Island School Newsletter - 28th October 2011

A friend recently visiting from India got onto the subject of the London riots last August. He put it down to life being too ordered, the lack of challenge in young people’s lives and thus the desire to engage in something different and exciting. This gave me pause for thought. With children now in (and nearly out of) their teens, I look back and wonder where I have stood on their paths to adult independence and a set of personal values.  Have I stood in their way, walked with them, or left them so entirely to their own devices that they have left the path and got lost?

I recall with some anxiety the ‘activities roundabout’ kindergarten and primary school years. It sometimes seemed that  if one’s child wasn’t doing ballet, Chinese art class, tennis and swimming (to name but  a few), she simply wasn’t going to make in the competitive social and educational world of Hong Kong…and all this at the age of four or five! The pressure to conform to this filling and scheduling of an infant’s life; did it come from the child or was it borne out of the parents’ love, ambition, fear of not having each moment organized? And the consequences? Hopefully a child who was energized, happy with the activities and happy during the gaps in between. Hopefully not one unable to occupy those gaps or desperate to be left alone more to simply play.

Of course we now have older children, at secondary school. Can they organize themselves? De we let them?  When they tell us less and less, is it a bid for freedom? Maybe. Is it because they don’t think we’d understand or would ask too many probing questions? Probably.  Does it mean that we should stop listening, trying to engage? Certainly not. And there’s the rub. Keeping the lines of communication open, even in the face of teenage stone walls and stalemates, is vital…ex challenging teenagers will tell you so. But how do we do this? How do we keep listening, keep guiding? If that’s our job as parents, how do we keep walking together rather than taking opposite forks in the path?

I have no answers to these questions. However, at a time when many students in the school are making important decisions, social and academic - with GCSE and Post 16 choices , university applications, and what to do on a Friday night -  we might ask where we, the parents, are in all this?  How do we listen and guide rather than dictate and decide?  Surely there are times to let our teenagers think for themselves and times to set clear boundaries.  It’s worth talking openly with them about it. From experience, however, it is those who are listened to and guided with information and real choices, but ultimately make their own decisions, who move out into the world happy and confident. Often these are the same individuals who as children were given the space to play, the chance to do something different and unexpected from time to time.

So what of the London riots and my friend’s comments? Well if nothing else they have certainly got me thinking.  However, I will end with the words of poet and philosopher, Kahlil Gibran, who said of our relationships with children:

“You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backwards nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.”

Jenny Hodson - Vice Principal

This year there are over 30 students from Years 10-13 taking part in the Cooking in Hong Kong CAS Week trip. The students will have the opportunity to learn new skills while enjoying not only expert instruction in the art of cake, dessert and sushi making but will also be able to try their hand at preparing traditional Thai, Vietnamese and Italian dishes. An important part of the week is a food donation to the St James' Settlement, a charity which runs a food bank helping to feed homeless people and the underprivileged in our city.

If you would like to help please bring in any of the items mentioned on the list below. You can bring them in anytime before Friday 4th November and give them directly to Ms Walsh/Mrs Coombs/Mrs Wightman/Mrs Hall, put them under the central table in the computer suite between the Food Tech rooms or hand them in to the General Office labeled with the relevant teacher’s name.

“The dry food we need is divided into two main categories, namely primary food and secondary food.

Primary food refers to rice, noodles and canned food, e.g. luncheon meat, beans in tomato sauce, sardines, spicy diced pork, twice-cooked pork, dace in black bean sauce, etc. These can constitute a full meal without requiring other foods.
Secondary food generally refers to food used for nutritional supplements and fibre e.g. oats, canned fruit/vegetable, milk powder, condensed milk, biscuits, canned soup, etc.

We would not accept food in the following conditions:
1. the package has been opened, e.g. cans of biscuits or milk powder which have already been opened;
2. food that is past its expiry date or dry food with less than 8 weeks to go before sell-by date;
3. food that has gone off;
4. Chinese and western medicine.”

Many thanks!

