Dear Parents,
We are delighted to welcome parents into school for our upcoming parent-facing events over the coming days and weeks. These events will provide an opportunity for you to meet Form Tutors, hear from our Heads of Year and learn more about the pathways your child will take at school.
It was celebrations all round on Friday when our Academic Challenge Cup team emerged victorious against Leman School Chengdu. Their hard work and dedication are commendable, and I wish them the very best in the upcoming final.
Additionally, we are thrilled to see our Extra-Curricular Activities (ECA) program underway this week, featuring a range of exciting new options for students to explore their interests and talents.
Thank you for your continued support as we strive to create a vibrant and engaging learning environment for all our students.
Our Secondary School Values – Chantelle and Student Leadership Team
Exciting Launch: Our School Values & Motto “Leave a Legacy” — Shaped by Our Students, Embraced by All
Dear Families,
We are thrilled to officially introduce our school’s core values and motto, “Leave a Legacy,” a powerful vision crafted by our exceptional Student Leadership Team. Over the past year, these dedicated students engaged in thoughtful discussions, workshops, and community feedback sessions to create a motto that reflects our shared aspirations: to inspire every member of our school family to make a lasting, positive impact on the world around them.
These values —'Be Kind – Respect Everyone', 'Choose Courage – Live with Integrity', 'Be Ambitious – Grow an Open Mind', —have been brought to life through the collective efforts of our students, staff, and families. From classroom collaborations to student led assemblies, we’ve already seen these principles in action: students championing inclusivity, leading impactful projects, and supporting one another with compassion.
Moving forward, we will deepen this commitment by embedding our values into daily learning and pastoral care, we aim to ensure every child not only understands these ideals but lives them. Together, we’ll nurture a culture where every action, big or small, contributes to a legacy we can all be proud of.
Let’s continue to empower our students to lead, grow, and Leave a Legacy that echoes far beyond our school gates.
“Legacies are not built in moments, but through the values we choose to uphold every day.”
Meeting our new staff
Mr. Garcia Paredes – MFL
¡Hola! Salut! My name is Apolinar, and I’m thrilled to join the MFL department of NAIS HK. I am from Salamanca, a small city in Spain, where I completed my studies in Classics. I guess that fostered in me the passion and interest for languages. After teaching MFL abroad for ten years, with stays of two years in India and eight in Malaysia, I consider myself lucky for getting great insights into diverse cultures and educational practices. Also, I really loved making connections between festivals from different countries!
I am confident that living in Hong Kong is going to be an odyssey for me as I am captivated by its energetic atmosphere and the countless opportunities it offers. From the moment I arrived, the kindness and respect of our students as well as the support from the staff have truly helped me, making me feel valuable and welcome.
Outside school, I love playing football, scuba diving, watching movies and travelling around with my backpack. In this sense, I cannot wait to discover this part of Asia, which I have always considered magnetic, enigmatic and full of charm.
I am excited to nurture a comfortable and enriching environment which will motivate the curiosity for language learning among our students.
Mr. King - English
Hello everyone! My name is Barnaby King, and I’m delighted to join the NAIS family here in Hong Kong. I am originally from sunny Surrey, just outside London, but I have been teaching in East Asia for most of the last 18 years. At university, I studied Literature with Drama and Linguistics before working in project management for a blue-chip company and Kings College London for several years. Everything changed with the birth of my first daughter, however. I felt a tremendous urge to try something that allowed me to be more creative and to work with the most amazing people in the world. So, I went back to university and trained to teach. What a fantastic decision it turned out to be.
After teaching in Korea and Singapore for 15 fabulous years, I am really looking forward to enjoying a new challenge in Hong Kong. Some things seem familiar, while many do not. The students at NAIS have been wonderfully welcoming, however, and have reminded me of why this part of the globe is such a great place to live and work. I relish the opportunity to help our students fulfill their dreams as much as exploring the atmospheric lanes and islands of Hong Kong.
Mrs. Gibson – Science
My name is Shirley Gibson, and I am delighted to introduce myself as the new IGCSE and IB Biology teacher in the Science department. Originally from Scotland, I bring with me 32 years of experience in teaching Science, during which I also had the privilege of serving on the Senior Leadership Team. Most recently, I spent three fulfilling years in Málaga, Spain, where I taught MYP and IB Biology and served as Head of Year in an international school.
