The Lion Rock - Issue 39

AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL HONG KONG

Term 2 2023 | Volume 39

INSIDE: an evening below the lion rock!

AISHK GOES WILD! Sports roundup:

primary swimming carnival + interhouse basketball! ...and so much more!

INTO THE UNKNOWN! AISHK EXPLORES THE GREAT OUTDOORS

MESSAGE FROM THE

HEAD OF SCHOOL It is hard to believe we have reached the halfway mark of the school year. The wide range of academic and cocurricular achievements, community events and school activities have ensured an exceptionally vibrant Term 2.

At AISHK, the importance of a balanced education is at the heart of our ‘Connect, Strive, Flourish’ mantra. We ensure students across all year levels enjoy opportunities to embrace dynamic, active and engaging learning environments. The extensive residential camps, retreats and offsite activities for our students are testament to this. The value of learning beyond the classroom is the main feature of this issue of The Lion Rock and in this edition we celebrate the return of outdoor, experiential learning.

These experiences have provided opportunities for students to develop confidence, move out of their comfort zone, strengthen friendships and make new connections with peers. I hope you enjoy the snapshots and student reflections in this publication.

Staff, students and community members continue to benefit from being able to attend events on campus, including weekly assemblies, coffee mornings, information sessions, open days and school tours. In August, two more open days will be held due to popular demand and cater for interest from both primary and

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secondary students. Details are provided in this issue.

After one semester in my role at AISHK, the passion and potential of AISHK students continues to motivate and inspire me. Their diligence in the classroom, positivity and diverse talents are ever-present in daily school life. Most recently, the Performing Arts Extravaganza Below The Lion Rock was an outstanding showcase of musical, vocal and drama skills by over 180 students.

The energy in the auditorium was palpable and students performed to a full house. Congratulations to all involved! Please enjoy the visual recap provided.

I wish all families, staff and community members a restful summer break and I thank you for your support, partnership and contributions this term. I look forward to welcoming everyone back to school in Term 3.

With respect,

Mina Dunstan HEAD OF SCHOOL

BOARD CHAIRMAN’S

MESSAGE On behalf of your Board of Governors, welcome to the Term 2 edition of The Lion Rock for 2023.

It was an honour to connect with the community early in the term at the school’s Anzac Day Ceremony. The event welcomed special guests including Ms Elizabeth Ward, Consul-General, The Australian Consulate; Ms Kate Macfarlane, Deputy Consul-General and Acting Consul-General, The New Zealand Consulate; and Mr Steve Bourke, Warrant Officer Class Two, Australian Defence Force. The occasion led all present to reflect on the great sacrifices made by others in service to their country and was well attended by students, staff, parents, and community members.

The service is recapped further in this publication.

The Board and School Executive continue to work closely together, regularly reviewing and assessing the school’s goals to ensure their alignment with AISHK’s mission and strategy. As part of this activity, this term saw the administration of parent, staff and student satisfaction surveys, the results of which will be received and shared in Term 3. Thank you for your participation in these surveys, they do assist in the further enhancement and improvement of AISHK.

August, which is sure to be a very enjoyable evening.

Head of School, Mina Dunstan, has led the school exceptionally well during her first semester at AISHK, and has been supported by the hard work of our committed and talented teachers and staff. My thanks to them, and to the parents, students, and caregivers who are the heart of AISHK and who do so much to support the school and the wider community.

It has been an outstanding first semester, with a wide range of curricular and co-curricular activities, and many wonderful achievements by our students and staff.

There is much to be excited about and to look forward to in Term 3 and I look forward to engaging with you then.

Warmest wishes,

Professor Richard Petty AISFL BOARD CHAIR

Thank you to the AISHK Parent Association for the range of events offered this term, which served to promote connection, friendship and fundraising. I encourage parents and staff to attend the AISHK Ball in

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TERM 2 2023 VOLUME 39

TABLE OF CONTENTS Message from Head of School Board Chairman’s Message FEATURES:

Lest We Forget: Anzac Day 2023 AISHK Goes Wild!

The Performing Arts Extravaganza!

