Dear Parents,

Welcome back. I trust that you have had a relaxing and restful Autumn break. We are eager and ready to plunge into the second half of term one at HFS. These are the newsworthy items that I would like to share with you this week. But first a reminder that it is the season of colds and flu so please ensure you get the necessary jabs and vaccinations to be prepared for the Winter season. If your child has signs of the sniffles do keep them at home to recover and prevent the spread of any nasty germs, Thank you.

Year 3-4 Trip to Ulsan Media Center

The Year 3-4 students enjoyed a fantastic trip to the Ulsan Media Center as part of their English learning unit on news reports. They spent the week preparing and rehearsing scripts and then had the opportunity to be newscasters, reporters and sports and weather casters. Enjoy these pictures from the trip and click the links below to watch their wonderfully creative news reports.

• Group A – Anna, Rana, Nathan, Jeremy, Leo, Reyansh, Chris
• Group B – Cherry Blossom, Seongyun, Angela, Juveria, Logan, Lois

HFS PTA Meeting on Monday 11 November

We will have our next PTA meeting on Monday 11 November at 3:35 pm. Please join us if you would like to be a part of this important group that is vital to the school’s functioning. We will be discussing next week’s Spelling Bee and the upcoming HFS Winter Show. I hope to see you there.

HFS Spelling Bee on Wednesday 13 November

I am proud to announce that we will have our first Spelling Bee finals competition on Wednesday 13 November. The event will run from 5:30 pm and the finalists have been working hard to earn their place in this thrilling competition. Join us on Wednesday evening for an evening of fun and excitement as the finalists compete to be the winner in their class.

Year 1-2 Trip to Kidzania on 29 November

On Friday 29 November the Year 1-2 students will enjoy a spectacular trip to Kidzania in Busan. This is part of their IPC learning unit on “a day in the life”. At Kidzania the students will get hands-on experience performing different jobs in a fun-filled environment. HFS can secure a discount and make a contribution towards the entrance fee but the trip will cost 25,000 Won per child. However, we need to book tickets soon to secure this price. Please click here to complete the online permission form if you agree to make that payment and wish to allow your child to attend the trip. It will be a full-day trip and, to maximize the experience for the children, the students will return to the school at 4:50 pm to be collected by their parents. Please submit your response by Monday 11 November at 12:00.

Parking Coupon Limited to 90 Minutes

As you know, in addition to the arrangement of letting parents park their cars in the square, the school gives out free parking coupons for the parents and visitors to park in the adjacent parking tower. Please be advised that the free parking hour for the parking tower has been curtailed and the coupon will be valid for an hour and a half from the previous two hours.

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

Mr. Kearney

Dear Parents,

We have passed the half way mark of term one and I am pleased to report that HFS is running swimmingly. The school will be closed throughout next week and reopen on Monday 4 November. I do hope everyone will enjoy a well-earned Autumn break before we kick-off with the second part of the term. These are the newsworthy items that I would like to share with you this week.

Scary Dress-up Day

What an entertaining day it was as staff and children dressed in their scariest costumes and enjoyed this fantastic fall holiday. Congratulations to Anna Julia for winning our spooky costume competition, your creepy outfit really gave me the willies. Well done to all the classes for creating frighteningly entertaining activities for the whole school to enjoy. An especially big thank you to all who generously donated sweet treats to our candy packs. The students are grateful and enjoyed them immensely. Thank you also to the ladies of the HFS PTA for volunteering to prepare the treat packs and assist with the school decorations. Your efforts truly made the event special and memorable. Please enjoy these photos from the day’s festivities.

Spelling Bee Finals on Wednesday 13 November

As an academic initiative at HFS, we have instituted a spelling bee competition for year 1 to year 9 students. It is a voluntary event but any student who wishes to participate must submit their name to their teacher and over the break, should study the list of words to prepare for the competition. In the first week back, teachers will conduct in-class competitions to narrow down the field to two or three finalists. On Wednesday 13 November, we will have our Spelling Bee Finals from 5:30 to 6:30 pm. We will follow the rules and guidelines of the Scripps Spelling Bee Competition, means that if a competitor spells a word incorrectly they are eliminated from the competition. I encourage students to take part in this fun and rewarding initiative.

* List of words
   – Y 1-2
   – Y 3-4
   – Y 5-9 

Year 3-4 School Trip to Ulsan Media Center

As part of our learning unit on News Reports, the year 3-4 students will enjoy a spectacular learning excursion to the Ulsan Media Center on Friday 8 November. They will prepare scripts and, under the guidance of professionals, see how a script is transformed from page to different media. It promises to be a rewarding learning experience and if you would like to have your child attend please click here to complete the online permission form. The trip will be during school hours and will not interfere with club activities on the day.

