Mr Morgan – 2023/24

That’s a wrap everyone!

It has been a literal roller coaster ride of a week as we wind down to the summer holidays, with water fights and amusements parks. It has been a fantastic year, one that I have enjoyed every minute of, and I am extremely sad to say goodbye. Thank you to all the students for always bringing your enthusiasm and fun to class. Have a great summer holiday, whatever you do, you deserve it!

I’ll leave with some of the photos of the final week.

Thanks again, and happy summer holidays.

Mr Morgan

Dear parents of students joining Mrs. Leah’s class in the upper school in 2024/25.

This is Mr. Green writing to inform you of the arrangements the school is making for the following academic year. As you may be aware, the Year 789 class for 2024/25 will be the largest the school has enjoyed in a number of years, and this has led to valid questions regarding how the school can best provide a high quality of education to such a group.

Class Teacher

Mrs. Leah will continue as the class teacher for Year 789. This will be her second year with this age group, and she has established strong relationships with the students who will be returning, as well as a good understanding of the curriculum and expectations for the upper school. Mrs. Leah is an excellent fit for the oldest students in our school and thrives working with this age range.

Maths

In order to better provide for the range of abilities, Mr Green will be joining Mrs Leah to teach maths on a daily basis. Mr Green will teach maths to the Year 8 and 9 students and Mrs. Leah will teach maths to the Year 7 students. These will be separate classes held in separate classrooms and will create an effective class size of around 10 students.

English

Mrs. Leah will be joined by Ms. Tanisha for English lessons on a daily basis. Ms Tanisha has been working at the school this year as an EAL teacher, and we have employed her on a full-time basis for next year. Ms. Tanisha is well-known to the students and will be able to provide excellent support to differentiate the curriculum to meet the needs of all students. As well as daily English lessons, a significant amount of Ms. Tanisha’s timetable will be assigned to the upper school for general in-class support.

Assessments

The school has been examining how we assess students progress and report to parents, and has decided to make some improvements. Students will no longer sit externally marked Cambridge exams in Year 9. These exams were not providing good value for money, and the cost savings can be used to provide better teaching and learning resources for all students. Instead of Cambridge exams, students in the Upper School will take internally marked assessments in maths and English once per term, which will be reported to parents. All assessments are linked to the curricula the school follows and marked against externally set standards. These assessments will provide parents with a better understanding of the progress students are making, as well as provide evidence of attainment for students leaving the school.

Upper school students will also continue to take Cambridge InCAS assessments, which the school uses internally to track progress and identify trends.

Curriculum Meeting

We will be holding a curriculum meeting early in term 1 of next year, at which we will be able to provide more information on the curriculum the upper school will be following and arrangements for the class in general. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at that meeting.

Future Developments

The school is committed to the continued development of the Upper School section and we are looking forward to the opportunities presented by our largest cohort in many years. Personally, I am looking forward to teaching in the upper school again and being around to drive curriculum development and ensure the highest standards.

If you wish to meet me to discuss any matters, I am available this week and for most of the school holidays.

Regards

Mr Green

Hello everyone,

Sorry for the belated post, but here is an update for our penultimate week of the year. There has been lots going on as we draw to a close on each of our units, interspersed with fun from the ABC Countdown. Here is a quick overview of what we have been up to this week.

In Maths, we have been finishing up our unit on Volume and Capacity learning the extremely helpful skill of unit conversion. Students have been putting their knowledge of mass and volume to the test solving conversion problems.

In English, we have been learning how to use flashbacks in writing to provide character backstories and provide answers to the reader. Students have written their own flashbacks to a story, and written variations according to different genres.

In IPC we completed building our wind turbines and tested out their efficiency. Everyone put a lot of thought and effort into researching and building this, particularly paying attention to the blade shapes. They did a great job and there were some extremely effective examples. I enjoyed watching them think of solutions to their engineering problems.

