Dear Parents,
The countdown to Enrichment Week has officially begun! We want to extend our thanks to all of you for attending the information webinars and for your efforts in preparing students for the exciting international and local trips ahead. These enriching experiences would not be possible without the incredible support of our Enrichment Team and all staff members leading and supporting. Thank you to Mr Rogers and Mrs Reid for making this week a reality.
Winter Uniform from 1st December
Wearing of a tie and blazer is compulsory from 1st December until the end of term 2 (Easter/Spring holiday). During the cooler months the school cardigan or jumper are encouraged to keep warm. The school hoodie/tracksuit top is only to be worn on PE days as part of the PE kit regardless of time of year.
MIT Visit – Sachleen S
Dear parents,
Over the course of this last month, I went on a week-long MIT-student trip to Boston. As part of the project, I investigated the concept of harnessing one’s own kinetic energy to power personal electronic devices.
At MIT, I attended many lectures from PhD students about their area of research, exposing me to various fields of science - such as slow-motion photography, the science behind Motorsports and Plasma Physics as well as Fusion Science - all of which aroused my interest.
Moreover, I also got the chance to know about ‘life at MIT’ while interacting with MIT students. I worked on many team projects focusing on solving real world problems. My favourite was a project where my group made a camera to capture the auroras in Alaska.
On Saturday, I went on a Harvard tour and explored Boston in a duck boat. My biggest takeaway was that there is so much beyond good grades in the classroom, in that there’s the real-world application of the knowledge being taught.
I now aim to share these learnings with my NAIS Hong Kong community. In particular, I will focus on skill development as an essential part of the school curriculum. I aim to do this by giving students the opportunity to work on projects similar to my own projects at MIT. Back in HK, I look forward to utilising my spare time to explore Plasma Physics and Fusion Science.
Finally, I would also challenge myself to work on more science projects which would make our society a better place to live.
UK Study Options
Dear Parents,
We are delighted to invite all parents to join this presentation by UK Study Options about understanding UK universities fee status for British and Irish expat families here in Hong Kong. In this talk, Sam Goodwin the Head of Global Engagement, will translate the jargon and dispel the myths around fee status. He will offer tips and advice on how you can avoid losing your home fee eligibility and take any of your questions.
The session is relevant to British and Irish expat parents of secondary school children. All parents welcome but best from Year 9 upwards.
This event is also open to families from other schools so please do invite families from other schools.
What: presentation on understanding UK universities fee status for British and Irish expat families
Who: UK Study Options
When: 27th November 4-5pm
Where: Kwun Tong campus – auditorium
Online registration required to attend, see details at http://www.ukstudyoptions.com/upcoming-events and also in the flyer attached.
We look forward to seeing you all on the 27th November.
Celebrating Students: Y7
Year 7 students never cease to amaze me! Over the past few weeks, we have had many achievements to celebrate. Please continue to update us on your child’s achievements outside of school.
Congratulations to the following students on their achievements.
Alfred L– 7E – Ice skating
Allie T – 7E – Piano
Cheuk H– 7E – Swimming
Natalie C – 7E –Art
Kayden C – 7D and Javen C – 7G – Charity contributions and voluntary work
Mock Examinations
Our Year 11 & 13 mock examination period is underway with all students sitting their first examinations today. These exams are an important milestone for our examination classes and will serve as the springboard into the final period of preparation for their final examinations in May/June 2025. Students have been working hard in preparation for these exams and will learn a great deal from the process. Year 11 & 13 parents may click the links below for our mock exam information pages on Firefly:
Year 11 Mock Exams
Year 13 Mock Exams
Managing Exam Revision
Whether it’s IGCSEs, IB or any other qualification, exam time can be unnerving for parents as well as those actually taking the papers. It’s natural for adults to worry when they see their teens grappling with mountains of notes and revision timetables. Click on the link below to see top tips for supporting your child with their exam revision:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zmy692p
Anti-bullying week
Last week was anti-bullying awareness week. As a school we showed our support and stood up against bullying by taking part in “Odd socks” day. This initiative led by The Anti-Bullying Alliance allows us to show our individuality and reinforces the message to our students that it is OK to be different and to be accepting of others.
The main focus of this year’s campaign is Respect. As Respect is one of our principal values, our students have already participated in workshops and assemblies exploring what it means to be respectful and what that looks like at NAIS Hong Kong. This week they had the opportunity to discuss this further during tutor time.
If you wish to learn more about anti-bullying week and how you can help support your child, use the link below.
https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/tools-information/advice-and-support/advice-parents-and-carers
Splash Foundation Update – Making Waves Charity Event!
On Friday 8th November 2024, five relay teams representing a cross-section of Hong Kong’s diverse community undertook a unique challenge - to swim the 45 kilometres around Hong Kong Island. The teams included Olympians Geoff Cheah and Hannah Wilson, fourth-generation Hong Kong jeweller Jada Lam, and migrant domestic worker Josephine Tolentino. The event successfully raised over HK$3.3 million for Splash Foundation, a charity dedicated to addressing chronic swim illiteracy in the city by improving access to learn to swim programmes for disadvantaged communities, including low-income families, children with special educational needs, domestic workers and other ethnic minority groups.
