Dear High School Families,
As we head toward the Christmas season, and welcome the cooling weather, we also see an increase in the busyness of our schedules. Sports teams are traveling, exam pressure is building, and the holiday season looms with its joys and pressures. One of the great contradictions of the frenzied and anxious nature of modern school life is that it doesn’t live up to the roots of its name. We need to return the schole back to school.
Dr. Christopher Perrin, one of our resources for professional development here at ICS, helpfully explains, “Schole means something like undistracted time to study the most worthwhile things with good friends, usually in a beautiful place, and usually with good food and drink.”1 This Latin root word for “school” reminds us of what schools were originally intended to be. How do we achieve undistracted, meaningful, and even leisurely study in our stressed and distracted age? This is one of the pressing questions for ICS leadership as we consider our policies and practices. There is no escaping the counter-cultural methods needed to stand against the never-ending tide of worldliness in order to pursue true excellence, which stem from virtues that can only be found and achieved in Christ.
Recently, as a High School faculty, we read Psalm 4:8 and reflected on it together. “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety” (ESV). May we find peace, rest, and safety in God in spite of whatever worldly stress we might face, trusting in him alone for our security and comfort.
1 Perrin, Christopher. The Schole Way: Bringing Restful Teaching and Learning Back to School and Homeschool. Classical Academic Press, 2024, p. 1.
Blessings,
Kiel Nation, D.Min
High School Principal
Advanced Notices and Reminders:
Oct 29 - Chung Yeung Festival (No School)
Nov 4 - Grade 8 and 9 Night (C&I/UA)
Nov 5 - Grade 10 and 11 Night (C&I/UA)
Nov 8 - SAT (signup)
Nov 11 - Fall Honors Recital
Nov 13 - NHS Induction
Nov 14-18 - Tokyo Art Trip
Nov 15 - HS Drama
Attention AP Students and Parents:
A reminder that November 1st is the deadline for:
Important: Any requests submitted after the November 1st deadline will incur a late processing fee.
Please ensure all requests are finalized by the deadline to avoid additional charges. If you have questions or need assistance, contact Mr. Williams or Mrs. Ho as soon as possible.
Congratulations to John Paul Cheung, Samuel Ng and Hiu Yin Kung for winning the Duolingo competition! After all their effort and dedication during the fall break to complete this challenge, the three of them were able to demonstrate their amazing skills in Spanish and succeed in it!
While the rest of us are tormented by reminders for missed language lessons, these winners have been grinding non-stop to earn the owl’s favour. Receiving a well deserved prize, their excellence is a testament to their dedication. Once again, amazing job and congratulations to the three of them!
This session will let you to have a deeper understanding of the following year's academic program, course selection and sign up processes, course pathways through Junior and Senior years, the Advanced Placement (AP) program, and university advising.
Grade 8 & 9 / Nov 4, 2025 (TUE) / 7:00PM - 8:15PM
Grade 10 & 11 / Nov 5, 2025 (WED) / 7:00PM - 8:15PM
The event will be on Zoom, link will be shared soon
Date: Nov 22-23, 2025 (Sat-Sun)
Time: 09:00 – 17:15
Venue: Shaw Auditorium, 1/F, Postgraduate Education Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong
Speaker: Professor Albert LI
Topic: Respiratory and Sleep Medicine
Remarks: please specify your “Institution Position” as “Highschool Student” for free enrolment
Date: Nov 7, 2025 (Fri)
Time: 6:15pm - 7:30pm (HKT)
Venue: Grand Hall, Lee Shau Kee Lecture Centre, Centennial Campus, HKU
Speaker: Professor Ferenc KRAUSZ
Topic: Toward Affordable Preventive Healthcare:
How Basic Science Addresses Grand Challenges
Content: Professor Krausz is a pioneer in ultrafast laser science, whose breakthroughs have opened new frontiers in measuring and understanding biological processes at the molecular level. This lecture, Twill explore how fundamental physics and innovations are driving advances in medical diagnostics and preventive care.
Whether you plan to attend university near or far, you can stay on track with the SAT. Most colleges—including those that are test optional—still accept SAT test scores. Together with high school grades, the SAT can show your potential to succeed in college or career. And if you're thinking about studying abroad, there are more than 400 universities in 85 countries outside the United States that use the SAT in the admissions process.
Parents, be empowered and equipped with the knowledge and resources you need to support your child's growth and success. This page provides resources, and we hope to help parents navigate the challenges of parenting and support your child's overall well-being.
International Christian School
highschool@ics.edu.hk | 852-3920-0136 | Room 237, 2/F, 1 On Muk Lane, Shek Mun, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong