Last Day to Return books: FRIDAY 1 June.

Peak Junior Library will be closed from MONDAY 3 June.

I remember the buzz and excitement of a new city, the unfamiliar heat and humidity, and the multitude of briefings, meetings and discussions I attended, one of them lasting almost until midnight. When I returned to Germany after ten days, I was exhausted and a little confused but I certainly had a much better picture of what lay ahead.

At the end of this week, my successor, Frau Brandt-Dammann, will come to Hong Kong for her handover, and, like me eight years ago, she will experience the magic of a new beginning and, at the same time, the challenges of information overload and conflicting expectations.

When Frau Brandt-Dammann takes over in July, the move of the Upper Primary to Wan Chai and the demolition of Middle Building North will be in full swing. GSIS will be following up on the recent German Government inspection. A new Steering Committee, comprising both streams, will be discussing the school development priorities for the new Sponsorship Agreement with the Central Agency for German Schools Abroad. The German Secondary will be busy finalizing the skills-based schemes of work we have to submit by February 2013. The English Primary sees the appointment of a new Deputy Head, and the English Secondary Department will be in the final stages of their preparation for the IB authorization visit in December. The Board will also be deciding on Phases IV and V of the Campus Development Plan and the next steps in the fundraising campaign.

This is a busy schedule by anyone’s standard but the GSIS community is very supportive and, just like eight years ago, there will be a lot of advice and help for the incoming principal. In the run-up to the German BLI inspection and our authorization as an IB World School, we have taken stock of where we are. We have documented our policies and processes, and we know where we want to be at the end of the current school development cycle. The BLI report that we recently received highlights our strengths and points out where to focus next in our school improvement plan. The International Baccalaureate Organisation is very impressed with the thorough and strategic nature of our transition to the IB Diploma. Guided by our successful experience in moving the Kindergarten and Lower Primary to Pok Fu Lam, our preparations for the move to Wan Chai and the redevelopment of the Peak are on schedule, and the Board is set to make important decisions after the summer holidays about the implementation of the Campus Development Plan.

So we have every reason to look into the future with optimism and confidence. During her visit, Frau Brandt-Dammann will meet many different members of the GSIS community, and I will be working closely with her to ensure that the transition will be a smooth and seamless one.

Dr Jens-Peter Green

English | Deutsch

In reference to the recent news in the press regarding the attempted kidnapping of an ESF student on Stubbs Road, we would like to assure you that GSIS has stepped up its vigilance in monitoring the areas in the immediate vicinity of our campuses at the Peak and Pok Fu Lam for anything suspicious. Extra supervision will also be provided during bus boarding/alighting times, and teachers will also ensure that students commuting by school bus abide by proper boarding/alighting procedures. We would ask that parents reinforce this message, and for parents/drivers to also remain vigilant at all times. If you spot anything out of the ordinary, please let us know by phoning our emergency hotline 8207-6216.

Best regards

Marco Foehn
Chief Operating Officer

The GCSE students and I have written a short play based on the Diary of Anne Frank. As the group is small we could not tell the whole story so have chosen moments from her diary and dramatized these.

Act I: Mr and Mrs Frank and Anne
Act I focuses on the beginning of life in the attic and the relationship between Anne and her parents. Anne was a lively young girl who often clashed with her mother and had a closer bond with her father.

Act II: Mrs Frank, Anne, Peter and Mr Dussel
Act II is much later on. After several years in hiding, the Franks and Van Daans have been joined by Mr Dussel, a rather grumpy older gentleman with whom Anne has to share a room. In this act we see not only the difficulties of being in hiding and the conflicts between the different personalities, but also how laughter and fun could still be a part of an incredibly difficult and scary situation.

Please come and support the students in their examination performance – we need an audience to make the examination valid!!!

Details:

Date: WEDNESDAY 2nd May @ 7pm – running time is only 50 mins including an interval
Place: IB Hall

English | Deutsch

Naming Ceremony of The Art Studios from GSIS Videos on Vimeo.