CONTENTS
- Principal's Column
- Schoolwide News
- German International Stream
- English International Stream
- Highlights of the Week
Connect with GSIS
Hip, hip, hooray! Congratulations to our IBDP Class of 2023 🎓! Last Thursday marked a milestone in the lives of 58 students from our English International Stream as they marched down the stage in the IB Hall. Family and friends were gathered to celebrate this memorable moment. We wish all our graduates the very best as they embark on their next adventure!
#GSIS #GermanSwissInternationalSchool #InternationalSchool #HongKong #EducationalExcellence #InternationalBaccalaureate #IBDP #GraduationDay
Congratulations 🎉🎈🎊
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GSIS Gazette – Issue #99
12th May 2023Principal's Column
Dear School Community
The students' final exams are a special event at every school. In the next fortnight, our outstanding graduates in the English and German International Streams will have completed all their exams and received their well-deserved degrees. Although examinations in both streams are still taking place, the German Consulate General already confirmed its attendance at both Graduation Ceremonies. The KMK has sent the Ministerialrat, Mr. Mayer, to the GSIS as the examination chairman for the German International Abitur. In addition, the regional representative of the ZfA, Mr. Hinxlage, will support our school in an advisory capacity next week.
Last week GSIS hosted Mrs. Pirjol, the process facilitator based in Tokyo, whose purpose of this visit was to consult with all departments in the German International Stream in preparation for the BLI. She sends everyone in the school community her best regards and wishes our Graduates the best of luck.
As the Principal, I am pleased that the students of GSIS and colleagues' work receive such great appreciation through these many visits. With these words, I remain until the next Gazette.
With best regards,
| Dr Dirk Bennhardt Principal |
Schoolwide News
Welcome Mr. Johannes Claassen!
We are delighted to announce that Mr. Johannes Claassen will be joining our school in August 2023 as the new Head of Primary Department (German International Stream). With over 13 years of experience in education, Mr. Claassen brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our school.
Mr. Claassen has a proven track record of leadership in primary education. He is passionate about providing high-quality education and has a deep understanding of the needs of students, parents, and the wider community.
We are excited to have Mr. Claassen join our team and look forward to the positive impact he will make. He will be responsible for leading the primary department, ensuring that our students receive the best possible education and support to thrive in their academic and personal lives.
Please join us in welcoming Mr. Johannes Claassen to GSIS. We are confident that he will make a significant contribution to our community and help us to achieve our mission of providing a world-class education to our students.
|
Denise McNeill Director of Human Resources |
GSIS School Bus Enrollment for next Academic Year 2023/2024
Further to our email dated 5 May 2023, we would like to remind you about the school bus service enrollment for the next academic year 2023/2024.
KWOON CHUNG MOTORS COMPANY LIMITED will be offering school bus services to our GSIS Community on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon with children at the Peak and Pok Fu Lam Campus, starting from August 2023.
Please click HERE to view Kwoon Chung Motors Company Limited details (e.g. price list, enrolment form, FAQ, etc). The login credentials are:
Username: gsis
Password: kcmbus
The school bus enrollment for the next academic year 2023/2024 started on Friday, 5 May 2023 and will end on Friday, 9 June 2023.
LAU HON POR (SCHOOL BUS SERVICES) LIMITED will be continuing serving our GSIS community living in the Clearwater Bay area with children enrolled at the Peak Campus (only). Please click HERE for the application form.
This school bus enrollment for the next academic year 2023/2024 has also started on Friday, 5 May 2023. Please contact Ms. Man Lau for further questions (Tel: +852 6231 0123 / Email: cwb.bus@gmail.com).
General information in regard to our school bus services can be found on our GSIS website. Please feel free to contact our Students Services Team at buscoordinatar@gsis.edu.hk for any other questions.
|
Angelin, Conny, Emily and Minerva Student Services Team |
Camp Beaumont 2023 Summer Camp
We have an exciting summer ahead here at German Swiss International School, the Peak Campus!
Camp Beaumont, the United Kingdom’s most established multi-activity day camp provider will be back again in Hong Kong, creating inspiring adventures throughout the summer holidays at GSIS! With over 50 camps in the UK, and 12 across Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia and Thailand, Camp Beaumont’s much-loved, confidence-boosting experiences encourage 5- to 12-year-olds to step outside their comfort zones and realise their potential.
Throughout the week, Camp Beaumont offers all children (GSIS and non-GSIS students alike) the opportunity to learn new skills, discover new interests, try new things, and have fun with new friends, all set within the fantastic facilities we have here at GSIS.
A special offer of a 10% discount applies to all GSIS parents. Please use the code GSIS10 when making the booking.
For further enquiries please email campbookings@campbeaumont.hk or contact Camp Beaumont via their Hotline / WhatsApp at (+852) 6549 8602. If you have any other questions please contact the Student Services Team at afternoonactivities@gsis.edu.hk.
|
Angelin, Emliy, Minerva and Conny STUDENT SERVICES TEAM |
Attachments
https://www.gsis.edu.hk/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/B5-GSIS-flyer-CBHK-Summer-2023.pdf
German International Stream
From Head of Stream
As in every school year, the coming week will have a very special significance in the German International Stream. Our K12 students will take the final oral exams for the DIA. For the first time since 2018, we will welcome our KMK representative, Mr. Mayer, to Hong Kong, who will conduct the DIA examinations on-site. We wish our "Zwölfern" every success and the best possible results.
