Hello everyone, and welcome to the end of Term 2. The term has gone very quickly, and I think it’s fair to say that it’s been an extremely busy time for us all. Listen out for just some of what you might have been involved in.

Year 8 hiking, year 7 independent travel, CNY celebrations, hosting Nengren students, snow trip to Shiga Kogen, MUN events, swim meets, climbing meets, Spirit Week, Book Week and book fair, badminton, ultimate frisbee, year 10 expeditions, AYP expeditions, Deep Learning 2, Internships, House football, welcoming HLY students, Kaleidoscope. And now an end of term assembly!

In addition to your regular classes and other activities, and that list is far from everything we’ve done together.

Who here has participated in at least one of these activities? Who has participated in more than one of them?

As a school, we are simply not able to do all of this without a pretty remarkable, and possibly, quite tired, group of people. Take a look around you, because I’d like to start by acknowledging our teachers and staff whose commitment, flexibility and goodwill drive these activities and our school's success. Every one of the events I’ve just mentioned takes time to set up and organise, time that’s hidden from you all, time that’s in addition to preparing and teaching lessons and the general business of being a strong professional. Teachers and staff, your efforts make these opportunities possible, and thank you for your unwavering dedication.

We’re an extremely busy school, and we all enjoy having opportunities to explore our interests, to meet new people, to try new things, to find out what we like and don’t like, and realise success in as many ways as we possibly can. But why? What’s the purpose? Why do we do it here?

At ICHK, we believe that education must evolve to cultivate an alternative mindset that is different to other schools. It’s a mindset that prioritizes contentment, security, and relational well-being among all of us here and within our community at large. Our educational approach at ICHK serves as an apprenticeship in living and promoting this new mindset, equipping our students, all of you, with the skills and perspectives necessary to navigate and reshape a world urgently in need of sustainable practices and deeper connections.

Through our shared commitment to the holistic development of the person, through experiential encounters, diverse learning environments, and real-world connections, we aim for all of you to become thoughtful leaders and responsible local and global citizens. Our intention as a school is to empower all of you to forge a viable future, one that balances our personal fulfillment and interests with our ecological and societal responsibilities.

At a school like ICHK, as an organisation, our principles are operationalised and organised:

We prioritise a focus on developing self-understanding, emotional intelligence, resilience, and adaptability, preparing you all to navigate the complexities of life after school. Your well-being, psychological balance, and personal growth are our preeminent concerns, and are assumed as the optimal foundation for ongoing academic success.

A wide range of learning opportunities, like the ones we have all shared this term, promotes strong relationships between staff and students, and speaks to the diverse needs, interests, and learning styles that you all have. Through these experiences, we are working together to ensure that you as ICHK students feel motivated, valued, and supported in your journey through school.

These experiences are designed to promote authentic engagement and critical thinking, encouraging you to question assumptions, analyze different perspectives, and engage in problem-solving. The ICHK experience is crafted to foster enterprise, open-mindedness, curiosity and exploration across a challenging roster of intellectual and physical encounters.

These learning experiences are explicitly linked to the real-world, and take advantage of the natural and cultural environments here in Hong Kong, because we would like to feel as though your learning here is relevant. Projects, internships, team activities, and community involvement are integral to ICHK’s taught curriculum and to extra-curricular and service-oriented activities.

We as a school community are committed to fostering a nurturing and inclusive environment where everyone here feels safe, supported, and valued. We as adults work to ensure that all of you have access to the resources you need to thrive, both academically and personally, empowering you to develop a strong sense of belonging and community within our school.

These experiences, the process of learning, the end of term awards, and many other parts of your learning at ICHK, culminate in a process designed to cultivate "sustainable people" — individuals who are secure, capable of self-regulation, alert and responsive to the needs of others, and equipped to thrive in a complex and evolving society facing significant challenges and perils, as well as great promise and opportunity.

The ultimate goals of learning at ICHK Secondary is to foster sustainable people, and include cultivating well-rounded individuals who are intellectually capable, emotionally resilient, and socially responsible. We seek to empower all of you by equipping you with the confidence and skills to pursue your interests, make informed choices, and navigate life's complexities. We work to establish social cohesion by promoting a sense of community and belonging that enhances mutual respect and understanding, contributing to a more inclusive society. We work to instill a lifelong love of learning and the ability to adapt to new challenges, fostering continuous personal and professional growth. Our work, our wish for you as our students, is that you become interested in being engaged, informed, and ethical citizens who contribute positively to our communities and our world, and who, ultimately, think and act wisely.

Today, we say farewell to two groups of ICHK students - years 11 and 13 please stand. After the Easter break, this fine group of people will go on study leave and participate in their IGCSE and IB exams. To all exam students, we collectively wish you the very best, and understand that whatever happens, you as people are far more than your exam results. Exams are certainly important; they represent a passport to future opportunities, but never imagine for a moment that your worth as a human being can in any way be defined by any test. Exams can bring challenges, and we want to see you performing at your potential, but we must ensure that this process never compromises your well-being. Use the time wisely to revise, but to also engage in activities that provide joy and respite, ensuring you enter your exams prepared, refreshed and confident, and remember the pillars of health and wellbeing from HT: sleep well, eat well, move daily and relax daily.

Year 11, take a seat thank you, and best of luck.

Earlier, I spoke of individuals who are secure, capable of self-regulation, alert and responsive to the needs of others, people who are equipped to thrive in a complex and evolving society. These Year 13 students embody all of those things, and, in addition to that, are also just all round great people. Today is their final day coming to school for regular classes as an ICHK student, and their 7 years or 9500 hours is almost finished. With everything that’s happened in recent years it’s been a tough journey at times, and throughout you have all demonstrated outstanding qualities as people of character - that is your legacy here. Our very best wishes to you all, and please take a seat.

As we now move into a well-deserved break, I hope you take the opportunity to rest, connect with friends and loved ones, continue to be curious about the world around you, and reflect on your achievements this term. You have all participated and contributed to making ICHK an amazing place to be, and for that, I thank you sincerely.

Have a restful holiday.