AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HONG KONG
Term 1 2017 | Volume 22
Youth@AISHK Learning from the Past. Inspiring the Future.
Summer Prelude
Community Spotlight
Green Leaders
P5.
P13.
P17.
A Festival of Art and Design
Meet the teachers and families of AISHK
Your Student Environmental Committee
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FEATURES 4
Upcoming Events
For your calendar - the upcoming events of Term 2 5
Summer Prelude 2017 - A Festival of Arts and Design
A preview to the multimedia spectacular in Term 2 featuring a variety of disciplines from across the school 7
School News
Recaps of recent developments at AISHK 9
5
TEDxYouth@AISHK
Learning from the Past. Inspiring the Future. 13
Community Spotlight
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Meet some of the staff and families of the AISHK Community 17
Green Leaders
Your 2017 Environmental Managers 19
MadePartners D&T Innovation Award
Behind the projects that got the nod 21
Sports Updates
New uniforms and results of tournaments from the end of last year and the beginning of 2017
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THE LION
Rock
EDITOR’S NOTE Welcome to the first Lion Rock issue of 2017! As we approach the second quarter of the year (already!) the fading echoes of “New Year, New Me” still ring. The start of a new year always marks a change for many, and the Lion Rock is no different. As we receive feedback from teachers and the wider community about the content they like to see, this issue represents another step in the continued evolution of Lion Rock. This publication has always been for the community, and I hope that we continue to move this publication to being by the community, too. More and more pieces of fantastic student contributions and work have come across my desk recently, and I look forward to highlighting and showcasing this work in greater depth in the coming publications. Compiling the community spotlight was a pleasure, as this represents Term 2 also promises to be full of excitement. Annual events are gearing up to be bigger and better than ever before. This issue serves as a ‘launch’ for a few inaugural events for the school, as well, as we play host to a TEDx conference of our own. In working with the organisers this term, I have been impressed with their level of maturity, organisation and ingenuity as they pull together what promises to be an awesome event. I hope you manage to get your tickets because this is going to be a must-see event. Happy reading!
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS
Ms Brigitte McNamara PRODUCED BY THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE FEEDBACK AND SUBMISSIONS TO:
development@aishk.edu.hk
Alasdair Ong Editor
AISHK Careers Expo 11 May 2017 Occurring annually, the Careers Expo allows students to explore various career options and make informed decisions about their educational and career pathways. Students from Years 10-12 will attend various informational sessions including the Career Talks by guest speakers from various industries. This year, there will be added focus on careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM). Reports indicate that 75% of the fastest growing occupations require STEM skills which are highly transferable across varying fields of expertise. If you would like to learn more about the Careers Expo or would like to be a Career Talks guest speaker, please contact feona_crawford@aishk.edu.hk.
upcomingevents 18 April Classes start
20-22 April ACAMIS Soccer @ AISHK
25 April Anzac Day Service
27 April Australian Geography Competition
12 May PA Mother’s Day Lunch TEDxYouth@AISHK
16 May Year 12 Parent/Teacher evening
17-19 May Year 4 Camp
18-20 May SDRC Basketball @ AISG
20-21 May AISMUN
25 May 25-27 May Year 6 Images of Greatness Alumni Events, Australia
7-9 June Primary & Secondary Art Dulwich Beijing Tournament and Design Exhibit
1-3 June
13-15 June Performing Arts Showcase
31 May Year 10 HSC/IB Selection evening
17 June SEAMS Fashion Show
Australian International School Hong Kong 21 June 2017
Please visit www.aishk.edu.hk for more details.
Term 1 2017 | VOL.22 | www.aishk.edu.hk Artwork such as this piece from student artist Meera Coburn will be included as part of the Festival
Summer Prelude 2017 A Festival of Arts and Design Ahead of our mid-year summer break, AISHK proudly invites you aboard an exciting journey - Summer Prelude 2017. The three-week festival will take place at AISHK, embracing art, design and performance, and featuring the work of students from Year 3 to Year 12. 6-8 June Secondary Visual Arts and Design & Technology Exhibition The Summer Prelude will open by displaying the creative 2 or 3 dimensional works of students in Year 7 to Year 12. The exhibition will focus on their design process involving research, experimentation of materials, media and technique, and the gathering of feedback. 13-15 June The Performing Arts Showcase Next, the auditorium will transform from an exhibition space into a performance venue for “The Traveller: Around the World in 80 Minutes”. Students from Years 3 to Year 12 will share their talents through a drama troupe, the orchestra, vocal ensemble, primary choir, string ensemble and wind band. Join us as we start from our home here in Asia and transport ourselves to explore the seven continents of the world. A dynamic team of Primary and Secondary staff are already directing and preparing students for this world exploration which will incorporate some amazing puppetry. Students in Year 3 to Year 6 are using a variety of techniques and mediums including papiermâché, cardboard, plaster and wire, to create puppets which will be on display in the Atrium during the Showcase. Selected pieces will be featured in the stage performance. 17 June SEAMS Fashion Show Hot on the heels of the Showcase, the annual charity fashion show SEAMS will spotlight the wonderful
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talents of our student designers. The theme “Arcadium” will channel the vibrant, neon aesthetic reminiscent of the 60’s and 80’s, and its modern counterparts of the “synthwave movement”. Funds raised from SEAMS will go towards the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation (CNCF) in Vietnam. 19-21 June GRAPP Exhibition Moving back into Visual Arts mode, the auditorium will play host to the GRAPP (Green Roof Artistic Portrait Prize) Exhibition. GRAPP is a competition providing Year 6 students with the opportunity to investigate the Archibald Prize - Australia’s most prestigious portraiture competition, through which artists create a portrait of a notable figure. Following this process, students will select someone to research for their “Images of Greatness” project and create a portrait of their subject for GRAPP. AISHK welcomes an Artist in Residence In a very exciting element to Summer Prelude, Artist in Residence, Leanne Claxton will be at AISHK from 1921 June. An artist and print designer from the UK, who studied textile design at Central Saint Martins, Leanne also trained in Paris under Christian Lacroix, discovering haute couture and the relationship between art and fashion. Primary and Secondary students will have the unique opportunity to work with Leanne who will guide students in their work, providing feedback and demonstrations. Leanne will no doubt be a source of inspiration for students as a model for how important art can be for the community. Please join us for one or more of the exciting components of the Summer Prelude - a true celebration of the dynamic creativity of AISHK students.