I am passionate about working in international settings, as they allow me to engage with diverse cultures and ideas, enriching the learning experience for both myself and my students. My dedication to education and my enthusiasm for inspiring young minds motivates me every day, and I am eager to contribute to our vibrant community here in Hong Kong.
Outside of the classroom, I enjoy staying active through Pilates and walking, as well as exploring new places through travel. I look forward to a year filled with growth, collaboration, and inspiring our students to reach their full potential.
Thank you for your support, and I am excited to embark on this journey together!
Miss. Teh – Maths
Hello everyone! My name is Sinead Teh, and I am excited to join the Mathematics department this year. I am originally from Ipoh, Malaysia, and my passion for education was inspired by my own mathematics teacher. I studied Education in Secondary Mathematics at the Education University of Hong Kong, with a minor in Teaching and Learning in International Schools. My annual visits to Hong Kong to see my relatives have enriched my appreciation for this vibrant culture.
After graduation, I returned to Ipoh to teach at an international school. This is my third year in education, and I am thrilled to work alongside such supportive and creative colleagues while engaging with our energetic students.
Outside of school, I enjoy playing Ultimate Frisbee, pickleball, and practicing yoga to stay active. As a former ballet dancer, I also love attending ballet performances, especially those by the Hong Kong Ballet. I look forward to a wonderful year ahead!
Academic Challenge Cup: Round 2 – Mrs. Rankin
Last Friday, our fantastic Academic Challenge Cup Team (Siena, Aarshi, Isabella and Jihoo) went head-to-head against our finalist rivals from 2024, Léman International School Chengdu! The two incredibly strong teams battled it out across four grueling rounds, with just 5 points between them until the final round.
I am delighted to share that our NAIS Hong Kong Team were victorious in their endeavours, beating LIS Chengdu 170 - 160 points. We are extremely proud of our students and look forward to representing the school in the final in October!
Celebrating International Literacy Day – Miss. Pollard
Last week, our school community came together to celebrate International Literacy Day, highlighting the incredible importance and joy of reading.
The day was filled with activities that brought all things literature and literacy to the forefront. Our staff kicked things off by sharing their own inspirational quotes on how literature has shaped their lives, which are now proudly displayed in the English department. You can also now see what our teachers are reading on their classroom doors, sparking wonderful discussions with students.
Students participated enthusiastically in tutor time activities, from word games like Wordle and Connections to a school-wide competition to find the most inspiring literature quotes. A huge congratulations to tutor group 8F, whose collective submission was chosen as the winner! Their selected quotes were:
• "To learn to read is like a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark."
• "Literacy is not a luxury, it is a right and a responsibility."
• "Literacy is a bridge from misery to hope." - Kofi Annan
It was particularly wonderful to see the library buzzing with students during break and lunch, all engrossed in their books. Several students shared their current reads and reflected on why literacy matters, with comments like, “Reading takes me to another world” and “Literacy is important because without it the world would explode!”
It was a fantastic day that truly celebrated the power of words and stories. Thank you for your continued support in fostering a love of reading at home.
Fireside Friday – Miss. Bennett
In IBDP, we have restarted our #FiresideFriday, an opportunity for our DP students to learn about the different paths and experiences available to them in higher education and beyond through the lives of our staff. These sessions have always been a highlight for students, with staff sharing both the highs and lows, showcasing that success is not always linear. Allowing for frank and honest conversations to advise and support our students, all while providing an opportunity for question and answer.
Kick starting this year was Mrs. Seward and her experiences applying to and studying at Oxford as an Organ Scholar, which for many of our Oxbridge and Ivy League potentials allowed them to understand the processes and practicalities of applying to elite universities. Additionally, we’ve had Ms. Blest discussing the highs and the lows of her university experiences and how she overcame the lows, leading her to achieving a highly successful career. We look forward to more inspirational discussions over the coming months!
Sports Trials – Ms. Wiltshire
Looking Ahead
Best regards,
Fiona Thorndike
Head of Secondary