02 03 05 08 12

SECTIONS:

School News Venturing Beyond Primary Camps: Outdoor Adventures & Memories Secondary Camps

17 18 20

AISHK Alumni: Talking Mental + A Full Circle Moment

29

Sports Roundup: Students Make a Splash!

Bounce to the Top

31 33

AISHK in the Community Misfit Mayhem: Waratah + Wattle Mufti Day Parent Association Corner Making Maths Meaningful New Parent Mornings Stepping Into Secondary & Senior Studies at AISHK

About the Cover Year 6 students leap into the spirit of camp at Mui Wo!

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35 39 40 41 41

RECAP

LEST WE FORGET ANZAC DAY 2023 Dawn Service & The AISHK Ceremony AISHK was honoured to take part in the return of the in-person Anzac Day Dawn Service this year, hosted by the Australian Consulate at the Cenotaph in Central. It was poignant to witness the crowd gathering in the early hours of the morning to commemorate and remember the fallen. Many AISHK community members were in attendance for this important event.

Our school community was then fortunate to come together for the traditional AISHK Anzac Day Ceremony on the school field, with special guest representatives including Ms Elizabeth Ward, Consul-General, The Australian Consulate-General Hong Kong and Macau; Ms Kate Macfarlane, Deputy Consul-General and Acting Consul-General, The New Zealand Consulate General Hong Kong & Macao; Mr Steve Bourke, Warrant Officer Class Two, Australian Defence Force; Professor Richard Petty, AISFL Board Chairman; Ms Fiona Nott,

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Deputy Chair, AustCham Hong Kong; Ms Amy Overy, VP The Australian Association of Hong Kong; Dr John Wong, President of the Australian Chinese Association HK; AISHK Alumni Ms Ellen Christmas and Ms Megan Griffiths, on behalf of The Federation of Australian Alumni Associations Hong Kong - FAAA; Mrs Joanna Hartnett, President of the AISHK Parent Association; Ms Maia McGunnigle and Mr Bok Chee Lau, Australian International School Hong Kong Alumni; Mr Chris McCorkell, AISHK Staff. AISFL Board Members Mrs Winnie Elbl and Ms Kym Fortescue were also in attendance.

Thank you to all students, staff, parents and community members for your dedication and supports towards this event.

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Remembering & Honouring AISHK’s Anzac Families Thank you to the AISHK families who submitted and shared with us their precious memories of Anzac relatives and ancestors who have served and sacrificed for our freedom. See their images in this video recap of Anzac Day 2023.

Full story and video viewable by clicking or scanning the code

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FEATURES

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Prep & Year 1 Learn About Living Things with ‘Jurassic Garage.’

AISHK loves to bring learning to life! Jurassic Garage returned to the Auditorium, with Prep and Year 1 students experiencing living things up close.

In Primary, the Biological Science unit, ‘Living Things’ informs students about these animals and their features as well as their geographical origins.

The True Chameleon from Madagascar mesmerised students with brilliant colours. The Alligator Snapping Turtle from America was certainly a fascinating character. The African Bullfrog from South Africa who is the second largest frog in the world wowed the crowd with his size and stature.

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Click or scan the code to view the video.

As per tradition, all students bravely revelled in the chance to touch, feel and experience connecting with the creatures. Please enjoy this visual recap of all the excitement.

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Saturday, 26 August 2023 Hyatt Regency, Tsim Sha Tsui Thank you to our event sponsors: GOLD SPONSOR:

Kinox

SILVER SPONSOR:

JL Finance

www.aishk.edu.hk

JL FINANCE

FEATURES FEATURES

A

n outstanding evening of theatrical excellence was held in June, through the Performing Arts extravaganza - “A Night Beneath the Lion Rock.” All items and the performers’ talents were truly breathtaking, as our students showcased their vocal, instrumental and acting skills to a full auditorium.

Celebrating the diversity of Australian and Chinese folk music, the program featured some traditional instruments, such as our Chinese Drumming Troupe, the Pi-Pa, Guzhen and other instruments. Our school ensembles joined together with musical fantasies featuring some very well known melodies and a variety of instrumentalists shared their talents in solo performance repertoire.

The event also welcomed the Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir as special guests this year. This well established Hong Kong choir brought a balance of old and new with a very special Welsh sound. Their collaborative performance of Bohemian Rhapsody with one of our very own Year 8 Rock Bands was a striking blend of musical stylings!