Students will have the opportunity to enhance their art skills by working with Leanne and creating artwork using a variety of media and techniques including print-making and drawing onto paper, fabric and other tactile materials.
Year 3 students are working on Australian animals and Year 4 the Chinese Zodiac. Year 5 students are developing Chinese Dragons and Year 6 are exploring personnel associated with travel such as pilots and cabin crew.
Travel is such an integral part of our lives for many of us living in Hong Kong, and so what better way to pave the way toward our summer break than to travel the world through music, poetry and drama.
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Jingle & Mingle Carols Evening The annual Carols evening was held on chilly 12 December. Families brought blankets and picnic baskets and gathered around the stage on the field for a cosy night of Christmas cheer. The traditional AISHK Sausage Sizzle and Bar with some warm mulled wine was a big draw on the evening. Commercial Stalls from parent-run businesses added a Christmas market ambience. The parent helping hands on the BBQ, Bar and PA Stalls are greatly appreciated. Thank you to event sponsors National Australia Bank and Adler Ho Property Consultants. A lovely way to end our School year.
A Sizzling Start to the Year 2017 was off to a colourful start with all the buzz of the first community event of the year - the Welcome BBQ. Families milled chattily around the field, keen for a postholiday catch up with friends. A lively Lion Dance opened the event, which also served as a nod to the School’s 22nd birthday which occurred on 26 January. The AISHK birthday cake was cut and a rendition of Happy Birthday, led by school captains Dana Free and Brayden Lo, rang through the air. The suave sounds of the Secondary Rock Band was the next item to draw in the crowds, with Liam Walters, Ronan Fownes, Calum Stitt and Robert Winkler putting on a great set for the community. The musical stylings of Jordan Delfino’s band then followed us into the evening. Event sponsor Central Equity were on hand and provided a generous draw prize, which went to lucky winners, the Moore Family. Thanks must go to all volunteers, organisers, the Parent Association and especially all who attended for making the 2017 Welcome BBQ such a wonderful occasion.
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Welcome Connections As each school year commences, AISHK sees it as imperative to provide new and current AISHK parents with ample opportunity to engage with each other and the School in a variety of ways. Starting in Week 2 of Term 1, three separate Information Evenings were held, catered to parents of students in Early Childhood, Years 3-6 and Year 7. After gathering in the Auditorium for a welcome and overview by relevant staff, parents then made their way to their child’s classroom to meet with homeroom teachers, subject teachers and Heads of Departments. This also provided parents with vital information about Year Level curriculums and a valuable, first-hand sense of their child’s day-to-day learning environments. Held slightly later, on 24 February, the Secondary Parent Cocktail Evening was a warm and convivial occasion for secondary parents to connect with teachers and other parents. The new teachers to the Secondary staff particularly appreciated the opportunity to meet the parents of their students. In addition to these school-led events, The AISHK Parent Association also coordinated a series of Welcome Coffees and Settling Into Hong Kong forums. These events run early each year but also intermittently as the year progresses. Held in either the Cafeteria or Staff Centre, these more informal events serve to introduce parents to the PA committee, provide information about upcoming school and year level events and to offer a warm and inclusive support network for new and current parents. From those still familiarising themselves with Hong Kong to those learning more about the transition into Secondary at AISHK, we trust all parents appreciated these events which were very well attended.
Year 6 visit LEGCO During Term 1, Year 6 students learnt about Systems of Government throughout the world. This was part of a broader topic, Humanity. During the term, student focused not only on government systems but also investigated global issues related to refugees, conflict and citizenship. Visiting the Legislative Council (LegCo) of Hong Kong, was a genuine highlight of the term. Among other insights, they gained greater knowledge of the roles of the Elected Members and key tasks those individuals perform in order to adequately represent their constituency. Students were treated to an expertly guided tour as they wandered the halls of the grand LegCo building. They were delighted to be able to connect what they had learnt in class with the first-hand experiences of the day. In the weeks following our excursion, students drew on their new knowledge as they went on to research and study the Australian Government, even going as far as role-playing the House of Representatives as they debated topical issues affecting Australian citizens. Our Year 6 students’ impressive knowledge of current affairs, in both a local and global context, provided us with many insightful moments during this very important unit of work.
