Monthly Newsletter (September 2024)
> PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE
> UPCOMING EVENTS & INFORMATION
> RECENT HAPPENINGS
> STUDENT CELEBRATIONS
> AUGUST WEEKLY NEWSLETTERS
> KEY DATES & REMINDERS
Principal’s Message
Principal’s Vlog
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I am thrilled to share the latest updates from South Island School. This month’s video showcases our new staff sharing their experiences from the first seven weeks of the school year. Time has certainly flown by! You’ll also get to know us better in the quick-fire question round. For the final question, we each reveal who we would invite as our dinner guest and why. I believe you will all find our selected guests would lead to a very engaging and entertaining dinner conversation. Happy listening.
A key factor in our success at South Island School is our strong and supportive School Council, along with its subcommittees. These dedicated individuals act as our critical friends, celebrating our achievements while posing thought-provoking questions that keep us focused on our goals. In the past two weeks, we held our first School Council meeting and our first Finance, Premises & People (FPP) subcommittee meeting. These committees consist of a diverse group of stakeholders who generously volunteer their time to make a significant impact at our school. We are incredibly grateful for their commitment, which ensures that South Island School remains an excellent learning environment.
Last week, we had the privilege of hosting members from the English Schools Foundation (ESF) during our Partnership Visit. They assisted us in reviewing our goals from the previous year and helped us establish new objectives for the upcoming year. Their expertise will play a vital role in our ongoing growth and development as an educational institution.
Additionally, the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) held a Zoom meeting last night, bringing together parents, staff, and, most importantly, our wonderful students to plan our Night Fest event, scheduled for Friday, November 15th. This is an event you won’t want to miss, so please mark the date in your calendars! The committee’s enthusiasm and dedication to organising this community event highlight the incredible support we have from everyone at South Island School.
We take great pride in our achievements thus far and remain committed to building on them. South Island School is a place where students flourish, explore their interests, and develop the skills needed to succeed in a changing world. The ongoing support from our committees and caring individuals is crucial in fostering this environment of excellence.
Looking ahead, we will continue to explore ways to enhance our offerings and provide the best educational experience for our students. I encourage you to stay involved in our school community and share your ideas and feedback, as your input is essential to our success in serving all students.
Thank you for your continued support, and I wish you a wonderful weekend ahead.
Helen Thew
Principal of South Island School
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UPCOMING EVENTS & INFORMATION
(1) UPDATE ON STUDENT GRANT (2024/25 School Year)
- $2,500 for all full-time students
- Applicants must have an “iAM Smart+” account with a digital signing function.
- Applicants can login to the “e-Submission of Student Grant Applications” via the “iAM Smart” App direct, or click the link https://stgsesweb.edb.gov.hk/
- The e-submission platform will open at 6:00 a.m. on 13 September 2024 and close after 11:59 p.m.on 2 October 2024.
- For details of “iAM Smart” registration, please visit https://www.iamsmart.gov.hk.
- Applicants may refer to the “Student Grant – Parent’s Guide on e-Submission of Applications” HERE
- EDB will inform the applicants of the application status and other related matters via SMS and/or email. Applicants can also check their application status on the e-platform and use its other functions, such as updating or amending information, or uploading supporting documents as requested by EDB.
- Paper application procedures will be announced after the completion of the e-submission period. We therefore strongly encourage parents to apply by e-submission in order to receive the grant earlier.
(2) PTA: Connect and Celebrate: Join Our New Parent Meet-Up!
Dear Parents,
We are excited to invite you to our New Joiners’ Lunch on 18th October 2024 from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. This is a great chance to connect with other parents who are also starting this new journey.
By joining us, you will have the opportunity to build relationships, share insights, and strengthen our community. Connecting with fellow parents can also provide valuable support and friendship as you navigate new routines and experiences together.
Event Details:
Date: 18th October 2023
Time: 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM (Registration starts at 1:30 PM)
Location: Refectory, 2/F South Island School
To sign up, please use this [link] by 10th October . We look forward to seeing you there!
Best regards,
SIS-PTA
(3) THE 61ST HONG KONG SCHOOLS DANCE FESTIVAL
The 61st Hong Kong Schools Dance Festival has begun accepting registrations, and we would like to invite the dancers of SIS to take note of this information.