That is all for this week. If you are travelling over the break do take care, be safe and enjoy a well-deserved rest. Thank you for your continued support and to those celebrating Diwali, may this auspicious occasion light up your life with Happiness, Joy and Peace.

Mr. Kearney

Dear Parents,

We are rapidly approaching the half way mark of term 1 at HFS and we can see the Autumn leaves turning. I do hope you can find a place to enjoy the warm Fall colors of the season. There are a few items of news that I wish to share with you this week.

HFS Winter Show Solo Performances – Call for Participants

As per tradition, HFS will have its Winter Show in December at the end of term 1. I am pleased that students have been approaching me with requests to perform solo musical acts as part of the show. I have decided to make an open call to any students who wish to perform a musical number in the winter show. If you have been practicing an instrument and feel confident enough to perform a short 2-minute item in the show, please send an email and a video of you performing your piece to

admin@hyundaiforeighschool.com by no later than Friday 25 October. We will judge if it is appropriate to be included. I look forward to seeing your entries.

HFS Winter Uniforms Sent Home Today

I am pleased to report that the newly created HFS Winter uniforms were delivered and sent home today. Please check and make sure that you received the correct sizes. The uniform was designed to be both practical and stylish and can be worn from Monday if you feel the weather requires it. I am happy that the students can now be warm and comfortable in Winter while proudly wearing the HFS colours.

HFS Scary Dress-up Day Friday 25 October

On Friday 25 October we will have our annual Scary Dress-up Day. Students are encouraged to dress up on the day and each class will vote for the best costume. Parents are welcome to attend our class activities from 1:30 to 3:00 pm and that will be followed by a final school vote on who has the best costume so get creative in your spooky designs. Volunteers are also welcome to help to decorate our hall and library from 10:30 am to make the event special. I look forward to seeing you there.

No Sharing Food Policy at HFS

It has been brought to my attention that students have been sharing candy with each other. As you may be aware, this particular brand of candy is popular but we do have a policy of not sharing food at HFS. Passing bits of candy from hand to hand may cause sickness and we are concerned that with some of the students taking medication due to cold at the school these days, this kind of act can spread germs among the rest of the student body.  Let’s practice good health and hygiene at HFS.

That is all for this week. Thank you for your continued support and do have an enjoyable weekend.

Mr. Kearney

Dear Parents,

I trust that you had an enjoyable mid-week holiday. The weather was pleasant and It was a perfect day to be out and about in Ulsan. This being a short week means that there are only a few items to mention in this week’s newsletter.

PTA Meeting on Monday 14 October

We will have our next monthly PTA meeting on Monday 14 October at 3:35 pm. The PTA is a vital part of every well-run school and it is important for parents to be involved in the events and functioning of our school. Please join us on Monday at 3:35 pm in the HFS cafeteria if you would like to be a part of this ongoing initiative, I look forward to seeing you there.

HFS Global Warming Committee Clean-up

It brings me great joy to report on the efforts being made by our HFS Global Warming Committee in caring for the environment. The committee is a student initiative inspired by the efforts of activists such as Greta Thunberg who aim to do whatever they can to look after our environment. Yesterday the HFS students took a walk to the Myeongdeok Reservoir across from our school and worked hard cleaning up litter from around the area. Even this small action is significant in caring for our environment. I will keep you posted as to their future ideas and projects. Well Done HFS Global Warming Committee!

Trunk or Treat event on Sunday 27 October

If you would like to celebrate the popular holiday in October in a fun way, consider the 2019 Trunk or Treat event that is being organised by the coordinators of the WeHope charity group. The idea of trunk or treat involves a community coming together in a parking lot and decorating their cars in the spirit of the holiday so that children can trick-or-treat out of the decorated trunks of their cars. Children can dress-up, play around and trick or treat in safety. The 2019 Trunk-or-Treat will be on Sunday 27 October at Tongmyong University in Yongdang-Dong. Families who are interested in participating should inform Brian Girolametto by emailing him at Bgirolametto@hotmail.com. Anyone participating should arrive between 4:00 and 4:30 pm to have their car setup and stationary so that trick or treating can begin at 5:00 pm. It promises to be a fun event.

Parking Beyond Allotted Time at Hanmaeum Center

I must remind all parents who park at the Hanmaeum center square to drop-off and collect their child : the time period when our parents are allowed to park their car in the area is strictly between 08:30-09:30 am and 3:00-5:00 pm. The Hanmaeum center has generously extended this courtesy to us. Please do not park your car in the square outside of these allotted times, thank you.

Finally, thank you to all the parents who have generously donated sweets and candy toward our own Scary Dress-up Day event set to take place on Friday 25 October. The students are sure to be overwhelmed by the delicious treats in their candy packets. That is all for this week. Thank you for your continued support and do have a wonderful weekend.