There will of course be more formal opportunities for parents to meet teachers through a range of ParentTeacher conferences throughout the year. If any parents would like to find out more information about these events, please contact the Primary or Secondary office for assistance.
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Term 1 2017 | VOL.22 | www.aishk.edu.hk
The TEDxYouth@AISHK organising commitee consisting of Sarah Lin 10S, Elaine Lok 11W, Wendy Liang 11E, Annabel Brennan-Cohen 11E, Sarah Steadson 11W, Jenkin Lai 12, Carson Young 11W, Edmund Sze 11E, , Jonathan Chan 11H and Temana Short 10S.
Youth@AISHK A TEDx event is a local gathering where live and pre-recorded talks are shared with the community. TEDx events are fully planned and coordinated independently, by the community. The content and design of each TEDx event is unique and developed independently.
Responsible for most of the intellectual viral videos on the internet, the capital red letters of a TED talk are now synonymous with engaging and broad content. Watch any TED (Technology, Entertainment and Design) Talk and you are more than likely going to learn something you didn’t already know. ‘How to Spot a Liar’, for example is one of the top videos from TED. It has amassed over 15 million views. The topics vary greatly and presentations have been given by the likes of illusionist David Blaine, motivational guru Tony Robbins, and writer and director J.J. Abrams to name but a few. Ideas worth spreading. That’s TED’s by-line, and it works very hard to achieve its own lofty ideal. First held in 1984 as an invitation-only conference, TED sought to group the “worlds most inspired thinkers [and] a community of curious souls” together to spread ideas, by way of 18-minute or less presentations. Now, TED holds events year round and has expanded its format to include TEDx
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and TED-Ed content. TEDx events take of closer look at the local community and local voices, versus the global nature of TED. “Officially, the ‘x’ in TEDx stands for independently organized TED event - but it’s more of a TED multiplied” says Chris Anderson, owner of TED. Hot off the success of other TEDx events held around Hong Kong, a group of AISHK students aim to bring the same magic to AISHK. Wendy Liang and Elaine Lok have been busy fitting meetings into every recess and lunch time at their disposal, with good reason. As Co Head organisers of upcoming enlightenment extravaganza TEDxYouth@AISHK, Wendy and Elaine’s first order of business was to find and get their team of organising volunteers up to speed. Sat in a huddle, over their lunches, ten volunteers discuss how to split the ticket sales between AISHK’s students and the public. As one of the stipulations as first-time TEDx
organisers, they must sell 100 tickets; no more. Among a long list of other rules and regulations for organising a TED event, the early goings have been no walk in the park for small but clearly enthusiastic rookie team of volunteers. When asked what inspired this venture, Wendy says that “bringing together different departments of the school to showcase talents and potential to the wider Hong Kong society, and also showcasing different ideas of students around Hong Kong” was a large factor. Elaine is quick to add that “there wasn’t a platform that would allow students and professionals come together and share their ideas”. The girls have worked hard to ensure departments across the school are working in unison to create something greater than the sum of their parts. During one lunch, volunteers suggested working together with the SEAMS team, sharing resources and manpower to create a stage design worthy of the event. Stage and venue design is one of the biggest the hurdles the team foresees, as they are not able to obtain sponsorship. Instead, the team is focusing on using the assets at hand, and hopefully with a bit of ingenuity and imagination, kick off a very rewarding tradition for the School.
Head Organisers Wendy and Elaine are keen to craft an inclusive, professional and enlightening experience //
So far, the team has made good progress in securing speakers and seeking support from the community, tasks not without their challenges. “[Planning] requires a lot of creativity and critical thinking - there is the constant need to find a new way of doing something, how to utilise the resources we have, how to organise people, how to make sure we can make both a successful event as well as one which is meaningful to the students involved” says Elaine, followed quickly by Wendy who highlights the importance and necessity of teamwork and delegation. Right now, the TEDx team is still growing. Seeking volunteers at the same time as drumming up support and interest in the event, as well as seeking a variety of engaging speakers could almost be a full time job. Within the first month of getting a preliminary team together, however, the marketing and creative team within the committee has already planned, shot and screened a teaser trailer for TEDxYouth@AISHK. After the raucous applause at the assembly the team announced TEDx, Elaine and Wendy both agree that there have already been victories. “It’s very exciting to hear people talking about [TEDxYouth@ AISHK]”, says Elaine, but the team admits its befuddled by some comments from students who had never seen a TED talk before. They have identified this as their next hurdle. There is something in it for everyone - volunteering, speaking, performing, organising, showcasing your art, working with people outside the school, etc. “Learning from the Past. Inspiring the Future.” is the theme
The TEDxYouth@AISHK team work over lunch planning. Budgeting is important in creating the TED experience //
SOME FACTS •
There have been over 15,000 TEDx talks.
