Principal’s Message
Dear Parents, Staff, Students and Friends of WIS,
From talking to staff, students and some parents I’ve met this week, Christmas was an enjoyable time for most. For some, there were the usual seasonal ailments and we sent a letter this week advising how to minimise the risk of spreading flu type virus. If in doubt, please don’t hesitate to contact Ms Saffron Brown, our school nurse.
As a belated Christmas gift to parents, you will be pleased to know that we are almost ready to stop sending email letters – I can almost hear the loud cheers across Hong Kong!
After Chinese Year we will be launching an app available for Android and Apple phones that streamlines whole school communication. The app has been described as simple and effective by our parents currently trialling it. Watch this space for more news.
Talking of welcome gifts, you will know that the Student Grant Scheme was announced this week. The deadline date is a few weeks away and ESF Finance team are talking with the government to see if there is a more effective way to administer this for our parents. If not, we will circulate the necessary form in advance of the deadline date which is still some weeks away.
Success to celebrate over the holiday includes Haydn Ching who finished second in Hong Kong and third in Asia for Under 16 karting after successful Christmas championships. Well done also to Hayley Lai bringing home a convincing win and leading the girls team for New Year’s day at the Prudential Rugby Tournament.
We look set to see another West Island swimming Olympian as Jody Lee competed and won two silver medals for Hong Kong in the McDonald Queensland Championships. A final well done to Thanneermalai Kannappan who was placed in the Hong Kong National Junior Chess Championship. Shout outs too for Katherine Lam, Li Cheuk Lam and Nicholas Tran on receiving the highest Scouts award.
2020 seemed a distant thing to many of us at the turn of the millennium. Milton Friedman correctly forecast the role of the Internet in facilitating a new currency system – currently, there is estimated to be $100+ billion cryptocurrency in circulation (somewhere?). In 1973, a computer program created at MIT modelled earth’s sustainability and predicted that climate change would become critical in 2020. During 1998 Michio Kaku predicted this would be the year of a wearable computer; the iWatch perhaps?
I am still waiting to hear but it was also predicted that 2020 would be the year of anti-gravity belts and teleportation – now wouldn’t that cut down the daily commute.
Whatever happens this year, we look forward to being together again and wish you health and happiness.
Great week West Island.
Yours,
Mr Christopher Sammons
(Principal)
