Dear Parents,

I hope you have had a blessed and enjoyable Lunar New Year holiday. We have had a short but eventful week at HFS. These are the items of news that I must share with you this week.

Coronavirus Safety Measures

We have been monitoring the development of the coronavirus situation and are taking the necessary steps to ensure that HFS remains a safe and healthy learning environment for your children. No cases of the virus have been reported in Ulsan. Symptoms of the virus are a high fever, respiratory issues such as incessant coughing and shortness of breath and extreme fatigue. If you or your family members are experiencing these symptoms, please seek medical attention immediately and share your travel history with your doctor. Under no circumstances should children attend school if they are experiencing these symptoms.

At the school we will continue to monitor the situation and will remind children to follow the standard recommendations to reduce exposure to, and transmission of, a range of illnesses. These are as follows:

• Frequently cleaning hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water
• When coughing and sneezing cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – throw tissue away immediately and wash hands;
• Avoid close contact with anyone who has a fever or cough
• Stay at home if you are feeling unwell

Starting from Monday 3 February, HFS will be doing temperature checks of students during morning registration. If a child has a temperature above 37.5 degrees we will notify parents to collect them from school. We thank you for your understanding of and cooperation with these measures that are in the best interest of the health and well-being of all the members of the HFS community.

HFS Information Evening

Thank you to the parents who attended the information evening on Wednesday. It was illuminating and informative. I am pleased to now share with you the finalized 2020/21 Academic Calendar which you can view by clicking here. The Cambridge Checkpoint exams are on track and the residential trip for later this year is being planned. The staff and class structure for next year has been finalized as well and we are all looking forward to moving to the new permanent location in August of 2021. We will keep you informed as to any further developments.

Pajama Dress-up Day

A fun piece of news is that our student council will be continuing the tradition of the Pajama Dress-Up Day, this time on Friday 7 February. If you would like the privilege of wearing your pajamas to school please bring 5,000 won and wear the silliest, craziest, wackiest sleeping attire you can think of (Remember to dress appropriately for Winter). Each class will vote on the craziest pajamas and we will select an overall winner from the finalists. The students will enjoy a short movie as a treat. It promises to be loads of fun and all proceeds will go towards supporting the Australian Fire tragedy.

No Nut and Seafood Ban Lifted

I am happy to announce that, since HFS does not have any students with severe nut or seafood allergies, we are lifting the nut and seafood ban at the school. You may now include nuts and seafood in snack and lunch meals effective from Monday 10 February. Although I must remind everyone that the Policy of not sharing food will remain due to certain students having dietary restrictions and in the interests of maintaining a healthy school environment. 

Finally, thank you to all parents for paying the tuition fees. It keeps the school running. Any parents who may require confirmation of school fee receipt for their Year-end tax settlement may email the admin office who will issue the necessary documents.

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 an eventful week at HFS. The Lunar New Year is upon us and there are a few items of news that I must share with you.

HFS Open Day Success

HFS held another successful open day on Monday and we were pleased to see so many new as well as some familiar faces there to enjoy an eye-opening look at what happens behind the scenes at the school. The teachers put on some exceptional displays of inquiry-based teaching and learning and the students were at their best on the day. Please enjoy these pictures from the event. It is always good to open our doors to existing and potential new students and parents and I look forward to the next one being as successful.

Seollal Festivities

This weekend Korea will celebrate the Lunar New Year and HFS will be closed from Friday 24 January to Monday 27 January for Seollal. We chose to honor this important Korean holiday with a dynamic and fun-filled program on Tuesday. I was extremely happy to see so many guests attending our Seollal celebration and the students looked amazing in their hanboks and outfits from their countries. The students of each class prepared a special item around Seollal to share with our guests and their new year’s wishes and resolutions were delightful. I am also glad that we had fun playing the traditional Korean games. Please enjoy these pictures of the day’s festivities.

HFS Information Evening on Wednesday 29 January

HFS will be holding an Information evening on Wednesday 29 January from 5:45 pm to bring everyone up to speed on the latest developments and future plans of the school. We will be discussing the planned relocation, academic calendar and class structure for 2021 as well as the Cambridge Checkpoint exams and residential trip scheduled for later this year. Please join us for an informative evening where your questions can be answered.

Personal Property Policy Regarding Jewelry

It has been brought to my attention that a number of students are wearing jewelry accessories to school. While these may be pretty they unfortunately can lead to conflict as well as possible loss or damage during play time and in P.E. classes. I must politely reiterate that the parent handbook states that jewelry items are not to be brought to school. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.

Congratulations and Farewell to the Simsek’s

It brings me great joy to congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Simsek, and little Minel, as they welcome a new addition to their family. We are all overjoyed that Minel has a lovely and healthy new little sister, Cansin Yujin Simsek and we know that she will help mum and dad take extra special care of her new sister. Sadly, the Simsek’s will be leaving HFS at the end of this week but we wish the family all the best of luck and happiness as they depart. We have enjoyed having Minel at the school and would like them to know that, should they return, they will always have a place at HFS.

That is all for this week. Thank you for your continued support and a would like to wish everyone a joyous and prosperous lunar new year, and, to our Korean families, 새해 복 많이 받으세요.

Mr. Kearney

Dear Parents,

We hope you are keeping warm as the Winter chill sets in. At HFS we have been very active this week and there are a number of newsworthy items that I wish to share with you in this newsletter.