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A significant piece to mark this concert was the performance of the Canto-pop song “Below the Lion Rock” composed by Joseph Koo. Joseph Koo sadly passed away at the start of this year and this song is very representative of the can-do spirit of the Hong Kong people. It also marks AISHK’s very own special place geographically “Below the Lion Rock”.

The piece was performed by all of our participating performers including our orchestra and choirs.

A Full House for the

Performing Arts Extravaganza!

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Admission to this event was free, with donations welcome, to be allocated to Hong Kong Next Generation Arts (HKGNA) “Music Heals” programme – a very worthy Hong Kong musical charity. The mission of HKGNA, founded in 2009, is to inspire and nurture artistic excellence and personal success in our next generation of young artists and transform lives through music. HKGNA offers other music and educational programs for disadvantaged and underprivileged youth to nurture their creative talent and empower them to fulfill their dreams and aspirations. The event raised over HK $9,000 for this cause.

Thank you for your generosity!

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Over 100 dedicated musicians took part in this concert, alongside the Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice choir for a glorious showcase of talent, creativity and passion for performance.

Congratulations to all students, staff, parents, volunteers, the Hong Kong Welsh Male Voice Choir and members of the school community who supported this event. Whether by attending, donating, working behind the scenes or cheering on our incredible performers, your contribution ensured the success of this special evening.

Click or scan the QR code to view the full video.

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BA POPCK BY DEM ULAR AND !

Australian International School Hong Kong invites you to a special school tour of our award-winning campus, whilst your child enjoys an engaging class and activities with our teachers.

Enjoy this session free of charge!

For students born between 30/4/15 and 1/5/11

Experience A Day in Primary Wednesday, 23 August 2023

For students born between 30/4/11 and 1/5/07

Experience A Day in Secondary Wednesday, 30 August 2023

AISHK is the only school in Hong Kong to offer the choice of either the IB Diploma or the NSW HSC in senior secondary years, providing a balanced education and global university and career destinations.

Join us to discover a learning environment which balances academic success with wellbeing.

Register Today

For more information about these events, please complete the online form or contact admissions@aishk.edu.hk for more details

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3A Norfolk Road, Kowloon Tong 九龍塘�A羅福道

info@aishk.edu.hk +852 2304 6078

Scan the QR code or visit this website to register http://aishk.io/?EAD82023_register

www.aishk.edu.hk

RECAP

Venturing Beyond:

AISHK Students Explore Hong Kong’s Outdoors

O

utdoor camps and activities have always been a highlight of the school year for AISHK students! Providing experiences that are fun, challenging and often life-changing, experiential learning is a very welcome return to the school calendar. From learning survival and teamwork skills to discovering new passions and confidence, the benefits of outdoor education are numerous.

Join us as we take a look back at snapshots of the most exciting outdoor camps and activities that students participated in so far this year, including some first-hand experiences of students. Thank you to all involved in coordinating these opportunities to inspire personal growth, meaningful connections, and a deeper appreciation for the world around us.

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PRIMARY CAMPS

OUTDOOR ADVENTURES & memories Going on a school camp can be an exciting, adventurous and eye opening experience.

Primary Camps took place across Terms 1 and 2, and for many students, it was their first experience of such an adventure and of overnight stays away from home. The long awaited return of camps has allowed students to try out new activities, challenge themselves and learn about the local environment and wildlife. Students also saw evidence of human impact, such as litter, which made us appreciate the importance of responsible behaviour in nature.

The opportunity to bond with classmates and make new friends was also treasured - much of which was achieved during exciting activities such as hiking, surfing, coasteering and stand-up paddle boarding. These physically challenging tasks build resilience and confidence, and were rewarded with cosy fireside dinners and many a toasted marshmallow!

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There were plenty of tired out students upon return to school and home after all the primary camps, but it was a fatigue borne from fantastic participation, determination and enthusiastic engagement!

There are many people to thank for the camp experiences this year, but the most important people to thank are the children for their incredible efforts and desires to strive for excellence. Congratulations to all students!

We are already looking forward to our next camp adventures!

