Principal’s Message

Dear Parents, Staff, Students and Friends of WIS,

It was a proud moment sharing our school assembly with potential parents from across Hong Kong at our Open Day on Monday. Our theme of courage addressed the need to take risks and stand up for what is morally right. Our student leadership team gave many examples of the icons of courage such as Mandela, but also shared that courage is not always a lion’s roar. The courage to seek and welcome failure in learning, to know that we learn more through failure than success and to develop the important skill of reflection. It is a mindset we all need to embrace as we move through our education and life.

Speaking of courage, have you ever climbed Mount Everest? On 1 October, five WIS teachers and one Kennedy teacher will form a team to cycle the equivalent distance to the summit of Mt. Everest; climbing Mount Butler on Hong Kong Island 44 times, a total of 227 kilometers. These teachers will be raising money for one of West Island School community partner projects; United World School Cambodia (UWS). They create educational opportunity for children living in the world’s poorest regions and have a mission to help reach children that do not receive even the most basic education. West Island has already helped build the UWSKAH school in Cambodia and it would be great to think we can contribute to another. The WIS staff team are undertaking a huge task and are halfway to their sponsorship target. If you would like to get behind them, please click here to learn more.

The last week has been as busy as the first and I am grateful to teaching and support staff who are still creating excellent opportunities for our learners. I was in attendance at the Careers Evening held on Thursday alongside the Deputy Counsel General for Ireland and the Counsel General for the Netherlands. It was an informative evening with other countries represented and interesting to learn that Ireland is the second largest exporter of software in the world and its universities are ranked in the top 5% worldwide. Worthy and interesting for the attention of those seeking IT careers.

Our careers team are continuing to work hard as I am writing this having organised another fair with 38 Universities represented this morning in the auditorium. Year 11 and 12 will have the opportunity to visit and begin thinking about their long term goals. Well done and thank you to Mrs Schofield, Mrs Tang and the whole careers team.

I am looking forward to the swimming and sports gala next week, but in the meantime, good luck to all our sports teams taking part in the ESF football events at KGV over the weekend, I look forward to the victory.

Enjoy a restful weekend.

Yours,
Christopher Sammons