Dear families,
We are delighted to welcome back our students and extend our warmest welcome to new students and families who are joining us for the academic year 2023-2024. The start of a school year can be daunting for students and parents alike, so rest assured we are here to help you in whatever way we can to ensure you feel at ease regarding this transition.
New student day:
We are excited to welcome our new students and families to H-FARM International School. On Monday 4th September please make your way to the Hill. Students will meet other new arrivals and be introduced to their mentors.
Class lists:
Class lists with MYP 1 will be shared with students on the first morning of school on Tuesday September 5th. MYP 2 and MYP 3 students have already had classlists shared with them. New students will be informed of their classes on ‘New student day’ on Monday September 4th.
On the morning of Tuesday September 5th, all students will meet their mentors and spend the morning with them. They will receive their timetables and meet new classmates, and make some new friends, during this time.
Team building activities:
All years will have the opportunity to partake in a unique ‘team building’ day at the start of this term. This is a fantastic opportunity to develop communication skills, understand leadership roles, and to make some new friends along the way. We have arranged for a specialised team to join us for this day who will bring their expertise and skills to share with our students. The cost for each student will be 45 Euros.
Please log in with your email address in the enrollment platform and select “Field trips” as per the screen shot. Selecting the school year 2022-23, you will find the products “MYP 1 (MYP 2 – MYP 3) – Team Building September 2023”. We will let you know when the platform will open to accept the payment.
Lunch will be provided, so all we need is for students to turn up in comfortable clothes and bring their enthusiasm!
Schedule
13th September – M2
14th September – M1
15th September – M3
Equipment and book lists:
Equipment lists have been made available through the Student Office. If you are in doubt regarding what equipment your child needs to bring to school for a particular subject, please check with our school office and they will be able to help.
The book lists will be shortly sent through the class teacher or the Student Office.
MYP 3 H-Assessment & Terza media:
MYP 3’s will be making an important choice this year regarding the examinations they would like to take at the end of the year. Students will choose between the H-Assessment (Internal IB Focused exams) and Terza Media. There will be an opportunity for parents to discuss these options with Mr Iacco and Mr Ramagli in the first weeks of term, with a decision required by September 30th.
Important policies worth noting:
Phones and Smart watches – These are not permitted at any time. Smart watches (including Apple watches) are to be placed in lockers and remain there for the day. If your child needs to contact you, they will be able to do this through the Student Office.
Punctuality – From 8:30 – 8:45 each day we have Mentor time. This is a section of the day that allows the mentors time to communicate any news with the mentees and also allow for welfare check-ins. 8:30 is the start of school and all students should be present in homeroom at this time.
Homework – We have made important amendments to our homework policy. Due to the length of the school day and the distance travelled by many of our students, homework will now only be given in Maths in English. MYP 3 students will also have reading and studying assignments in Italian as part of their Terza Media preparation.
Uniform – As mentioned in our school policy, all students are required to wear an H-FARM top, with dark/khaki/cream trousers. Blue jeans are not permitted for MYP 1-3. All MYP students are required to wear school uniforms, and we ask that all students follow the school dress code. Parents and families, please place uniform orders directly with our supplier Opaco using this link. For any questions on sizes, materials, deliveries or returns, please contact the provider directly at customer.hfarm@opacoitalia.it
Amor/Vending machines – MYP 1-3 students receive a breaktime snack at the 10:15 recess, therefore there is no need to use the school vending machines or go to Amor. Please ensure your child does not come to school with money for this purpose.
Lockers – MYP students will have a locker to store books and school supplies; lockers can be locked with a combination padlock (not provided by the school). We recommend using padlocks with a 5-6mm thick ring due to the unique shape of the locker closure (if it is thinner, the locker may open; if it is thicker, it will not fit into the lock).
We are delighted to be starting this year with you and your family. Our school is built on trust and partnership, and these key foundations will hopefully ensure a year of collaboration with you as parents. The School of Notice (SON) will be published every week via the school app so please follow this to ensure you are up-to-date with all events happening in the school.
We look forward to welcoming you.
Kind regards
Mr Paul Iacco, Head of Programme MYP 1-3