CAIS commemorates Armistice Day
CAIS commemorates Armistice Day
November 18, 2020
CAIS community attended a ceremony on 11 November 2020 to commemorate the 102nd anniversary of the Armistice which ended World War I in 1918.
Students and teachers gathered at the school’s lecture hall to contemplate the sacrifice of all who died in the First World War. The Last Post was played, and a two-minute silence was observed.
Local military historian Bill Lake, who served in Hong Kong with the British Army’s Royal Artillery in 1965, and Albert Lam, the Vice Chairman of Royal British Legion HK & China spoke to students about the significance of Armistice Day and why it was important for them to remember it.
Earlier in the day, students also gave generously to support the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal program.
Head of School shines a light on advantages of the Alberta curriculum
Head of School shines a light on advantages of the Alberta curriculum
October 29, 2020
Richard Vanderpyl, head of school at CAIS, joined a panel discussion on 29 October at a webinar “The Value of a Canadian Education” where he presented the unique advantages of studying at CAIS with the Alberta Curriculum (Canadian Curriculum), along with Tony Munro, Manager, International Recruitment at the University of Waterloo and Jim Cohn, Director of Enrolment at St. Margaret’s School, Victoria.
Starting off the discussion with a brief introduction of CAIS and its mission, Richard reiterated the long term vision of the school: “CAIS does not aim to be the best school in Hong Kong but the best school for Hong Kong”.
In addition, he brought fresh perspectives on the unique advantages of Alberta Curriculum and how it allows students to pursue their passion while remaining a rigorous curriculum, and how the school prepares students to be ‘future ready’.
The panel discussion was followed by a lively Q&A session where speakers discussed topics around Canadian education.
The 1-hour webinar was part of the special education series organised by The Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong.
CAIS celebrates United Nations Day
CAIS celebrates United Nations Day
October 29, 2020
75 years ago, the United Nations was formed in 1945 to bring people and countries together, build peace and security and improve lives.
In celebration of the United Nations Day 24 October 2020, students at CAIS took part in a series of activities and reflected the UN’s history yesterday.
One of the highlights included a special webinar where we were joined by Mr Philip Thorpe, Senior Protection Associate & Officer in Charge, UNHCR Hong Kong . Mr Thorpe gave our upper primary and high school students an insightful presentation on the important work UNHCR has been doing.
In addition, primary students dressed in traditional costumes while learning the history and work of the United Nations through a series of fun activities.
CAIS students amplify school theme "Nerve to Serve"
CAIS students amplify school theme "Nerve to Serve"
October 11, 2020
Starting off the school year via Zoom was an unorthodox beginning which flustered many students and teachers alike. Many opportunities for extra-curricular activities were left on the wayside as the focus turned towards managing online learning. However, some committed and passionate students at CAIS felt the need to still improve themselves beyond academic scores and attending Zoom classes. Student leaders from the Social Justice Club (SJC), including: Ray Ho, Chloe Fong, Marcus Lai, Evelyn Lee, Jane Yung, Joyce Hui, Stephanie Ma, Rainbow Hui, Wendy Fung, and Ashley Wan, all participated in the Powered by Youth Forum workshop hosted annually by the Kids4Kids non-profit organisation with goals to develop social awareness and leadership skills.
The workshop aimed to help participants build a strong connection to their community, improve social awareness and understanding by creatively tackling social issues whilst giving participants an opportunity to build on their teamwork and communication skills. Through the workshop, SJC leaders participated in in-depth discussions about social issues, exchanged ideas with industry leaders and professionals, and were inspired with different ideas to impact their own Communities.
Canadian Thanksgiving Day 2020
Canadian Thanksgiving Day 2020
October 9, 2020
This coming Monday, 12th October, Canadians will celebrate Thanksgiving Day. (Jour de l’Action de grâce). In 1957, the Governor General of Canada, Vincent Massey issued a proclamation stating that Thanksgiving Day was: “A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed.”
What a wonderful proclamation of God’s benevolence and providence to people. It is good to give thanks to the “Giver of every good and perfect gift”. (1 Chronicles 16:11; James 1:17) How thankful are you? I once heard someone say, “If God took away everything you had not thanked him for, how much would you have left?”
Today in our culture, many have become ‘entitled.’ We expect not only to have good things, but plenty of those good things! As Christians we are called to be ‘counter-cultural’, so may I encourage you to be thankful for every blessing you have received.
I am so thankful to the Lord for school resuming face to face, for the safety of our students, for God’s love to them. I am thankful for the wonderful caring school culture we have, though with plenty of room for improvement, and I am personally thankful that God has led my wife Linda and I to CAIS!
‘Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good’
Psalm 136:1
A thankful servant of God
Richard Vanderpyl
Head of School
CAIS brightens up with students eagerly back to campus
CAIS brightens up with students eagerly back to campus
Steps are in place to ensure a pleasurable and smooth transition
September 23, 2020
Students at Christian Alliance International School (CAIS) are elated to return to school at long last after a month-long online learning at home.
Partial reopening of school as directed by the Education Department (EdB) has started today on 23 September, with a full reopening scheduled on 29 September.