Visit from the new Head of German Primary Department
If you were at the Peak this week, you might have spotted a new face in the German Faculty. I am very excited that after a long and intense recruitment process, we have successfully hired a successor for Ms. Erni, our current Head of GPD, who will, unfortunately, be leaving us at the end of the school year. After being in charge of the Primary Department of the German Embassy School in Tehran for seven years, Mr. Claassen will join our Senior Management Team in August. To best prepare for his new role and ensure a smooth transition, he has spent the past few days on campus taking advantage of numerous opportunities to get to know our school, meet his new faculty team as well as the GPD KPR Secretaries and observe his students at various events during Book Week. We warmly welcome Mr. Claassen to GSIS and look forward to working with him.
Discovery Week 2023
We have been working with a range of external providers and travel agents to determine the costs for our overseas trips to Germany, Austria and Switzerland as well as a range of service trips in Asia during Discovery Week in October 2023.
The cost of international travel has increased, as have the costs for local transport, particularly in Europe. Therefore, unfortunately you have to be prepared for more expensive cost estimates compared to the past years. One factor that has held us up somewhat has been the availability of international flights in October, as many carriers did not publish their routes until last week.
We will send out an overview of the trips available for each year's group so we can gauge numbers in light of the quotes and then invite families to make their final selections towards the end of May.
| Grit Cichon Deputy Principal / Head of German International Stream |
Kindergarten Corner
Thank you all for your support during our 2-week Literature Festival. The children had a great time with all the exciting genres of stories read by mystery readers, authors, and teachers.
Conny Wong visited us at Pok Fu Lam Campus and read her well-loved stories to our children, allowing them to talk about where they have been around Asia and share their gastronomical delight of eating Dumplings! We ended this enjoyable celebration of ‘Reading is My Superpower’ with an all-school Assembly, and our children came dressed as their favourite book characters.
We have dedicated this week to our mothers, and the children were very excited to welcome their mothers to the Kindergarten Mother's Day celebrations.
In the coming weeks, our children will have the opportunity to skateboard at school with the professional assistance of SeedSkate. We look forward to this experience and opportunity for age-appropriate activities for our Kindergarten children. Further information will follow via email.
Lastly, we would like to welcome Sheila Turner as a supply part-time TA for the Kindergarten EIS. She had worked in the Kindergarten as a full-time TA for some years and is now supporting GSIS with supply work. We would also like to welcome Beth Phillips as an intern with Crickets.
We wish all our mums a fabulous weekend and a memorable Mother’s Day.
 Sophie Burdel |
 Eileen Mah |
Departmental News and Announcements
No updates / announcements this week
Primary Corner
Book Week
Flashlight reading, mystery readers, book swaps, the traditional character dress-up day, and the online readings with Mrs. Katja Alves have all contributed to a hugely successful Book Week, further inspiring our children’s love of literature and reading.
It was also wonderful to welcome parents into school again for the talk by the Authors of ‘Bravery Grows’, Dr. Melissa Giglio and Mrs. Daisy Geddes. We hope that you found their talk informative and helpful in supporting your children to overcome anxiety and develop resilience.
 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
In the GSD, the oral examinations for the German International Abitur (DIA) are scheduled for the coming week. These exams complement the three written Abitur exams held in February.
Every student takes at least two DIA oral exams, which consist of one oral examination (P4) and one presentation examination (P5). In the oral exam P4, students are questioned on topics presented on the same day. For the presentation examination P5, the students prepare a presentation containing a specific scientific topic with a problem-oriented question. For the P5 Exam, the students receive four weeks of preparation time.
The two oral Abitur examinations also prepare students for later examination situations. The faculty wishes everyone the best of luck.
 Udo Krebs |
 Arnold Leitner |
Departmental News and Announcements
English International Stream
From Head of Stream
Celebrating Literature
The students and staff in Pok Fu Lam have enjoyed a dynamic Literature Festival over the past two weeks including a visit from local author, Conny Wong, culminating in an exciting assembly when everyone dressed as their favourite book characters. This week it’s the turn of the Primary Department to launch their Book Week so we’re looking forward to a range of book-related activities. A big thank you to all staff who organised these special events.
Congratulations go to our Secondary Department Battle of the Books Team who reached the final of the competition following victory in their semi-final last Friday. The very best of luck to them and thanks to Secondary Librarian, Caroline Chan and ESD teacher, Anne Stevenson for supporting the team.
Discovery Week 2023
We have been working with a range of external providers and travel agents to finalise costs for our overseas trips to Germany, Austria and Switzerland as well as a range of service trips in Asia during Discovery Week in October 2023.
As many of you will appreciate, the cost of international travel has increased as has local transport, particularly in Europe, so brace yourself for some hefty quotes. One factor that has held us up somewhat has been the availability of international flights in October as many carriers did not publish their routes until last week.
