CONTENTS
- Principal's Column
- Schoolwide News
- German International Stream
- English International Stream
- Student Achievements & Initiatives
- Wellbeing Corner
- Highlights of the Week
Connect with GSIS
📅 Save the date! Our highly anticipated annual Christmas Bazaar will take place on Saturday, 2 December 2023. 🎄 The GSIS community of students, parents, staff, alumni, and friends, will come together for this special event. It promises to be a delightful occasion filled with laughter and festive cheer to ring in the holiday season as well as support our school!
#GSIS #GermanSwissInternationalSchool #InternationalSchool #HongKong #EducationalExcellence #GSISChristmasBazaar
It is open for public for registration？
GSIS Gazette – Issue #90
2nd December 2022Principal's Column
Although there is much focus on learning in school, this week the memories of the Christmas Bazaar have been the buzzing topic of conversation everywhere in the school.
Christmas bazaar and school community
It was my first Christmas Bazaar, and it was wonderful. I have never seen a school community organize such a great event in my time in Germany. You could really feel how the school community has bonded together. I wish to extend my many thanks to all big and small helpers without whom the Christmas bazaar could not have taken place. Christmas music, raclette, sausages, mulled wine, pastries and much more, plus lots of good cheer, ensured that all visitors had great fun. I realized what our school community is capable of. We are now looking ahead to implement further events for the benefit of the students.
Visit from Tokyo
For the Christmas Bazaar and this past week, we had a visit from Ms. Katy Pirjol from Tokyo. Ms. Pirjol visited the GSIS in her function as Process Facilitator of the ZfA (German Schools Abroad) in this region and got an impression of the GSIS during a consulting visit. She has had many fruitful discussions, with the Board about the BLI, with the school management about school developments, and with teachers about teaching and observations. Yet, I believe that for her, too, the most significant event of her visit was the Christmas Bazaar.
I am pleased to be part of this creative and positive school community.
| Dr Dirk Bennhardt Principal |
Schoolwide News
'A Very Musical Christmas' Concert
The ESD / GSD departments are delighted to invite the School Community to the ‘A Very Musical Christmas’ concert on Tuesday, 13 December in the Sports Hall (Lower Building). The concerts starts at 6:30 pm, with doors open from 6:00 pm. The programme features a mixture of Christmas classics and repertoire from Musical Theatre. The concert will last for around one hour. There is no need to reserve tickets - simply to sign in with the LHS app on arrival, with seating available on a first come, first served basis. If you have any questions, please contact the Director of Music, Mr William Goldring: wgoldring@gsis.edu.hk.
|
William Goldring Director of Music |
2022 Christmas Basketball Camp
German basketball champion ALBA BERLIN will host our 2022 Christmas Basketball Camp for our students at the GSIS Peak Campus from Monday, 19 December to Friday, 23 December 2022.
GROUP 1 - Boys & Girls (Year Groups Y04-Y06 & K03-K05)
(Mixed group)
Date: Monday, 19 December to Friday, 23 December 2022
Time: 9:30 am - 11:30 am
Location: GSIS Peak Campus, Sports hall Lower Building (L401)
Cost: HKD 4,100 (including ALBA BERLIN camp shirt)
GROUP 2 - Boys & Girls (Year Groups Y07-Y10 & K06-K09)
(Two separate training groups practicing simultaneously)
Date: Monday, 19 December to Friday, 23 December 2022
Time: 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Location: GSIS Peak Campus, Sports hall Lower Building (L401)
Cost: HKD 4,100 (including ALBA BERLIN camp shirt)
The maximum per group is 20 participants. Enrolment for both groups will be open between Monday, 28 November (10:00 am) and Tuesday, 7 December 2022 (10:00 am) through Schoolsbuddy. Please contact us at afternoonactivities@gsis.edu.hk if you have any questions or facing any issue on logging into Schoolsbuddy.
|
Angelin and Conny Student Services Team |
University Guidance: Upcoming Events (External)
ADMISSION INFORMATION SESSIONS
1) GSIS PARENTS WEBINAR: Y13 PARENTS VIRTUAL COFFEE MORNING: 'UNIVERSITY DECISIONS: REJOICE, REJECTION, STRESS AND ANXIETY'
Date: Wednesday, 7 December
Time: 8:00 am HKT
Link will be provided one week in advance via email
2) WARWICK INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION PROGRAMME (IFP) WEBINAR
Participate in this webinar for the Warwick International Foundation Programme (IFP) Information Session and learn more about the courses, application process and how it prepares students for undergraduate study in any UK university.
