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In our main feature, Taran "Mr C" Chadha, together with the Green Roof Club talk about sustainability and how they are able to revitalise the AISHK Green Roof
HEAD OF SCHOOL MESSAGE
This term there have been many opportunities to welcome AISHK parents to campus. Thank you if you attended the Book Week activities, the Sports Awards or one of the AISHK Parent Association (PA) meetings. It is always good to see the auditorium full of parents for assemblies and music recitals, and our biggest community event this term was the wonderful Family Fun Day organised by the PA, with over 1,000 attendees.
The culmination of months of hard work and dedication by the PA, the event did an outstanding job of bringing the community together, with generous support by sponsors, donors and countless volunteers. Congratulations to all involved.
Next year the school will celebrate its 30th anniversary. We take enormous pride in the ongoing success of all our students and former students wherever they are in the
world and whichever path they choose. In this issue of The Lion Rock a number of our alumni are featured which makes this issue a bit special and it paves the way for more conversations across the decades.
This term there has been an uplift in the environmental and sustainability projects going on at the school. The regeneration of the Green Roof is a wonderful initiative that has endless potential for our community along with the projects of the student groups driving environmental change. They are key as we strive to become a more sustainable community.
Have a safe & relaxing term break.
Mina Dunstan HEAD OF SCHOOL
BOARD CHAIRMAN MESSAGE
On behalf of the AISFL Board, welcome to the Term 3 issue of The Lion Rock magazine.
Last month the Board held its annual strategic meeting, which is instrumental in shaping and stewarding the path forward for AISHK, in line with its future vision. AISHK is experiencing a high volume of applications to the school and the Admissions department is creating waiting lists for many year groups. Thank you to the staff, students, parents and the community members for their commitment to ensuring the school's continuing success.
Our strong position means we are also continuing to attract high calibre candidates during this year’s recruitment season, and
the school has met with some outstanding individuals who we look forward to welcoming in the 2025 school year.
As the end of the school year draws closer, we wish the Class of 2024 well in their exams next term. AISFL Board members will be attending the Valedictory assembly. This is a very special occasion, and it is a celebration of the students’ achievements and their time at this unique school. I and all the Board members wish them well in their next steps.
Wishing you all a restful and enjoyable break.
Andrew Macintosh AISFL BOARD CHAIRMAN
Meet the Auld Family A Balanced Approach
Jock Auld and Lauren Hughes grew up in the beautiful rolling hills of the Barossa Valley, Adelaide. But in 2013 the couple were up for “a bit of an adventure” and Asia was calling to them - Hughes having done some work with clients in China, they were keen to get some international experience and they moved the same year after Hughes “landed a role in Business Development with law firm, Freshfields.”
Jock moved to Hong Kong to continue a career in advertising but soon joined the family wine business, Auld Family Wines, seeing opportunity in the region for their winery. Jock’s brother, Sam, makes the wine while Jock focuses on exporting the wine throughout Asia. They are parents to Walter (Wally) aged four in Reception and Rosie, three, and Adelaide (Eddie), one.
When asked about their work - life balance Hughes said: “The hours can be long. I come home and do bed-time and normally log on in the evening to speak with my team in Europe and the US. I feel fortunate to be able to manage the time difference to take calls from home in the evening and still hang with the kids.”
Auld has also faced professional challenges. He said: “Hong Kong is the best place to be as a hub within Asia. The Covid years were hard and many of our customers found those years hard but our business is better for it. We are far more collaborative and solutions focused for our customers. It was a tough time, but we are better for it.”
Like many within the AISHK community, they fell in love with Hong Kong's outdoor lifestyle.
Auld: “Part of what keeps us in Hong Kong is our home in Shek O. We [the family] have really benefited from being in a village community and a beach lifestyle. Living in Shek O gives us a great balance between a beach lifestyle and interesting professional opportunities – it blows our mind that
we can live in a sleepy beachside village yet be only a 30-minute drive away from an international CBD.”
Hughes: "And broader than that, we get the buzz of the Hong Kong lifestyle and the opportunity to travel within Asia and travel to Europe."
Their son Wally joined the Reception class this yearhas he settled in ok? Hughes: “Wally loves school. It was a big shift for him from a small kindergarten in Shek O to a big school but he made an amazing group of friends. The kids in his Reception class have really bonded.”
“Mrs Roz (Lauren Rosanowski) is fabulous! The way she and the other teachers connect and engage with the kids is impressive. We have really appreciated her insight on Wally and some of her tips to help him with his learning at home. The focus on building social skills alongside the expected literacy and numeracy is really important and we love seeing his confidence grow.”
AISHK recognises that families join the school, not children. Hughes, “The community aspect is also something the family has really enjoyed. After so many years in Hong Kong, joining the school was a reminder to us about how important it is to be part of the Australian community.
“The school’s curriculum and the way the school landmarks the year is very important to us. It is also important to us that Wally has the opportunities to do many of the same things we did when we were growing up in a country primary school. Joining the Book Week Parade recently took me straight back to my primary school years. It was always such a highlight!”
“The welcome BBQ at the beginning of the year solidified why we chose the school. We feel at home in the relaxed Aussie style community.”
