The Lion Rock - Term 4 2016 Vol21 by Australian International School Hong Kong

AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HONG KONG

TERM 4 2016 | Vol 21

TERM 4 HIGHLIGHTS

Community

Career Prospects

noun, often attributive Finding their Path P17 [com·mu·ni·ty \kə-ˈmyü-nə-tē\] P6

why giving back matters PAGE 9

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Shaping Future Creators

“I slept and I dreamed that life is all joy. I woke and I saw that life is all service. I served and I saw that service is joy.” – Kahlil Gibran

FEATURES 6

School News

Get caught up with the thrills and spills of Term 4 11

Great Aussie Adventure

The Great Aussie Adventure was a culmination of 20 Years of events. Re-live the adventure! 14

Community Service

Meet the students putting ‘we’ before ‘me’ and serving their community 17

Finding a Path

A student’s journey from class to career 19

A Day in the Life of Year 6

Follow Year 6 through a day in their busy schedule 21 The Buddy Program From classmates to buddies 23

Sports Bulletin

A big term for sport. Catch up with the results of the AISA tournament hosted in Hong Kong and the Early Childhood Sport Carnival 25

Parent Association News

Meet the new Parent Association Committee members and ﬁnd out how you can contribute to the AISHKPA

21 14 23

THE LION

Rock

EDITOR’S NOTE

Term 4 signals many different things to many different people. For some, it is the countdown to the holidays and a time for reflection. As the thermometer point begins to fall and the festivities begin I, for one, begin to look back on the resolutions of the year gone by. I take stock of what was achieved in 2016, and start to look at what 2017 might hold. Individual achievements were celebrated from as early as Term 1 and continued throughout the year with events such as the inaugural Scholar’s Assembly and the Sports Awards. As the Christmas season approaches, the spirit of giving shines bright as ever, and the achievements of the entire school community are to be commended. Community support for both fundraising and charity initiatives have been strong as ever and the school is in a good position to continue providing support for its community in as many forms as it can muster. As we look towards 2017, I encourage you to reflect on the year that was, its triumphs and its shortcomings, and set goals and resolutions for 2017. If this year was anything to go by, the time for reflection is closer than we think. Alasdair Ong Editor Marketing Officer

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Ms Brigitte McNamara COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT

Mr Chester Siu

PRODUCED BY THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE FEEDBACK AND SUBMISSIONS TO

development@aishk.edu.hk

Before you reach the Hunter Valley, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll serve you a taste of it in the air.

Australia starts here.

qantas.com.hk

Photo for illustration purposes. Refurbished Qantas A330 Business Suite is only available on selected international flights between Hong Kong and Australia.

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Lest We Forget Students and staﬀ lay crosses at the graves of Australian soldiers at the Hong Kong War Cemetery in Sai Wan. The crosses carry messages from young students in Australia as part of a global Commemorative Crosses Project for Remembrance Day.

SHASMUN 2016 From 11 to 13 November, 25 students set off to Shanghai to participate in the 5th annual Shanghai American School Model United Nations Conference (SHASMUN). Representing the Delegations of China, Singapore, Italy, Morocco, Brazil Russia students enjoyed three enlightening and engaging days of debate. Not only did the conference serve as a place to learn more about how the United Nations operates, but it served as a place for meeting new people, making new friends, and growing confidence and experience. The conference was held at Shanghai American School’s Pu-Dong Campus, giving students the opportunity to enjoy a different atmosphere and make use of the great facilities the large campus provided. The main theme of the conference was ‘We Wont Be Fooled Again’, and this underlying topic stemmed into many of the committees at the conference to look at the impacts of human actions and inactions. The ideology behind this theme was that as citizens of the world, it is up to our generation to try and solve the issues of both today and tomorrow, unlike previous generations that have said one thing and not followed through with their promises. As AISHK’s role continues to grow within the greater scope of Model United Nations in Asia, so too does the level of success that our students attest to at international conferences. The closing ceremony saw a total of nine students receive awards for their performances in all committees at SHASMUN, a true testament to the quality Delegates that AISHK’s Model United Nations program is able to produce, under the guidance of Mr Henryk Flak and Mrs Shirley Chan. As Delegates debated issues ranging from protecting women’s rights in the Middle East to combating

