Principal’s Message
Dear Parents,
Congratulations to all students who have received examination results. It has been an extraordinary year of success for all ESF schools. The IB average is six points ahead of the world average. The results of the International Diploma are equally strong and I am enormously proud of three students from our Learning Centre who have completed their Foundation Diploma – the first students to have done so at West Island School. Whatever their starting point, West Island School students have set their sights high and achieved to their personal best. I look forward to representing our school at the Chairman’s Award ceremony next week when nearly forty WIS students will be celebrated for their achievements.
It has been a delightful few weeks preparing to open for the new academic year. A number of renovation projects have been completed on time. Design Technology are the proud owners of a leading edge facility which will enable us to teach industry standard skills to learners. Our music area has been developed into high quality performance spaces and student facilities to store equipment has been greatly improved. The learning spaces are inspiring for us all, more news and pictures to follow in our next edition.
Ten new teaching staff joined our team this year and all have established themselves quickly. You can read more about them on the website. They were warmly received by students in the first whole school assembly and look to bring some exciting teaching approaches to our learners. We have also welcomed new Year 7 students who have settled quickly and appear positive and purposeful in their approach to learning. Students have begun their journey through the use of our WISDOM intranet, keeping an electronic record of their experiences using various digital applications. I look forward to sharing these experiences with parents during assembly on Friday afternoon.
The Dynasty competition has also begun! The Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club visited us to encourage further involvement in rowing. Healthy competition saw Dynasty members battling out their speed and distance skills on the rowing machines during lunchtime. Whilst Song came out with first position in the heats, bonus points collected by Year 12 and 13 for the quickest overall time meant that Ming have finished this week in the lead. I look forward to the battle of the Dynasties to see if they can sustain their early victory.
The theme of the year is Continuity and Change. Through whole school assembly we talked with young people about the importance of knowing where we are going as a community and the values which will guide our decision making. The paradox being that embracing change means clinging more firmly to the things we stand for. Our “C’s” are deeply rooted in school life and will guide the school in its daily work: Community, Compassion, Consideration, Commitment and Courage continue to be at the heart of WIS.
And speaking of commitment, West Island School students would not be ready and prepared to go if it were not for the hard work of the PTSA. Thank you for the many volunteer hours that have been undertaken on behalf of parents during the summer term. We have an exceptionally professional association who coordinate a number of practical arrangements that makes all of our students and families lives easier. We are seeking more members for the committee and there is an opportunity for new Year 7 parents to become involved. Please don’t be shy in coming forward, it is an invaluable way to get to know our community and meet other parents and staff.
I wish you all a successful academic year.
Yours,
Christopher Sammons
