Dear Parents,
We have made a fantastic start to Term 2 and 2026! Our Year 11 students have returned from the Christmas break ready to complete their mock examinations. As we enter the final week of this incredibly important time, we are immensely proud of how they have risen to the challenge.
Last week, we were fortunate enough to have the expert team from Juilliard joining us in schools, observing the excellent practice around campus and sharing their invaluable expertise with both staff and students. The team commented on the outstanding work of our Performing Arts teams and students.
In more exciting news, our Performing Arts departments are diligently preparing for the school production of Oliver!, and our dedicated group of student performers is ready to bring this classic to life on stage. We look forward to sharing more details with you next week.
This term, we are excitedly anticipating several significant events, including our student trip to Tanzania, the FOBISIA Swimming Gala in Thailand, and our participation in the Nord Anglia Academic Challenge Cup Final. We will also celebrate Chinese New Year and hold progress evenings to discuss students’ achievements.
Wishing you all a fantastic week ahead.
Welcome to NAIS Hong Kong: Learning Support Teacher – Miss. Naw
We are delighted to welcome Ms. Baybra to our Secondary Campus Learning Support Team! With over a decade of experience as a dedicated Special Education Needs professional, she has excelled as an inclusion specialist in various school settings. Ms. Baybra holds dual master's degrees in special educational needs and inclusion, as well as Educational Leadership and Administration.
Sign up link and information – Year 9 Parents’ Evening – Aidan Ryan/Adam Cross
Our Year 9 students are preparing to enter an exciting period this term as they begin to think carefully about their IGCSE subject choices. As part of this process, our IGCSE Pathways Discovery Event will take place from 5-6pm on Thursday 5th February.
Prior to this, parents of Year 9 will have an opportunity to discuss their child’s progress so far this year at our Year 9 Parents’ Evening event which will take place on Wednesday 28th January. Appointments will be available both in person from 3pm – 5pm and then online from 5.30pm – 7.30pm. We recommend that both parents and students attend these important meetings. Please log in to School Cloud to book your appointments. Bookings will open one week prior to the event at 3pm on Wednesday 21st January 2026. We look forward to seeing you!
Year 12/13 Updates re What’s Happening on Wednesday Mornings – Debbie Yu
Y12:
Wednesday mornings provide our Y12 students with valuable extended tutor time to develop essential skills for academic success and life beyond school. This term, students are diving deeper into their CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) projects, building on the strong foundation they established in Term 1. They will also be beginning their exciting journey into the Extended Essay, exploring topics they are genuinely passionate about, while developing critical Theory of Knowledge skills that will transform how they think about learning itself. Alongside these IB components, we will be equipping them with practical life skills through dedicated PSHCE sessions covering digital citizenship, financial literacy, and independence skills. This holistic approach ensures our students are not only academically prepared but also confident, well-rounded individuals ready to thrive in their final year and beyond.
Y13:
Our Y13 students have been using Wednesday mornings to weave together every strand of their IB Diploma experience as they approach the finish line. They have been completing their Internal Assessments to showcase their very best work, while celebrating the completion of meaningful CAS experiences that have left lasting impacts on both their personal growth and local communities. The CAS exit interview process has given them wonderful opportunities to reflect on their incredible journeys of service and discovery. Through Theory of Knowledge sessions, they have been making powerful connections across all their subjects, developing the critical thinking skills that will serve them well in university and beyond.
Most excitingly, university applications are in full swing! Early applicants received dedicated support throughout Term 1, with all other students beginning their application journey in November. We are thrilled to share that all UCAS applications are now complete, and conditional offers from universities around the world are already arriving – a testament to the exceptional calibre of our students. This comprehensive support ensures our Y13s feel not just prepared, but genuinely excited and confident as they approach their final IB examinations and take their next steps into higher education.
SPW Reflection – Colin Spanos
Last week, our secondary students had the valuable opportunity to engage in a dedicated program of one-to one careers support delivered by Mr. Mark Smith from SPW. This initiative aimed to help students clarify their aspirations, explore future pathways, and build confidence in making informed decisions about their academic journeys beyond their time at NAIS Hong Kong. On Tuesday, Mr. Smith presented to our Year 12 students on university options in Europe, with a particular focus on the UK. The students were incredibly engaged and asked many astute questions.
Mr. Smith and Mr. Chang (our new University Counsellor) are currently meeting with Year 12 students individually to understand their strengths, interests and ambitions. The tailored conversations have helped them articulate goals, identify the steps needed to pursue them and provide insights into how school choices can open doors to future opportunities.
We are grateful to Mr. Smith from SPW and our HE Counsellor, Mr. Chang, for their expertise and commitment to supporting our Year 12 students. Their contribution has strengthened our students’ readiness for the future and reinforced the importance of personalised guidance during Year 12 and 13. We look forward to continuing this partnership and providing further opportunities for our students to thrive.
Juilliard Reflection – Sara Skibsted
This week, we had the pleasure of hosting three specialist teachers from the Juilliard School in New York, featuring three experts in Music, Drama, and Dance. This collaboration allowed our Music and Drama departments to work closely together, utilising the Juilliard Creative Classroom curriculum.
