School Information

The school mission statement Everyone Engaged drives the school's commitment to Learning Partnerships between staff, families and the wider community. 

We would like to welcome your child, and you, to our school community. This information guide is designed to help answer all the immediate questions you may have about how our school works.  

Engagement is all forms of activity that facilitate interaction and connection between different groups and involvement in the life of the school. Effective engagement results from a sustained affirmation of stakeholders' voices and values. 

Our shared aims are to:

• Develop a shared understanding of the school's vision, mission, values, policies and practice
• Support sound relationships between the school and families based on shared accountability, trust and mutual respect
• Support parents’ engagement in their child’s learning and involvement in the life of the school

All parents and carers are equally valued as part of our school community. Children’s learning is improved when we work in partnership with their parents or carers, and their wider family. We therefore believe in close collaboration with all families, and in regular consultation between home and the school. We welcome parents’ feedback at any time.

At Jockey Club Sarah Roe School, we use many forms of communication to provide parents with essential information: website, newsletter, ESF App messages, Seesaw learning updates, and emails from class teachers and the therapy team.

Parents’ first point of contact should be their child’s class teacher. Parents can get in touch with them if they would like to discuss their child’s progress, ask questions, gain support or to have the opportunity to talk about any home issues. Parents can contact the teacher by email (staff emails are available on the ESF App) or by calling the School Office. Although our teachers are unable to take telephone calls or check emails while they are teaching, messages will be passed on to them as soon as possible by the office staff. Alternatively, parents can send an email requesting a meeting time.

For any generic enquiries, meeting requests and non-urgent matters, you can contact our office staff at 2761 9893 or office@jcsrs.edu.hk.

Should a meeting with the class teacher not be appropriate, parents are welcome to contact the School Office to arrange a meeting with the Vice Principal or Principal to discuss matters of concern.

Parents are strongly encouraged to join the school’s various annual events.

Meet the Teacher Evening is scheduled at the beginning of the school year. It provides an opportunity for parents to meet their child’s new teacher and give a general overview of the class and curriculum.

Parents also have two to three formal meetings each year (once each term) with the teachers and therapists in order to discuss their child’s educational programmes (Parent Teacher Therapist Conferences in November and February and Annual Review meeting in May). The aims of the meetings include:

• to discuss the student’s progress towards meeting the overall objectives set in the Individual Education Plan (IEP),
• to identify areas of specific or targeted work,
• to identify any significant changes in the student’s special educational needs including equipment, aids and access.

Informal meetings between parents and staff are held throughout the year as required.

PTTCs take place twice a year; in November and February. Prior to the meeting, the class teacher will share with parents the evaluated Individual Education Plan (IEP). The meeting is 20 minutes long, and our therapists sometimes join the meeting. Our PE teacher is also available at the same time for 10-minute-long optional meetings. If parents do not get a chance to meet with their child’s therapist, an optional 10-minute therapy meeting can be organised a week after the PTTC. 

Please book using the following instructions:

• Go to Parent Gateway
• Log in using your Parent Log In
• Under Parent Consultation on the front page, select the appropriate event
• Select the date and choose your time slot. Your appointment will turn purple, which confirms your booking
• To cancel a booking, click on the purple box

Annual Reviews

Here is how you can contact different staff at school. Please use the general contact emails to make sure your email reaches the right person. 

You can call the school office at 2761 9893 and ask to be connected to the right person. 

You can email us:

• School Administrator - office@jcsrs.edu.hk (general enquiries, meeting requests and non-urgent matters)
• PTA Administrator - jcsrs.pta@jcsrs.edu.hk
• Bus Service - schoolbus@jcsrs.edu.hk
• School Nurse - nurse@jcsrs.edu.hk
• Finance team - epayment@jcsrs.edu.hk
• Report your child’s absence at office@jcsrs.edu.hk; you can also report absence on the ESF App or by calling the school
• Teachers - you can find all teachers' emails on the ESF App. You can also call the school office. Although our teachers are unable to take telephone calls or check emails while they are teaching, messages will be passed on to them as soon as possible by the office staff. Alternatively, parents can email the office requesting a meeting time

The ESF app is a platform used across all the ESF schools. 

The ESF app features quick and easy access to the below information:

• ‘Need to know’ messages and diary dates
• ‘Nice to know’ school news via newsletters
• Useful contact names, emails and phone numbers
• School Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) – Sarah
• Absence emails

The ESF App gives you quick and easy access to important school and ESF messages, as well as other information and ESF systems. If you do not have it set up, you might not receive crucial updates from the school.

