, albeit in an online format.
Resource packs will continue to be available to support the children’s home learning and will be available for collection from the Early Years campus at the following times:
| Date | Collection time |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 19th April | 11.30am - 12.30pm |
| Monday 25th April | 11.30am - 12.30pm |
| Tuesday 3rd May (Nursery only) | 11.30am - 12.30pm |
Families in Tung Chung can collect their resource packs on Tuesday 19th April from Nurse Tamara outside Pret A Manger cafe in the main square between 2.45pm and 3pm.
Emergency Childcare
We are still awaiting confirmation from the EdB that we are able to open our Early Years campus for emergency childcare. If this is approved, further information will be posted to the Hub.
Please note that should we be able to offer emergency childcare, there will be limited spaces and this will only be available to those who qualify under the EdB directives relating to emergency care.
Full-day, Face-to-face Resumption
Once the children return to school for full days, we will revert to our regular timetable, which the children will have followed in Term 1. This will include all specialist lessons and experiential learning opportunities such as Forest School and woodwork. Class teachers will communicate your child’s individual timetable over the coming weeks.
Snacks and Lunches
We will continue to provide healthy snack options for our Nursery and Reception children. These will be eaten at a designated time in the morning within the children’s class bubbles. The children will also continue to have lunch in class bubbles. The children will need to bring their lunch to school in the morning, and it will be stored in an airconditioned room before they eat.
Please note, we are not able to receive lunch deliveries at any of our DBIS campuses.
Timetables, Resources and Equipment
Your child’s Year Group Leader will communicate year group-specific information via the Hub this weekend. This will include all the information you need to know with regard to the equipment and resources your child will need and will receive (including reading books) throughout the term.
EY1 & 2 Snacks and Lunches
Children will need to bring their own snack, which will be eaten at a designated time each morning. Lunch will continue to be eaten in one of three designated areas: The Globe, gym or canteen. Please liaise with the school office if you have any questions relating to ordering lunches through the canteen using the email address [email protected]. Unless your child orders lunch through the school canteen, they are required to bring lunch in their school bag. Lunches from home will be stored in an airconditioned room throughout the morning.
Please note, we are not able to receive lunch deliveries at any of our DBIS campuses.
Timings of the school day
We will return to our regular timetable, which the children will have followed throughout Terms 1 and 2. Your child’s Year Group Leader will communicate year group-specific information via the Hub.
Snacks and Lunches
Children will need to bring their own snacks, which will be eaten before morning break. Lunch will continue to be eaten in one of three designated areas: The Globe, gym or canteen. Please liaise with the school office if you have any questions relating to ordering lunches through the canteen using the email address [email protected]. Unless your child orders lunch through the school canteen, they are required to bring lunch in their school bag. Lunches from home will be stored in an airconditioned room throughout the morning.
Please note that we are still not able to receive lunch deliveries to the school campus.
Timings of the school day
We will return to the original format of the school day, as detailed below:
- 8am – 8.20am Arrival at school / 1-1 Tutoring
- 8.25am – 8.45am Tutor time
- 8.50am – 9.50am Lesson 1
- 10am – 11am Lesson 2
- 11am – 11.20am Break
- 11.20am – 12.20pm Lesson 3
- 12.30pm – 1.30pm Lesson 4
- 1.30pm – 2.20pm Lunch (Two sittings – further details shown below)
- 2.20pm – 3.20pm Lesson 5
Lunchtime
To continue to accommodate the EdB’s requirements regarding students’ eating patterns at lunchtime, we will have to return to having two sittings, with set year groups having their lunch at certain times. There will, however, be some changes to our previous arrangements.
The main change is that Sixth Form students will eat their lunches at the Main school site rather than at the North Plaza. This is because the EdB now requires 90% or more of a year group to have received their second COVID-19 vaccination at least 14 days prior to eating in a non-designated eating area. Unfortunately, we are not able to meet that requirement for the Year 12 or Year 13 cohorts at this time.