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Over 130 countries and 1,200 cities have hosted a TEDx event. It’s been done in remote and unexpected places like Baghdad, Kenya, Sao Carlos, Libya and Skid Row in Los Angeles.
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Some of Chris Anderson’s favourite talks include Susan Cain’s The Power of Introverts,
Donald
Sadoway: The Missing Link to Renewable Energy, and Brene Brown: The Power of Vulnerability.
The AISHK TEDx team has organised everything for the event from procuring speakers, creating marketing materials and strategising promotional campaigns.
around which the whole event centres. “History repeats itself” says Wendy, adding “there are so many parallels to our modern world that we see in history and recognising these patterns not only allows us to avoid mistakes, but more importantly ensure that we are using our ideas and resources to the greatest potential”. The organisers must now start coordinating with the speakers for the evening, making sure their presentations are relevant and appealing to the audience. It’s early days, but the team sees great potential for TEDxYouth@ AISHK. “The goal of our event is to bring together and unearth different thoughts from students and young professionals all over Hong Kong, we are generally looking for people to bring fresh new ideas that have potential to ‘redefine’ or inspire the future. We do hope that it will continue in the future, but for now we are focusing on making our first event a hit. Hopefully it will grow to include more of the school and the Hong Kong community, and it would be fantastic if it could be a platform to bring all areas of the school together”.
Five Things Organisers Love About TEDxYouth Events 1. The energy: “A kinetic energy that is unlike any other,” said one organiser. 2. The creativity: Planning an event alongside young people makes you realise that kids have unique, crazy, extreme ideas that an adult might usually not think of — for the event, the activities, the speakers, everything! 3. The empowerment: Organising a TEDxYouth event shows that kids are capable of much more than what’s expected. “The fact that youth, just like me, had planned and ran the event shocked me the most,” said one volunteer. “I thought the event was amazing and couldn’t believe that kids my age made the event happen.” 4. The enthusiasm for new ideas: “It was amazing to see how engaged youth team members were with the whole event and how thankful they were (and still are!) to be given such an incredible opportunity as being part of a TEDx event,” said an organiser. 5. The confidence in the future: “All in all, the event created awareness in the young minds of their ability to do whatever they set their minds to achieve.” https://www.ted.com/participate/organize-a-local-tedx-event/
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And now, the spotlight turns to the staff and families of AISHK! Read on for a glimpse of the many and varied paths that led them to Hong Kong and what they love about this vibrant city. As Term 1 comes to an end, new staff and families also share with us how they have found their time at the School and their new surroundings, so far.
Peter O’Connell - Mathematics Teacher, Secondary Tell us a bit about your background and where you relocated from. I spent the last year working in Singapore, where I also worked at an Australian school (AISS). Prior to this I worked at a school on a huge farm in New Zealand. In case you are wondering what happened to AISHK teacher Phil O’Connor (my almost namesake), he is now working at that school, we have effectively ended up swapping jobs, but this was entirely coincidental. What are your impressions of Hong Kong so far; is there anything that took you by surprise when you arrived? The huge volumes of people and the rapid pace of life was expected, but I wasn’t expecting how exhausting it can be. Just over a year ago I lived in a community where cows outnumbered people by 100 to 1, so it’s been a massive adjustment. What drew you to AISHK and how would you describe Term 1 here so far? I was drawn to AISHK for 3 reasons. 1) To work with highly motivated expat students, 2) To be part of a school which not only values the academic development of its students, but also values their holistic development as good citizens of the world, and 3) I heard the lamingtons in the café were exquisite. Term 1 has exceeded my expectations and I’m really enjoying myself here at AISHK. What are some of the highlights for Secondary Mathematics coming up this year? We are really looking forward to using maths this year. Students will have the opportunity to take what they learn in lessons and use it in investigations. Students in my classes will use their learning to investigate problems such as “can I create a piece of art using algebra?” Tell us a bit about your neighbourhood in Hong Kong. I have already been out exploring the mountain bike trails around Lantau and Tai Lam, and look forward to further exploring these areas. I also compete at off-road triathlons, so I hope to do some races later in the year.
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Term 1 2017 | VOL.22 | www.aishk.edu.hk What are some things you like best about Hong Kong? Riding the “ding ding” (tram), dumpling comas, the Sevens. I also love Freddie the cartoon weather guy on TVB. How would you describe your role at AISHK in three words? To quote Hamlet, “Words, words, words.” Are there any friendly tips you might share with anyone who is new to Hong Kong? I would advise keeping a pair of dry shoes and socks at your workplace at all times. The summer downpours here can be brutal on your wheels.