Mr. Kearney,

Dear Parents,

It has been a short week and as such there are few items that need mentioning in this week’s newsletter. I hope that you all had an enjoyable Foundation Day yesterday and that Typhoon Mitag did not cast too much of a dampener on your holiday.

Farewell to Cortney, Nikolay and Margarita

It was a sad day on Monday as we bid farewell to Cortney, Nikolay and Margarita. They have been at HFS for a number of years and it is always sad to see members of our HFS community leaving. We wish them and the rest of the Florovskiy and Dykes families well on the next step of their journey. Thank you for the delicious pizza farewell treat and please know that, should you wish to return, you will always have a place at HFS.

School Winter Uniform Order Forms

Thank you to all who completed and submitted the order forms for the HFS Winter Uniform. Those orders have been placed and should arrive within the next few weeks. If you did not complete an order form, please do so as soon as possible so that you may receive a winter hooded jacket before the cold sets in.

HFS Parent Teacher Association

Thank you to the parents who kindly attended our first PTA meeting of the 2019-20 school year on Monday 23 September. It was productive and many ideas were shared regarding planning for upcoming events for the rest of the school year. I look forward to seeing you at the next meeting on Monday 14 October.

Scary Dress-up Day on Friday 25 October

Thank you to all who donated sweets and candy for our upcoming scary dress-up day event that is set for Friday 25 October. Please keep the candy coming in so that we may provide the students with fantastic treat bags. Start thinking about being creative and crazy with your costumes. I have some ideas for my spooky outfit that should be scary and fun.

School Closed on 9 October for Hangeul Day

Finally, the school will be closed on 9 October to commemorate Hangeul Day (Korean Alphabet day). The holiday marks the invention and proclamation of the Korean alphabet by King Sejong in 1446 and is an important milestone in Korean culture. I hope you can all enjoy the holiday.

That is all for this week. Thank you for your continued support and do have a great weekend.

Mr. Kearney

Dear Parents,

I trust that you are all safe and well in the wake of last week’s typhoon. We can feel a slight chill in the air recently as the season turns to Autumn. This weekend looks to be full of rain with a glimmer of sun here and there. Here are this week’s news items.

HFS Fire and Earthquake Safety Drill’s

Since the safety and protection of the students under our care is our topmost priority we have been conducting fire and earthquake safety drills over the last two weeks. The students performed the drills excellently and I am confident that we will be well prepared in the unlikely event that a fire or earthquake should occur. Well done everyone!

HFS Trip to Hyundai Arts Center

Today the whole school was treated to an excursion to the Hyundai Arts Center to see the fantastic Monet exhibition on display. The students had an enjoyable time viewing and pondering the works of this important artist. The visual animations gave an added layer of depth to the pieces on display and I am glad that we have this resource on our doorstep for the benefit of the students’ learning experience. Enjoy these pictures of the wonderful outing.

Wizard of Oz at the Dongrami Theater on 1 October

On Tuesday 1 October the Dongrami Theater Company will be staging a production of “The Wizard of Oz” featuring our own students Jeremy Philip and Cherry Blossom Kim in the roles of the Wizard and the Cowardly Lion respectively. Do take time and go and see them. The students work really hard with Miss Yoo Jung Im in creating their performances and it is important for their confidence and creative development. The play will start at 7:30 pm and it promises to be a fun and entertaining experience.

HFS Winter Uniform

I am pleased to announce that we will now offer a HFS winter uniform in the form of a long-sleeve, zip-up hooded jersey for the approaching cold days. It is navy blue and is mandatory for all students to have. The jersey will cost 20,000 Won each and an order form went home with your child today. Please return the order form to the school with your child and the 20,000 Won fee by no later than Friday 4 October and expect orders to be delivered after 2 weeks by 18 October.

Candy and Sweet Donations for Scary Dress-up Day on Friday 25 October

Even though our mid-term break falls over 31 October we do not want our students to miss out on one of the most fun holidays of the year. We have decided to have a “Scary Dress-up Day” on Friday 25 October. The students are encouraged to dress up in scary, funny or crazy costumes on the day and each class will vote on the best costume. We will also have some spooky and fun activities presented by each class from 1:30 to 3:30 pm and we will vote on the overall best costume from the class finalists. We would like to give each student a treat and are calling on parents to make donations in the form of chocolates, sweets and candy to make up our treat packs. Please drop off your donations in the box at the office and remember that we have a strict no nut policy at HFS so any and all sweet items must not contain nuts. Thank you for your support with this fun project.

Finally, just a friendly reminder that the school will be closed on Thursday 3 October in observance of the Foundation Day National Holiday.

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

Mr. Kearney

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