The Lion Rock - Term 1 2016 Vol18

AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HONG KONG

Term 1 2016 | Volume 18

Howusing usingpersonal personal strengths strengths How andindividual individual motivations motivations and to promote learning to promote learning makes sense p8. ]] makes sense [[ p8.

Activity Week Recaps: Students have been all around the world, re-live their experiences Meet Mr Bruce Simons The new Head of School sits down with us and tells us what makes him tick

Message from the Head of School The year has all begun with positive news for AISHK, abundant involvement and action and a renewed vigour in teaching, learning and participation. The School’s 21st Birthday celebration, the inaugural Scholars Assembly recognising the outstanding 2015 HSC and IB results, five sporting carnivals for five resounding victories, a focus on serving our community, rehearsals for the Sound of Music Production, the commencement of the Male and Female Voice Choirs, and the renowned international and experiential-learning Activity Week have all contributed to a vibrant, dynamic and successful School, renowned throughout Hong Kong and beyond.

Our enrolment numbers and the School’s finances are strong, and teacher retention at an all-time high, all reflecting optimism and appreciation of the School’s profile, values and outcomes. Our recent survey of all parents reflected high levels of participation and satisfaction, with 91% of parents noting AISHK to be their school of first choice for their sons and daughters. Significantly, “Reputation” and “Affinity” (loyalty) to AISHK, key criteria to school performance, continue to rise year on year. In my first term as Head of AISHK, I have

experienced this first-hand. I have been overwhelmed with positive messages and feedback; this display of faith, loyalty and support for the school is deeply appreciated and valued.

Twenty first century schooling is happily much more than the chalk and talk of yesteryear, where academic performance was the only measure of success, yet often neglecting student pastoral care (re-badged as wellbeing) as a core component of a child’s development. Our strategic and master planning process leading into 2016 is and will continue to be meticulous and involve many stakeholders views, draw upon national and international best practice and extend well beyond, yet continue to highly value, academic outcomes.

The process has already profoundly identified that wellbeing complements and indeed enhances academic performance and, in an age of social and emotional revolution, has become more important than ever before. We acknowledge that the School is recognised as, and strives to be, a premium internationally focused one, providing an innovative and broad ranging education espousing family and traditional values, “Twenty first century encouraging opti mum schooling is happily much achievement, fostering more than the chalk and personality and equipping talk of yesteryear, where girls and boys with skills academic performance and character to enable was the only measure of them to connect, strive success” and flourish throughout their lives.

It is the last aspect (and the School’s 2016 theme) that the School believes embodies modern educational practice, enabling students to adopt growth mindsets that prepare them well for the challenges they will face beyond school, throughout their university years and into their working and family lives. In doing so, we are empowering young people to become future leaders and problem solvers.

As you will read in our Lead Story “Positive Education in Action”, it is an exciting time for all at AISHK, and I am confident that, at this School, we are boldly treading in the right direction.

Bruce Simons Head of School

Contents SECTIONS

“Positive Education is not simply a wellbeing program that we deliver to children. It is one that embraces that we have strengths in ourselves” Page 8

3 | News

2

Upcoming Events

3

News

5

AISHK in Action

6

Q&A

15

Community Spotlight

24

Sports Action

FEATURES 7

Around AISHK

Catch up on the latest on-campus happenings 9

Positive Education in Action

What is Positive Education, and what does it mean at AISHK? 11

AISHK About Town

Students serve as ambassadors in and around Hong Kong.

13

Meet Mr Bruce Simons

A profile of new Head of School 17

Activity Week

A jam packed week of fun, adventure and learning

9 | Positive Education in Action

2 | Upcoming Events

7 | Around AISHK

17 | Activity Week

24 | Sports Action

Board Members Mr Tom Corkhill Board Chairman and Founding Governor Dr Dan Hooley School Supervisor, Immediate Past Chairman and Governor Professor Richard Petty Governor Dr Joseph Lee Governor Mr Andrew Macintosh Governor Mr Ian Whitton Governor Mr Gautam Dev Governor Mr Andrew Steadson Governor Ms Janaline Oh Subscriber and Ex-Officio Governor Rep. Australian Consulate Hong Kong Mr Cliff K Sun Subscriber and Ex-Officio Governor Rep. Australian Chinese Association of Hong Kong Mr Stephen Yap Subscriber and Ex-Officio Governor Rep. Australian Chinese Association of Hong Kong Ms Carolyn Bickerton Subscriber and Ex-Officio Governor Rep. Australian Association of Hong Kong

Rock

THE LION

AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL FOUNDATION LIMITED A NON-PROFIT ORGANISATION

AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HONG KONG

EDITOR’S NOTE 2016 is the Year of the Monkey. No ordinary monkey, however, the elementary Fire Monkey. The Fire Monkey is said to be adventurous and ambitious - hallmarks of what this year has been thus far, and what it promises to bring in the coming months.

This issue marks a first for the seemingly everchanging Lion Rock, that being it is now to be published each term. I hope this change will give more opportunity to showcase the fine work and achievements of the hardworking students and staff of AISHK, I liken it to a Termbook, to be book-ended by the Yearbook at the end of the year.

This issue recaps the events of the tail end of Term 4, 2015 as well as what has felt like a fast paced Term 1. You will find this issue packed with recaps of events, a face to face with Mr Bruce Simons, a feature about Positive Education as well as recaps of Activity Week - a school favourite.

I hope you enjoy this issue as much as we have enjoyed compiling it.

Mr David Chan Subscriber and Ex-Officio Governor Rep. Federation of Australian Alumni Associations Ms Lisa Milliner Subscriber and Ex-Officio Governor Rep. AISHK Parent Association Ms Lauren Mitchell Subscriber and Ex-Officio Governor Rep. AISHK Parent Association School Leadership Team Mr Bruce Simons Head of School Mr David Christmas Business Administrator Mr David Shirley Assistant Principal, Primary Chief of Operations

MARKETING OFFICER

115 | AISHK About Town

Mr Cameron Reed Dean of Studies, Primary

Mr Alasdair Ong

5 | AISHK in Action

Mr Howard West Assistant Principal, Secondary Chief of Operations

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS

Mr Chris McCorkell Dean of Studies, Secondary

COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT

Ms Brigitte McNamara Mr Chester Siu

PRODUCED BY THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE FEEDBACK AND SUBMISSIONS TO

development@aishk.edu.hk

Commonwealth Private Service, Advice and Opportunities / 2

Upcoming Events @ AISHK The year rolls on with these exciting events. Term 2 is packed with events both within and beyond Hong Kong.

On the sports front, our Kangaroos visit Beijing to compete in the Dulwich Rugby and Netball tournament in late May. We play host to the annual SDRC basketball tournament with lots to live up to from last year. The Secondary Athletics Carnival takes place early next term too, which house will emerge victorious?

Term 2 will also see the AISHKMUN conference and the Junior Debating Finals, sure to come down to some clever verbal jousting. It’s Waratah’s turn to hold Mufti Day. How much money will they raise this term? Finally, NAPLAN testing takes place in late May.

14.04.16 / Secondary Athletics Carnival

Strap yourselves in, the next term is sure to fly by!

