News

Dear Parents,

I hope that you are faring well and have had the opportunity to see the cherry blossoms in bloom.

Firstly, I am pleased to welcome a new member to the HFS team. Mr. Kevin Baker will be joining us as the ESL Teacher from next week.

Welcome, Mr. Baker. We are glad to have you at HFS.

HFS will be launching its E-Learning program on Monday 6 April at 09:00 am. Please ensure that your child is ready and logged in for class to begin as it would normally be scheduled. Also note that, while your child is participating in lessons from home, they can be seen on the computer’s camera, so do take care to ensure that they are properly clothed while doing E-Learning.

HFS will deliver materials and resources essential for learning in the silver school van to the school bus stop in the morning on 6 April, and in the afternoon on 10 and 17 April. Please be there to collect the packages. The term 3 invoices will also go out with the delivery. If you are unable to be there to collect from the bus stop, please contact the admin office to make an arrangement to collect the necessary items from the school.

I am pleased to mention that the HFS library will be open in the afternoons from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm in lieu of after-school club activities. The library will also be open during the scheduled class library periods for parents to bring students to exchange books. The times are:

• Year 1-2 Monday 2:30 – 3:30
• Year 3-4 Tuesday 1:30 – 2:30
• FS 1-2 Thursday 11:30 – 12:30
• Year 5-9 Friday 11:30 – 12:30

Please return books that you have borrowed before taking new ones.

For those who are unsure of how to navigate the Google Classroom and Google Hangout Meets platform, Miss Yujin has created a fantastic, step-by-step guide to take you through the process. You can view it by clicking here. Should you have any other technical issues please contact the admin office by email:  admin@hyundaiforeignschool or phone the admin office at 052-252-2851. If that is unsuccessful in solving the issue, you are welcome to drop by the school office for further assistance or a replacement laptop or tablet will be provided.

Finally, it gives me much joy to report that the trees planted by our Global Warming Committee in Term one are thriving. A small ray of sunshine in these challenging times.

Take care, keep safe and remember to wash hands frequently and follow social distancing guidelines so that this crisis can pass sooner rather than later.

Thank you for your continued support and have a wonderful weekend.

Mr. Kearney

Dear Parents,

The Covid-19 crisis is slowly being brought under control in Korea due to the enduring, outstanding efforts of the Korean government and personnel. Despite this, as can be seen in its announcement today, the Ministry of Education is still of the position that the schools from kindergartens to high school should not re-open physically, but start E-Learning in view of the danger of schools acting as breeding grounds and conduits of the coronavirus. The Korean government is focusing on containing the virus, minimizing the new confirmed cases of infection.

Following these guidelines and as mentioned in the previous notification, HFS will implement E-Learning from Monday 6 April for a period of 3 weeks with the hope of opening the school on Monday 27 April, but we will monitor the situation and decide closer to the time whether or not this will be feasible.

The E-Learning classes will follow the normal timetable as closely as possible using Google Classroom and Meets systems that were instituted previously since students and teachers are now familiar with them. Specialist subject lessons (Art, Music and Korean), as well as ESL and assemblies will still take place as per the regular timetable. PE classes will be designated as outdoor play time. Library sessions will be designated as reading time and the school library will be open in the regularly allocated class time slots for parents to bring their child in to borrow and exchange books. The school library will also be open in the afternoons between 3:30 to 4:30 pm in lieu of club activities.

To make-up for the school closure and loss of in-class instruction, HFS will continue to conduct teaching for 3 weeks past the originally scheduled closing date of 26 June up until Friday 17 July. Hopefully by then this crisis will have passed and we will be back to regular, face to face teaching.

Thank you for your continued support, understanding and patience as we work through these challenging times.

Mr. Kearney

Dear Parents,

I am pleased to report that Korea’s efficient and far-reaching response is proving effective in slowly bringing the Covid-19 outbreak under control.

