Dear parents and caregivers,

It was wonderful to welcome so many Year 8 and 11 parents onto campus this week to witness performances and engage with them on students' passion projects and explorations of social action.

This year the school is enhancing our commitment to developing the global competencies of all students and these activities were valuable examples of the exceptional learning that is being driven through the myriad of programs and opportunities offered at Island School.

Our approach is research driven and based on the premise that global competencies are best mastered through:-

●   Higher-order cognitive processes that reach a deep level of understanding of content and issues in a contemporary world.

●   Including immersion in addressing issues that are often cross disciplinary.

●   Integrating academic and personal capabilities

●   Authentic, challenging and student centred activities which are designed to impact the world, locally or more widely

●   Practice in a range of settings and increasingly use digital and connectivity.

Congratulations to all of the students and teachers involved in this exhibition and a special thank you to parents who were able to attend.

Our school is committed to creating rich opportunities to engage with parents. After consulting with the ISPTA executive we have decided to introduce year level luncheons for parents. The first of these luncheons for Year 13 parents is as follows: 
Date: 24 February 2023
Menu 
1. Sole Meuniere with Roasted Vegetables. 
2. Lemongrass Chicken with Red Rice and Wok Fried Seasonal Vegetables.
3. Impossible Lasagna with Garlic Bread and Salad.
Early next week we will send parents an email including more details plus a prepay link. 

Finally the ESF stakeholder survey has been released to you via the ESF App. I appreciate you taking the time to provide us with your views on the schools performance so that we can identify our strengths and priorities for improvement.

Mr Stephen Loggie
Principal, Island School

IS Celebration Back to Borrett Hoodie!

It’s here! Order fast! Available for short time only!
 
The Back to Borrett Hoodie, designed by students with support from the PTA, celebrates our return to our home campus.
It is an all-weather hoodie that can be worn as part of the uniform. 
 
For each Hoodie sold, $40 will be donated to school-supported charities. 
 
When can I order?
The ordering period is from 20 Jan to 19 Feb 2023 at 11:59 pm. No extensions.
 
How do I order?
Order online via the links exclusive to Island School:
Style #1:  Back to Borrett Hoodie with personal name option (extra $60) or
Style #2:  Back to Borrett Hoodie without name
 
Only orders received via the above special links will be accepted for the Back to Borrett Hoodie. Please choose which hoodie you would like to order and click on that link. 
 
What sizes are available?
Sizes range from 10/11 to 18/19. Please see the detailed size guide and check measurements carefully. 
 
For quick reference, you may use the existing IS Fleece Jacket size. For example, check the jacket size of the larger of the combined measurement - for size 10/11 Hoodie, try Size 11 Fleece Jacket; for 16/17 Hoodie, try Size 17 Fleece Jacket. 
 
Samples of the regular pull-over hoodies in the PTA office are available if you wish to check sizes. 
 
What is the exchange and return policy? 
1) All pre-ordered Back to Borrett Hoodies are non-refundable.
2) Back to Borrett Hoodies without names are eligible for size exchanges subject to stock availability. No guarantees.
 
It’s important to check the measurements carefully to get the right size.
 
When will I get my Hoodie? 
Delivery is currently expected in late April/early May to your home address. Watch the newsletter for updates.
 
Please email pta@online.island.edu.hk for any assistance. 
 

Thank you to those of you that were able to attend the Global Citizenry at IS  Zoom coffee morning today. Please don’t hesitate to contact the school if you would like further clarification.

The slides used for the presentation on Global Citizenry at IS  are attached here. 

Slides
Recording

Gayle Marshall, Vice Principal

Early Closure
Parents are reminded that Island School will finish at 12:50 on Monday 6 February due to Year 12 Parent Consultations. Students can travel using their normal mode of transport.

Gavin Fausset, Vice Principal 

Message from the Middle Phase

Year 7-8 Former Beacon Hill School students show their peers the future. 
 