“Our previous experience in switching from off-site learning to on-site learning has primed us to execute a smooth transition for students to fully embrace on-campus learning with their peers,” said Mr Richard Vanderpyl, CAIS Head of School.
“While delivering an engaging and memorable learning experience remains our top priority, we are also mindful that new students could use some additional support when it comes to meeting new friends and getting to know the school.”
“Our staff are committed to reaching out to both new and current students to support them academically and emotionally.”
CAIS leadership has been working hard behind the scenes to ensure that a safe roadmap is firmly in place for students to return to school on a gradual basis.
“Vigilance is the key. Safety measures such as travel history records, temperature checks, regular hand-washing breaks and social distancing have become the norm for our entire CAIS community.”
“And if any student or staff is not feeling 100% well, our directive is they should stay home 100%,” added Mr Vanderpyl.
Prior to the first day of school, parents of new students were also invited to join a welcome orientation where Mr Vanderpyl and the senior leaders met them face to face.
NERVE TO SERVE
NERVE TO SERVE
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
Our school theme for 2020/21 is “Nerve to Serve.” In 1 Peter 4:10, we read: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”
Why would a Christian school have ‘Service’ as part of its DNA? Why such a focus on something that brings reward to others and supposedly not to us? Well, it is pretty obvious when we know that our Saviour ‘came to serve and not be served’ (Matt 20:28). The Creator and Sustainer of this world could have demanded the opposite, but he did not, instead, he gave of himself to others.
Many of us have attended the funeral of a friend, family member or colleague and been hugely touched by the eulogy given about the person, about the type of person they were. If you are like me, I immediately think that I should make changes in my life to be a ‘nicer, more caring’ person. As we listen to the eulogy, we don’t want to emulate their jobs, just their character and personal qualities.
Herein lies the difference between ‘eulogy virtues’ and ‘resume virtues.’ Resume virtues are those skills or qualities people have to do their job well, such as being punctual, hardworking, precise. Eulogy virtues, on the other hand, are those qualities that people say about you at your funeral, such as you were kind, forgiving, compassionate, bold, faithful, loving, and you cared about others.
We all know the virtues or qualities we want people to say about us, it is those ‘eulogy virtues. That begs the question, does our educational system promote eulogy virtues or rather resume virtues? In our culture and the educational scene today, it is generally the resume virtues that are promoted. Schools are judged on how ‘successful’ they are in developing students ready for the workforce, to be ‘productive members of society’. The productiveness is an economic productiveness. The evidence for this is to consider how schools are ranked and evaluated for their effectiveness by the government, public and media. They are measured by their academic results.
Do not get me wrong, I prize academic excellence and students faithfully using their God-given talents in academic studies, that is a way of honouring God. I certainly have high expectations on students, but we sell our young people short when we imply that academics maketh the man.
I believe our educational system is weighted more towards teaching the skills and knowledge that a student ‘needs’ for a successful career, rather than towards a godly character that blesses others. I believe society has lost the foundational basis, the Word of God, by which to call people to godliness, and which leads to eulogy virtues. When we take God’s Word out of our life or education system, we lose sight of what the purpose of our life is. That is why for a secular education system, the focus is on teaching facts and skills (head knowledge) rather than ‘matters of the heart!’ The truth, however, is that the heart will be shaped by what is taught.
In a Christian school, we must attend to both the head and the heart.
If we do well there, then the hands will follow. A Christian school must not neglect to train its students in moral and spiritual domains. The best that we can give to society after 13 years of Christian education are students who are able to critique and engage in society, using their gifts and abilities to serve God and others, and who are ‘measured’ not by economic output but by the contribution they make to growing God’s kingdom here on earth.
Again, to be clear, I am not advocating that all our students become overseas missionaries! I am talking about every student having a heart disposition that leans towards serving others, considering the needs of society, family, and friends, and growing in love for God in wherever God has placed them.
This is why service is such an important part of our DNA. It is evidence of a heart that loves others and finds its true fulfilment when this is done for the glory of God.
Richard Vanderpyl
Head of School
Samuel Lee, Primary Homeroom Teacher
Samuel Lee, Primary Homeroom Teacher
August 31, 2020
Samuel Lee: Children Learn More From Who You Are Than What You Teach
Forget classes, assignments or year-end exams. For CAIS teacher Samuel Lee, there’s nothing more rewarding and satisfying than making an impact on students, one step at a time.
Samuel has been with the school for five years. He is among the cohort of passionate educators behind CAIS who are not just teaching students knowledge on the textbooks, but he’s also showing so much grit to care for students, and inspire them forward.
At the age of three, Samuel moved to Hong Kong from California with his family. He was later presented with an opportunity to work at CAIS which he gladly accepted, eventually becoming an integral part of the CAIS multicultural fabric and the dynamic learning community. The rest is a testimony of God’s faithfulness and grace multiplied manifold.
We understand that change takes time – and education is no exception. Samuel shares with us the challenges involved in education, his favourite CAIS moment, and what food he misses most when he is away from Los Angeles.
