Principal’s Message
Dear Parents, Staff, Students and Friends of WIS,
Thank you to all the families and teachers who supported the annual ESF 10K run. It was a great day at the Science Park with over 2000 runners. Congratulations Dylan Ellison who was first in his age and category at 3 km. Three out of four relay teams placed first and WIS took the podium overall in the schools competition – a joyous sea of West Island Blue, ESF red and gold cups everywhere. The strength of the performance was only topped by our Vice Principal Mike Williams who won the fastest ESF teacher title.
Jodi Lee shone through again making his mark in the HK Amateur Swimming Association’s Div 1 Competitions by achieving his personal bests with four medals in butterfly, IM, backstroke and freestyle! Well done to Chi Nok who also won his gold division for Hong Kong Secondary School Taekwondo Competition 2019!.
In the arts, Elizabeth Stewart competed at the HK International Music Association’s Vocal Open Competition against 150 entrants spanning 15 countries. Congratulations on winning in two groups: under 15 Junior Opera Open Class and the Junior Open Class!
The term has been short but sweet and our Chinese New Year Assembly will launch us into the break. Student leaders have done an exemplary job this week educating us about life beneath oceans and the devastating impact of shark fishing. Following the protest march on Thursday, teachers will have spent Friday underwater themselves as the dunk tank swings into action. Don’t forget to make a difference in your own family by not eating in a restaurant where shark fin products are used.
We look forward to a visit by the Cardiff School of Medicine and 4 leading universities from London, after the Chinese New Year break. Parents will get first hand information on the range of programs available for students to study and the application process.
After Chinese New Year, a group of student leaders will be helping us remove the stigma when talking about mental health. For the last two terms, the group have been discussing the barriers to talking about mental health and how to support our community further. Mental health is different for everyone and as important as securing physical and financial prosperity. The weeks intention is to make it easier to say what may be happening for you:
Monday: Welcome to #WISTalks mental health and well-being. Follow @wis_hk on Instagram to find out more on mental health and wellness.
Tuesday: Dodging difficulties…how does physical fitness affect your mental health?
Wednesday: Student questions answered. – A panel of health experts talk mental health during period 3 followed by a parent information evening. We are grateful to the following professionals for giving us their time:
John Shanahan – Educational and Developmental Psychologist – Central Health and Southside Family Medical Practice
Dr Amanda Oswalt Visher – Clinical Psychologist – SPOT Children’s interdisciplinary Therapy Centre
Scarlett Mattoli – Clinical Psychologist Doctoral Intern & Psychotherapist – Psynamo Group Professional Mental Health Practice
Dr Hannah Sugarman – Clinical Psychologist – Central Minds and The London Medical Practice
Bhavna Bharvani – Clinical Counsellor – Central Minds
Kimberley Carder – Clinical Psychologist – MINDNLIFE private psychology practice
Dr Monica Borschel – Clinical Psychologist – MINDNLIFE private psychology practice
Thursday: #WISTalks Gratitude activities. Research confirms that gratitude increases happiness and decreases depression.
Friday: #WISTalks sleep – How does sleep affect your mental health? Come and find out at the #WISTalks sleep simulation.
Until then, enjoy a good rest over the holiday and Happy New Year of the Pig.
Chris Sammons
Principal
Coming up:
Chinese New Year Break: 4 – 8 February 2019
Visit by leading London Universities: 11 February
Talk2Me – An interactive Mental Health Forum for HK Parents: 13 February
Year 9 Parents Evening: 21 February
Cardiff medicine and health sciences talk: 25 February
Year 8 ‘Mini Options’ Evening: 26 February
PTA Quiz night – March 1