This week we welcomed 180 Year 5 and 6 students from Beacon Hill School onto campus. They engaged with taster lessons and participated in our Futures Curriculum Exhibition. They also had the opportunity to meet with their peers and BHS alumni, who are now in Years 7 and 8. These student leaders were fantastic ambassadors for the school, explaining what their lessons and the campus is like and what it means to be an Islander.

Island School Careers Afternoon (Year 9-11)
 
The Island School Higher Education team invites Year 9-11 students to join them on Friday, February 10th, 1.00-2.00 pm.
This session is for students in Years 9-11 and will be focused on career considerations, university life, and university major exploration. The speakers are respected Island School alumni who will share their own educational experiences beyond Island School and there will be an opportunity for a student Q&A. 
Speakers’ Profiles can be found here.
Places are limited and students are encouraged to sign up early using this google form. 
 

Message from the Senior Phase

Year 13
Thank you to the Year 13 parents who joined us on Tuesday for the Parent Information Evening.  The slides and recording can be found here.
 
Year 13 enjoyed a breakfast with the Senior Phase staff and Y13 tutors on Wednesday morning to mark the start of their final term of lessons.  This was followed by an assembly to give some key messages to the year group about the term ahead.  

Year 13 will hand in their TOK essay next week and CAS Exit interviews will be completed by Friday, February 10th.  Passing the Core is a key component of both the DP and CP Pathways and to mark this milestone and achievement, students will be able to claim a Core Completed sticker and a voucher for the coffee shop from the Senior Learning Hub.  Well done to Year 13!

Year 12 Parent Consultations next week
Y12 parents are invited to make appointments via Gateway for the Y12 Parent Consultations that will take place on Monday, February 6th via Zoom.  Please note that students are expected to join these meetings.
 
Year 12 DP Students - The Extended Essay launch
In Phase Time this week, the Extended Essay was launched with Year 12 DP students. The EE forms part of the IBDP Core. Mr Otto, the Extended Essay Coordinator, spoke to students about the process of writing, topic and subject selection, supervision and Extended Essay timeline. Students have been asked to begin thinking about their areas of interest and how they could explore these in their Extended Essay. 
 
Year 11 Semester Two
As Year 11 reach the end of their Elements courses this week, an assembly was held on Thursday to explain how Elements lesson time will be spent in semester two for Year 11.  Our Elements and Island Futures Curriculum aims to develop students’ key competencies and this will continue in semester 2. On Mondays, Year 11 will begin The Bridge Programme.  This programme aims to prepare students for Year 12 and Year 13 and includes:

• Individual study time
• Higher education guidance
• Additional Thrive sessions 
• An introduction to DP TOK and to CP Personal Projects that students will engage with in Year 12.

On Wednesdays, students will prepare for the end of Year 11 exhibition and take part in additional GCSE revision sessions.
 
Island School Career Afternoon

The Island School Higher Education team invites Year 9-11 students to join them on Friday, February 10th, 1.00-2.00 pm.
This session is open to students in Year 11 and will be focused on career considerations, university life, and university major exploration. The speakers are respected Island School alumni who will share their own educational experiences beyond Island School and there will be an opportunity for student Q&A. 
Speakers’ Profiles can be found here.
Places are limited and students are encouraged to sign up early using this google form. 
 
SAT for Y12 and Y13
The SAT is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States. West Island School is a registered test center for the SAT tests. This will be the first administration of the digital SAT, and students can register now for the upcoming test dates.  Please click here for further information.

ISPTA Term 1 Newsletter

Our Term 1 Newsletter is out, have a look at a recap of last term’s highlights.

 

To contact ISPTA please email pta@online.island.edu.hk
To learn more about the ISPTA visit https://island.edu.hk/pta-home/

You can see previous news items at http://island.edu.hk/island-news/. 

Don’t forget to Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/islandschool/ for more photos and videos of school life.

You can see previous news items at http://island.edu.hk/island-news/. 

Don’t forget to Like us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/islandschool/ for more photos and videos of school life.