Now and Then
Now and Then
As AISHK looks forward to its 30th anniversary in 2025, The Lion Rock has been reflecting on three decades of change in Hong Kong.
A lot has changed since 1995. Thirty years ago, the cool dudes amongst us sauntered to the Seven – 11 the wind billowing our big baggy jeans and handed over just a few cents for your carton of iced lemon tea. Coffee was something that only dads drank (black or white and from a jar).
In the 90s, he deserved a relaxing coffee after spending three hours programming the video recorder to tape the wrong TV show.
There were just three MTR lines, Tsuen Wan line, Island line and Tseung Kwan O line with nothing going north of Kowloon Tong.
No one was talking about the internet and only people in corporate suits had a mobile phone, albeit the size and weight of a brick. Now we can check those important emails anytime, anywhere. Globally, 360 billion emails are sent every day single day. The days of students taking a letter home, that would get pinned to the kitchen noticeboard, are long gone.
Hong Kong’s skyline has continued to shoot upwards since the 90s with the completion of icon buildings including, Cheung Kong Center in 1999, Two International Finance Centre in 2003 and The Arch in 2005.
But have you ever wondered why much of Kowloon Tong is low-rise? Areas surrounding the (now closed) international airport at Kai Tak were subject to high restrictions so planes could fly in before landing on a strip-runaway in the middle of the harbour. This is why AISHK enjoys sweeping views from its upper levels across to as far as the Peak.
New Towns in the New Territory have expanded rapidly, and reclaimed land has changed the shape of Hong Kong coastline. Hundreds of thousands of units have been built and industrial buildings have been repurposed into offices, or even rebuilt as residential apartments.
While Hong Kong has changed a lot there are many AISHK traditions that have endured. There is still the annual trip to Beijing, dressing up during Book Week and the much-loved sausage sizzles.
What memories will you share with friends and family at 30th Anniversary? If you would like to share your memories of 90s Hong Kong or your school days The Lion Rock would love to hear from you, email, alumni@aishk.edu.hk
Q&A AROUND AISHK
Meet the Environmental & Sustainability Committees
What is the Environmental Committee planning to do next?
We have been talking about WasteFree Wednesdays and how we as a school can reduce the number of single-use plastics that are used and thrown away after lunch and recess.
What are some of the environmental projects you would like to get involved with?
The Environment Committee does a lot of planning, and we have got a lot of ideas. In the future I would like to get more involved with the Green Roof club and the planting and gardening.
CLANCY, YEAR 4
What has the Sustainability Committee done that you are proud of?
Last term we organised a campaign to repurpose old clothes and raise awareness about the issue of “fast-fashion” with
Why did you join the Environmental Committee?
I really want to look after the environment and the school, and I want to make the world a better place.
VIOLET, YEAR 3
What is next for the Environmental Committee?
Our next job is to interview some of our classmates to see what their lunchbox looks like and the waste that might be created by a class. We want to take photos of lunch boxes to understand how we can reduce waste.
SAM, YEAR 6
Academic institutions across the globe are facing the world’s biggest issue head-on and AISHK is no exception. Environmental sustainability is an issue that affects the way we live daily. The school’s Environmental and Sustainability Committees answer questions on projects and priorities that are helping the community to be more sustainable.
Why did you decide to join the Environmental Committee?
I am passionate about the environment, and I really want to make a difference to the school community and the wider world.
IMMY, YEAR 5
Why did you join the Sustainability Committee?
I want to reduce our carbon footprint as a community by reducing the amount of resources we use. Future generations should have the same opportunities as us.
LEIGHTON, YEAR 12
What is one of the long-term projects the Committee is working on?
We are tracking where our rubbish goes in the school. We are looking at what rubbish goes to landfill, what is collected by an outside recycling company and what we can manage in-house. We are going to do some advocacy work with everyone
What are some of the things the Environmental Committee has done this year?
We have been raising awareness. We did a kahoot [quiz] about the environment in our classes. We also surveyed students on their habits asking them what types of recycling bins they would use in their classrooms.
What is the Sustainability Committee doing now?
We are hosting a design-aposter competition. Posters will be displayed next to every aircon switch in the school. The posters will remind everyone to keep the temperature at 23C and to turn them off when they leave the room.
CHANTAL, YEAR 12
IN CONVERSATION WITH ALUMNA
Jessica Yuen
Twenty two years ago the AISHK community was still settling into the Norfolk Road campus, which opened just two years previously. The students and teachers at that time were creating new traditions and setting the course of things to come.
Jessica Phillips and Vegas Puels, are Year 11 students and leaders of the Allies Club, a friendship group that meets every week to help give students a space to feel more comfortable, welcomed and supported at the school. They caught-up with Jessica Yuen, Class of 2003, to ask what students were focusing their attentions on twenty-two years ago.
Phillips: Tell us about your school days?
Yuen: The school moved three or four times in the early years. I remember everybody just sort of mucked in together. I remember we [the students and teachers] painted the walls of the classrooms soon after we moved into this [Norfolk Road] campus.
The dynamics of the school changed over the years. I remember that a lot of students went to boarding school in Year 9 and in Year 10 there was an influx of new students. And things changed during SARS.
