CONTENTS
- Principal's Column
- Managing Director's Update
- News from the Board
- Community Committee
- Schoolwide News
- German International Stream
- English International Stream
- Book Reviews
- Alumni
- This Week in Images
Connect with GSIS
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🗓️ Date: 27 - 30 December 2023
📍 Venue: Lower Building Sports Hall (L401), German Swiss International School, 11 Guildford Road, The Peak, Hong Kong
For more information and registration, please visit docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfAqhThpHyK6T8s9mlkzoBKdB6THz11yRNzyyBCDOKLySmv4A/viewform
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GSIS Gazette – Issue #53
18th June 2021
Dear Members of the School Community
As the school year draws to a close, it is time to review. The past school year has been one of the most challenging of our professional careers. It seemed as if school life was entirely dominated by crisis management and learning considerably overshadowed by constraints.
However, I am very happy that life is gradually returning to normal and that we have been able to teach all students full day.
The school year has proven that GSIS, our teachers as well as the Heads of Department and the SMT are crisis-proof, and that our full attention has always been on school development despite the adverse circumstances. This can be illustrated by a few selected examples from each of the departments, which show key achievements this school year on top of the further enhancement of our online learning programme:
Kindergarten
- Introduction of the second K1 class in the English Kindergarten
- Successful implementation and expansion of the bilingual concept in German Kindergarten
- Introduction of Seesaw as an online learning platform for all Kindergarten classes
German Primary Department (GPD)
- Introduction of the programme "Lubo from Space" (programme to promote social-emotional competences) in the German Pre-School (DVOR) and K01–02
- Continuation of the bilingual concept in DVOR
- Introduction of the CLIPPY culture and language integration programme (lateral entry programme for children who do not speak German)
- Intensifying foreign language education by increasing English lessons from two to four hours in K01
English Primary Department (EPD)
- Developing shared EPD agreements in order to have greater alignment and consistency using common language, practices and procedures in the areas of professionalism, teaching and learning, planning, professional development, home learning, feedback, general learning environment, parent communications, learning support, assessments, use of data
- Focus on internal EPD professional development sessions – effective 3 way conferences, analysing assessment data, providing more effective feedback, planning and teaching effective comprehension strategies, and providing a literature rich learning environment
German Secondary Department (GSD)
- Expansion of bilingual programme: introduction of Biology as a bilingual subject in K05, K06 and K08 and K09 and teaching of Music in English in K11 and K12
- Introduction of the Fast Track Programme: This school year, 12 Fast Track students joined the GSD K06 classes for the first time. The aim of the programme is to open the German International Stream to non-German speakers through an intensive German language and immersion programme and to offer students the opportunity to take the German International Abitur (DIA), which grants them access to universities in Germany and world-wide.
- Digital teaching and learning: further development of the concepts for online learning by introducing the BYOD concept for K07 and K08 and creation of the position of “Koordinator für digitale Unterrichtsentwicklung” (coordinator for digital lesson/curriculum development)
- STEAM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Technology-Arts): further development of the Makerspace room with the support of our sponsor TTI and year-round science projects and competitions.
English Secondary Department (ESD)
- Successfully increased participation in external competitions in Maths and Science.
- Further development of the Academic Society programme with an Academic Society Action Week and numerous student-created societies.
- Evaluation of the transition from Primary to Secondary: collaboration between subject leaders from Primary and Secondary departments to ensure continuity of the curriculum and a smooth transition.
The above examples prove that we are a dynamic school, a school that is aware of the task of permanently improving itself and its programmes. A good school is a learning institution. A good school must be a role model in that it approaches learning with the same seriousness as it demands of its students. A good school needs constant further development in order to be able to meet the changing conditions and requirements again and again; its work is never "finished".
Our teachers as well as the Heads of Department deserve our sincere thanks for their hard work and extensive effort they invested in the further development of the pedagogical quality, despite the adverse conditions of the past school year, in addition to the expansion and constant improvement of the online programme.
I wish you a nice weekend
| Ulrich Weghoff Principal |
Dear Parents
Though the challenges of the pandemic are not behind us, a positive outlook continues to emanate from our school as we look towards the beginning of the next school year and anticipate which government restrictions lie ahead of us.
Covid-19 Vaccinations
I’m pleased to report that we have a high vaccination rate amongst our staff and we continue to strongly encourage those staff members who do not hold medical exemptions, to vaccinate before the start of the 2021/22 academic year.
The government has also now expanded the BioNTech programme to children from the age of 12 so please do consider getting you and your family vaccinated, if you’ve not already done so. It’s important that as many of our community as possible are vaccinated, especially as there is then the possibility of reduced social distancing if vaccinations levels are high enough and we can get back to a ‘new normal’.
Bus Registration
If you are wanting your child/ren to travel by bus, please don’t forget to register by Wednesday, 30th June to allow the bus companies sufficient time to finalise bus routes and pick up/drop off times. The relevant Synergy form can be found in the ‘Schoolwide News’ section.
GSIS Gazette
This is the school’s only communication channel for weekly and regular updates, it’s very important that you continue to read it or you could miss vital information which is often pertinent to your child. Please do encourage other parents to get into the habit of simply logging in as here is where they’ll find the information they need.
This school newsletter is an integral part of the communications that the school uses to share important information (e.g. new bus company, deadlines for re-enrolment, registration fees etc) and will continue to be the communication channel the school uses and only urgent and ad hoc communications will be sent via email and SMS.
