LIS Reception Class

Dear Parents,

Welcome back! We hope you and your families had a wonderful Easter break and enjoyed some well-deserved rest. It is hard to believe we are already beginning Term 3, our final and very special stretch of the Reception year.

A Heartfelt Thank You for Book Week

Before the holiday, we had a fantastic Book Week! A huge thank you to all the parent readers who came in to share stories with us. The children absolutely loved hearing different voices, accents, and tales from our school community. We also enjoyed dressing up, doing book-themed crafts, and sharing our favourite stories with friends. Your support made the week truly magical – thank you!

Term 3 Focus: Getting Ready for Primary 1

As we move through this term, our main goal is to cement the skills the children need before they transition to Primary 1. We will be focusing on:

Independence: Putting on shoes, packing bags, opening lunch boxes, and using the toilet independently.
Early Writing: Forming letters correctly, constructing simple sentences, and using finger spaces and full stops appropriately.
Number Sense: Counting reliably to 20, recognising numerals, and doing simple addition and subtraction.
Social Skills: Taking turns, using words to solve problems, and following multi-step instructions

Please continue to practise these small routines at home – it makes a huge difference!

Important Dates for Term 3

Please save these key dates in your calendar:

STEM Week: 15 May to 19 May – a week of hands-on science, technology, engineering, and maths fun!
Half-Term Break: 25 May to 29 May
Transition Day (RC to P1): Date to be confirmed soon. On this day, our Reception children will visit the Tong Fuk campus, spend time in a real P1 classroom, and meet their new teacher. More details to follow, but please know we will prepare the children carefully for this exciting step.

What We Are Learning

Phonics: We are currently working with Phase 3 sounds. By now, the children should be able to say a sound for each letter in the alphabet, as well as the digraphs ch, sh, th, wh, ng, ee, and oo. I have added a sound assessment to each child’s reading folder, so please continue to practise these at home!

Numeracy: We are focusing on telling the time.

Topic: Animal Life Cycles. This week, we studied the life cycle of a butterfly, and next week we will look at the life cycle of a frog. We spotted some tadpoles near the school on Friday and are excited to keep an eye on them as they grow! It is such a lovely benefit of being so close to nature.

Reminders

As the weather heats up and bugs start to wake up, please remember to apply sunscreen and mosquito repellent in the morning before school. Having a raincoat in your child’s bag is also a good idea, just in case! Additionally, I sent home all the spare clothes yesterday. Please take a moment to check everything to make sure it still fits and kindly send back a full set of spare clothes.

Thank you so much for your support in keeping the children comfortable and prepared!

Regards,

The Reception Team

Dear Parents,

Welcome back and a very happy New Year! We hope you all enjoyed a peaceful and joyful winter break with your families.

As we begin this new term, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on just how remarkable our Reception children have been. The past few months have presented some unexpected changes—from our temporary move to the Tong Fuk campus to adjustments in our classroom routines. Through it all, the children have shown such resilience, adaptability, and have met every change with a positive attitude. We are incredibly proud of how they have continued to learn, play, and support one another.

It has been a pleasure to witness their growth and development during this unique time. They have not only adapted but have truly flourished, building strong friendships and becoming more confident, curious learners each day.

To you, our parents, we extend our deepest gratitude. Thank you for your remarkable patience, your constant cooperation, and your unwavering support during these transitions. It truly takes a village, and we feel so fortunate to be part of such a supportive community.

Looking ahead, here are some important dates for this term:

• 17th February – Parent/ Teacher Meetings and Open Day at Reception
• 13th February – L.I.S. Sports Day (The children have already begun practising with great enthusiasm!)
• 2nd to 6th March – Green Week
• 23rd to 27th March – Book Week

We are very excited to be back together, diving into new and exciting topics this term. The children have returned with wonderful energy, and we can’t wait to continue this learning adventure with them.

Regards,

The RC Team

Dear Parents,

Welcome to Lantau International School! We are thrilled to meet our new families and warmly welcome back our returning ones. This year promises to be filled with exciting discoveries, joyful adventures, and wonderful growth for your child.

We know that first days can feel both thrilling and a little overwhelming for our youngest learners. To help you feel prepared and confident, we suggest:

• Looking through our teacher profiles together (you will find introductions to both of us!)
• Exploring “The A–Z of Reception” (sent via email) – our updated guide covering key information for the year ahead.

