Message from the Principal
Dear Parents,
This has been a week of sharp contrasts. One aspect of my job is the great variety of what happens day to day. There are always operational issues: incidents occur and must be dealt with immediately, parents/children/staff want to see you urgently and reports are required from various people.
The best part of my week is when I get to see the children and teachers in action. It was great to acknowledge Jerry Qiu and Umberto Vidali’s success in the Global Campus Photography Competition and the beautiful photographs they took. Experiencing another fabulous International Day is, of course, a highlight. There is no better way to visualise the 35 nationalities in the school nor to epitomise the wonderful spirit of the school coming together in one day. It is a day that pupils, parents and staff love, helped by amazing food and snacks! My thanks to everyone involved for such an enjoyable and memorable occasion.
We finish the week by remembering those who have died, been injured or affected by war. Thank you to everyone who supported the day’s remembrance by buying a poppy or making a donation. We hope and pray for an end to the wars and conflicts around the world and especially an end to the suffering of children.
Enjoy your weekend with your family in peace.
Mr Cooklin
Principal
UPCOMING EVENTS:
15 November – Year 1 & 6 Immunisation
15 November – Parent Workshop: What is the Global Library? (8.30-9.00am in the cafeteria)
16 & 17 November – Class Photos
17 November – Year 6 Residential Parent Meeting (8am in the cafeteria)
18 November – Parent Workshop by from Hilary Easton, Juilliard Dance Lead 8.30-9.15am
21 November – Class assembly 2D
21 November – Year 9 Options Evening (also open to Year 7 & 8 parents who are interested)
22 & 24 November – Parents Evening (Primary)
25 November – Bounce-a-thon
28 November – Class assembly 3C
28 November – Greek Day in Year 3
29 & 30 November – Year 8 Two Day Camp
SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPH – UNIFORM REMINDER (16th and 17th November)
Yes, it’s that time of year again when the students step in front of the camera and say CHEESE (no V signs allowed). To ensure your child shines and has the best chance of looking camera ready (yes, these photos will be around for a long time to haunt them), please can you ensure that your child wears full school uniform on those days (no PE clothes). Years 7, 8 and 9 must also wear their blazers.
THANK YOU ERIN WIGHT
What a way to start the week, being serenaded to by the amazing Erin Wight from Juilliard. The Primary Assembly was awash with the sounds of music, the children enjoyed learning all about Julliard and it’s wonderful program. Plus we adults also got to experience first hand how this excellent curriculum works in action, whilst enjoying a performance from Erin herself.
INTERNATIONAL DAY
Congratulations to all involved in making this event a huge success. What an amazing day it was. With over 20 countries represented in the stalls, students, passport in hand, stamped, explored and ate their way through them all. From being timed on a bike (Tour De France) to exploring the world of Chinese Calligraphy, there was something for everyone. The smells of delicious foods had everyone in the school heading to the sports hall to try the array of fabulous home cooked foods. A huge Thank you to all the parents who gave their time to make this an International Day to remember.
Did you get snapped at the event? Check out this link to try and find yourself and to see Mr. Cooklin in action: https://www.facebook.com/NAISHongKong/
PARENT WORKSHOP – WHAT IS THE GLOBAL LIBRARY? 15th Nov 8.30-9.00am in the cafeteria
Global Campus Leader David Robinson will introduce the theory behind the Global Library, part of Nord Anglia’s Global Campus, and how parents can use it to motivate their child to read and get involved in the project themselves.
Please email ricky.auyeung@nais.hk to register your interest.