21.04.16 / ACAMIS Soccer@ QSI 20.05.16 / AISHKMUN 25.04.16 / Inter House Basketball

21.05.16 / Debating Junior Finals

12.05.16 / SDRC Basketball

04.05.16 / Waratah Mufti Day

23.05.16 / NAPLAN Testing

26.05.16 / Dulwich Beijing Rugby & Netball Tournament

CHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS CHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS >> CHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL WIDE NEWS SCHOOL Animalia mania! Author Graeme Base Visits AISHK Graeme Base first became recognised internationally after the release of his 1986 alphabet picture book Animalia. The book was later adapted into a television series. His other top sellers include The Eleventh Hour and The Sign of the Seahorse. His recent title Eye to Eye is fast rising in popularity too.

During term 1, AISHK staff and students eagerly welcomed the famed author and artist to the school.

Graeme was greeted with a buzz of excitement, with Primary students eager to catch a glimpse of the author and ask questions about his writing process. A slideshow displaying the graphics from his 33 year collection of picture books excited many students, whom instantly recognised many of the titles, proving the timelessness of Graeme’s work.

Graeme taught students about the use of alliteration, inviting examples and participation from students. In speaking to students about what he has learnt in his career, Graeme emphasised that “things that are worthwhile can take time” - Animalia had taken three years to complete.

After a Q&A session, Graeme took some time to autograph books and interact with his young fans.

Graeme shared with students the “3 P’s” which he follows in his life and work: • PASSION: you have to love what you do.

• PERSPIRATION: you must be prepared to work hard to turn your ideas into reality.

• PERSISTENCE: never give up; you will strike disappointments, keep going regardless.

Welcome Barbeque As is tradition, the members of our school community, including students, teachers, board members and alumni, gathered at the annual Welcome Barbeque on Friday 29 January.

The Welcome Barbeque is a Parent Association event and was a perfect setting for members of our school community to socialise while enjoying a delicious Chinese and Aussie styled barbeque. It was also an opportunity for new parents to familiarise themselves with teachers and new Head of School, Mr Bruce Simons.

Event Lead Sponsor, Commonwealth Private had their team on hand to meet families and handed out gift bags to students, which included the iconic Commonwealth Bank money boxes. An inflatable bouncy castle provided by Links Moving was set up for the students to enjoy while parents and staff mingled around the field.

S S E L

Celebrating Australia Day and AISHK’s 21st Birthday on the Field On 26 January each year AISHK celebrates Australia Day and another special occasion - the School’s birthday.

This year, our ceremony on the School Field started with the National Anthem, led by the Secondary Vocal Ensemble. After an address from the Head of School, Mr Bruce Simons, we were honoured to have Australian Consul General Mr Paul Tighe speak to us about what it means to celebrate Australia Day here in Hong Kong and at AISHK. Students sang a rendition of “Happy Birthday” to the school. Guests and students were then given a tasty treat of lamingtons and birthday cake.

Australian Olympian Samantha Riley Visits AISHK, Mentors Swim Squad As part of a trip to Hong Kong, Australian Olympian Samantha Riley visited excited Primary students on Friday 5 February. Samantha generously gave of her time to engage with young members of the AISHK swim squad. Students were thrilled to have a photo opportunity with the Olympian and were excited to examine her Olympic and Commonwealth Games medals.

Samantha imparted some invaluable advice to our aspiring swimmers during a Q&A session with questions ranging from her impressions of Hong Kong to tips for managing pre-competition nerves.

Samantha gave insight into the importance of thinking rationally during a competition, making every race an enjoyable experience in itself. “It’s very normal to get nervous before a competition…you might get nervous before an exam and in many sort of things, but that just means you really want to do well.”

When students asked what advice she would give to those thinking about taking up swimming, or wanting to improve their existing skills, Samantha advised “not to just turn up and do the motions. If you’re going to turn up and get dressed for it, then give it all you’ve got when you’re at the pool.”

Samantha now operates five swim schools across Brisbane, aiming to make swimming safe for children. “We are focusing on water safety and making sure that children can have that skill for life”.

Q&A

T

he doors of AISHK have always been kept open for returning alumni and recently AISHK has been lucky to be able to have alumni return to the community as staff members. Ms Elise Kelly left AISHK in 2002 and has returned to the AISHK family this year as a Primary Music Specialist.

What did you do after you left AISHK? After leaving AISHK in Year 4, I moved to Newcastle, Australia. Following the completion of my HSC, I studied a Bachelor of Music (Music Education) With at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and went on to graduate with Honours. Music has always been a big part of my life and throughout my schooling. I participated in choirs, orchestras, wind bands and school musicals. However, it wasn’t until I was in my final years of high school that I really began to consider pursuing music as a career. Completely uncertain of what to be when I “grew-up”, I spent a lot of time talking to teachers and friends about potential careers. It was at this point that my flute teacher suggested studying a Bachelor of Music. As they say, the rest is history.

MS ELISE KELLY

Why did you decide to come back to AISHK? When I was growing up my family did a lot of travelling and so I always dreamed of working overseas. I was 12 months into my first job in Sydney when a job at AISHK was advertised and I realised that this was my window of opportunity to make my dream a reality. I was incredibly excited by the opportunity to work at AISHK as I remembered it to be a school where every child was valued, teaching was innovative, and learning was fun. It has been really exciting to return to the school and see that these core values still stand true.

You came to AISHK when you were five years old; do the students you teach remind you of your younger self?

Yes, to an extent they do. The students at AISHK are unique in that they live in one of the most multicultural cities in the world. Simultaneously, many of them don’t have just one place that they call home. As a result, the students here are globally minded, many of them are multilingual, and they don’t just tolerate other cultures, they truly accept them. As a young girl, I remember being starkly aware of the difference in attitude when I arrived in Australia. Being faced with questions such as, “Isn’t Hong Kong part of China – why do you look Australian?” and “Are you even Australian if you were born in Hong Kong?” That showed me the difference between being culturally tolerant and accepting first-hand. The feeling of being “different” was one I will never forget and, as a result, I try to be accommodating of all backgrounds at all times. I think the students here at AISHK are living examples of how to do that.

What instruments do you play?

My main instrument is flute and I also sing. I can also play a little piano and guitar. While at university I also spent 12 months learning how to play various Gamelan (Indonesian) instruments – it’s definitely harder than it looks! Over the years I have learnt the basics of a number of woodwind instruments but last year I picked up my first string instrument – a violin! It was a great reminder of what it’s like to start learning an instrument: the frustrations, the perseverance required, and the joys of mastering the most basic skills. I think that experience has really helped me empathise with students starting their musical journeys.

Who would you consider to be your main inspiration?

I have two inspirations – my mum and dad. As newly-weds, they followed their careers overseas embarked upon the life of expats – first in California and then in Hong Kong, where their family grew to include myself and my two younger brothers.

However, as inevitably happens, lemons were thrown and life became somewhat tumultuous for our family. Despite this, they showed courage, intelligence, determination, compassion, and maintained their sense of humour through it all. The characteristics that led to them having such successful careers also held my family together and I think we can safely say that we all enjoyed the lemonade at the end.

They have taught me that life isn’t always easy, but that strength of character and love can see you through almost anything.

What’s your motto?

I really identify with the motto, “you reap what you sow”. By doing, giving and being your best, I believe that goals and dreams become much more attainable and have greater chance of becoming reality.

What are you most looking forward to in 2016? Any New Year’s Resolutions?

I’m really looking forward to rediscovering Hong Kong! It’s such an exciting city and I’m already loving the hustle and bustle of life here. My New Year’s Resolution this year is to do more ‘recreational reading’. I was an avid reader as a child but with the onset of uni and subsequent work, I have found myself reading less novels and more academic articles and studies. While this is also beneficial, I love the adventure that fiction can take you on!

AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK >> AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK AROUND AISHK The How and Why of PTI’s Today’s teachers spend a considerable amount of time designing tasks which can be categorised as Assessment for Learning. Parent Teacher Interviews (PTIs) at AISHK are a crucial part of the broader assessment process, and we trust that our Term 1 Primary interviews were of benefit to all involved.

Allowing parents and teachers to share information and solve problems, the interviews also establish relationships that directly contribute to student success. Any parent concerns or questions can be raised in a face-to-face setting. They are also a valuable opportunity for parents to gain detailed updates about their child’s: • • • • •

start to the new school year academic progress strengths and challenges social interactions and learning behaviours.

Held in homeroom classrooms, parents can also benefit from interviews by observing their child’s learning environment – simply seeing where their child sits in class gives a first-hand experience of their day-to-day surroundings.

In turn, the interviews are a platform for teachers to gain an overall view of both the students’ school and home life, for example, attitudes towards homework, sleeping patterns and favourite activities. This leads to a better understanding and context for addressing students’ strengths and areas for further development.

Post-interview communication is just as important. Parents are encouraged to discuss with their child what the teacher has communicated, emphasising positive comments while also covering areas for improvement. Following up with the teacher also ensures a well-rounded cycle of communication.

4/F and 6/F Gym Enhancement Update from the Parent Association

AISHK is pleased to announce that the refurbishment of the 6/F gym is complete.

Funds raised by the AISHK Parent Association have allowed for the installation of state of the art, multi-sport scoring and sound systems, along with more advanced basketball hoops and backboards. Thanks to this contribution from the Parent Association, the refurbishment means students, coaches and visiting schools can enjoy a more professional and accurate system during tournaments and matches hosted in our gym.

(L-R) School Captain Adam Gori, P.A. Co President Ms Lisa Milliner, Head of School Mr Bruce Simons, P.A. Co President Ms Lauren Mitchell and Prefect Oscar Shum officially open the refreshed gymnasium.

2016 School Theme Connect, Strive, Flourish Engaging and Empowering Future Leaders A School theme is a statement. A call to action to not only students, but the wider community. It is carefully modelled and crafted by teachers who discuss and select a theme that embodies the goals of the year. It is this dominant thought and vision which serves as the backbone for year to come.

This year, Positive Education rises to prominence in the school and the school theme is tailored to support it.

CONNECT

Perhaps one of the most important outcomes of a Parent Teacher Interview is the chance for teachers and parents to work together - a partnership paramount to increased learning and school life satisfaction for students.

Positive Education builds a shared language and understanding of character strengths and gratitude within the school culture and curriculum.

Strengths also help to bind a community together by creating a common language, experiences and reinforcing shared values. Students with a thorough knowledge of strengths benefit on a personal level and also connect in regards to the relationships that they build around them.

The 4/F gym had already been resurfaced and painted last year, and a new safety padding has also been added.

Recent installations include the stateof-the-art multi-sport electronic score boards,basketball shot clocks, improved sound and lighting, equipment upgrades and improved storage areas.

FLOURISH

STRIVE

By focusing on strengths and gratitude we are aiming to build positive emotions and strive for a creative and positive environment. This is facilitated through the development of optimism, self-confidence, resilience and self-efficacy in students. It is through intentional practice and both direct and indirect teaching strategies that students’ strengths can be built on, developed and celebrated.

The Fair and the raffle in 2013 raised over $600,000 from the generous AISHK community for this project.

Engaging and Empowering Future Leaders

Positive Education is not simply a wellbeing program that we deliver to children. It is one that embraces that we have strengths in ourselves, strengths as a team and strengths as a community.

For children, this is vital, as true flourishing occurs when the teachers and the school community flourish too. This is the goal of strengths based learning at AISHK.

As AISHK launches into Positive Education, our focus on positive mindsets and positive relationships will build confidence in students - energising and equipping them with the tools to be truly empowered, future leaders.

Character strengths, 24 in all, are universally valued across cultures and throughout history. Any of us can identify with a strength.

[Positive] EDUCATION in ac ion

N

ew research sheds light on what constitutes a ‘complete student’. No longer are academia and at school performance the benchmarks for a successful student. Positive Psychology and Positive Education are redefining what makes for a successful student in the classroom and a happy child at home.

Commencing in 2015 as a pilot programme, AISHK started to implement Positive Education frameworks with the aim to build an inextricable link between students’ wellbeing and their ability to succeed in all aspects of development.

Now beyond its testing phase, Positive Education has been integrated into the curriculum and daily life itself at AISHK. Now, Primary Division staff participate in development sessions to explore Positive Education as part of AISHK’s commitment to living and learning skills and concepts which are supported by scientific research.

Coined by psychologist Martin Seligman in his book ‘Flourish’, the PERMA model includes elements which contribute to the overall wellbeing of an

individual. The Positive Education ideology is supported by a substantial amount of empirical research that has found that the key components of flourishing are also associated with strong cognitive functioning and high academic performance across the positive education domains. One might argue that instead of past wellbeing programmes being ostensibly reactive, Positive Education is proactive teaching of wellbeing.

Character Strengths have been integrated into homework activities and into themes during Primary camp programmes.

A ‘strength spotting’ activity has also allowed students to identify their own characteristics by creating cards representing strengths and arranged in the order they felt suited their personality. Students are identifying their top five strengths to celebrate, displaying these in their portfolio and flags in the classroom.

Positive Education frameworks support programmes which At the Secondary Division level, Positive Education has extend from early primary years’ mindfulness exercises to been also been implemented by identifying and fostering explicitly teaching the core facets of Positive Education. communication around Character Strengths. Adapted from These include the identification of Character Strengths, Seligman’s PERMA model, AISHK has added the element nurturing positive emotions, engagement, of Health to the mix, in keeping with the establishing and maintaining relationships, standards set amongst other Australian “Wellbeing is a combination and celebrating accomplishment and curriculum based institutions. PERMAH, of feeling good as well as excellence. This year AISHK is progressing denotes Positive Emotion, Engagement, actually having meaning, swiftly in the Positive Education realm, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment good relationships and with outcomes indicating that our and Health. accomplishment.” approach is age-appropriate, proactive - Martin Seligman and effective. At all year levels, students Secondary conducted various homeroom are visibly developing can-do attitudes, activities built around these strengths building relationships, fostering creativity to drive the understanding of PERMAH. and innovation, boldness, character, personality and courage. Teachers are exploring how these can be applied to life more broadly at AISHK and have encouraged feedback and active Primary Division students have been investigating Character acknowledgement of this framework between students.

Strengths all throughout Term 1. These are ways of thinking, Secondary have also placed a focus on the showing of feeling and behaving that come naturally and easily to a gratitude, as an activity, to apply to meaningful relationships. person and that enable high functioning and performance.

The results of Positive Education have been inspiring, with ‘Strengths Trees’ have been used as a visual tool to develop an students accepting and, in many cases, initiating the dialogue awareness of a child’s own strengths and also recognise and and practice. Teaching staff have enthusiastically embraced value those in others. To ensure wellbeing is an important Positive Education themes and our all-staff professional component of learning, some classes have allocated a learning programme has augmented the necessary skills session each week, exploring different Character Strengths required to work effectively in and beyond the classroom. each time.