Puels: There was a similar change during the pandemic. Families went overseas and some have come back. But we are a bigger school now, what was it like being at a smaller school?
Y: Yeah, AISHK was a small school in the early 2000s. When I was in year 7, there was no Years 10, 11 and 12. We could fit the whole of the secondary school in one classroom. That's how small we were. So we were very close-knit and everybody knew everybody. The teacher to student ratio was quite low so it was easy to get to know each other well.
I guess it still exists today but there were very, very academic students, the go-getters. And the shy students and the sporty students, the normal mix.
Pu: What were some of the student roles you had when you were at school?
Y: I was on the basketball team and a House Captain and a member of the Student Representative Council (SRC).
Ph: Inclusion and student wellbeing are important to us. Were they priorities for students when you were at school?
"AISHK was a small school in the early 2000s. When I was in Year 7, there was no Years 10, 11 and 12. We could fit the whole of the secondary school in one classroom. That's how small we were."
Y: The SRC pushed for things that brought students together. I remember that the Year 12 common room was one of the things that we started, because there wasn't one up until that point. Whilst it may not have been a priority at the time, it became one of my favourite places to spend time with friends.
Back then we were aware of the issues, but our focus was on creating a campus that felt like ours. Also we were still finding our feet. The Prefects were a new thing and the head boys and head girls came later.
The other thing we pushed for was a Formal. I am not sure if there was a Formal before our year group. We booked the Hong Kong Football Club and went there for our end of year party.
Pu: Our Formal is next week! I am looking forward to it. What were the other community events and projects that students could get involved with?
Y: We did a lot of socialising at school. Things like the welcome barbecues and the school fēte were big!
We had the school musicals. My mum Sandra, was the accompanying pianist, along with Music Teachers, Jennifer McLachlan and Chris McCorkell. Mr McCorkell brought mum into school to play the piano.
The Pirates of Penzance was the big one [musical] and Bye Bye Birdie, I remember my mum practicing and playing the music at home. I felt like I was listening to it all the time.
The student that was supposed to play the lead in the Pirates of Penzance got chickenpox so Mr McCorkell ended up taking the lead.
Pu: That is so funny. Mr McCorkell is still at the school. Are you into music and performing?
Y: Not really, mum is. Are you musical?
Pu: Yes, I like singing. There are a lot of Extra Curricular Activities (ECA) at school, sports every day. We have Creative Curricular Activities and I have signed up to acrylic painting classes and cooking classes.
Ph: The activities are really cool, but it also means it takes time away from school work. We kind of need those extracurricular activities. Good grades aren’t enough to get into university, or a good university. We have to find a balance between how many extracurriculars we do and classwork. How much time do you get to spend together as friends and how much time did you spend doing Extra Curricular Activities?
Y: Yeah, that was probably to my detriment, because I was involved in too much. I was involved in basketball at that time. We hadn't had a basketball team very long but we practiced a lot. I was a House Captain, we used to have to run House Captain meetings. I remember doing that with Head of Waratah House Mr. Paul Carroll. I remember trying to encourage the house spirit.
Ph: Did students have phones at school?
Y: No, we didn't have phones at school. I discovered Facebook in 2003. Mr. Phillip O'Connor, Mathematics Teacher will tell you stories, that when I discovered Facebook all my studies went out the window. I was lucky, Mr. O'Connor and Mrs. Dooley, who was my English teacher at the time, helped me catch up on work I missed. I am glad we did not have phones, they would have been a massive distraction.
Pu: What did you do after you left AISHK?
Y: My father always had a rule that I should study overseas. He wanted my sister and I to get out of Hong Kong to live and see a different world. I started out doing a BA. in Asian Studies and Political Science but decided within a year that it was not for me. One of my friends said I should go into education. I always wanted to be a teacher. I ended up graduating from the University of Ballarat with a Bachelor of Education (Hons).
Jessica Yuen regularly comes to campus. She supports a child at AISHK who has refugee status. The student is just one of 23 children across seven international schools that is supported by Yuen’s charity, the SEA Charitable Foundation.
Yuen works with NGOs including, Christian Action Centre for Refugees, Branches of Hope and the Zubin foundation to identify families that need help navigating the Hong Kong school system. This mirrors Yuen’s profession as a migration and education consultant. Yuen’s business the Specialist Education Advisory (SEA) predominantly assists families looking for international schools in Hong Kong or migrating and studying to Australia or New Zealand.
A few years ago, a friend of Yuen’s from the Christian Action Centre for Refugees suggested that they could try placing just one student at the American School, with nothing to lose. That student just started a Mechanical Engineering Degree at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
The SEA Charitable Foundation works with NGOs to identify which families are able to transition into the Hong Kong school system and identifies students suitable for of scholarships and bursaries in international schools. Once a family is accepted into a school, Yuen is a
go-between the school and the parents. She simplifies language for parents and helps them to understand the communications from school. She also advocates for students as they move through the school helping to deal with any issues that might arise, and she attends parent evenings.