PARENT WORKSHOP – Hilary Easton, Juilliard Dance Lead 18th Nov 8.30-9.15am in the cafeteria
Hilary Easton from The Juilliard School in New York will deliver this workshop. She is really keen to share and explain curriculum developments in terms of dance, informing parents of exciting developments in person and who knows … perhaps get them actively involved during the workshop! This is going to be a fantastic session, providing a rare opportunity to meet an expert in the area. Here is some information about Hilary:
Artistic director of Hilary Easton + Company, a N.Y.C.-based contemporary dance company established in 1992, which has performed at venues including American Dance Festival, the Danspace Project at St. Mark's Church, Dance Theater Workshop, PS 122, Carnegie Hall, U. of Texas, Central Park Summerstage, Center for Contemporary Arts of Santa Fe, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, the Yard, Mount Tremper Arts, Bard College at Simon's Rock College, Baryshnikov Arts Center, and the 92Y-Harkness Dance Festival. In addition to her own company, she has choreographed for companies/artists including the Talking Band, Joffrey II, Headwaters Dance Company, Spectrum Dance Theater, and the Mettawee Theater Company. As a dancer she has performed with a wide range of choreographers including Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane and Company, Kinematic, and XXY Dance/Music. Has taught at Princeton U., Connecticut College, U. of Montana, and N.Y.U. Tisch School of the Arts. A former teaching artist, she is the educational consultant for the New York Philharmonic School Partnership Program, training and supporting its teaching artist faculty, and has worked with many arts organizations including Lincoln Center Institute, VSArts and Carnegie Hall.
Please email ricky.auyeung@nais.hk to register your interest.
SECOND CAMPUS
We’ve not got any artist’s impression for you just yet (very soon I hope), but I am happy to tell you that everything is well under way and progressing at a good speed. All the relevant government departments have been notified and as we have full registration as our existing school, we’re pressing on with extension license and application with the EDB. Lots of paperwork to come but it’ll be worth it when we unveil an amazing learning space. We’ve also welcomed Project Manager and Lindsey Woolley on board, which is exciting. Lindsey is a skilled architect and project manger, with expertise in the education and commercial sector. Stay tuned for more updates.
SWIMMING POOL
Since my last update, the CCTV investigation has taken place and a cracked pipe identified! Next week this will be repaired, and the pool refilled to test water levels. We are hoping to reopen the pool ready for the start of the New Year (if not earlier) depending on how this next stage of testing goes. As always, we’ll keep you posted as and when we get more information.
ANTI BULLYING WEEK
Anti bullying Week 2016 is being held between the 14th and 18th November with the theme 'power for good'. It’s a great way to take a stand against bullying and raise awareness in our school, something we take very seriously.
REMEMBRANCE DAY
A huge Thank you to Mr Fawcett who spoke at the secondary assembly today about his time in the Military and what Remembrance Day means. It really was a fascinating and moving. The students sat silently listening attentively and taking in his words. Lest We Forget.
https://www.facebook.com/NAISHongKong/
GOING GLOBAL
An exciting week for our school with numerous events where we connected with our Global Campus of 43 schools around the world:
Pupils throughout the secondary school received their Global Campus Passports and immediately began collecting stamps.
Amongst the first stamps issued were for Jerry Qiu and Umberto Vidali for their award winning photographs for the Global Photographer of the Year award. Mr Cooklin visited their classrooms to issue these stamps himself and thank them for their fantastic work which is now being viewed around the world and will be featured in the 2017 Global Campus calendar.
Please encourage your child to use their passport and collect as many stamps as they can. A presentation which explains how to use the passports and how to use the Global Campus Online website can be found on Firefly.
Our Year 9s had a double dose of Global Campus as they held a SKYPE video conference call with their
Global Campus Classmates in the La Cote International School in Aubonne, Switzerland. The focus of the call was to prepare for the upcoming Year 9 trip to Tanzania as they will be meeting their Swiss counterparts face to face upon arrival in Africa. However, there was still time to share thoughts and impressions of each other’s home cities; reactions to the Global Library novel A Girl Called Problem which set in Tanzania); thoughts about the US election result which was announced seconds before the call and time for a transcontinental photo displaying the baffling world wide phenomena “The Dab”!