Teachers are finding that students have started questioning Students have also undertaken the VIA Character Strengths negative thought, finding meaning in and solutions for the Youth Survey to identify their main strengths and areas for everyday challenges and pressures that are all a part of development. Gratitude journals are being used in classes, the fabric of their lives. Base-line and eventual evaluation allowing students to record their thoughts about what testing will allow quantitative measuring of the further they are thankful for. This is aligned with units of inquiry, success of this new approach. Those who might doubt the for example Humanity, in Year 6, which is focused on the effectiveness of this philosophy only need to speak and strengths of Social Intelligence, Love and Kindness. It was listen to our students directly involved, who really get it. also incorporated into Year 6 Design and Technology projects, where students constructed pencil boxes for students in a To reinforce your child’s understanding of strengths, we Cambodian school, as well as investigated citizenship and encourage you to enjoy them as a family at home. Discuss social responsibility. your own identified strengths with your child and try to spot strengths in each other. Have fun!

AISHK ABOUT TOWN The 2015 academic year came to a triumphant end with the Annual Speech Day, a fitting book-end to a year filled with many milestones and achievements. Outside of school, there were many events and opportunities for students to represent the green and gold, too.

Scholar’s Assembly Term 1, Friday 29 January saw our Secondary students and teachers attend the inaugural AISHK Scholars’ Assembly, an addition to our tradition of celebrating academic excellence produced by our students.

The Scholars’ Assembly provided a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge and publicly celebrate the endeavours and successes of our 2015 students.

Our high achieving 2015 Year 12 graduates were inducted as Scholars and Honorees, based on external examination outcomes.

To begin the ceremony, Deputy School Captain Angus Kelleher addressed the assembly while the AISHK Jazz Band accompanied the entrance of our awardees and presenters. The Acapella Ensemble also entertained our audience during the assembly.

Prizes were awarded to the highest achieving individuals in 2015 from Year 6 to Year 12. The Year Level Dux prize was granted to the highest achiever of each level, while Academic Colours were awarded to those placed in the top five. Year 12 students from the class of 2015 were additionally inducted as Scholars and Honorees, based on external Higher School Certificate and IB Diploma examination results.

The IB and HSC Dux of the Class of 2015, Evelyn Chan, Vernice Chan and Kiran Shivalingam were presented with the Tom Corkhill trophy. Evelyn and Vernice achieved the perfect score of 45 for the IB Diploma.

Speech Day 2015 The annual AISHK Speech day was held on Friday 4 December at the Hong Kong Baptist University Academic Hall.

Speech Day celebrates the year gone by and honours the achievements of AISHK students. The day marks the formal graduation of Year 6 and is an opportunity for the school to recognise Champion House. The Margaret Merrell award was awarded to Lucy Fenton in Primary and The Philip Day Memorial Prize was awarded to Robert Shu. Mr Phillip Waugh also presented a heartfelt speech at his last official Speech Day. Speech Day is one of the major events of the year for the performing arts department. This year saw the continuation of the tradition for the AISHK Orchestra, Primary Choir and Vocal ensemble performances.

The Orchestra performed a rousing rendition of “Royal March of the Lions” and a cheery seasonal number, “Sleigh Ride”. Both choirs joined the orchestra separately in their respective ceremonies to present an orchestral choral arrangement of the Australian National Anthem. The audience was also treated to performances of “Crazy Youngsters” and “Cups” by the Primary and Secondary Vocal Ensembles, respectively.

AustCham Australia Day Luncheon The Secondary Vocal Ensemble were perfect guests and ambassadors for the school at the AustCham Australia Day luncheon, held at the Island Shangri-La Hotel on 22 January 2016. They performed the Australian National Anthem to a packed room of professionals and dignitaries.

ACAHK Annual Ball On Saturday 5 March, the AISHK Primary Choir performed at the annual Australian Chinese Association of Hong Kong (ACAHK) 24th Anniversary Ball. Conducted by Ms Elise Kelly, the choir performed flawless renditions of the Australian National Anthem and “Hear the Wind” by Emily Crocker. The choir’s performance at the ACAHK Ball showcases the school to the wider community and is always met with thunderous applause by attendees.

We thank all involved for a truly entertaining evening.

HK Police Road Safety Carnival The AISHK Jazz ensemble was invited to play at the Hong Kong Police Road Safety Carnival in Kowloon City on Saturday 23 January.

Honorees Evelyn and Vernice Chan with Kiran Shivalingam and Board Chairman Mr Tom Corkhill at the Scholar’s Assembly

Speech Day 2015

ACAHK Ball

AISHK Jazz Band at Police Road Safety Carnival

AISHK Secondary Vocal Ensemble performs the National Anthem at the AustCham Australia Day Luncheon

AISHK’s milestone 20th Anniversary was spent celebrating the past and the many impressive achievements of the School community. Its 20th Anniversary also brought much change, with the departure of both Co Heads of School. Having settled in quickly, new Head of School Mr Bruce Simons answers some questions about himself, his family, where he comes from and his grand plans for AISHK.

Can you tell us bit about your background?

I’m a Melbourne boy, born and bred. My parents were born in the UK and moved to Australia after World War II. I went to school at Haileybury College, a boys’ school. I loved my sport, particularly football and swimming, and played some games with South Melbourne/Sydney Swans in their Seconds and Under 19s teams in the late 70s and early 80s, mostly as a forward. Injuries curtailed a possible football career, though I think I may have been too slow to go all the way! That I will never know, but I still dream I am playing. My body is thankful that I do not!

After doing my teaching degree, I travelled for a year, met my wife Julie in the UK and we married 10 months later!

Now there’s a story in itself!

We have two children, Jessica (living in the UK and is a journalist) and Jarrod (a Victorian Police candidate), both of whom are in their 20s and on life’s journeys. We are very proud of them and miss them.

In 1984, I started teaching at my old school Haileybury, where I taught Mathematics for 15 years. I held positions of Head of House, Year 12 and VCE Coordinator. I coached the First Eighteen (AFL), and also coached swimming, cricket and water-polo.

In 1999, we moved to Hamilton, in Victoria’s beautiful Western District, where I was to become Principal of The Hamilton and Alexandra College, a school which opened in 1871. We loved working there (Julie worked as a Primary teacher until she retired a year ago). In many ways, we rebuilt

the school over 16 years, and had a wonderful team around us, just as I do now at AISHK. Three years ago I embarked on climbing mountains of high altitude, including Mt Kilimanjaro in Tanzania (5890m) in 2013, and Mt Everest’s Base Camp (5450m) in 2014 and 2015. Moving to Hong Kong is exciting because there are many mountains to metaphorically and physically climb!

I have been more impressed by the students here than any group that I have met in Australian schools. Students are academically driven, keen and willing to explore opportunities in sports, music, drama, public speaking and service.

What attracted you to Hong Kong?

Julie and I have always liked Hong Kong and we have visited here many times. We like the busy city, the stunning scenery, the people, the food and the lifestyle. We also love AISHK! What were your first impressions when visiting Hong Kong and how did it compare with what you had expected?

I first visited Hong Kong in 2000 on business. Julie visited here when the old airport was here in 1984! I have been here 30 times before moving here. Our visits were mostly on business, some for leisure, and none for more than 10 days.

Hong Kong is a dynamic, global, friendly, safe and fascinating city. It is located in the centre of the world!

What has struck you first and foremost about the school and its community?

I was thrilled mostly to meet our students, who are friendly, engaging, interesting and interested. I have been more impressed by the students here than any group that I have met in Australian schools. Students are academically driven, keen and willing to explore opportunities in sports, music, drama, public speaking and service. Their opportunities here are second to none, and we are increasing these opportunities even more in the coming months and years.

