Thanksgiving to Christmas is typically a busy time of year, but also a time to reflect and be thankful for your circumstances and people in your life and to show appreciation to those you are thankful for.

Campus Reps and parents expressed their appreciation to just about everyone at the school by hosting lunches and giving gifts during the time leading to Christmas break, but also took time to enjoy beautiful music performed by our students across all campuses.

The PA ExCo would like to wish you and yours a peaceful, blessed, Merry Christmas!

Christmas decorations

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..." goes the song by Bing Crosby. Campus is looking a little festive thanks to parent volunteers who spent a couple days decorating. A lovely nativity set was borrowed from a P1 teacher - anyone know where PA can purchase one with figures about a foot or taller?

Christmas concerts start Friday evening - come enjoy performances by our talented students.

College Planning Forum

Friday, October 31 the school university advisors and  the PA hosted a college planning forum and Q&A time for high school parents. The evening began with parents grabbing a beverage and some hors d'oeuvres and chatting amongst themselves. For some it was a reunion of sorts since parents who may have helped at school during elementary years no longer helped out during secondary school years and had not kept in touch with fellow parents as time went by. For some it was a chance to meet new parents and compare experiences each family faced while planning for college. Regardless, it was nice to see the fellowship and after the windows were opened all enjoyed the cool evening air.

We were fortunate to have Teresa Tseng, Alex Wang, Amy Leung, and HK Fung as the guest speakers addressing topics such as Christian, American, and Hong Kong universities, the planning process, and how parents can support their student. Ms. Farley and Mr. Widdifield led an interesting simulation on the college admissions process and whether certain student qualifications would help or not.

There were over fifty high school parents in attendance and feedback indicated they were appreciative of the information presented by the speakers and from the handouts from the advisors.

Walktoberfest

Whew - Walktoberfest was a fun, busy day! It was nice to chat with so many parents as they stopped by our booth on the way to the Abundant Grace Memorial Gymnasium. We are happy that the uniform recycle initiative was popular. We would like to show our appreciation to our members this year by giving out a PA tote bag. If you didn’t collect one at Walktoberfest, contact us by email and we will pass one to your student.

Look for us at Walktoberfest!

The PA is collecting clean, gently-used uniforms your children have outgrown and will have them out at our table at Walktoberfest. Come by to meet and say hello to members of the PA ExCo and perhaps you'll find some items to fill gaps in your student's uniform wardrobe.

 

See you Saturday, October 18!

 

Meetings

It's already past mid-quarter - the Executive Committee have had two meetings discussing various agenda items and planning for the year as well as hearing overviews of meetings between Campus Representatives and their principals. Please contact us if you'd like to attend one of our meetings.

We are thankful that more people have stepped up to serve on the ExCo. We still have two positions with vacancies as you can see from the sidebar to the right or click the link to the ICS PA webpage
 
 Prayer Meetings have also had a successful start. Here is the schedule if you'd like to join.

 Don't forget we have a Facebook group as well set up to encourage communication between our members. Please join us by clicking: ICS PA Group

Back to School Night Uniform Swap

 

You may have joined our uniform swap and recycle at the end of last school year and we'll be setting up again during Back to School Nights on the 1/F along the glass windows overlooking the pool. Feel free to drop off any your student can no longer fit into because hey, they grow during summer, and maybe there will be something you can pick up!

 

Back to School 2014-15

Summer is over! New students/families went to orientation on yesterday and everyone else will be back tomorrow either registering or going through lots of info and getting their new schedules.

The PA ExCo will have their first meeting Monday, Aug 18, 7:30pm to welcome new reps and talk about plans for the year. Parents are welcome at our meetings. Please do let us know if you are interested in attending.

There are still a couple positions available: ES Rep and SS Rep, but even if you don't feel you are ready to step into an actual position on the ExCo, we welcome your ideas and help.

Last year we started a FB Group to encourage informal communication and welcome parents to join (click the link) ICS PA Group 

 

We will still continue to post on this blog and on Schoology.

 

Feel free to contact us by email: ICSPAExCo@gmail.com with any questions or concerns. Here's wishing everyone a wonderful school year!

AGM 2013-14 report

Schoology and Facebook Group announcements were made prior to the ICS PA Annual General Meeting held on May 26, 2014

Seventeen members were in attendance and 46 member proxy forms were received to meet the required quorum to hold the meeting.

