New Parent Update - 18th July 2014

Dear Parents,

We do hope that you are all enjoying some time off over these hot and wet summer weeks in HK. Here at NAIS the team is working hard, but it’s so exciting to be this close to welcoming our first families to our new school!

Please take the time to read through this email carefully as it contains lots of important information about your child’s first day and first term at NAIS. We also upload all our Parent Updates to our website under the “Connect” section if you need to re-read them later.

請注意，從星期一這郵件的全中文翻譯將會在 Connect.

1.     CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

We are delighted that the scaffolding on the main classroom building has come down, revealing our school name and crown.  It was a proud moment for us all after six long months of renovation.  The focus is now on getting the ground floor and main entrance ready and we’ll be heading to the school next week to take some more photos of the classrooms and other areas. Do keep an eye on our Facebook page and website for our updated photos.

2.     ORIENTATION DAYS

Orientation days are an excellent way for your children (and parents) to get over first day nerves!  It’s an opportunity to come in and meet your child’s teacher and to look at the classrooms and play areas that your child will be enjoying over the next year. The times and dates for your child are below:

Thursday 28th August
Year 1                    9.30am – 11.00 am

Year 2                    11.30am – 1.00pm

Year 3                    2.00pm – 3.30pm

Friday 29th August
Year 4                    9.30am – 11.00am

Year 5 & 6            11.30am – 1.00pm
Year 7                    2.00pm – 3.30pm

We will also be handing out Welcome Packs and all our teaching and administrative staff will be on hand to help with any questions.

Thank you to all of you who have already sent in photos for the Octopus cards.  Owing to the strict size and resolution requirements for photographs to be used on student Octopus cards, we have invited a professional photographer to take individual photos of all the children during their Orientation session.

3. EXERCISE AND TEXT BOOKS

There is no need to buy text or exercise books in advance, as these are all included in the tuition fees. The teachers will gradually introduce these books to your children in the classroom as the term progresses.  We’ll be organising “Meet the Teacher” events so that you can get a really good understanding of how your child is learning. 

4. TECHNOLOGY

From Year 1 your children will have access to the best educational technologies and software available. We have installed the best age-appropriate learning tools and we are providing iPads, at no charge, for your child to use in the classroom. These iPads will remain the property of the school and cannot be taken home by your child.

5. SCHOOL UNIFORM

The School Uniform can now be ordered from Aston Wilson Ltd. Samples will be available to try on for sizing purposes at the Aston Wilson shop in Jordan from 28 July. Please click here for the uniform order form. You may go to The Aston Wilson shop or post or email this directly to Aston Wilson.  Payment details are on the form. 

Orders will be available for collection from the Aston Wilson shop from 4th August. Future orders (after school commences in September) can also be collected from the school.

Aston Wilson Ltd
Room B, 2/F Will Strong Development Building,
59 Parkes Street,
Jordan, Kowloon.  
Tel: 2523 2517
Email: shirleycheng@midasltd-hk.com
Opening Times: Mon – Sat 10.00am to 6.00pm
MTR: Jordan Exit A or C2

If you have further questions, please contact us.

6. SCHOOL BUS SERVICE

Pupils will need to be at school by 7.45am so that they can be in their classrooms to start lessons at 8am.

A big thank you to all the parents that have expressed an interest in using the bus.  This has helped us to develop our final 13 bus routes serving areas across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories.

If you now wish to confirm that you would like to use the bus, please complete the Bus Application Form and return to School Support Services as soon as possible. Please click here to download the:

·         Bus Routes and Cost

·         Bus Application Form

Seats on the bus will be allocated on a first-come, first-served  basis, and the first month’s  fee will be payable by cheque on the Orientation Days. In future, the bus service payment will be by direct debit in monthly instalments. Direct Debit forms will be given to parents on Orientation Day.

If you have further questions, please contact us.

Secondary Pupils

Secondary pupils are welcome to take the bus in the morning, but as the Secondary school day finishes later, there is no return bus service after school. This is consistent with many International Schools in Hong Kong and is a great opportunity for our older pupils to develop their independence!

For Secondary pupils wishing to use the bus in the morning, the cost will be 50%, as there is no after school bus option.

One Way Bus

Primary pupils are welcome to take the bus in one direction only, subject to availability of seats. Preference will be given to pupils wishing to use the bus service in both directions. For one-way use, the bus cost will be 65% of the normal fee for Primary pupils. 

After ECA Bus

We will have a comprehensive program of Extra-Curricular Activities provided by the teachers of the school at no extra charge. The Activities list will be provided to pupils at the beginning of term. There will be a bus service after the ECAs for Primary only. This will be a limited bus service, with only a few centralised drop-off points. 

7. PARKING AND DROPPING OFF

Please note that there is no parking for private cars on school premises. To ensure the safety of all children arriving and departing from school, there will be no dedicated “drop-off zone” as this area is required for the coaches.  There is a multi-storey car park adjacent to the school (car park entrance is on Pik Wan Road Car Park) and three car parks within easy walking distance. The safety of all children is our primary concern with these arrangements. Please click here to see a map of the nearby car park locations.

8. TUITION FEES

Invoices for tuition for September will be issued shortly by email.  Full payment details will be included with on the invoice. Payment can be made via bank transfer or cheque but should be made by Orientation Day (28th or 29th August).

If you wish you may pay on the Orientation Days, you may pass a cheque to the Finance Team who will be there to answer any of your questions. Cheques should be made payable to Nord Anglia International School, Hong Kong Limited. 

If payments are settled by bank transfer, please make sure that you pay all charges incurred by both the remitting bank and the beneficiary bank so that fees are received in full. Please send a copy of your bank transfer receipt so that we can match your payment against your child.

From October onwards, fees will be payable by Direct Debit and forms will be distributed with your Welcome Pack on Orientation Day. We ask that you please complete and pass this form to your bank in time for October fees to be deducted on 2 October. Our Finance Team will be on hand to answer any queries.

* Tuition fees are subject to approval by the Education Bureau of the Hong Kong SAR Government

Should you have any questions, please do contact our Finance Department at contact us. 

9. A QUICK SUMMARY

Thank you for taking the time to read through this long Parent Update. There is a lot to consider but we’re here during July and August to help with any questions.

Let me finish with a quick summary of your child’s day at NAIS.

We look forward to meeting you all on Orientation Day!