West Island School Newsletter: WISdom Weekly

Announcements and Reminders

Horizons Week 2026 sign-ups will open on Monday, 9 February at 3pm and close on Friday, 13 February at 12pm. Please refer to this letter for full details and watch this video to see how our students chose the right trip for themselves in 2025.
Whole-school Mini Weez Walk will take place on Tuesday, 3 February. Our teaching and support staff will be walking the 2.7km cross-country route alongside every student. Please refer to this letter to get ready for this wonderful opportunity to step outside the classroom together.
Sports Day will take place on Friday, 13 February, at the Wan Chai Sports Ground. Families are warmly invited to attend and support our students. Please read the full letter for details.
Road Safety is important for our daily commute. Parents and students, please review these slides to ensure you are using designated crossings when travelling to and from the school.

Find Your Purpose, Realise Your Potential

School Ambassadors is a student leadership opportunity open to Years 7-10 students who are passionate about supporting new students and their families and school events. If this sounds like you, please log in to your student account and follow this link to apply by Thursday, 12 February.
Shark Week from 10 to 12 February will be a dedicated time for us to investigate the impact of shark finning and discuss global prevention strategies. As part of the week’s events, students are invited to submit their designs through this form before Tuesday, 10 February.
ESF Composition Competition and Piano Concerto Composition are still open for aspiring student musicians to showcase their creativity and talent. Please sign in to your student account and submit your entries by 9 February.
International Greenwich Olympiad (IGO) 2026 is an opportunity for students to compete, learn and connect globally from 14 to 20 June. Categories include Engineering, AI (new), Health Sciences and more. Please refer to the details and register here.

Inter-Dynasty Spelling Bee

On Wednesday and Thursday, students across all year groups put their skills to the test in the English Faculty’s Inter-House Spelling Bee - a great display of academic talent and house pride.

Year 7 Visual Art: Sticker Bombing

The Visual Arts studios have received a vibrant makeover. Last term, our Year 7 students mastered Adobe Fresco to design custom graffiti stickers—and now, they’ve officially 'sticker bombed' the art room. The doors are bursting with colour and character, showcasing the incredible digital creativity of our youngest artists.

Year 12 Theory of Knowledge (TOK)

On Monday, our Auditorium was buzzing with intellectual curiosity as our Year 12 IB Diploma students presented their Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Exhibition. TOK challenges students to shift their focus from what they know to how they know it. This exhibition was a showcase where students select three real-world objects and connect them to a complex knowledge question.

It was inspiring to see how our students applied abstract philosophical concepts to tangible items ranging from family heirlooms and scientific instruments to pop culture artefacts and news articles. Our students demonstrated exceptional critical thinking skills, showing they can navigate ambiguity and uncertainty, analyse different perspectives on global issues, and articulate complex justifications for their claims.

A heartfelt thank you to the parents and guests who attended, whose presence transformed this from a simple assessment into a true celebration of learning. By asking our students to explain their thinking and justify their object choices, our parents and guests helped students refine their arguments and build confidence in their voice.

CAS Corner

C Grade Netball & Year 7

This week, we saw experience meet enthusiasm on the netball court. Our senior netballers teamed up with C Grade and Year 7 students for a dynamic mixed-age game. This cross-year collaboration allowed our younger players to gain invaluable insights and court strategies from their more experienced teammates.

Musical Theatre

Students who took the opportunity to develop their performing arts skills this term have been highly engaged in singing, dancing, and acting. They have already choreographed several distinct pieces, showcasing a wonderful variety of musical styles.

West Island Monthly

Our aspiring writers and artists are making their voices heard through the West Island Monthly. Students are having a brilliant time developing their journalism and design skills while producing original content—ranging from hard-hitting news to creative comics. It’s a wonderful space where student passions meet professional skill-building.

Environmental Council - WISustain

Our Environmental Council, WISustain, is proud to present the brand-new sustainable medals for this year's Sports Day. Watch the video to find out more.

Colouring Book

The Colouring Book CAS sessions have been highly productive, offering students numerous learning opportunities. By creating line art specifically for others to colour, members developed their perspective-shifting skills, considering how different artists might interact with their work. The four-session cycles for each theme have taught members to manage their time effectively, while the broad parameters of each brief encourage them to think outside the box. Please feel free to download the colouring book produced by our students for a mindfulness session.

