PART 1: PDHPE the Foundation for Happy and Healthy StudentsBesides promoting the importance and participation in regular physical activity, Personal Development, Health and Physical Education (PDHPE) is essential in providing a solid foundation for students to develop and graduate as happy, responsible young adults. Students in Preparatory to Year 10 regularly take part in PDHPE lessons each week.

The key learning area, PDHPE, contributes to the physical, social, emotional and cognitive development of students by providing them with a safe environment to explore issues that are likely to impact on their health and wellbeing now and in the future.

PDHPE is often confused with “Sport” at AISHK, which encompasses extra-curricular activities, sporting teams and inter-school competitions. The study of PDHPE, however, forms part of the school curriculum, exploring personal development, health and physical education. The School Swimming and Athletics Carnivals are compulsory for all students as it is a part of the study of PDHPE.

18 AUGUST (Term 3, week 4)Dhanara is the Aboriginal word for message stick

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Mr Lee Pilgrim started teaching PDHPE in 2002. He holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Exercise and Sports Science), and is currently in the process of completing a Masters in Education. He believes PDHPE is extremely important for gaining knowledge about social, developmental and emotional issues that affect individuals and society, while the physical side exposes students to a range of sports and activities that will hopefully encourage them to continue regular physical activity once they leave school.

The Physical Education component provides students with the fundamental skills needed to participate in the school swim, athletics and various sporting teams. This includes a large range of activities which are designed to develop student movement, hand-eye coordination, skills and techniques. Some of such activities include dance, gymnastics, athletics, aquatics, ball games, striking skills and many more. At this next level students are able to compete with students from other schools and in some cases be selected for higher representative teams.

Personal Development and Health component of PDHPE addresses a wide range of personal and community health issues including mental health, nutrition, sexual health, personal safety, gender roles, discrimination and supportive relationships. It also tackles issues that require sensitive treatment, including drug education, supported by the LEAP Education Program. By discussing these issues it develops student understanding, promotes self-worth, enhances resilience, helps lessen the impact of adverse life events and helps them make informed decisions in their lives.

At each stage level, PDHPE programs are designed and delivered in contexts that are relevant and meaningful to the students. This provides them with a comfortable environment for them to raise and discuss issues of significance and importance to them. Students can trust teachers to provide them with honest, accurate information and advice on these issues.

Mrs Christine Simms is the Head of PDHPE. She has been teaching PDHPE for 18 years and has a strong background in dance and gymnastics, formerly competing at a state level. She says that PDHPE helps students become healthy, well-rounded adults who live healthy lifestyles, which is especially important as life during and after school becomes busier with less time for physical activity.

PRO

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PDH

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Sport

Sport encompasses:Extra Curricular Activities; Inter-school Sports, SRDC, ACAMIS, ISSFHK, HKSSF

Core Sports at AISHK are:Athletics, Rugby (Tackle/Touch), Badminton, Soccer, Basketball,

Swimming, Netball, and Volleyball

Sports Managers at AISHKDirector of Activities Steve Burrows

Athletics/Cross Country Lee PilgrimBadminton Peter PhillipsBasketball Steve BurrowsNetball Joanne ReedRugby Paul Spain

Soccer Ian NelsonSwimming Alex ChungTouch Football Steve PriceVolleyball John Batterham

Physical Development, Health and Physical Education

PDHPE is part of the school curriculum taught from Preparatory to Year 10.It includes the athletics, inter-house sports, and swimming carnivals.

Units of study include:aquatics, athletics; cross country and fitness; basketball; volleyball;

movement; dance; food; body systems; health issues in sport and drug use; and more...

Head of Department Christine Simms

PDHPE DepartmentTeachers: Lee Pilgrim Peng Kin Wong Ian Nelson Steve Burrows

At AISHK we have an experienced team in the PDHPE Department, including Head of Department, Mrs Christine Simms, and teachers Messrs Lee Pilgrim, Peng Kin Wong, Ian Nelson and Steve Burrows. Learn more about PDHPE in the next two features in Week 6 and Week 8. Part 2 (Week 6) looks at Preparatory to Year 10 PDHPE curriculum Part 3 (Week 8) Links our PDHPE offering into AISHK Sports and Teams**Week 8 provides us with special cause for celebrating physical education and sport at the school with our Sports Awards Assembly due to take place at Baptist University on Wednesday 15 September at 12noon.

News from the Primary Division

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PRIMARY ASSEMBLIES

Week 4 Friday 20 August (Year 5)Week 5 Friday 27 August (Chinese assembly)Week 6 Friday 3 September (Year 6)Week 7 Friday 10 September (Book Week assembly)Week 8 Friday 17 September (Year 4)Week 9 No assembly

Assemblies on odd weeks begin at 11:10am andeven weeks at 11:20am.