Jessica Phillips and Vegas Puels are founders and leaders of The Allies Club. It welcomes anyone wanting to make, develop and support friendships. They meet almost every Wednesday at lunchtime in room 609B.
From L-R: Vegas Puels, Jessica Phillips, and Jessica Yuen
Jessica Yuen, Education Consultant and Charity Founder
It's Making Movies
orget dry info videos created by a bunch of squares. AISHK staff are making entertaining, short, sci-fi motion movies that make kids scream with laughter. The Lion Rock talks to the creative duo producing the movies, Physics Teacher, Peter Pulsford and Performing Arts Technician, Michael San Juan.
"When one film ends, we start thinking about the next one straight away. We vaguely know how one will morph into the next one."
Tell us about your latest movie?
San Juan: “Time Bites is our new movie this year. It is a zombie / time traveling / Back To The Future parody.”
Pulsford: “In the beginning of the film there are just 11 humans alive in the world. There are a few plot twists. I won’t give those away. I think the scene in the gym is one of the best. There's a load of great zombie shots. There are a few bits we are proud of - some good moments.
We try to involve a few departments and individuals every year and it is generally shown during Science Week. Head of Science, Andrew Hill picks the departments we [Pulsford and San Juan] work with. This year the Science, Learning Enrichment Center and the Personal Development Health and Physical Education departments are the cast of the film.”
SJ: “The movies are something different, they are a parody and a comedy. They involve different people and they are fun to watch.”
How did these short films start?
P: “During Secondary Activity Wweek, I started organising videos to present in assembly, and it grew from there. A small group of students and I would write a script and film a movie in a week on
our iPhones. During the pandemic things changed but I still wanted to create something that would bond everyone together in a common experience and it would be fun. The Harry Potter video we created was half science lesson, half fun video.
SJ: “When I joined the school, I watched the Harry Potter vid that was still in production, and I asked Pulsford if he wanted some VFX (visual effects) in the vid. So that is how things started.
Since Covid we have been making movies in our spare time with volunteer staff and the student tech team.”
P: The next film was based on the Matrix. I thought San Juan wanted to be in it, so I actually wrote a part for him but he said he wanted to be on the production side. On the first filming day he turned up with lights and a shooting list. And it just elevated everything way above my amateurish production level. It's amazing.”
Who writes the scripts?
SJ: “Technically we both write the script. It starts by conceptualising a general narrative which is very collaborative.”
P: “We both like Romero zombie films - Night of the Living Dead, and that sort of thing.
SJ: “Shaun of the Dead, is cool. Edgar Wright [director] is my movie making hero. I aspire to be like him.”
P: “He [Wright] is a genius. The way he uses 'Easter eggs', and all the clever references, all the foreshadowing is brilliant… I sound like I know what I am talking about, I don’t. I have no movie making credentials.”
SJ: “I'm a movie geek, I have always loved creating short films, creating a narrative to a story. So when I met this dude [Pulsford], I was like, heck yeah!
With Time Bites we started with one idea, we knew what we wanted to parody and I wanted to include a heist. This helps us to write a first draft of a script.”
P: “When one film ends, we start thinking about the next one straight away. We vaguely know how one will morph into the next one.”
How have the films changed and developed?
P: “Time Bites is about 36 minutes. Last year’s Avatrek was 24 minutes. Our Matrix inspired film was maybe 13 minutes. The first short film was 8 minutes that was the Harry Potter parody.
We show the films in assembly, to 'open' Science Week. We started with half an assembly and then we were given a whole assembly. Now we have been given our own special assembly on Friday afternoon.”
(Top) Mr San Juan trying to capture Mr Christmas' zombie surprise; (Middle) behind-thescenes prepping; (Bottom) Mr Chin and Mr Garcia getting in character
SJ: “The films are getting longer with more students involved and more VFX.”
How are students involved in the movie making?
P: “I think the students kind of prefer seeing their teachers in the film. They go wild when they see them.”
SJ: “This year, more than ever, we have kids involved. Mostly for the production side, it's mostly the tech team: Sam Mackinlay, Ivana Yue, Vegas Puels. They help with setting up lights, making sure the shot lists are on par, makeup, coordinating rooms and times.
Nate Wong sometimes helps with setting up lights but he is more like a grip (camera / equipment operator). Ivana is like another director. She knows and understands how and why we sometimes shoot out of sequence."
P: “Shooting out of sequence was something I've never seen before. My first experience was a fight scene we did in. I was an actor, me and my command team. I just had to trust the director [San Juan]. The fight was sort of choreographed but there were all these close-up shots. It made no sense in terms of the fight. I just had to trust the director.”
Where do you do the filming?
SJ: “Most of the filming is done on a blue screen, about 80%. Most of the environments and the settings are CGI (computer generated imagery). The rest of the filming is done at locations around campus.”
When do you find the time?
P: “It is hard to find the time and get people together. Once we had to postponed the same shot four times. But I am getting better at knowing when people and spaces might be free.”
Do you have some go-to people you want in the cast?
SJ: “Sam in Year 10, and Ivana in Year 12 they studied drama - are really good!”
P: “Andrew Hill has always had a big role. He's often a villain. He sometimes plays a comic version of himself, and he's game for anything, he's a very reliable performer.”
