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