Leonie Drew Principal Primary, Co-Head of School leonie_drew@aishk.edu.hk

Our primary classes are preparing for Chinese Week, which will be celebrated next week. Many of our Chinese parents have organised exciting activities this year in consultation with the Chinese Department. There will be games and shops for the children to enjoy, but only if they speak in Mandarin to order! The parents will only be speaking in Chinese, so this will give us a great opportunity to practise our Putonghua.

This is what our year groups are planning:

Reception will be enjoying some Chinese activities led by parents, such as making dumplings, listening to Chinese stories about moon cakes and Chinese New Year as well as writing their age in Chinese numerals.

Preps will be participating in Chinese activities on a rotational basis led by parents, such as: Chinese tea ceremony, making simple kites, painting Chinese blossoms, listening to Chinese stories and folk tales, tangrams and Chinese games, and making dumplings. Then on Wednesday they are going out for Dim Sum at a local restaurant.

Year 1 will be doing three rotational art/craft activities during Chinese Week. They are Chinese panda painting, dragon boats and cherry blossom art. Each teacher will be in charge of one activity and the children will do a different activity over the three-day cycle.

Year 2 will be doing a range of activities for Chinese week, including:

Making lanterns•Making and flying kites (the first kite was made in China!)•Chinese horoscopes – discuss the year the children were born in and draw that animal•Read a Chinese folk tale; for example The Five Chinese Brothers.•Create and display a map of China•Art – Chinese Panda•

On Friday at the Early Childhood assembly the year level Chinese classes will be performing and we will have a visit from a Chinese dancer from our Hong Kong sister school, Lam Tuen Public Wong Fook Luen Memorial School, who will perform the dance ‘The Little Fish’. The children and staff will dress in Chinese style clothing. It promises to be a very colourful assembly!

Year 3 are making:

3D - Pagodas•3F - Chinese Dragons•3C - Chinese Lotus Flowers•30 - Animation•

Year 4 Chinese week revolves around an excursion to the Big Buddha which then links with a study of world monuments and their significance in Term 4. Science and Art for Week 5 also revolve around Chinese week.

Year 5 will be having a Chinese Banquet and the students will be asked to wear a Chinese costume. They will also complete craft activities to help celebrate Chinese Week.

Year 6 Chinese Week activities involve an excursion to The Hong Kong Art Museum and a Dim Sum lunch. In addition, the Chinese teachers have organised an essay writing competition around the theme “Life in Hong Kong” and the best of these will be displayed for all to enjoy. There are also Chinese activities planned during lesson time as well as a Chess tournament and of course the tiger drawing competition that has been running in the lead up to our special Chinese Week.

So as you can see a busy week is planned and we are very excited in the Primary years!

Chinese Week at a Glance

Monday: Primary and Secondary Chinese Chess Tournaments Begin

IB and HSC LEAP workshop

Tuesday: Chinese Shopping Booths

Wednesday: Chinese Game Booths IB and HSC LEAP workshop

Thursday: Chinese Chess Tournament continues

Friday: Stage 1 Chinese costume day, Stage 2 and 3 are welcome to participate.

Primary and Secondary Chinese Chess Tournament Finals

Stage 1 Chinese assembly

Secondary and Primary buddy activities will occur throughout the week.

News from the Secondary Division

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Phil Waugh Principal Secondary, Co-Head of School phillip_waugh@aishk.edu.hk

Personal Development Health and Physical Education studies, commonly referred to as PDHPE, are key elements of the AISHK curriculum.

While it is a part of our registration requirement with the NSW Board of Studies that we offer PDHPE as a compulsory subject in Years 7-10, at AISHK we also recognise the intrinsic value that this Key Learning Area can offer many of our students, particularly in this era of “technology” and sedentary recreation lifestyles that seems so attractive to so many teenagers.

As educators we have long accepted the value or importance of students adopting a healthy lifestyle early in their life, setting a pattern for teenage and adult years. We also believe that PDHPE studies both complement and enhance our students overall academic program. Our belief is further justified when we consider research undertaken in recent years that I have referred to in the past, which strongly supports the role of physical activity in the mainstream curriculum.

University and educational research, especially in the USA, has focused on the theory of “educational kinesiology” or more simply put, “how physical movement relates to learning”. Through programs like “Learning Through Movement” and “Brain Gym” students, many of whom who have learning disabilities, ADD or ADHD, have shown significant improvement in their classroom learning outcomes, apparently because they have been engaging in programs of physical activity and physical skills building. While the nature of these programs can vary, the concepts involved are very similar. Students who are given a greater opportunity to participate in activities designed to develop hand-eye coordination become more focused and capable in their formal classroom learning.