You can find information on downloading and using it in this user guide or this video.

To ensure you do not miss anything, I strongly encourage you to download and register to the App and:

1. Set notification settings to Immediate: visual guide here.
2. Keep auto-forwarding messages to your email enabled: video guide here. We turn this on for you by default, but please double-check your settings. If you do not want to receive App messages in your email, you can disable it anytime. *Please note some important information about Auto-forwarding below.

If you are not receiving notifications or auto-forwarded messages, please contact us at office@jcsrs.edu.hk or 2761 9893.

*Important information about Auto-forwarding:

• Auto-forwarding is only for App Messages where a device is currently registered to the same email address.
• Auto-forwarding will follow the same timing and filtering settings as your selected notification settings.
• Auto-forwarded emails are processed after notifications and may take longer to arrive - if the email does not arrive in your inbox, please check your email client 'spam' folder and settings.
• Auto-forwarding is an add-on service and not an alternative service - App messages will still be accessible in the ESF App and applicable notifications will still be sent.
• Some App messages will contain interactive elements - these can not be replicated in email and must be completed within the ESF App.
• Some App messages will contain authenticated links to secure pages in a school VLE. For your security, these links expire shortly after they are generated and so might have expired by the time you read your email message - you can either access newly generated links in the ESF App or, if preferred, manually re-forward the message from the ESF App and use the link within 10 minutes.
• App messages can be edited after release by school staff, for example, to correct minor typos or fix broken web links - when an App message is corrected a new email will NOT be sent. Occasionally, this will mean that the App message and email will be slightly different. Also, note that sometimes an App Message may be deleted after the email is already sent. The App message is always the most current version.

The Gateway is the platform where we keep some essential information about students and their families including contact details for parents and medical information. This is also the platform that we use for some administrative tasks like booking Parents Teacher Therapist Conferences and signing eNotices for trips. The Gateway can be accessed directly from the ESF app.

We use the Seesaw App to celebrate student progress in learning and offer parents a window into the classroom. It is essential that parents have access to Seesaw. If you need support to do this please contact us. 

Seesaw is a digital platform where teachers and therapists can record learning and create interactive learning tasks for students. Throughout the year, Seesaw builds a personalised digital portfolio of the student learning journey that is accessible to teachers, parents and students. Evidence is organised by subject and IEP areas. Teachers and therapists use the comments to provide feedback and next steps so that parents can see the level that their child is working at and their next steps.

School Day

The school campus and local area are very busy around school start and finishing time.

We expect students to arrive at school at 8.45 am. At 8.45 am staff will come out to the playground to support students’ transition to classes. Lessons start at 9 am so it is important that students arrive at school on time. 

Lessons finish at 2.30 pm and students will start to get ready to leave school at 2.45 pm. From 2.45 pm staff will start assisting students with transition out of school. We dismiss one class at a time to avoid congestion. Parents and carers should wait for students in the playground.

We kindly ask that all adults who come to pick up and drop off students wait in our school playground and do not stay on the campus longer than necessary to drop off and pick up their child. As KGV school hours are different from JCSRS, we cannot allow adults to wait on the campus unsupervised, and it is not safe for unsupervised and unvetted adults to be walking around the campus.

Private cars and taxis are not allowed to drive into the school campus. This is to ensure students' safety.  

If you are dropping off and picking up your child in a private car or taxi you will not be allowed to drive in on the school campus. You can park outside and walk your child to school.  On arrival, please be aware that JCSRS buses may also be entering the campus.  Please wait outside the gate and do not try to enter after the bus. 

This is to ensure students' safety.  

In order to ensure the safety of all students, we have established clear protocols for student drop-off and pick-up, as well as management of visitors on the school campus.

All JCSRS visitors must sign in at the school reception and wait for a staff member. They will receive a yellow visitor's badge that they must wear at all times. Visitors are not permitted to walk around the campus or school unsupervised.

In the case of volunteers supporting school trips, we ask that they arrive at school only for the time of the trip. If they have to wait, it will be kept to a minimum, and we will direct them to a suitable area.

We kindly ask that all adults who come to pick up and drop off students wait in our school playground and do not stay on the campus longer than necessary to drop off and pick up their child. As KGV school hours are different from JCSRS, we cannot allow adults to wait on the campus unsupervised, and it is not safe for unsupervised and unvetted adults to be walking around the campus.

