29 Jan

Morning everyone, the weather continues to be unpredictable. Fingers crossed, the rain will clear in time for sports day. Please take a look at the updates below.


For this Week

Monday - Thursday: K2 classes out for Bowen Rd excursion, 1 class per day.

Monday: SSA Cathy visiting K1 & K2 LD children.

Tuesday: Claire Goepel from WKS (AM); teacher lunch meeting 12pm in K2 shared area

 

Sports Fun Day Update

The ESF sports coaches didn't work out in the end, so let's stick with 5 stations (4 class stations + 1 water/rest station).


I drafted a map for the day. We will have to try it out in the morning and make changes if one station needs more space. Sports Day Map Please arrive at 9am to set up. Let's collect all the equipment in amah bags, and the admin team will arrange to deliver it to the club. 

Please check the spreadsheet for station details and equipment needed.


Let's meet again next week to go over the final plans.


Early Years Connect - January Issue

It's been a while! Good to sit down and put some thoughts on paper to share with you all. This month, we explore:

  • When your teaching intention goes off course, and kids steer it in another direction, as they do!
  • A study published just this month with the question "Do teachers direct scientific questions more towards boys vs girls?" 
  • A free pass to Camp Renegrade Play Summit. I'm particularly interested in the sessions around neurodivergent play. 
  • Wordle's cousin - NYT Connections!

 Check out the January issue here.


ESFC Updates

Acceptance of Gifts

The Acceptance of Advantage by Staff Policy has been updated, reflecting the decision to increase the acceptable gift limit from individuals to staff to $1,000 and for collective gifts to $5,000.


If you receive a gift that may exceed the values mentioned above, you must fill in this request for permission form and submit it to the principal. Please note that if the gift far exceeds the permitted values above, you may be asked to return the gift politely.

 

The only changes are to sections 5.3.1(a) and (b) 

 

Regarding Lai See, as we approach CNY, schools:

  • Should allow staff to give Lai See individually to colleagues. (Submit to the $1000 and $5000 limits and processes as outlined in the policy.)
  • At this stage, can continue with the practice of enabling the collection of money from one group of colleagues to be given as Lai See to another group of colleagues. (Submit to the $1000 and $5000 limits and processes as outlined in the policy.)
  • Should not engage with the school Parent Teacher Associations in Lai See activities. This is to protect the school from the perception that we are soliciting money from parents for the direct benefit of staff.


HR Newsletter - Rent Reimbursement

This is a reminder about submitting rent reimbursement receipts if you wish to be included in the tax year 2023/2024 scheme. Return the completed form with the required documents to ESF HR on or before 1 March 2024 (Friday) via the relevant link in the HR Newsletter.


Research Survey Request

Please see below a request from Jaap Marsman, ESF Adviser for Safeguarding & Child Protection.

>>

Dear colleagues,


I hope you are well.


I would like to ask you for a moment of your time. I'm currently completing my final year of my Master in Science (Psychology) through Glasgow University. As part of my dissertation project, I aim to collect a significant number of responses to a research survey on multilingual students in the classroom.


If you are a teacher (it does not matter which subject, phase, or age group), I would like to ask for your assistance.


If you could find 10 minutes of your time to complete an online survey on your attitude towards multilingual learning, this would be invaluable for me to complete my dissertation.


The survey is available here: https://uofg.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6tZfFXjn5SD2PtA


It is completely anonymous and contains approximately 30 statements on multilingual learning, which I ask you to grade on a 1–6 scale. If you are interested in the final results, please do let me know, and I would be happy to share them with you. All answers will be used for the construction of a validated psychometric measure on teacher attitudes. Your personal responses only count towards these statistics—which means your honesty is greatly appreciated, as your anonymised individual results will not be analysed in any way.


Thank you so much in advance.


Best,

Jaap Marsman

ESF Adviser for Safeguarding & Child Protection


Upcoming Dates

Please check our internal calendar below, as we might forget to remind everyone of odd dates. We will continue to add events to the calendar as soon as it's confirmed. Here's the full 2023/24 Calendar 


Thank you!


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