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SECONDARY CAMPS Year 7

Making Connections on Camp

I helped another student during canyoning and we also partnered up during kayaking and I think we worked quite well together.

We chatted together and that’s how I made a new friend.

In March, Year 7 spent their camp week at Po Leung Kuk Jockey Club Pak Tam Chung Holiday Camp, paddling, hiking, zip lining, scrambling, building, grilling, toasting and snorkelling. Set in the Sai Kung West Country Park, camp was a time to connect, to see old friends join with new as part of the AISHK community, and to grow as a cohort of young people.

Throughout the week students participated in groups with a designated DragonFly leader and AISHK staff member. Every day was scheduled from dawn to 9:00pm with activities, reflections, indoor, outdoor and active adventures. Student reflections include words like unity, connection and friendship. There were also quite a few mentions of “uphill” and “exhausted”!

I was extremely scared when we did canyoning because it was so high and slippery. I made it in the end, but it took encouragement and some deep breaths. I learned that you can get through scary things with some encouragement and meditation.

I also learned that teamwork helps as well.

When we got back to school two days later, I saw everybody in a whole new light. Instead of being the new student, where everyone was the same confusing, random, maybe not that friendly - I was able to see the core values and personal uniqueness of each and every one of my cohort-mates.

At camp there were teamwork activities that we needed to be able to work with each other and help each other on.

Camp has helped me develop strong bonds with my cohort, and I am very pleased with everything that has happened. No regrets. Camp is something that everyone should take part in.

We developed lifelong skills from just the Dragolympics, teaching us exactly what to do in times of failure, conflict and stress.

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Year 8

An Account of Camp

By Wing Cho and Archer Bourne

water was matched with the moody grey sky as we paddled towards the centre of the ocean. There, we played ‘Paddle and Conquer’ where everyone chose a country they would represent and paddle around to conquer other countries by tapping on their board with the paddle 3 times in a row. We also played a game called ‘Paddle Board Keys’ - a challenging game since we had to balance on a bunch of wobbly boards on Paddle Boarding water, but in the end, we all managed to complete the On the first day of camp, we hopped on a bus, heading challenge with ease. Soon after that, we were sent back towards Sai Kung to go paddle boarding around on shore for our lunch and we were all freezing in our the shore of Sha Ha Beach. We were greeted by the thin, tiny towels, but the good thing was, the sky started members of Asia Adventure and shortly after, we to clear up, and the weather seemed more friendly than were changed into our swimsuits, ready to get in the it seemed before. After our well-earned break on shore, water and shivering in the miserable weather with we headed back to the water, towards the mangroves. a life jacket hanging over our heads. We first got Near the mangroves were some abandoned dragon introduced to our group leaders, and we did some boats and we paddled around the boats inspecting icebreaker activities on the small beach we were on. it. In total, we spent almost the entire day on water, We played some stuck-in-the-mud, tag, relays…

We were soon off in the water on our paddle boards after paddling, so by the end of the day, we were all ready to go back home and have a long rest, because the some demonstrations from the camp leaders, and we next day was going to be just as fun as the first. were having the best time of our lives. The cold shallow Year 8 camp was such a blast with many challenges and lots of fun with friends. Camp stretched across two days with two separate activities that were Stand Up Paddle boarding and Coasteering. In this short report, we will tell you about the challenges we faced and the adventures we went through during Year 8 camp.

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Coasteering We hopped on a bus ride to Tai Tam to start our second day of camp, looming rain clouds hung over as we reached our final destination but nothing could ruin this soon to be awesome day for us.

Once our group hopped off the bus, we were greeted by the members of Asia Adventure, who led us to our first challenge. We had to scale down the side of a hill through the rainwater collection system, it was very slippery and steep with the rain sprinkling on top of us. As we reached the rock shore of the beach we saw the cliffside that we all knew we had to climb across. We got partnered up and slipped on our harnesses and helmets, which the camp leaders help us tighten to keep us safe. We went through a quick demo and then we were off.

We scaled the treacherous rock face as quickly as mountain goats and we stopped halfway at a rock perch to have a quick drink and a snack or two. The water was lapping on the

rocky beach below making beautiful chimes that filled the air. Once we all had done the zipline a few times each, we headed back on a harder route which instead of going around the cliff we had to climb up it. Then the leader said there was one more challenge we had to overcome,” The Cave”. We soon found out that it was just a fresh rainwater system that comes from a river but it was still very dark and interesting. Sadly our shoes did get wet but it was definitely worth it. We climbed back up the mountain and hopped back on the bus after a long day of fun.