The films are all in the sci-fi genre - how much of the science is accurate?
P: “The films are still science related. You can tell there's a physics teacher at work. Some of the science is quite good. I put in a few specific references to astrophysics or oxbow lakes. There is a good scientific description of the sun in the movie, the units are correct. Which I actually refer to in my physics classes. And there is a bit of information on the density of the universe. I was quite pleased with that. So that was actually useful to show my class. The time travelling stuff is all sci-fi of course.”
What's next?
SJ: “The next film is going to be adventure, dungeons and dragons. We've approached a few people, tentatively for now.”
P: “We need to look at which main three departments we are going to be working with. Deputy Head of Primary, Chris Bird is fantastic, he is a great actor and he's an ambassador for us, so he is likely to have a role.
This year we are raising money for charity, which we've never done before. Paws United is an animal charity that really needs funds. Any funds raised from the sale of the movie’s t-shirts will go to Paws United. I am arranging for someone from the charity to come to campus to talk about what they do. It would be great if the films are entertaining and they have a social impact.”
Time Bites was premiered to students on 30th August 2024. You can watch it on the school’s Youtube channel or by scanning the QR code.
Mr Ben Chin's slow transformation in Zombie Chin
(Above) Time Bite's Poster
(Right) Mr Pulsford giving direction to a suited-up Mr Bailey for the big fight scene in 2023's Avatrek
The infamous Bird Man
AISHK staff zombified
FTHE regrowth OF THEgreen roof
ood Technology Assistant, Taran Chadha (known to the students as Mr C) is a former chef turned educator and horticulturist. He cares deeply about where food comes from and the impact it has on our health and the environment.
In the classroom he is helping students to prepare their own food and on the school’s Green Roof he is teaching students how to grow food.
He said, “The first time I came to campus was for my job interview. It was really good to meet the people I would be working with and to see the facilities. I saw the Green Roof and it helped me make the decision to pause my chef career and take this opportunity.”
“I am very concerned about food security and I want to make young people aware of the
issues around food and farming. And I thought a good way to start was to come to a school.”
Like many international school kids, Chadha left Hong Kong to study overseas, attending the University of Michigan where he pursued an Actuary degree. But all the time he harbored a passion to be a chef. He left university to follow his dream, training and working in bistros and restaurants in New York and Chicago.
He returned to Hong Kong and climbed the ranks in the restaurant industry, eventually becoming a corporate chef for some of the city’s largest restaurant groups, overseeing more than 30 operations. But he found himself a long way from his original intention – that was to cook food that makes people happy.
Chadha and his wife Sheela (also a restaurant manager) decided to open their own place.
“When I came to campus in October 2023, I liked what I saw. Ms Carini told me the background to the Green Roof. There is so much potential in this role and in the school to have a positive impact.”
Chadha: “We wanted to open a fun place, a family place in Sai Ying Pun.”
This led to the opening of two restaurants, Black Salt, followed by the popular Pondi, which serves Indian - French fusion food.
He said, “The first six months were all right. It wasn't too crazy. But then we started to get reviews and things got really crazy. The investors wanted to expand. There were a lot of hours. And then the protests happened [in 2019] followed by the pandemic. Our restaurants became more about trying to survive. Taking cheap ingredients and trying to make them look expensive.”
“I got to a point where I thought, I don't want to do this anymore. I wanted to find a way to have food from the source. I tried to work with farms in Hong Kong. But they couldn't produce enough food, or it was too expensive.”
In the 80s, Hong Kong was 30% agriculture. Today over 90% of HKSAR's total food supply is imported. The issue of importing food and the quality of food is of concern for Chadha.
Chadha: “One of the hardest things in the restaurant industry is trying to be environmentally sustainable. Food waste, organic sourcing, food miles are all big issues. It is hard in the restaurant industry, and we need more education if things are going to change.”
“In terms of our own health, we don’t know where our food is from or what’s in it. Pesticides and herbicides kill natural bacteria. They remove the microbiomes our guts need and we need to be healthy and prevent disease.
Chadha had what he describes as a moral awakening, realising that he was not prepared to be part of the “machine” anymore - and decided to take a break. He said, “It was the most difficult thing, stepping away from the business.”
He interned with Hong Kong farms and urban farms for free. He did some agriculture courses and prototyped his own aquaculture systems on a small scale.
Chadha did a lot of self-education and learning before joining AISHK and even more after he started.
“When I came to campus in October 2023, I liked what
I saw. Ms Carini told me the background to the Green Roof. There is so much potential in this role and in the school to have a positive impact.”
The Green Roof club started in January 2024 with a small group of students from Years 3-12. A partnership with Farmhouse Productions, an regenerative farm in Kam Tin, helped Chadha plan how to use the roof in a sustainable way that will flourish for years to come.
He said: “I did some training with them [Farmhouse Productions] to understand regenerative farming.”
“And it was really good because I started to understand a lot about soil and the importance of it. I’ve developed a passion for the regenerative approach, versus aquaponics.”
