Issue No. 2 (23 August 2019)

Dear Parents, Guardians and Students,

All the adults at South Island School are here to make sure the school is a safe place where students can be with friends, have lots of opportunities to learn, have fun and make terrific memories.  Our routines help make students feel comfortable because they know what is happening and what to expect each day. We regularly remind students of all the people who are available to listen, anytime.  We hope the year ahead for every student is successful and fulfilling, but at times, even small changes can make students feel uneasy, especially at first.

While we don’t want to panic any parent or student we do wish to reassure you that we are working closely with ESF and our fellow schools to ensure we are well planned and prepared for any scenario. While we hope that school will not be disrupted by the current situation in Hong Kong, we need to make sure that we are doing all that we can to support our students. We are sensitive to the current situation in Hong Kong which may be unsettling and we understand that some students may feel apprehensive about what is happening. Staff are focused on providing a sense of normality and safety for students. Your children will be well cared for.

For these reasons, we are sharing this information about the Counselling Services on offer at South Island School. Counselling at South Island is for those students who would like to talk to someone who is not a teacher. Seeing a counsellor provides a CONFIDENTIAL place to talk about any worries, decisions or concerns. Some students see counsellors to talk about issues like –

• Academic expectations
• Fear of failure
• Concerns about friendship or relationships
• Anxiety
• Panic attacks
• Identity
• Depression
• Feeling too stressed
• How to manage change and other life decisions
• Family conflict or pressures at home that affect school life

Many students who seek help tell us that speaking with a counsellor gives them enormous relief. Counsellors make no judgements. They listen carefully and show empathy. The counsellor will do her best to help you with your issues.

Don’t be afraid to get help.

The Counselling Team

Our team at South Island includes a full-time counsellor, two part-time registered social workers from Hong Kong Children & Youth Services (HKCYS http://www.cys.org.hk), and the additional services of one of our Higher Education Counsellors.

Counsellor, Mrs Sarah Shepherd

Sarah has a Master of Counselling and specialises in working with teens. She is the mother of two young adults who attended ESF schools, and she has worked in different roles in several international schools in the US, China and Hong Kong. Her goal as a counsellor is to help students to navigate the challenges of school and teenage life, in a way that builds their confidence and coping strategies. Sarah is available Monday to Friday, from 2 September. Her office is on 1/F of D Block. Email: sshepherd@sis.edu.hk  Tel: 2240 6784

Social Worker, Miss Kamy Yeung 

Kamy enjoys working with adolescents and believes that everyone has the strengths to grow up. She also believes that “the problem is not a problem but the coping is.”(from Virginia Satir) and hopes to work together with people to find more choices in their lives. Apart from counselling, she also runs groups or classes such as Anti-Drug Force Group, Enrichment course on Mindfulness & Zentangle and organises various community service projects for the students so as to enhance their overall well-being as well as social development.

Kamy is in school on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. 8:00am to 5:00pm. Email: kamyy1-sis@sis.edu.hk

Social Worker, Miss Stephanie Wan

Stephanie is dedicated to serve teenagers and enjoys listening to their life stories. One of her favourite quotes is “Loving ourselves through the process of owning our story is the bravest thing that we will ever do.” (Gifts of Imperfections, Brené Brown). She believes that everyone possesses the expertise to lead their own lives and she hopes to assist students to open up their lives to various possibilities. Apart from counselling, she will run The We Serve Community Service Team and organise different developmental programmes at South Island School.

Stephanie is in school on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00am to 5:00pm, from 27 August. Email: wstephanie@sis.edu.hk

Kamy and Stephanie can be contacted directly on 2240 6703 (SIS direct line) or 2572 2311 (HKCYS). The social workers’ room is on 1/F, D Block.

Ms Berina Chan

Berina Chan is one of our Higher Education counsellors. Berina has a Masters in Counselling, and in addition to her core role of higher education, she will also be working with new Year 12s and other senior students this year, to help them settle into SIS. She has previous counselling experience in women’s shelters, supporting women and children who have suffered abuse.

Berina is based in the Careers Centre on 6/F, and can be contacted via email bchan@sis.edu.hk

Ms Jeanette Hui

Our school nurse, Jeanette Hui (LG/F), also has an important role in the well-being of students. Jeanette is at school every day.  Students can call in to see her, with injuries or because of illness. If students are too sick to stay at school, they are sent home, with parental permission. If Jeanette decides students are well enough to return to lessons, she sends the students back to class with a note explaining why they were absent (This is for no more than ten or fifteen minutes). Jeanette is also responsible for communicating illness and/or injuries with all the relevant teachers and she issues students with Lift Passes when they have injuries, such as a broken leg, which means that they cannot use the stairs.

N.B. – There is no cost to parents for our in-school counselling service.

How Counselling Works at South Island School

Lucie Purves is the contact point for all counselling. Heads of Year/House and Tutors might recommend counselling but it is not compulsory for students UNLESS it is necessary for a reason the teachers decide is in the student’s best interests.

Students can refer themselves for counselling. There will be a banner on the SIS VLE with links to counsellor contact information.

There is no obligation for parents to be informed their daughter/son is attending counselling, though the counsellors encourage students to include their families in discussions. Students are advised that what they talk about during counselling is confidential UNLESS there is any risk to themselves, or others. In this case, the counsellor informs the student that confidentiality will be broken, with the objective of seeking appropriate assistance. Counsellors know how important it is to students that there are people at school with whom they can speak, in confidence, and their privacy is protected.

Confidential, trusting relationships are essential to effective counselling.

Everyone is unique, but the average session is 30-40 minutes. Sessions may be weekly, two weekly or monthly, dependent on need. Session times will vary, so students do not miss the same lessons each time.

If a counsellor feels that external support would be beneficial, then they will contact parents/guardians to talk about a suitable referral, e.g. a doctor, specialist counsellor, clinical or educational psychologist, or psychiatrist.

Expectations of students

• Students are asked to notify subject teachers ahead of their absence, then catch up with any missed work/assessments. The counselling team are especially careful to vary appointment times so that individual subject learning is not adversely affected. There are exceptions to this if cases are urgent, if parents are in school for appointments or if any member of the counselling team is ill. Counsellors also regularly see students during break times, or before/after school.
• If students miss or ‘forget’ successive appointments, the counsellors and HoY/HoH discuss this and may remove the student from counselling because there are always other students in need of the appointments.
• It is essential that students reply to, and check their emails, when involved with counselling. Students who don’t confirm appointments may also be removed from the counselling list.

If a student wishes to see our Counsellors/Social Workers, she/he can email, telephone or call into their rooms to make an appointment. If students would rather ask Tutors or Heads of Year/House to contact the counsellors or social worker for them, that is fine.

As this year begins, please remember that –

Counselling can help. Counselling is positive. Counselling is just another of the many ways we strive to support every student at South Island School.