Principal’s Message

Dear Parents, Staff, Students and Friends of WIS,

Last week ended well and I spent Saturday watching the various football teams participate in ESF competitions held at Kowloon. A large number of students turned out and we were well represented at all grades; two teams participating in D grade matches. All who competed gave their best and there were some notable individual performances, particularly our A grade goal keeper who made more than the occasional brave move on a small pitch. Thank you to all teams and especially to the Year 7 team who won the cup. There seemed to be no stopping them in the cup final and they enjoyed a celebration in the staffroom with us on Monday morning to share their final victory and present their cup. Very encouraging signs of things to come, well done.

The scouts were busy too on Saturday last week. A large number of students have been busy since September. I was impressed by the mooncake making to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival, the pioneering workshop leading to some well-honed skills in rope work and the hike which took place on Saturday to Stanley.

We have begun the next round of the WIS Bake Off and we have our first winners from the pairs category. Several students stayed back on Tuesday evening for their two hour heat and produced stunning results. It was a tough call but the final winner was Nimisha and Sacha; judges were unanimous in deciding on their entry and Mrs Revans thought their crème anglaise was the best she had tasted, ever.

It has also been a week of reflection as we near the half-term break. I was privileged to meet with Year 12 students this week and award them a certificate to recognise completion of the Middle Year Diploma. About now, Year 12 students are understanding that the skill of working at a higher level of study is about mastering your learning: having a breadth of knowledge, offering your judgement and supporting your analysis with reason. The good news is that learning beyond school doesn’t get any harder than this, the bad news is that it takes time and dedicated practice to get to the next level. I have let students know that the Middle Years Diploma has prepared them beyond the examination system and they have the skills and approaches to rise to the challenge. You can achieve anything you set your mind to! For those parents who were not able to watch the live feed, please find the link here.

Finally, I would also like to praise Lee Phillips, Matthew Mo and Emily Ketchum who have received commendations for their entry into the 2015 Preliminary SAT National Merit Qualifying Test. 1.6 million students took the tests worldwide and these students were ranked in the top 3% for their achievements. Many well deserved congratulations for your effort and years of practice as a learner.

And so, this morning to the Swimming Gala and Sports Festival. After a week of matches affected by typhoon Megi, we have a clear day, almost clear sky and a lot of competitors to fight for the Dynasty competition. Good luck to you all!

Yours,

Christopher Sammons