Activity Week is a unique programme unmatched in any Australian school. Hong Kong’s location allows us to do this more than any school in any other location other than HK! I’ve enjoyed meeting the many parents, many of whom are understandably curious. I like that about people, as I am a curious person myself.

I am very proud to work alongside a truly united and professional team of teachers and other staff, who clearly love the school. The recent Mission Survey sent to teachers and some parents showed a love and a high regard for the school, a respect and admiration of colleagues and high praise and pride in the learning culture of the school, which nurtures personality and character, allowing each child to flourish and succeed in a safe, caring and yet dynamic culture like no other.

What do you think you bring to the Head of School role?

This question is best answered by others, but you have asked me so I will tell you what I believe I bring to the role!

I am a naturally energetic person, so my nature is to enthuse, empower and energise others. My experience is schools allow me to bring a plethora of ideas, and my profile allows me to adapt these thoughts to the context of Hong Kong and AISHK. I have always been a person for action, so people are seeing plenty of change; change is good, though not when just for the sake of change. It is true however that, if we stand still while others improve, in relative terms, we would move backwards. I aim to move AISHK forward in a profound way and, with the support of a highly skilled Board, dynamic and professional teachers and staff, amazing and talented students, and supportive and involved parents, I am confident we can produce not only a very good school in Hong Kong, but a great world class school, the envy of others.

What is your number one priority in taking on the role at AISHK? There are many priorities, and let me say that we have a very good school at AISHK now. I aim to enhance AISHK’s standing as a school of first choice for current and prospective families.

Unashamedly having been a Principal of a boarding school for the last 16 years, I believe that we educate our children best at home. Sending my children to board was never an option as long as their home school was providing well for their needs.

I firmly believe that nothing replaces the love affection and shared values that is provided in the home in partnership with the school. Of course, people make choices for their own reasons and I entirely respect this, but I will never agree with

sending children off to board.

We have our children at home for a short time in our lives.

Once they leave home, even if it is to board, the relationship at home amongst siblings and as parents is never quite the same. I would bring every minute of my children’s childhood back if only I could.

What are some of the strengths of the School you see that sets it apart from other schools in Hong Kong or around the world?

AISHK is a dynamic, forward thinking and successful school providing a plethora of opportunities to thrive, succeed and flourish in every facet of their development. Providing the Australian curriculum and the NSW HSC in Hong Kong makes us unique, along with the values that we espouse.

The School has an excellent reputation in the Hong Kong community, with outstanding academic results and high university placement, and it is renowned for the Australian and global values it espouses, and the personality, character and well-rounded makeup exhibited by students who attend it and who serve their community. AISHK provides considerable opportunities to students for local and international travel and cultural learning through its annual Activity Week and other exchange programmes; such programmes are unmatched in Australia.

Community Spotlight The vibrant AISHK community took to 2016 with enthusiasm, accomplishing much and leaving us asking “what’s next?”

AISHK Teachers Lend a Helping Hand for Nepal In 2015 the AISHK community banded together to raise a substantial amount of money to help out with the initial response to the devastating earthquakes in Nepal.

This year, over the Easter break, Ms Emma Knight (Year 4 Teacher) and Ms Samantha Morley (Secondary Design and Technology Teacher) will be headed to Nepal to continue supporting this cause. Volunteering with international organisation All Hands, they assisted with the building of schools in the Nuwakot region of Nepal (about four hours drive from Kathmandu).

In light of this, Ms Knight and Ms Morley hosted a fundraising event with staff with the theme “Festival of Colours”. With the musical stylings of AISHK’s own Mr Jordan Delfino, donated culinary delights, raffle, lucky draw and giving tree, the event was a great success raising funds which reached their target.

We wish Ms Knight and Ms Morley the best on their journey and this very worthy cause.

Temana Short, 9S

Sanskriti Idol Since 2006, Sanskriti has been spearheading Hindi language learning and promoting the Indian Culture among the younger generation of Indian Diaspora in Hong Kong. Led by Mrs Geetanjali Dhar, the programme’s aim is re-connecting the younger generation of Indian diaspora in Hong Kong with their roots.

Recently, AISHK students Kavya Mathur (Year 4) and Aria Mathur (Year 7) took part in the Sanskriti Idol competition. This competition is held in partnership with the Consulate General of India and is a part of World Hindi Day celebrations world-wide. Finalists were from AISHK, Harrow, HKIS, Kellett, CDNIS, HK Academy, ESF and FIS to name a few. Trophies were awarded by the Consul General of India to HKSAR & Macau SAR. Kavya won her U11 age group and Aria gained a special mention in the U14 age group for her depiction of a famous warrior queen of ancient India. Both students have now achieved a high level of proficiency in Hindi having studied Hindi for more than three years.

Sanskriti is currently operating in various locations and students from Hong Kong, Kowloon and Discovery Bay are benefiting immensely from the programme.

NO

SHORTCUTS

Temana recently achieved four gold medals in the local Short Course Age Group Championships, making him the fastest of his age group in Hong Kong for those events.

He trains for 20 hours a week spread over eight sessions with the Harry Wright Swimming Association.

When asked about some memorable moments in his swimming career so far, Temana recalls the time he was almost disqualified when competing in the 50m Butterfly. Instead of gliding or completing a full stroke, he jerked his hands backwards to give him the push to reach the wall. Thankfully he was not disqualified, earning him his current title.

Temana’s goal is to earn the times to qualify him to compete in the opens division, swimming against all age groups in Hong Kong. Although it might be a bit early to tell if he might compete professionally as a swimmer in the near future, his decision to do so relies heavily on his progress in swimming in the next few years.

“I’m one of those swimmers who didn’t start long ago who is still getting personal bests and eventually some swimmers just stop improving and you never know when that will happen”

Activity Week A week away. A rite of passage. An unforgettable experience. For each and every student, Activity Week brings something different. These accounts give just a glimpse into the rich and exciting weeks students have had all around the globe.

Year 3 Camp

Year 5 Camp

Despite the cold weather, 97 eager and excited Year 3 students ventured into the New Territories to experience their first school camp.

Year 5 students went camping at Treasure Island, located near beautiful Pui O beach. Despite the wet and cold weather conditions, the four-day camp was filled with outdoor experiences with many fun activities.

Over three days and two nights the students enjoyed a variety of activities including archery, rock-climbing, orienteering, beach games and camp-craft. The children worked in teams and were responsible for following schedules, maintaining their cabins, taking positive risks, practicing flexibility, and experiencing some time away from home in a structured and safe setting.

Year 7 Camp 78 Year 7 students began the long awaited Year 7 Camp on Monday 7 March, supervised by eight lovely AISHK teachers and guided by seven incredibly supportive Dragonfly staff leaders. The students were engaged in a whole host of activities each day ranging from rock climbing, to raft building, to canyoning, to a visit to an organic Dragontail Farm. While they tried to fight off the mosquitoes and shelter themselves from the rain and survive the illustrious camp food, they inevitably opened their hearts and minds to the possibility of new friendships, skills and experiences. After a long day of activities, students had time to reflect during late night chit chatter and early morning ball games, approaching each day with a smile and a readiness to make every new experience count. With a focus on what it means to be in a team and how we should all be team players, the students of year 7 came away with tighter bonds and a growing confidence to tackle the year ahead.

Based near beautiful Pui O Beach, the camp is not only a fun experience and chance for students to “escape” the formal classroom setting, but a hands-on learning experience in discovering the natural and cultural environment Hong Kong has to offer. Students also gained a better understanding of themselves and their fellow students by exploring their independence and social skills.

