Dear Parents,
Welcome back!
I hope you all enjoyed a relaxing Christmas break and a joyful New Year with loved ones. Students and staff have returned invigorated for another productive term. This week we kicked off the year with our inaugural meeting of the Student Leadership Council, marking an exciting development at our Secondary campus. We anticipate creating opportunities for student voices this term, as our students are eager to share their ideas for NAIS Hong Kong.
In exciting news, we warmly invite families to attend our first drama production, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th January at 5pm. We would be delighted to see you sign up and show your support for our talented cast. More information relating to sign-up can be found below.
We also look forward to seeing our Year 9 & 11 parents next Wednesday 22nd January for our IGCSE and IB Pathways events which will be taking place in the Auditorium on the following dates:
Year 9 IGCSE Pathways: 16.15 – 17.30 - register here
Year 11 IB Pathways: 17.30 – 18.45 - register here
These pathway events are a wonderful opportunity to explore subject options for your child, whilst meeting our Heads of Department to ask any burning questions you may have. Sign-up can be made by completing the Form link shared to you via email.
Student Leadership Update
We are thrilled to announce the formation of our new Secondary School Student Leadership Council. This initiative represents a significant step forward in empowering our students and fostering a collaborative school environment. We want to take this moment to express how proud we are of the remarkable effort put forth by our Year 10 and 12 students during the application and interview process last term. Their commitment and enthusiasm truly shone through!
Last week, the council met for their first meeting, where they engaged in team-building activities and discussed their vision for our school's development. They explored various priorities, including strategies to ensure that every student’s voice is not only heard but valued. This commitment to inclusivity is a cornerstone of our mission, and we are excited to see how the council will work to create platforms for all students to contribute to our school community.
Additionally, we are developing a leadership programme designed to support the council members in honing their leadership skills and fostering personal growth to ultimately become effective leaders both within the school and beyond.
In the upcoming weeks, we will be establishing several school committees in collaboration with the Student Leadership Council. I strongly encourage all students to consider applying for these committees. We look forward to sharing the initiatives and progress of our Leadership Council and the positive impact they will have on our school.
Student Leadership Council (L-R) Ariana M Yr 12, Angel C Yr 10, Alison C Yr 10, Sarah I Yr 10, Kyle C Yr 11 leadership ambassador, Winston W Yr 10, Hugo L Yr 12, Eli Z Yr 12, Harrison T Yr 12, Diyaa V Yr 12, Aarshi G Yr 12, Isabelle L Yr 12, Siena C Yr 10, Marcus C Yr 10
Student Council Leadership Programme
We are excited to announce the development of a new Leadership Programme for our Secondary School Student Council. This initiative aims to cultivate our students' leadership skills, empowering them to take on meaningful roles within our school community and to make a positive impact.
To enhance this programme, we would like to invite experts from our parent community to contribute by leading workshops focused on key leadership competencies. Your experience and knowledge can provide invaluable insights and guidance to our student leaders as they embark on this journey of personal and professional growth.
If you are interested in sharing your expertise or know someone who would be a great fit, please reach out to us by completing the form below.
https://forms.office.com/r/SNGUg8REuC
School production - Guy Naylor
It is with great pleasure that I write to invite you to our first Secondary School Production of the academic year – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, written by Simon Stephens. A company of 17 talented and committed actors from Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5 have created an innovative, exciting and relevant interpretation of this play - exploring what it means to grow up seeing the world around you a little differently. The talented ensemble creates a fresh studio adaptation of this infamous story of neurodiversity, mathematics and detective investigation.
Performances are taking place on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th of January at 5 pm in the 5th Floor Juilliard Performance Space. Tickets are only available on the door and are free of charge. If you are intending to come along and watch one of the fantastic performances outlined above, please complete this short Form indicating which day you will attend.
PE Results/Fixtures - Alex Wiltshire
Upcoming Fixtures:
Wednesday 15th January – ISSFHK U12 Girls Basketball Finals
Friday 17th January – ISSFHK Cross Country Championships
Match Reports:
Tuesday 7th January
U16 Girls Football
A Herculean effort from an under strength U16 girls football team who battled to a 5-5 draw against a large squad selected from Sha Tin College. Both teams played with real determination, flair and intelligence in a great advert for school football. Well done to Loppy selected as Player of the Match by the STC squad. A massive well done from the PE Dept to all players for such a great display.
U12 Boys Basketball
The U12 Boys Basketball team faced off against SIS in a thrilling match that showcased their determination and skills. The boys started the game strong, exhibiting great teamwork and creating numerous scoring opportunities. With brave drives to the hoop, they showed their offensive prowess early on.
However, the game took a turn as easy turnovers and missed passes allowed SIS to make a comeback. By halftime, SIS had taken the lead with a score of 18-8. The team regrouped during the break and made a strategic change in defensive tactics, resulting in a massive third quarter where they closed the gap to 23-22. The final quarter was a display of the Knights' best performance of the year. They capitalised on turnovers, turning them into valuable points. With sheer determination and skill, the Knights managed to secure a 30-33 victory, finishing their season on a high note.
