December 15, 2023 | N 11-23-24
This week is a bridge, not just between semesters but between the ordinary and the extraordinary. We walk the halls not just as students or staff but as children of God, guided by the star of faith to a wonderful time of HOPE.
Let the anticipation grow within you. This week is not just any ordinary week; it's a time for us to prepare for the miracle and listen to the promise of Jesus, the Savior of the World!
May this final semester’s week before Christmas be a time of blessing as we behold the infant Jesus, the Word Made Flesh, the radiance of the glory of God, and the exact imprint of his nature - we can face the end of the year with hope and fullness of joy!
The school is buzzing with Christmas spirit! In two weeks, we have had many ways to come and enjoy the richness of our community starting with our heartwarming Christmas Production.
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This Wednesday, our Christmas Production showcased the expressive Primary and Middle School students, who took us on a journey through the Nativity story they have been preparing through their Drama and Music classes. Songs with motions and captivating performances painted a vivid picture of the season's true meaning. We are thankful to Nikki Baillie and Kate Honeybun for their exceptional dedication, nurturing not only talent, but also a deeper understanding of the significance of Christmas within our Christian community.
But the festivities didn’t stop there. To keep the warmth alive, we took school a bit more cozy and we brought pajamas on Thursday and today Friday, Christmas clothes! These Dress Up days are giving Christmas break vibes as we are looking forward to renewing our strength for the upcoming semester.
And to cap off the year in the best way possible, we're thrilled for the final event organized by Emily Prichard (Board Chair) and Kate Roden in benefit of scholarships for HOPE Students. We are more than grateful for the support of the many donors and generous givers who with small or big amounts contributed to our mission of bringing Christian Education for Christian workers in Cambodia.
Already over $8,000 has been raised, nearly 20% of Emily's goal! We invite you to join us this Saturday at 8 a.m. for an incredible celebration. Your presence and support, in any form, means the world to us. Come share the joy, celebrate Emily's birthday, and show your love for HOPE students!
Thanks for all the community's support in making our Christmas Fair a time to warm our hearts as we enter this festive season. Our MUN Club has been actively preparing for their trip to South Korea on January 6th. Please pray for a safe and enriching trip.
In addition, some of these students participated in the international MUN conference hosted by Lycée Français René Descartes (LFRD). Five HOPE students had the opportunity to debate, express their ideas, and represent their respective countries of Portugal (LEGAL) - Christian, Denmark (EA) - Yae Jun, Niger (EA) - Sehye, South Africa (WHO) - Juhyeon, and Pakistan (ECOFIN) - Bit. We commend this club's dedication and ability to excel in international student events.
The River Front field trip provided a valuable learning experience for High School Business and Geography students, aligning with the curriculum objectives of developing data collection and analysis skills and fostering an understanding of circularity within a local context. Additionally, the trip incorporated a hands-on pizza-making activity, reinforcing the application of theoretical business concepts in a practical setting. How fun it is to find these learning opportunities!
Students of the IB Spanish Class hosted a Christmas party to put into practice their learning achievements in class during the semester. Grades 11 and 12 needed to practice basic conversations talking about the country they were representing in a colorful program that included presentations, food, piñata, crafts, music and invited guests from different Hispanic backgrounds like: Mexico, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and the State of California in the US. The party's core objective aligned with the fundamental tenets of IB language acquisition: active communication, cultural immersion, and creative expression, which contribute to the development of critical thinking and social skills of Spanish Ab Initio students.
'High School Formal' is one of the traditions at HOPE. The student committee is already planning for the annual party. Expect more updates next semester! Get excited!
Learn how to read and write in Khmer Language. There will be three classes (Beginners, Intermediate, and Advance) taught by HOPE's Khmer Language teachers, Mrs. Sophorn, Ms. Sorya and Mrs. Sreyleak.
Khmer Language Extracurricular Club is optional and will take place after school hours, from 2:45 to 3:45 pm. This club will start on the 10th of January 2024 and conclude on the 1st of March 2024, Wednesdays and Fridays. Sign up in this form.
In August, we welcomed Mr. Alex Koh and Mrs. Christin Ang as external contractors. Both are trained in Abacus 3G from Singapore and have started after-school classes on campus.
Understanding the Abacus 3G Program. The program commences with students learning basic arithmetic using an abacus. As they gain proficiency, the focus shifts to Mental Calculation. In this phase, students are encouraged to visualize the abacus and perform calculations mentally, enhancing their mathematical skills. This approach has proven effective in improving students' speed, confidence, and accuracy in Mathematics.