To end things off, Year 8 camp even with the gloomy weather over our heads the entire two days ,we still enjoyed every bit of it and we also created amazing memories and new friends that we will never forget. Year 8 Camp was such a memorable experience and we can’t wait for our next one coming very soon in Term 3.

Year 9

AYP Camp Experiences & Memories 22 | LION ROCK | VOLUME 38

In March, Year 9 completed the outdoor education element of the Hong Kong Award for Young People (AYP). Students followed in the shadows of Year 10 the week before, so had some insider tips about what to bring and what not to bother with. The week was overcast, and at times very humid, but we all avoided the predicted thunderstorms.

The cooler days allowed for some big treks up and down, up and down mountains of Sai Kung East and West Country Park. Not all groups were able to see the notorious wild boars of Sai Kung. One group got three visits in one night, losing a backpack to a hungry boar and one of the boys had his toes and hair closely inspected! Luckily, no one was hurt and the bag was retrievable, but most importantly was the heroic tales this group got to retell.

Outward bound has helped me with the skills of going out of my comfort zone because I would never had thought I could hike, cook and sleep outdoors. Especially because I hate any bugs so when there was a spider on my tent and I punched it away I felt like the main character.

SOHAN BALAANI

Allowing me to be tent-mates with my friends and talking with them until late at night. This experience allowed me to build deeper connections with my friends and learn more about their experiences and unique views on the world.

VALERIE DY

It helped me by making me think that if I don’t do it today, I might never have the chance of doing it again and might(probably) regret it later. So I think to myself, take all the chances life gives you!

HAROLD CHEUNG

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This experience has helped me improve my social skills. I talked to people I had never socialised with before and by the end of the camp, we were like one big family.

KAREN CHOY

This helped me overcome the attitude that once I finished what I needed to do, I could go and do whatever. This changed because we still had dishes to wash even after I did my bowl, as well as the items we used as a whole group and we still had to wash them.

ETHAN CHOW

Year 10

Student Reflections Outward Bound, Sai Kung

We arrived and started off with an introduction as we found our group, the equipment we could take and our instructor. Straight away we packed our hiking bags which didn’t only include our personal belongings, but also four days worth of food and kitchen utensils.

The main obstacle was our 20kg hiking bags and after walking around 800 metres, everyone got a taste of how challenging the hiking would be.

For the third day in a row, we were instructed that we had to climb up and jump off of that pole. The only thing protecting us from going splat on the ground was a harness and the group members holding onto a rope connected to the harness.

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On our last day, everyone had the opportunity to touch water! We jumped off a 7-ish meter platform into the Sai Kung sea, at first with fear, but this was quickly replaced by a desire to do it a few more times! Afterwards, the most glorious shower after not showering for 5 days!

Our Year 10 camp with Outward Bound was a trial of our trust, friendship, mental strength, physical strength and attitude to life. Going into it, I thought camp would be an easy walk in the park, but I thought wrong.

BY ZAC LOUEY

I had the privilege to complete our AYP bronze award expedition with Outward Bound this term.

It was a challenge for sure, but fun to have the opportunity to get out of our comfort zones.

Our Monday started off boarding a bus from school to the Outward Bound base camp in Sai Kung.

There, we got acquainted with our group and started packing our hiking packs and assigning who will carry what food. After a short bus ride and a never ending set of stairs, we arrived at our campsite for the night. I think our first night cooking was definitely the most challenging as we ended up with sticky spaghetti and over salted fish. Nevertheless, it was an enjoyable first day.

The next day, we woke up with anticipation of our final day of hiking and one day closer to a shower.

Thursday’s hike was arguably harder than any other day. We climbed up a never-ending steep stony hill that tested our perseverance and endurance. We were all overjoyed when we finally reached base camp later that day. We spent the afternoon unpacking our packs, cleaning and cooking. That night, we got to do something we had all been looking forward to: the ropes course. Doing the ropes course made us utilize our teamwork skills and tested our will-power greatly.