NEXT WEEK

The upper school teachers a planning a water fight for our ABC Countdown W day! In lieu of PE, we will set up some water based games and competitions amongst the classes, and then have a water fight afterwards. This will take place after morning break time. Please, for TUESDAY JUNE 25th bring:

• A change of clothing
• A towel
• A water gun (if you have – we will provide balloons!)

Remember, there are NO CLUBS the last week of school. There will be a first and second bus, please see the HFS Newsletter email for details.

The ABC Countdown this week has provided lots of extra entertainment (and food). We have had ramyeon (as a prize for a cleaning the beach and getting a class Star of the Week), Snacks, and T-shirt signings. I will leave you with some photos of these events.

Have a great weekend, and see you next week for the final week!

Mr Morgan

Happy Friday everyone,

Friday has come around quickly as we draw nearer to the end of the year. It has been another week of great learning with plenty going on; from lollipops to police visits. Here is a quick overview of all we have been doing.

In Maths, we started our final unit on volume and capacity. Students have spent the week learning how to estimate volume, and how to calculate it accurately. There have been ample opportunities for practical hands-on activities with a refresher on how to use isometric paper to draw 3D shapes.

In English we finished up acting out our dialogues and giving constructive feedback on the effectiveness of the students’ continuation of the story. There were some excellent ideas and creativity on display. The remainder of the week has been exploring the concept of describing an event in time from different perspectives. We took advantage of ‘N’ for Nature, to go outside and write about what we saw, before comparing our work to gain insight into how people view the same event through different eyes.

In IPC, students worked hard researching the ideal source of renewable energy for an imaginary island. They then gave a presentation on why their energy source would be the best. As a class, we voted on the best solution for the island’s energy needs. Following on from this activity, students have been tasked with a STEM activity to create the most efficient wind turbine blades. Students have researched the various blade options available, and we were able to use ‘O’ for Origami to experiment making some different blade prototypes. Next week, students will make, and measure the effectiveness of their turbines.

Reminder: Today, we sent back student reports, and next week I will hold Parent-Teacher Consultations. If there is anything you wish to talk to about, please reserve a time slot here . If none of these times suit you, please email me and we can try to arrange another time.

That’s all for Week 9. Have a great weekend, and I will leave you with some extra photos from the week.

Mr Morgan

Happy Friday everyone,

This week has absolutely flown by, culminating with today’s class trip to Jinha Beach and Fe01 junk cafe. Here is a quick overview of what we have been up to this week.

In Maths, we went back in time to learn about Roman Numerals. We spent three days learning their structure and practicing their use, finishing with an escape room exercise to check everyone’s understanding.

In English, we focused on writing dialogue and reviewing word classes. Students practiced acting out a dialogue from Edith Pattou’s ‘East’ before continuing the dialogue, acting it out in class. We also took time to review word classes, checking that students understand the main classes of words, as well as homophones and homographs. This tied in nicely with ‘H’ for humour on the ABC Countdown.

In IPC, we had a research-heavy week. First, we explored how climate change is affecting animals around the world. Students researched different endangered animals and considered the ‘knock-on’ effect that changing habitats has on the ecosystem as a whole. We also started looking into the different types of renewable sources of energy that are available, weighing up the advantages and the disadvantages of each. We will continue with this theme next week.

Finally, today was our Term 3 class trip to Jinha Beach and Fe01 Junk Cafe. It was a lovely (if not a bit hot) day out. I was very impressed with all the students who were extremely motivated from the get-go to clean the beach. (I had to persuade them to stop with ice cream!). We collected a lot of plastic, fireworks, and cigarette butts from the beach, and it was left in a much better condition after we left. Everyone really embraced the core values of Environmental Awareness and Responsibility, with many vowing to come back again to clean. We then spent a calm hour in the afternoon exploring the Junk Cafe, looking at the creative ways they have re-used old engine parts to create inspiring statues and figures.