Congratulations to the U12 Boys Basketball team on a fantastic season marked by continuous improvement and resilience. Your hard work and dedication have truly paid off. Well done on a great season, and here's to many more successes in the future!
U14 Girls Basketball
We had a reduced team for the last match due to illness, however the squad still went into the match motivated to win. The girls started off well with some good drives to the basket, but we faltered in our defence which led to SIS getting an early lead. With some quick substitutes by Coach Josh to keep the legs fresh and to go on with some clear tactics the girls managed to bring back the score. However, the reduced numbers in the squad started to impact the girls in the second half when fatigue began to set in more. This meant SIS was able to score some more baskets and maintain their lead up to the final whistle. The girls unfortunately did not make it to the semi-finals but should be proud of the dedication and commitment to the squad for this season. Go Knights!
Wednesday 8th January
U14 Boys Basketball
The U14 boys' basketball season ended with a high scoring game involving YCIS at our Kwun Tong Campus. Whilst unable to beat our visitors, the team kept the scorers busy, particularly in the first half when some of the team were on fire from the 3-point line. Well done to all those players that showed real character and commitment to the team and gave 100% - including one player who, despite not feeling his best, still wanted to make his contribution.
U12 Girls basketball
The girls headed to South Island School for their second to last league match of the season. This was a pivotal game, winning meant going through to the semi-finals. It was a tight game from the outset, with each team taking turns in scoring, however our girls kept a 2-point lead throughout the game. With the seconds running down in the last quarter our squad was in defence and kept their ball carrier out to the side of the court, so they were not able to score. This meant the girls won their match and are now through to the semi-finals. Go Knights!
Thursday 9th January
U12 Girls Basketball
In their final league game of the season, the U12 Girls Basketball team aimed to impress against Harrow, who had a formidable lineup with significant height. The girls began strong, effectively distributing the ball and driving to the basket, but they struggled to finish their shots and lacked the defensive intensity needed to contain the Harrow players. Known for their resilience, the team improved their communication, successfully completed layups, strengthened their defense, and took more high-percentage shots. They also implemented strategies like fast breaks. However, mistakes in the fourth quarter led to increased turnovers and steals, allowing Harrow to pull ahead and secure the win. Despite the loss, the girls performed admirably throughout the season and advanced to the ISSFHK Playoffs. GOOOOOOO Knights!
U16 Boys Basketball
In the final game of the season, the U16 Knights Basketball team faced off against HKA in a thrilling matchup. The first half was a display of skill and determination from both sides, with the Knights creating promising chances and showcasing solid defense. The scores remained neck and neck at halftime, highlighting the intensity of the game.
However, as the second half unfolded, the Knights began to struggle with fatigue, especially due to the absence of key players. This lack of depth in the roster seemed to take its toll as the team failed to capitalise on fast break opportunities and missed out on crucial rebound chances. These missed opportunities ultimately proved costly, as HKA managed to pull ahead and secure a narrow victory with a final score of 35-39.
U20 Boys Basketball
In an intense U20 basketball clash, NAIS faced off against YCIS, with the final score reflecting a challenging game for NAIS, who fell to YCIS with a score of 56-25.
Despite their best efforts, NAIS was limited to only seven players for the match, which undoubtedly made it difficult to compete with YCIS's larger roster. The lack of depth in their lineup meant that fatigue became a factor as the game progressed, and the players had to push through their limits. YCIS took advantage of this situation and showcased their skills, maintaining a strong offensive presence and applying pressure on defense. NAIS fought hard and displayed commendable resilience, but the scoreboard reflected the challenges they faced under the circumstances.
However, despite the loss, NAIS took away valuable lessons from the game. The experience highlighted areas for improvement and emphasised the importance of teamwork and stamina. The players left the court motivated and better prepared for future matches.
Friday 10th January
CIS Schools Swimming Competition
This was the last swimming competition of the year for the squad. The team was not sure how they were going to compete as it was so close after the Christmas break. However, the team were motivated to try their best. Each swimmer came away with a PB for their event and our relay teams managed to improve their times as well. Our Medal winners for the competition were:
Brandon L: Bronze 50m Backstroke & Gold 100m Backstroke
Maxim H: Bronze 50m Butterfly & Silver 50m breaststroke.
Go Knights!
Looking Ahead
Thursday 16th and Friday 17th January – KS4 and KS5 Play Performance – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
Friday 17th January – ISSFHK Cross Country Championships
Monday 27th January to Friday 31st January – Chinese New Year – School Closed
Monday 3rd February – School Opens
Wednesday 5th February – Year 9 Parents’ Evening
Tuesday 11th February – Safer Internet Day
Wednesday 19th February – Year 8 Parents’ Evening
Saturday 22nd February – PTA School Fair
Best regards,
Fiona Thorndike
Head of Secondary