The arrangements for lunch will be as follows:Â
- The first lunchtime sitting will be for students in Years 7, 9 and 10 and will run from 1.30pm to 1.50pm.
- The second lunchtime sitting will be for students in Years 8, 11, 12 and 13 and will run from 2pm to 2.20pm.
Eating bubbles will be kept as small as possible. The canteen will be open for students who order meals. Unfortunately, we cannot, at this time, accept hot food deliveries from home.Â
Although the lunch slots are later than we would like for certain year groups, staggering lunches is an EdB requirement, as is having ample time to clean the lunch venues between sittings. To make this easier for students, we would encourage them to bring snacks that they can eat at break time.
Provision for students who are unable to come to school for face-to-face learningÂ
We appreciate that there is a relatively small number of students who are currently not in Hong Kong, or are in quarantine, and who therefore may not be able to return to campus for the start of the new term on Tuesday 19th April. As I’m sure you can understand, once face-to-face classes resume, our focus will need to be on teaching classes in situ. We will therefore not be in a position to continue with the current online learning programme. That being said, please see the following information regarding how we can support student learning for those who are unable to attend face-to-face classes:
- Students will still be able to join the Google Meets for their lessons to follow what is happening in classes in real time and will be able to join group work and activities etc.
- Students will continue to have full access to Google Classroom to access the learning materials shared. Teachers will provide feedback wherever possible; however, please be mindful that this will be completed on Hong Kong time.Â
- Your child’s Head of Year will continue to check in with students to see if there are any issues or concerns with their learning, and of course, students can also contact teachers via email or Google Classroom with any concerns they may have.
Examinations
Parents of students who will be sitting formal examinations in the summer (Years 11, 12 and 13) should refer to the correspondence shared on Thursday 31st March for details in relation to forthcoming examinations.
We will be utilising the Sixth Form campus at the North Plaza to conduct these examinations. There will therefore be no impact on the learning arrangements for students in Years 7–10 during the examination period.Â
Guidance will be provided for the internal Year 10 mock exams closer to the time.Â
If you or your child have any questions in relation to examinations, please reach out to our exam team at [email protected].
Parents are required to do the following each day before their child comes to school:
- Take their child’s temperature and record it on the ‘Health Monitoring Record Card’ provided by school or on a printed copy of ‘Return to School Health Monitoring Record’ (LINK).
- Ensure that their child has taken a Rapid Antigen Test and that the test is negative. (A separate box to confirm a negative RAT result will be added to the Health Monitoring Record Card shortly. For the time being, a parent signature will be deemed as acknowledgement that a test has been taken and that the result is negative.)
Students who have recovered from COVID-19 with the last three months do not need to provide a daily negative RAT result. If your child has had COVID-19, please complete the RAT result exemption form HERE.
Please keep your child at home if their temperature is above 37.5 degrees or if they show symptoms consistent with COVID-19, even if they have not tested positive for COVID-19.
All school premises in Hong Kong are covered under the government’s ‘vaccination pass’ scheme.
The regulations state that in order to enter school premises, all visitors over the age of 12, (including parents and guardians) must have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine unless medically exempted. These regulations do not apply to students.
Visitors (including parents and guardians) who cannot prove that they have been vaccinated or cannot show that they hold a COVID-19 Vaccination Medical Exemption Certificate will not be allowed to enter the school. No exceptions will be made to this rule.
Drop-off and pick-up procedures for Parents
Parents wishing to enter the school premises during drop-off and pick-up will need to follow the same procedures as when the campus gates are locked for the school day. Please see details below.
When Campus gates are locked for the school day.
The updated sign-in procedure for when the campus gates are locked during school hours is outlined below. Please note that details of any changes to drop-off and pick-up procedures will be communicated separately before our school campuses reopen to students.
Sign-in Procedures
Early Years Campus
- Visitors must take their temperature at the Reception Desk. Anyone with a temperature of 37.5°C or above will not be allowed to remain on campus.
- Visitors must scan the Leave Home Safe app. The Leave Home Safe app will be used to verify each visitor’s vaccination status.*
- Visitors must sign in at the Reception Desk.
