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Message from the Principal
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 Dear Parents and caregivers
The past years of disruption have crystalized for us the importance of the role that quality relationships play in supporting our students to develop to their fullest potential. Our students deserve and need to feel that our school deeply cares about them as individuals and is invested in their personal journey.
There are essential ingredients to building a rich school culture with a deep social fabric. We talk about these regularly in the meeting, and we emphasize the importance of school/home partnerships in this endeavour.
Today I would like just to revisit the importance of having fun together as a school community. It’s my view that having fun together is one of the most important things we do to build our school culture and connections. I think most would agree that our students work hard and need opportunities to put down their responsibilities and enjoy their adolescence.
It’s my experience that when teachers and parents take time to honor this endeavour then relationships form that enable young people to feel supported and valued. Hanging out and doing fun things with them also models that a rich life includes time for recreation with important others.
Today is our school fair. This is possibly the best opportunity across the school year to come together and have fun. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank the ISPTA, who have worked tirelessly alongside the students and staff to ensure the fair will be a memorable and enjoyable event for all.
Please don’t be deterred by the weather. It may cause a few inconveniences, but the organizers have gone to great lengths to minimize any impact.
We have waited many years to be able to come together at a school fair. I am sure that attendees will be reminded of the uniqueness of the Island School community and the high quality of relationships that drive it. And at a personal level, I’m sure they’ll have a blast.
Best wishes,
Mr Stephen Loggie
Principal, Island School
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 THE SPRING FAIR IS ON!
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IS Spring Fair, 21 April 2023
The Island School Spring Fair is ON, rain or shine! Please join us, now largely undercover, on Friday, 21 April, from 4.00 – 8.30pm as scheduled. Activities will take place indoors and in covered areas, but umbrellas, comfortable shoes and a sunshine-y attitude are strongly encouraged. Come and enjoy tasty food, great entertainment and a really, really big cake! Check the Fair Program for more details, including the layout of the stalls. Gentle reminder to bring your own water bottles and containers to support a green fair.
For people who registered for the complimentary bus service, please keep in mind a few guidelines to make boarding buses a pleasant and efficient experience for all.
- Please take the bus at the time slot for which you are registered. Simply show your e-ticket to board the bus from the GPO pick-up point. Those without e-tickets will only be allowed to board the bus if there are seats remaining.
- Buses will depart in a staggered manner, so your patience, should you need to wait a little longer, is greatly appreciated.
- You may default to the #9 mini-bus across the street at the Exchange Bus depot, though this is not a complimentary service.
See you there!
To contact ISPTA, please email pta@online.island.edu.hk
To learn more about the ISPTA, visit https://island.edu.hk/pta-home/
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Operations Update
Quest Week
The much anticipated Quest Week sign-up will open this Saturday. As a reminder, in order for your child to sign-up for international trips they are required to have uploaded THESE documents. The system will open as follows:
- Y12: Sat 22 April @ 8:00am
- Y11: Sun 23 April @ 8:00am
- Y9 & Y10: Mon 24 April @ 8:05am during registration
- CLOSES to all Wed 26 April @ 10:00pm
- Deposit payment for trip due – Week of 1-5 May
Next week’s events:
- 24th-28th: Environmental Week - Biodiversity (Social Action)
- 24th: ISSFHK U12 Boys Football @IS
- 24th: ISSFHK U12 Girls Netball @IS
- 24th: ISSFHK U14 Girls Netball @IS
- 25th: ISSFHK U12 Boys Volleyball @IS
- 25th: Taster Day for Y6 (Group 1)
- 25th: STEM Guest Speaker
- 27th: Taster Day for Y6 (Group 2)
- 27th: Sports Awards
- 28th: Y9 Netball Inter-House
- 28th: Y10 Parent Lunch
Gavin Faussett, Vice Principal Operations
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Message from the Middle Phase
Year 7 & Year 9 Parent Consultation Afternoons (via Zoom)
Parents will have received an email today about when and how to make appointments with subject teachers using the Gateway System. The system will open for booking at 9:00am next Monday, 24th April. These meetings are an important opportunity to hear feedback about your child’s progress and achievement.
Taking care of our personal possessions
We have reminded students this week about the importance of looking after their valuables. In the event that it is essential to bring cash or expensive personal equipment into school, these should be kept in the lockers provided.
Merit Award Winners
Congratulations to all the Merit winners this week.
Mark Jobling, Vice Principal, Middle Phase
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Message from the Senior Phase
On Monday, Year 11 begin study leave for their iGCSE examinations. The end of Year 11 lessons was marked today with a celebratory, student-led assembly for Year 11. The students celebrated their tutor groups and enjoyed a wonderful musical performance from Anais Lambert (11R). We wish Y11 all the very best with their examinations.
 Year 11 Competency Exhibitions
Congratulations to Year 11 on completing their competency exhibitions. Staff enjoyed listening to students explain how they have developed their creativity, communication, citizenship, critical thinking, collaboration and character through their Island Futures learning. The exhibitions were very impressive. Thank you to the parents who joined these presentations.
