Secondary Campus Weekly Update 15 Jun 2026

Dear Parents,

What a week it has been!

International Day was a real highlight, and my sincere thanks go to our parent community, who went above and beyond to celebrate our diverse cultures and heritages. Seeing students fully engaged—and taking to the balconies to thank parents—was a wonderful reminder of our strong sense of community. Student-led language lessons throughout the week were, as always, a memorable highlight. It was also fantastic to see so many students performing at the Summer Showcase and to welcome so many parents into school to share in their achievements.

We were delighted to unofficially open the NAISHK Sixth Form Centre in Hung Hom, with our students who joined us in Year 1 cutting the ribbon. Set against the iconic Victoria Harbour, it represents great promise for the future. We look forward to welcoming parents to visit the campus in the coming months.

Kind regards,

Fiona Thorndike
Head of Secondary

International Day Reflection – Miss Rankin

Last Friday’s International Day was a truly wonderful celebration of our diverse and vibrant school community. It was a delight to see so many countries represented, with students and families sharing their cultures with such pride and enthusiasm. The day has firmly established itself as a highlight of our school calendar, and this year was no exception.

Students thoroughly enjoyed the wide range of activities on offer, from engaging games to sampling delicious international cuisine and collecting unique souvenirs. The day concluded with a beautiful poetry reading from Matilda. S (7B) and Hazel. T (7B) to all our students, staff and International Day volunteers.

Our sincere thanks go to our PTA and all the volunteers whose time, creativity, and commitment made the event such a success. Their efforts ensured a joyful and memorable experience for everyone involved.

One World, Many Voices
Read by Matilda and Hazel

From Canada’s forests to Brazil’s bright shore,
From Kenya’s savannas to France’s old lore,
Voices rise softly, then boldly they sing,
A chorus of cultures the whole world can bring.
In India’s colors and Japan’s gentle grace,
We learn how each story has its own place.

From China’s great rivers to Egypt’s gold sand,
From Brazil’s rhythms to Ireland’s green land,
Each language a treasure, each accent a song,
Showing us all where our hearts can belong.
In Germany, Poland, in Spain, Hong Kong and Nepal,
Different, yet connected—we’re one after all.

From Australia’s wide skies to Canada’s cold snow,
From Italy’s art to where Singaporeans grow,
We dance to new music, we taste something new,
Discovering beauty in each point of view.
In Georgia, in Turkey, in Thailand, Greece and Peru,
The world shines much brighter with me and with you.
So stand up together—let kindness be heard,
In every handshake, in every kind word,
From the USA to the UK’s bright day,
From Korea to Philipinnes, we all find a way.
No matter our flags, our faiths, or our name,
International hearts beat together the same.

Post-16 Orientation Reflection – Miss. Curley

From 8th–12th June, our Post 16 students took part in a purposeful and energising Orientation Week, setting the tone for how they will thrive as the founding cohort of the Hung Hom Sixth Form campus.

Student voice was central throughout. Through focus groups on leadership, the House system, social norms, ECA’s and enrichment, lunch provision and campus motto and values, students began actively shaping the culture of their new community. Some worked directly with APC to influence catering provision, while others collaborated with Japanese artist TAXA and Hong Kong Walls to design a three floor mural; a powerful opportunity to leave a lasting, visible legacy. Students also embraced collaboration and sustainability through Project Upcycle, designing innovative sustainable solutions for the local community, and presenting their ideas to Senior Leaders.

Students gained valuable insight into the distinctive elements of Sixth Form study through sessions on the Extended Essay (EE) and EPQ, an introduction to Theory of Knowledge (TOK), and the NAIS HK Legacy Programme, including IBDP CAS and NAIS HK SIX; all designed to nurture independence, critical thinking and meaningful contribution beyond the classroom.

Looking ahead, Future Focus, led by Head of Secondary Mrs. Thorndike and Assistant Headteacher Mrs. Rankin, equipped students with practical interview strategies such as the STAR method, building confidence and self-belief as they prepare for university applications. Career Mapping with Mr. Chang and Unifrog further strengthened this forward thinking, helping students connect subject choices to global pathways.

A major highlight of the week was the range of interactive subject taster sessions across IB, A Level and BTEC pathways. These sessions gave students meaningful insight into course expectations, assessment styles and academic challenge, ensuring they make informed, ambitious choices for the next stage of their education.

The week culminated in an exciting visit to the NAIS HK Sixth Form Campus, where students explored their new environment during the informal opening and strengthened relationships through the vibrant Race Across Whampoa. It was a fitting conclusion, building connection, confidence and excitement for what lies ahead. Overall, Orientation Week was not simply an introduction; it was the beginning of a cohort determined to contribute, to lead and to leave a legacy.

Summer Concert Reflection – Mr. Sayce

Last week’s Secondary School Summer Concert was a wonderful celebration of talent and creativity. It was a pleasure to see so many students take to the stage with confidence, showcasing their musical abilities and dedication. Thank you to everyone who came along to support and help make the evening such a special occasion for our performers.

House Updates – Mrs. Procter

Last week was an exciting week for House events, with year 6 helping to finalise our Maths PI Challenge and our final House Friday challenge of the year.

Tuesday and Thursday last week, saw our year 6 complete their transition activities this term, contributing to our Interhouse Maths competition. What a great way for year 6 to feel that feeling of connection, purpose and belonging that our House system nurtures.