It is also important to note that some visitors have gone through the ESF vetting process, which includes scrutiny of their background, police check and sexual conviction check. Visitors who have completed those checks are given a green coloured visitor badge, and they do not have to be supervised at all times.

It is crucial for us to maintain this protocol to safeguard students and ensure the security of our school environment. The ESF and JCSRS protocol on the management of visitors, volunteers, contractors, or external providers is aligned with the EDB guidance for all schools.

Full-time attendance is mandatory for all students.  Individual classroom teachers take a class register each day. Parents are requested to report the child’s absence on the ESF app or by call or email to the school office. 

Unexplained absence will be queried via email or a phone call to parents/caregivers as soon as possible. 

Patterns of non-attendance will be followed up with parents/caregivers as soon as possible by the class teacher and the school leadership team. 

Attendance will be recorded on school reports.

Student Health and Wellbeing

Parents are requested to inform the school if:

• they are both out of Hong Kong; the name of an adult acting in ‘loco parentis’ should be given to the school in writing in advance,
• there are any changes to contact information such as home address, telephone number and/or email
• there are any changes to medical information.

Parents are responsible for updating the ESF Gateway with any changes to contacts, medical information and student or family details.

Effective safeguarding is essential. If you have any concerns about any aspect of your child’s schooling the first step is to speak to the class teacher or the school Child Protection Officer (Belinda McLaughlin). We take children's safety very seriously and will take appropriate steps in response to your concern. You can find out more on how we support students' safety here.

At JCSRS, students enjoy a mid-morning snack and lunch between 12:30 and 1:30 pm. Parents are responsible for providing these meals. Please try to ensure meals are healthy, nutritious, and nut-free. Please note that we are unable to reheat food, so plan accordingly.

We know that some of our students have specific preferences or challenges when it comes to eating and planning balanced lunches can be a struggle. Please feel free to reach out to our team if you need any advice on supporting your child’s eating and drinking. 

Our school community has made a commitment to be an allergy-friendly school and follow nut-free guidelines for the safety and health of all our students. We need each student, teacher and parent to help us make JCSRS a safer place for students who have food allergies.

We do have children with severe nut allergies. This is something that we kindly ask that you consider very carefully when packing your child's snack box.

Below are the general rules about food and allergies:

• Nobody should share their lunch; there is a "no food sharing" or "no food trading" rule.
• Please do not send to school lunch or snacks that contain nuts; if, for health reasons, the child's diet contains nuts, we ask parents that they speak to staff about it so we can put in place appropriate safety measures.
• Bake sales and other fundraising food sales must clearly label the food if any nuts or peanut oil were used or could have been cross-contaminated when cooking.
• We will also not use nuts in any of our food prepared on-site at our school.
• Everyone should be washing their hands regularly, especially before and after food handling and eating.
• Note that liquid soap, bar soap, and sanitising wipes effectively clean hands of potential allergens, but antibacterial sanitising gels do not.

Please remember to update the medical information and known allergies on the Gateway and inform the class if there are any changes to children's medical needs.

Pupils are not permitted to use mobile phones during their time at school. The only exception will be times when the use of mobile phones is required as part of planned learning. Parents will be informed of this in advance and activities will be supervised by class staff.

Parents are not permitted to use mobile phones or any other digital device to record students at school. If the school leadership team gives permission to take photos, the images can not be shared by parents with others or published on any social media platform.

Staff are positive role models for students to support and reinforce healthy use of mobile devices in line with these guidelines e.g. when on duty, staff should be engaging with students and only use phones for emergencies/urgent situations.

Unless requested by a teacher, students should not bring toys or other personal items from home, since they can become broken or lost. No jewellery should be worn at school except for a watch. If ears are pierced only plain studs are acceptable. The school will not be responsible for any jewellery that is lost or damaged. 

Curriculum

At JCSRS, swimming lessons are an integral part of our PE curriculum, providing students with essential water safety skills and physical exercise. These lessons are conducted either in our school's hydropool or at the KGV outdoor swimming pool. The frequency of lessons depends on the availability of the KGV pool and weather conditions, with the goal of offering at least one block of swimming lessons each year. Parent approval, obtained through the admissions pack, is required for students to participate in these lessons, ensuring a safe and supportive environment for all.

Asessment and Personalisation

Home Learning

Students have a broad range of opportunities to participate in music-making at JCSRS.