Click the video here to learn more.
PE Results/Fixtures
Next Week’s Fixtures
Tuesday 19th November
U12 Boys Basketball vs KSHK A
U14 Boys Basketball vs IS
U14 Girls Basketball vs ISF
Wednesday 20th November
U12 Girls Basketball vs CAIS
Thursday 21st November
U14 Boys Basketball vs YCIS
Match Reports
ISSFHK U16 Girls Football Monday 11th November
Led by Captain Larisa, the U16 girls football team had a fantastic start to the season in their first match against ICHK. They dominated the first half, going up 2-0 before conceding a goal due to a defensive error. During the halftime team talk, the focus was on the importance of pressing, reducing space on defense, distributing the ball wide on attack, and getting into the box for crosses. The girls returned to the field with outstanding teamwork, scoring goals through Niamh, Loppi, and Paula. The defense worked well as a team, effectively channeling the ICHK players toward the sideline. Overall, it was a strong performance from all the players, leading to a commanding 6-1 victory.
ISSFHK U20 Boys Basketball Monday 11th December
In an intense opening game of the season, the NAIS U20 boys' basketball team faced off against ICS, ultimately falling short with a score of 44-14. Despite the loss, there were notable performances and valuable lessons learned for the team moving forward. Karsten S emerged as the standout player for NAIS, scoring 12 points and showcasing his determination and skill on the court. His individual effort was a bright spot in what proved to be a challenging match against a well-coordinated ICS team.
Looking ahead, NAIS recognises the areas they need to focus on for future games, including defensive strategies and the integration of all players into the system. With a commitment to improvement, the team is eager to learn from this experience and come back stronger in their upcoming matches. Despite the challenging start, there is a lot of potential within the team, and with continued effort and focus, they are hopeful for a positive trajectory in the remainder of the season.
ISSFHK U12 Boys Basketball Tuesday 12th November
In their league opener against Canadian International School, the U12 Boys basketball team faced a formidable challenge from a skilled and disciplined opponent. Despite showcasing solid play throughout each quarter, the NAISHK Knights were ultimately outmatched. The team's focus now shifts to their upcoming match against KSHK as they aim to regroup and make strides in their performance.
ISSFHK U14 Girls Basketball Tuesday 12th November
The U14 girls Basketball started their season off with their first match at home versus CDNIS. The girls were in high spirits at the start of the game and took an early lead in the first quarter with some great shots by Niamh (3). By half-time, however, CDNIS had gotten into their groove and were leading 12-10. With a determined half-time talk from Miss Wiltshire, the girls went into the 3rd quarter with a refreshed game plan. The girls drew a larger lead and with some extremely tight marking, they held CDNIS out so they could only score 1 basket in the 3rd quarter. In the final quarter, captain Miley (10) decided to make it a decisive win by scoring 3 more baskets in the 4th quarter to end the match 32 – 18 to the Knights!
ISSFHK U14 Boys Basketball Tuesday 12th November
The U14 boys travelled to VSA on Wednesday looking to start season 2 in a positive way. Some early points and confusion in the VSA defense caused by good movement and accurate shooting was exactly what was hoped for. Both teams demonstrated good play in the first half and if only for some wayward shooting, VSA led 27-20 at half-time. The majority of the second half reflected the first, the point difference often no more than 6 for the 3rd quarter and most of the 4th. The game ended with a final score of 52-35, with the biggest difference being the successful shot %. Some very promising play demonstrated, and we know that they will be a competitive team for all opposition this season.
ISSFHK U16 Boys Football Wednesday 13th November
5 debutants were on display this Wednesday in breezy conditions in what turned out to be a good contest. Both teams looked to play football, playing through midfield whenever possible and looking to find feet at every opportunity. NAIS deservedly took the lead with a sweet left-footed drive into the corner by Josiah midway through the first half. HKA looked to play on the break, but some solid defending and goalkeeping kept their threat low.
The second half saw the game open up more. A finely struck free kick from distance saw NAIS go 2-0 up, only for HKA to pull a goal back within 5 minutes, to make it 2-1.
Continued pressure from NAIS saw a fine pass from midfield finished to make it 3-1. HKA continued to press and made it 3-2 before they scrambled home an equaliser with 2 minutes remaining to make it 3-3, which is how the game ended. A competitive and entertaining game for two well-matched teams.
ISSFHK U12 Girls Basketball Wednesday 13th November
On a vibrant afternoon, the U12 girls' basketball team showed an impressive performance, clinching a decisive victory against SASHK with a final score of 32-12. The team demonstrated excellent teamwork, determination, and skill throughout the match. Joelle Chen was the standout player of the game, delivering a spectacular performance by scoring 18 points. The girls came out strong from the very beginning, displaying solid defense and effective communication.
Overall, this match not only highlighted Joelle's outstanding skills but also reflected the team's cohesive effort. With this victory, the U12 girls have gained valuable experience and confidence as they look ahead to the remainder of the season. Congratulations to the team on this fantastic win! We look forward to seeing more excellent performances in the future.
Looking Ahead
Best regards,
Fiona Thorndike
Head of Secondary