As there will be limited slots for representatives in each dance category from every school, we will need to select the representatives from within our school. If you are interested in participating, please carefully review the rules and regulations provided here and COMPLETE this form by 2 October, Wednesday. I will hold a meeting afterwards if there are more students or groups than required. For more information, please look at their website here.
Before the representatives are officially confirmed, please avoid making any advance payments, as it may necessitate a refund process through the Hong Kong Schools Dance Association, which could be time-consuming for your parents.
I understand that the official deadline is 14 October, but considering our upcoming half-term break, we would like to resolve this before then. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Mrs Holyoak holyob1@sis.edu.hk
Regards,
Mrs Holyoak
(4) THE 77TH HKSMA MUSIC FESTIVAL
The enrollment for the 77th HKSMA Music Festival begins at 10:00 on 26th September. Students can use the link below to enroll. Although the enrollment deadline for HKSMA is on 25th October, the school needs to close the enrollment at 17:00pm on 18th October due to the MaD Week and prepare the cheque payment to HKSAM on behalf of the students.
SIS’s HKSMA membership allows the school to enroll students from Year 8 to Year 13 only, similar to a local secondary school. This means that the school cannot enroll students who are in Year 7 and equivalent to P6 students. Year 7 students can enroll through an outside educational organisation or a HKSMA member with personal membership.
https://asas.hktedu.com/hksmsa/15393/48060#front
Regards,
Angus Choi
(5) BOX OF HOPE
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RECENT HAPPENINGS
(1) Medical and Health Society – Launch for New Initiatives for 2024-2025
The Medical and Health Society recently held its first Whole Society Meeting of the academic year, setting the stage for an exciting array of programs and initiatives.
Key Highlights:
- Introduction of the new MedCore leadership team
- Launch of an enhanced Membership Programme
- Presentation of updates in Communications, Education, and Opportunities
- Strengthened focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and personalised support
The society was honored to have our new Principal, Ms. Helen Thew, and Teacher Advisor, Mr. Scott MacKinnon, address the meeting. Their support and guidance are invaluable as the society moves forward with its plans.
“We’re thrilled about the upcoming year,” said Matthew Leung, Head of Communications and Engagement. “Our team has worked hard to create programs that will provide real value to our members and contribute meaningfully to healthcare advocacy and student support at SIS.”
The society looks forward to rolling out its revamped membership program, new HealthContent series, and expanded HealthConnect opportunities throughout the year.
Students interested in joining the Medical and Health Society or learning more about its programs are encouraged to contact Head of Membership and Recruitment, Joelle Leung at leungj5@webmail.sis.edu.hk. Applications are now available on the TGM.
We thanks all attendees of the first meeting and looks forward to a year of growth and learning in the field of healthcare education.
(2) ISSFHK U16 Girls Volleyball Match Report
Despite a tough beginning against RCHK in the friendly match, the SIS u16 girls showed resilience and determination. Though we faced challenges with communication and strong serves from RCHK, Maggie DOWDING’s powerful and consistent serves allowed us to score crucial points. Unfortunately the gap was just too big and our team wasn’t able to come back from it.
The second set started off strong, our team managed to tighten up our defence and even got a couple of aces! The court was able to witness a beautiful symphony of athleticism and precision when Zoe VILLEMEUR’s butter set led to Lara CASSIAGO’s vigorous spike, which sent echoes through the court. Our team played with great harmony and teamwork, leading to our wins in the next two sets, ultimately clinching a 2-1 triumph.
In our second league match against WIS, the u16 girls made minimal mistakes on the court. Team spirit was high, and thanks to our defence specialist, Charlotte WONG, we were able to save many tips and free balls from the opposing team. A memorable moment marked when team captain Vanessa WONG did her infamous topspin jump serve, which caught the opposing team off guard and earned us the point. After an exuberant and spirited match against WIS, our South Island team secured a resounding 2-0 victory.
