CONTENTS
- Principal's Column
- Schoolwide News
- German International Stream
- English International Stream
- Wellbeing Corner
- Highlights of the Week
Dear School Community
Every day I learn more about Hong Kong and what a very special place it is with its diversity and tolerance. The blend of so many cultures inspires me all the time. In Europe, the Chinese New Year was not familiar to me. Being here, I now grasp the significance of this festival and understand that it is the most meaningful holiday in one of the greatest cultures in the world. I am looking forward to experiencing this special time first hand in its authentic environment. Unfortunately, due to the current pandemic situation, a full celebration with all its traditions will not be possible.
Everything that I have just written about Hong Kong also applies to the German Swiss International School. Our school represents diversity and tolerance, everyone works together across different streams and departments, and people come from various backgrounds, representing one school. At GSIS, children are guided along different paths to different degrees. By learning from each other and interacting between the streams, children learn at an early age to appreciate the beauty of diversity, which builds a solid foundation for their future. This makes German Swiss International School a school that cannot be divided, but brings people together and helps to shape the world.
With this in mind, I send you my best wishes to celebrate the Chinese New Year holidays, welcome diversity, and that we wish happiness to each other.
I would prefer to end my column with these wishes, but the current situation of online learning leads me to say a few more words on this topic. As the Principal, I wish, as do all parents, children and staff, that we will be allowed to return to face-to-face classes as soon as possible. As a school, we are committed to giving the children the best possible learning environment under any circumstances. A big thank you to all the parents for their great support of the school and your children. I would especially like to thank the parents of the Kindergarten and Primary departments, who have to take on a special responsibility in caring for the little ones.
Yesterday, Thursday, the EDB issued a notice announcing the regulations for schools after Chinese New Year. For more information and details at GSIS, please see below unter ‘School after the Chinese New Year holidays’.
For now, let us look forward to the Chinese New Year festivities and hope for a positive development.
With best regards for a happy Chinese New Year
Kung Hei Fat Choy
As in the past, the EDB's framework of regulations is one of extreme caution and is binding on all schools.
Face-to-face classes are suspended from Kindergarten through Secondary up to and including 18 February 2022. Exemption has only been granted for us to conduct final examinations and have graduating classes return to campus on a half-day basis for face-to-face lessons preparing for their examinations.
Therefore, at GSIS, grades Y11, Y13, K10, K11 and K12 will be scheduled from 7:40 am to 1:15 pm for face-to-face classes. More information on this will be provided by our Heads of Department, who will also be happy to answer any queries.
The school has asked the bus company to arrange transportation for the relevant students and to contact the families directly.
Emergency care at the Primary and Kindergarten departments will be provided as usual.
This is only intended as emergency care in accordance with EDB regulations.
We will continue to provide high-quality online lessons for all students as usual and I would like to thank both the teaching and administrative staff, who have all contributed to making this possible.
This week, I have received several positive feedback and thank you notes from parents regarding the online classes. The entire school team was very pleased to hear this and will continue online lessons with even stronger motivation in the Year of the Tiger.
Thank you for your cooperation
Dr Dirk Bennhardt Principal |
The following events are suitable and available to all students and parents of students in Y10-Y13 and K09-K12:
Oxford Royale is an award-winning provider of global summer schools taking place on the campuses of some of the world's most prestigious universities, including the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge. Our world-leading summer teaching faculty is made up of an extensive international network of experts and boasts an extraordinary range of talent, including Oxford academics, Ivy League lecturers, medical researchers, leading industry professionals in film and architecture, published authors, clinical psychologists and many more.
3 July-13 August
For ages 13 to 18
Venue: University of Oxford
For more details and registration link, please click here.
1-5 August 2022
This is a free, online programme for international students who are applying for undergraduate courses starting from September 2023 and who are academically able to study at Bath in their chosen subject. It focuses on five course areas offered at the University, consisting of a programme of academic activities, general sessions on applying to and studying in the UK and having contact with current students at the University. You will also be able to engage with your peers looking to studying a similar course to you.
All students must be able to show evidence of their English proficiency with an IELTS 5.5 overall or an equivalent qualification.
If you complete the International Summer School, including the sessions and activities that are included, you will be guaranteed to receive an offer for a place to study at Bath. This is on the condition that you meet the academic requirements necessary, a UCAS application is submitted by the UCAS equal consideration deadline and the subject stream you undertook as part of the International Summer School is related to the degree you apply for.
Subject areas available for 2022 will be released in Spring 2022. Applications will open in March 2022.
In the meantime, you can register your interest here.
For inquiries, please contact the Student Recruitment Team at student-recruitment-team@bath.ac.uk.
Our free virtual information webinars allow you to watch, listen and interact with live sessions run by the University from the comfort of your own home. Please note that you will not be required to use your camera during any of the webinars.
Wednesday 2 February 1:00pm-2:30pm UKT (9:00pm-10:30pm HKT)
During the session, we will cover how our degree develops the knowledge and skills you will require to be successful within a psychology based career.