International Hat Day Celebration

I was extremely pleased that all of the HFS students literally got their creative caps on and made such fantastic hats for our “International Hat Day” celebration. Well done to the winners from each class, Maximos Kopanas, David Song, and Leo Chaudet, for their wonderful cranium creations. A big congratulations to our overall winner, Aki Storie. The whole school was impressed with your “Flags from around the world” hat. It was a fun event that I look forward to repeating next year. Please enjoy these pictures from the day.

HFS Open Day on Monday 20 January

I am excited that we will have another open day on Monday 20 January. This is a great opportunity for you to see the fantastic inquiry-based learning that is happening at HFS. Join us from 09:30 am for a brief presentation followed by a tour and refreshments and Q&A session. You can then wander and explore each classroom from 10:30 am to 11:30 am to see the teaching and learning in action. There will be ample parking so bring anyone who you think may be interested in seeing what goes on behind the scenes at HFS. I look forward to seeing you there.

Seollal Festivities on Tuesday 21 January 

Korea will celebrate the Seollal Lunar New Year from 24 to 27 January and HFS will be closed on those days to commemorate the holiday. HFS always honours the important customs and traditions of its host country so we will have our Seollal celebration program on Tuesday 21 January a few days before the holiday. Join us from 1:30 pm as the students share their knowledge and understanding of what Seollal means to them. We will have some participatory games for you to enjoy. It promises to be an enjoyable and fulfilling event.

Violin and Swimming Club starting in February

I am pleased that parents have signed up for violin and swimming club this term. There are still spaces left in each club so if you wish to join in these semi-private lessons please phone the HFS admin office to enroll your child. The cost and schedule of lessons is as follows.

PTA Meeting on Tuesday 21 January

I am always happy to announce the monthly PTA meetings at HFS. This is an important school tradition that HFS is proud to continue. If you would like to be a part of the HFS PTA please join us on Tuesday 21 January at 3:35 pm in the school cafeteria for the first PTA meeting of this term. I hope to see you there.

That is all for this week. Thank you for your continued support and do keep warm this weekend.

Mr. Kearney

Dear Parents,

Even though the weather is cold we are wishing you a warm welcome back to HFS in the second term of the 2019/20 academic year. It is a new calendar year of a new decade and there are many new items that I must share with you in this first newsletter of our new term.

Club Activities to Commence from Monday 13 January

I am pleased to report that again we have a full complement of after school club activities for your child to participate in this term. Thank you for completing the online sign-ups for the clubs. Sign-ups are now closed. On Mondays we will have Chess and Mind-games club with Mr. Kearney and Tuesdays will be Mad Science club with Ms. McClellan, both of these are for Year 1 – 9 students. I am happy to announce that we will have a Taekwondo club on Wednesdays for the Year 3 – 9 students. Thursday and Friday clubs will be open to all students and these are the Creative club with Ms. Nurse and Touch Football club with Mr. Dunn. Regarding swimming and violin clubs, please join if you would like your child to learn how to swim or play the violin. A fine mix of creative, active and stimulating activities for your child to enjoy from Monday 13 January from 3:30 to 4:30. Please make sure to collect your child promptly at 4:30 pm after club activities since no supervision can be provided after club activities are finished.

ESL Classes on Wednesdays and Fridays

I am happy to announce the start of new ESL classes this term. HFS is growing in its faculty and curriculum and we will offer English Support Lessons to students who require them. Participation in these classes is by recommendation of the class teacher. The classes will be conducted by Mrs. Rosa Edholm-Kim, who as some of you may know, is a highly qualified and experienced ESL Teacher. She will conduct the classes on Wednesdays and Fridays in two streams; a beginner and advanced level. I am sure that these support lessons will be of great benefit for the students. Welcome to HFS, Rosa!

National Hat Day on Wednesday 15 January

Calling all Mad Hatters – On Wednesday 15 January we will commemorate International Hat day. Students are encouraged to make and wear the silliest hat that they can create for the day. We will vote in class for the funniest hats and then choose the overall best hat in the school from the four finalists. So, get your creative caps on in designing, making or buying the craziest cranium cover you can for a fun-filled day of mad hattery on Wednesday 15 January.

HFS Open Day on Monday 20 January

On Monday 20 January you will once again have the opportunity to see the fantastic inquiry-based teaching and learning that is taking place at HFS. We will open our doors from 09:30 to 11:30 am to allow you to see the inner workings of the school. We will start the proceedings with an informative presentation and tour of the school facilities. After the presentation there will be some refreshments, then from 10:30 am you can have a peek at an engaging lesson unfolding as it normally would on a typical school day. There will be ample parking available so invite any friends or relatives you may know who are interested in finding out about Hyundai Foreign School. I look forward to seeing you there.

Seollal Festivities on Tuesday 21 January

The Korean Lunar New Year holiday of Seollal will soon be upon us and HFS has a dynamic program in store for the celebration. We will be celebrating the holiday early so please join us on Tuesday 21 January from 1:30 pm if you would like to be a part of the Seollal festivities at HFS. Students are encouraged to wear traditional Korean clothing or clothing from their own countries for the day.

Pneumonia Reported in Korea

Recently, a mysterious case of pneumonia, whose pathogen has been identified as a new strain of coronavirus, has been spreading in various countries in East Asia. A single non-life-threatening case of such pneumonia was first reported in Korea yesterday. Due to frequent international travel, there is a small chance that the disease might spread further, so doctors are recommending increased action toward personal hygiene such as frequent washing of hands. While this is no cause for alarm we are encouraging all parents to be vigilant as to any symptoms that may appear. HFS will also step up its actions toward personal hygiene with the thorough use of soap and hand washing to curb the spread of germs. Thank you for your understanding.

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

Best regards

Mr. Kearney