Research suggests that there appears to be a notable difference in formal learning outcomes when physical activity is involved. This is because it appears this physical activity helps students to more effectively engage in their learning tasks. The eyes that students catch a ball with are the same eyes with which they track words on a whiteboard, in a book or on a computer screen. It is the same brain being exercised and developed. If we can create stronger neurological learning pathways through physical activity, then there is more likelihood students will be better able to apply themselves to classroom learning experiences.

In terms of physical activity associated with running there is also now a large body of work that suggests that regularly having the opportunity to run greatly assists the learning process because it sends increased oxygen levels to the brain and this also helps to release positive hormones into the body.

It is always a pleasure to publicly recognise all key areas of the AISHK curriculum but especially at this time, when our focus is on our Personal Development, Heath and Physical Education program.

As always if you have any questions or concerns regarding these or any other matters relating to the Secondary Division, please do not hesitate to contact me at the school.

Until next timeRegards

Model United Nations NewsDuring the last week of Term 2 50 students from Years 7 to 11 took part in an in-school Model United Nations conference. They were expertly chaired by Year 12 students Hugo Chan and Jasmin Kirk and debated a resolution put forward by the delegate of Indonesia, Jacquline Lim of Year 11, relating to the crisis in biodiversity. After much healthy debate the resolution was passed and all delegates represented their countries with the upmost diplomacy.

Special bronze awards were given to:Most diplomatic delegate - USA - Tae Hoon Kim Year 11• Most passionate delegate - India - Jacqui Chiu Year 9• Best new MUN delegate - Israel - Fern Cawthorne Year 10• Encouragement award for most enthusiastic delegate - Australia - Michael • Lam Year 8

Melanie Wilson - MUN Coordinatormelanie_wilson@aishk.edu.hk

News from the Secondary Division

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Secondary Silver Award WinnersJustin Pak 7 EMadeleine Howell 7 HVernice Chan 7 JEvelyn Chan 7 JGeorgia Raper 7 JSamantha Yeung 7 WMelanie Kleinschmidt 8 ENiNi Lu 8 EChristy Zsa 8 EEmily Archibald 8 HSian Pannach 8 HAllen Lam 8 JLucy O’Sullivan 9 HShanae Toole 9 WFern Cawthorne 10 WJacqueline Lim 11 VGeorge Ng 12 J

Secondary Bronze Award WinnersJustin Pak 7 EBenjamin Ho 7 HMadeleine Howell 7 HEvelyn Chan 7 JVernice Chan 7 JChloe Chow 7 JSamantha Yeung 7 WMadeleine Howell 7 HEvelyn Chan 7 JVernice Chan 7 JSamantha Yeung 7 WJedid Ong 7 EPhoebe Brenner 7 JRobert Reilly 7 WJustin Pak 7 EMichal Prinsloo 7 EAimee Reed 7 ETini Tang 7 EHilary Yeung 7 ECalvin Chan 7 HJake Loiterton 7 HJohn Rawsthorne 7 HWilliam Sanger 7 HVernice Chan 7 JEvelyn Chan 7 JChloe Chow 7 JZoe Li 7 JJoyce Lui 7 JGeorgia Raper 7 JMarianne Stewart 7 JTiffany Nung 7 WSamantha Yeung 7 WGordon Young 7 WChristy Zsa 8 EEmily Archibald 8 H

Rex Choi 8 HJanessa Chou 8 HSian Pannach 8 HCharlotte Wan 8 HJustin Yip 8 HCaleb Au 8 JClarence Chan 8 JAllen Lam 8 JJason Huen 8 WMelanie Kleinschmidt 8 EIp Shun Lee 8 EJane Lee 8 ENiNi Lu 8 EClaudia Chiu 8 HCharlotte Chiu 8 JHayley Reed 9 JJennie Liu 9 ELucy O’Sullivan 9 HElizabeth Poon 9 HWinze Tam 9 JKristy Ngai 9 JShanae Toole 9 WPeter Foster 10 ERyan James 10 WStephanie Locandro 11 BJoyce Wan 11 CKevin Wong 11 VJacqueline Lim 11 VAllira Wilson 12 EHugo Chan 12 HJessica Cheah 12 WJason Nung 12 WMelody Chu 12 EEunbi Shin 12 EGeorge Ng 12 J

International Baccalaureate Parent SurveyAs part of the review of our International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program, we are asking parents of both current and prospective IB students to complete a survey on various aspects of the program. Parents of students currently enrolled in the IB Diploma Program and parents of Year 10 students who have indicated this as their preferred senior study option for 2011 have been sent email notification of the survey.