You can find out more about our unique tutorial model and flexible study options including two entry points and a chance to finish your degree in as little as two years. Our BSc Psychology is accredited by the British Psychological Society and we have distinct modules in all seven areas of practitioner psychology.
Throughout the session, you can ask questions to both current students and academic staff via online chat. A recording will be available on request following the event.
Wednesday 9 February 12:30pm-2:00pm UKT (8:30pm-10:00pm HKT)
Are you aspiring to start your career in Cyber Security or AI and Robotics? Or, perhaps you want to work in Gaming and Immersive Technology or Software Development.
This webinar will illustrate how the Buckingham degree programmes provide a unique grounding in developing the knowledge and skills you will require to begin a successful career in Computing. Our offer is unique because of our tutorial teaching model and flexibility of study with two entry points and a chance to finish your degree in as little as two years! Our degrees are accredited by the British Computing Society (BCS) and include opportunities to engage in real-world work experience.
Wednesday 9 February 2:00pm-3:30pm UKT (10:00pm-11:30pm HKT)
Are you an aspiring solicitor or barrister? Or do you want to work in finance, public service, risk management, or governance?
This webinar will illustrate how Buckingham’s two-year law degree programmes provide a unique grounding in the knowledge and skills required for a successful legal-based career. Unique because of our small group teaching, our flexibility (with entry points in September and January), and our four full teaching terms a year, allowing you to complete your degree in two years.
Tuesday 8 March 4:00pm-4:45pm UKT (Wednesday 9 March 12:00am-12:45am HKT)
Gain an understanding of the types of careers you can access having studied (and achieved) a BSc in Biomedical Sciences. Hear from our lecturers in Biomedical Science, as well as from current Biomedical Science students and alumni.
Thursday 17 March 4:00pm-4:45pm UKT (Friday 18 March 12:00am-12:45am HKT)
Gain an understanding of what is involved in the field of podiatric medicine and podiatry - it's not just about treating feet but the whole of the lower limb, including surgical procedures, physical therapy and the use of prosthetics. Receive information about the opportunities to work for yourself, once qualified, and the financial support available from the NHS to study this subject.
InvestIN is a London-based organisation led by a group of experienced professionals from some of the world's most competitive careers. We exist to provide students with an immersive experience of their dream career before they start university, so they can get a head-start over their competition.
We are delighted to announce the first events in our Success Beyond School series for 2022. These are free-of-charge, live online seminars featuring career experts, designed to help parents amplify their children’s career potential. We have 5 fantastic seminars this term, including topics such as 'how to help your child choose their career' and 'how to inspire young women to become entrepreneurs.' These events are for parents of students aged 12-18 and are free to attend.
All of these seminars are at 7:00pm London time, equivalent to 3:00am HK time. We realize that this is an inconvenient time for HK, but please register if you are interested so that you can receive a recording you may view later.
Wednesday 9 February 7:00pm UKT (Thursday 10 February 3:00am HKT)
In this event, we’ll hear from leading experts in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science to explore the ways you can help your child on their journey into medical sciences. Highlights will include:
Wednesday 9 March 7:00pm UKT (Thursday 10 March 3:00am HKT)
In this event, we’ll hear from professionals who are driving change in a typically male-dominated industry. Highlights include:
Wednesday 23 March 7:00pm UKT (Thursday 24 March 3:00am HKT)
Is your child looking for a 360-degree experience in their dream career? Join us for a look at what our students get up to on some of our most popular Summer Experiences. Under the guidance of our top industry executives, your child steps into the shoes of a professional in London and gains the knowledge, experience, advantage, and network they need to take the next steps in their career journey
Wednesday 6 April 7:00pm UKT (Thursday 7 April 2:00am HKT)
Choosing a profession can be a daunting part of our children’s career journeys. Here at InvestIN, we believe in providing students with the tools they need to choose their careers with confidence and fully maximise their potential.
In this event, we’ll sit down with the experts to discuss your child’s next steps; whether that be GCSE’s, A-Levels, Higher Education, or employment. We’ll also be providing some top takeaways that you can be doing with your child right now to help make these big decisions a little easier!
Wednesday 4 May 7:00pm UKT (Thursday 5 May 2:00am HKT)
From the crime scene to the courtroom and beyond, careers in forensics are becoming increasingly popular amongst the next generation. As research into this area continues to grow, it is only set to become even more competitive. In this event, we’ll be looking at how this industry has expanded in recent years and the wealth of opportunities available for those with a passion for forensic science, law, psychology. We’ll take a closer look at the best routes into the justice system and what your child can be doing now to stand out from the crowd.
We are an organization founded by Harvard and Oxford PhDs with the aim to provide high school students around the world the access to research opportunities with top global scholars.
This is our selective research program for talented students. In the program, students work 1-1 with a researcher from a top university to produce an independent research project.
We help students
For more information about the program, please see the attached brochure. Please find also attached a research paper called “Positioning Research In College Applications: Evidence from Lumiere’s Class of 2026 Early Application Results” written by our Directors Mr Dhruva Bhat and Mr Stephen Turban.
