We often hope for a bit of rest and relaxation after the busy winter holiday seasons and celebrations, but instead ISPTA was busier than ever in Term 2!
To kick it all off, ISPTA welcomed our new principal Ms Nina Gunson by organizing two coffee mornings on Friday, January 10 for Y7-9 parents and Tuesday, January 14 for Y10-13 parents. We had terrific turn-outs in both groups as parents met and mingled with Ms Gunson over coffee and snacks. We also had the pleasure of welcoming Ms. Kiely Murphy, our new vice-principal, as well as other leaders in our school. Ms Gunson shared with parents her vision of strengthening Island School’s education with its strong values and community spirit. She believes in a strong foundation, global education, and the value of competencies that the Island school education offers. We warmly welcome Ms Gunson and the ISPTA looks forward to continuing the strong parent partnership with the school.
From the Winter Fair funds of 2023, ISPTA funded the enhancement of the playground space at LG03. The space now has 6 picnic tables with umbrellas,3 four-squares for students to play ball, and 1 graffiti circle with washable chalk, thus becoming a more functional space for Island School’s younger students of Y7 & Y8 to utilise for lunch and play.
We are very thankful to the senior leaders, facilities, site staff and PTA committee members for their support towards the upliftment of this space. We hope to see more Y7 and Y8 students playing, socialising, and building friendships there soon!
On Friday, January 17th, our IS community joined together for the annual Walkathon which, in conjunction with the Island School Trust, raises funds for local Hong Kong students pursuing secondary education. This year, ISPTA collaborated with parent volunteers to help manage the walk and support this important cause. Thank you to all the parent volunteers for their contributions!
Immediately following the Walkathon, ISPTA organized a staff appreciation lunch for all teachers and support staff. Parent volunteers prepared a delightful array of traditional dishes—appetizers, mains, and desserts—spanning various Asian and Western cuisines. This relaxed afternoon allowed staff members to be pampered by our generous parents. Many teachers expressed their feelings of gratitude for the food prepared by our lovely IS families. The inner courtyard buzzed with Island School spirit as staff mingled with parent volunteers, enjoying the excellent spread.
ISPTA extends a heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to making this lunch a wonderful experience for both staff and parents!
The ISPTA community came together again to usher in the Year of the Snake and share good fortune with our school and community. The celebrations included parent-donated snack sales on Tuesday, January 21, and Wednesday, January 22, featuring a scrumptious array of local treats like Crispy Pastry Dumpling 炸油角, Chinese style sugar wing 糖圈, and Rice Rolls 腸粉.
The celebrations were multifold on Wednesday as the Island School staff delighted everyone with lively dances set to Lunar New Year tunes, followed by enthusiastic performances from our parents. Parent volunteers also showcased Lunar New Year-themed plushies, including food items like buns and noodles, all available at bargain prices to become cherished good luck keepsakes to kick off the Year of the Snake. It was heartwarming to see everyone dressed in vibrant red, embodying the spirit of the celebrations and spreading joy across the campus.
A big thank you to all our parents who supported the snack sales and volunteered to dance! All proceeds from snack and plushie sales will go towards supporting student and school projects and initiatives.
Finally, ISPTA in collaboration with teachers and alumni, hosted an engaging panel discussion on the ‘Role of Competencies in Island School Education: Learning Beyond the Classroom’ on Wednesday, March 5. ISPTA is thankful to teachers Mr. Ross Burrough and Ms Mary Vitachi for their expertise and support in organising this panel discussion.
Moderated by PTA Chair, Fatema J, the panel featured Principal Ms. Gunson and Deputy Head of Curriculum Mr. Burrough, Island School Alumni members: Aayush Batwara, Jennifer Yeh Wannenmacher, Melanie Staunton, and Pindar Wong. The panellists shared their insights into how the six competencies at the heart of Island school education are essential for shaping careers and personal lives.
Some key insights the panellists shared were: finding a purpose and passion in learning, moving away from ‘the script’ followed by everyone and ‘writing your own script’, learning to fail and grow, the importance of a well-rounded education and diverse school experiences. Panellists shared how valuable ECAs, sports, Model United Nations, Award for Young People, community-based projects, and involvement in drama/theatre (to name just a few), shaped their outlook and provided fun and engaging elements to school life in addition to academic learning. Another key message was that while academic learning and grades are reality and have a place, success is ‘the process and journey of learning’.
When we return from the break we are looking forward to the ISPTA Curry Quiz Night on April 23, which will bring students, families, teachers and alumni together for trivia! Do join us! We will also join school leaders in welcoming our youngest year group- Y7 families and will also celebrate and bid farewell to the Y13 students by hosting the graduation reception in May.
As we draw close to Term 2, we wish all students and families a restful Easter break and wish our Y11 and 13 students all the best as they prepare for their exams.