These resources will help you and your child feel familiar with our classroom environment and daily rhythm before their first day.

To ease the transition, here are some practical ways to prepare your child for their first day:

• Adjust Sleep Routines Early

Start waking up at “school time” now and shift morning routines gradually. This helps their bodies and brains adjust before the big day.

• Practise Packing and Eating Lunch

Pack a pretend lunch and have a picnic rehearsal at home. Let your child practise opening containers, unwrapping snacks, and eating independently.

• Visit the School and Narrate the Day

Drive or walk by the school and talk through what will happen: “We will park here, walk up the stairs, and go inside. You will take off your shoes, put your water bottle in the box, and say goodbye. We will meet you right here at the gate/bus stop after school!”

• Normalise Missing and Reconnecting

Reassure them: “It is okay to miss me—I will miss you too! But we will see each other again very soon.”

• Practise Asking for Help

Role-play raising a hand and asking politely for assistance (e.g., “Excuse me, I need help, please”). These small skills make real school situations easier.

• Read Stories About School Feelings

Books like The Invisible String or Butterflies on My First Day of School can help normalise big emotions.

• Let Them Pack Their Own Bag

Involve them in choosing and packing their school bag. Ownership builds confidence!

• Create a Countdown Calendar

Marking off days makes the unknown feel less scary. A visual countdown (e.g., stickers or a paper chain) builds excitement.

• Choose a Goodbye Ritual Together

A special hug, silly dance, high five, or phrase (e.g., “See you later, alligator!”) makes farewells feel secure and predictable.

• Talk Positively About School

Share your own happy school memories and highlight fun things they will do (e.g., “You will paint, play outside, and make new friends!”).

On the first day, we know goodbyes can be emotional but keeping them brief and positive helps children settle quicker. If tears happen (for you or your child!), don’t worry—this is normal and usually short-lived. Peeking back or lingering often prolongs the transition. We will immediately engage your child in fun activities, and we will contact you if they need extra support. Thank you for trusting us with this big milestone!

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Kind regards,

The Reception Team (Ms. Nadia and Sun Laoshi)

Dear Parents,

Welcome back to the second term in Reception! We hope everyone had a happy, safe and relaxed Christmas break.

The first term has certainly flown by, and it has been lovely to see the Reception children settle, make new friends and find their feet in their new surroundings. We look forward to welcoming some new faces after the Lunar New Year!

The children have all worked incredibly hard and we are so proud of how they have grown and progressed this past term. They have returned to school full of enthusiasm and energy, and it has been fantastic to see their eagerness to learn. We have had a brilliant start to the term, diving straight into our new topics with a lot of curiosity and excitement.

Please take note of some important dates this term:

14th February – L.I.S. Sports Day
24th to 28th February – Green Week (TBC)
24th to 28th March- Book Week (TBC)

The children have already started practising for Sports Day and are we are truly looking forward to it.

As always thank you for your continued support and involvement!

Kind Regards

The Reception Team

Dear Parents,

Welcome to Lantau International School. We are very excited to meet you all and welcome back a few familiar faces.

I am Nadia Jonck, the new Reception Class English teacher. I am a qualified teacher with a focus on Early Childhood Education. I am originally from South Africa, but I live here in South Lantau with my husband and two young boys. I am very passionate about early childhood education and look forward to creating learning and teaching opportunities that inspire, stimulate and challenge curious young minds. It will be a year of magical wonder and amazing growth for your child!

Teddy Sun (Sun Laoshi) is the class Mandarin teacher and is also starting his fifth year at LIS. He has a master’s degree in teaching Chinese as an International Language and has nine years teaching experience in Hong Kong. Sun Laoshi loves drawing and artwork, and plays many different kinds of sports.

We are huge supporters of parent-teacher communication. It is our hope that this note will be the basis for a great deal of dialogue and communication between us. We want your child to have a happy and successful school year. Please feel free to share anything you would like us to know about your child. The more we know, the better we can effectively meet his/ her needs in the classroom. Our goal is to make this the best year for every child in our classroom!

We know the first day of school can be exciting but also stressful for little ones. Please take the time to read each teacher’s profile with your child (sent to your e-mail address) to help them feel more comfortable as they embark on this new adventure.

We look forward to seeing you soon! Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you might have.

Kind Regards,

The LIS Reception Team

Mrs. Nadia Jonck & Mr. Teddy Sun