School year 2017 - 2018

NEWSLETTER

Friday 24 November 15

CONTENT

Ø Message from the principal Ø NSA Ø Letter Health Promotion

Board Ø Wanted for Christmas:

creative parents Ø Parking exceptions Ø Christmas 2017 Kids’ X-mas

performance Ø Lego workshop Ø Important dates

EMAIL ATTACHMENTS Ø ADB-DutchCham vacancy Ø Health Promotion Board letter

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Dear parents, After a wonderful Sinterklaas arrival at Marina Bay Sands last week the HSL was immediately swept into Sinterklaas mode. Next week is an important week as we will welcome Sinterklaas in our school on Friday 1 December. As tradition has it he will spend the whole day visiting the HSL. All students and staff members look forward to a fun day. Parents are welcome to join us for the arrival until 9.15 am. It is not possible to join the individual class visits. The Dutch ambassador, Mrs. Vonno, launched a drawing contest for our groups 1 thru 8 students. It has been her ambition since her start as ambassador in Singapore to work towards increased bicycle safety in Singapore. The idea is that children in our groups 1 through 8 make a drawing about cycling. With a little film clip to visualize the idea she explained the contest to the children. They can make a drawing on an A4 size paper and use pencils, markers, paint or other drawing materials. The main criteria are creativity and originality. Drawings may be submitted throughout Friday 1 December. On 5 December the jury will select a winner per age level. The winners will be invited to the ambassador's residence. With kind regards, Meino Meines, HSL Principal

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Each year we have group 7 students relocating to the Netherlands or Belgium by the end of the school year. Since two years these children will take a portal test ('Drempeltest'). Group 7 students whose exit forms are received before 25 April 2018 will be invited by the HSL to enter the Drempeltest. Parents will automatically receive an invitation from our administrative office. The Drempeltest will take place in mid-May. For the recipient primary school in the Netherlands or Belgium the Drempeltest contains important information to help formulate their final secondary school advice. Group 7 students departing for the Netherlands or Belgium by the end of the school year will also receive a preliminary secondary school indication from their teacher. This preliminary indication is not meant to replace the final secondary school advice, since students continue to develop in group 8. It does provide parents a general idea of the types of schools they can focus on. The Drempeltest also helps the group 7 teacher formulating the preliminary secondary school indication. Both the preliminary indication and the results of the Drempeltest are discussed with parents at the last parent teacher conference mid-June. The preliminary secondary school indication in combination with the Drempeltest provides parents and receiving primary school sufficient input to look for a suitable school as well as to formulate a final secondary school advice. The Drempeltest is conducted by Liane Bom on 25 April 2018. Grading is done externally, in the Netherlands. Below you will find a short description of the Drempeltest.

Drempeltest The Drempeltest provides a nuanced advice for secondary education. The Drempeltest focuses on student talents (‘what can he or she do') and form this view point provides additional information on the school achievements (‘what are the results: the school competencies tests) and teacher's experiences with the student.

The Drempeltest measures the students in eight different areas. The results are reflected on a scale of secondary school types.

The Drempeltest is conducted on paper and takes about two and a half hours. Grading is done externally in the Netherlands.

More information about the Drempeltest can be found on: www.boomtestonderwijs.nl/media/13/drempeltest_ouderleerkrachtbrochure.pdf

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The first NSA term is almost over; the final lessons will take place this upcoming week. This means the last term 1 NSA class will be on Friday 1 December. If your child is currently participating in an NSA, this means that from Monday 4 December he or she will be out of school at our regular school hours again: Monday thru Thursday: Groups 1/2: 2:30 pm Groups 3-8: 3:30 pm Friday: 1:30 pm This applies to the Jip & Janneke students partaking in TinyTots as well; on 8 and 15 December these children will be out from school at 12 noon. Students with a bus contract can take their regular school bus home instead of the NSA bus, naturally. Registrations for term 2 will be open in the first week of December; you will be invited to sign up by email on 4 December.

We have received a letter from the Health Promotion Board about a recent case of diphtheria in Singapore. For further information please find the letter from the Health Promotion Board in the attachments.

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Parking exemptions for parking along Bukit Tinggi Road have been granted for the following events: Sinterklaas

• Friday 1 December 7.30 am- 12.00 am

Christmas • Wednesday 13 December 7.30 am – 12.00 am • Thursday14 December 7.30 am - 12.00 am Bukit Tinggi Road By exception, the LTA has granted permission to park on Bukit Tinggi Road on the above days between 8 am – 1 pm According to local traffic regulations - Only on one side of Bukit Tinggi Road in the direction of Swiss Club Link between lamp post no.11 and no.12 and lamp post no.16 and no.19. There shall also be strictly NO PARKING: a) At road bends and entrances or exits of any other premises (inclusive of your own premises) or car parks. b) Within 3 meters of a fire hydrant, 6 meters of a road junction, 9 meters of a bus stop and 50 meters of the pedestrian crossing. c) Abreast to another vehicle. d) On any grass verge and footway. e) Against the direction of the traffic flow or not parallel to the road kerb.).

The school's parking area is, as per usual, reserved for HSL staff only. Due to expected traffic congestion we strongly advise you to commute by carpool or public transport.

WANTED!!! WANTED!!! WANTED!!! Ambidextrous parents in possession of a sewing machine! We have beautiful new table cloths but they still need to be hemmed. So we are looking for parents who can help us with this! Please let the ladies at the reception desk know if you can help us out. Thank you so much!