The Abacus program is available for students aged five years and older. Classes are held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 2:45 to 4:15 pm on our campus.
Enrolling for the Upcoming Semester. We invite interested students to join us for the next semester. For detailed information, pricing and enrollment queries, please contact Mr. Alex Koh.
Whatsapp/Telegram: +855 78 297 852
Email: alexcurls@gmail.com
Taara Portela
Interim Secondary Principal
This issue of HOPE Connect highlights the myriad of ways that students are learning and growing on campus; in and out of the classroom. As teachers consolidate a whole semester’s worth of learning into a mark and a grade, what we truly celebrate is how our students thrive and develop character through the challenges they face. This semester has been a colourful mosaic of learning opportunities, each moment a different shade and shape that, over time, is creating a beautiful picture of God’s purpose and plan for the people of HOPE. I trust that over the break you will be able to take time to talk with your children about the ways they have learned and grown over this past semester, and we look forward to welcoming them all back in the new year!
Our students brought home 15 medals from the thrilling ISSAPP Cross-Country meet last Saturday, a testament to their months of dedicated training and vibrant passion for running! 142 runners from nine schools across the city took to the field at Northbridge International School of Cambodia early on race day, competing in five age-based categories (U11, U13, U15, U17, and U19) across 2K, 3K, and 4K distances.
The HOPE Community, made up of parents, staff, and volunteers, provided an energizing atmosphere of support and cheers, motivating our athletes to race well. HOPE's dedication was displayed not only in organizing this major event across schools of ISSAPP, but also in its ongoing commitment to promoting running through initiatives like our HOPE Cross-Country, the Siem Reap Marathon and the upcoming 40K for 40.
Congratulations to our students and their families for their unwavering determination and for making this event a resounding success! Check out the final details here in this document. Get some photos here!
We have already had our first friendly encounters for Middle School Football and High School Basketball this season 2. The results of the friendlies and reminders of trainings are available in the Sports Calendar and our Koupreys Instagram account. Please be informed that the campus will be closed during the break for renovations. Refer to the instructions provided in the CAMPUS section of this Connect.
Starting in January, HOPE will require Parent Lanyards for drop off, pick up, and any after school activities. Please go to this link to fill in the information to create your parent lanyard. The current procedure for signing in as a visitor or volunteer at the Front Office will remain in place during the school day (8:00-2:30) – the Parent Lanyards will be used before and after school only. Please contact Rachel Meyer or Bunnak Ket in the Front Office if you have any questions.
During the break, the campus will remain closed due to the construction work at the front of the school. Only scheduled sports activities will take place in the designated areas and the coaches will communicate ahead of time about which gate to use due to the construction.
We are happy to inform you that renovation is still ongoing!
We will develop a convenient drop-off and pick-up area for our community to improve safety during arrival and departure from school. The construction will start on December 18th during the Christmas break and is scheduled to be completed in the middle of January.
HOPE will do its best to communicate to families about the impact of construction, especially as we come back to school on Monday, January 8th, and we appreciate your patience throughout this project.
Pick-up and Drop-off area
Regarding the projects inside the campus–the roof above the Sahakom Cafe is now complete and we are now repainting and tiling that area, which will be a nice place to welcome the community.
Last but not least, our playground and reception area are now equipped with lights that will be on during the nighttime.
After the break, we will enter into a season of prayer and fasting to seek God's plan for the year ahead. Get ready! Classes will resume on January 8!
We are so thankful for our Staff. Austin has been giving so much Beyond the Classroom. We are always praying and looking for qualified Christian Teachers. If you know anyone, let them know they can apply at at hope.edu.kh/jobs
Take the time to pray for…
Grade 5
Richelle Maging
Chanthol Chhon
Departing staff
Chanseng Chheng (HR Officer)
Sreynith Khin (Art TA)
Sopheng Chev (Cover Teacher)
Austin Roden (CP)
Joe Martin (CP)
Math
Jerico Colon
Jeremy Horrocks
Matthew Xie
John Kennedy
Parent Resource Page
C9 Menu, calendars, SEQTA, and more! Our Parent page on the website is meant to be a one-stop-shop for most information you would need. You can access that HERE, or by going to our website and clicking on "Parents".
That's all!
Have a great BREAK!