tax evasion and money laundering, students gained a greater understanding of diplomacy, engaging with each other to solve complex world issues. Because of this, students of AISHK left Shanghai with new life skills and more conﬁdence in terms of public speaking, with many students having to say goodbye to the friends they made over the course of the conference. With an even more solidiﬁed Model United Nations community in the wake of SHASMUN, there is no doubt that AISMUN VIII will be better than ever before. Particular mention must be made to Brayden Lo who Chaired the Economic and Social Council. At all times Brayden optimises what an MUN leader is – knowledgeable, patient, impartial and fair, as well as mentoring and nurturing the newer member to the SHASMUN team. Thank you Brayden for your service to the SHASMUN team. The MUN Team Award Winners Wenchy Lai, Nick Leonard, Ella Bindley, Matt Vermeulen, Alice Lunt, Yuan Yu, Lizzie Kwok, Jonathan Lau, Kyle D’Souza

CHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEW NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WID << SCHOOL WIDE NEWS WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWSSCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHO CHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEW

Reception Mini Sports Day Our Reception students have been undertaking many sports activities this term with Mr. Bennie. The completion of their lessons culminated in a mini sports carnival where students were introduced to the joys of running races, team games and even a tug of war with the parents. Mr Shirley joined in with the tug of war, on the student’s side of course! It was heart warming to watch the faces of our younger students as they ran their fastest, co-operated with their team mates and cheered each other on. They were very proud to be wearing their coloured shirts and even prouder of their team. The highlight of the day was definitely the medal ceremony. Medals were held tight as our younger students raced off to show their Mums and Dads. A wonderful start to a school life filled with many more carnivals.

Wakka Wakka Talent Show Bursting with colourful and creative acts, this year’s Wakka Wakka Talent show, hosted by Waratah and Wattle House Captains, was a sight to behold. Students, staﬀ and parents gathered in the auditorium to enjoy eleven performances which showcased the many talents across the Primary Division. From mind-blowing magic and gymnastics to fantastic singing and dancing, all acts were of a very impressive quality, creating a very close call for the judges to make. Congratulations to all participants and everyone involved in organising yet another amazing talent show!

Strive By creating and interpreting images and objects students come to understand themselves and their world. The Early Childhood Visual Arts Exhibition in Week 8 of Term 4 saw students STRIVE – Sculpture, Textiles, Relief, Illustration, Values, Exhibition. The students over the past two terms have explored and investigated a variety of media, techniques and skills to create the amazing artwork. Students were inspired by a variety of artists including Hannah Höch, Eric Carle, Chris McKimmie, Destiny Deacon and Alberto Giacometti and explored a range of media, which included paint, silk screen, sculpture, pastels, clay and even glitter. Exhibitions provide students the opportunity to experience and value their art and the work of others. To achieve an exhibition students traverse through the art making process from inspiration to exploration and creation. It was delightful to see the student interact with their parents as they shared their art journey.

Year 8 Science Fair During Term 4, Year 8 students worked on an independent Research Investigation, to plan and carry out various science practicals of their own, delving into any topic that interests them. This requires students to hypothesise a result, perform a practical, and provide a detailed analysis of their findings. Aside from submitting their reports for assessment, they also prepared a presentation board which was displayed in the Auditorium as part of the Science Fair on 15 November. Amongst the visitors were parents, staff members and various year groups of students, including all of Year 6, whom we hope will have been inspired by the Year 8 Secondary students. With an overwhelming amount of guests pouring in with voting ballots on their hands, the students put in every ounce of effort to convince our “judges” that their experiments were the best amongst them all.

Year 6’s Fantastical Beijing Experience In October, 92 Year 6 students packed, dressed and armed with intense enthusiasm boarded a plane bound for their long-awaited cultural experience in Beijing. From meandering the sprawling grounds of the majestic Forbidden City and Temple of Heaven to braving ‘those’ stairs at the Drum and Bell Tower, every moment seemed action packed. Even the infamous Beijing smog fortunately cleared for us, and azure blue skies greeted our students the day they took on the epic Great Wall of China. New friendships were formed with a visit to our pen pals at Shi Jia Hu Tong Primary School. After a tour of the incredible facilities, nervous introductions quickly soon shifted into smiles and chatter. When the school bell rang it was time to experience learning in a Chinese school.