Mark Wnek - Year 6 Teacher Tell us a bit about where you are from and what brought you to Hong Kong. I am originally from Leonay in NSW, Australia and have been lucky to have been able to travel quite extensively when I was younger. I came here to Hong Kong with my wife and three very young children to give them an opportunity to travel the world and have a taste of what it is like to live in this exotic and fascinating part of the world. We have been in Hong Kong for 10 years and I have been teaching at AISHK for 7. What do you think sets AISHK apart as an international school in Hong Kong? It is definitely the community feel about the place. AISHK to many of us Australians and New Zealanders is like a home away from home where we can share common interests as well as enjoy the same sense of humour. Tell us a bit about your neighbourhood and what you like to do as a family on the weekends. We have recently moved out to Sai Kung in the New Territories and are really enjoying the country feel to the place. We are surrounded by mountains, beaches and a spectacular view of the outlying islands. If you love the outdoors as we do, then Sai Kung offers many different activities to keep you busy. Are there any friendly tips you might share with anyone who is new to Hong Kong? When we first arrived and were frustrated with some of the bureaucracy that Hong Kong can be infamous for, a friend of ours advised us to get used to it. Even after 10 years, his words of wisdom still ring true. What can be a challenge one day, becomes something that you can laugh about once you work it all out.
Peter Phillips - Head of English, Secondary Tell us a bit about where you are from and what brought you to Hong Kong. I was born and bred in Sydney before moving to Hong Kong in 2008 and I have taught at AISHK for 9 years now. I came partly to experience the vibrancy and dynamism of life in a big Asian city, partly out of love for dim sum. I’ve been satisfied on both fronts.
Maggie Marsh - Head of Year 4 and Head of Waratah House, Primary Where are you originally from and what brought you to Hong Kong? I was actually born in Hong Kong and lived here as a child. I moved to Melbourne, Australia when I was 12 years old. When I started my teaching career I wanted to work in an international environment so decided to return to Hong Kong and try my luck at getting a job at an international school. I have been in Hong Kong for almost six years and am in my sixth year teaching at AISHK. What are some of the aspects about AISHK which drew you to the School? AISHK embodies what I love about the Australian community in Hong Kong. I knew people who had sent their children to the school who spoke highly of the school and its relaxed, inclusive environment. Tell us a bit about your neighbourhood and what an ideal Sunday would involve for you. An ideal Sunday for me would include a yoga class or a hike up the peak then a late breakfast with friends. I live on Gough Street, Central. This area is described as NoHo and is a quaint little area in the heart of the city. There are lots of cool eateries and stylish boutiques which I love exploring on the weekend. Are there any friendly tips you might share with anyone who is new to Hong Kong? I would encourage you to get out and explore all the neighbourhoods and areas this wonderful city has to offer. Go hiking in the New Territories, have lunch Southside at one of the new hotspots at The Pulse, take a walk from Tamar Park to Sun Yat Sen Memorial
Park and explore the local produce shops around Sheung Wan and Sai Ying Pun.
Diana Toufeili – Head of Year 1 Tell us a bit about your background and how long you have you been in Hong Kong. Originally born in Lebanon, immigrating to Melbourne was the first big travel adventure I experienced. After that, a road trip across the Nullarbor had the family call Perth home, where I began teaching. But as a young 20 something, all I wanted to do with life was travel. Unfortunately, I didn’t get very far. I taught in Japan for 18 months, but came to Hong Kong 8 or 9 years ago, as a pit stop on a round the world trip with my husband. We loved it so much we ended up staying. It’s not an uncommon Hong Kong story – came for a year and then well, we’re still here and…. still loving it. What do you think sets AISHK apart from other international schools in Hong Kong? There is a lot that sets this school apart. It is rich in what are the most beautiful aspects of Australia, diversity, sport, fairness and fun. There is a lot of joy at this school and it is infectious. The can-do attitude and team spirit that filters through the school is wonderful. As a new staff member, I can vouch for the level of support teachers receive, from administration, through to parents and even the students.
How would you describe your first term at AISHK and what are some of the highlights coming up for you so far? My first term has been a joy. Getting to know my gorgeous class has been the highlight. It has been so refreshing to work with children who are friendly, kind, creative and independent thinkers. The children are keen learners, but also happy at school. In addition, the year one team is remarkable, each teacher with a unique set of strengths, yet all sharing a very hard-working ethos. How would you describe your neighbourhood in Hong Kong? I live on the Island, so my neighbourhood is best described as narrow. Narrow streets and sidewalks, narrow buildings and small shops. But plenty of local charm. Some of the family run businesses have been in the area for over 40 years and there’s a definite community feel. Do you have any friendly tips/advice you might share with
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those new to Hong Kong? If you’re new to Hong Kong my best tip is never assume. If you want to meet local people you need to initiate conversation. Get outdoors, there is so much to see and do here. It’s a late city, so stay up to enjoy it, or find peace and quiet in the early mornings (unless you are out in Butterfly Beach, where all the grandmas and grandpas are up for their dawn swim – which, by the way, is a great spot for camping).