“We [the Green Roof Club] did a soil analysis. We put the soil under a microscope and there was no life in the soil. No microorganisms, nothing. Then we looked at the soil from Farmhouse Productions and the students saw all the nematodes and all the microorganisms in the soil and they were like, wow!”
Chunling Fong, Farmer and Director of Farmhouse Productions said “We were impressed by how progressive the school is in their commitment to educating the next generation in a holistic way, outside the classroom. We are proud to have taken part in setting up this little piece of oasis and working with Mr C to pass on the wisdom and knowledge from our very own, beautiful Earth.”
Once Chadha and the team restored the soil, they started to see a lot of centipedes, worms and insects coming back to the Green Roof.
It is not just soil science that Chadha has been learning about. He said, "I have done a lot of horticultural education. I did some training with Farmhouse Productions. I did a programme called Sustainable Agriculture with Hong Kong University. I did that for about a month and a half.”
“That was really good. We went to see different farms. We saw what's happening with the composting facilities in Kadoorie Farm, and other facilities around Hong Kong. It was a really interesting course because I got to see Hong Kong's history of farming.”
In August 2024 the Green Roof Club harvested their first lemons, which were used in the Year 7 food tech lessons. This was followed by a big harvest of herbs and big batches of pesto (made during food tech lessons).
Brothers Julio and Julius Wong have been members of the Green Roof Club since it started. Julio explains what the club does on the roof every week, He said, “We cut away all the weeds, water plants, we compost garden waste and food waste but the fun part is growing plants, from seeds and cuttings!”
Julius: “The point of the Green Roof is to grow our own food, so we don’t always have to transport food to school.”
“We are both happy and surprised when we see plants that we have grown survive and flourish. “We now grow our own plants at home.”
The Club has come a long way since it started in January. The planting beds were empty. The trees were almost dead and nothing was cared for.
Chadha said, “But after regenerating the soil things grew really fast. Things we didn't even know existed started growing back. We have an avocado tree now, and turmeric grows everywhere, I don't know why.”
So, what is next for the Green Roof Club? Chadha, “There is a lot we can achieve with the roof, for me I hope it becomes an outdoor classroom. I think people are reluctant to go up there because there's no covering. But we have installed canopy and sunshade now. Art teachers are using it, they've taken their students up there to do some artwork.”
“Maybe the senior students can
use the space to relax. The Green Roof club has installed a food waste composter which they use for making fertilisers. Hopefully we can develop a food waste recycling programme, so maybe once a month there is a food waste collection day.”
“The roof can be a safe and relaxing space for students. We can use it for home-grown-food barbecues or dinner parties and parents gardening clubs. We can invite other schools to the roof. Schools that don’t have green spaces could come and enjoy the space and learn a little about what we are doing.”
The Green Roof team is about to start the next season of growth, and Chadha would like the students to have more control over their own areas.
He said, “The younger ones love digging. We did all the planting last term and when they came back from the holidays all the beds were full of plants. Everything grows so quickly. Many of the students were shocked!”
“Building awareness for the future is important, the way things are going, food will be an issue. Understanding how things grow and how to prepare food is knowledge I did not learn at school. I hope they [students] remember it later in life.”
The Green Roof Club meets every Thursday at 3:30pm in the Food Tech Rooms on the 7th Floor. Students from Years 3-12 are welcome to join.
SCHOOL OF THOUGHT:
The IMPACT Teachers Make
If you ask a teacher why they chose their profession, the answer is often the same. They were inspired by their teachers and enjoy interactions with young people. Schools are important places for developing a sense of community and relationships. The Lion Rock meets two teachers who want to be part of a process that they benefited from.
Michael Schats, Class of 2015, is currently training to be a teacher. He has completed one of his teaching practicums with AISHK’s Economics and Business Studies department. When not doing a practicum placement Schats has a classroom assistant role at the school.
Schat’s interactions with young people, while coaching sport, helped him make the decision to become a teacher. After graduating from Brighton and then Swansea universities he worked in Finance for 18 months. In his spare time he was a football and rugby coach, training with children aged 11-14. He said, “Coaching was the biggest highlight of my day. Working with kids and connecting with kids was something I
really enjoyed. During that time I was trying to figure out how I could steer my life in that direction rather than being in an office environment. Moving into teaching felt like a big shift because I had never considered it before.”
There are several teachers at the school who had an impact on Schats. He said,
“Mr. Nelson was my geography teacher, but he ran the football team back then. I was never really into football, but he pushed me and gave me lots of confidence. He took me under his wing which was awesome.”
“And Mr. Murphy was my homeroom teacher. We had a crazy class, but we all respected him. He taught us there is a time to let loose and a time to be respectful and work hard.”
Schats left AISHK at the end of Year 10 but he is still in touch with many of his friends. He said, “We [school friends] are all still connected, I think they are lifelong connections. We meet up in London or Australia when possible.”
Elise McKenzie, Class of 2006, is now a high school English teacher. She was recently awarded a Minister's Award for Excellence in Teaching after being recognised for her work at Orange High School in regional New South Wales.
In reflecting on her journey from graduate to award winning teacher she emailed AISHK and said, “I was immensely privileged to attend a school like AISHK and live the expat life in Hong Kong. I feel it is my responsibility to do whatever I can to contribute to a better society.”
