Message from the Principal

Dear Parents,

After seven and a half wonderful years at SIS, it is my time to move on.

I can’t say that I have been surprised but leaving has been extraordinarily difficult. There are so many people here that I have been privileged to call my friends. So many wonderful memories of the children that have passed through our halls.

I say to our students that SIS is ‘no ordinary school’ and I believe that. The warmth, humanity and compassion in this community is unlike anything that I have ever known. The School has changed me in ways that have made me a better Principal and I feel, a better person. I leave SIS and (for now) Hong Kong with more than I could have ever hoped for. Hong Kong is our home and we will be back so I hope that this is only an ‘au revoir’ rather than a goodbye.

Schools are bigger than the sum of the people who work in them. SIS was a great school before I arrived and it will be a great school for many years to come. There are strong and principled people here who are aligned with our values and who care about children. Annette Chapman will be a wonderful Acting Principal for the next two Terms and the school will warmly embrace Tom Vignoles when he arrives in August. I almost envy him the experience because I know that he will feel the power of South Island as did I.

Of all of the many things that I will remember, the best experiences have been the simple ones. Seeing our children arrive in the morning and leave in the evening has been incredibly special. I will miss my friends from our IN department and I will miss my wonderful Tutor Group. Actually, I will miss all of it.

Thank you to our superbly supportive and positive parent community, this school is in safe hands. I wish you all the very best for the holiday season and a peaceful and prosperous 2018.

Warmest regards

Graham Silverthorne