Dear Parents,

We have had a week of sunshine and warmth and it has been wonderful. As you are no doubt aware, this weekend a typhoon is set to land in Ulsan. The weather looks to be wet and windy and I hope you will be safe and sheltered as you brace for its contact. There are a number of newsworthy items that I would like to share with you this week.

Maximilien Gaudray Returning Home

It has been our pleasure having Maximilien in the Year 5 – 9 class this past week. He immediately made himself a part of the HFS community and got along swimmingly with his classmates and the rest of the school. We hope you have enjoyed your brief stay at HFS, Maximilien. We wish you all the best as you return home and want you to know that you are always welcome to return to our school. Farewell Maximilien!

Year 3 – 9 Trip to the Ulsan Promenade Festival

It was an exciting day of art and culture as the year 3 – 9 students enjoyed an outing to the Ulsan Promenade Festival at Taehwagang Park today. We enjoyed the sunshine and the students got to play in the newly erected play area before having lunch at the riverside. We engaged with the interesting stalls on display and viewed some fantastic performances before returning to school. A thoroughly enjoyable excursion it was.

HFS PTA Meeting on Monday 23 September at 3:30 pm

We will have our first Parent Teacher Association meeting on Monday 23 November at 3:30 pm. The PTA is a treasured and crucial element to any school and I encourage any parent who wishes to participate to attend. There will be much to discuss as it is our first meeting and I am excited to be working alongside the parents in the many initiatives and events that we have planned for the rest of the year. I look forward to seeing you there.

Whole School Trip to Monet Exhibition

I am pleased to announce that on Friday 27 September at 2 pm we will treat all of the students to an afternoon of fine art and creativity as we take a trip to the HHI Arts Center. On display is a collection of works from the famous and celebrated artist Claude Monet in an exhibition entitled “Light and Soul”. The students will get the opportunity to see and engage with the work of this 19^th century pioneer of the impressionist art movement and, as an extra bonus, see some of his pieces digitized into animations. It is important for students to be exposed to significant art as part of their learning journey and we are fortunate to have such a fabulous and stimulating resource so close at hand. HFS is committed to ensuring that students get the most out of their educational experience and I am sure the students will enjoy it. Please click here to complete the online permission form so that your child can attend the trip.

That is all for this week. Thank you for your continued support and do stay comfortable and secure this weekend.

Mr. Kearney

Dear Parents,

A short but eventful week has passed us and with the Chuseok holiday we are entering fall. I hope that everyone kept safe from the passing typhoon as it grazed the Ulsan coastline last weekend. There are some brief news items that I would like to share with you.

HFS Chuseok Festivities

Our Chuseok program was early this year but I am pleased to admit that it was a resounding success. The event moved swiftly and entertainingly from one item to the next and the students outdid themselves in preparing for the show in such a short space of time. I was happy to see so many parents attend the celebration. Thank you to Miss Yuli for her artistic brilliance in creating a wonderful piece of calligraphy. Well done to the students for staging such memorable performances. Please enjoy these pictures of the day’s festivities.

FS 1 – Year 2 Trip to the Ulju Mountain Film Festival

The rain subsided just in time for the early year’s students to enjoy a fantastic trip to the Ulju Mountain Film Festival where they participated in a special program geared specifically toward them. The boxcars looked amazing and they really enjoyed the film that they watched. The VR and playground experiences were spectacular. It looked like a fun and exciting excursion and I am sure that they had a great time.

Curriculum Evening

On Monday 16 September HFS will hold a curriculum evening to give an overview of what parents can expect their children to be taught this term. The event will begin at 5:30 pm with a brief presentation on the HFS curriculum in the hall by Mr. Kearney. After that parents are welcome to make their way to their child’s classroom for a detailed description and discussion of the specific class curriculum and present any question they may have to their child’s class teacher until the event ends at 6:15 pm. I am pleased that this year we have added the International Early Years Curriculum to our humanities teaching as well as Music as a specialist subject. I look forward to seeing you there.

School Photo Day

On Wednesday 18 September we will have or re-scheduled photo day. Please ensure that your child wears his/her navy blue school shirt on the day. We will be taking class, group and individual photos as well as some photos of the teaching and learning taking place at HFS. I look forward to seeing the students looking their best and brightest for the photos.