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Even though we are still fully immersed in Sinterklaas activities, the festive Christmas activities are also well on their way. With this letter we'd like to inform you of the Christmas activities that will take place in the last two weeks before the Christmas holiday break (4-15 December). School hours will be as per usual throughout this time. On Thursday 14 December our annual Christmas dinner is planned early in the evening. Musical open air performances by our students On Monday 11 and Tuesday 12 December, between 8.10 and 8.30 am the children are allowed to perform instrumental Christmas music on the outdoor open stage. They could perform solo or together with more children. Students who would like to perform can sign up with Miss Brenda before 4 December. The students need to practice at home but, upon request, Miss Brenda can also have a short practice session with the children. Please find more information about this elsewhere in this newsletter. Christmas choir On Wednesday 13 December from 8.15 to 8.25 am the HSL staff will perform some Christmas carols in a smashing show at the main entrance. Christmas Make--Wish tree From Wednesday 6 December onwards we will have a special Christmas tree at the school entrance once more. There will be a bowl with stars placed by the tree. The children can write a wish for someone else on these stars. The stars can be purchased for the symbolic amount of one dollar. The special Christmas Make-a-Wish tree is a way for children to understand how important it is to wish each other well. All proceeds of the special tree go to our school's charities ‘Heart for Sumba’ and ‘Children of Sok Sabay’. Christmas celebration Jip & Janneke A Christmas celebration has been planned for the Jip & Janneke boys and girls on Thursday 14 December. At 9 am they will join the Christmas performance in the school gym. Afterwards they and their teachers will go back to their own classrooms where they will be treated to a delicious Christmas buffet. Naturally all J&J students are warmly invited, even if Thursday is not their regular school day. Just keep in mind that if Thursdays are not your child's regular school day, he or she cannot take the school bus. The children do not need to bring a snack on this day, but please do remember to pack their water bottle. We look forward to a very nice Christmas morning! Christmas celebrations This year the Christmas celebrations will be held on the following two consecutive days: - Wednesday 14 December, 9 -10.00 am: 1/2a, 1/2b, 3a, 4b, 5a, 6b, 7a - Thursday 14 December, 9 -10.00 am: 1/2c, 1/2d, 3b, 4a, 5b, 6a, 7b, 8 Each group will have their own performance.

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Date: Monday, 11th and Tuesday, 12th December 2017

Venue: School Entrance

Time: 8.10am – 8.30am Come join in the fun by singing a Christmas jingle or play a Christmas tune on an instrument, either solo or in group and celebrate Christmas at the HSL with us this coming December! *Interested participants can come see me (Miss Brenda/Music) during school hours to sign up for the event before 4th December 2017.

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Naturally you are most welcome to join us on the day of your son's or daughter's. Since parking is limited, we advise you to arrive by public transport. Christmas dinner On Thursday evening 14 December all groups 1 thru 8 children are expected at school for their Christmas dinner. At 6.50 pm they are expected in their classroom in their best clothes. At 7 pm the children will enjoy their Christmas dinner in their own classroom, served by the fathers. While you are waiting for your child or children, hot drinks will be served at Jip & Janneke. Groups 1 and 2 children are to be collected between 7.45 and 8 pm. At 8 pm the other Christmas diners are finished as well and may be collected in their classroom. Last day of term 1 On Friday 15 December the farewell assembly will take place. On Friday all classes are out at the regular hour (1.30 pm) and begin their Christmas holiday!

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If your child is anywhere between the age of 2 – 12 years, we would like to invite you to take part in this Parent workshop to familiarize you with the concept of building Language Skills with Lego Play at HSL on 29th November at : 2:30 pm if your child is in group 1 or 2 3:30 pm if your child is in group 3, 4 or 5. Lego Play is a unique way of learning a language that inspires students to collaborate while creating and communicating their stories. It is an innovative way of learning a wide range of essential skills, such as: • Literacy skills (age-appropriate). • Communication skills, including confidence building and presentation capabilities

(age-appropriate). • Collaboration skills and pupils’ ability to work in teams. • Problem-solving skills with objects and with team-members • Comprehension skills and enabling pupils to compose new stories or analyze existing

ones. Sign-up for this free of cost introductory workshop by clicking on the link in the email, no later than 25th November Max participants allowed are 9 and the workshop will only proceed if we have a minimum of 5 sign-ups. For more information, feel free to contact us per email at info@raisingenglish.com

ü WEDNESDAY 13 DECEMBER

o CHRISTMAS CHOIR 8.15 - 8.25 AM

o CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCES 9 – 10 AM

• 1/2a, 1/2b, 3a, 4b, 5a, 6b and 7a

ü THURSDAY 14 DECEMBER

o CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCES 9 – 10 AM

• 1/2c, 1/2d, 3b, 3c, 4a, 5b, 6a, 7b and 8

• CHRISTMAS DINNER ALL CLASSES

– 6.50 pm

ü FRIDAY 15 DECEMBER

o FAREWELL ASSEMBLY 8.35 am

o 1.30 pm CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY BREAK

ü FRIDAY 1 DECEMBER

SINTERKLAAS AT THE HSL

• FROM 8.30 TO 9.15 am FOR PARENTS

ü TUESDAY 5 DECEMBER

CLEARING AWAY SINTERKLAAS DECORATIONS

• 3.45 PM

ü FROM TUESDAY 6 DECEMBER

o CHRISTMAS MAKE-A-WISH TREE