Finally, Year 9 followed this up with a trip to several year two classrooms where they shared books from the Global Library with an international theme. These included 'City Atlas’ and 'Atlas of Adventures' which help excite students to the variety of cultures and landscapes from around the world and ‘When I Coloured the World’ which is one of the most popular children’s books in Iran. These books are all available to be borrowed from the school library and count towards stamps in the students’ passports. Sign up for the Parent Workshop next Tuesday to learn more about this.
CALLING ALL SWIMMERS OUT THERE
If your child loves swimming then read on ….
On 3rd and 4th February 2017, HK Island Stingrays Swim Club has invited Olympic gold medal winner Penny Heyns to run a two day swim clinic - "Stroke Mechanics & Mental Preparation" which is open to all non Stingray members too.
Penny Heyns is a South African (trained in USA), Olympic swimmer who most notably won both the 100m and 200m gold medals (and breaking the world records in both events) at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic games. The list of her achievements continues but you can Google her name or go to her website www.pennyheyns.com to find out more.
Penny is a hugely inspirational woman, with a wealth of knowledge and experience in the swimming world. This workshop is suitable for any child with a keen interest in swimming (preferably from age 8 upwards) and who wants to improve not only the technical side of their swimming but the mindset too. The workshop will run on Friday 3rd and Saturday 4th February from 9am through to 3:30pm and will take place at the HKIS Tai Tam pool. Parents are more than welcome to come and watch. Sign up deadline is 20th November 2016. Cost for the two day course will be between HK$900- HK$1,100 depending on final numbers who sign up. There is a maximum of 50 swimmers.
If you are interested and would like to find out more, please contact Kate Yates at kateadams26@hotmail.com
RECIPE BOOK SUBMISSIONS STILL OPEN
Last week I mentioned that the PTA are putting together a recipe book packed full of interesting and flavourful dishes. If you’ve got a recipe you’d like to share, it’s not too late. Deadline for submissions is on 15th November. If you have any queries please contact Maria or Ira atnaisrecipebook@gmal.com.
BOUNCE-A-THON IS BACK - Friday 25th November
We’re counting down the days until this fun fundraiser. That’s right, two weeks today and we’ll be bouncing up and down like crazy. Are you bounce-a-thon ready?
PRIMARY ASSEMBLY – 2B
2B led a fabulous assembly today. They had everyone cheering and singing along with them as they talked and danced about the wondrous Dr Seuss! Thank you 2B and Mr. Carl Davidson for organising such an informative assembly. And remember, as Dr Seuss would say …
Why fit in when you are born to stand out!
Check out our Facebook to see some great photos https://www.facebook.com/NAISHongKong/
STARS OF THE WEEK – Teachers choice
Another week, another set of achievements. Congratulations to the following students:
Year 1: Ava Dodd, Audrey Chen, George Cardonnel, Chelsea Ha, Cleo Cavanagh
Year 2: Aiden Yiu, Isher Johal, Peter Dryden, Asia Thompson, Arief Singson
Year 3: Daisy Deacon-Potter, Matthew Yu, Sarah Bai, Odile Brunisma, Max Robertson
Year 4: Isabelle Luk, Anita Chung, Gilles Bogaert, Claudia Merrill, Anton Baxter-Pronk
Year 5: Sarah Choi, Hong Lin Gu, Baron Wong, Charis Chor, Delon Chan
Year 6: Katrina Chan, Leo Han, Umberto Vidali, Selene Chan
HIGH COMMENDATION AWARDS - Mandarin
Year 7: Hazel Wong
Year 8: Emmylin Alder
Year 9: Rebecca Chen
Keep up the good work!
Photos can be found at https://www.facebook.com/NAISHongKong/
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KEY CONTACTS
Quick list guide of who to email for what:
Please do not use the info@nais.hk for any of the above queries.
Primary Campus
11 On Tin Street
Lam Tin, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Secondary Campus
19 Yuet Wah Street
Kwun Tong, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Early Years Campus
285 Hong Kin Road,
Tui Min Hoi, Sai Kung,
New Territories