After a long week, the last day of camp had finally arrived. We made our final breakfast, packed our bag and cleaned tents before finishing off the week by jumping off the jetty at Outward Bound. After taking our long-awaited showers and boarding the bus ride back, we reflected on how our Year 10 camp was a challenging, enjoyable and unforgettable experience.

BY BILLIE HOME

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Year 11

Retreat at Silvermine Bay This year, the Year 11 Retreat was held at Silvermine Bay, Mui Wo. Students engaged in leadership and team building exercises and experienced invaluable relaxation time with their peers.

Asia Adventure Sport facilitated activities that challenged students to problem solve and collaborate through a range of activities, encouraging flexibility of thought and initiative.

Beach Volleyball, karaoke, fun in the pool, a trivia night and the BBQ dinner were also highlights.

These learning opportunities outside the regular school program have been sorely missed, but the value for students was clearly evident in this Year 11 retreat, as we can see from their reflections on their experiences.

“If I had to describe the retreat in one word, it would have to be fulfilling.”

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“This was the best school retreat I have been on! I learned how to become a good leader and lead by example. This trip was a great opportunity to socialise with the entire year.”

Year 12

Retreat in Full Swing Hong Kong Golf & Tennis Academy This year, students in Year 12 enjoyed a retreat at the Hong Kong Golf and Tennis Academy (HKGTA) from 3-5 May. The students arrived at the luxurious academy where the relaxing atmosphere of the accommodation and beautiful surroundings was welcomed after the stress of the recent examination period.

The program consisted of 5 rotations of activities including Yoga, Fitness, Dodgeball, Tennis and Golf lessons by HKGTA staff. The students interspersed these daytime activities with visits to the gym and swimming pool and much needed relaxation time with friends.

After dinner on alternate evenings, the students competed in a trivia competition and a Karaoke singing contest. The trivia was hotly contested with two teams tied after the final round. The eventual winners Smiley Faces beat Tiffany and Co’s after a team game of Heads and Tails to break the deadlock. The trivia night was superbly hosted by Toby Dear and Harry Avery and the special renditions of Mama Mia by Ms Dunstan and Angels by Mr Phillips were only upstaged by the desire and willingness of other solo performers to push out of their comfort zones. The camaraderie and support of the year 12 cohort for their peers during this event was one of many highlights.

Other events such as a Reflection Activity on their journey so far in secondary school, including how they may navigate the final months of secondary education and acknowledging their support networks was both moving and rewarding for the students.

A walk to Trio beach rounded out the final day of the retreat where students hiked the 7km round journey before returning to the retreat for another tasty meal before departure.

Was there anything about camp which surprised you?

“The camp was much nicer than we all thought it would be. It was really modern and we all got these massive apartments! The food was also amazing and we were never bored as there were multiple activities every day.” NATASHA What was a memorable, funny moment from camp you can share with us?

“I’d say the karaoke performances, especially done

by Toby Dear, were quite humorous! They made the trip overall more enjoyable, I would say.” ADAM What were your impressions of Year 12 Camp and what did you enjoy most?

“Camp was a lot of fun! It was very different to the Year 11 camp as we had some more freedom. It was good relaxing after the exam period” DANIEL

Special thanks to Mr Damian Bailey, Mr William Campbell, Ms Aileen O’Donnell and Ms Carole White who continue to guide the students with care and compassion. The value of events such as these within the school program cannot be undersold and will be remembered long after students have graduated.

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FATHER’S DAY EVENING GATHERING

MOTHER’S DAY LUNCH 12 MAY 2023 SHERATON HOTEL, TST

8 SEPT 2023 VENUE TBA

WELCOME FESTIVAL 10 FEBRUARY 2023 AISHK CAMPUS

MOTHER’S DAY DINNER 5 MAY 2023 HK CRICKET CLUB

DAD’S NIGHT OUT

A NIGHT UNDER THE STARS AISHK 2023 BALL

16 JUNE 2023

26 AUGUST 2023 HYATT REGENCY, TST

DOCKYARD KERRY HOTEL, HUNG HOM

JINGLE MINGLE PICNIC 13 DECEMBER 2023 AISHK CAMPUS

2023 EVENT CALENDAR TERM

FESTIVALS

at a glance

SOCIALS

SPECIAL EVENTS

Current Employment Opportunities & Role Descriptions For more information, visit our website at