The applications for the spring and summer cohorts of the Lumiere Research Scholar Program are open! The upcoming cohort deadline for the spring is Sunday 13 February and students can apply through the application form as usual.
![]() Claire Wilkins |
![]() Beatrice Ugolini |
Attachments
Dear Parents
With the start of the Chinese New Year holidays, we are concluding our first online phase of this school year. As already mentioned by our Principal, our hope of being able to resume face-to-face classes after the holidays has unfortunately not been fulfilled. The majority of our students will continue to be taught online, while K10 and Upper Secondary as final years will have morning classes in school. I would like to thank you all for your patience and the support of our colleagues during this online phase, who are once again dedicated to enriching the online learning experience as well as including many creative ideas and methods.
While most of our students are looking forward to a relaxing break, our K12 students will use this time for the final preparations for their written German International Abitur examinations. These will take place immediately after the holidays. We hope that our examinees will be supported with the luck of the new year and wish them great success.
I wish your families and friends as well as our school staff a relaxing holiday and a Happy New Year of the Tiger.
Happy Chinese New Year 2022 - Year of the Tiger! 恭喜发财
Grit Cichon Deputy Principal / Head of German International Stream |
As we are fast approaching the Chinese New Year, we are all looking forward to the Lunar New Year Holidays, from 31 January till 04 February.
We were undoubtedly hoping to see our children back at school after the Chinese New Year Holidays. However, the Education Bureau (EDB) announced yesterday the extension of the existing arrangements on suspension of in-person classes and on-campus activities until February 21.
Our teachers will continue with online learning on Monday, February 07, with the current schedule via SeeSaw. Please feel free to contact us if you require any further support.
Our Chinese New Year Assembly and the Lion Dance at PFL will go ahead as planned on Friday, 11 February, at 11:15 am. We currently plan a live stream, and it also will be recorded to be published for viewing later that day. Please dress your child in something red or in a Chinese outfit to celebrate the festivities for the day.
Here are the following events for February:
We wish you good health, joy and prosperity in the Year of the Tiger.
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
![]() Sophie Burdel |
![]() Eileen Mah |
Dear Parents
Welcome the New Year with a cute smile on your face and keep smiling all year round. Best wishes for Chinese New Year to fulfil your hopes and dreams so it will be a happy and prosperous new year!
We hope you have a wonderful Chinese New Year with your family and friends.
Kung Hei Fat Choi!
![]() Priska Erni |
![]() Beate Weinhardt |
Dear Parents
Kung Hei Fat Choi! Wishing all GSIS families a peaceful and prosperous Year of the Tiger!
Please review the Principal’s message about school arrangements following Chinese New Year on his page of The Gazette.
As they will be sitting public examinations this year, Year 11 and Year 13 students will come in to school from Monday 7th February. Classes will run until 1.15 pm, classes for all other year groups will be online.
The Education Bureau have asked us to remind parents to monitor the health condition of their children and to avoid going to crowded places over the festive period.
The current conditions will take us up to 17th February, 2022 so let us hope for more positive news about reopening after the break.
Warm regards
Simon Misso-Veness Deputy Principal / Head of English International Stream |
As we are fast approaching the Chinese New Year, we are all looking forward to the Lunar New Year Holidays, from 31 January till 04 February.
We were undoubtedly hoping to see our children back at school after the Chinese New Year Holidays. However, the Education Bureau (EDB) announced yesterday the extension of the existing arrangements on suspension of in-person classes and on-campus activities until February 21.
Our teachers will continue with online learning on Monday, February 07, with the current schedule via SeeSaw. Please feel free to contact us if you require any further support.
Our Chinese New Year Assembly and the Lion Dance at PFL will go ahead as planned on Friday, 11 February, at 11:15 am. We currently plan a live stream, and it also will be recorded to be published for viewing later that day. Please dress your child in something red or in a Chinese outfit to celebrate the festivities for the day.
Here are the following events for February:
We wish you good health, joy and prosperity in the Year of the Tiger.
Gong Xi Fa Cai!
![]() Sophie Burdel |
![]() Eileen Mah |
![]() Kim Cunningham |
![]() Donna Morley |
I am sure that many of you are feeling the 'covid-fatigue'- and that being online seems like both a distant memory, yet just yesterday. We hope that your first week during online learning (this academic year) has been successful. Have you reflected on how you can make the most of this experience compared to last time we were online learning?
We all know the benefits of exercising on our mental health and it is important to keep this up as much as we can especially when we are sat in front of our screens all day. But, have you considered the advantages of stepping away from the screen and getting creative? We have attached an article with Katie Flowers, an art therapist in Hong Kong about the power of art and creativity during the ongoing global pandemic.
https://medium.com/mindhk/interview-katie-flowers-art-therapist-6edbb367f02
You don't need to have a creative bone - just the mindset to 'let go' of your inhibitions and try. You might even feel less stressed 😉
Wishing you all a prosperous year of the Tiger!
Your School Counsellors