Date: Wednesday, 7 Dec 2022
Time: 6:00 - 7:00 pm HKT
Register here
3) An Introduction to Undergraduate Psychology at UCL (ONLINE)
An overview on the undergraduate Psychology programmes at UCL by Dr Julie Evans, Faculty Tutor, Faculty of Brain Sciences. She will be joined by a few of the current undergraduate students who will share their experiences and answer questions from the audience after the talk. Registration is mandatory.
Date: Wednesday, 7 Dec 2022
Time: 7:00 pm HKT
Register here
4) UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO VIRTUAL INFORMATION SESSION (ONLINE)
This session for students and parents will showcase what programs Waterloo has to offer; the admission requirements; life in Canada and on campus; paying for university; gaining hands-on work experience through North America's largest co-op program and more.
Date: Saturday, Dec 10, 2022
Time: 9:00 - 10:00 am HKT
Venue: Online via Zoom (Meeting link will be sent by e-mail upon registration completion)
Register here
ENRICHMENT & ADVANCEMENT OPPORTUNITIES
1) University of Bath: Engineering Taster Lecture Series for Hong Kong Schools (ONLINE)
Civil Engineering: How to Build an Olympic Stadium
Date: Friday, 2 Dec 2022
Time: 7:00 - 8:00 pm HKT
Register Here
2) MICROBIOME SUMMIT 2023: “MICROBIOME SCIENCE, INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY: THE TIME HAS COME” (IN-PERSON)
Panel discussions by government officials, academic leaders, investors, and the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industry to share their insights and experience on microbiome diagnostics and therapeutics, IP protection and the opportunities of biotech development in the Greater Bay Area.
Date: Friday, 13 Jan 2023
Time: 9:30 am - 4:30 pm HKT
Venue: Grand Hall, 1/F, 12W, Hong Kong Science Park
Register Here
3) WARWICK PRE-UNIVERSITY SUMMER SCHOOL
To know more about Pre-University Summer school at Warwick for students aged 15-17
Find Out More
4) Learn more about Rise (ONLINE)
Rise is a program that finds brilliant young people and supports them for life as they work to serve others. Learn more about what makes Rise unique from other programs by attending a 45-minute virtual information session, delivered by Rise Winners.
Register here
5) USC SUMMER PROGRAMS: 2023 Applications are Now Open
USC Summer Programs offers students a preview of "freshman year" through its college immersion experience. Programs are designed to combine college-level coursework, academic field trips, and structured extracurricular activities.
Find Out More
 Claire Wilkins |
 Beatrice Ugolini |
ALBA BERLIN Basketball Academy (Saturday Classes)
German basketball champion ALBA BERLIN will host the second term of Saturday Sessions for our students at the GSIS Peak Campus where boys and girls will train with professional ALBA BERLIN coaches.
Saturday Sessions: Boys & Girls (Year Groups Y04-Y06 & K03-K05)
Mixed group
Dates: 9 Saturdays: 07.01., 14.01., 04.02., 11.02., 18.02., 25.02., 04.03., 11.03., 18.03.2023
Time: 9:00 am - 11:00 am
Location: GSIS Peak Campus, Sports hall Lower Building (L401)
Cost: HKD 7,600 (including ALBA BERLIN (Adidas) practice shirt & shorts)
Saturday Sessions: Boys & Girls (Year Groups Y07-Y10 & K06-K09)
Two separate training groups practicing simultaneously
Dates: 9 Saturdays: 07.01., 14.01., 04.02., 11.02., 18.02., 25.02., 04.03., 11.03., 18.03.2023
Time: 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: GSIS Peak Campus, Sports Hall Lower Building (L401)
Cost: HKD 7,600 (including ALBA BERLIN (Adidas) practice jersey & shorts)
The student / coach ratio is 12:1. Enrolment for both sessions will be open between Friday, 2 December (10:00 am) and Wednesday, 7 December 2022 (10:00 am) through Schoolsbuddy.
|
Angelin and Conny Student Service Team |
GSIS School Shop - Back-in-Stock
Please note that all out-of-stock items are available again and we also topped up our winter items - long track pants and hoodie, to keep our students warm this winter! We have only limited stock for these non-compulsory items, order now while supplies last! You can find the online shop here (Password: gsishongkong). Please feel free to visit Kukri shop located in Wong Chuk Hang if you would like to try on the outfit, Kukri’s staff will be happy to assist you.
| Address: | Unit B, 6/F, Gee Chang Hong Building, 65 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Hong Kong |
| Opening hours: | Monday to Friday - 9:30 am to 5:00 pm |
If you have any further queries, please do not hesitate to contact us at Schooloutfitters@gsis.edu.hk!
|
Angelin and Conny Student Services Team |
German International Stream
From Head of Stream
The most beautiful weeks of the year have begun, and last weekend the long-awaited Christmas bazaar and the first Advent ushered in the pre-Christmas season. Yesterday, it was time for the first door of the Advent calendar to be opened and numerous activities in the departments and classes will further increase the anticipation of the festivities in the remaining two school weeks: Christmas concerts, Christmas crafts and Christmas cookie baking are just as much a part of it as is "Nikolaus", whom we expect again this year.
