Dear Families, 

Your feedback is an essential part of the work we do at ESF TYK. In Term 3, I will be holding individual Principal/Parent consultation meetings to better understand your thoughts and suggestions regarding your child's experiences at kindergarten. This can be an opportunity to share more details about anything you added to the ESF survey, or any other areas you would like to discuss. It is not a meeting about your child's individual progress at school. 

If you would like to meet with me, please sign up using this FORM. These meetings can be on Zoom or in person, and I will add additional times if needed. I look forward to the opportunity to have a conversation. 

Wishing all of you a peaceful Easter break, and we will begin Term 3 on Monday 13th April. 

Kind regards, 

Suzannah

ESF Explore - Term 3
April 11 – June 26 

As we move into the final term of the academic year, it’s the perfect time to nurture your child’s curiosity and confidence. ESF Explore offers a range of play-based and skill-building programmes designed specifically for our youngest learners.

Kindergarten Highlights:

• English & Phonics: Building a solid foundation for reading and communication.

• Drama & Communication: Encouraging self-expression and social confidence.

• Kindi-Combo (New at Hillside!): A 2-hour English/Phonics session plus 1 hour of Multi-Sports— the perfect balance of brain and body.

• Active Play: Swimming, Gymnastics, and Multi-Sports tailored for ages 3-5.

Enrol now with a 10% discount exclusively for ESF students. Promo code: ESFAPP10

Check the Kindergarten Schedule & Sign Up: Term 3 Listing | TYK & KJS Listing

Dear Parent,

The ESF Board met last night to approve our budget for the upcoming school year.

Please click here to read a message from our CEO, Belinda Greer. 

Dear K1 Families, 

Thank you for your support of our Storytelling month, including your commitment to our Dress Up day, your donation of books for our book drop, and your time as class storytellers. We have welcomed over 100 storytellers to school, and today the children have all had the opportunity to make their own choice from our  'Book Swap'. In addition, the children have enjoyed puppet shows and in-school performances over this month. 

Thank you also for your commitment to your child's learning through your conversations with teachers during the consultation meetings and through your contributions to the ESF parent survey. Ongoing communication helps our whole learning community to be the best it can be. 

The term has been a busy one, and our last day of school will be Thursday 26th March.

We will welcome children back to school on Monday 13th April.

As always, you are welcome to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns  ahead of Term 3 at suzannah.large@tyk.edu.hk

With much appreciation,

Suzannah

Dear Families, 

The Kowloon Junior School Parent Teacher Association warmly invites you to the KJS PTA Carnival 2026 on 25 April 2026, from 11:00am to 4pm at Kowloon Junior School.

If you are interested, please register here to attend (free) and buy an all-inclusive Games Passport (Early Bird discount $200 till 13 April, then $250) for children over 4 years old.

If you have any questions, please contact KJS PTA at pta@kjs.edu.hk.

Kind regards,

TYK Administration Team

Dear K2 Families, 

Thank you for your support of our Storytelling month, including your commitment to our Dress Up day, your donation of books for our book drop, and your time as class storytellers. We have welcomed over 100 storytellers to school, and today the children have all had the opportunity to make their own choice from our  'Book Swap'. In addition, the children have enjoyed an in-school puppet show and an inspirational visit to HKMOA. This has all helped to extend creative thinking in our classrooms. 

Thank you also for your commitment to your child's learning through your conversations with teachers during the consultation meetings and through your contributions to the ESF parent survey. Ongoing communication helps our whole learning community to be the best it can be. 

We have already begun to welcome visits from our Primary colleagues ahead of the transition time, and will continue to work closely with them to ensure a smooth process as our K2s get ready to move on to the next step of their ESF journey. 

The term has been a busy one, and our last day of school will be Thursday 26th March.

We will welcome children back to school on Monday 13th April.

As always, you are welcome to reach out to me if you have any questions or concerns ahead of Term 3 at suzannah.large@tyk.edu.hk

With much appreciation,

Suzannah

Dear Families,

If your child has had their school photos taken on 5 or 6 February, they will bring home an order form today with thumbnails of their photos printed at the back. If you wish to place a print order, please send your order form to Peter by email. (Email address is on the order form) and payments will be made online via FPS or bank transfer. Any print orders received within two weeks from today will be returned to the school to be distributed to families. Late print orders will be mailed directly to you, with an additional cost for postage, to your mailing address.

If you have any enquiries about the photos, please contact Peter directly at info@peteringlisphotography.com.

Thank you.

Warm regards,

TYK Administration Team

Dear Families, 

Happy 2026 to you all! It is a pleasure to have our children back in school for the new term, reconnecting with their teachers and their classmates after the break. We are already looking forward to our celebrations for the Year of the Horse in February and are excited to join together as a community to celebrate. 

Your child's latest Unit report for Living Things is now available on the VLE/ESF App. I recommended that you airdrop or save a copy for your own records.

We have a busy Term 2 ahead of us. I'm including some key dates below for your reference, and more specific details for each will follow.