It was a tight competition at the top between Balmoral and Caernarfon, with Balmoral narrowly clinching the overall victory by just 4 points!

The Caernarfon year 6s certainly narrowed the gap however, combined with the points achieved by our year 7, 8 and 9 students earlier in the year, Windsor managed to retain their lead and victory. Well done Windsor!

International Day on Friday was fantastic and thank you all for all your efforts on making our last House Friday event such a great showcase of what makes our school so special!

Please see below the final fantastic display:

Here are some close-up shots to see some of the delicate and complex work of our very talented artists:

Most importantly, here are the results...

3rd: Caernarfon 5HP
2nd: Sandringham 10HP
1st: Windsor 15HP

Stay tuned for the final, final House point tally on Wednesday 24th June! Who will be the winning House of 2025/6?

Sports Updates – Miss. Wiltshire

New Records Smashed at the Secondary Swim Gala!

A massive congratulations to our incredible swimmers who made history at the Secondary Swim Gala on Friday, 5th June!

Not only did they bring incredible energy, determination, and sportsmanship to the pool, but they also pushed boundaries and broke school records!

The entire school community is incredibly proud of your historic achievements. Keep making waves!

Swim Squad Trials – Register Now!

Ready to dive in and represent the school next academic year? Trials for the Swim Squad will be in August, and we’d love to see you there!

How to register: Sign up at the PE Office
Registration closes: 24th June 2026

Swim Squad Trial Dates
50m events: Wednesday 19th August, 2:30pm – 4:30pm
100m events: Thursday 20th August, 3:30pm – 4:30pm

Important:
To be a part of the swim squad, you must meet a specific time standard, therefore, attendance at the trials is essential.

We recommend you try out for more than one stroke and also have a cross-over of the 50m and 100m distances. As a member of the swim squad, you’ll be expected to compete in more than one event for the team.

Once trials are completed in August, we will let you know if you have qualified for the squad.

Let’s get ready to race—see you at trials!

U12 Boys Football

Knights March into the Final!

Score: 2-2 vs ICHK AET 5-4 on penalties

There was lots of tension pre-game with wet and cloudy weather swirling around TKO. With 10 minutes until kick off there was no referee and no opposition. With ICHK arriving in the nick of time, a shortened game was agreed. The Knights set up in their 3-2-1 formation and took the game to ICHK, Josh with an early chance was denied by their GK.

A long-range free kick was well struck by Josh, with Ethan providing a clever dummy the ball flew in and 1-0. Ethan then chased down a long ball, robbed the defender and rounded the GK. 2-0 to the Knights at half time. The second half so the nerves kick in and the big 72 finally got his goal and it was 2-1. Then with 2 minutes left on the clock, disaster.

A long-range hit went in and ICHK had equalized. Fist pumps all round on their bench. Extra time saw both teams slug it out without any real threat of a winner and penalties it was. The Knights were cool under pressure with Ethan, Josh, Alex and Davis all converting. With ICHK blazing their 2nd penalty over, it was all down to Andy. The Ice Man stroked the ball into the bottom right-hand corner to spark jubilant celebrations amongst the Knight’s contingent and tears amongst the traveling ICHK army. Onto the final at Kai Tak vs DSC.

Kai Tak Heart Break for the Knights

U12 boys ISSFHK football final vs DSC lost 1-4

The stage was set. The roof was closed. The lights were on. The air con blasting at HK’s premier sporting venue. Mr Stewart outlined the simple game plan, “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” And with that in mind the Knights set about containing a talented DSC team. A wobbly start though left the Knights a goal down after 2 minutes as a speculative shot ghosted past Jonas and into the goal. NAIS rose to the occasion though, and chances started to come. Ethan hit the bar to show that DSC were vulnerable. DSC were in the ascendancy again, hitting the post and forcing Jonas into a double save. Immediately the Knights pounced, Ethan broke away and 1 on 1 rounded the goalkeeper to equalize. 1-1 at half time and all to play for.

The second half continued end to end and with the Knights flying into tackles with a commitment that had been lacking in the regular season. DSC’s relentless attacks became too much though and in the 39th minute they scrambled a 2nd goal home. NAIS chased the game but with this inevitably left gaps for DSC to counter and the score unfairly finished 4-1 to the Canadians.

A few tears were shed but the boys received a standing ovation from a wonderful group of supporting parents. DSC were champions but NAIS made them work hard for it and showed they could go toe to toe with a talented and athletic team. 2nd place and silver medals were secured, a fantastic achievement for the group.

U14 Netball Bronze Medal Match

The U14 netball squad travelled to Discovery College on Monday 8th June for their bronze medal match. Hopes were high amongst the players following their regular season win against the same team during May. A positive start by our Knights saw the team leading at 1/4 time and at the 1/2 way stage. DC started the 3rd quarter and the lead transferred over to DC.

A big 4th quarter was needed and despite matching their opponents our team could not reclaim their lead. Margaret was voted player of the match for our team by the DSC players.

Looking Ahead – Key Dates

• 16th June – Year 10 GCSE PE Swimmers’ skills moderation
• 17th June – Performing Arts Showcase
• 19th June – Public Holiday
• 24th June – Last Day of Summer Term (Dismissal at 12noon)