Colouring Book - CAS Term 1.pdf

Sports

ISSFHK Basketball Finals

A huge shout-out to our champions! Our U16 Boys Basketball team took home the gold in the ISSFHK Season 2 finals this week. Beyond the medals, it was wonderful to see every member of the team celebrating their incredible spirit of teamwork.

Our U12 Boys Basketball Team showed incredible courage, competing in the finals, securing 2nd place and silver medals. Their team spirit and determination throughout the tournament were truly inspiring.

ISSFHK Cross Country

On 16 January, 64 students represented West Island School at the ISSFHK Cross Country Finals. Our athletes excelled across the board, finishing at the top of the leaderboards as:

Team Awards:

Overall Champions
U20 Girls Champions
U16 Boys Champions
U16 Girls Champions

Individual Achievements:

U12:

Year 7 Isabelle - 8th
Year 7 Almos - 4th

U14:

Year 8 Sofia - 1st
Year 9 Raef Caldwell - 6th
Year 9 Lucas Lo - 7th

U16:

Year 10 Ellie - 4th
Year 11 Reka - 6th
Year 10 Bella - 7th
Year 10 Amiee Yuan - 8th
Year 11 Ilias - 1st
Year 11 Marcus - 2nd
Year 10 Marco - 7th

U20:

Year 12 Emily - 1st
Year 12 Téa - 4th
Year 13 Naia - 5th
Year 12 Koppany - 5th
Year 12 Safiya - 6th
Year 12 Jasmine - 9th

ISSFHK Basketball Semi Finals

Our U16 and U20 Boys Basketball teams reached the ISSFHK semi-finals this season. Both teams competed with outstanding energy and determination, showcasing the very best of their athletic spirit.

Both squads claimed victory in their respective matches. Their hard work and teamwork on the court have been impressive, and we look forward to supporting them in the next stage of the competition.

Hockey: Senior Girls Team

Our Senior Girls Hockey Team had a challenging season, yet they continued to fight and develop as strong players, demonstrating incredible resilience and sportsmanship. Keep it up!

Quick links for your bookmarks: Sports Website | Sports Guide| WIS Sports Live

Parent Session

Post-16 The Final Stretch: 25 February

Our Post-16 team warmly invites Years 12-13 parents to our upcoming information session. This session is designed to provide you with key insights and practical strategies to help you support your child as they prepare for their final exams.

Date: Wednesday, 25 February 2026

Time: 9am

Duration: About one hour

Location: Staff Room, West Island School

Please confirm your attendance by submitting this Google form.

Upcoming Events

TEDxWIS: 5 February

Show up for our wonderful student speakers and be a part of a WIS community that believes in the power of ideas worth spreading. Attendees will even gain priority access to apply as a speaker next year—so make sure to sign up if you are passionate about public speaking.

Date: 5 February, 2026

Time: 5pm - 7pm

Location: Auditorium, West Island School

Admission: Free of charge

Sports Day: 13 February

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

WIS Bazaar: 14 March

Mark your calendars for an unforgettable day at the WIS Bazaar. Join us to indulge in fun, food, and fabulous activities as we celebrate our school community together.

Date: Saturday, 14 March 2026

Time: 11am - 4pm

Location: West Island School

The PTA WIS Bazaar Organising Committee is calling for your generous support. Every donation helps fund important projects at WIS and supports our partner charities. If you would like to contribute, please complete the donation form for any of the following:

Cash Donations: To support Bazaar set-up costs and stall expenses.
Silent Auction Prizes: Preferably experiences and larger items.
New Goods for Sale: Such as samples or excess stock from companies.

You can also give your pre-loved books a second life. Your kind donation, fiction or non-fiction, in any language, will support PTA's book stall at the WIS Bazaar. Please ensure that the books are in good condition and that the content is appropriate for our school community.

Drop-off locations:

- Designated box outside School Reception
- Car Park

The WIS Bazaar is still open for commercial vendors to team up with our PTA for a wonderful day celebrating the school community. If you are interested in joining us with a market stall, please find the details and submit your application through this form.

Year 11 Celebration: 16 April

We invite families to campus to celebrate the Pre-16 journey of our Year 11 students. Save the date and join us as we mark this significant milestone. Further details will follow.

Date: Thursday, 16 April 2026

Location: West Island School

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