Eleanor Walsh - Teacher of French and Spanish

Drugs awareness evening

All parents are welcome to join us for this Drugs Awareness evening. You will learn important information, in relation to alcohol and other drug use, and hear the perspectives of:

Dr Mark Gandolfi – Clinical Psychologist and Director of St John’s Counselling Services
Senior Inspector Paul Lewis – Narcotics Bureau
Chris Binge – Principal, Island School

(Please note the time of this event which is 7pm, not 5.30 as indicated in the previous newsletter)

Jenny Hodson - Vice Principal

This term students from Island School have been participating in worldwide experiments to look at local water sources and explore methods for water purification. They tested samples collected from Victoria harbour, Mui Wo harbour and the Silver River on Lantau for their pH level and salt content.  Interestingly, they discovered that although the pH of the both harbours’ water was quite similar it appears that the salt content in Victoria harbour is greater than at Mui Wo. The students also made their own water filters using sand, gravel and large plastic bottles and solar stills using cling film and plastic washing up bowls. The filters were very successful at changing muddy water into clear water but the students still weren’t convinced they would like to drink it!

For more information about the International Year of Chemistry and the global results please uses this link…here 

Helen Evans & Carol Boag - Chemistry department

“Mirrors with Memories” is a collection of creative writing and artworks from students of ESF secondary schools. This 100-page book with close to 40 pieces of creative writing allows readers to gain an insight of the ESF values and the ways in which our students give expression to them.

To celebrate the creativity and achievements of the students, a book launch ceremony will be held at 6pm at ESF Centre on 31 October. Students who have contributed articles and artworks will attend with their teachers. Mirrors with Memories will be available in selected bookstores in early November. The retail price is $180. All proceeds (after deduction of production cost) will go to Bring Me A Book, a charity that promotes family literacy by providing easy access to the best children’s books.

Place your order…here before 14 November 2011 to enjoy free delivery to your doorstep.”

Many students from Island School have their creative work reproduced in this book and our very own Mr. Langford - Smith was the driving force behind the book. Well done to him and all the students whose work is featured.

Four of Annie photographs were selected for the exhibition which was opened by the Vice Chancellor of HKU, Professor Tsui Lap Chee and his wife, Mrs Ellen Tsui, on October 11, 2011. To see Annie’s work framed next to with other wonderfully composed photographs was visually stunning. The tall exhibition space was decorated by a large art/ikibana installation by the famous artist, Masayo Mizukami. Annie also aided on the construction of this piece.

Annie says “I am thrilled to have been involved in this event.
It has been a very encouraging and educational experience for me to see my work displayed against the work of established photographic experts. It was also really inspiring to be able to meet with them and talk to them. I look forward to continuing to develop my photography skills”.

Annie’s winning pieces are attached for your viewing. They were shot in Baiwan on last year’s CAS week Trip and in Portugal during her summer holiday.

Morning…here 
Day of Fury…here
Baroque Style…here
Portugal (Judge's Choice award)…here 

Fleming House staff love the dominant red colour of “Day of Fury” so much, (the subject is spent firecrackers after a celebration), that they have asked Annie to donate us a framed copy for the Fleming House office wall. Well, we are the red house after all.

Well done Annie.

Mrs. Worthington and Mr. Tudor – Senior Head and Head of Fleming House

Island School Annual Report

Congratulations to the students in the 'Design & Publications Team' who have mostly written and totally designed this year's school annual report.

Ronaq Mathur 9E, Mallika Chawla 9E, Angela Xiao 9F, Brian Wong 10W, Ka Kui Wong 9W, Henry Tung 11W, Melanie Bickham 10D, Dylan Granger 10F, Adrian Li 9D, Ewan Schwarz 11W, Karina, Chan 11N, Janice Chui 11D, Hagan Law 11N, Melodie Karbassian 7W, Yuna Ahn 10D, Haihao Liu 11W, Naomi Geeves 12F, Annie Lye 12F, Marylin Tillyer 13D, AnsoN Lam 10F, Tiffany Lau 12F, Minal Daswani 11D, Michael Kang 9F, Jasmine Boitnott 8F, Andrea Chin 8F, Estephe Corlin 8E, Perrine Corlin 8F, Nupur Chatterji 11R and Divya Seth 12E

Please see this year's Annual Report ... here

If you would like a hard copy - please contact the school

HK’s best SAT test preparation arrives at Island School, please see details…here

香港SAT考試預備班…按此

For information on important dates and reminders please visit the parents’ notices page on the school website...here

家長通訊
有關本校重要資訊, 請查看港島中網站的家長通訊頁…按此

Award Winners/學生成就
Congratulations to the following Student Award Winners!
恭喜以下獲獎學生

Gold 金獎
Chirag Bellani 8N

Silver 銀獎
Carver Wong 9W

Bronze 銅獎
Karina Poon 7F

Portia Freeman 7F

最近，有從印度來的朋友與我談論八月發生的倫敦大騷亂。他歸咎於生活的過分限制，年輕人生活中缺乏挑戰和因而衍生對刺激的嚮往。這令我停了一停，想了一想。現在，我的孩子都已長大成人，令我不禁思考，我在他們成長途中，是擔當了一個什麼的角色。我到底是一個阻礙，朋輩，還是把它們遺忘，令他們走歪路，迷失的一位“家長”？

忐忑不安，猶想起幼兒園和小學年代。往往我們認為，孩子如不是自小- 三四歲時，就已經同時上芭蕾課，中國藝術課，網球課，游泳（馨竹難盡），就一定不能在香港競爭大的社會中立足。要令孩子的生活遵從這個不可改變的時間表的壓力，到底是來自孩子本身，還是父母的愛護，抱負和對不能安排每一刻所帶有的恐懼呢？最好，一個孩子應有衝勁，對自己活動和之間的休息感到滿意。

當然，當我們現在孩子長大了，上中學去了。他們能夠自我組織嗎？我們又給過他們充分的機會嗎？當他們跟我們說的話越來越小，他們對自由的渴望是否越來越大呢？有可能。是否因為他們以為我們不會明白及問太多不切心的問題? 應該是如此。那是否代表我們應該停止聆聽，嘗試溝通？當然不！這就是關鍵。把溝通的渠道打開，哪管迎接著的是銅牆鐵壁還是萬般困難，都是非常重要的。過來人也會有同感。那我們要如何實現這個理想？那我們要如何繼續聆聽，繼續帶領？如這是我們作為家長的責任，我們如何同手共邁，避免分道揚鑣?

本人並沒答案。可是，在一個芸芸學子都在學校裡面臨重要，社交及學術上的決定– 考試，大學，及週末消閒- 的時候，我們可能會反問我們身為家長的作用是什麼。如何才能聆聽，帶領，而不是規定和決定？肯定的是，我們有時應讓我們的年輕人為自己打算，有時則要嚴守規矩。這事兒上，我們絕對可以與他們公開談論。可是，從經驗而談，只有那些會聆聽和麵對現實生活裡的諮詢資訊和決定但最終掌握決定權的人，才會在社會里活的快樂與有信心。這些人，往往也是在孩童時期，擁有最多玩耍，嘗試，突破的空間與機會。

那我對倫敦大騷亂及我朋友的見解有何想法？如不是什麼，他們真的引導了我的思考。在此，我以著名哲學家，紀伯倫•哈利勒•紀伯倫（KahilGibran）對我們與孩子的關係的看法，作為本文章的終結：

“你可與他們所同化，但他們不可與你所無別。因為活著不是要捕捉過去與昨日。你孩子就如活生生的矢；你就如他們的弓。”

Jenny Hodson -副校長

食品募捐
 
今年有超過 30名Year10-13的學生參加CAS週烹飪之旅。同學在享受蛋糕，點心和壽司等美食的同時，將學到不同的專業烹飪技巧，更有機會制作傳統泰國，越南和意大利菜餚。這是一個有意義的活動，同學們將會把食物捐贈到聖雅各福群會，這慈善機構已提供大量支援及糧食供應給很多在社會中有需要的弱勢群體。

