Senior School News

T2W1 – 29 Nov 2024

Dear Parents, 

As Term 2 begins, I want to take this opportunity to thank you and your children for the dedication and outstanding displays of learning we witnessed in Term 1. This is undoubtedly one of the busiest times of the year, and it’s been fantastic to see our students embrace each learning challenge, both inside and outside the classroom. Please take a moment to recognise your child’s hard work and achievements—they have truly earned it! 

Key Dates:

• Nov 30 – Parent Teacher Conferences (G8 IGCSE & G10 IBDP Parent Subject Options Sharing) 
• Dec 5 – Winter Magic (15:45-18:30), no ASP, Open to Public
• Dec 5-7: ACAMIS Senior Swim 
• Dec 6 – Annual Golf Invitation 
• Dec 7 – CISSA Soccer 
• Dec 9 – PEP: 中学中文课程规划及学习策略, Sign up
• Dec 10 : End of term 1 Character & Leadership & Awards Assembly 
• Dec 11-13: Lunchtime Santa’s Workshop 
• Dec 13 – House Shirt Day & PEP: Christmas themed Parent Art Workshop, Sign up
• Dec 18 – Winter Variety Show
• Dec 18 – Last Day before Winter Break (Half-day)
• Dec 19 to Jan 1 – Winter Break Begins (School Closed)
• Jan 2 – Return to School 

Reading Extravaganza 

Our Reading Extravaganza was a spectacular celebration of stories and literacy! From the Book Character Dress-Up Parade to the engaging Drop Everything and Read (DEAR) sessions, students and staff came together to revel in the joy of reading. Highlights of the week included captivating performances during Tuesday’s assembly and a cozy Pajama Day to close the celebration. 

Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to making this week a memorable one! 

Student Council Fall Event 

The Student Council Fall Event was truly a night to remember! Bringing together students for an evening of collaboration, friendship, and a touch of spooky fun, the event featured team-building games, festive treats, and plenty of opportunities to connect and unwind. 

IGCSE Awards Ceremony 

One of the standout moments of the year so far has been the IGCSE Awards Ceremony, where we celebrated the remarkable achievements of our Grade 11 senior students. Their commitment, resilience, and sacrifices over the past two years were recognized in an uplifting ceremony attended by the Senior School faculty. It was a proud and heartfelt moment for all involved. 

Parent-Teacher Conferences 

A reminder that Parent-Teacher Conferences are taking place tomorrow, Saturday, November 29. This is a valuable opportunity to connect with your child’s teachers and gain deeper insights into their progress. 

To make the most of your conversations, consider asking questions such as: 

• What are my child’s strengths in this subject? 
• Where could they improve further? 
• How can we best support their learning at home? 

We look forward to seeing many of you on campus for these important discussions. 

With Gratitude 

Thank you for your continued support during this busy time of year. As we approach the winter holidays, we encourage everyone to enjoy the upcoming weeks and take time to proactively “belong”. Together, let’s finish the term strong! 

Steven Gaynor 

Senior School Principal 

steven_gaynor@ssis.asia 

Exciting Times for Sports

It’s been a busy and exciting few weeks for our Sabres athletes! 

With basketball season now underway, teams have been selected and have already started competing in fixtures, achieving some early success. Meanwhile, our volleyball teams recently traveled to ACAMIS, where both teams performed exceptionally well, reaching the semi-finals. Unfortunately, they narrowly missed out on advancing to the final, but their determination and teamwork were inspiring. 

Our Sabres Crew has been invaluable during this busy period. They’ve been scoring for all our volleyball matches, refereeing CISSA football games, and have now stepped into basketball season, managing scoring and timekeeping duties. Their dedication is essential to the smooth running of our sports program, and we couldn’t do it without them! 

In the Activities Department, we’ve launched a new initiative inspired by the New Zealand All Blacks, called ‘Sweep the Sheds.’ This cultural philosophy emphasizes humility, hard work, and responsibility, and we’re excited to embed these values into our Sabres sports program. To learn more about the origins of ‘Sweep the Sheds,’ check out this video: Sweepthe Sheds. 

Stay tuned for more updates as our athletes continue to make us proud! Go Sabres! 

Daniel INNS, Director of Sports and Activities 

Chinese Programme News 

Invitation to the 4th Global Chinese Writing Competition for Young Writers 

The 4th Global Chinese Writing Competition for Young Writers is coming. SSIS had excellent achievements in the prior two competitions and its Chinese department will keep organizing this one and guiding students interested in it. The competition, jointly organized by two associations, aims to be a significant event to showcase young learners’ talent and passion for Chinese writing.

Competition Themes: 

This year the competition is focusing on 24 solar terms +illustration. The students can create an illustration that represents the 24 solar terms. 二十四节气 is a fantastic way to showcase the beauty and significance of Chinese culture and its connection to nature. We will encourage students who are interested in painting to join this competition.  

Award Ceremony: December 2024 

Chen Yue Lin, Director of Chinese (Language) and Culture