That’s all for week 8, I’ll leave you with a few random photos from the week. Have a great weekend and I’ll see you in week 9.

Mr Morgan

Happy Friday everyone,

Another week has come and gone, and it is hard to believe that we are already at the end of week 7. This week has been productive as usual, with lots of learning going on, as well as the added bonus of the ABC Countdown.

In Maths, we delved into the extremely useful concept of order of operations. Students learned about BODMAS or PEMDAS and practiced solving equations correctly according to the order of operations. It was a challenging week, but everyone showed a great deal of resilience and showed excellent understanding by the end of the week.

In English, students wrote prologues for the books that they are currently reading. This was a tricky undertaking that really involved students thinking about how to create intrigue, and to set the scene for the story, without giving away too many details. We also worked on expanding our sentences, including phrases to improve the length, and interest of our written passages.

In IPC we have been getting to grips with climate change. We started the week researching the power consumption of utilities. Students learned how to work out power consumption, calculating how much electricity our classroom uses per day. We then moved on to Greenhouse gases and understanding the impact that burning fossil fuels has on the atmosphere. Students researched each of the fossil fuels, understanding how they were formed, to how we extract them. We then ran an experiment to simulate and test the effect that CO2 has on retaining temperature in the atmosphere. Students were able to utilize their skills from the ‘Investigators’ unit to design and run a fair test. It was an eye-opening experience to see how excess CO2 can quickly increase the temperature of the atmosphere.

Reminders: Next Thursday is a National Holiday and there is no school!

On Friday we have our class trip to Jinha and Fe01 Junk Cafe. Please make sure that you have signed the permission form

On Thursday 20th June, we reach T for T-shirt in the ABC Countdown. I would like to order plain white shirts for the students to use to design and sign. Please could you fill out this form so that I can order the correct t-shirt for your child.

That’s all for this week. Have a lovely weekend, and I will see you in week 8. I will leave you with some photos from the ABC Countdown events.

Mr Morgan

Dear Parents,

On June 7th we are planning to travel to Jinha Beach to undertake a beach clean-up in the morning, and then travel to a nearby Junk Cafe called Fe01 to have a look at some of the creative ways artists have upcycled waste. This ties in nicely with our IPC unit on Climate Change, and a recently completed English unit on waste.

We will depart school at 9:10 to arrive at Jinha Beach nice and early. Students will be provided with litter pickers, gloves, and bags to collect any litter on the beach. The beach has been kept in very good condition, but with closer scrutiny, it is easy to see the impact of plastics hidden in the sand and along the shoreline. We will have lunch at the beach, before heading over to Fe01 cafe in nearby Seosang. Students will have an hour or two to explore the impressive artworks on the grounds. This is a great opportunity for students to employ the core values of Environmental Awareness, Responsibility, Teamwork, and Creativity.

COST: There is no cost for this trip. Students might want to bring along some snack money (5,000-10,000W) to buy a drink or even a donut at the cafe.

CLOTHES: It is impossible to foretell the weather, but Jinha is notoriously windy. Students should wear uniform, but should also bring a light jacket in case it is windy. They should also wear hats and plenty of sunscreen.

LUNCH: We will have lunch at the beach. Students should bring a packed lunch, and a mat to sit on. They should also be sure to bring plenty of water.

PERMISSION: Please sign this permission slip to allow your child to attend.

This will be a great trip for students to employ their core values, to make a difference to the local community, to help the environment, as well as getting to spend time outside in a beautiful area of Ulsan.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any queries whatsoever about this upcoming trip.

Mr Morgan.

Good morning everyone,

I hope everyone got a good night’s sleep after the residential trip, and are happily remembering and retelling their anecdotes! I’m sure they have many stories to tell! It was an action-packed and educational few days, with ziplining, kayaking, rock climbing, and luges. I was extremely impressed by how well the students got ‘stuck-in’ to all the activities, many overcoming fears in the process, demonstrating great resilience and growth mindset. There were many occasions where students were out of their comfort zones, yet faced the challenges and prevailed. Whether that was sleeping away from home, or attempting to climb a rock face. I was very proud of how everyone did.

