Principal’s Message

Upcoming WIS Parent Webinars

Cultivating Creativity – The Arts with Ms Leigh Dalgarno and Mrs Helena Murchie
Tuesday 24 November at 6pm
Using student work as evidence and a thinking process framework, parents will understand how the arts help young people to think creatively as a highly prized skill in the 21st Century workplace.. Intended for all new parents and appropriate to existing parents too.
Please click here to register

MYP Individuals and Societies Explained with Mr Alex Murchie and Mrs Helen Devine Costa
Friday 27 November at 6pm
In this webinar we will look at the Individuals and Societies MYP programme for Year 7. We will cover the main aims and objectives, content and structure of the course. We will also look at how the units are assessed and how Year 7 will progress into Year 8.
Please click here to register

Message from Mr Sammons

Dear Students, Staff, Parents and Friends of WIS,

Whilst we have made an application to EDB for extending the school day and including more children for lunch, this has not yet been approved. We are waiting for further updates next week. Should we hear early in the week, we will give 48 hours notice to parents, however, it is most likely that the next target date will be 30 November. EDB are clear that although many sports centres and social sports clubs are gradually opening, schools may not undertake after school activities. When this changes, we will be the first to let you know.

Whilst URTI infections have increased in our student population, they remain below the threshold at which we need to work with CHP. It is inevitable that their incidence will increase as siblings and families are impacted.

The last three weeks of term always brings a change in tempo. For most inside the school, we look at the deadline of 11 December and work backwards to plot in the things yet to be achieved. It is the same for staff and students. At the same time, a realisation that annual celebration, whether Diwali already passed or Christmas in front of us, will be managed differently. There is nothing to do but to submit to the moment, work out what is urgent and important and go easy on ourselves. Most of all, tune in with your children, your neighbours and our friends to listen if they are okay. Appreciate that people are trying and connect them to help if they need support. Feel free to contact any of our staff if your child or family is becoming overwhelmed.

Appreciation of Talim was high last week and the cards and gifts from young people was only surpassed by their kind words and actions as they gave him a last salute on Friday. He really appreciated the many parents that dropped by to give personal thanks. You will see him on occasion, as he is working on a consultancy basis for the company and will not be able to resist checking that the new team are up to his high standards. We salute you, Talim.
Finally, a big shout out for Aditya Shrisankaraan (Year 12) and Sam Scroggie (Year 13).

Aditya and two other friends took part in this year’s SciTech Challenge and won! Aditya has written about his experience below.  

The SciTech challenge is an innovation competition open for all HK secondary schools where groups come up with a solution for a particular industry or social problem. This year’s competition was focused on the construction industry.

My team started working on the project in June 2020.  Our idea primarily focuses on the safety of construction workers working at height. We are in the initial legal process of applying for a patent. Alongside this, we were provided with a mentor who is the Head of Innovation at Leighton Asia, one of the top construction firms in Hong Kong, who provided us insightful advice and support throughout the project.

Out of all the 64 teams with 200+ applicants who applied for the Scitech challenge 2020, our team attained all 3 awards including the overall championship of the student category decided by the judging panel. It was truly an honor and humbling experience to receive the award from the CEO of the Construction innovation and technology application center (CITAC) and 5 other judges who provided us with opportunities to further expand our idea including entrepreneurship boot camp. We were awarded the “best presenter”, and “most innovative” awards which were based on a public vote and judging panel. Thank you so much to everyone who voted and supported our team during this journey. It was truly a memorable experience in terms of learning many practical skills beneficial in the future.

Samuel Scroggie attended a prize presentation ceremony for this year’s SCMP ‘Student of the Year’. The Hong Kong Student of the Year Awards are organised by the South China Morning Post judges qualities and characteristics which celebrate unique talents. Well done to Sam for this great achievement and the ongoing support by the DT faculty for his endeavour.

I am very conscious that I have not said happy Diwali to everybody yet. I am saying it here and will be repeating it in a few weeks when we bring the online celebration to you all. Thinking of our Indian families, all our families and the light of the new year which is definitely on the horizon.

Take care of yourself,
Mr Sammons

Launching Foodie Fridays with a Can-paign!
The CAS project team is launching a new Food Drive – ‘Foodie Fridays’
This initiative launches on December 4th, and will continue on the first Friday of each month. Students are encouraged to bring in donations on those Fridays and we will disseminate the foods to the charities we work with.

On Friday 4 December, students are encouraged to bring in one of the following items:

• Canned fish
• Canned soup
• Canned meat
• Canned beans
• Canned veg

Many thanks,
Mrs Murchie

University Webinars and Seminars

21 November 9:30 – 17:00
The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong Information Day 2020
Register by clicking here

24 November 18:30
University of the West of England – UWE Bristol Information Session
Register by clicking here

26 November 18:00
UCL Faculty of Laws Virtual Information Session for prospective LLB applicants
Register by clicking here

26 November 19:00
Study in Scotland Information Session
The webinar will give you an introduction to life and studies in Scotland, our 4 year course structure and an overview of each university. Please see link for a list of participating universities.
Register by clicking here

28 November 10:00 – 14:00
EduCanada Virtual Fair
In this event, students and parents will be able to meet and chat with Candian colleges and university representatives about the benefits of studying at a Canadian institution. More than 100 Canadian institutions will be online ready to chat live via text and audio/video.
Register by clicking here

28 November
Loughborough University Virtual Open Day
Register by clicking here

1 December 19:00
Study in Scotland: Student panel discussion & Q&A
The alumni panel discussion will let you engage with past and current students, hear their stories and their views on life and studies in Scotland.
Register by clicking here

5 December
Discover California State University Northridge
Register by clicking here

9 December
Virtual visit from Arizona State University, Bentley University, Loyola University Chicago & University of San Francisco
Zoom link