After assessing the latest developments of the virus’ rapid spread to many countries around the world, the Ministry of Education has stipulated a 14-day self-isolation protocol for those students who have returned from overseas trips to prevent further spread of the virus and to ensure the safety of the children in schools. Following these guidelines, HFS is enforcing a mandatory 14-Day self-isolation period for anyone who has traveled out of the country during the school closure lasting until 3 April.

The 14-day self-isolation should commence from the day that one arrives in Korea and last for a full 14 days. In the interest of maintaining a safe and hygienic environment for all at HFS, please inform the school admin office at admin@hyundaiforeignschool.com of the following as soon as possible:

• The date on which you have returned from overseas, in case you have travelled abroad
• The date on which you are planning to arrive back in Korea in case you have not yet returned

HFS requires your cooperation in obtaining the above information to create a safe environment for all at the school.  Please rest assured that arrangements will be made to assist your child with learning, should they need to be self-isolated.

Thank you for your support and understanding as we overcome this crisis.

Best regards,

Mr. Kearney

Dear Parents,
 
With the school being closed for the next few weeks due to the government’s instructions, HFS will make available its library at selective and specific intervals so that students may have books to read during the school closure.
 
The HFS School Library will be open on Wednesday and Thursday every week from 2:00 to 4:00 pm. Students will be allowed to borrow up to 6 books at a time and those who want to borrow new books again will be expected to return them in the following week. In addition, students should return all books borrowed during the closure period when the school reopens.
 
If you would like to bring your child to borrow books please email the admin office beforehand at admin@hyundaiforeignschool.com so that they can prepare for your arrival.
 
Since the Hanmaeum Center is closed parents will need to phone the school office upon their arrival so that we may have the main entrance opened for access to the school.
 
Please ensure that you and your child are wearing a face mask for the safety of yourself and others while you are in the school.
 
Thank you for your understanding and patience in this ongoing situation.
 
Mr. Kearney

Dear Parents,
 
The Korean Ministry of Education has instructed all schools to remain closed until Friday 3 April to halt the spread of the virus. In line with the government’s directive, HFS Management has decided to keep the school closed out of concern for the health and wellbeing of all students and families at HFS. The school will reopen on Monday 6 April.
 
We had hoped to reopen on 23 March but these circumstances have forced us to do otherwise. Provision for this unfortunate eventuality was outlined in the newsletter of 28 February where it was explained that we would utilize up to 3 weeks of the Summer break to weather the Covid-19 outbreak if the situation called for it. Following the decision from the Korean Educational Authorities we must now put that contingency into motion. HFS sincerely and deeply apologises for the inconvenience that this disruption has caused and we call for your understanding and support as we deal with this crisis.
 
I would like to assure you that there will be no further extensions to the closure beyond 3 April. If the school cannot physically open from Monday 6 April, teaching and learning at HFS will resume in the form of E-learning and continue until the moment when the school will reopen. However, the efficient response from the Korean government in getting the outbreak under control is proving successful and the numbers of new cases of infection are dropping each day. If this pattern continues, HFS is confident that proper in-class teaching and learning will resume in the timeframe that we foresee and your children will receive the most effective and beneficial high-quality instruction that the school can provide.
 
If you have any questions, please contact admin@hyundaiforeignschool.com

Best regards,
 
 
Mr. Kearney

Dear Parents,

I trust that you have been keeping safe and healthy as you weather the Covid-19 outbreak. I am pleased to report that HFS is planning on reopening the school on Monday 23 March unless circumstances force us to do otherwise. Based on the most current data and information tracking the progress of the Covid-19 outbreak and following the instructions set forth by the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education, the current school closure will be extended only until 20 March.

To account for this extended week of closure we will draw from the Summer break as mentioned in the newsletter of Friday 28 February. This means that the last day of Term 3 will shift from Friday 26 June to Friday 3 July. The start date for Term 1 of the 2020/21 academic year will remain unchanged. Please click here for the revised and updated 2019/20 academic calendar and Term 2/3 planner.

We deeply regret any inconvenience caused by this disruption due to the situation that has been forced upon us. This solution is the most effective way of ensuring that we meet the required number of teaching days for the academic year while also allowing time for the crisis to pass.