Despite cold weather conditions, students enjoyed a range of thrilling adventure activities such as hiking, bike riding, the ‘Flying Kiwi’, raft building and kayaking. Camp leaders guided students to build shelters with ropes and canvas sheets and to make fires by kindling timber and sticks. Camping at Treasure Island taught students how to work as a team as well as being independent.

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Vietnam 16 students from Year 10 & 11 visited the iconic Ho Chi Minh City during Activity Week with the purpose of furthering ties with the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation (CNCF).

Since its establishment in 1995, AISHK has maintained a close bond with CNCF. Through the help of the wider school community, AISHK funded the construction of the Tan Nghia Kindergarten in Dong Thap province in 2014.

A fifth of the population of Dong Thap province live below the poverty line, and the rural nature of the province means that many children are unable to obtain any form of education. The Tan Nghia Kindergarten therefore plays a vital role in ensuring that many children living in the area have access to basic education. Previously, there was limited kindergarten space available and only twenty children could be accommodated. The new, two-room building is the jewel at the centre of the community and is able to provide schooling for 60 children each day. AISHK students were treated to some lovely performances from the students during our time there.

In addition to interacting with the children at the Tan Nghia Kindergarten, AISHK students had the privilege of visiting other CNCF projects. These included the Sunshine School and the Tay Ninh Centre for Visually Impaired Children, where AISHK students gave a concert, interacted in games and even had the opportunity to experience blind massages.

Interacting with the children at these centres aided us in our understanding of the incredible work of the CNCF and how it benefits the region.

Despite the emphasis on service throughout the trip, students also experienced the rich culture and history of Vietnam, through activities such as visiting the Cu Chi Tunnels, exploring the Mekong Delta and learning how to cook Vietnamese dishes. It was incredibly rewarding interacting with children from the CNCF, whilst also experiencing the vibrant culture and sensory delights that are abundant across Vietnam.

India Year 10 and 12 students travelled to Rishikesh, India, where they were treated to a variety of activities involving cultural insights, community service and development of various skills. Students started their trip with a splash, white water rafting on the Ganges in the Himalayan foothills. Students learnt new water safety skills in a picturesque setting and being among the river rapids tested every individual - both an adventure and a rewarding challenge!

The group also took the opportunity to engage in community service, raising money for the Divya Prem Sewa Mission.

This Mission is a non-government organisation which has been assisting leprosy patients and their children for 13 years. At present, the Mission runs a hospital for patients

in Haridwar, and operates a school-hostel for the healthy children of the patients. AISHK students spoke with children and engaged in some painting and gardening work together.

Funds raised went towards buying additional painting and gardening equipment for the programme.

The accommodation options were adventures in themselves – students stayed in hotels, camped in the bush and also slept in tents. Students also had the opportunity to sample delicious authentic Indian cuisine and embarked on a wild life safari in Jeeps, explored the Agra Red Fort, shopped until they dropped in local markets, and visited the Gandhi Museum in Delhi as part of their full sensory and cultural immersion of India. They were thrilled, of course, to visit the iconic Taj Mahal – a truly memorable experience.

The Indian Activity Week trip was a wonderful multifaceted blend of cultural exploration, service, and adventure. It also served as an important eye-opening experience for students in realising how fortunate they are in their lives in Hong Kong.

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In awe of Uluru, Mount Olga, Kings Canyon, MacDonnell Ranges, Camped under stars, All new experiences for this all-boy crew.

Indigenous bush meals, Through art, culture reveals, Desert flora, fauna, Geology - how rocks congeal.

15,000 miles on a plane, Hong Kong, Outback, back again 2000 K’s around Alice Springs, Can’t wait to see what Dreamtime brings.

Philippines Philippines’s Diving was a trip that epitomised the goals of ‘activity week’. It involved a combination of cultural immersion and intense action, making it an extremely memorable trip.

After enduring three days of rigorous training, students gained the ability to apply the skills acquired as certified divers to a wide variety of fields. While the glamorous resort overlooking the beautiful shoreline was a delight, the ability to further create new bonds with peers of differing year levels is one that will transcend and form memories past our time within our schooling career.

The diving experience was nearing spiritual, and within the calm waters our thoughts were clear and our troubles were washed away.

Students were consistently amazed at the wide diversity of flora and fauna available in our dive sites, seeing a range in sizes from fish smaller than our fingertips to whale sharks even larger than the boat! Students emphasised that the trip would not have been as special without the truly professional instructors. Despite the dangerous aspects of diving, their continuous encouragement and care for safety created an environment in which diving could be experienced to its fullest. Philippines Diving was truly a trip to remember, far beyond expectations. Students agreed that when recalling back upon their schooling years, Philippines Diving would definitely be among their brightest memories.

6 6 6 6

Thailand Japan The AISHK ski and snowboard group had an amazing week in Niseko. The week was initially looking dire with rain falling in the village on Sunday when they arrived.

The snow gods would be kind once they arrived, however, delivering consistent snow throughout the course of the week, allowing students to improve their skills and experience all that Niseko has to offer.

Each day they had lessons to improve skills and help navigate the mountain in the low visibility, with many students taking the opportunity to night ski, as seven hours on the mountain was apparently not enough for the newly minted shredders.

Everyone in Niseko was in high spirits throughout the week, Thursday being the peak of the trip in terms of snow quality which continued into Friday, providing a healthy top up for riding and skiing. The snow team also spent their week busily sampling local Japanese cuisine, making snowmen and throwing snowballs.

What has been labelled the best activity week soon came to an end but everyone is adamant that they wish to return to the mountains.

Chiang Mai has a beautiful, serene and lush green environment and Year 8 were able to experience it with their friends. Throughout the week, they kayaked in a dam and cycling through the emerald coloured rice paddies. The students were also able to get involved in the Thai culture; speaking in Thai, cooking authentic Thai cuisine - where they could only blame ourselves if it didn’t taste okay because we were the cooks!! They also visited a bustling night bazaar, made umbrellas and participated in team building exercises.

A great highlight was the traditional Thai dinner on the last night. Students were treated to a traditional Thai dance and released team decorated Thai lanterns into the starry night sky. The glowing lanterns drifted towards the night sky, a sight to behold. During the week, students were also fortunate to be able to serve the local Chiang Mai community, by helping paint walls and furniture at a non-government funded school. The children who attended the school lived in the surrounding mountainous regions of Chiang Mai. The Chiang Mai 2016 was a trip that tested students both physically and mentally, and think about their own personal growth. Students said it would be remembered as a highlight of their secondary schooling. A great trip indeed!

Sri Lanka The School’s first ever Sri Lanka trip was an extremely positive experience. After a two hour bus ride from Colombo, Year 10, 11 and 12 students arrived at the historic fort city of Galle. A visit to All Saints Church came next with a chance to wander the cobblestone streets filled with locals selling trinkets. The city was surrounded by a beautiful view of the Indian Ocean from the rampart walls, and next to the view students enjoyed local Sri Lankan cuisine.

Sri Lanka’s southern beaches were perfect surfing conditions. The waves were white and fluffy, and even beginners were able to stand up on their surfboard after the first few sessions. With thorough guidance from the expert instructors at Soul & Surf, everybody was able to successfully develop and improve their surfing skills. After the exciting but tiring sessions of surfing, yoga relaxed and allowed everyone to regain energy.

Stand-up paddle boarding was both a calming and interesting experience. By staying quiet throughout the journey, students were able to see and hear aspects of the natural environment that hadn’t been paid attention to. Students said it allowed them to gain a deeper understanding of the land of Sri Lanka.