Year 3 to 9 School Trip to Taehwagang Park Promenade Festival

On Friday 20 September we will treat the year 3 to 9 students to an afternoon of culture as we take a trip to the Taehwagang Park Promenade Festival. There will be a selection of Korean cultural stalls as well as a variety of performances for the students to enjoy. The students will also enjoy their noon play and lunch by Ulsan’s fantastic bamboo forest, which has been designated as Korea’s second National Park. It promises to be an interesting outing. Please click here to complete and submit the online permission form for the trip. The permission form should be completed by Tuesday 17 September.

Parking Permit in Hanmaeum Center Plaza

I would like to remind the parents who drive to school to drop off and pick up their child but have not yet obtained their Parking Permit to kindly get one by submitting a refundable deposit of 20,000 won and a car registration certificate to the admin office.  Thank you for your cooperation in this regard.

That is all for this week. Thank you for your continued support. I would like to wish everyone a happy and festive Chuseok. Pungsunghan Hangawi Bonaiseyo.

Mr. Kearney

Dear Parents,

We have completed our second week of the year. Autumn approaches and the weather is cooling after the refreshingly wet weather that has kept us indoors for much of the week. I must share with you a few items of pertinent news from HFS.

Chuseok Program

On Monday 9^th September HFS will stage its annual program in commemoration of the Chuseok holiday that is coming next week. The program will begin at 1:35 pm after lunch-time play and will run until 3:30 pm. Please join us for a showcase and celebration of this important Korean holiday as the students demonstrate their appreciation of the traditions of their host country. We encourage children to wear traditional Korean clothing or clothing from their home country in the spirit of the holiday. After-school activities, drama and violin clubs, will run as per normal on the day. Please take note that the school will be closed on Thursday 12^th and Friday 13^th September in honor of this cherished celebration.

Ulju Mountain Film Festival Trip for FS 1–Year 2 students

On Tuesday 10^th September the FS 1-2 and Year 1-2 students will have their first field trip of the year. Thank you to all the parents who completed and submitted the online permission form. They will be attending the Ulju Mountain Film Festival where a special program for early years’ students has been arranged. This will include craft activities, a film screening and some fun climbing suitable for their level. The trip will take up most of the day on Tuesday with the bus departing promptly at 9:05 am and returning by 3:10 pm. Please ensure that your child has a morning snack, water bottle and healthy lunch and is wearing comfortable shoes and their navy blue uniform for the trip.

Dongrami Theater

YOUNG ACTOR NEEDED!

<Aladdin and the Magic Lamp> from Arabian nights

DONGRAMI THEATRE IN ULSAN

4-8 years old /ENGLISH SPEAKER
REHEARSALS: FRIDAYS 5:40~7:20 at the DONGRAMI THEATRE
For Information please call : YOOJUNG IM at 010-3191-8437
Apply by September 18th

YOUNG ACTOR NEEDED!

<The Snow Queen> by Hans Christian Andersen
DONGRAMI THEATRE IN ULSAN

9-12 years old /ENGLISH SPEAKER
REHEARSALS: SATURDAYS 5:40~7:20 at the DONGRAMI THEATRE
For Information please call : YOOJUNG IM at 010-3191-8437
Apply by September 18th

I would like to take this opportunity to mention the Dongrami Theater Troup who offer specialised theater training for children. We have a long-standing relationship with the theater and I encourage parents to contact Ms. Yoojung Im if they would like more information on how to get their children involved in theater productions. Performing on stage is a fantastic and fun way to develop a child’s confidence and speaking ability. I look forward to seeing them on stage.

School Operating Hours and Supervision

I would like to remind all parents that the school operating hours are strictly from 08:45 am until 4:30 pm. Children should not be at school outside of these hours since proper supervision is not always possible. Please ensure that your child does not arrive at the school before 08:45 am and that you collect your child promptly at 4:30 pm after club activities have finished. For special cases where parents or designated guardians are unable to collect their child, a supervision waiver must be signed and the child must complete the sign-out sheet for the day with their name and the time of their departure. I must also stress that, as per the parent handbook, HFS bears no responsibility for unsupervised children who leave the school premises to be collected by their parents in the public or parking area of the Hanmaeum center. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Thank you for your continued support and do have an enjoyable weekend.

Mr. Kearney

Dear Parents,

The first week of the new academic year is behind us and everything is running swimmingly at HFS. The returning students are settling into familiar routines and new parents and students are quickly becoming part of the HFS family. There are a few items of news I wish to share with you this week.