Alumni Corner

Talking Mental with Aaron Stadlin-Robbie

AISHK students were fortunate to hear from visiting Alumni student Aaron Stadlin-Robbie in June. Founder of Talking Mental, Aaron utilises his platform to speak frankly as a dedicated advocate for mental health antistigma campaigns. His mission is to start meaningful and, most importantly, relatable conversations on the subject. Thank you to Aaron for sharing your mental health journey and learnings with our young adults.

A Full Circle Moment

AISHK Alumni Drum Workshop

In June, students in Years 5 and 6 were lucky to experience a drum circle during their Choral Class time. With nearly 100 drummers all playing at once, this was not a quiet occasion! However, the experience was enjoyed by all involved. Three concentric circles of drums were laid out for our students to play, following the lead of AISHK alumni student, Thomas Chiu, who is himself a master drummer and leader of percussion workshops here in Hong Kong.

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Drum circles are not only a musical experience, but also a wellbeing tool, proven to create positive changes in physical, emotional and mental health for all involved. In countries including Africa, drumming is an essential, community-centred part of everyday life and culture which brings people together. Drum circles are increasing in popularity around the world for team building events and as a strategy for wellness and stress relief.

By both improvising and drumming under Thomas’ guidance, students learnt about following a conductor in a large ensemble, responding to dynamic level changes, experiencing different tone colours of percussion instruments and engaging in call-and-response-activities.

As the response to all activities is mostly musical, very little verbal instruction from the drum circle leaders is required, which helps to transcend language barriers.

This was a fantastic event for our students and we are very grateful to Thomas and his team for bringing this experience to AISHK.

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SPORTS ROUNDUP

I

n May, the long-awaited return of sporting events burst back onto the scene with our Early Childhood Swimming Gala.

Students in Prep to Year 2 had the opportunity to swim in five different events, allowing them to showcase the skills and confidence they have been developing in the water throughout a seven-week swimming unit.

Students demonstrated a variety of movement skills in the water. Swimming on their own or with various swimming aides, students had a chance to show off their progress with backstroke and freestyle skills as well as engaging in some truly highlight-worthy bombing and diving skills.

The Swimming Showcase Returns

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All students are to be commended for the confidence and persistence with which they have approached swimming lessons and this event. Congratulations to all our students for their work.

Our gratitude also goes to super coach Eric Yeung and his team of swim instructors for their dedication and passion in teaching our students during the term. Thank you to all teachers and teacher aides who helped the showcase run smoothly and for your efforts behind the scenes. We were thrilled to welcome so many supporters to the event.

By cheering on our swimmers with encouragement you added to the buzz and excitement of the day!

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SPORTS ROUNDUP

Interhouse Basketball Tournament Brings the Energy!

The interhouse basketball competition in Week 7 was an action-packed event that showcased the impressive skills and sportsmanship of our school’s students. The atmosphere was electric for the finals throughout the week as the different houses competed against each other.

In the junior girls’ final, Jacaranda House put in a dominant performance, winning with a score of 8-0 over Wattle House. Lillian Pilgrim was the standout player of the game, impressing the referees with her defensive and shooting skills.

The junior boys’ final was a onesided affair, with Wattle House winning convincingly with a score of 15-0 over Eucalypt House. Lucas Tsang was the star player of the game, showing off his impressive dribbling and shooting abilities.

In the senior girls’ final, Jacaranda House once again emerged victorious, winning with a score of 10-2 over Eucalypt House. Annsley Lo was the standout player of the game, remaining consistent all game in attack and defence.

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The senior boys’ final was a closely fought contest, with Wattle House ultimately emerging as the winners with a score of 21-12 over Waratah House. Justin Yu was the standout player of the game, delivering a sensational performance that included some impressive shooting stats.

Overall, the interhouse basketball competition was a fantastic showcase of the amazing athletic talent and competitive spirit of our students. The dedication and hard work of the PDHPE department, as well as the support and coordination of the house patrons, were crucial in ensuring the success of this event. Congratulations to all the players and teams that participated in this exciting competition!

