Hi 5KP students and parents

I am excited to welcome you to the 2011-2012 school year and hope that you come to class well rested after a relaxing and happy Summer Vacation. It is important to get lots of rest in these first few weeks as you will be taking in lots of new information, meeting many people and getting your brain into gear for a year of learning.

I spent mine in Australia, which was NOT really a Summer holiday as it was winter down there! For the first two weeks, my daughters Hannah, Mimi and I went to the north/west of Australia to Ningaloo Reef which is a world heritage area and very beautiful. Hannah and I had a wonderful time swimming with whale sharks, seeing turtles, humpback whales on their migration path, and many different types of fish and coral.

We then flew to Melbourne to be reunited with Mr Power, your future tech teacher, and my husband. It was very very very cold in that part of the country and we spent a lot of time complaining about our ‘summer’ holiday but it is where most of our family live so it was great to catch up with them and also to visit our friends there. Our ‘home-town’ is Ballarat, Victoria and we spent most of the school holidays (two weeks) there looking at kangaroos, koalas, kookaburras and wild birds, enjoying all the good things an Aussie Winter has to offer.

Our final two weeks were spent in warmer weather on the Great Barrier Reef in Port Douglas, Queensland with another family that we love very much. We swam in the pool and at the beach and again Hannah had the opportunity to swim on the Reef, this time with her Dad. After a week there, we flew south to the Gold Coast of Australia and enjoyed a fast paced day at Seaworld which was a great way to end out time ‘Down Under’.

Now we are back home in Shanghai, starting our 7th year as teachers here. Mimi is starting Pre-K and Hannah will be just down the hall somewhere in 5th grade so it should be a very exciting year for the Power Family!

5KP will be starting their swimming unit on Thursday 18th of August during their P.E. lessons. The program will end on Monday, Aug. 29th. This is a great opportunity for students to improve their swimming and water safety skills, while having a safe and enjoyable experience. Please read the following guidelines below so as to make sure you are ready to begin the swimming program:

BATHING SUITS:

Girls should wear a one-piece bathing suit. Boys may wear Speedos, trunks or knee length Lycra suits; however, they should not wear bathing suits that are below their knees. Please make sure the condition of your suit is suitable. T-Shirts are not allowed. To ensure that the children do not forget their bathing suits, all students can leave their suits hanging in a designated place at the pool. When they arrive for their next lesson, the suits will be there, dry and waiting for them. Please clearly write your name on your bathing suit.

GOGGLES & CAPS:
Some students prefer to swim with goggles and some not. You can make do with basic, inexpensive goggles that are comfortable. Swimming Caps should be worn by all students with long hair as it makes swimming comfortable and is much more practical. At the very least, long hair should be tied back. Again, the students will leave their goggles here at the pool until the swimming unit is complete. Please clearly write your name on the cap and goggles.

TOWELS:
We are very fortunate on having clean towels for all our students. Students do not need to bring their towels. Towels are provided!

SICKNESS:
It is our policy in the PE department that if a child is attending school, then they must participate in physical activity. If you are well enough to be at school, then you are expected to participate in swimming.

This is a great opportunity for your child to receive professional and high quality instruction from a qualified and experienced aquatic staff, who will endeavor to provide a safe and friendly learning environment. Swimming is a life skill!!

For inquiries regarding this unit, feel free to contact the Aquatic Director, George Carpouzis, or your PE Teacher, Scott Hossack.

George Carpouzis
Tel: x3572
Email: george.carpouzis@saschina.org

My e mail address is kimbra.power@saschina.org if you have any questions parents. I look forward to meeting many of you at our Orientation Day next Tuesday and our Open House early next month.

Welcome to 5KP