The Families of AISHK The Winkler Family A Q&A with Mrs Julie Winkler
Tell us a bit about your family and what brought you to Hong Kong. My husband Rod, our youngest son Robbie (currently in Year 11) and I moved to Hong Kong from Sydney in January 2014. We came here after I was offered a job to head up the Group Compliance function for a startup insurance company here called FWD. We have three other children, our twin boys Brayden and Chris aged 27, and our daughter Elizabeth who is now 18 and has just started university at QUT in Brisbane. I guess you could say we are a bit of global family. When we moved here in 2014, Liz stayed on in Sydney as a boarder at Pymble Ladies College so as not to disrupt her studies and because boarding was a very good and readily available option as a Year 10 student. Robbie came with us to Hong Kong as he was up for the adventure. Brayden, one of our twins, was living and working in Singapore but joined us in Hong Kong for 18 months when he got a transfer with his job. He now lives in Paris where he is finishing off his law
degree and his twin brother Chris is a successful real estate agent living in Brisbane. Was there anything that particularly surprised you about Hong Kong when you arrived? I remember the night we arrived in Hong Kong from Sydney with 12 suitcases. We pulled up at the serviced apartment (in the 20-seater mini bus I hired, just to be sure to fit all our luggage) and realised just how small our home for the next month was going to be! Before arriving in Hong Kong I injured by foot and, unable to walk for the first five months here, had to use a mobility scooter. We arrived the day before I was to start my new job, and the and narrow bumpy roads of Sheung Wan were a real challenge as was the pace of the city.
But every day we discovered more of the charms of this wonderful and vibrant city and have not looked back one bit. We go back to Australia regularly but every time we land back in Hong Kong it really does feel like home now. What do you think sets AISHK apart as an international school in Hong Kong? Small class sizes, especially in the senior years ,that you don’t always get in other schools and certainly not back in Australia. AISHK offers the ability to give your child an Australian education but with the benefits of a multicultural mixture of students. I think this teaches tolerance and empathy and gives the students a broader perspective on life in an increasingly global world. Tell us a bit about your neighbourhood in Hong Kong and what you like to do as a family during weekends. We started off living in mid-levels for the first year like a lot of expats and really loved the lifestyle that city living allows, but craved for more space and to have a dog and a cat. We have now been in Pak Sha Wan Sai Kung for two years and absolutely love living in a seaside village, in a house with an outdoor area. We still love to travel back in for the city life fix, but we enjoy the balance that we now have of both worlds. Are there any friendly tips you would share with families new to Hong Kong? Explore this wonderful place and travel to the many great locations that are so close by. These make for wonderful family holidays that you just wouldn’t really do from Australia. Don’t be shy to reach out to other parents, work colleagues or people that you meet and ask questions. People are only too happy to share what they have learnt whether it be a favorite restaurant, secluded beach, weekend escape or junk!
like a home away from home. Even on our first visit our son immediately said to us, “Yep this is where I want to go to school”. The familiarity of the curriculum, the teaching method and the balance of academics, sport and care for student well-being was important to us. We get a sense that the Australian culture and values are at the core. We also appreciated the fact that the school follows the Australian school calendar making visits to and from home easier. Tell us a bit about your new neighbourhood in Hong Kong and what you like doing as a family during weekends. We are currently in Tsim Sha Tsui with plans to move to Ho Man Tin. On our weekends we enjoy exploring, whether it be new hiking or cycling trails or cityscapes and finding amazing places to eat. We are big foodies. Are there any friendly tips you would share with other families who are new to Hong Kong? Not sure about my tips, still working it all out for myself, but so far I would say research and explore. I have found some Facebook groups and apps useful especially for transport. Remember, most shops open late but stay open until late so don’t plan your shopping at 9am! Talk with other families and expats. So many people are in the same boat and have useful tips to share, from what phone company to use to ideas for weekend activities. Use the primary care directory to find an English speaking doctor in your area, I was happy to be able to get an appointment on the same day when my baby was unwell. Medication and appointments are reasonably cheap and in my experience, quality of service was excellent.
The Vivot Family A Q&A with Mrs Liisa Vivot
Tell us a bit about what brought you to Hong Kong. My husband, Leo is Australian-born of Swiss parents and myself Australian-born to Chilean-Finnish parents. We are originally from Sydney and moved to Switzerland when Lukas was 10 months old. He has started in Year 2 at AISHK this year. We have two other children who were born in Switzerland, Julien, 4 years old and Elodie, 8 months. Both moves have been with my husband’s work in the banking industry. Hong Kong also brought us closer to home, family and friends in Australia. In Switzerland we lived in Hauterive, Neuchâtel a small village community of about 3,000 people in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. The Tour-de-France passed by our house last year! Was there anything that particularly surprised you about Hong Kong when you arrived? What surprised us about Hong Kong was that although it is densely populated the transport system is so cheap and efficient, the people are polite and friendly and cheques are still used! It was a pleasant surprise after living in Switzerland that you can find anything and everything in Hong Kong (albeit at a price). What do you think sets AISHK apart as an international school in Hong Kong? We chose AISHK as for us it felt
Got an opinion, restaurant, app or bike store review? This publication is aimed at the AISHK community so we are glad to take submissions. Contact development@aishk.edu.hk to find out how you can be involved with Lion Rock!
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I am pleased to be supporting our Environment Managers with the help of Ms Sykes and Ms Fitzpatrick. Together with the 32 students, we aim to improve the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sustainability practices by focusing on energy use, recycling and by reaching out to the community for new ideas, activities and resources. In support of this, last year we had an interesting excursion to Ark Eden on Lantau (pictured). 2017â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Environment Managers, with the help of their classmates, will start by gathering together a variety of ideas and information for our focus this year. Mrs Kerstin Grevis-James
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Leading By Example
Student Environmental Committee
The AISHK Student Leadership program aims to assist the school to: • Provide resources and opportunities for students to gain leadership experience. • Maximise student participation in decision making and ensuring that principles of equity and fairness are reflected in school practice. • Encourage students to have a sense of belonging to the school community. Of note this year are the environmental initiatives to be driven by the students who will focus on reducing waste and energy use as well as increasing recycling efforts.