Trying out dumplings, Peking Duck, vegetables that we could not always recognise, and other morsels of goodness!

One cannot really say that they’ve been to China unless you have experienced the local fare and our adventurous students certainly took on the challenge!

Ms Lynda Lemmon, Year 6

Before we knew it, we were homeward bound, laden with tales of our time in this incredible city.

Ms Narelle Cridland co-ordinated a photo competition during the Beijing trip. The contest encouraged students to see their surroundings through a creative lens and portray their surroundings through individual interpretations. An exhibition of the works was displayed in the Atrium in November. Congratulations to Luca Noronha, Karmen Lau, Ruby Jones, Alisha Tan and Isaac Wong for their prize winning photos. Photographers from L-R, Top-Bottom: Anon., George C, Cindy H, Luke B and George Martin

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Term 4 2016 | VOL.21 | www.aishk.edu.hk

Rumple and Friends putting on a show

R O F D B O U N nt u r e e v d A

In November, AISHK took in over 2,000 guests for a truly Great Aussie Adventure School Fair. Each event at that AISHK hosts is special in its own right. Traditionally, each event that AISHK holds also holds its own theme - a fun detail that encourages our community and guests get into the spirit of the event. Event themes have ranged from The Wild West to Bollywood and the community is never left disappointed by the level of involvement, care and attention put towards costumes and dress for the events. This year, the Fair took shape in the form of the Great Aussie Adventure. When asked about what they thought a Great Aussie Adventure entailed, students felt there was a strong resonance with the outdoors and being in nature. From then, the theme took on a life of its own as students quickly embraced the concept and started designing costumes and decorations for the special day.

A look back at the school event of the year and the road we took to get here

Rumple and Friends and Vibe Society. Many of our students showed up in true Aussie fashion, with costumes ranging from koalas to a vegemite jar. They were gracefully displayed in the best dressed competition. The Fair also provided replenishment for our adventurers with an extensive selection of Aussie themed food at the Sausage Sizzle, Billabong Bar, Bistro by Castelo Concepts and the Bushtucker Cafe. Parental involvement was at an alltime high this year, with many class-led carnival-style games being designed and run by our dedicated parent volunteers. The Fair raﬄe raised an astounding $500,350 towards the enhancements of the learning and teaching environments

of the school, a marvellous effort from our school community indeed. Thank you to our generous raffle donors for providing us with an attractive prize list and to all who took part in this fundraiser. Special congratulations go out to the classes who sold the most raffle tickets, who will have been rewarded with fun class parties. We would also like to extend our thanks to the many supporters of the fair, and the Parent Association for their hours contributed to the planning for this unforgettable event. The countdown to our next fair starts now!

The Fair featured a range of activities for all ages including rides on the ﬁeld, bubble soccer in the gym, games and stalls run by students and the wider community, and stunning performances from the rock band, orchestra, vocal ensembles and our guest performers

Term 4 2016 | VOL.21 | www.aishk.edu.hk

Raising Funds through Fun! AISHK holds a major event each year, in the form of a School Fair or a black tie Ball, which alternate to occur biennially. The funds raised from these events also assist the school in advancing its mission to provide all students with high quality and comprehensive teaching and learning experiences and environments. Over the years, many projects have been completed through the assistance of these fundraising events, which we can be very proud of, including the conversion of the rooftop pool into an indoor, year-round Aquatic Centre, the Green Roof and ﬁeld greening, as well as the enhancements of the 6th ﬂoor gymnasium.

As a non-proﬁt school, we are in the enviable position of ensuring all revenues and proﬁts are put back into the development of the School’s resources and physical buildings. Our School’s very foundation and success has been built on a history of participation, volunteerism and generosity of active contributors of the community in these regards.

As we move forward together as a school, we look forward to proactively informing and engaging with you of projects and initiatives that lie ahead.

We thank all of you who have so readily given in support of these causes, making it possible for us to further enrich our students’ daily school lives and contribute to maintaining AISHK’s place as a leading international School in Hong Kong.

Save the date! 2017 will see the AISHK Ball return to the calendar, on Saturday 19 August. If you have some theme suggestions, we’d love to hear from you! Get in touch with us with your ideas at development@aishk.edu.hk

For now, join us on a trip down memory lane, of the past Fair and Ball themes we have enjoyed over the years.

