Issue No. 35 (31 May 2019)

31 May 2019

Vaping Information for Parents

While the Hong Kong Government is discussing a blanket ban on e-cigarettes, we are finding that vaping is becoming a new trend with students in Hong Kong and we would like to alert parents to the dangers of children becoming involved with vaping.

There are a lot of concerns about vaping, as it is so new, and given the unknown effects it might be having on young people.

What originated as a smoking cessation aid has quickly became a popular product in its own right. Sarper Taskiran, MD, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Child Mind Institute, attributes the recent rise in popularity to packaging and advertising. “The teens are after innovation and they’re attracted by sleek design and ease of use,” he says. “They look like an Apple product.”

The Child Mind Institute does have several articles about vaping and some advice to parents about how to approach the subject with their children:
https://childmind.org/article/teen-vaping-what-you-need-to-know/

Another interesting article from Partnership for Drug- Free Kids also offers advice for parents:
https://drugfree.org/article/how-to-talk-with-your-kids-about-vaping/

As part of our PLC curriculum, we will be having discussions with students about the dangers of vaping and reminding them that it is not allowed in school. Any paraphernalia associated with vaping found in school will be confiscated and parents will be required to come to school to collect items, if they wish to retain them.

Annette Chapman
Vice Principal

31 May 2019

Sports Bulletin – 31 May 2019

The school rowing team finished their season on a high. Last Saturday they performed very well with Kirra and Charlotte bringing home gold for Girls Singles and Doubles. The boys (Samuel, Oliver, Nick, Amos, James, Joshua and Fred) continued their winning strike in the Boys U16 Quad, Doubles and Singles.

These were not quite enough race entries to have a chance to win the Inter-school Trophy this year, but all team members received a Gold or Silver place in their races. The team is raring to go next season and keen to recruit new team members. Big congratulations to Charlotte Blyth as she received the coaches award for 2019.

 

On Tuesday, the U12 Girls Football Team drew 2-2 with AIS. Woman of the match goes to Sophie Callow, who showed thoughtful runs and passes in midfield and has worked hard throughout. Congratulations to the team as we see improvements every week.

On the pitch next to the girls, the U12 Boys Football Team played against AIS. AIS ‘A’ Won 3-2 but SIS ‘B’ won AIS ‘B’ 3-2. Well done to all the boys.

31 May 2019

Alumni Updates – 31 May 2019

Russell Craig O’Brart

“Oh my god!” This was how Mr Chapman reacted when he saw our alumnus Russell O’Brart during his visit at SIS. Russell was delighted to have a wonderful chat with Mr Chapman, who is in his final days of teaching at SIS before retiring with Mrs Chapman and returning to the UK.

Russell requested a school visit via Facebook and was amazed by how much the campus has changed over the years. His favourite subject was Biology and Mrs Moffat was his favourite SIS teacher. Despite enjoying fitness these days, interestingly, the Schweitzer House boy used to hate cross-country. What is also good to hear from him is that SIS gave him more of a grounded world view.

After his departure in 1990 from Form 4, Russell relocated to Singapore and then studied in the UK at Bournemouth University. Now he is a canine trainer in Phuket, Thailand.


 

Thank you alumni for participating in Business Day 2019!

We were delighted to see many of our alumni speak at our annual Business Day last Friday. Our business students had great fun with activities and learnt a lot from hearing their stories. Big thanks to Yan Shih, Head of Asia for CJC Ltd; Will Bedoucha, Director of Business Development and Strategy for Social Big Data; and Prakash Mahbubani, Managing Partner for Moneta International (HK).

30 May 2019

Scouts complete 16-hour first aid course

A total of nine Scouts from 150th group enrolled in an intensive first aid course over the weekend. They all passed with flying colours, and are prepared to handle multiple situations:

Core skills include:

*CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
*Calling emergency services, what to do at the scene of an accident
*Bleeding, shock
*Bandaging for bleeding and fractures
*Burns
*Soft tissue injuries, sprains
*Snake bites, poisoning

The course was taught by professional trainers from the Hong Kong Scouting Association (HKSA). The two-day course was held at ESF Renaissance College on 25-26 May 2019.