Where did you grow up/study?
I was born in San Francisco, California. When I was three years old my family moved to Hong Kong as missionaries. I went to a private Christian school from Prep till 10th Grade, so most of my fond memories are from Hong Kong.
Can you tell us more about your role at CAIS.
I am currently working as a Primary Homeroom Teacher.
How did you wind up here?
I flew from Los Angeles to host my best friend’s wedding. The cohost was a teacher at CAIS and she suggested that I should apply as a Primary School teacher. I remember watching the CAIS promotional video enroute to Los Angeles and was moved by the testimonies that both the staff and leadership shared. I applied and the rest is history being made inside of one of the many classrooms in CAIS.
How long have you been with CAIS?
5 years.
Biggest challenge and rewarding moment working in education?
The biggest challenge for me is to “be authentic.” I love the phrase: “Children learn more from who you are than what you teach.” If I as a teacher love God and love my students, then my students and peers will reciprocate that love to themselves first and then to others.
Your favourite/ most memorable CAIS experience?
My favorite moment is with one student – let’s call her Beth.
Beth is a talented student, but one day on she was caught stealing. When confronted, I marvelled at her ability to explain away her act with a carefully crafted lie; in my mind I envisioned this child growing up comfortable in living a life punctuated by made up narratives . Various thoughts crossed to my mind as I wondered: “What actions do I need to take to deal with her behavior? Do I have to lock the doors every time the class left for recess?”
My heart was heavy because despite my preparation to “deal” with this child, it did not settle well with me. At Church, the following Sunday morning, I was listening to a sermon on Abraham, and how God did not even ask about Abraham’s past. Instead, God looked straight at Abraham, blessed him and said: “You are a source of blessing, you and your family will be as numerous as the stars.” At that moment, I realized that Beth was no different. Yes, society would label her as a thief and liar, but God saw this precious child as a “source of blessing.”
The subsequent encounters between Beth and I were transformative; conversations started and ended with the words: “We are a source of blessing.” Beth did struggle to go against her habit, and there were moments of relapse and endless tears and affirmations that “we are a source of blessing.” As the academic year drew to a close, there was another incident where a child was caught stealing and lying as well – Carl (not his real name). During our class break, I mentioned to Beth that there was another incident of stealing in our class from a different student, and I asked her “What should we do?” Beth responded: “We need to help Carl”.
That afternoon Beth and I both shared our experience with Carl, and it was a memorable moment where a student and teacher came together as a team to help another student in need.
What are some of the initiatives you will be/ are working on which would potentially be translated to physical application?
There are many initiatives I am currently working on and over time, I would love to share with our readers.
What kind of student were you?
I was quite quirky and an average learner. Most of the topics could be understood, but I had to really work hard to get the grades. Like most boys, I worked on my assignments as quickly as I could so that I could play with my friends.
What do you miss most about Los Angeles when you are overseas?
Various types of food from Los Angeles, especially Vietnamese noodles. I miss eating a bowl of Pho from a restaurant called Golden Deli in San Gabriel, CA. Golden Deli is a family restaurant, the family members boil bone marrow in water overnight till there is a deep broth left behind. On the day of service, they will pour this golden delight into a clean bowl of beef and tendon. They would then serve the bowl of broth and meat with a special rice noodle, perfected to maintain its consistent chewiness while soaking up all the flavor. Finally they will sprinkle a bit of chives, green onion, and cilantro, and then voilà dinner is served. The idea of writing this alone makes me salivate.
CAIS 2for2 Walkathon : Where athletic spirit and creativity collide
CAIS 2for2 Walkathon : Where athletic spirit and creativity collide
August 31, 2020
What: The inaugural CAIS Walkathon will be held throughout September and community of CAIS is invited to walk 2km to raise fund for the CAIS Phase 2 development.
When: 1 September – 4 October 2020
Where: pick your own route
How:
Details
Step 1: Pick a 2km route in September
Step 2: Download a Pledge Form and start fundraising
Step 3: Invite your family and friends to support our cause by making a donation
Step 4: Complete the 2km walk to honour your pledge
Step 5: Download the Walkathon Tag and take a picture/ video with it during or after your walk
Step 6: Submit your photo/ video
Step 7: Follow us on social media and Share the news with your friends and family
Step 8: Repeat steps 1-7 as you wish😎
NOTE:
For students: please submit your pledge form to your homeroom teacher.
For everyone else except students: please submit your pledge form to Advancement Team: advancement@caisbv.edu.hk
On-line Remote learning commences at CAIS
On-line Remote learning commences at CAIS
August 24, 2020
Monday 24th August saw the launch of the new 2020/21 academic year for CAIS students. Excited students, enthusiastic teachers and engaged parents met each other in ZOOM small groups for the start of year introductions. There was even a surprise visit by the Head of School, Mr. Richard Vanderpyl to many of the classes this morning.
Over the weekend over 1450 HELP (Home E-Learning Packs) were collected by students to assist them in their online learning. It was great to see the huge support from parents to collect these HELP packs to ensure their children had the best start to the school year.
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