I will include some photos from the trip at the end of the post, and there will be more available in the school newsletter, that will be available to download.

ABC Countdown: We only have 25 school days left! To celebrate, we will have an ABC Countdown, where we do something small and special every day to the end of term. We missed A as we were on the trip but we will be starting on Monday with ‘B’ for Board Games. The activities are for the month are short and fun, and not compulsory. This is an event that has been popular in previous years and is a lovely way to finish the year. Below is the daily itinerary. I shall give each student a copy to take home on Monday.

You may notice that K is for ‘Klean’. On Friday 7th June, we are planning to go on our Term 3 Class trip, which will involve a beach clean-up at Jinha Beach, and then visiting an upcycling Junk Cafe in the area. I am in the process of finalizing the details, and will send them next week.

That is all for Week 6. I will leave you with some of the photos I have from the trip.

Have a great weekend, and I will see you on Monday.

Mr Morgan

Happy Friday everyone!

It has been a short and exciting week, with the holiday for Buddha’s birthday and Sports Day, but we have still made the most of the few days in school.

In Maths, we continued with our unit on fractions. Students have been practicing finding fractions of an amount, and solving equations where they know a fraction of an amount. Students have all been attacking this with gusto, online and offline.

In English, we completed our unit with a magazine article written for two different audiences. Some students wrote them for Ms Temple’s class, and others for Mrs Leah’s class. On completing the articles, we celebrated each other’s work and gave positive feedback on how to improve. This time, we also invited Ms Temple and Mrs Leah’s class to read the articles and give their opinions.

In IPC, we started our new unit on Climate Control. This will allow students to investigate what causes climate change and what we can do to help divert a climate crisis. We started with an entry point, where students drew their optimistic or pessimistic view of the condition of the world in 2050. It was positive to see so many of the students embrace environmental awareness and belief that we can make a change.

That’s all from a short, action-packed week. I apologize that I did not manage to take any photos of Sports Day, but I know photos from the day will be made available soon.

Reminder: Next week we have the residential trip to Busan. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about it.

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

Mr Morgan.

Happy Friday everybody!

Week 4 has drawn to a close after a busy week discovering who ‘stole ‘ our statues, and then presenting the evidence to the school with the big reveal!

In Maths, we have been digging deeper into the world of fractions. Students have been working hard getting familiar with changing seamlessly between improper and mixed fractions. They have been using this knowledge to help them with multiplication and division of fractions, both with integers and other fractions.

In English, we spent time exploring the features and designs of magazines. Students had the opportunity to read some children’s and grown-up magazines. They then started to re-write a ‘boringly’ written article on recycling, to cater to different audiences; some for students in Ms Temple’s class, and others for Mrs Leah’s class. This will really make them consider how audience can change the style, format, and tone of an article. I am looking forward to seeing the end results next week.

IPC took over the week. After whittling down the suspects to two people, we had to learn how to take fingerprints to find out who the guilty party was. We learned about the different types of fingerprints and how to ‘lift’ them from surfaces. After comparing some fingerprints on our evidence, the students were able to definitively tell who ‘stole’the statues.

For the rest of the week, everyone managed to keep the name of the culprit a secret, whilst they prepared a presentation for the big reveal in the hall to the whole school. They put on an excellent presentation showcasing everything that they learned, building up to the unmasking of the ‘thief’. It was a lot of fun, and I am thankful to all the teachers for playing along so well and keeping the mystery alive over 4 weeks. Also a special mention to Ms Temple who played the villain so well, and was so unsuspected!

That’s all for week 4. Just a quick reminder that next Thursday is Sport’s Day. Parents are more than welcome to come and join in the fun.

Have a great weekend,

Mr Morgan