Minutes from the previous year 2012-13 were reviewed and approved. You may read them by clicking this link.

The Chairman gave an overview of the year that was posted in an earlier post here. The Treasurer reviewed Income and Expenditure Reports for the year ended June 30, 2013 and current and draft reports through February 28 and May 3, 2014, respectively. You may find this information by clicking this link.

Nominations were received for the election of new members to ExCo and re-election of ExCo finishing their two year term for the positions of Vice Chair, Kindergarten Rep, Elementary Rep, and Secondary Rep. We also received a nomination for the appointed position of Prayer Coordinator.

Outgoing ExCo members were thanked and new ones welcomed after the election. Evening Prayer Group met following the AGM.


Your Executive Committee for 2014-15 will be:

Chair: Pastor Fai Chan
Vice Chairs: Grace So, Eppie Lam
Treasurer: vacant
Secretary: vacant
Finance/Membership Secretary: Becky Su
Kindergarten Reps: Adeline Choy, Polly Wong
Elementary Reps: Ada Kwok, Peter Hsu, Eddie Tsui, Virginia Lam, Yammie Lau
Secondary Reps: Amy Turner, Salina Lo, YK Ho, Rosemary Choi, Maritza Binier
Prayer Coordinator: Florence Yun

There are still two very important positions open on the ExCo - Secretary and Treasurer, as well as one more for both Elementary, Secondary Rep and Prayer Coordinator. If you would like to serve on the ExCo, please contact us. Involvement in the ICS Parent Association allows parents to voice their concerns and ideas. It is also an excellent opportunity for parents to be part of their child's school life.

Chairman's Report

Dear ICS Parents,

The theme “unity” stands out clearly when we look back to the 2013-14 school year. By God’s grace we stand together as a unified community to serve and glorify Him.

1.    We prayed often and stand firm in our Christian faith when attacked by the media.

2.    We rallied as in one accord, and voiced out against the sports field land rezoning.

3.    We fully support donating ICS summer school scholarships to our neighborhood children, as our way of tithing and giving back to the community.

4.    We held the “Chain of Blessings” praise gathering for the whole school community in April 2013, and God answered our prayer when ICS successfully repaid the BEA loan in April 2014!

We are also honored to have served our school in these events:

-  Welcomed new ICS families on Orientation Day

-  Supported the annual Walkathon as well as Westward Bound

-  Provided refreshments at various music and drama events

-  Held a parent seminar to share and support families in the college application process

-  Decorated campus and a live Christmas tree donated by a parent, and also decorated for Chinese New Year

-  Provided turkey for Thanksgiving celebrations and food for teacher appreciation lunches

Service and prayer go hand in hand. All the above efforts are supported by parents, many that attend one or more of the scheduled daytime and evening prayer meetings organized by our PA prayer coordinators. Quite a few parents have also organized their specific grade-level prayer cells that meet on a regular basis. We pray you can join one next year and help bless ICS to become a place to shine for God’s glory!

Blessings,

Pastor Fai Chan

On behalf of the PA Executive Committee

ICS PA AGM notice

ICS Parents Association is having their Annual General Meeting (AGM) Monday, May 26, 7:00pm in the 5/F ICS Chapel.

 

For the 2014-15 academic school year, the following positions are up for re-election or are open for nominations. We would love to have you serve with us!

.

- Vice Chair (1), Treasurer (1), Secretary (1)

- Campus Representatives: Kindergarten (1), Elementary (4), Secondary (3)

Please click the following link for more information and to fill out a proxy form if you are unable to attend. Your vote will still count!

 

Nomination and Election information and Proxy Form

 

This is a sample of the online proxy form.

 

Parenting Children Course

The school is offering a special Parenting Children course for any parent/expecting parent or carer of children age 10 and below. There will be five evening sessions starting April 16 with course manual and dinner provided - click for course sign-up.

Westward Bound prep...thank you!

Thank you to all the parents that have been working on overdrive these last few weeks since Chinese New Year on Westward Bound preparations - costumes, props, decorations, table centerpieces, gift packages, programs, etc. The student waitstaff practiced serving guests and the dress rehearsal was today. The gym was swarming with parents helping decorate the gym and set the tables. Without all your help and of course help from the staff, such a production would not be possible. Looking forward to a great dinner theater show tomorrow and Saturday!

Here's a peek!