Chuseok Program on Monday 9 September

Chuseok is one of Korea’s most sacred and hallowed holidays and HFS always pays homage to our host country by conducting a special Chuseok program close to the time of the festival. On Monday 9 September we will have our Chuseok program from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. Please join us as we honour this cherished time of the full-moon harvest as the students put on a display some traditional songs and activities as well as some entertaining feats and games. It promises to be an enjoyable afternoon. Students are encouraged to wear traditional Korean clothing or clothing from their home country on the day in the spirit of the festival.

Parent Lunch Time Volunteers

Parent involvement at the school is always appreciated, none more so than at lunch times when an extra set of hands and eyes to monitor students is most welcome. Next week we will place a list on the noticeboard for parents to sign their names on the days they wish to volunteer to lend a hand in the cafeteria for lunch break. Thank you for your kind assistance in this regard.

FS 1-2 Year 1-2 School Trip Permission Form

I am pleased that our first school trip will be to the ever-popular Ulju Mountain Festival: On Tuesday 10 September. The FS 1–2 and Year 1–2 students will enjoy a tailor-made program for young learners where they will make cardboard cars, watch an entertaining movie and take part in some fun wall climbing especially for little ones. If you would like your child to attend please fill out the online permission form by clicking here and take note that the bus for the trip will depart promptly at 09:05 am on the day to return by 3:10 pm. They are sure to have a great time.

School Photo Day

Since we have welcomed so many new students into our fold and our class structure has changed it is necessary to update our class photos. On Thursday 5 September we will be taking class photographs at school so please ensure that your child is wearing their navy blue school uniform on the day. We will take class photos and photos of the children in their normal classroom environment. I look forward to seeing everyone looking their best and brightest on the day.

After-School Club Activities

Thank you to all who signed their child up for this term’s after school club activities. Most of the clubs reached their full complement and we have to keep the number of participants limited in order for the clubs to be manageable and enjoyable. The club sign-ups are now closed, but should any spaces become available you will be notified. Club activities will commence from Monday 2 September and they all look like loads of fun.

That is all for this week, do have a wonderful weekend and thank you for your continued support.

Mr. Kearney

Dear Parents,

Summer break has flown past it seems and we are about to launch into a new year of teaching and learning at HFS. I am delighted to serve as Acting Principal for the 2019-20 academic year and look forward to all that is in store. There are some exciting developments that I wish to share with you in this, the first newsletter of the year.

New Staff Introductions

I am thrilled to welcome Ms. Laura Nurse to the HFS teaching team. Ms. Nurse is from the U.K. and is new to Korea. She will be teaching the Year 1-2 cohort and I could not be happier trusting their teaching and learning to her capable skills. I am also pleased to have Ms. Barbara Kum join our Teaching Assistants crew on a part-time basis. Her support will no doubt prove invaluable this year. It is always a pleasure to welcome new staff members into our HFS community and I am sure they will have an enjoyable time here.

Induction Day

Today we also welcomed some new parents and students into the HFS community. I was happy to see so many new faces at our school and some familiar ones with younger siblings starting their schooling. The induction proceedings went exceedingly well as the students and parents explored the grounds and got to know their teachers. I am sure the new students will soon feel right at home in their new school.

New Curriculum Additions

The implementation of the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) last year was such a resounding success that we have elected to extend that program to the early years’ group. I am very pleased to announce that for the 2019-20 academic year we will also be implementing the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) for the year FS 1-2 class. It is a dynamic, play-based curriculum with many exciting topics and activities for your child to begin their learning journey. I look forward to what they produce through it. An addition to our specialist teaching subjects is the introduction of a music curriculum for all classes. It is vitally important that learners get exposed to the creative arts and through this school-wide program they will have the avenue to explore their musical creativity this year.

After-School Club Activities

We will continue to have a full complement of after school club activities this term. Some days will have more than one and students will have to be selective as to which clubs they choose to join. Please sign up for the club activities during week 1 since we keep a limit of 20 for each club. Also note that the violin and swimming clubs require a minimum 3 and 5 participants, respectively, for them to be feasible and since they are run externally to HFS there is a cost involved. Please see the table below and take note of which clubs are available to which particular age groups and sign up accordingly. Sign-ups will work on a first-come-first-serve basis so sign up quickly. Clubs will commence from week 2, Monday 2 September.

I am pleased that HFS continues to grow and I am looking forward to school starting bright and early on Monday 26 August. The school bus will operate as per normal from then and I can’t wait to see everybody there ready to plunge into 2019-20 at HFS!

Mr. Kearney