The classroom Environment Manager’s role is to help the classroom teacher monitor, conserve and initiate new ideas to help the Primary Division improve sustainability and therefore help our environment.
•
Their major responsibilities include: • Ensuring all lights, heaters, air conditioners are turned off when the room is unoccupied. • Making sure the air conditioners are not set too low. • Encouraging teachers to use windows and fans. • Making sure all computers are shut down when not being used. • Switching off laptops when fully charged.
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Ensuring classroom recycle bins are emptied and collected on the correct days. Attending Environment Managers meetings. Reporting back to class about Environment Managers meetings. Assisting with all Environmental Committee awareness raising campaigns.
Earth Hour is celebrated at AISHK on 24 March, so that will be the first public awareness event that they’ll be promoting. Keep an eye out for the Environmental Managers and make sure you are doing your part for the environment!
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Term 1 2017 | VOL.22 | www.aishk.edu.hk
Innovation and Excellence in Design The Design and Technology (D&T) department at AISHK prides itself on providing students ample opportunity for an authentic design experience, from concept to creation. By interweaving design, technology, society and the environment, D&T encourages students to embrace emerging technologies, builds entrepreneurial thinking and provides a sound appreciation of the factors that contribute to successful cutting-edge design and production. In line with the ethos of valuing Positive Actions and Positive Relationships, AISHK provides a myriad of schoolwide and public opportunities for students to exhibit their innovative works and to engage with industry leaders in the wider community. One such leader in innovation, MadePartners, has helped to facilitate this approach over the past three years, with the assistance of MadePartners Executive Director and AISHK parent, Mr Andrew Steadson. MadePartners is a Hong Kong based procurement management consultancy with people in China, Australia and Malaysia. MadePartners specialise in helping buyers of capital equipment mitigate offshore procurement and asset quality risks. The partnership between MadePartners and AISHK has been generously supporting our School’s Design & Technology initiatives in various ways. Awarding Innovation The MadePartners D&T Innovation Award was established in 2014 and is presented to a Secondary student at the annual Speech Day. Recipients of the award are selected based on their demonstration of innovation and excellence through their work in D&T. Winners of the MadePartners Design & Technology Innovation Award to date are: 2014 2015 2016
Matthew Kwong Justin Pak Natalie Ho
AISHK would like to thank MadePartners for its contribution and support towards the D&T program at AISHK, and the opportunities this has provided in celebrating the innovative achievements of our students.
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Flashback! Matthew Kwong, winner of the very first MadePartners D&T Innovation Award, paid AISHK a visit to speak to the 2017 D&T class and provide insights about where his design career has taken him.
Expert Insights Mr Steadson of MadePartners also recently volunteered to be a panelist during the AISHK Dragon’s Den in 2016, a new annual event for Year 12 Product Design. Influenced by the format of TV series Dragon’s Den & Shark Tank, students must pitch their design concepts to a panel of industry professionals, who in turn provide critique of the design concept in regards to marketplace viability, market need, design direction, and solution. The panel is invited to be as critical as necessary, as the feedback assists students in development of their HSC Major Design Project, which is worth 60% of their final mark. By presenting to a panel of industry professionals students can apply expert feedback to their Major Design Projects, giving their proposed design concept an authentic marketplace analysis.
Supporting our Students The partnership with MadePartners includes financial funding, which goes towards capital expenditure projects that directly benefit D&T students. Over the years, this generosity has supported the purchase of a number of items including a laser cutter, hot wire strip heater, 3D printer and etching press.
Recent award recipient Natalie Ho with her project. Her piece consisted of parts which were prototyped and made on the 3D printer
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Term 1 2017 | VOL.22 | www.aishk.edu.hk
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AISHK is happy to announce its new range of kit for representative sports including rugby, touch, football, basketball, rowing, netball, volleyball, athletics, cross country, badminton and rowing (pictured inset). The uniforms have been designed to suit the Hong Kong climate and to be a point of pride for AISHKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s representative athletes. We look forward to seeing the green and gold in action throughout the year.
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Term 1 2017 | VOL.22 | www.aishk.edu.hk
NEWS ISSFHK Cross Country The school Cross Country team was well represented this season with more than 60 students from Year 6 – 12 qualifying for the Championships. We kicked off the season with mini meets in November 2016 through to early February 2017 in preparation for the Championships held at Pui O Wan. More than 700 participants from all major international schools across Hong Kong attended the Championships, 39 of which represented AISHK. AISHK Results
VTC: International Basketball Friendship Match In celebrating its 35th anniversary, The Hong Kong Vocational Training Council (VTC) organised an International Fortnight. Running through late February and with an aim to promote VTC’s internationalisation and to encourage cultural promotion activities with different countries, AISHK was invited to send a team of Senior students for a friendly afternoon of mixed basketball. The International Basketball Friendship Match was held on Friday 3 March, and included teams from Elsa High School, IVE (Morrison Hill), Shenzhen Polytechnic and Sichuan College of Architectural Technology. AISHK fielded a mixed team of Secondary students. The team steadfastly competed in all their matches, but ultimately could not compete with the University aged competition. A very well deserved congratulations go to our athletes, a win for friendship!