Your feedback is important to us and will be used not only to demonstrate the school’s progress towards achieving the required standards and practices laid down by the IBO but also to inform our future planning. We would be grateful if you could complete the survey by Friday, 27 August.

Phil Waugh Principal Secondary, Co-Head of School phillip_waugh@aishk.edu.hk

Chris McCorkellSenior Studies Coordinatorchris_mccorkell@aishk.edu.hk

High DistinctionTini Tang 7E

Benjamin Ho 7HJoshua Lam 9H

DistinctionJoyce Lui 7J

Davina Lo 7WSamantha Yeung 7W

Michael Leung 8ENathan Purdey 8E

Christy Zsa 8EJanessa Chou 8HRachael Chung 8H

Jason Ng 8JJason Huen 8WEdan Goodall 9ESally Togher 9E

Jessica Archer 9HBrian Lim 9JRyan Lee 9W

Bryan Yuen 10EYi Wong 10H

Victor Zhou 10HAmanda Chancellor 10J

Melissa Tan 10JMatthew Yeung 10WJacqueline Lim 11V

ICAS Science Competition Distinctions

AISHK Alumni Reunion - Melbourne

This year’s Alumni Reunion will be at the Watermark restaurant in Melbourne (near Eithad Stadium)

on Saturday 11 September from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.

Former staff, students and their immediate family members are welcome.

Parent Association

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Book NOW!

Team Name: ______________________________

Names of team members: ____________________

_______________________________________

Amount of payment enclosed: _________________

Contact Name: ____________________________

Contact Phone Number: ______________________

Friday 10th September 2010 at 7.00pmat the newly renovated Hebe Haven Yacht Club, Hiram’s Highway, Pak Sha Wan(just before Sai Kung).

Get your friends together and form teams of 4 to 6 people. Decide on a team name, fill in the reply slip below and send in to school with your payment (cheques to be made payable to AISHK Parent Association).

Contact Keir Thubron with any queries at: ikthubron@yahoo.com

Cost: $550 per person including dinner and unlimited drinks!!

Fabulous prizes to be won on the night, plus raffle draws (so bring your money)!

All profits will go to the AISHK Parent Association.

Booking deadline Monday 6 September.

It’s On Again!!it’s the greatest night of the school year, so come and

pit your wits against the greatest brains in Hong Kong at the

the 2010 AISHKPATrivia Night

New to HK and to AISHK?Successful Transitions, Successful Students

A forum for parents new to AISHK and Hong Kong on 24,31 August

8:30am-10:00am at AISHK, Library Conference Room, 5th Floor

Find out what’s involved in transitioning-settled •parents make for settled kids

Know the school better•Support children in adjusting to a new life and school•

Meet other parents•

Facilitated by: Jane Strangward - AISHK Parent Association

Libby Purdey - AISHK Parent AssociationIsobel Coutts Weakley - AISHK School Counsellor

Please register for this course by contacting Isobel Coutts Weakley on isobel_cweakley@aishk.edu.hk or 2304 6078.

P A R E N T A S S O C I A T I O N E V E N T SWhat’s On In Term 3

Tuesday 24 AugustParent Forum - New to HK and to AISHK

Time: 8:30am-10:00amVenue: Library Conference Room, 5/F, AISHK

(Last session to be held on 31 August)

Wednesday 25 AugustNew Parents’ Coffee Morning

Time: 9:00am-middayRSVP Linda Rogers at lindarogers@netvigator.com

or mobile 9867 2330

Tuesday 31 AugustParent Forum – Student Welfare

Time: 7:00pmVenue: Rehearsal Room

A must for all parents to find out about the school’s peer support program, pastoral care and welfare

program, and bullying, harassment and social skills program

Friday 3 SeptemberYear 6 Lunch (after assembly)

Time: Approx 12:30pmVenue: Rice Paper Restaurant, L1-20, Festival Walk

RSVP to your class rep by 1 September

Friday 10 September – save the dateTrivia Night

Venue: Hebe Haven Yacht ClubDetails to follow

Wednesday 15 SeptemberYears7 and 5 Happy Valley Race Night

Time: 6:00-11:00pmVenue: Happy Valley Racecourse

RSVP josanger@mac.com or 6893 1558 by 8 September

AISHKPA What’s on EntriesPlease forward all details to Connie Chan at

alanchung_conniechan@hotmail.com by Monday afternoon for entry into Wednesday’s newsletter.

School Fair: Commercial Stalls

The Parent Association is inviting commercial vendors to market and sell products and services to

more than 2500 fair-goers onSaturday, 6 November.

Please contact the Parent Association on aishkpa@aishk.edu.hk to showcase your business at one of the best fairs held in Hong Kong.