Secondary Campus Weekly Update 14 Sep 2026

Dear Parents,

Last week, we were delighted to welcome our Year 12 and 13 parents to our new Sixth Form Campus in Hung Hom. It was wonderful to showcase this exciting learning environment and share our vision for the future of Sixth Form education at NAIS Hong Kong.

We were also thrilled to hear that our Year 11 Geographers enjoyed a highly successful field trip to Yangshuo as part of their IGCSE studies. The visit provided invaluable opportunities for students to apply their classroom learning in a real-world setting, deepening their understanding through hands-on geographical fieldwork and investigation.

The Secondary campus was a hive of activity throughout the week as we celebrated World Literacy Day across the school, inspiring students to embrace the joy of reading and explore new literary adventures. It was fantastic to see such high levels of participation, with students engaging in friendly competition while developing key reading and communication skills. Well done to Balmoral House for winning the Literacy-focused House Competition!

This week, we are excited to begin our Year Ahead events, welcoming parents into school to connect with both the school community and one another. These important evenings provide an opportunity to learn more about the year ahead, meet Form Tutors and strengthen the valuable partnership between home and school that supports every child's success.

A special thank you to our PTA for leading the pre-loved uniform sales ahead of these events. Your ongoing support is greatly appreciated and contributes so positively to our school community.

Introducing Our New Staff:

Deeptakshar Dey – Business and Economics Teacher

Hello! My name is Deeptakshar Dey, and I am delighted to join the Business and Economics department at NAIS HK this year. I hold a Master's from Jadavpur University, India (2011) and a Master's in Educational Leadership from Abertay University, Scotland (2026), along with a B.Ed. and QTS in the UK.

Over 15 years across India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Qatar, and the UAE, I have taught IB History, Business, Economics, TOK, and IGCSE History. I have also held several leadership positions as Head of Humanities, Personal Project Coordinator, MUN Coordinator, Extended Essay Coordinator, and leader of IB evaluation committees. These roles have strengthened my ability to mentor students and colleagues while driving academic excellence. Serving as an IB Examiner has further refined my understanding of assessment standards, benefiting student achievement directly.

As an avid traveler, Hong Kong is the 23rd country I have visited. I became a teacher because nothing is greater than spreading knowledge and nothing more joyous than satisfying students' curiosity. I am very excited to be working with our young, inquisitive economists of the future!

Rus Ekkel – Media Studies and English Teacher

I am happy and proud to join NAIS HK after 14 years working at BISS Puxi in Shanghai, one of Nord Anglia’s many other schools. There, I was a teacher of English, EAL and later became Head of Film and Media. I enjoyed nurturing students to develop their critical and filmmaking skills. Project management, budgeting, collaboration, negotiation and creativity are not just at the heart of video projects but are key life skills that all students need to acquire.

I’m particularly excited by the challenge of introducing IGCSE Media Studies to NAIS HK’s Year 10 students this year, and I am delighted to see that so many students have chosen this subject.

I was born in London, UK and before working in education, I was part of the British film industry where I gained experience as an assistant editor on films such as 007: The World Is Not Enough, Troy, King Arthur and 102 Dalmatians. I also worked at Sky News and MTV Europe for a short time. These experiences gave me valuable insights into what it takes to work and succeed in the creative industries, and NAIS HK students will benefit from my knowledge and expertise.

After gaining my teaching qualification in 2002 in South London, I spent time in Australia and New Zealand before returning to the film industry - this time as a tutor to child actors. I was able to travel to Venice, Thailand, Australia and more giving lessons to young actors while they were on location filming. Some of the projects I worked on were Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, The Golden Compass, Defiance and several seasons of BBC TV’s comedy show Outnumbered. Many of the young actors I worked with have gone on to great success, and I hope to pass this experience on to our ambitious and creative students here in Hong Kong. I’m also looking forward to exploring more of Hong Kong’s rich tradition in film, art and culture.

Sally Leung – Science Teacher

I am delighted to be joining the Science Department at NAIS HK this year, stepping into a school community that truly values curiosity and growth. I hold a degree in Biological Sciences from Queen's University Belfast, along with a Master in Ecological Conservation and Environmental Management. Before entering teaching, I spent ten years in the biopharmaceutical industry, working in Research and Development on vaccines and blood plasma products. This research meant a great deal to me, and it taught me just how much curiosity and persistence go into scientific discovery.

Over time, I realised what I really wanted was to pass that curiosity on to the next generation, sparking a young mind's interest through hands on experiments, unexpected questions, and real-world connections. That excitement pushed me to retrain as a teacher, and after completing my PGCE last year, I am ready to bring my scientific background into the classroom.

Outside of school, my two children keep me busy. I love hiking around Hong Kong between November and March (when the weather is a little bit cooler!), finding new food spots and going to the movies.

The Year Ahead Events Reminder – Lisa Curley

Parents are reminded to register for the upcoming The Year Ahead: Parent Partnership Evenings using the Microsoft Form link included in the relevant Year Ahead event email sent previously.

These parent-only events for Years 7 to 11 will provide an overview of the year ahead, including key academic and non-academic milestones, expectations, support structures, and opportunities for students. Parents will also have the opportunity to meet their child’s tutor, learn more about the year group roadmap, and connect with other parents in their child’s tutor group.