In addition to the anticipation of the Christmas holidays, the school calendar remains filled with classwork, tests, exciting debates, reading aloud and sports competitions, excursions, and the traditional hiking day in the Secondary. In the German Secondary, the four students who will represent us in the final round of “Jugend debattiert” in Asia in spring 2023 will be selected. Dragons, Lions, Phoenixes, and Tigers, as well as our GSIS sports teams, faced and continue to face various athletic challenges. The finals of the Interhouse Basketball Tournament will conclude the first stage of the school year on 16 December 2022. So, two more eventful weeks await us.
| Grit Cichon Deputy Principal / Head of German International Stream |
Kindergarten Corner
The Christmas countdown has begun.
Our Christmas tree is up, and with the children's help, they decorated it with great joy and enthusiasm. Much to our delight, our Christmas wreaths have arrived in time from Germany, and we would like to thank the Parents Committee for the organisation and their generosity. During the Advent season, opening the Advent calendar, lighting the Advent candles, and singing Advent and Christmas carols are part of our daily class routines.
We are delighted to announce more Christmas highlights at the PFL campus for our Kindergarten students:
- Tuesday, 6 December - A Visit by Sankt Nicholas and PFL Nicholas Assembly
- Friday, 9 December - DKRA Christmas Celebration with children and parents
- Monday, 12 December - DKSC Christmas Celebration with children and parents
- Wednesday, 14 December - KG2L Parent-Child Christmas Activity & Christmas Party GKG children
- Thursday, 15 December - KG2D Parent-Child Christmas Activity
- Friday, 16 December - KG1B Parent-Child Christmas Activity & KG1C Parent-Child Christmas Activity & DKGL Christmas Celebration with children and parents
We wish you and your family a very happy Advent, full of enjoyment and preparations to make it the most memorable Christmas celebration.
 Sophie Burdel |
 Eileen Mah |
Departmental News and Announcements
No updates / announcements this week
Primary Corner
The first week of Advent is already gone and we are all in Christmas spirit. The GSIS Christmas Bazaar was a success and everybody enjoyed it - what fun to see all the students playing in the game alley and having time to chat with lots of parents. Thanks to all the parents who volunteered to help with the game alley - very much appreciated!
We continue celebrating the advent with our Nicholaus Assemblies at the Peak and Pok Fu Lam Campus for our students. I already wonder what Saint Nicholas will read to our students from the Golden Book.
Two other events will happen on Wednesday, 14 December 2022:
Christmas Art and Crafts for students - Peak Campus (K01-K04)
On this day the students will have the chance to get into the Christmas spirit to do Arts&Crafts. We will start with an assembly and then the students will go from classroom to classroom and create Christmas objects. Please make sure that the students wear clothes that might get dirty or have some stains. All students need to bring a bag to return their artwork safely home.
Cooking decoration with parents and students - Pok Fu Lam Campus (DVOR)
The DVOR classes invite parents to school to help decorate Christmas cookies. Songs and music will help to create the right Christmas atmosphere. Details to this event will be shared soon.
Eichhörnchen: 9:30 am
Füchschen: 11:15 am
 Priska Erni |
 Beate Weinhardt |
Departmental News and Announcements
No updates / announcements this week
Looking for what's been going on in class this month?
Secondary Corner
Departmental News and Announcements
No updates / announcements this week
English International Stream
Kindergarten Corner
The Christmas countdown has begun.
Our Christmas tree is up, and with the children's help, they decorated it with great joy and enthusiasm. Much to our delight, our Christmas wreaths have arrived in time from Germany, and we would like to thank the Parents Committee for the organisation and their generosity. During the Advent season, opening the Advent calendar, lighting the Advent candles, and singing Advent and Christmas carols are part of our daily class routines.
