Dear Parents,
I hope this message finds you well. As we navigate these challenging times, I wanted to update you on our current situation at South Island School. We find ourselves facing another day of online learning, marking the second Friday in a row where our students are continuing their education from home.
In these difficult times, we are fortunate to have access to the technology that allows us to stay connected as a school community. Through this connectivity, we can continue supporting our students in their educational journey. However, we recognise that each family's circumstances are unique, and not everyone may have stable internet access or that all children are able to learn online effectively.
It's crucial for all of us to understand that the purpose of setting work online is to help our students and should not become a source of undue stress. If you believe your child would not benefit from or simply cannot participate in online learning, please reassure them that it's perfectly okay. We understand that everyone copes with these changes differently, and we want to prioritise their well-being above all else. Encourage your child to reach out to their teachers if they feel overwhelmed or have concerns about their learning. Our dedicated faculty is here to support them in any way they can.
[Photo: 41A, 76 Bus Stop on Nan Fung Road across the street from school]
The whole week posed unique challenges for us as a community. The journey to and from school posed some hazards, with fallen trees and debris still filling our sidewalks. I am very pleased to report that the community came together and supported each other. We had extra staff volunteering their time to ensure the journey for students was safe, our senior students stepped up and helped as well. The students responded very well to the changes we had to implement and travel to and from school was smooth and safe. Thank you to all parents who contacted us to alert us to issues and offered their assistance. It was such a wonderful week that demonstrated the uniqueness of the South Island School Community.
Throughout this newsletter, you will find more examples of what makes our school so special!
Thank you for your continued support, stay safe, and I hope you have a lovely weekend.
Carolyn Andrews
Interim Principal
(1) GIRLS BASKETBALL VS WEST ISLAND
Our Girl’s Basketball season kicked off with a pre-season friendly against West Island School. WIS were first on the score sheet with a quick basket from an unfortunate turnover. Solid defence from both teams kept the score low, and WIS went into half-time with a 2 point lead. The 3rd quarter saw SIS get into foul trouble and WIS extending the lead to 4 points. The final quarter was a basket for basket tug of war, with WIS finding themselves in foul trouble close to the final whistle and managing to cling on for the win. Final score: SIS 7 - WIS 11.
A shout out to Viera Yip (12M1) for a motivating and inspiring performance as captain. The woman of the match goes to Sophie Aranha (11S1), leading SIS with 4 points and 3 thunderous blocks.
(2) HONG KONG PSYCHOLOGY INTER-SCHOOL COMPETITION
The 2nd Hong Kong Psychology Inter-school competition saw students across ESF and Victoria Shanghai Academy in a whole day collaboration on the theme of increasing prosocial behaviour in the community.
Students from seven schools, with teams of six each, were present at King George V for the workshop. They collaborated on the topic of prosocial behaviour, participated in workshops on accessing and evaluating strategies and research related to increasing prosocial behaviours, and finally, worked together to create and present ideas for a campaign of their choice, using evidence-based strategies to tackle a real social problem in our school.
Final presentations and judging will take place on the 27 September when each school will present their ideas to a panel of psychologists.
Led by our Head of Psychology, Ms Sonisha Kriplani, the SIS team was composed of six students from Year 11 GCSE Psychology classes: Victoria Lu 11C2, Matthew Leung 11C2, Selina Daswani (11K1), Andrea Lau (11N2), Adyya Tiwari (11M1), and Bernice Ng (11B1)
Wishing them all the best for presentation day!
(1) ESF INTERNATIONAL EVENING 2023
The ESF International Evening is back again! Yes, you read that right, the ESF International Evening is BACK and will be held IN PERSON this year!
If you are interested in sharing and representing your culture, sign up as a performing act NOW! This is a perfect opportunity for YOU to shine on stage and showcase your culture under the spotlight.
Details:
Performances:
An audition video is required to apply (max. 3 minutes)
Performances can be, but are not limited to, (group/individual) music performances, dance performances, etc.
The performance should represent a culture/country of your choice.
Selected performers will be informed by 13 October 2023. The deadline for sign-ups is 30 September 2023.
Please sign up HERE!
If you have any questions/concerns, please contact Mrs Sanker (sankers1@rchk.edu.hk) or Joi Lam Chow (chowj20@rchk.edu.hk).
Thank you, and we look forward to receiving your submissions!
(2) INTER-HOUSE FOOD DRIVE
As part of their community project, Y11 students Chloe Liu (11N1), Sheryl Kim (11K2) and Sarah Moy (11M1), will be hosting an Inter-House food donation/collection drive to raise awareness on the global issue: Food waste. In collaboration with the MaD council, the food drive will take place next week, 11 September - 15 September, during morning time (before tutor period), break time, and lunch. All collected items will be donated to FoodLink Foundation, a local charity that collects safe-to-eat surplus food from F&B outlets all over the city and delivers to those in need.
The event will take place at the school front entrance (across from the Cafe), and boxes will be available for each house's donations.
All participating houses will receive house points, while the house with the most food donations will get extra points!