Main Campus
- Visitors must take their temperature at the guard’s hut at the Main Gate. Anyone with a temperature of 37.5°C or above will not be allowed on campus.
- Visitors must scan the Leave Home Safe app. The Leave Home Safe app will be used to verify each visitor’s vaccination status.*
- Visitors must also sign in to the school’s visitor system. Parents may use their InVentry ID card to beep in or select their details from the InVentry console at the guard hut.
Sixth Form Campus
- Visitors must take their temperature at the Reception Desk. Anyone with a temperature of 37.5°C or above will not be allowed on campus.
- Visitors must scan the Leave Home Safe app. The Leave Home Safe app will be used to verify each visitor’s vaccination status.*
- Visitors must also sign in to the school’s visitor system. Parents may use their InVentry ID card to beep in or select their details from the InVentry console at the Reception Desk.
* In order to make the process as smooth as possible, we recommend that you upload your vaccination status to the Leave Home Safe app (version 3.0.2 or above). A guide explaining how to do this can be found HERE. Visitors without their vaccination details or exemption notice on their phones will need to provide paper evidence of vaccination/exemption.
We kindly ask that parents do not arrive earlier than their scheduled time in order to avoid crowding.
At the end of the school day, we request that all children and parents/carers leave the campus promptly as the campus will be closed for deep cleaning each day.
Tung Chung children will be supervised once they get off the bus.
The following details show which campus entrance and exit points your child(ren) should use.
Early Year Campus
Nursery and Reception children will use the main gate for entry and exit.
Year Group Entry Point Gates Open Exit Point Gates Open
Nursery and Reception EY carpark 8.50am Front gate to the EY campus 2.35pm
Main Campus
Families who are dropping off siblings at a different start time will be able to make arrangements with their child’s class teacher for dropping the younger children off at the same time as their older sibling.
| Year Group | Entry Point | Gate open (by phase) | Exit Point | Gate open (by phase) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EY1 | EY1 gate near the pagoda | 8.20am | EY1 Gate near the pagoda | 3.05pm |
| EY2 | Main school gate | 8.20am | Main school gate | 3.05pm |
| Primary | Main school gate | 8.15am | Main school gate | 3.10pm |
| Secondary (Years 7 - 8) | Main school gate Temperature check on path alongside pitch | 8.00am | Main school gate Additional Exit Point – Back gate in between Secondary School Building and Administration Building opened for exiting | 3:20pm (end of school) |
| Secondary (Years 9-11) | North-West Pitch Gate : Enter via the school sports field to the Secondary building. | 8.00am | Main school gate Additional Exit Point – Back gate in between Secondary School Building and Administration Building opened for exiting | 3:20pm (end of school) |
North Plaza Campus
All Years 12 & 13 students will be located at the North Plaza Campus.
- Parents must also ensure their child comes to school wearing a mask and that he/she understands the importance of wearing their mask at all times during the day and regular hand washing.Â
- For Early Years and Primary students, the mask must be clearly labelled with the child’s name and class.
- We will take all measures to maintain the environmental hygiene of our school premises and ensure personal hygiene practices to safeguard the health of our students.
- Parents must notify the school of a student’s positive COVID-19 test results by 9am on the day of testing using the Jotform HERE.
- Parents should also notify the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of students’ positive results via the CHP’s RAT declaration system.
- The school is required to notify the CHP each day of any new positive results.
*** Please note, the above form should not be used to confirm negative test results. ***
- Students do not need to be vaccinated to attend face-to-face lessons.
- Only vaccinated students will be permitted to take part in extracurricular activities. We are seeking clarification from the EdB regarding medically exempt students or those who have recently recovered from COVID-19.
- We are also seeking clarification from the EdB regarding the participation of unvaccinated students in timetabled Sports and Music lessons.
- Please find information about COVID-19 Student Vaccinations HERE. If you have further questions please do not hesitate to contact the School Nurses at [email protected].