Sophie Chan 10M2
(3) U20 girls basketball Varsity
This Thursday 26/9, the Varsity Girls Basketball Team showed their dominance on the court against KGV, finishing the game with a score of 47-21. Esther won the tip and tipped the ball to Hillary, scoring the first basket for the night, leading the team to a head start. The girls remained in the lead the entire game. Good work to all the girls on their first win of the season! Keep up the amazing performance! #bleedgreen
Viera Yip
U20 girls basketball Varsity Team team captain
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Student Celebration
(1) District Age Group Swimming Competitions – Blake AuYeung (7S2)
Despite facing taller and older competitors, Blake (7S2) demonstrated an outstanding performance in the recent District Age Group Swimming Competitions hosted by LCSD. He clinched three medals out of four events and set new personal best records along the way.
WanChai District:
50m Back – Silver (33.9s PB)
200m IM – Gold (2:38.13 PB)
Southern District:
100m Breast – Bronze (1:24.53)
He’s eagerly anticipating representing SIS in the upcoming ISSFHK competitions. Way to go Blake!
(2) U19 China Cricket League – Isley Lu (12N1) and Isaac Lu (10N2)
Isley Lu 12N1 and Isaac Lu 10N2, representing Hong Kong U19 Girls and Boys team, playing in Shan Dong for the China Youth Cricket League over summer, winning a first place and a runners up with the team.
Bravo guys!
(3) The HKFYG Leadership Institute “Hong Kong 200” Leadership Project 2024 & 2024 Asian Rowing U19 Championships – Hailey TANG (12B2)
Over the summer Hailey completed the “Hong Kong 200” Leadership Project 2024. This project aims to cultivate capable and discerning young leaders who are passionate and proactive in offering sound solutions for the society. Through a rigorous selection process, the HKFYG Leadership Institute selected 200 students who are current or former holders of leadership positions within and outside of their schools in HK. Hailey participated in a series of skill labs and project-specific skills training, and she had the opportunity to interview the President and Secretary General of the Hong Kong Legislative Council. The highlight of the Project is each participant had to team up making a proposal to address either the livelihood or industry aspect of the society. Hailey assembled a team of ten students and completed a proposal on how to increase the engagement of the elderly within society through a mobile application for skills exchange between the elderly and young people. She then led her team in pitching their proposal to a panel and all participants.
Hailey does not stop! Last week Hailey (12B2) represented Hong Kong at the 2024 Asian Rowing U19 Championships (2024 ARJC) in Shenyang, China. 376 athletes from 19 countries/ areas in Asia competed in this year’s Championships. A very high standard racing where Hailey and her teammates competed against professional rowers in the Women’s U19 4-race.
Great job Hailey! We are very proud!
(4) Opera Hong Kong Children’s Chorus original musical production of Scheherazade (1001 Arabian Nights) – Cameron Lee (10N1)
Over the summer Cameron Lee (10N1) performed two roles — the Chief Thief of the 40 Thieves and the Vizier to the King — in Opera Hong Kong Children’s Chorus original musical production of Scheherazade (1001 Arabian Nights) premiering at the Sheung Wan Civic Centre Theatre. He was also recognised by the coaches (including the Director, Composer, and Music Director) with the Best Performance Award.
Cameron will next perform as part of the children’s chorus in Opera Hong Kong’s upcoming 5 performances of Turandot in the Grand Theatre of the HK Cultural Centre, October 10-13.
Turandot https://www.operahongkong.org/turandot2024/
Keep performing Cameron! You’re a star!
(5) Hong Kong Football Representative U11 Team Call-up – Jared Chan (7N1)
Jared Chan is officially a member of Hong Kong’s Football U11 Team. From 20-22th September, he went to Macau for training and represented Hong Kong in competitions against teams from Guangdong and Macau. The first game vs Guangdong was suspended in the18th minute due to the thunderstorm. Another game vs Macau was drawn at 3-3 at the end of full-time with the team winning in the penalty shootout.
Congratulations Jared!
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MONTH WEEKLY NEWSLETTERS
Linked below are this month’s weekly newsletters:
REMINDERS & KEY DATES
OCTOBER
- OCT 1 National Day
- OCT 4 Interhouse – Football & Netball Y8
- OCT 11 Chung Yeung Festival
- OCT 7-13 HALF TERM BREAK
- OCT 18 Interhouse – Benchball Y7
Please access the latest school calendar HERE and the 2024-2025 Calendar HERE
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If your child has a particular highlight or achievement you would like to share with the community, please email a short description and photo to ebulletin@sis.edu.hk