To make up for the lost teaching day of Monday 24 February, both the last days of Term 2 and Term 3 that were scheduled to be half-days will now be full teaching days.  

HFS Safety Measures and Procedures Upon Reopening on Monday 23 March

While the school will reopen as per normal on Monday 23 March we will still be strictly enforcing the following safety and hygiene protocols to ensure that HFS remains a safe and healthy environment for your children.

The school bus will operate as normal with each student given drops of hand sanitizer as they board. HHI will conduct fumigations of the bus in the mornings before the students board and once they get off in the afternoons.

Hanmaeum center will be closed until further notice minimizing contact between students and members of the public. HFS will enforce its own procedures of sanitizing stair railings, elevator railings and buttons and other public points of contact at multiple times throughout the day.

HFS strongly encourages all persons to wear protective face masks and as such will provide students with one face mask each on Monday 23 March. Students will be responsible for their face masks which will be labeled with their names. Due to the shortage of face masks any further masks required by students must be provided by parents.

HFS will increase the temperature checks to two times per day – in the morning during registration and again during lunch break before going out to the field. If a student is seen to have a consistent temperature reading of above 37.5 Degrees Celsius, parents will be notified to collect them from the school.

Teachers will spend time in class ensuring all students are aware of the best methods of practicing good hygiene, from washing of hands thoroughly and frequently, avoiding touching one’s face and being wary of coming in to contact with infected surfaces and also taking careful steps when coughing and sneezing to ensure the wellbeing of those around them.

I would like to remind parents that the Covid-19 virus, while highly contagious, is also mild in most cases and treatable. Should you or any of your family show signs of infection please call the helpline on 1339, follow their instructions and inform the school immediately.

With these measures in place I am confident that HFS will continue to operate as a safe and secure place of learning and I look forward to seeing the students at school on Monday 23 March.

Thank you for your continued support and understanding during this challenging time.

Mr. Kearney

Dear Parents,

Here are this week’s newsworthy items. There will not be a newsletter until the school reopens.

HFS Virtual Learning Initiative

I am very pleased that the Virtual Learning Environment that the HFS team established to cover this week of closure was successful. Effective teaching and learning took place and, despite some first day teething problems which is to be expected with the rollout of any new initiative, the E-Learning platform proceeded to great effect. Thank you to all the staff for their efforts in setting it up and to all the parents and students for their patience and understanding as the system was implemented. Now that it is in place we can use it readily if and when the situation calls for it. Enjoy this video clip of the students accessing the HFS online teaching environment.

HFS School Closure until Friday 13 March and Next Steps

After consulting all stakeholders, the decision was made that HFS will be closing for the Spring Break early. The school will be closed from today and is set to reconvene on Monday 16 March unless the Covid-19 Outbreak has not been brought under control. In this eventuality we will not resume with E-Learning but instead will consider bringing a section (2 to 3 weeks) of the summer break forward to allow time to weather the crisis. The final decision will be made closer to the end of the current closure and all parents will be immediately notified of the decision by email and text message before Monday 16 March.

In the meantime, we sincerely hope that everyone remains safe and healthy. Keep following governmental instructions:

• Wash hands frequently and thoroughly for 30 seconds
• Avoid large public gatherings
• Wear a mask wherever possible
• If you show symptoms of a fever, respiratory ailments or cough contact the helpline at 1339 and follow the instructions.
• Should you or any of your family members be positively diagnosed with the Covid-19 Virus please inform the school immediately.

Covid-19, while highly contagious, is also treatable and Korea is responding well to the crisis. In these challenging times it is important to try and maintain a healthy physical and mental lifestyle. Eat healthily, enjoy the outdoors as long as it is not in crowded public places and maintain contact with friends and family. Eventually, this too shall pass and we will get back to normalcy.

Thank you for your continued support. Take care and be safe.

Mr. Kearney

Dear Parents,

After consulting with all of you regarding finding the best possible solution to overcome the school closure as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, we have come to a decision.