Finally, I wish you all a wonderful weekend and we are all looking forward to the last 8 days of term as, I’m sure, the students are too.
| Clare Chiu Managing Director |
Schoolwide News
German International Stream
Kindergarten Corner
Dear Parents
Another eventful week has come to an end. The children learnt a lot about the effects of plastic waste in the sea, and we hope you can take up and implement the topic of waste avoidance/reduction and recycling at home. As always, photos of the events are available from your child's class teachers on the Seesaw platform of your child's class.
The children were also eager to prepare something special for Father's Day, coming up this Sunday. Dear dads, may you be pleasantly surprised with what your child has prepared for you 🙂
School Bus Pok Fu Lam Campus
In the previous Gazettes, Ms Chiu, our MD, pointed out that the school bus registration has started for the coming school year.
Today we would like to draw your attention once again to the "Mandatory Bus Policy" for our Pok Fu Lam Campus. The Mandatory Bus Policy is an important part of our Pok Fu Lam Campus lease renewal with the Education Bureau and the Southern District Council.
Unfortunately, we have noticed a tremendous increase in "non-school bus users" this school year, which is worrying us. Due to the uncertainties about the start of face-to-face teaching in kindergarten, we can understand that some families have preferred other modes of transport.
Nevertheless, this does not mean that the Mandatory Bus Policy for Pok Fu Lam has changed in any way, and we would like to urgently appeal to all our parents to register your child for the school bus for the coming school year 2021/2022. Click here (password:GSIS) to register now!
Only residential addresses within walking distance (from Chi Fu Gardens to 140 Pok Fu Lam Road) and children with severe health issues (a doctor's certificate is required) are exempt from this regulation. Otherwise, this regulation applies to all students studying at the Pok Fu Lam Campus (KG, Y01 and DVOR). We look forward to your support in keeping in line with this rule.
Finally, let us put our hands together and to wish everyone a lovely weekend and a Happy Father's Day to all our Dads.
 Head of Kindergarten |  Deputy Head of Kindergarten and Deputy Child Protection Officer Pok Fu Lam Campus |
Departmental News and Announcements
No updates / announcements this week.
Primary Corner
Dear Parents
We are pleased to inform you that we will have new house shirts from next school year on.
We encourage all our students to wear the house shirt for the PE lessons, but any other sports clothes are welcomed. The house colours will be needed to wear at the Sports Day in autumn.
You will receive a list with names and what house your child is in next week with the information for the new school year.
The new house shirts can be ordered in August. Please check the Gazette for more details.
 Head of German Primary Department |  Deputy Head of German Primary Department |
Departmental News and Announcements
No updates / announcements this week.
Secondary Corner
Departmental News and Announcements
No updates / announcements this week.
English International Stream
Kindergarten Corner
Dear Parents
Another eventful week has come to an end. The children learnt a lot about the effects of plastic waste in the sea, and we hope you can take up and implement the topic of waste avoidance/reduction and recycling at home. As always, photos of the events are available from your child's class teachers on the Seesaw platform of your child's class.
The children were also eager to prepare something special for Father's Day, coming up this Sunday. Dear dads, may you be pleasantly surprised with what your child has prepared for you 🙂
School Bus Pok Fu Lam Campus
In the previous Gazettes, Ms Chiu, our MD, pointed out that the school bus registration has started for the coming school year.
Today we would like to draw your attention once again to the "Mandatory Bus Policy" for our Pok Fu Lam Campus. The Mandatory Bus Policy is an important part of our Pok Fu Lam Campus lease renewal with the Education Bureau and the Southern District Council.
Unfortunately, we have noticed a tremendous increase in "non-school bus users" this school year, which is worrying us. Due to the uncertainties about the start of face-to-face teaching in kindergarten, we can understand that some families have preferred other modes of transport.
Nevertheless, this does not mean that the Mandatory Bus Policy for Pok Fu Lam has changed in any way, and we would like to urgently appeal to all our parents to register your child for the school bus for the coming school year 2021/2022. Click here (password:GSIS) to register now!
Only residential addresses within walking distance (from Chi Fu Gardens to 140 Pok Fu Lam Road) and children with severe health issues (a doctor's certificate is required) are exempt from this regulation. Otherwise, this regulation applies to all students studying at the Pok Fu Lam Campus (KG, Y01 and DVOR). We look forward to your support in keeping in line with this rule.
Finally, let us put our hands together and to wish everyone a lovely weekend and a Happy Father's Day to all our Dads.
Head of Kindergarten | Deputy Head of Kindergarten and Deputy Child Protection Officer Pok Fu Lam Campus |
Departmental News and Announcements
No updates / announcements this week.
Primary Corner
Dear Parents
We are pleased to inform you that we will have new house shirts from next school year on. The house shirt will replace the green PE uniform shirt. Current PE shirts may still be worn.
We encourage all our students to wear the house shirt for the PE lessons. The house colours will be needed to wear at the Sports Day in autumn.
The new house shirts can be ordered in August. Please check the Gazette for more details.
Have a lovely weekend!
 Head of English Primary Department |  Deputy Head of English Primary Department |
Departmental News and Announcements
No updates / announcements this week.
Looking for what's been going on in class this week?
Secondary Corner
Departmental News and Announcements
No updates / announcements this week.
Book Reviews
Departmental News and Announcements
Alumni
Upcoming Events 2021
Community Networking Breakfast
Friday 17 Sep 2021
08:00 - 11:00 HKT
LRC, Mid Levels
More Info »
Annual Alumni Reception
Wednesday 24 Nov 2021
18:00 - 22:00 HKT
Watermark, Central
More Info »
Community Committee's Christmas Bazaar
Saturday 27 Nov 2021
German Swiss International School
More Info »