Fairs and Balls Through our History Year of the Outback Fair

1999

Year of the Lifesaver Fair

2002

2004 10th Anniversary Ball

Circus Fair

10th Anniversary Fair

First School Fete

Wild West Fair

2006

2008

All That Jazz Ball

Shanghai 1930 Ball

2010

2012

Mad Hatter’s Fair 2014

A Night Swing While on Broadway You’re Bollywood Ball Winning Ball Ball

Great Aussie Adventure Fair

2016 A Night on the Nile Ball

2017 Ball

Term 4 2016 | VOL.21 | www.aishk.edu.hk

Giving back to the community is important to students Zoe Yau, Meldrick Ho and Christy Yeung

Community Matters Putting the Unity in Community

On many a Saturday morning this year, a number of AISHK students and supervising staff busily set up a range of activities in the library. These volunteers have been providing an interactive English-speaking environment for students from schools and community centres around Hong Kong, in contribution to the student-led programme by the charity, Support! Hong Kong. The participating students are greeted by friendly AISHK Support! HK representatives with the promise of a morning filled with learning, laughter and new friendships. Though a newer addition to the many Community Service initiatives, the Support! Hong Kong programme follows in the strident footsteps of many students who have chosen to go above and beyond in giving back to their community. In the same spirit in 2014, alumni Evelyn Chan, Vernice Chan, Audrey Ling and Marsha Lui founded The YES Club (Youth Experiencing Service), a student-led community service initiative providing AISHK students with meaningful service opportunities outside of school programmes. Since its inception, the YES Club has grown to involve over 100 students from Years 9-11 and includes a wide range of activities dedicated to people and groups from different backgrounds. Service activities include assisting at food kitchens, visiting the elderly, reading to younger children and

tutoring local school students. Stephanie Tang, one of the Year 11 leaders of the YES Club is quick to point out areas of neglect in the community - “We often forget that the elderly played a big role in society in their younger years, so they should be treated with respect and be cared for. I think by visiting the elderly we remember that the purpose of service is to serve other and not ourselves.” A setting far removed from the usual youthful energy of a school, La Salle Elderly Centre has hosted many a visit from enthusiastic volunteers, organised through the YES Club. Stephanie says that “a lot of the elderly at these homes don’t have relatives that visit them regularly, so usually we go to sing songs with them, talk to them and do crafts”. The YES Club’s next goal is to include younger students, allowing a greater breadth of activities on oﬀer. One small act can change the lives of many people forever. Being students at an international school we are fortunate enough to be given power to help others, just by being born to the family we are in now... Personally the feeling you get when you see someone beneﬁt from something you’ve done is really magical and can make you forget all your problems at once. Stephanie Tang

As a school, part of our Mission is to develop responsible citizens. The school House groups have continued to work with their nominated charitable organisations: Christina Noble Children’s Foundation (CNCF), One Sky Foundation, Hope for Cambodian Children (HOPE) and Tabitha, and Child Welfare Scheme Hong Kong (CWS). Wherever possible, we strive to educate students, through experiential learning, the importance of actively assisting those most in need. Community Service is a major component of the secondary students’ annual Activity Week, in particular, the programs in India, Cambodia and Vietnam.

‘Movember’ men’s cancer awareness event. Highlights of the staff social calendar, they collectively strive to raise awareness and funds for these much needed causes. In the lead up to the festive season, the AISHK community has once again participated in the Box of Hope project and the Feeding Hong Kong food drive, both of which are collective efforts to provide educational gifts and daily necessities to those most in need in Hong Kong, and further afield in South East Asia. My outlook on life and work is that teaching and learning can be measured in more than academic achievement. Starting at AISHK in 2004, and taking up the role of Head of Community Service in 2009, I have had the joy of seeing the Community Service programme encourage students to become leaders in impacting individuals, society and the global environment without expectation of reward or return. Community Service provides students with a truly global perspective beyond the confines of our international school “bubble”, and greater appreciation of the day-to-day privileges they enjoy. Since 2009, in excess of HKD$2 million has been raised for charitable causes by the AISHK community as a whole. As we near the end of the school year, we are pleased to share with you this small snapshot of the Community Service projects AISHK students and teachers have been involved in throughout 2017.