Living in a typical Sri Lankan villa offered many opportunities to interact with friendly locals. During the trip they also visited a Buddhist temple where the locals were gathered in joyful celebration. A visit to a nearby tea plantation was also very rewarding as we not only learnt the process of making tea but also tried many different varieties of the countries’ most well-known product.

The Passe-Muraille, embedded in the wall of the Marcel Aymé place situated in Montmartre. It is a statue made by the actor Jean Marais, as a tribute to the work of the French writer Marcel Aymé.

Paris

During our scenic bus tour around Paris, the students took photos of the Eiffel Tower before climbing it later in the afternoon. On the tower itself we experienced sun, hail, snow and howling winds all in the space of a short time. Paris at its best!

Tired from the flight but teeming with excitement, students from Years 10-12 hit the streets of Paris ready to soak in as much Parisian culture and customs as possible. On day one we started with a guided tour to discover the main monuments in Paris. In the afternoon we climbed the Eiffel Tower to admire the extraordinary 360 degree view of the entire city, after which we had a promenade on the Champs Élysées. Paris was shaping up to be everything we had imagined.

The next day the students worked hard on their French language acquisition. After much conversation, we visited the Opéra Garnier, an architectural masterpiece.

On day three and four we came to the realisation that we had barely scratched the surface of what Paris had to offer.

After another French tuition session we visited the famous Louvre museum, walked in the Latin quarter and admired the Notre Dame Cathedral. Continuing from the day before, we visited the Musée d’Orsay where we saw masterpieces from the early 20th century to the modern day. In the afternoon we discovered the splendid Sacré Coeur and bohemian Place du Têtre. Until next time, Paris, au revoir!

Year 9 Camp To complete the expedition requirement for Year 9’s Bronze Awards for Young People qualification, the entire grade headed off to camp with Outward Bound in Sai Kung. They got the opportunity to climb, abseil and hike through Sai Kung Country Park. Leading up to this camp was a practice camp over two days, building students’ first aid, map reading and tent building skills. Having to carry four days’ worth of supplies on their backs under the tough weather conditions, the students certainly connected well as a team and flourished as individuals.

We hope they will all go on to complete the skill, service and sport requirements to earn their Bronze AYP qualifications.

Golf In Hong Kong 21 students from Years 10-12 spent Activity Week at the famous Jockey Club Kau Sai Chau Golf Course in Sai Kung. Eager to unleash their inner Rory’s and Spieth’s, they were taught all facets of the game from putting through to driving under the guidance of the Jockey Club professional staff led by Senior Teaching Pro Kenny Wong.

Each day on the course featured a combination of skills clinics in the club’s extensive practice facilities and on-course play on the demanding North Course layout. Despite some inclement weather, the group improved their golf skills dramatically, including many students who had never held a club before.

Hopefully we have converted a number of students to the joys and frustrations of this “game for a lifetime”.

Korea

Cambodia

This year, 24 students from Year 10 and Year 11 embarked on a trip to Korea, guided by Mr Tim Kelleher, Ms Judith Chilton and Ms Nicole Voss. Students engaged in array of experiences ranged from the historical and political to the cultural and truly delectable!

On 6 March, 27 Year 10 and 11 students stepped out of the Phnom Penh International airport into the suffocating heat of Cambodia. Little did they know the truly eye opening and rewarding adventure awaiting them in the beautiful Kingdom of Cambodia.

Students had a memorable visit to Gyeongbokgung Palace, or the Emperor’s Palace.

The changing of guards, a long held tradition in royal Korean history, allowed students to feel as though we were witnessing history firsthand. A new addition to the itinerary was a visit to the Myeongdong Theatre - established at the former site of the National Theatre of Korea.

Throughout the next five days students visited a number of historical places in Phnom Penh and also took part in meaningful activities. From revealing inner master chefs at a local restaurant, preparing delicious Cambodian dishes, to visiting the killing fields and the S21 prison we were able to learn about the truly horrible things the Cambodian people had to endure. Other places visited included Angkorian temples, the Royal Palace, the Phbom Tamao Wildlife rescue and the national museum of Cambodia.

Another valuable insight into the history of Korea included a trip to the Demilitarised Military Zone - forbidden to the general public and bearing the scars of the Korean War in the 1950s.

Under the watchful eye of soldiers from both sides, the group took in the surrounds and tone of the boundary that separates South Korea North Korea.

Hearts and stomachs were warmed as we were treated to a cooking class. An opportunity to experience culture through Korean cuisine, we learned how to make traditional culinary delights such as Kimchi and Bulgogi at the Ongo cooking school in Seoul. A fascinating trip was had by all and thanks must go to all who ensured such a successful journey.

Although all these places were interesting to visit, students agreed that housebuilding for a local village was the true highlight of the trip.

Students arrived after a three hour bus trip to villagers waiting with welcoming expressions on their smiling faces.

Throughout the day they hammered nails into the bamboo floorboards of the houses with the help of the villagers. Students were all deeply touched as the villagers, regardless of age, eagerly offered their help and treated all like family. By the end of the day students had finished building six houses and all barriers between them and villagers had disappeared, despite the language barrier. As they left the villagers followed them to the buses with their hands clasped as a sign of gratitude and the students waved goodbye to them until we could no longer see them.

As their guide Nina said “Cambodian people don’t want revenge for what happened to them, they just want to educate others and move on”. Despite all that happened to the Cambodian people, they were still able to welcome us with open arms and smiling faces, and that was admirable and inspiring. This trip to Cambodia was very rewarding and gave all the chance to learn the beautiful culture of Cambodia and the history of the country.

China After a long bus ride, Year 8 students and teachers arrived in Zhao Qing, China eager to get settled in and begin the many fun activities in store. Students hopped onto a boat and floated along the picturesque lake to their residence for the next three nights, the Nine Dragons Resort. A BBQ was set up and the first night and ended with activities around the camp-fire.

The next day was full of action. The first activity was a hair raising challenge which entailed climbing a giant log ladder and walking through a course of high ropes. Next it was onto raft building - two teams designing, thinking and tying ropes to fashion a makeshift raft out of bamboo and plastic barrels, the objective being to stay afloat. After donning life jackets (safety first!) all went out onto the lake to test out their creations.

The next day was the cable-way hike. It was pouring with rain but the positivity of the students, led by the enthusiastic Dragon Staff Leader uplifted the spirits of all. It was challenging walking along a waterfall, with only cable ropes to clip onto

while balancing along like a tight rope, all the way up to the top the mountain but students made it, tired but happy.

The Community Service aspect of the week was arguably the most satisfying. One afternoon activity was a visit to the local BaiShi Keng Primary School where students engaged in two activities, preparing a patch of land and getting to grips with gardening implements to plant seedlings of French lettuce.

We also engaged local students in a cultural exchange by devising appropriate games and songs, all created and led by the Year 8’s. Smiles and laughter filled the room.

The last day started with a bus ride to a park in Zhao Qing, one of the oldest parks in China. Students were given a set of photos of clues of landmarks within the park that had to found whilst hiking around the well established paths. Final activities were cultural in nature - ink stone carving and a visit to a Carving Museum. Given the chance to create their own carvings too, students found using their imaginations and chisels were the key to success. The last activity of the week was a visit to a Chinese painting studio to learn from a painter who taught brush and watercolour techniques to replicate a nature scene.

