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Staff Leavers June 2007
Monday, 18 June 2007
Staff Leavers
With the end of the school year just weeks away, it is unfortunately inevitable that we will have to say good-bye to some members of staff who are leaving the school. The following is an extract from Principal Michelle Hughes's latest (PTA) letter to parents.
If anyone would like to send a personal message to any of the staff who are leaving, or indeed any current staff, all current staff email addresses are available from the Island School Website. The last day of this school year is Friday 29th June 2007.
Goodbyes
As reported in an earlier newsletter we are saying goodbye to a number of staff this year. Dr. Julie Boyd joined the Psychology Department in 1996 and became Head of Psychology in 1999. The subject has been extremely popular with Sixth Form students under Julie’s direction. Julie is returning to the UK where she is going to teach in and coordinate a Master’s course in the School of Medicine in Cardiff University on a career pathway in teaching and scholarship. She will be joining several ex-Island School teachers, including David James, in Cardiff and is sure to see many Island School students there too.
Jenny Fearns first came to Island School in 1977 to fill a temporary teaching position. She then joined GSIS where she started the House System. Jenny came back to Island School in 1989. For the past thirteen years Jenny has held the position of Head of Wilberforce House and taught primarily English and History, although in the early years she also taught P.R.S. Jenny will be much missed by the Wilberforce students and by the school – she has contributed a great deal to whole school events, productions, costumes and make-up over the years. Jenny has a great eye for design and a flair for shopping which has been used to the school’s great advantage. She will, however, still return to us as a supply teacher and will be available as a tutor for students outside of school.
Matt Humphrey joined the Modern Foreign Languages in 2005 as a teacher of Spanish and French. Within a year he was promoted to be in charge of Spanish and has done an excellent job in developing the subject in school. Matt’s passion for basketball has also helped the girl’s team to success over the last two years. However, Matt has some very interesting plans for the future. He is returning to the U.K. initially to give a series of workshops to A-Level and university students of Spanish for a stint at the old Vic Theatre, London. He then plans to hone his photographic skills, possibly buy a flat in Barcelona and travel the Pan-American Highway.
Claire Page joined Island School from South Island School in 2005 as Head of Individual Needs. She has effectively led a team consisting of teachers and Educational Assistants and been a valued colleague and teacher in the English Department. Claire will be returning to the U.K. with her family to take up post of Head of Study Skills and Learning Support at Marlborough College.
Chris Stubbs joined Island School as second in the Mathematics Department in 1975. This is a position that he still holds to this day, although he has held various other temporary promoted positions over the years, such as supervising cover and supply and leading camps. Chris also teaches and examines for the British Council and is a competent speaker of Spanish. He has been heavily involved in debating competitions and in dramatic productions, both as a director and actor. Chris is going to teach Mathematics in the Kiangsu-Chekiange International Section of the school of the same name in Braemar Hill. He will be leaving the Island to become a Discovery Bay resident.
Janine Tai joined the English Department as a part-time teacher in 1994. This position became full time in 1997. Janine has been a very respected colleague in the department (having previously held a Head of Faculty position in Australia) and her wisdom has helped many staff and students over the years. Alongside her English teaching and Teacher Librarian role Janine has made a tremendous contribution to drama production in the school in all capacities, including Stage Manager. Janine will stay in Hong Kong but is looking forward to spending more extended time at home in Australia with her family and to evenings freed up to make inroads into the piles of books that she has set aside to read.
Paul Wheatley joined the Science Department in 1987, originally to teach Chemistry and Combined Science. Over the years he has been fully involved in the life of the school, particularly in boys hockey, tennis and golf, and at one time held the post of Activities Coordinator. In the Science Department Paul has held a variety of posts of responsibility but it is his role as Head of Da Vince House for the last eight years which he will be most remembered. Paul will be sadly missed by his Da Vinci students and staff and he will be a hard act to follow. Paul is off to Thailand to run a hotel booking/tour company. His first job will be updating his website www.discoverythailand.net. Paul will also be writing Chemistry revision lessons for an online education company, www.examtracks.com. However, Paul plans to make sure that he still has time to play golf.
Meher Hodgson and Kirwin Angwin will also leave us at the end of term. They stepped in to teach classes at very short notice when Diana Wilson died. We thank them for all their efforts on behalf of the students. I would also like to thank Mark Davies who has been an invaluable support to the P.E. Department in Heather Probert’s absence this year.
In addition to these staff leaving we have a number of long serving support staff also finishing their time at Island School this summer.
Eva Bannon our Chartered Librarian will leave us in July. Eva began work at Island School as a Library Assistant in 1994. As an Island School parent she had a good idea of how the school operated and she contributed fully to the running of the library. Eva’s architectural background was used to our great advantage in the major reorganization of our library in 1999; the year that Eva also took over running the library and became our school librarian. Over the last few years Eva has been invaluable in our preparations to for I.B. and Hong Kong University Association College (a new school in Wong Chuk Hang) are lucky to have appointed her as they begin their I.B. journey.
Ng Shui Yee joined what was then the Domestic Science Department in 1979 and has remained as an assistant in the department ever since. Ng Shui Yee has been an invaluable member of the school and we wish her a happy and healthy retirement.
Finally, we say goodbye to Mr. Tang, our wonderful on-site caretaker. Mr. Tang joined Island School in 1974 as a part-time janitor and was promoted to temporary school caretaker in 1982 and this appointment was confirmed in 1983. Mr. Tang has been an excellent caretaker in every respect; willing, hard working, reliable and cheerful. He has been a marvelous asset to Island School and we wish him and his family every happiness and good health in his retirement.
We wish all the leaving staff every success in the future and hope that they will keep in touch. Thank you all for all you have done for Island School.
Joanna Rickards has been appointed as Head of Wilberforce House and Kevin Lester has been appointed as Head of Da Vinci House. We wish them both success in their new roles.
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