23
Aug
2018
Meet Our New Teachers!
We are excited to introduce you to our new teachers who join us from all over the world.
Welcome everyone!
Mrs Kelly De Sales |
 Ms Cathy Tang HalesHello! I am Mrs Tang Hales. I have taught Economics, Business and Mathematics for the past 18 years at schools in the UK, Bogota, Cairo, Beijing and Kuala Lumpur. I have just come from teaching for four years in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam which I greatly enjoyed. I already miss cheap pho and my motorbike! I was the Secondary Campus Community Coordinator and therefore, I greatly value opportunities for students and staff to engage actively with the local community and to reflect on how they impact the place where they live. I have visited Hong Kong several times since I was a teenager and still marvel at how much it has changed. The first time I came here I was 16 and couldn’t believe how many people there were in such a small space. I wasn’t yet comfortable in my own skin, looking Asian but not speaking any Cantonese or Mandarin and struggling with understanding a culture that was vastly different to what I had known in Canada. But as an adult, I now appreciate all that Hong Kong has to offer such as an interesting culture, a rich history, great food and an efficient public transport system. Joining West Island School has been a welcoming and eye-opening experience so far. I look forward to the year ahead and will continue to relish the opportunity to work with great teachers and students. |
 Dr Carol SungMy first weeks in Hong Kong have been fast-paced and intense. It seems to have rained non-stop which is strange having left London in glorious, blazing sunshine! The hustle and bustle of Hong Kong takes some getting used to but it’s already starting to feel like home. The culinary delights of Kennedy Town have sustained me, and I’m keen to explore the hiking trails as soon as the humidity becomes more bearable. The students and the staff at WIS have been universally enthusiastic, welcoming and supportive. It has been particularly gratifying to see how engaged and motivated the students are in the science lab, and the wealth of opportunities on offer beyond the classroom. I am looking forward to a busy and productive year ahead as a new member of the WIS community. |
 Ms Becky BaxterMy first few weeks in Hong Kong have been incredible. The school community have been fantastic by giving help and support from all angles! The Inclusion Department have gone over and above to make me part of their team. The students are a delight and I’m excited to get to know them all this year. I have already walked over Lamma Island, up the Peak and along Bowen Road. Not a bad start! |
 Mr Euan RiddellMy name is Euan Riddell and I am new to Hong Kong. I am very excited to join West Island School as a teacher of Biology. The students have impressed me already with their academic commitment and good humour. It will be my pleasure to get to know them better in the coming months. I am also looking forward to some cooler weather and not getting lost so often! |
 Ms Keren ChaukriaWest Island has a fantastic community, this happened to be one of the first things I noticed, both teachers and students are warm and friendly making the transition to Hong Kong smooth and exciting. The students at West Island have a fantastic energy and are full of enthusiasm to learn and develop constantly. The architecture of the school is a maze and I’m sure in a year’s time I will still be finding places I was unaware of. Hong Kong is a vibrant city and having experienced it before I’m looking forward to seeing Hong Kong from a different perspective, the island life perceptive where I’m sure I will have water buffalo and cows as my neighbours. |
 Ms Xiaowen HuangHi, I am Mrs Xiaowen Huang. As a language teacher with a long career history (won’t tell you how long) both in Shanghai and Hong Kong, I would love to share with you my personal secret recipe of happiness: listen to music when hike, read literature when travel, and learn languages all the time. My ‘first impression’ of WIS: BIG—So big that you’ll even need to walk a long way from one room to its next door number such as, B706 & B707. Amazing water view—not only the sea, but also water fall, fountain pool, as well as rain storm comes from the sky. This is a sign of wisdom and wealth if you know Chinese Feng Shui. Strong community spirit—I’m very easily to get lost but with the help of so many people in WIS, I was able to guide visitors only in the second week! |
 Mrs Helen Kenyon-EdwardsI joined WIS this August after moving to Hong Kong from the UK in June 2017. I began my teaching career in 2009 following on from seven years as an organic chemist in the pharmaceutical industry. I’m very happy to swap freezing cold UK classrooms for Hong Kong’s sunshine. I’ve really enjoyed my first three weeks at WIS (despite quite a lot of rain). The school is enormous but it’s getting easier to navigate. The students have been incredibly welcoming. I’ve been amazed at how enthusiastically they approach their learning and the community events we’ve had in the first couple of weeks. I’m really looking forward to the rest of the year. |
 Mrs Helena MurchieI studied Music at York University and afterwards continued my studies with Esther Saloman at The Guildhall in London. Additionally, I worked as a professional singer for 8 years before becoming a teacher. Previously, I’ve worked in International schools in Dubai, Beijing and Hong Kong. Before joining WIS, I was working at KGV school in Kowloon. I live in Hong Kong with my husband and two children and can be found reading or playing the piano at weekends. I am delighted to be a part of the West Island Community. |
 Mr Jerry BarrettoAfter several years in photonics research, I moved on to education. My experience includes teaching Physics and Science in different educational systems and in various roles. I am a member of the Institute of Physics and have served as a referee for scientific journals. I look forward to contributing to the West Island School community. |