Martial Arts and Culture around Hong Kong 19 students from Year 10 and 11 embarked on a journey of Martial Arts, Culture and self discovery around Hong Kong. Coordinated by Ms Christina Carini, students enjoyed sessions and workshops focused on a wide range of martial art styles including Muai Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Krav Maga and Karate. Sessions were held at Epic MMA (Central) and Triquest MMA (TST).

Yoga, Crossfit, Anti-Gravity, Movement/Gymnastics were among the activities of the week. The students also went to the PHAB Martial Arts on Tuesday to participate in some Martial Arts with people with movement impairments. By the end of the week, students came away with an in-depth understanding of the origins, theory and benefits related to these physical cultures – and some great self-defence tactics to boot!

Sport at AISHK has been in full swing over the past two terms with interhouse competitions warming up the friendly Houses competition while AISHK representative squads have been putting on impressive performances.

Students of all ages represented AISHK both home and away with great pride, bringing back results which reflected the effort they put into their sport of choice.

Interhouse Soccer The 2016 Interhouse Competition was held in mid February, giving many students the opportunity to showcase their skills. The round robin competition played out throughout the week with teams vying for a spot in Friday’s finals. In the junior girls division Jacaranda and Eucalypt had a tense penalty shootout to determine who would face Wattle in the final. Eucalypt and Wattle eventually tied in the junior girls final. In the senior division the girl’s final was won by Waratah and in a fierce show of desire and pressure Jacaranda won, over Wattle in the senior boys. This ultimately led to Jacaranda claiming the points in the Interhouse soccer competition for 2016.

The next Interhouse competition is the Secondary Athletics Carnival held at Kowloon Tsai Park on 14 April. Students have been improving their endurance, skills and technique in many athletic disciplines during their physical education lessons, all in the lead up to this event. The athletic and swimming carnivals both earn double points towards the Interhouse Cup so expectations and hopes are high that students demonstrate their full sporting ability during these competitions.

Girl’s Team: Edwina Sze · Sakura McCorkell · Maggy Hui · Phoebe Coogans · Elodie Lunt · Emily Crowhurst · Selina Chan · Coach: Mr Alasdair Ong Boy’s Team: Andrew Yick · Edmund Sze · James Wang · Zachary Chu · Naveen Shivalingam · Adam Gori · Billy Yip · Oscar Shum Coach: Mr Lee Pilgrim

ACAMIS Basketball On Thursday 28 January, 15 eager athletes and three dedicated coaches boarded a plane bound for Tianjin. The annual ACAMIS basketball competition started off with a bang, with the Boys team winning their first match against Western Academy Beijing (WAB). The Girls team, consisting of a mere seven people, were not so fortunate and lost their game against the same team. Despite a long day of travelling, both teams achieved a great result.

The following day saw a win for the Girls team and two for the boys. The girls defeated the undefeated, Utahloy International School Guangzhou (UISG), after a tough battle.

They had a close game against the host school, International School of Tianjin (IST), but in the final minutes they were defeated. Unfortunately they suffered a loss against Quality International School (QSI) which left them with only one win so far.

The final day was a tiring, yet competitive day for the Girls team throughout the three matches they played. Yew Chung International School (YCIS) were up first, and AISHK beat them, displaying some of their best basketball yet. This placed them in fourth place which meant they were up against WAB in the semi- finals, the leading team who were yet to be defeated. In this round the girls fought hard but could not keep up with the other team and were defeated.

After this loss they battled for third place against UISG who they had already beaten. However, this time they were not so lucky and lost their last game which placed them fourth overall. Special mention goes to Phoebe Coogans who was awarded Most Valuable Player for her great achievements.

Sakura McCorkell | Year 9 After trailing by more than ten in the first half against the Western Academy of Beijing, the Boys team fought their

Year 12 student Oscar Shum goes hard in the paint against YCIS at the ACAMIS Basketball Tournament in Tianjin, China Photo Credit: Maggy Hui

way back to win the game through true grit and mental toughness. This perseverance characterised the team’s performance throughout the tournament, as they battled through each game with only eight men on the team. On the second day of the tournament, the Boys team won two out of their three games in the round robin and placed themselves in a dominant position in the playoff seeding.

Even though the team found themselves outmatched in size and depth of their roster, they were able to thrive off the motivation our coach Mr Pilgrim had instilled in us. A winning attitude and mindset was developed throughout our team, and it continued to push us to excel to greater heights.

On the final day of the tournament, the boys played their final round robin game against YCIS. The game was hard fought and came down to the wire. Unfortunately for us, YCIS pulled away in the final minutes of the game which led to a rematch in the semi-finals. The semi-finals proved to be a convincing victory for the boys and placed them into the finals. AISHK finished second in the Boys division, losing to QSI in the finals by a mere seven points. QSI is to be commended on their professionalism and sportsmanship shown during and after the game. With only three players returning from last years ACAMIS basketball team, this was an outstanding effort for AISHK. Even though the final standings didn’t show it, we all left the tournament feeling like champions. This tournament and our entire AISHK basketball careers have truly been an honour and a privilege to be a part of, which would never have happened without our Coach, Mr Pilgrim. We would finally like to conclude by saying we wish AISHK Basketball all the best in the future, where we know it can continue to exceed expectations and reach new heights.

Oscar Shum | Year 12

A shot from the action at the Interhouse Soccer Tournament

Quick hands and even quicker feet prevailed at CIS

CIS U12 Touch Rugby The AISHK Kangaroo’s were out in full force for the Mixed Touch Rugby competition held at the Chinese International School on Friday 4 March.

Netball On Wednesday 17 Feburary, our U14 Netball Teams travelled down the road to KGV where they played in their first games in the HKSSF Netball League. Our C1 team won 22-5 closely followed by victory from our C2 team 10-0. Thanks must go to our netball coaches for all the hard work that goes into the sport at AISHK and also to the participating girls involved who were amazing.

The team had a lot to prove having never played together. Quick to gel, they went on to only lose one game in the first round 2-1 against Kennedy School. They continued to play gutsy, fast-paced rugby and battled through the day, making it to the Grand Final where they were to face Kennedy School again. In an amazing game which went down to extra time and with only five players on the field, Luke Briscoe went on to score the winning try, extra sweet for Luke as he celebrated his birthday on the day. At the final whistle, AISHK emerged triumphant, beating Kennedy School 2-1, bringing home a well-deserved victory for our mixed touch rugby team.

Touch Team: Imogen Felton · Jade Ohlson · Charlize Taper · Maia McGunnigle · Charlie Bull · Daniel Bennie · Cullen Meyer · Luke Briscoe · Tome Bull · Ryan Boreham · Tom Fraser · Oliver Adams · Coaches: Mr Benjamin Picker and Mr Nathan Boon

AISHK/DBIS Touch Rugby Tournament On Thursday 18 February, AISHK co-hosted a Touch Rugby Tournament with Discovery Bay International School at Kings Park. The tournament involved 24 of the top primary schools from around Hong Kong. Originally slated as beach tournament, a late change in venue would ultimately prove to be advantageous for the Kangaroos.

AISHK entered two teams for the Boy’s competition as well as a team for the Girl’s competition. The students excelled in all areas and competed with passion, sportsmanship and a positive attitude throughout the tournament. AISHK has seen the standard of its’ touch rugby grow in leaps and bounds and this was clearly evident throughout the tournament with AISHK winning the A division, coming in second in the B division and narrowly missing out on the Girl’s final by one try. The Boy’s First team must be commended for their stalwart defence, forming a formidable wall and only allowing one try over the entire tournament. The coaching staff have put in much effort with the students to get them to the high standard they are now at, and now have their sights set on ever more impressive performances.

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