K1 Monkey Class

Hello parents & carers ☺  My name is Brenda, and I'm the PYP curriculum coordinator here at Hillside. Thank you to you all for having been so supportive from the beginning of school transition period, all the way through to half term! A strong partnership between home and school is vital for supporting your child's overall development and learning. Your commitment to checking in with the class blog regularly ensures you are well informed of what, and more importantly, how your child is learning at school. You may already be very familiar with the class blog- Robyn will be posting regularly, while I and our Chinese teacher, Joey Lao Shi will guest post to share other relevant information about the children’s learning. The K1 children well into the year-long unit Who We Are by settling into school routines and exploring different learning materials. Now that they are comfortable and familiar with their own classroom, they're ready to discover new play and learning spac...

Dear Monkey Class families, I hope you have all had a lovely week. Every year I try my best to capture short burst of our days at school to share with you so here it is,   'A Day in Monkey Class'  video. I hope this provides you with a better visual of our school life. You can also watch the video with your child to see what they share about their time at school. As the children in Monkey Class grow more confident and comfortable in their environment, it's natural for their routines to change. Some children who used to prioritise snack time may now choose to play instead, while others who previously ignored snack time now enjoy it as a social part of their day. In the coming weeks, we may observe various behaviours emerging as the children gain confidence to express themselves and test boundaries. These age-appropriate behaviours are explored through a variety of daily activities, including interactive stories. Together, we are fostering a safe and inclusive environment w...

Dear Parents and Caregivers, I hope you had a wonderful Mid-Autumn Festival and a relaxing holiday. Over the past two weeks, we have explored traditional activities associated with this special celebration, focusing on customs, lanterns, and songs through the stories "We Had a Good Time" (我们玩得很开心) and "中秋节" (Mid-Autumn Festival). During arrival playtime, the children enjoyed making paper plate moon and lantern crafts, which provided them with valuable practice in fine motor skills. To further enhance their cultural experience, we held a dress-down day last week, where the kids delighted in sharing their lanterns with one another! We are also excited to announce a Chinese Webinar for parents on Friday, 27th September at 1:00 PM . We look forward to seeing you there! Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/5178730989 Thank you for your continued support! Please feel free to contact me at joey.zhao@hillside.edu.hk. Class Blog:  Monkey Chinese Albums: Monkey AM         ...

Dear Monkey Class Families, And just like that, we find ourselves at the end of another week! The children are growing in confidence every day and are really happy and settled. It's truly wonderful to witness their excitement and engagement in our various learning activities. This week has been packed with creativity, exploration, and social interactions that have contributed to their development. I'm excited to share some highlights of our week in the K1 Monkey Class! Engaging in Creative Activities In our K1 Monkey Class, we've been engaging in a variety of exciting learning activities focused on developing essential skills. The children have been cutting and sticking, using different mark-making tools, and exploring stencils to create diverse lines and shapes. Understanding Our Daily Routine This week, we introduced the children to our daily routine and schedule. We began discussing the days of the week and the unique activities we do on each day. For instance, Mondays a...

Dear Parents and Caregivers, I am thrilled to share that the children have settled wonderfully in class! We began our journey by learning how to greet and say goodbye in Mandarin, using the songs 你好歌 (Hello Song) and 再见歌 (Goodbye Song). As part of our Unit of Inquiry "Who We Are" (我们是谁), we explored the theme of going to school through the stories "第一天上学" (The First School Day) and "上学去" (Going to School). The children also enjoyed learning about body parts with the song “ 头肩膀膝和脚 ” (Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes), especially as they confidently sped up their singing. You can find these resources on our learning slide . Looking ahead, we will be celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节). We will discuss the food, decorations, and activities related to this traditional festival. To enhance the festive spirit, we will have a dress-down day on Friday, September 13th. Children are encouraged to bring their lanterns or make one to share. Thank you for your ...

Dear Monkey Class families, I hope you are all staying dry and safe during the passage of Typhoon Yagi. Despite the disruptions caused by the storm, this week was filled with exciting firsts for the children in the Monkey Class as we delved into our class schedule and routine. From our first Monday Chinese Day with Joey Lao Shi to exploring the playground for the first time, and for many, experiencing the school bus ride—be it their first journey or adjusting to the routine of traveling both ways. We began acquainting ourselves with our daily routine, including starting Open Play. Our week kicked off with a gentle start on Monday, allowing the children to immerse themselves in the Monkey Class environment, visit the sandpit, and even peek into the world of the Dolphin Class. This provided opportunities for interactions with other K1 students outside the Monkey Class. By Wednesday, the children were eager to branch out further. We extended Open Play to the entire K1 floor, offering a va...