All Scouts from 150th  Hong Kong Group passed the exam – a mix of continuous assessment of practical skills, as well as a multiple choice written exam. They were awarded the First Aid Badge.

 

The SIS students include:

Year 9: Charles-Gautier Joly, Johnathon Cheng, Lionel Troy
Year 8: Brendan Tang, David Chong, Justin Cheng, Paul-Antoine Joly

 

Corinne Vigniel, Scout Leader
150th Hong Kong Group

First aid class.

Recovery position – Lionel prepares to turn David around.

Roller bandage on hand.

Triangular bandages – Brendan, Johnathon and Charles try to figure it out.

Trainer Mandy ties elevation sling on David’s shoulder.

CPR practice – Paul performs chest compressions.

CPR practice – Justin checks if casualty is breathing.

Scouts show certificates after passing exam. Congratulations!

27 May 2019

Nicholas Ng wins Scout of the Year!

Congratulations to Nicholas Ng for winning Scout of the Year 2018! Nicholas received the green-and-yellow shoulder lanyard as the insignia of the award last Saturday at the award presentation ceremony from Dr Choi Yuk Lin, Under Secretary for Education, Education Bureau in the presence of the Chief Commissioner of the Hong Kong Scout Association.

First held in 1987, the “Scout of the Year” selection aims to give formal recognition to scout members who have made prominent achievements in academic and scouting performances. The awardees will have an opportunity to participate in promotional activities and exchange programmes, and will also help arouse public awareness of the outstanding personalities of scouts.

The selection process involves three rounds. In December 2018, Nicholas was nominated by his scout leader and had to submit an application to provide details on all of his past scouting level awards, school results from the last three years, as well as external exam results, personal awards and achievements, extra-curricular activities and community service records and submit an essay.

He was then shortlisted to attend a full-day assessment camp where all contestants form teams to perform a series of activities to test a range of outdoor skills, leadership and teamwork abilities and are assessed by senior scout leaders. Candidates had to engage in discussions and debates that day and give an impromptu speech on other specific topics on social issues.

Nicholas became one of the finalists to attend interview in early April 2019, with a panel of judges made up of senior scout leaders and guests, and was awarded the Scout of the Year Award on 25 May 2019. Well done Nicholas!

Photo credit: Nicholas Ng

24 May 2019

Chinese Rapping Sessions

Parents please CLICK HERE to sign up for your child. Payment has to be sent by cheque payable to “SIS PTA LTD” with your child’s name and tutor group written on the back side of the cheque. The payment must be made on or before 3 June 2019. Otherwise, the space will be released to the next candidate who is queuing at the online system. The parent will receive a separate email from the PTA Office to indicate his/her successful enrolment.

Please note that places are limited and will be on a first come first served basis.

23 May 2019

Chickenpox precautionary measures

Dear Parents,

South Island School is committed to maintaining a healthy school environment for everyone, therefore we work very closely with the Department of Health and the Education Bureau to ensure that the school is up-to-date with all the latest government guidelines. Community issues do require a community effort if we are to keep infection at a minimum and have control measures to keep our school safe and healthy.

 

Health & Safety Guidelines

Chickenpox

Chickenpox (varicella) is an acute infectious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It predominantly affects children under 12 years of age. Although almost all persons develop lifelong immunity after a chickenpox infection, the virus may remain latent in the body and recur many years later.

 

Clinical features

  • Patients usually start with a fever and itchy skin rash.
  • Rashes develop in crops over a period of 5 days on the body, then spread to the face, arms and legs.
  • The rash first appears as flat spots and later as vesicles. The vesicles continue for 3 – 4 days, then dry up and form scabs.
  • Patients usually recover in about 2 – 4 weeks.
  • Persons who have received the chickenpox vaccination may still develop chickenpox.