We are delighted to announce more Christmas highlights at the PFL campus for our Kindergarten students:
- Tuesday, 6 December - A Visit by Sankt Nicholas and PFL Nicholas Assembly
- Friday, 9 December - DKRA Christmas Celebration with children and parents
- Monday, 12 December - DKSC Christmas Celebration with children and parents
- Wednesday, 14 December - KG2L Parent-Child Christmas Activity & Christmas Party GKG children
- Thursday, 15 December - KG2D Parent-Child Christmas Activity
- Friday, 16 December - KG1B Parent-Child Christmas Activity & KG1C Parent-Child Christmas Activity & DKGL Christmas Celebration with children and parents
We wish you and your family a very happy Advent, full of enjoyment and preparations to make it the most memorable Christmas celebration.
|
Sophie Burdel |
Eileen Mah |
Departmental News and Announcements
No updates / announcements this week
Primary Corner
Christmas is well and truly underway in the Primary Department! The tree is up, the entrance at the Peak has been decorated by our Year 2 and 6 children and we have already had the first of our class Christmas concerts. The Bazaar was an excellent way to launch the Christmas season and it was wonderful to see everyone there having fun with the games, performances and festive refreshments. We were particularly happy that the choir had the opportunity to perform for parents again. Thank you to everyone who volunteered and participated to make it an excellent community event.
Coming Up:
St Nikolaus - 6 December
Next week we will continue our festive activities with our Nikolaus Assemblies on Tuesday - I’m sure he will have plenty of positive things written about the children in his Golden Book!
Christmas Concerts
Unfortunately, due to staff sickness, we have to reschedule the class Christmas Concerts planned for next week at the Peak Campus. Please see below for proposed dates and times. These will be confirmed once we know that all staff are back in school. Parents of Years 2-5, please check your emails for updates to the concert schedule.
YO2B Tuesday, 13 December - 8:15 am
YO2C Tuesday, 13 December - 7:35 am
YO3B Monday, 12 December - 11:15 am
YO3C Monday, 12 December - 10:05 am
YO4B Monday, 12 December - 8:15 am
YO4C Monday, 12 December - 11:55 am
YO5B Tuesday, 13 December - 9:25 am
YO5C Tuesday, 13 December - 10:05 am
The Year 1 concert is taking place at Pok Fu Lam on Thursday, 8 December, at 10:00 am. Please check emails from Ms. Poon, Mrs. Cook and Ms. Marsh for more details.
 Donna Morley |
 Eleanor Cowling |
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
Student Achievements & Initiatives
GSIS Model United Nations Conference
Martin Cox (Lehrer Erdkunde)
GSISMUN Executive Committee (from left to right):
Aristobulus Lam (Secretary-General), David Won (Deputy Secretary-General) and Alvin Hui (Under-Secretary-General), Julian Chung (Design Director) not pictured
Over the weekend of the 5 and 6 November, GSIS played host to the first inaugural GSIS Model United Nations conference, attended by more than 150 secondary school students around Hong Kong. MUN is a simulation of the real United Nations organisation where students act as representatives of real countries to discuss real global issues. Organised by Aristobulus Lam, David Won, Alvin Hui and Julian Chung, advised by Dr. Martin Cox, the conference elicited much fruitful debate from its participants.
The executive committee would like to take this opportunity to thank those in the GSIS community who attended the event, especially to Adhit Ranjan and Aarush Garg, who chaired one of the seven committees during the conference. With the conference being such a success, we are confident that the MUN community will grow at GSIS. Interest in MUN spiked across all year groups in the school, and the future of this community is undeniably bright. Congratulations to you all and we look forward to seeing you again at GSISMUN next year.
Wellbeing Corner
Positive Experiences in Community
What a lovely start for our school community into the festive pre-Christmas season with the return of our Christmas Bazaar. Already the preparations for the Christmas Bazaar in the respective classes have made it clear how much fun it is to organise and prepare a joint activity and that we are working on something together. All in all, the anticipation of the coming convivial weeks and the Christmas holidays carries and shapes the coming time. Currently, the next small events are already being planned, such as the Christmas concert, class Christmas parties and the outing day, and this strengthens the class and school community.
After the pandemic period, we adults also look forward to our Christmas parties and being together with colleagues and friends. Of course, there are still some tasks to be done before the holidays, but anticipation makes the work easier and is especially motivating. Being able to live in a normal community again is very important for everyone, because we need shared experiences and time with other people for our mental health. Positive experiences in community give us security, make us strong and self-confident and we can learn from each other. In this sense, enjoy the coming weeks, days and the small moments in the here and now and take advantage of opportunities to be together.
Jeanette Dellinger(School Counsellor / Schulsozialpädagogin)
