Secondary Campus Weekly Update

Dear Parents,

Introducing Our Secondary Leadership Team

From left to right, Mrs. S Reid (Assistant Head of Pastoral), Mrs. C Thomasson (Deputy Head), Mrs. F Thorndike (Head of Secondary),
Mrs. A Rankin (Assistant Head of Teaching and Learning) and Mr. A Cross (Assistant Head of Academic)

A very warm welcome from our Secondary Senior Leadership Team! We are all incredibly excited for the academic year ahead and look forward to ensuring that all our students have the very best experiences and learning opportunities for the duration of their time at NAISHK and beyond. We are delighted to partner with Mind HK this academic year, to join us in supporting student wellbeing. During Meet the Tutor afternoons you will have the opportunity to learn more about our approach to promoting positive wellbeing and meet the team.

NAISHK Welcomes Mind Hong Kong!

Hi! We are Rose and Ruchi, Youth Wellbeing Practitioners (YWP) from Mind HK. As YWPs, our job is to help young people learn about their emotions and thoughts. Through our program, we will help students learn to cope with challenges in their lives and develop skills to understand and manage their emotions in the future.

Youth often find it difficult to unpack their difficult emotions and thoughts, especially when they are faced with exam stress, a new school environment, or when we have to say goodbye to a friend. This is why we are here to help students develop resilience and better management of stress, anxiety, or other difficult social situations. We firmly believe it is always helpful to learn lifelong skills and improve emotional wellbeing, as we believe it is key to students' success. We are excited to be part of the Nord Anglia community this year!

More information on how to support your child in practicing mindfulness can be found here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zhmtg2p

Outreach Update
On Wednesday morning 12 of our musicians from Years 9-12 were specially chosen to represent the school in outreach work with the local community. They made their way to a local elderly people’s home and performed a program of music including Western and Eastern classical music on the Cello, Violin, Flute and Guzheng. The students then gave out mooncakes in celebration of the upcoming Mid-Autumn festival and an impromptu quiz was put on for some of the larger tins of mooncakes, to see which audience members were really paying attention to our performers! All performances were very well received, so much so that the audience wanted to sing Teresa Teng’s classic 月亮代表我的心 (The Moon Represents My Heart). Thank you to the PTA for helping to organise the visit, it was a wonderfully fulfilling morning enjoyed by all involved.

Mid-Autumn Festival
The Chinese Department are thrilled to announce an exciting lineup of activities to celebrate the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival at our school. This cherished cultural celebration holds deep significance, and we are eager to share its rich history and customs with our students.

In-Class Activities Include:

• KS3: 画扇面 (Fan Painting) and Best Wishes Card Competition - Students will have the opportunity to showcase their artistic talents by creating beautiful fans and heartfelt cards, immersing themselves in the festival's spirit of unity and goodwill.
• KS4&5: 做漆扇 (Lacquer Fan Making) - Our KS4&5 students will engage in the intricate process of making lacquer fans, learning about the traditional craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations.

Mid-Autumn Assembly will also feature the following:

• History and Customs: Our students will gain a deeper understanding of the Mid-Autumn Festival's historical significance and the cultural traditions that have endured for centuries.
• Poetry Reciting: Students will have the opportunity to share their interpretations of traditional Mid-Autumn Festival poems, showcasing their appreciation for the literary arts.
• Performances: Our talented students will present a captivating array of performances, including singing, traditional instrument renditions (such as Guzheng and piano), and cultural dances. These performances will transport the audience to the heart of the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations.
• Quizzes: Interactive quizzes with exciting prizes will engage students in a fun and competitive manner, encouraging them to delve deeper into the festival's history and customs.

We are confident that our Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations will be a chance to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture among our students. We look forward to a vibrant celebration filled with joy, unity, and the sharing of cherished traditions!

University Fair

It has been wonderful to see so many families engage with careers workshops. Last week, our Year 11s, 12s and 13s joined over 80 universities in our Auditorium for NAISHK’s first Universities Fair! It was a fantastic opportunity for our students to begin conversations based on their future careers, educational aspirations and the global pathways available to them. We look forward to supporting all our students in working towards achieving their higher education goals.

PE Update/Fixtures

Dear Parents,

After completing an inventory of our team's kits, we find that we are missing a lot.

Please look at the pictures below and if you have any of these at home, please can you ask your child to bring it to the PE office asap.

Kind regards,
PE Department

Updated Basketball Trials Dates

Next Week’s Fixtures

Monday 16th September
U14 Boys Football away @ MCHK
U16 Netball away @ AISHK

Tuesday 17th September
U14 Girls Volleyball away @ CAIS

Match Reports

Monday 9th September U14 Boys Football
A very competitive third game of the season saw VSA win 4 – 2 to record our first loss. The overall performance showed some elegant play needing a bit more steel at times. The team will come back and be stronger in the next game for certain.

Tuesday 10th September U14 Girls Volleyball
In their first match against CDNIS, the girls fought hard, pushing the game to a decisive third set. Unfortunately, despite their best efforts they lost 15-9. However, the team made a remarkable comeback in their second match against ASHK, dominating the court to secure a 2-0 victory. Scarlett as Captain led with exceptional overhead serves, while Chloe, Juliana, and Jeanie each contributed at least four aces. Through both matches all members of the team showcased outstanding teamwork and sportsmanship.

Tuesday 10th September U14 Boys Volleyball
In a remarkable display of teamwork, NAISHK Knights U/14 Boys Volleyball team secured a commanding 2-0 win against SIS. The Knights showcased their physical and psychological resilience by battling hard in the first set, clinching a 25-19 victory. They then dominated the second set with a convincing 25-14 triumph. Standout performances from Jaxton, Evans, and Preston were instrumental in securing the well-deserved victory.

Looking Ahead:
Tuesday 17th September – Mid-Autumn Assembly
Wednesday 18th September – Public Holiday (School Closed)
Monday 23rd September – Year 7: Meet the Tutors
Tuesday 24th September – Year 8: Meet the Tutors
Wednesday 25th September – KS4/5: Meet the Tutors
Thursday 26th September – Year 9: Meet the Tutors

Wishing all our families a very happy Mid-Autumn Festival.

Kind regards,

Fiona Thorndike
Head of Secondary