Access to school during study leave
Year 11 and Year 13 students are very welcome to attend school between 7.30 am and 4.30 pm (and may arrive later for exams taking place after 4.30 pm) during study leave. Students on study leave must sign-in and out with the security guard and should not arrive between 2.50 and 3.10 pm as that is when the rest of the school is leaving campus.
Many students will come to school to revise with their friends and to connect with teachers. A number of structured revision sessions are also in place and students are encouraged to attend.
Structured Revision Sessions (Group sessions for Y11 and Y13)
The gym will also be available to students during study leave and the PE department will share the session times with students.
Y13 ‘Sign off’ Process
Students will have received emails today reminding them of the ‘sign off’ procedures. If students have any loaned textbooks or library books, they must return them to a staff member in the Library. Some of the students will also be informed of any outstanding payments due.
Please kindly return all books or settle and payment latest by Thursday, 11 May.
Any outstanding payments may result in your child's documents such as school transcripts, exam result slips and/or certificates issued by exam boards, being withheld.
In addition, please kindly be advised that all items from student lockers should be emptied by Monday, 23 May. After this date, locks will be dismantled and all items inside the lockers will be discarded.
Year 12 DP Students Extended Essays
This week and next week, Year 12 DP students will meet with their EE supervisor to discuss the next steps for the EE. Supervisors will be supporting students to focus their research questions and provide guidance about how to conduct research, and techniques for gathering and analysing information/evidence/data.
Year 12 Parents - Save the Date
Please save the date for the term 3 Year 12 Zoom Parent Information Session at 6 pm on May 11th. During this session, the Senior Phase Team will share information about term 3 including practice examinations, university-predicted grades and Year 12 Tutoring for Learning.
Beth Hall, Vice Principal, Senior Phase.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REMINDERS
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STEM Talks
On 25th April from, 3.15 - 4.30, people who work in the fields of STEM are coming to Island School to talk about their experiences and career journeys. The talks are open to all year groups and this is an excellent opportunity for students to learn from experts in the field of STEM. All talks will be in the Performance Space and there will be refreshments provided. Click the link to find out more and register.
Read more
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Study Smart Newsletter
Welcome to the April edition of our Study Smart newsletter, we're here to help you with your studying needs.
This is the fourth newsletter, and all of our newsletters contain interviews with high-scoring students from Y12 and Y13 on,
how to pass your IGCSEs while obtaining high-scoring marks across all subjects.
Read more
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Flu Season
Island School in the last week has seen a higher number of students suffering from high fevers and cold and flu symptoms.
Please can all parents/guardians monitor your child’s body temperature before school daily over the coming weeks.
If your child has a fever (oral temperature above 37.8C or ear temperature of 38C or above) regardless of the presence of respiratory symptoms they should not attend school and seek medical advice.
If your child has suffered from a fever they should not return to school until 48 hours after the fever has subsided without the use of any medication.
Please advise your child if they feel unwell during school hours to attend the medical room. If absent from school due to illness please remember to email the school at absences@online.island.edu.hk and inform them of the nature of your child's illness.
In addition to help prevent the spread of germs within the school, please remind your child to maintain good hand hygiene by washing with soap and water or using hand sanitizer regularly.
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Congratulations Wilberforce, winners of the 2023 Athletics day, and all the athletes that competed for their House.
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SCMP Featuring Two Islanders
This week the South China Morning Post newspaper celebrated its 120th anniversary by featuring two Islanders, Year 12 Anson Chan, and alumna Shalini Mahtani, founder of The Zubin Foundation.
The South China Morning Post asked six readers of the newspaper why they enjoy it. They talked to people from very different walks of life including, a restaurateur and a property developer plus Anson and Shalini.
Shalini Mahtani (Wilberforce) is founder of The Zubin Foundation an independent non-profit organization that raises awareness about social issues in Hong Kong. Anson Chan (Fleming) hopes to study medical research after graduating from school and is a committed athlete.
See the SCMP's short advert here.
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Teachers Shortlisted For Dedicated Teachers Awards
We are delighted to announce that Ms Mary Lacey-Vittachi and Mr Paul Atkinson have been shortlisted for the Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards 2023, a global competition that honours and celebrates the outstanding work of teachers around the world.
Read more
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Junior Schools Debating Competition
On the 18th and 19th of March, students from the Debate and Public Speaking ECA represented Island School in the annual Junior Schools Debating Competition, also known as Junior SDC 2023. They made it to the quarterfinals and ranked 8th place overall, having won three out of four rounds. Congratulations team!
Read more
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Spanish Consulate Video Competition
The Spanish Consulate in Hong Kong and Macao are running a video competition during the month of April for students of the Spanish language. Island School students were invited to submit their videos to the Spanish department. The videos were required to be 45-60 seconds in length and should feature the student talking in Spanish about their favourite singer or actor.
Read more
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WANBO Term 3 Events
Now in our last term of the year, WANBO is happy to announce a plethora of new, exciting and interesting events.
Read more
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Food Carton & Waste Recycling Services
Thank you, Island School, for your enthusiastic and continued support during our 2023 Green Week, Tetra Pak Recycling Inter-house competition! We managed to collect close to 2000 Tetra paks over two weeks!
Read more
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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.
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