如果你想提出幫助，請於11月4日星期5或之前，攜帶以下列表中的任何物資，直接交給Ms Walsh/Mrs Coombs/Mrs Wightman/Mrs Hall，或安放在電腦室和烹飪室之間的檯上，或交到General Office(請標記相關老師的名稱)。

“我們需要的是乾糧分為兩大類，即主要食糧和輔助食糧。
主要食糧是指米飯，麵條和罐頭食品，如午餐肉，豆類番茄醬，沙丁魚，辣肉丁豬肉，回鍋肉，豆豉鯪魚等。
輔助食糧一般是指營養補充劑和纖維如燕麥，水果罐頭/蔬菜，奶粉，煉乳，餅乾，罐頭湯等。

我們不會接受下列情況下的食物：
1。包裝已開，例如：餅乾罐或奶粉已經打開;
2。到期日和保質期限少於 8個星期的乾糧;
3。中國和西藥。

非常感謝大家的支持！

Eleanor Walsh - 法語和西班牙語老師

禁毒講座

The War on Drugs: How Parents can Survive – How Kids Can Win
11月3日（星 期四） 晚上7時
港島中學禮堂

歡迎所有家長參 加禁毒講座。您將透過此講座了解更多有關毒品和酒精的重要信息，我們更邀請到以下幾位嘉賓作演講：

Dr Mark Gandolfi – Clinical Psychologist and Director of St John’s Counselling Services
Senior Inspector Paul Lewis – Narcotics Bureau
Chris Binge – Principal, Island School

請注意此講座的時間為晚上7時，而不是下午5時.30分）

Jenny Hodson -副校長

Annie說：“我很高興有份參與是次活動。
這是一個充滿教育意義的活動，最令人鼓舞的是看到自己的作品能與專業攝影師的作品同時被展出，亦能夠與他們會面及交流。我期待著繼續發展我的攝影技巧“。

請按下列鏈結觀看Annie的作品。作品是於去年CAS旅行週在葡萄牙，以及暑假期間，在白灣拍攝的。

Morning…按此 
Day of Fury…按此
Baroque Style…按此 
Portugal (Judge's Choice award) …按此 

Fleming社老師十分喜愛Annie以“Day of Fury”為題的作品，我們已要求Annie捐出此作品放置於Fleming社辦公室。

再次恭喜Annie!

Mrs. Worthington and Mr. Tudor – Fleming社高級社長和社長

國際化學年 - 全球體驗

港島中學的學生於本學期參加全球體驗活動，檢察本地水源和探討淨水方法。他們分別從維多利亞港，梅窩碼頭和大嶼山收集樣本，測試水中的pH值和含鹽量。有趣的是，他們發現兩個碼頭所取樣本的pH值是非常相似，而維多利亞港所取樣本的含鹽量比梅窩的高。同學還以沙，碎石和大型塑料瓶自制了過濾器，過濾效果非常成功，但同學仍不相信經他們過濾的水可作飲用!

更多關於國際化學年的信息和有關全球化驗結果，請…按此

Helen Evans & Carol Boag - 化學部門

ESF紀念特刊

“Mirrors with Memories”是ESF的紀念特刊，展示了英基中學學生的寫作和藝術作品。這本近100頁的特刊列出了40份文章，同學以嶄新且富創意的寫作方式，表達英基的價值觀，讓讀者從多角度了解英基文化。

為慶祝學生的創意成果，本書的發表儀式將於10月31日下午6時在英基中心舉行。已提交文章和協助特刊設計的同學將與他們的老師一同出席。特刊將在11月初在選定書店出售。零售價是180元。所得款項（扣除成本後），將捐贈予慈善機構 ‘Bring Me A Book’。

想享受免費送貨到府上，請於2011年11月14日前訂購，訂購表格...按此

多謝港島中學的Langford - Smith老師，他對本校學生所提交的文章給予很多支持和意見。

ESF體育訊息…按此