There have been an array of other internal and external events this year, including House mufti days, bake sales, the Seams fashion show, 30 Hour Famine and the addition of the latest event - Running to Stop the Traﬃk. Students have now managed to raise over $300,000 for various charitable causes in 2017. Not to be outdone, staﬀ also held an annual breast cancer awareness fundraising campaign along with a

Mr Paul McGunnigle – Head of Community Service As we continue to grow as a school and anticipate the year ahead, we look forward to sharing with you our continuing Community Service eﬀorts, in the spirit of what we have achieved so far.

The AISHK YES Club

In November AISHK was the venue sponsor for the Kids4Kids Powered by Youth Forum, the only youth event in Hong Kong that builds local community-led action from a global perspective of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Held over two Saturdays, the forums engaged 98 students from around Hong Kong and 35 student volunteers, including AISHK students.

COMMUNITY SERVICE AT AISHK

1100+

STUDENTS

4 30+ HOUSES

Christy Yeung was appointed as a UNICEF Young Envoy this year. Their objective is to advocate children’s rights and raise awareness of the importance of UNICEF’s works. Christy has made a visit to Gansu and the medical facilities and schools funded by UNICEF. Her team also organised a Child’s Rights Fun Fair and social service programs for ethnic minorities in Hong Kong to advocate children’s rights.

CHARITY PARTNERS

HK$2,000,000+ Raised since 2009

YEARS OF COMMUNITY

A Support! Hong Kong session in the AISHK Library.

Term 4 2016 | VOL.21 | www.aishk.edu.hk

near the time to make subject choices in line with their future education and career aspirations. Careers Advisor, Ms Feona Crawford leads the program and has been with AISHK for ten years. Also a secondary Psychology teacher, Ms Crawford has gotten to know all secondary students and enjoys “the work of helping our students explore possible career options and helping them make plans for their post school-lives”. In years Year 7 to 9 students receive ongoing assessment of the relevance of each subject across the curriculum and possible career pathways. Building on this foundation, students in Years 10 to 12 students attend Careers Week at AISHK. During this time, students participate in career proﬁling interviews in preparation for Work Experience and begin to form their Career Portfolios, which document the career-related information and skills they have gained.

Turning Passion into a

Career As we celebrate the academic achievements of the graduating Class of 2016, we gain a glimpse of the ambition, hard work and dedicated study schedules, all of which are part of a greater a plan for the future for these young adults. As a secondary student, exam results, university placements or gap years are usually on the horizon after the Valedictory celebrations. But what came before the university oﬀers? Even before the university applications?

AISHK places great importance on educating students about career options and the many parts of these complex decisions, which start much earlier than in the upper secondary years. The school’s Career Development program provides counselling and advice to students, striving to meet their needs as they

Careers Week is a key opportunity for students to learn from professionals about the practice, culture and expectations of both tertiary institutions and working in different career fields. The 2016 Career Expo saw 20 university and college exhibitors visit our campus, followed by the afternoon Career Talks sessions, where 34 volunteers from various fields spoke to secondary students about their own career pathways. In Years 11 and 12 individual and group meetings are held with the Careers Advisor and assistance is provided for applying to university courses. Capping off the process, Year 12 students receive focused assistance with applications for university courses and other tertiary studies at educational institutions. Exit Planning interviews help students to devise a plan of action. The completed the compulsory two-week Work Experience program for Year 10 students provides valuable insight into the day-to-day expectations of their field of interest. Reinforcing the link between classroom learning and real-life work requirements, the program develops skills in problemsolving, time management, effective communication and teamwork. This year saw students once again immersed in an array of career fields including law, journalism, design, fashion, finance, health and beauty, fitness, engineering, medicine, architecture, marketing and communications and aviation. AISHK is fortunate to have strong support towards this program from both within our school and the wider Hong Kong community. Thank you to all who contribute so that we are able to provide this opportunity for students’ sound preparation for the next stage of their lives.