Here are the criteria for accepted foods:
YES TO:
NO TO:
REQUIREMENT: Please ensure food items are at least 3 months from expiry!
We welcome all members, students, teachers, and parents of the South Island Community! Please come and join us to make a difference in our local community!
(3) STUDENT HEALTH SERVICES
To safeguard students' physical and psychological health, the Department of Health is now enroling students for the Student Health Assessment programme for the 2023/2024 school year. The Student Health Assessment is a free of charge programme for eligible students. Please find the Department of Health notes HERE, which explain the eligibility criteria for this free assessment. For those who wish to enrol in the Student Health Service, kindly download and complete the consent form HERE and submit a hard copy (no soft copies) to the school reception before September 20, 2023.
Additionally, the school is still receiving applications for the Influenza Vaccination Programme 2023-2024, scheduled for 14 November. Parents interested in having their child receive the influenza vaccine free of charge will need to sign up by Monday, 25 September 2023. Please find registration and vaccination programme information HERE. Please note, for proof of identification, only a photocopy of your child’s HKID OR Passport + a valid visa will be accepted. The Department of Health will not accept any other form of identification.
(4) ESF Limitless - Learning Through Living
For the first time since 2019, the ESF Limitless Programme is returning in Term 3, from 18 May 2024 to 28 June 2024. This 6-week experiential learning programme is offered to our Year 9 students and aims to develop independence, leadership, social skills and a commitment to positive action. It takes place in rural Australia. From the 2019 programme, the research that took place into outcomes for students, and the reflections of the programme participants, it is clear that this is a life-changing experience for those who take part, so it is fantastic that the programme is returning.
For parents interested in more details, please check out the Limitless website HERE. We invite you to attend a Parent-Student Info Session on Tuesday, 19 September (12:30 - 13:30 on Zoom, 17:30 - 19:00 in person at ESF Centre). At these sessions ESF will have representatives from the senior staff who are leading on the programme – as well as a representative from the venue in Australia where the students would be living and working. If you are interested in attending one of these sessions, you can sign up using this form.
For further questions, please contact the ESF Limitless team (limitless@esfcentre.edu.hk) or Ms Bosson (nbosson@sis.edu.hk), our SIS Limitless rep.
(5) SIS-PTA NOMINATION
The SIS-PTA would like to invite interested parents to come forward and volunteer some of their time for our students. Parent volunteers are needed to organise various activities, both big and small. We encourage you to fill out THIS nomination form to declare your interest.
(1) T.A.P. IT! J.A.M. Student’s Concert 2023
Great job Lynne Lee (8B2) for participating in the T.A.P. IT! J.A.M. Student's Concert 2023 on September 3, 2023. Lynne, a multi-instrumentalist, showcased her skills on both the violin and piano and performed a diverse selection of classical and contemporary pieces.
During the concert, Lynne performed on the violin, "Palladio" by Karl Jenkins and "Hunter's Chorus" by C.M. Von Weber. These classical compositions are known for their beautiful melodies and technical demands.
Additionally, Lynne showcased her versatility on the piano by performing "That's How I Die - Peppa Pig (That's What I Want - LIL NAS X)." This piece combines elements of the popular children's show Peppa Pig with the hit song "That's What I Want" by LIL NAS X, creating a unique and entertaining blend of styles.
Lynne's dedication to her music endeavours is commendable. We’re rooting for you as you continue your musical pursuits and chase your passions!
(2) HKU ACADEMY FOR THE TALENTED
Catching up with some more of our student’s summer experiences, Camille Phieu(10N2) took part in the HKU Neuroscience Academy programme presented by the HKU Academy for the Talented.
The HKU Academy for the Talented provides an opportunity for students to pursue academic learning through workshops, seminars, and networking opportunities with other peers, scholars and professors. Camille received a crash course in neurosciences, exploring the neural bases of behaviour at the cellular and systems levels and learning how neuroscientists approach the study of the brain and human behaviour.
(3) HONG KONG YOUTH ARTS FOUNDATION - 24:7:365
We are happy to share that Charlotte Lee (13S1) has been cast in the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation’s (HKYAF) upcoming production of 24:7:365, an original musical that is centred around a teenage girl living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and deep dives into the complexity of the often-misunderstood condition.
Amongst 1000 audition participants, Charlotte was one of 40 local young actors, singers and dancers selected to be a part of this project. The musical will run from 2-4 November 2023 at The Box, Freespace in the West Kowloon Cultural District. Ticket sales begin on 19 September. For more information on the musical and ticket purchases, please click HERE
Break a leg Charlotte!
With the Interhouse season in full swing this month, we would like to continue introducing the SIS Community to our House Captains and Heads of House. This week, please meet House Leaders from Kuca, Captains Nellie Froidevaux (12K1) and Jocelyn Ng (12K2) and Head Ms Liz O’Sullivan and House Leaders from Namas, Captains Amaanat Rekhi (12N2) and Utkarsh Goyal (12N2), and Head Mrs Nat Webster.
Please read about House Kuca Leaders HERE.
Please read about House Namas Leaders HERE
—
REMINDERS & IMPORTANT DATES
September
—
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