The specialists conducted engaging sessions where they delivered Juilliard's music and drama lessons to our students. They also facilitated innovative professional development for our teachers, focusing on inquiry-based learning and effective questioning strategies.
This visit not only enriched our students' learning experiences but also provided valuable insights for our educators, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality arts education. The partnership with Juilliard continues to enhance our curriculum and inspire our community.
STEAM Updates – Mr. Rees
Marianna Rogers is a graduate student in MIT's Department of Mechanical Engineering who studies how cars, planes, buildings, and other structures can do more than just be strong — they can also store energy to help power our world! In her Abstract, Marianna goes over the exciting science behind structural energy storage and shows how this technology could lead to lighter, stronger, and more efficient vehicles and devices.
House Updates – Charline Procter
What a fabulous time we were having on the 4th floor Friday lunchtime, challenging our logical brain power!
At the end of KS3 lunch it looked like a clear victory for Windsor with Ms. Blest driving the Windsor spirit with her dedicated team.
However... thanks to one ambitious individual in KS4, Cruz in 10F, Caernarfon came fighting back.
A big shout out to...
Sandringham who managed to create the most challenges
Windsor who had the most overall entries until....
Cruz entered the highest number of individual entries!
The overall scores,
4th: Sandringham 63 points
3rd: Balmoral 75 points
2nd Windsor 112 points
1st: Caernarfon 129 points (92 points earned just by Cruz alone!)
Congratulations Caernarfon... look at the difference one person can make to the results!
Sports Updates – Alex Wiltshire
Match Reports
U20 Boys Basketball
A smaller than usual U20 squad travelled to DSC to play their only outside game of basketball of the season.
Cheered on by a partisan home crowd and with a large squad of players the hosts exerted their advantage from the start. Our players workers tirelessly and kept the scorers busy in their attempt to match the home team. Despite our team’s valiant effort, the hosts won the game thanks to strong offensive play and ability to keep fresh players on the court throughout.
U16 Boys Basketball
After a four-week Christmas break, our U16 boys returned to the court eager to make an impact against Harrow. The excitement was palpable during warm-ups, with players communicating effectively and focusing on the task ahead.
However, the game began with a rocky start. Inaccurate passes led to turnovers, and poor finishes hampered our early efforts. Despite our intention to apply full court pressure, Harrow capitalised on every mistake, leading at halftime with their aggressive fast play.
The second half marked an improvement. The team found their rhythm, reducing turnovers and forcing fouls. Communication improved on both offense and defense, and players fought harder under the basket for rebounds. Unfortunately, our finishing remained problematic, preventing us from converting opportunities into points. Despite the spirited effort, we fell 49-36, but the drive displayed in the second half shows promise for future matches.
U12 Girls Basketball
The U12 girls’ basketball team faced RCHK in a hard-fought game, demonstrating impressive resilience and teamwork. After a challenging start, the girls rallied to take the lead at halftime.
In the second half, RCHK intensified their offense, ultimately overtaking us in the final seconds to secure a narrow victory. While this loss means missing playoff potential, the girls showed tremendous growth as a new team, bonding and developing skills throughout the season.
Congratulations to the team for their dedication and hard work! The future looks bright as they continue to build on this success.
U14 Boys basketball
Well done to the U14 boys basketball team for their convincing win over CDNIS on Tuesday evening. A powerful performance in and around the key was a welcome addition to recent performances and enabled players to showcase their offensive ability. Discipline in defence and holding the zone together helped restrict the opposition scoring opportunities. 36-18 was the final score.
U14 Girls Basketball
The U14 Girls Basketball team delivered an impressive performance against Island School on Tuesday, dominating the first half with a score of 19-9. Their teamwork and skill shone brightly as they played well together. However, Island School adjusted their tactics in the third quarter, leading to a final score of 33-42. Although the loss knocked the Knights out of playoff contention, the team's growth and camaraderie throughout the season were commendable. Well done to the squad for their hard work and dedication. Go Knights!
U16 Boys Football
The U16 Boys Football team faced a tough match against Island School at Kwun Tong, aiming to secure the Division 4 title with a depleted squad. An early goal due to poor marking put them down 1-0 at halftime. The second half saw further challenges, with Island School extending their lead to 4-0. Despite this, Cason scored a fantastic consolation goal to make it 4-1.
In a positive twist, the Knights learned that Carmel would forfeit their final game, allowing them to jump from 4th to 1st place in the table! The team is now set to face Island School again in the playoff semi-final. Let’s keep the spirits high—Go Knights!
CIS Swimming Invitational
The Knights swim squad capped off their season in style at Victoria Park Swimming Pool on Friday, January 16th. For several squad members, this marked their first competitive swim event, and all students represented the school with great enthusiasm and sportsmanship.
Standout performances included Brandon, who secured a bronze medal in the 100m Backstroke, and Cheuk Hang, who also earned a bronze in the 50m Butterfly. Their achievements highlight the hard work and dedication of the entire team.
Congratulations to the Knights swim squad on a fantastic season and an impressive showing at their final event!
Looking Ahead
Best regards,
Fiona Thorndike
Head of Secondary