Term 4 2016 | VOL.21 | www.aishk.edu.hk

“

Careers Week 2017 (Monday 8 – Friday 12 May)

“Every individual is diﬀerent and we recognise that interests may evolve. As students begin to discover their interests, we try to match their individual aspirations and personal attributes further by matching them with courses that reﬂect their career pursuits.” - Ms Crawford

Preparation has begun for the upcoming Career Expo and Career Talks. As always, we would love to hear from volunteer speakers who wish to share their career journeys with our students. If you would like to be involved in Career Week 2017, please contact Ms Feona Crawford: feona_crawford@aishk.edu.hk

”

Work Experience 2016

“I learnt a bit about project development and how the architectural industry works. Tomorrow I will be starting my research project on the HK waterfront.” Carson Young on his Architecture work experience

Emma Pittman and Stephanie Norton at SPCA

Olivia Vasilopoulos at international law ﬁrm, Sidley Austin

Justin Trent at Pro-tax Consultants Limited

Justin Ku and Mr Somerville with Stephanie Chu of TMF Group

Kristiana Echaluce hard at work at hair and beauty salon, The Firm

Rachel D’Souza at Physio Central

Term 4 2016 | VOL.21 | www.aishk.edu.hk

8:20AM

Year 6 students enter the classroom and get themselves ready for the day. When class starts they are all organised and ready to learn. Today we’re starting with Literacy and Maths.

We may be peering down microscopes at micro-organisms in petri dishes, interpreting poetry in dramatic style, recording our own movie trailers, composing creative texts to engage, showing off some impressive skills on laptops… you just never know!

Our students are all aware of their top character strengths. Students have been applying them to the Peer Support Program where Year 6 students are trained to each take a small group of students from Reception to Year 5 and lead them in a 30 minute learning activity.

A big highlight this year has been our Design and Technology Project whereby students loved going up to the Secondary Design and Technology Workshop to create pencil boxes which they have designed themselves with their very own creative ﬂair! Our thoughtful Year 6 students have donated stationery items

The much-anticipated Images of Greatness Project. In Term Two, having researched and planned materials to inform their audience, students dress as a person who they view as ‘great’, creating impressive project centres and movie trailers represent their chosen ﬁgure.

It is a beautiful thing to see even some of the more reluctant readers completely enthralled and ready to devour a book!

Year 6 at AISHK, we don’t just have a school camp, we have an incredible school camp! It certainly is a trip to treasure forever for students and staff alike when we go to Beijing. For many of our kids, it is their very ﬁrst international trip without parents and certainly a wonderful opportunity for gaining independence, responsibility and forming even stronger friendships.

There are many different leadership positions in Year 6, from our Head Boy and Girl, House Captains, Library Monitors and beyond. Of course our students are all recognised as leaders from their Peer Support work as well as having a ‘Buddy’ from a younger year level.

Year 6 enjoyed the debating program and an extensive list of excursions to fuel our learning for our Integrated Studies subjects. Our students also look forward to the novel studies each term.

We have recently held our Transition Day where Year 6 students are given a snapshot of a day in Secondary school, which of course helps to calm those nerves, meet some of their teachers and give them a clearer understanding of what they are about to encounter. We wish all Year 6 students the best for the next chapter of their school lives. The Adventure Continues...

Term 4 2016 | VOL.21 | www.aishk.edu.hk

YOUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;VE GOT A FRIEND IN ME AISHK prides itself on its warm and inviting community spirit. This is instilled in all areas of the School, with our staďŹ&#x20AC; and students taking an active role in making everyone feel a part of the AISHK family, especially the new members who will join us in the coming year.

New Student Buddy Program Starting at a new school can be an exciting but daunting experience at ﬁrst. The New Student Buddy Program helps to ensure new students feel as welcome as possible as soon as they set foot on our campus. In early December of each year, 2-3 students in each primary and secondary class go into Buddy Training sessions. This prepares the selected students with all the information and tips necessary to provide guidance and a warm welcome to new students in the coming year. They can then share with and assist their new allocated buddy at any time. >> Additionally, current secondary students are allocated with a new student who will join AISHK’s secondary division. Before the new student has even commenced at AISHK, they will have already received a letter of welcome from their fellow secondary “buddy”. This ensures they have already connected with some peers before their ﬁrst day of school, and have a student point of contact for any areas where they may need assistance. >>

Buddy Classes Across the School Through the Buddy Classes program, various primary homerooms are partnered up with each other to hold activities together throughout the year. This allows for a peer-to-peer teaching opportunity and oﬀers an integrated exchange experience between age groups and year levels. Coordinated by the Heads of Year, this initiative also helps to reinforce students’ sense of responsibility and develop leadership skills in a fun and dynamic environment. This approach is also used in Secondary, where through prefect leadership guidance, there are peer sharing activities between year levels.