Event dates:

• Year 7: Tuesday, 15th September 2026
• Year 10: Wednesday, 16th September 2026
• Year 9: Thursday, 17th September 2026
• Year 11: Tuesday, 22nd September 2026
• Year 8: Wednesday, 23rd September 2026

For Years 7 to 10, the Parent Partnership Evenings will take place from 5:00pm to 6:15pm at the NAIS HK Kwun Tong Campus. The PTA will also be leading a Pre-loved Uniform Sale at these events, beginning at 4:30pm before the main event starts, giving parents the opportunity to browse and purchase uniform items if they wish.

The Year 11 event will take place at the NAIS HK Sixth Form Campus in Hung Hom. Parents are invited to arrive from 4:30pm to explore the campus, with the main event running from 5:00pm to 6:15pm.

We look forward to welcoming parents to these important evenings and working in partnership to support our students.

Year 11 Geography Fieldtrip to Yangshuo – Mr. Cross

Our Year 11 geographers have returned from our IGCSE fieldtrip to Yangshuo, China which took place from Thursday 10 to Sunday 13th. Students embarked on a range of field work experiences, collecting data on river systems, tourism and urban land use which will be instrumental in preparing students for their IGCSE Geography exams next June. We also managed to squeeze in some caving and, inevitably, some shopping!

ECAs/Enrichment Updates – Shane Rogers

Enrichment Week Update – Passports & Final Payment

We would like to thank all families who have already submitted their child's passport and made their final payment for the international Enrichment Week trips. If you have not yet done so, we kindly ask that you submit your child's passport as soon as possible. Passports can be uploaded using the link provided below. We also still require the final payment for international trips to be made; please ensure this is completed promptly so we can confirm all bookings with our external providers.

Upload your child's passport here:

• Year 7 – Yangshao: NAIS HK Y7 Yangshuo Registration Form
• Year 8 – Chiang Mai: NAIS HK Y8 Chiang Mai Registration Form
• Year 9 – Siem Reap: NAIS HK Y9 Siem Reap Registration Form
• Year 10 – Bali: NAIS HK Y10 Bali Registration Form
• Year 11 – Borneo: NAIS HK Y11 Borneo Registration Form
• Year 12 – Sri Lanka: NAIS HK Y12 Sri Lanka Registration Form
• Beijing Program: NAIS HK Beijing Program Registration Form
• Year 10 & 12 – Tanzania: NAIS HK Y10&12 Tanzania Registration Form

If you have any questions or concerns regarding passports or payments, please don't hesitate to reach out to the Enrichment Team at SecondaryEnrichment@nais.hk.

ECA Sign-Ups – Closes Tonight

A reminder that sign-ups for ECAs close tonight. If you have not yet signed your child up, please follow the instructions provided in the email sent out last week or by following the instructions on this link: https://naishk.fireflycloud.asia/secondary-ecas-on-schoolsbuddy/term-1-ecas-

World Literacy Day Reflection – Ian Gallie

On Tuesday the 8th, NAIS HK proudly joined the global community in celebrating International Literacy Day—a vibrant occasion dedicated to recognising the transformative power of reading and writing. The day served as a joyful reminder of literacy's vital role in building a more just, peaceful, and sustainable society.

Students embraced the spirit of the day with enthusiasm, beginning with a creative and collaborative activity during tutor time. Classes constructed a magnificent "River of Reading," charting their reading journeys across the entire day. This visual representation of shared literary exploration was both inspiring and symbolic of how reading connects us all. Congratulations go to Emmy C of 8A, whose outstanding entry won the River of Reading contest, earning valuable house points for Windsor House. All entries will be proudly displayed in the library next week, allowing the entire school community to admire the students' dedication and creativity.

The excitement continued in the auditorium, where students competed in a lively and intellectually stimulating literary quiz. Year 9 demonstrated particularly impressive depth of knowledge on Animal Farm, while Year 10 and 11 proved themselves true experts on To Kill a Mockingbird. The competition was fierce, but when all the points were counted, the winner was Balmoral.

Beyond the fun and friendly rivalry, the day carried a meaningful message. International Literacy Day raises awareness among policymakers, practitioners, and the public about the critical importance of literacy for all. At NAIS HK, our students didn't just celebrate reading—they lived it, demonstrating curiosity, teamwork, and a genuine love of literature.

Well done to all our students and staff for making this day such a resounding success. Here's to many more chapters of discovery, imagination, and learning together!

SLC Update – Sinead Teh and Gobby Kwong

Applications for the 2026/27 Student Leadership Council are now closed. We are thrilled to share that we received 250 applications from students across the Kwun Tong and Hung Hom campuses for both Committee Leader and Committee Member positions. This outstanding response reflects the enthusiasm, initiative, and leadership potential within our student body.

Committee Leader interviews kick off this week, and we look forward to hearing each candidate’s ideas, experiences, and passion for leadership as they share how they hope to contribute to school life.

Looking Ahead

• Tuesday 15th September– Year 7 - The Year Ahead (Kwun Tong Campus)- Parents only
• Wednesday 16th September - Year 10 - The Year Ahead (Kwun Tong Campus) - Parents only
• Thursday 17th September – Year 9 - The Year Ahead (Kwun Tong Campus) - Parents only
• Tuesday 22nd September – Year 11 – The Year Ahead (Hung Hom Campus) - Parents only
• Wednesday 23rd September – Year 8 - The Year Ahead (Kwun Tong Campus) - Parents only
• Thursday 1st October – Public Holiday: National Day (School Closed) 
• Friday 2nd October – School Holiday
• Monday 5th October – School Reopens

Best regards,

Fiona Thorndike
Head of Secondary