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Waratah X Wattle Mufti Day

N

ot even the amber rain and thunderstorms could drown out the

traditional House Spirit of AISHK this term!

In May, Waratah and Wattle houses jointly hosted a fantastic Mufti Day, the first of the year, themed “Misfit Mayhem!” Students and staff dressed up in the whackiest possible combinations of clothing - there were lopsided ponytails, inside-out shorts, unmatched shoes and silly socks!

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Sausages sizzled, cupcakes dazzled and students and staff enjoyed a day of fun for important causes; Child Welfare Scheme Nepal (Waratah) and One Sky for All Children (Wattle). Thank you to the House Captains, Patrons and all staff who orchestrated the event, parents who gave so generously of their time and resources for the bake sale and to the students for embracing the first house fundraising day of 2023.

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Parent Association Corner

On behalf of the School, your children, the Parent Association and staff, thank you to all mums for your ongoing support, for being there and most of all, thank you for being you!

Thank you to all parents who attended our fantastic events. The first of this year’s AISHK Mother’s Day activities was held on Friday 5 May, with the Mother’s Day Dinner at the Hong Kong Cricket Club. The Mother’s Day Lunch was held on 12 June at the Sheraton Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui. Both events were well attended, full of laughs, dancing and fantastic free-flowing food and beverages. Most importantly, they were held in great company and welcomed the diversity of women and mothers in the school community.

Thank You To Our Sponsors Thank you to all our very generous raffle and prize donors – your support and consideration towards our events meant that every mum in attendance felt super special and spoilt! .

A very big Thank You to our Mother’s Day Dinner Corporate Sponsor Jason Lam of JL Finance, whose contribution to our event ensured its success.

Stay In Touch Every AISHK parent is automatically considered a member of the PA and we encourage parents to take up the many opportunities to support our school and make new connections. A reminder of the following PA platforms available:

• • •

AISHK PA webpage which includes the PA Shop and AISHKPA Handbook Please reach out at any time to aishkpa@aishk.edu.hk should you have any PA queries You may also wish to join the AISHK Parent Association Facebook Group

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AISHK in the Community

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING:

MAKING MATHS MEANINGFUL with Michael Ymer AISHK started the term with a week of workshops for staff, students and parents, led by Mathematics consultant Michael Ymer, a highly regarded and experienced Mathematics consultant based in Melbourne, Australia. Mathematics is a subject that can be captivating for some students and intimidating for others, and Michael’s program helped to reinforce the crucial understanding across our school community that everyone can be a mathematician. Having worked with schools across the world in places such as Japan, Azerbaijan, Singapore, India, and Brunei promoting quality teaching and learning, Michael adopted a hands-on, engaging and entertaining approach which has seen a great impact in promoting best practice schoolwide.

Staff development continued with Occupational Therapist, Cameron Dalling also bringing her expertise and passion for working with children to our professional learning program.

Tim Carrell presented to Secondary, delving into the ever-evolving topic of AI and ChatGPT, and the considerations for education and schools. Nav Dahele, meanwhile, explored the role of baseline testing in supporting student strengths and growth areas.

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NEW PARENT MORNINGS AISHK prides itself on its sense of community and providing a warm welcome to all families joining the school. We were pleased to hold a range of welcome sessions for parents of students across all year levels.

Thank you to all parents who have joined us for these events which we trust have been insightful.

STEPPING INTO SECONDARY & SENIOR STUDIES AT AISHK In May, AISHK held two separate, interactive information sessions for existing families of students currently in or soon to transition into secondary at our school. “Senior Studies at AISHK” was held for parents of students in Years 7-10 and “Stepping Into Secondary” was held for parents of students in Years 3-6. Both events featured school tours, student and Head of School Q&A panels and interviews with parents in our community. Both events were very well attended and we hope they provided a good snapshot of the unique secondary school life offered at AISHK. More recently in June, the Year 10 Parent Information Session was held. Providing insight, advice and roadmapping guidance regarding curricular pathways into the HSC and IB years at AISHK, the session also facilitates questions and the chance to meet senior secondary teachers and leaders.

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camp More

photos!

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Australian International School Hong Kong.

All rights reserved.

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