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AISA 2016 AISHK hosted the 2016 AISA Games in Term 4. AISA has now established a strong calendar of events and this was the first time that five sports have been included. Students competed in Touch and Soccer at King's Park where the completion and the standard of play was exceptional in every way. Returning to AISHK, Basketball, Netball and Swimming were contested, leaving Saturday for the remaining round robin games and then the finals. Visiting and Home students played with determination, positive attitudes and sportsmanship throughout, and many stand out efforts from AISHK’s own athletes showed that Hong Kong can hold their own against international schools around Asia.

MVP Players (voted by all coaches) Girls Netball Lara Schats Boys Basketball Naveen Shivalingam Girls Soccer Kristiana Echaluce Boys Soccer Marc Vermeulen Girls Touch Lara Schats Boys Touch Cooper Bath Girls Swimming Aneekah Styles Boys Swimming Andrew Law

The students were a credit to their coaches at AISHK who have given so much of their time in preparation of their teams in order for them to compete at the required level in all of the sports.

Boys Soccer

Girls Soccer

Boys Touch

Girls Touch

Girls Netball

Boys Basketball

Boys Swimming

Girls Swimming

Overall

Hong Kong

4th

2nd

1st

2nd

1st

Singapore

2nd

1st

3rd

2nd

1st

2nd

Malaysia

3rd

5th

4th

3rd

5th

3rd

4th

Vietnam

5th

3rd

5th

3rd

5th

Indonesia

1st

4th

2nd

4th

3rd

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Early Childhood Athletics Fun Day November 25 saw Early Childhood students take to the track for their annual ‘Athletics Fun Day’ at Kings Park, Ho Man Tin. Students took part in many activities, including superfast sprints, a tough marathon and many fun-runs throughout the action-packed day. Great House spirit and lots of energy was on display. After all the dust had settled, Wattle House emerged victorious. Congratulations to all the budding athletic stars on their fantastic performances! House

Points

1st Place

Wattle

396

2nd Place

Jacaranda

390

3rd Place

Eucalypt

382

4th Place

Waratah

330

News

We are pleased to announce the election of the 2017 Parent Association Executive and General Committee members, as a result of the PA AGM held on Tuesday 15 November. Parent Association Executive Committee: Co-Presidents: Lauren Mitchell & Lisa Milliner Oversees and assists with activities undertaken by the Association and represents the Association to School and the wider community including at meetings of School Board. Vice President Finance: Gerard Camilleri Manages the account of the Association and supervises the accounting for Association events including by liaising with the School’s Business Administrator and reporting to the Association on financial matters. Vice President Secretary: Katrina Zervaas Prepares the agenda and minutes for the Association and maintains the records of the Association. Vice President Communication: Katie Vajda Oversees the preparation and placement of the Association’s advertising, promotional material and public information including in editions of Dhanara. This VP oversees the work of the Website Co-ordinator and the information that appears on the Association’s site. This VP works very closely with the marketing team at the School to leverage the School’s information resources as much as possible. Vice President Community: Joanna Hartnett Co-ordinates the regular engagement of the Association with the parent community including through the management of class and year representatives, welcoming and informing new parents and providing parent forums. Vice President New Parent Coordinator: Sue Sarelius Responsible for coordinating new parent forums; liaising with school counsellors and external parties as appropriate to organise forums for parents. These forums typically involve issues regarding moving and settling into Hong Kong and AISHK school life. The VP New Parent Coordinator is also responsible for coordinating Welcome Coffee Mornings at school at the beginning of each term. General Committee: Kitty Wong Julie Winkler Shelley Spaleta Next year the Parent Association will again run a number of events and activities, including our School Ball in August. We encourage you all to consider being involved in some way. Being a member of the Parent Association is a fantastic way of contributing to our school community and we look forward to seeing you all throughout the 2017 School year as we come together and celebrate our sense of school pride. Stay up to date with Parent Association news and updates as well as volunteer for events at the official Parent Association website pa.aishk.edu.hk

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