Dear ICS Community,
Our faculty (Elementary and Secondary) have been very blessed in recent weeks to have benefitted from a fantastic Christian educator called Hin-Tai Ting. He is a Hong Konger with impeccable qualifications and experience, and many personal links to ICS, who is now founding a classical Christian school in London. In our professional development sessions he has been teaching us how both Western and Chinese approaches to school have ‘blind-spots’, and that the tried and trusted methods of a Christian education which points students to Truth, Goodness and Beauty is the answer. The primary aim of such an education is wisdom and virtue; we are not just aiming at qualifications, important though they are, but at forming our boys and girls into “Oaks of Righteousness” (Isa.61:3). We were all excited about the vision, and it helps to develop our larger “Vision 2050”, which you will have heard about this week. I look forward to sharing that in parent forums soon.
One of the ways we cultivate a taste for truth, goodness and beauty is through great literature. I read in the Hong Kong press lately that there is something of a “reading crisis” in our city, which is affecting students’ academics; let’s get our children’s eyes away from devices and into great books! I was reminded of how important this is at the film King of Kings, arranged by our wonderful Parents’ Association. It’s a very faithful rendering of the Gospel story, framed by Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol, and his son’s passion for King Arthur and the knights of the Round Table. I’m so glad we have completely revamped our ELA curriculum in the last year under Mrs Geeta Tupps as Department Chair, so that our students will now understand these literary references. As the film reminds us, the story of King Arthur was based on the Gospel, and Arthur, like the kings and judges of the Old Testament, points (however imperfectly), to the great king above all kings, Jesus Christ. May we remain faithfully rooted in Him at ICS; Amen and Amen!
Blessings
Nick Seward
Head of Schools
Dear Parents and Students,
You may remember that earlier this year we invited interested parents and students to join our Uniform Committee (K-12). Over the past several months, the team has worked closely with uniform suppliers to find options that truly reflect the character and spirit of our school: fresh, unified, and forward‑looking.
Our committee— made up of principals from all divisions, parents representing a range of grade levels, and student representatives from both Middle and High School— reviewed community feedback and survey results to ensure we addressed key concerns around quality, comfort, and affordability.
After a rigorous selection process—where we invited eight vendors, with five presenting in person with samples—and used a data‑based evaluation system to rate each vendor on quality, design and branding, pricing, responsiveness and collaboration, as well as purchase facilitation, we’re pleased to share that a new provider has been selected.
The upcoming uniform range introduces exciting updates: new cardigan and quarter‑zip pullover options, improved skirts with practical pockets, and P.E. shorts made with more flexible fabrics, just to name a few. These fresh designs and fabrics not only offer better comfort and value but also more clearly reflect our school colors and identity. It’s the first major update in many years and represents our commitment to both continuous improvement and Vision 2050.
We understand that uniform changes can raise concerns about cost, especially for families with more than one child. To support a smooth transition, we’ll have a gradual rollout: most current items will remain acceptable for some time, and we’ll share a detailed timeline soon. As part of the agreement, uniform prices will be honored for the next five years, ensuring stability and predictability for families as we transition to the new range.
If possible, please hold off on purchasing additional current‑style items, as new designs and slightly revised colors will launch with our new company in Fall 2026. For any questions, please contact communications@ics.edu.hk.
We’re genuinely excited about this refresh and confident it will benefit both students and families, bringing our school spirit to life through a more modern, cohesive look. Thank you all for your enthusiasm and partnership as we take this next step together.
Warm regards,
Erin Johnson, Elementary Assistant Principal
Hilda Wong, Director of External Relations
Co‑Chairs, Uniform Committee
We are thrilled to confirm our UK STEM Adventure for High School students. This hands-on journey will ignite curiosity through innovative STEM on Track "Monster Build" workshops, National Race with UK high schoolers and inspiring cultural discoveries - an experience that will truly make your university applications stand out.
🏎️ About the STEM on Track "Monster Build" Experience
The STEM on Track programme is normally an integrated build-and-learning experience that runs over several months. For international teams, the organisers have created a special "Monster Build" option, which means all the kart assembly is completed in an intensive five-day period before the national final.
Preparation (April – June):
Mr Seward will be working closely with participating students to ensure they complete all the online learning modules on the programme platform. Students who wish to be drivers will also undertake one or two preliminary test sessions and complete specific driver-training modules (including learning race and flag signals), which we will arrange before departure.
In the UK (June 12-22):
Oakham School has kindly agreed to allow us to use their workshops to assemble our electric race karts. An experienced mechanic will work alongside our students to guide them through the build process and help them troubleshoot, so they can be confident and safe on race day. During the week, drivers will also have the opportunity for track test time before the National Race.