The vast majority of parents do not have travel plans during the Spring Break that was scheduled for 23 March through 3 April. That being the case we have therefore decided to move our Spring Break to take place from Monday 2 March to Friday 13 March. School will reconvene on Monday 16 March. This should provide sufficient time to weather the current Covid-19 outbreak while also minimising the disruption to in-class teaching and learning.

We apologise wholeheartedly to those parents whose children may miss school work due to having travel plans during the original Spring Break dates. Be assured that teachers will do all that they can to ensure that your children can catch up any missed work.

We do feel that this is the best solution in this challenging situation and, again, we regret that we could not accommodate everyone’s circumstances.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support during this difficult time.

Best regards,

Mr. Kearney

Dear Parents,

We have prepared our Online Teaching Contingency program for the school closure. We will send out the students school laptops tomorrow morning on the school bus route. Please make sure that you are at the regularly scheduled bus stop at the regularly scheduled time to collect your child’s laptop. (A different arrangement will be made for those parents not using the school bus). If you are travelling overseas and plan on taking the school laptop with you do take care of them since parents will be liable for replacing them should they be lost or damaged.

The Online Teaching platform uses Google Classroom. It can be accessed by your child by logging in to their regular school Gmail account and navigating to the Google apps dots in the corner. They must then click on the classroom app. An invitation to join their Google Classroom have been sent to them via email from their teacher.

Please ensure that your child is able to login to their Gmail account. If they are unable to, please email admin@hyundaiforeignschool.com for a password reset.

Students must complete the daily assigned work following the regular school timetable. There is sufficient work to cover all lessons for the rest of this week. The E-Learning program will run until Friday 28 February.

Thank you for your understanding and support in this challenging time.

Best regards,

Mr. Kearney

Dear Parents,

While there is as yet no confirmed report of an instance of Covid-19 infection in Ulsan, HFS will be further escalating its measures to combat the spread of the virus in light of the recent increase in reported cases in Daegu and based upon the most up to date recommendations from the Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education. These preemptive measures will take effect from Monday 24 February and will remain in place until the virus is under control to ensure that HFS remains a safe and secure environment for your children.

• The “Food Share” element of our International Week program scheduled for Friday 6 March will be cancelled but the group presentations by the students will go forward as planned
• School trips to external, public locations are henceforth cancelled
• Henceforth all playtimes will take place inside the school precinct to minimise contact with the general public
• Communal points of contact, such as staircase and elevator railings, as well as door knobs and table surfaces inside the HFS School area will be sterilized daily
• Students will wash hands thoroughly upon entering the school and there will be an increased focus on meticulous hand washing frequently throughout the day.

HFS will continue to carefully monitor the developments surrounding the virus through media and follow the instructions and guidelines from the Ulsan City Educational Authorities. Should a case of Covid-19 be reported in Ulsan and the decision is made by Ulsan City Educational Authorities to close down schools in Ulsan, HFS will also close down our school in accordance with their decision. In the unlikely event that this occurs, HFS will implement a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to minimise disruption to educational provision. More information about this will be shared with parents as the need arises.

Parents can assist with these measures by making sure not to send their children to school if they have a high fever, cough or cold-like symptoms and notifying the school immediately if symptoms present themselves. Individuals should only return to school once they are clear from all symptoms and have been examined by a doctor. In addition, if they continue to show such symptoms, they must contact the Covid-19 hot line at 1339 or visit designated medical facilities for testing.

Should a student, parent or staff member at HFS be positively diagnosed with the Covid-19 virus the school will immediately and voluntarily close for a quarantine period of 14 days and the school will implement contingency measures for a school shutdown. After the quarantine period, a decision will be then made about whether or not the school should reopen immediately thereafter and all persons who show no symptoms may return to school. Individuals who still show symptoms will only be allowed to return after a complete recovery and after providing medical proof of a clear diagnosis.  

HFS will carefully monitor the developments and continue to be vigilant, proactive and transparent in its plans. Thank you for your understanding and support as we work together to overcome this challenge.

Mr. Kearney