West Island School Newsletter

Years 7-9: MYP Newsletter

Welcome to the very first edition of the MYP Newsletter for this new academic year.

As we dive into the exciting world of the Middle Years Programme (MYP), this newsletter provides an insight into all the innovative learning and creative projects taking place across Years 7-9. You will find highlights of student work and a closer look at how we're embracing the MYP global contexts and learner profile attributes in our classrooms.

We encourage you to read on, celebrate the hard work of our students, and stay connected with the vibrant life of the MYP community.

Find Your Purpose, Realise Your Potential

ESF Computing Conference (ESF CoCo) has been rescheduled to 25 to 26 October. This event presents a fantastic opportunity for Years 7 to 13 students to learn from experts in fields like Generative AI, Internet of Things (IoT), System Architecture (RISC-V) and more. Workshops are open for registration. For more details and to register, please visit ESF CoCo 2025 before Monday, 20 October 2025.
Medical Pathways Programme Webinar offers a valuable opportunity for Year 10–12 students and parents to discuss future planning for aspiring medics. Join us on Tuesday, 28 October, at 6pm. Please register here by Friday, 24 October 2025.
International Greenwich Olympiad (IGO) 2026 is an opportunity for students to compete, learn and connect globally. Categories include Engineering, AI (new), Health Sciences and more. Please refer to the details and register here.

Diwali

Diya Painting

To kick off our Diwali celebration, our PTA hosted a fantastic diya painting session on Tuesday. Students merged their creativity with vibrant colours to celebrate the Festival of Lights. These beautifully painted diyas will be on display for the Diwali Ball.

Diwali Ball Rehearsal

Our student performers demonstrated passion and dedication in their rehearsals for tonight's performances. We look forward to greeting everyone at our extravaganza and enjoying the delicious Indian buffet.

Student Innovation: AI Study Tool

Year 11 student Bob is driving the future of learning, having built an AI study tool that understands what students need.

Following extensive research, Bob created Notewise, which features a Personal AI Tutor that adapts to individual students' learning styles in real-time. Bob continues to refine Notewise, and we are excited to see where his innovative and visionary mindset takes him.

Students can simply upload their notes—as an image, text file or voice recording—to experience it.

Note on Access: This powerful study tool is available free of charge. Usernames and email addresses are collected upon registration for future feedback and refinement.

Pre-16 Student Leaders Newsletter

Pre-16 Leaders have been actively contributing to our student community.

In their latest issue, they have covered the following highlights:

Term 1 Dynasty Day
Year 9 Student Mentorship Programme Talk
Year 11 hoodie voting
Wishes for Year 11 mock exams

Francophone Reunion: Raclette Party

The delightful aroma of melted cheese recently wafted through the school as the Francophone students hosted a highly successful social focused on la raclette, a famous culinary tradition from France.

Students enthusiastically embraced the spirit of communal dining, sharing various ingredients and using the classic raclette machine to melt slices of cheese over potatoes, charcuterie and baguettes.

This interactive and flavourful meal was a wonderful moment of cultural exchange, good food and great conversation in French. Félicitations to the Francophone students for sharing this authentic experience with the school community.

Inter-Dynasty Star Search Winners

Congratulations to our students who showcased their talent across all 14 diverse categories in this year's Star Search performances. Their dedication and passion are an inspiration to our school community.

Please join us in giving a final, massive round of applause to the winners and runners-up.

Year 7 English: Journeys of Empathy

Year 7 English students explored the concept of journeys by examining what motivates people to travel. To bring this unit to life, we welcomed Uzma Naveed, Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator, who shared her powerful story of courageously finding refuge. Her account fascinated students, fostering values like kindess, compassion and empathy. Students showed great curiosity, asking insightful questions about her personal struggles and the journey she undertook.

CAS Corner

Sanitation Drive

The generosity of our school community resulted in a significant collection with a diverse range of essential items for this meaningful Sanitation Drive. Student leaders from the Bethune House and Centre for Refugees demonstrated dedication to ensure the support reached those in need.

Well done to Year 12 students Aastha, Annie, Emma, Ffion, Haidi, Hayden, Mikayla, and Zoe, and also to Nicole in Year 10. Thank you to everyone who participated.

Women in STEM

The Women in STEM team recently hosted their inaugural guest speaker event, welcoming Professor Mu He from the School of Biomedical Sciences at HKU. Professor Mu He shared her expertise and insights into stem cell biology and organoids. Having studied at Cornell and UCSF and conducted research in New York and Hong Kong, her diverse professional journey provided our students with a unique and inspiring perspective on careers in science.

Well done to the Year 12 students—Aniece, Bella, Brianna, Deeva, Emily, Joey and Martha—for organising the guest speakers' session to inspire our students.

WIS Violinist: Performance for a Cause

Year 8 student Neil was delighted to volunteer as a violin performer at a meaningful charity concert, held at the prestigious Hong Kong Cultural Centre in early October. Neil's passion for music not only shines on stage but also brings warmth and encouragement to the wider community. Well done to Neil for sharing his talent for such a worthy cause.

Sports: Student Athletes

Students from our High Performance Student Athlete Programme (HPSAP) achieved outstanding sporting outcomes.

Equestrian

During the term break, Year 11 student Amber participated in the Equestrian Federation of Hong Kong, China (EFHKC) competition. She performed brilliantly in showjumping and dressage, placing second in both classes and achieving a personal best in dressage.

Next week, Amber will compete in the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI) showjumping event in a higher jumping class. We wish her all the best.

Netball

Year 11 students Ines and Tilly were selected for the Hong Kong U16 Academy Touring Team. They will be joining the touring squad in November. We wish them both all the very best for their participation.

Upcoming Events

PTA Coffee Morning: 23 October 2025

We are excited to invite you to our first PTA Coffee Morning of the school year, featuring a special presentation from the Maths Department. This is a great opportunity to learn how the school approaches maths education and how you can best support your child's learning at home.

Date: Thursday, 23 October 2025

Time: 9.45am - 11.30am

Location: Staff Room, West Island School

Join us to hear more about your child's Maths lessons. Please register through this link.

Kindness Week: Yoga & Mindfulness

Join our parents and staff for a complimentary and uplifting yoga and mindfulness session, hosted by Garima, a WIS parent & yoga instructor, in celebration of WIS Kindness Week.

Session 1: Tuesday 11 November, 7am - 8am at Arena, West Island School

Session 2: Wednesday 12 November, 3.30pm - 4.45pm at MPH, West Island School

There are 40 places in each session, which will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, with a list of reserve places if someone drops out.

Please sign up via this link before Friday, 31 October 2025.

School Musical: 3 - 4 December 2025

Circle in the Water will present school musical Into the Woods Jr, showcasing our students' passion for storytelling and performing arts.

Date: Wednesday, 3 December 2025 to Thursday, 4 December 2025

Time: 6pm - 8.30pm

Location: Auditorium, West Island School

Save the date. Ticketing details will be announced before November.

Sports Day: 13 February 2026

Sports Day is a celebration of energy and excitement. We invite our students' families to witness the friendly competition and be part of the inter-Dynasty spirit as we create unforgettable moments together.

Date: Friday, 13 February 2026

Location: Wan Chai Sports Ground

Save the date. Details will be announced closer to the event.

ESF Explore: Winter Camp

Find your purpose and elevate your skills this winter. Running from 15 December 2025 to 2 January 2026, the Winter Camp is led by experienced instructors. Programmes focus on tangible skill development in basketball, swimming, tennis, and AI. Participants will engage in structured English-language sessions designed to build technical expertise, critical thinking, and confidence.

Check out the class listing and enrol now!

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