“I loved being involved with AISHK theatre productions, starting as a member of the chorus in Pirates of Penzance. I credit my involvement in both A Midsummer Night's Dream and Twelfth Night for my enduring love of Shakespeare.”
Elise played Kim McAfie in the AISHK production of Bye Bye Birdie in 2002. She later went on to produce the same show (plus others) at Rosebank College in Five Dock, her first school after graduation.
She moved to the Netherlands and spent four years at Amsterdam International Community School. In 2022 she returned to Australia and is now at Orange High School.
She said, “Over the years I have grown increasingly concerned with the widening wealth gap in Australia and I decided that the best way I could use my expertise is to work in public education.”
“I wanted to reach out to AISHK to thank the school and my teachers for being inspiring, caring and skilled people who influenced both my decision to be a teacher and various elements of my practice."
Elise gives her English Teacher, Mrs White a special shout-out. “When I told her I was thinking of going to university and becoming an English teacher, she looked me dead in the eye and said, "Yes. That's a good idea.”
Performing Arts, (drama, music and dance) offers invaluable benefits for primary school students. These creative outlets foster imagination, enhance confidence and build teamwork skills. Through drama, students learn to express themselves, develop empathy and strengthen communication abilities. Music education cultivates listening skills and has a remarkable neurological connection to speech acquisition. Research shows that music training enhances phonetic awareness, improving children's ability to recognise and produce speech sounds. Additionally, dance promotes physical fitness and coordination while allowing children to explore rhythm and movement. By participating in these activities, children enrich their academic experience and cultivate a lifelong appreciation for the arts.
We have a robust primary performing arts program at AISHK where students present a variety of performances throughout the year, inclusive of productions, performing arts assemblies and music recitals. Bespoke performing arts activities are also offered through our extra-curricular program where students can participate in music and drama activities. An upcoming highlight of our calendar is our Term 4 Musical Theatre ECA performance, which is sure to delight! Students are also able to receive individual instrumental lessons through our Instrumental Music Program. We are extremely proud of our students achievements this year and most importantly, students' smiles and laughter speak volumes for the enjoyment they have in experiencing a well-rounded performing arts program.
in Performing Arts
This is a story about books and how the magic of reading changes lives forever.
Reading is Magic, was the theme of this year’s Book Week at AISHK.
Led by Librarians, Melissa Brown, Lesley Stewart and the library team, Book Week is a major event in the school’s calendar. From 19-23 August 2024, students took part in games, fun activities and challenges in the library, in homerooms and around campus.
Book Week is fun, students clearly have fun, but they also discover new books and expand their passion to read.
Teddy Bear’s Picnic because it was fun to read so many books. Angelica Cho, Year 5I
The Teddy’s Bear Picnic was the best as we had so much fun looking at the different books.
Hannah Milburn, Year 5I
I liked the Teddy Bears Picnic best because I got to read so many books.
Alex Power, Prep L
The highlight of Book Week was going to all of the fun activities with my friends. My favourite was the Teddy Bears Picnic because I spent my time enjoying reading my book.
Billie Shaw, 4W
My favourite part of Book Week was the Spotlight Reading Party. It was fun because I found a dark little corner and read with my spotlight.
Lily Emery, Year 4S
The best thing about Book Week was the parade because I dressed up as one of the Incredibles and I got to see my Mummy and Daddy.
Grace Shepherd, RFD
I liked being part of the ‘It’s A Kind of Magic Party’ . We got to be creative - making games and dressing up. Avalina Tjhung, Year 5I
Both the Spotlight Reading Party and the Book Week dress-up parade
Ms Stewart said, “In our digital age, the challenge is to encourage older students to engage with books rather than online content. Book Week is a perfect opportunity to introduce students to classic titles, new authors and to remind them of the magic of books and reading.”
The benefits of reading books are extensive. Reading together can strengthen relationships between parents and children and between friends. Engaging with a good book can be soothing and reduce stress. Books introduce us all to different cultures and histories, broadening the reader's worldview.
For secondary students, the Library introduced an element of competition to Book Week this year with lots of games and challenges. In home rooms students took part in ‘Guess the Mystery Reader’ and ‘Identify the song that has a magic connection’.
The Library hosted a ‘Magic Escape Room’ and the Costume Parade. The students won points for dressing up and the Year 7 winners of the Escape Room were delighted to win a lift pass for a week!
Congratulations to Jacaranda, the winning House of the Book Week Battle Cup, with a whopping 1600 points.
Secondary Activities
• Identify the mystery reader
• Match the quote and the author
• Match the teacher to the book
• Redesign book covers
• Slam poetry readings
• Magic Escape Room
• Costume parade
Primary Activities
Monday
Year 5 hosted an It’s A Kind of Magic Party in the auditorium, which saw students completing games and challenges linked to magic themed books.
Wednesday
Picture Book World Cup Final. Students voted for their favorite picture book, shortlisted by the Children’s Book Council of Australia.
Tuesday
Teddy Bear Picnic. Students, their soft toys and their parents snuggled up to read together in a special ‘camping ground’ in the auditorium.
Thursday
Spotlight Reading Party-On. The library’s windows were covered in black paper and fairylights were hung to create a magical reading space. Students were invited to bring spotlights and glow in the dark accessories to add to the magical atmosphere.
Friday Grand Costume Parade on the Sports Field
Throughout the week students visited the Bookaburra’s Free Little Library - where students could take a book home for free or borrow one.
Sports Awards 2024 Sports Awards 2024
Following a fantastic year of sport, we celebrated all our successes at the annual AISHK Sports Awards ceremony on 28 August 2024. Not only did we acknowledge 85 award winners, but we also reflected on the achievements of our 76 competitive sports teams from U12 to U20. Our ‘Roos’ show perseverance, determination and commitment to their sport and their team. They are role models within the school demonstrating the school's values.
With nearly 400 fixtures and events, 8 championship titles and many sportsmanship awards, our teams could not have achieved all they did without the work and time put in behind the scenes by our wonderful coaches and managers.
We look forward to seeing the Kangaroos continue to perform on and off the field through the 2024-2025 sports year.
Parent Association Corner
The AISHK Parent Association exists to foster a strong sense of community, support, and collaboration among our families, educators, and staff. Our mission is to enhance the educational experience for all students by organising events, fundraising, and providing resources that benefit our school and its programs but none of this is possible without volunteers. This year has demonstrated the vibrant and passionate support provided by the parent community with several hundred volunteers contributing to events this year from the Welcome BBQ at the start of Term 1, to the spectacular Family Fun Day recently. On behalf of the PA Executive team, I would like to say thank you to all the volunteers –every event is a success thanks to your efforts.
Congratulations to those families who are fast approaching the end of their time at AISHK with students graduating and going on to more exciting ventures. I wish you all a magnificent time as you continue your life journey.
Family Fun Day
Nowhere was the strength and enthusiasm of the AISHK family more on display than at our recent Family Fun Day on 31 August. The focus was on fun, friendship and lots of activities with a 6-meter long shark bouncy castle providing both an exciting visual and endless jiggles from enthusiastic participants.
Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time, ingenuity and resources to provide:
• An Auskick AFL experience
• T-shirt decorating
• Cupcake creations
• Ball toss novelty game
• Dad’s decathlon competition
Thank you to our sponsors who provided prizes galore including:
• Qantas – Return airfare to Australia
• Jason Lam Finance – Family trip to Disneyland and Ocean Park
• RokSaan – personalised fathers day cards posted free of charge to anywhere in the world
• Cellermaster Wines – case of wine
• AISHK Families who donated countless lucky dip prizes and bake stall goodies
Kids had no shortage of enjoyment with Messina Gelato on offer and facepainting by Creative Kids.
Thank you to everyone who attended, and to our community partner, the Australian Association of Hong Kong. With almost 2,000 people on campus your presence and participation made the event truly special.
Special thanks must go the Vice president PA Events – Marnie Shaw who led the event planning and to Brigitte McNamara and her tireless team at AISHK who ensured everything was booked, delivered and constructed in time.
Thank you to all the Organising Committee parent volunteers; Rob Daniel, Tin Nguyen, Carly Makin, Rina Shepherd, Steven Do, Nafisa Qureshi, Alanna Miles and Julie Marchese. Thanks to parents Patrick
Orchard and Luke Shepherd, for bringing AusKick and some Aussie Rules to the AISHK field.
The student-led stalls were a huge hit, thanks to pivotal support by their parents; Janice Hou, Clive Tsang, Zdravche Newman, Claire Doherty and Celine Chiu. Students’ innovative wares were popular, guided in the lead-up and on the day by AISHK’s Creative Industries staff.
Our Volunteers
A huge thank you to all our amazing parent, student and staff volunteers who made the Family Fun Day at AISHK such a blast!
Our Gratitude to all Sponsors, Supporters and Donors
The success of these events relies on community spirit, generosity, and support. We are deeply grateful to all our sponsors, community partners and supporters – thank you!
Thank you again to all those who have worked tirelessly to support the parent community, in particular the parent volunteer class reps. Your work keeping families up to date on everything from today’s uniform to coming events is greatly appreciated by all busy parents.
Congratulations to Dona Elder for establishing the Smartphone Free Community at AISHK. Following on from the very successful Safe on Social workshops provided by the school in June, the Smartphone Free Community offers a voluntary, informal forum for all parents at AISHK to share their experiences in their
child’s phone activities covering everything from avoiding smartphones, to finding substitutes and managing their online activities.
Finally, as we approach our 30th anniversary in 2025, the PA has been working closely with the school to enhance our events program, develop new opportunities for sponsorship and support, and review our past supported projects to build a stronger program of engagement and support. Please connect and engage, and if you have any suggestions for the 30th Anniversary please reach out via aishkpa@aiskh.edu.hk
Remember to mark your diary for the next event to celebrate Christmas at our annual Jingle & Mingle on the afternoon of Wednesday 11 December - stay tuned for more updates. Wishing all AISHK families health and happiness as we rapidly approach the end of the year.
Alex Harrington President, AISHK Parent Association
See photos and videos from the day on Dhanara by scanning the QR Code