 

Mode of transmission

  • Can be spread through droplets or air.
  • Can also spread through direct or indirect contact.

 

Incubation period

  • 10 – 21 days, usually 14 – 16 days

 

Infectious period

Usually 1 – 2 days before the rash appears and until all vesicles have dried up. It is extremely contagious, especially in the early stage of rash eruption.

 

Complications

Chickenpox is generally a mild disease and is usually self-limiting. However, secondary bacterial infection of the wound may occur. Those with weakened immunity or who are pregnant are most likely to suffer from severe complications. New-born babies who develop chickenpox can become severely ill and even die. Infection in early pregnancy may be associated with congenital malformation of the foetus.

 

Management

  • Consult the doctor to understand the condition and follow the health professional’s advice and medication to relieve symptoms.
  • If the patient has fever, drink plenty of water and have adequate rest.
  • Wear clean cotton gloves during sleep to prevent scratching of the vesicles which may cause infection and scarring.
  • Avoid contact with pregnant women and persons with weakened immunity.
  • Sick children should stay at home and be excluded from schools/kindergartens/child care centres until all vesicles have dried up, usually about 1 week after appearance of rashes to prevent spreading the disease to others.
  • Parents should closely monitor the child’s condition. If the child persistently runs a fever, refuses to eat or drink, vomits or looks drowsy, immediate medical attention should be sought.
  • Parents should also closely monitor other children in the household for signs and symptoms of chickenpox.

 

Prevention

  • Maintain good personal and environmental hygiene.
  • Chickenpox vaccine is available in Hong Kong. About 90% of persons who receive the vaccine will acquire immunity.
  • Under the Hong Kong Childhood Immunisation Programme, children receive a two-dose course of chickenpox vaccination. Parents may consult family doctors or maternal and child health centres for details.
16 May 2019

2019/2020 School Bus Registration

2019/2020 School Bus Registration

School bus registration for the academic year 2019/2020 is now open for application.

Please submit online via https://school.kcm.com.hk/sisland/sispta.php before the application deadline 31 May 2019 (Friday). Please note the User Guide (Current bus users and New Users) for application is available in the left hand column.

A student PHOTO is required for issuing a bus card. Please submit the application even if your photo is not yet readyas you may login later to upload the photo.

Any queries, please feel free to contact us via email: sisland@kcm.com.hk or pta@sis.edu.hk.

 

Raffle 2019

Congratulations to all the winners. The results are advertised in The Standard and Sing Tao Daily on 9 May 2019 and also on the school website (https://www.sis.edu.hk/pta-events/) or CLICK HERE. All prizes are to be redeemed on or before 10 June 2019 (Monday by 4 pm) from the PTA office. Late redemption will not be accepted.

Any UNSOLD tickets MUST be returned to the PTA Office immediately for audit purpose.

If you have lost your tickets, kindly please e-mail the PTA Office at pta@sis.edu.hk immediately.

10 May 2019

SIS PTA Raffle 2019 Updates

The SIS PTA Raffle Draw was successfully held on 6 May 2019 during lunch time at the School Foyer.

Thank you to Mr. Tom Vignoles, Ms. Carolyn Andrews, Mr. Darin Slethaug and Ms. Lydia Yu from the Leadership Team, as well as Ms. Amy Au, Mrs. Elvira Littlewood and Mrs. Julie Sims, our PTA Committee Parent Representatives for their time spent joining me for the draw.

Congratulations to all winners. The results are advertised in The Standard and Sing Tao Daily on 9 May 2019, also below, and also on the school website here. All prizes are to be redeemed on or before 10 June 2019, Monday by 4 pm from the PTA Office. Late redemptions will not be accepted.

Any UNSOLD tickets MUST be returned to the PTA Office immediately for audit purpose.

If you lost your tickets, kindly please email the PTA Office at pta@sis.edu.hk immediately.

Good Luck!

Karla Lee
PTA Chair

Back to Top