K2 School Photo Day Friday 6th February
Panda and Caterpillar Family Days 9th February
Giraffe and Ladybird Family Days 10th February
Elephants and Butterflies Family Days 11th Feb
Tigers and Bumblebee Family Days 12th Feb

Last day of school before CNY Friday 13th February
First Day back after CNY Monday 23rd February

K2 Parent Teacher Zoom Meetings from 9th-20th March (Sign Up Forms will be shared later this week)

In March, we will be inviting parents to sign up to volunteer as class storytellers. Alli will share the sign-ups for those next month. We will also be engaging in curriculum enrichment activities this term for K2, and we look forward to sharing the details with you. 

 Additionally, this term, we will be welcoming teams from other ESF schools to TYK as part of our commitment to building collaboration across the foundation and to begin the transition journey to ESF Primary Schools.

Best wishes, 
Suzannah

Dear Families, 

Happy 2026 to you all! It is a pleasure to have our children back in school for the new term, reconnecting with their teachers and their classmates after the break. We are already looking forward to our celebrations for the Year of the Horse in February and are excited to join together as a community to celebrate. 

Your child's latest Unit report for Transport is now available on the VLE/ESF App. I recommended that you airdrop or save a copy for your own records.

We have a busy Term 2 ahead of us. I'm including some key dates below for your reference, and more specific details for each will follow.

K1 School Photo Day Thursday 5th February
Pandas and Caterpillars Family Days 9th February
Giraffes and Ladybirds Family Days 10th February
Elephants and Butterflies Family Days 11th Feb
Tigers and Bumblebees Family Days 12th Feb

Last day of school before CNY Friday 13th February
First Day back after CNY Monday 23rd February

K1 Parent Teacher Zoom Meetings from 2nd-20th March (Sign Up Forms will be shared later this week)

In March, we will be inviting parents to sign up to volunteer as class storytellers. Alli will share the sign-ups for those next month. We will also be engaging in curriculum enrichment activities this term for both K1, and we look forward to sharing the details with you. 

 Additionally, this term, we will be welcoming teams from other ESF schools to TYK as part of our commitment to building collaboration across the foundation.

Best Wishes, 
Suzannah

Dear Parents,

Keeping your child safe is our top priority at ESF.

I would like to share our Safeguarding and Child Protection Brochure with you. This document explains how we work to protect your children from harm.

You may be aware that Hong Kong has introduced a new law regarding child protection. As of 20 January 2026, our teachers and staff are legally required to report serious safety concerns to the authorities. We view this as a positive step to ensure children's safety, and all our staff have been trained on this new law.

We want to work closely with you to keep your child safe.

If you ever have a worry or concern, no matter how small, please come and speak to us. It doesn't have to be about a major incident; it could simply be a feeling you have or something you are unsure about.

You can speak with your school's Principal, or contact your school's Child Protection Officers directly. Please visit your school's website and go to the "What we stand for" section. You can find their contact details there.

Our doors are always open to you.

Sincerely,

Mark Blackshaw

Director of Education
English Schools Foundation 
 

Dear Parents,

Following the distressing news of the fire in Tai Po, we are writing to share how we are supporting children and to offer advice for the days ahead. Whenever a tragedy like this occurs, young children can feel confused or frightened. They will naturally look to adults for information and guidance on how to react.

How the School is Responding

Our priority is to help children by establishing a sense of safety and security. We understand that for many children, they will be aware of the event but will not be impacted by it. However, recognising the significance of the event, we want to inform you about the steps we are taking as a school community.

• Safety and Routine: We are maintaining a structured and stable environment within the school. Staying in a normal routine with friends and teachers helps children regain a sense of normality.

• Emotional Support: Our school staff will be available to speak with any students who need additional support or ask questions.

How You Can Help at Home

• Model Calm: Children take their emotional cues from the significant adults in their lives. Try to avoid appearing anxious or frightened, but it is okay to let your children know you are sad. You will be better able to support your child if you express your own emotions in a productive and calm manner.

• Remain Factual: Tell children the truth about the fire, but keep explanations developmentally appropriate. Do not embellish or speculate on what might happen next.

• Limit News Exposure: Restrict television and social media viewing of the event. Watching the same images repeatedly can be harmful. The news has been showing live streaming videos, which can contain disturbing images.

• Maintain Routines: Stick to your family's normal routine for dinner and bedtime as much as possible.

• Offer Comfort: Stay close to your children; they may want different ways to express their feelings, such as physical contact, creative activities, or longer bedtime routines.

• Validate Feelings: Acknowledge that it is okay to feel scared, worried, or sad, and think about ways you can help yourself feel better.

• Monitor Wellbeing: Watch for changes in behaviour, appetite, and sleep patterns, which can indicate anxiety. This can also mean your child is more withdrawn than usual.

If you have been directly affected by the fire, or if you notice your child showing anxiety or fear, please contact the school so we can support you and your family.

Kind regards,
Suzannah