Age group
Name
Homeroom
Place
U12 Girls
Amelia Larcombe
5A
20th
U12 Boys
Daniel Bennie
6W
47th
U14 Girls
Wenchy Lai
8J
19th
U14 Boys
Oscar Chaplin
8E
28th
U16 Girls
Ella Fraser
9H
9th
U16 Boys
Maxime Freyre
9H
10th
U20 Girls
Ellen Wright
11J
6th
U20 Boys
Ryan Walker
11J
30th
Congratulations to all the students for their efforts throughout the season. A special thank you to Ms Simms and Mr Bennie for their support and assistance throughout the season and at the Championships. Kin Wong | Cross Country Manager
Secondary Interhouse Soccer Played over Week 4, 20-24 February, Interhouse Soccer crowned eventual winners Waratah. Congratulations to participating players.
House
Year 7-8 Girls
Year 7-8 Boys
Year 9-12 Girls
Year 9-12 Boys
Total
Position
Eucalypt
1(10)
4(4)
1(10)
4(4)
28
3
Jacaranda
4(4)
3(6)
3(5)
3(6)
21
4
Waratah
2(8)
1(10)
3(5)
1(9)
32
1
Wattle
3(6)
2(8)
2(8)
1(9)
31
2
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Year 9 embark on the Hong Kong Award for Young People The AYP program is undertaken by all Year 9 students at AISHK. The hiking component of the award was spread over two weekends in late February/Early March, with two homerooms completing the AYP practice hike each weekend. The students walked approximately 25km through the Sai Kung Country Park starting from Kei Ling Ha Lo Wai, Camping at Lan Lo Au Campsite and ending at Wong Shek Pier.
Students are required to undertake two hiking journeys, one as a practice led by teachers, while the second qualifying journey is led by Outward Bound and is completed during Activity Week. Hiking is only one part of the requirements for students to attain their AYP Bronze certification, further requiring logging community service, developing a skill and being involved in sport over a minimum 6 month period. Students will continue their ‘journey’ to attain their AYP Bronze during the remainder of the year with successful students being presented with the award during Speech Day. Drew Skellern | AYP Manager
AYP was an experience that everyone will remember for the rest of our lives as it improved our skills both physically and mentally but also widened our knowledge in the fields of geography, team building and collaboration. Throughout the week, Year 9 navigated their way through the mountains of Hong Kong and throughout our journey, we supported each other and built stronger relationships but also broadened our knowledge in first aid and the fundamentals of hiking/ camping. It was a tough but wonderful experience that we will all never forget. Madeleine Dudman AYP was both a physical and mental challenge that pushed me to my limits – then several more kilometres over it. Older friends told me that the trip would be fun and exhausting, or to put simply, you have fun “bonding over the pain”. Whether it was the pain or the fun, I’d definitely agree that we all bonded over something special in the trip. Kylie Lau AYP has been an exceptional experience for me. I was reluctant and anxious to go however after starting the journey my views changed and I felt a sudden excitement. The trek was challenging however the encouraging support given around my walking group, motivated me and my walking group to finish the hike with energy to spare. During the camp out I enjoyed the experience of sleeping out in the rural area's and learnt valuable camping skills such as the proper set up and taking down of a tent, cooking techniques etc. Overall, AYP has allowed to change my views on expeditions and develop skills in many aspects of life. Ishaan Srivastava
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On AYP the range of emotions I had is difficult to describe. On the bus ride there I couldn't help but feel excited for the unknown journey ahead. However, when we began the second day, I couldn't help feeling dread and certain despair at the thought of another day of hiking, but we survived so it was fine. We learnt quite a bit on Sunday morning, such as a reminder on how we do CPR (Until you break every ribElli White 2017) as well as some navigational skill refreshers with Mr Potts, with my group having no clue whatsoever on how to us a compass, even though we were on a trip which required some navigational skills. I can safely say that I will never forget the experience I had... No matter how hard I try. Oliver Smeaton
Term 1 2017 | VOL.22 | www.aishk.edu.hk Swimming is about three things: good technique when swimming slowly, good technique when swimming medium pace and great technique when swimming fast Coach Ikin
Swimming AISHK welcomes two new swimming coaches joining the team this Term. Previously Head of Swimming at ESF, Mark Ikin joins AISHK as representative swim coach bringing with him 40 years in the swimming world and 23 years of coaching experience. Mark says that "AISHK has one of the nicest swimming environments in Hong Kong, so it is a great opportunity for all students to get involved and utilise this wonderful facility." Alex Lim has swum competitively for over 10 years, including three trips to the Olympics. Among his coaching experiences, Alex has coached the Sabah Malaysian state swimming team. Swim training takes place before school Monday-Friday and after school on Wednesdays and Fridays. Those interested in getting thier feet wet are encouraged to ďŹ nd out more from the school website. We welcome the coaches and wish the squad every success in the future.
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