We will send out an overview of the trips available for each year group so we can gauge numbers in light of the quotes and then invite families to make their final selections towards the end of May. Thank you for your patience.
Appeals
Please look out for two appeals our students are organising over the next two weeks:
A Donation Drive to support refugees in Hong Kong working with Blessvision.
Requested donations: toiletries, hygiene products & canned food
Donation point: Lower Building Reception
Earthquake Appeal: Turkey & Syria in collaboration with Crossroads
Requested donations: sanitary products & school equipment
Donation point: Lower Building Reception
Students will receive information directly by email outlining what is required so please do support these initiatives by discussing them with your children.
Innovative Congratulations
Ingrid Chan (Year 12) spent the first week of May in Geneva at the 48th International Exhibition of Inventions presenting her Multi-sensory Mixed Reality Therapy for Dementia app which she designed and developed. We are very pleased to announce that Ingrid received the Gold Medal with Congratulations from the Jury. This comes after winning the Asia Pacific ICT Awards earlier this year, which resulted in her representing Hong Kong at this prestigious competition. Just to put Ingrid’s achievement into context, over 1000 inventions from 40 countries were showcased at the Exhibition. Well done, Ingrid! We are very proud of your achievement!
| Simon Misso-Veness Deputy Principal / Head of English International Stream |
Kindergarten Corner
Thank you all for your support during our 2-week Literature Festival. The children had a great time with all the exciting genres of stories read by mystery readers, authors, and teachers.
Conny Wong visited us at Pok Fu Lam Campus and read her well-loved stories to our children, allowing them to talk about where they have been around Asia and share their gastronomical delight of eating Dumplings! We ended this enjoyable celebration of ‘Reading is My Superpower’ with an all-school Assembly, and our children came dressed as their favourite book characters.
We have dedicated this week to our mothers, and the children were very excited to welcome their mothers to the Kindergarten Mother's Day celebrations.
In the coming weeks, our children will have the opportunity to skateboard at school with the professional assistance of SeedSkate. We look forward to this experience and opportunity for age-appropriate activities for our Kindergarten children. Further information will follow via email.
Lastly, we would like to welcome Sheila Turner as a supply part-time TA for the Kindergarten EIS. She had worked in the Kindergarten as a full-time TA for some years and is now supporting GSIS with supply work. We would also like to welcome Beth Phillips as an intern with Crickets.
We wish all our mums a fabulous weekend and a memorable Mother’s Day.
|
Sophie Burdel |
Eileen Mah |
Departmental News and Announcements
No updates / announcements this week
Primary Corner
Book Week
Flashlight reading, mystery readers, book swaps, the traditional character dress-up day, and visits from fantastic authors have all contributed to a hugely successful Book Week, further inspiring our children’s love of literature and reading. Remember to visit the class Google Sites for photographs of the week.
It was also wonderful to welcome parents into school again for the talk by the Authors of ‘Bravery Grows’ Dr. Melissa Giglio and Daisy Geddes. We hope that you found their talk informative and helpful in supporting your children to overcome anxiety and develop resilience.
Year 5 Camp
The Year 5 children had a fantastic experience on our first overnight camp since the pandemic. They loved sleeping in tents and dorms with their friends and experiencing Kayaking and Gorge walking. They all agreed that being pushed beyond their comfort zone had been a great learning experience, and they loved working with different people and forming new friendships.
Coming up - Summer Festival
On 2 June we will see the IB Hall come alive with music performed by the Choirs and Orchestra of the Primary Department. There will be music and dancing to cater for everyone’s taste. Mark the date and come along to the Summer Festival – “I Believe in Music” at 6:00 pm in the IB Hall. Parents of Choir and Orchestra members will receive full details this week.
 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
As I write, we have just concluded the busiest days of the public exams (actually the busiest and most hectic such exam days that I can remember). The bulk of the IB Diploma exams will be done by the time you receive this article in your mailboxes, with but a few subjects yet to go for Y13 next week.
We then look forward to the Graduation Ceremony on 25 May to mark the end of the Class of 2023's journey at GSIS.
As mentioned in the last edition of this publication, we look forward to welcoming several new faculty colleagues in August.
Carly Ellis (Maths). Carly is an IB experienced Mathematics teacher, originally from Canada, who has taught in the UK and joins us after several successful years in Thailand.
Matthew Fowler (Maths). Matthew is a former Head of Mathematics with the ESF, who is currently in the UAE. He too brings an extensive wealth of IB and IGCSE experience.
Lusi Li (Chinese). Lucy joins us for one year, whilst one of our current Chinese colleagues takes a sabbatical. She is qualified both in HK and in the UK and has taught at several respected schools in HK.
Lucy Tyrell (SCA, ToK, History). Lucy will take over the teaching of SCA in the senior years, as well as some classes of ToK and History. She is currently with the ESF here in Hong Kong.
Emily Dygve (Learning Support). Emily joins us from Singapore and, as with our other incoming colleagues, she brings a great deal of experience and expertise. She has worked in HK previously, again with the ESF. Emily is originally from the US.
 Ken Stevenson |