We believe that the use of music and songs is hugely beneficial to students with diverse needs. That's why we provide daily access to music through the use of music in daily routines and lessons.

Additionally, Music is taught as part of our Expressive Art curriculum. We are always looking for ways to enhance our curriculum, and one of the ways we do this is by bringing in visiting performers or planning curriculum enrichment activities. We are committed to providing our students with a well-rounded education that includes music, so they can develop their creativity and express themselves in different ways.

Jockey Club Sarah Roe School’s uniforms are available for purchase online at Schooluniform.hk and orders are delivered to your home.

ESF Payment System is for our parents to make payment of non-school fee and school-based items to JCSRS. Invoices will be sent via the Payment System. Parents can check their account details and make payments via the system, which can be accessed by logging in through ESF App or Gateway.

We accept the below payment methods:

• Credit card via Paypal
• Paypal

For more details, please refer to the Payment System manual.

Please note:

• Non-school fee payment items include fees for school trips, yearbook purchasing, school bus, etc.
• School fees, deposits for school places and capital levies are handled centrally at ESF Centre. For any queries about these areas, please contact its Billing Department directly at billing@esfcentre.edu.hk.

If you have any further questions, please contact our Finance Team at epayment@jcsrs.edu.hk.

The rainy season lasts from April to September. Parents are advised to note the following arrangements.

TYPHOONS

Before school hours:

Parents should check the ESF App and use the radio or television (or consult the EDB or ESF websites) to receive announcements on the closure of schools.

• If Typhoon Signal 3 or above is raised prior to school hours, JCSRS will close.
• If a signal is raised while students are travelling to school, students who have set off to school should return home, and buses that have already picked up students will take them back. JCSRS will be closed for students all day. School premises will be open, and staff will look after the students who have arrived at school until proper arrangements are made for students to return home at an appropriate time under safe conditions.

In school hours:

With the government announcement of the closure of schools, all schools are to close. In that situation, principals will ensure that safe and adequate arrangements can be made for students to return home. If that is impossible, the school will inform affected parents that their children will remain in school until it is safe to release them or until a parent or designated responsible adult picks them up. Students will not be sent home on school buses once a Signal 8 or above has been hoisted.

Lowering of signals:

When a typhoon signal is lowered to no. 1 or all signals are cancelled, all schools will open on the next school day.

HEAVY PERSISTENT RAIN

The Amber, Red and Black Warnings are independent of other warnings, e.g. landslides or typhoon warnings.

The school will not allow students to return home, including on a school bus, when a Red or Black Warning is issued.

In these circumstances, children may only be released to a parent or designated responsible adult if requested by a parent to do so. Schools will not request parents come to school to collect their children in dangerous conditions and will care for them until a responsible adult can arrive to take them home.

LEARNING ON SCHOOL CLOSURE DAYS

• T3, T8 or Red Rain - Teachers will email parents information about the Morning Meeting / Circle Time (starting between 9 and 10.30 am) and four asynchronous lessons. There will be an optional afternoon check-in for secondary classes.
• T9, T10 or Black Rain - Safety becomes our first priority for all community members because there is a higher risk level during these weather events. This means we do not provide lessons for students whilst these signals are in force.

Please stay informed via the ESF App and listen to weather announcements on television and radio.

We have very robust systems in place to ensure the safety of students, staff, and visitors. Practice drills for Emergency Evacuations and/or Lockdowns are held at least twice a year so that staff and students know what to do in the case of a real emergency. These drills are often held without warning in order to gauge our preparedness and improve our procedures (if necessary).

Emergency Evacuation

Emergency Evacuations will be carried out in cases of fire, gas leaks, bomb threats, or other emergency situations where it is deemed that safety will be enhanced by moving from the school building to the emergency assembly area, located on the KGV sports field. 

Lockdown

Lockdowns will be carried out in situations where it is deemed that staff, student and visitor safety will be enhanced by remaining in rooms. This could include threats both outside and inside of the school.

The bus service for JCSRS students is managed by ESF Centre and JCSRS. School staff work as Bus Escorts and they are First Aid trained.

Please note that we cannot offer a door-to-door service for the buses but where possible, taking into consideration safety, efficiency and sufficient number of students, we will try to accommodate your request.

NOTE: Any new routes or changes to a route will require a minimum of two weeks’ notice.

Information about school fees can be found here https://join-us.esf.edu.hk/school-fees/

For fee and deposit inquiries please contact ESF Billing at billing@esfcentre.edu.hk or (+852) 3762 2422.