A key purpose of the trip is the rich engineering and problem-solving experience, combined with an international exchange with British students. Our boys and girls will spend each day on campus at Oakham School for workshops, meals, and collaboration with their UK peers, while staying at a hotel conveniently located right next door. This will offer a genuine taste of UK school life and teamwork in a supportive environment. We are confident that our ICS students are more than capable of taking on this challenge, and that the experience will be an excellent addition to their personal growth and future university applications.
✈️ Provisional Itinerary & Cost
Total Cost: HKD 35,000 per student (Includes flights, accommodation, meals, and all workshops)
Jun 12 (Late flight): Depart Hong Kong
Jun 13: Arrive & settle in
Jun 14: Sunday Church visit
Jun 15-19: STEM on Track "Monster Build" Workshops & International Exchange at Oakham School + Track Trial
Jun 20: STEM on Track UK National Race
Jun 21: Sunday Church & Cultural Exchange
Jun 22: Flight back to HK
✅ How to Confirm Your Interest
Spaces are limited! High School Students, if you would like to join us, please complete the registration form by the deadline. After submitting the form, we will reach out to you regarding the deposit payment to secure your place.
📅 Deadline: Next Tuesday, Mar 3 at 9AM
ACSC Orchestra is coming to Hong Kong, and the community is welcome to join us for our Gala Concert on Saturday, March 7 at 3pm. This full orchestra features the best musicians from the ACSC schools under the baton of Dr. Christopher Bade from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, USA. Check the portal for tickets. (Link)
ES Spirit of the Game Day on
Mar 13 (Fri)
Treat others the way you want to be treated. Always do your best. Know and follow the rules. Communicate calmly and clearly. Humbly accept the outcome.
This year, the ES Spirit of the Game Day will be held on Friday, March 13 @ Ma On Shan Sports Ground. The team list will be announced to the students in class, and a copy of the team list will be made available to parents by email by March 6.
On the day of the event, students will arrive directly at Ma On Shan Sports Ground and meet their teams in the viewing stands. There will be signs and staff present to help direct the students to their assigned team area.
Suggested arrival time: 7:45 am - 8:00 am
Starting Time: 8:00 am
Lunch: 11:00 am
Dismissal: 2:40 pm
For students who usually commute by school bus, pick-up and drop-off will take place directly at the Sports Ground. Supervision will be provided in the viewing stands starting at 7:25 am for students who need an early drop-off, but please note that the event will not officially begin until 8:00 am.
What to Bring:
hat & running shoes
coloured shirt that matches their team colour
water bottle
packed lunch (if your child has not ordered Sodexo)
snacks*
*There are 2 break/snack times, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Students need to pack enough snacks from home as the tuck shop will not be open to purchase any snacks.
Carey Chung joined ICS during its humble beginnings from 1992 to 1997. At that time, the school had just one class per year and was still figuring out simple things like how lunch orders worked. He is deeply grateful for God’s provision, as it was through his teachers and classmates that he came to know Christ.
After leaving ICS, he moved to Sydney, Australia, where he completed his high school education and later earned a Bachelor of Science in Food Technology from the University of New South Wales. He began his career as a Quality Assurance Officer before transitioning into Supply Chain, where he now works for a yoghurt company that supplies to local supermarkets.
By God’s grace, he has been blessed with his wife, Sinta, and their two wonderful children—Elijah (9) and Abigail (5). They continue to live in Sydney and are active members of Cornerstone Presbyterian Community Church. He hopes ICS continues to be a blessing to those that have come before and those to come in the future.
The ONE2026 Campaign will take place over 47 days during Lent, from February 18 to April 5, 2026. This year, our focus will be on the Gospel of John as we delve deeper into the question: “Who is Jesus?”
ICS Book Drive from
The Ethnic Diversity Club and Service Advocates are welcoming everyone to participate in the school’s annual book drive. To help serve the ethnic minority community in Hong Kong , we would love to invite everyone from all grade levels to donate from Feb 11 to March 16. The book drive is designated for Ethnic Minorities (ages 3-18) in Hong Kong: these books will be donated to local NGO’s such as The Zubin Foundation and Refugee Union.
*Unlike past years, the book drive and book swap will be separate. Please do not take any books out of the boxes in the carpark.
Guidelines for the book drive: Books we cannot accept
Books that are over 10 years old; yellowish pages; brownish inside covers; stained, moldy, and/or spotted
Books with missing or torn pages
Books that contain markings, drawings, and/or highlighted pages
Books for adults
Coloring books/Drawing books
Workbooks/textbooks
Magazines
A note for the parents: Please use your discretion to preview donated books to ensure content is age-appropriate for the children ages listed above.”
Please check the carpark Lost and Found Station for any water bottles belonging to your child. Unclaimed items will be removed after a certain period. Thank you!
International Christian School
1 On Muk Lane, Shek Mun, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong