Dear SIS Community,
I'd like to talk today about a success story.
The world seems full of sadness and tensions and conflict at the moment. To those of our community with family or friends surrounded by conflict, we know it is not easy.
And in this troubled time, there is a place where people have come together to provide welcome and warmth and cooperation. You will have guessed that it is Shekou International School. Since the beginning of this academic year, we have welcomed 70 students to join our classes. That's more than 50 families who are now part of the SIS community and who have new friends and supporters. In fact, we have had more than 50 new students enroll just in these first months of 2026.
Having new families enroll their children into SIS is a success for the school, that is for sure. We can all be happy that we are attracting new children and their families to join us. But the success I'd like to talk about today is what happens because our community has welcomed new families, and our classes have helped new children feel they belong. As I visit classrooms and watch students interact, I can see the welcome, feel the warmth, hear the acceptance, and appreciate how everyone can belong. This is real success because a sense of 'belonging' is what generates comfort and that, in turn, allows children to be courageous in their learning.
I think we have all heard the saying, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again".
This simple phrase is actually describing something that is fundamental to learning. We learn new things by trying and continually improving how well we do them. No one is capable of being perfect to start any new activity. We all want the courage to try something and be prepared to fail - and then to try again. What provides that courage is the support of the people around you.
Our teachers and support staff bring strong professional skill, of course, but what stands out most is how intentionally they build trust. They notice the quiet student, they learn names quickly, they create routines that feel safe, and they encourage children to have a go even when they are unsure. Qualifications and experience matter, teamwork and the SIS learning approach add to this, and it is this day-to-day care and consistency that helps students feel they belong.
I know that finding belonging and courage needs more than what happens in the classroom. Our families have been wonderful in reaching out with advice, friendship and support to new members of the community. I sincerely appreciate the connections that our PSA offer through their activities and groups. I am so pleased to meet new families at events such as our parent EDU sessions where they come away with new connections. These gestures from all of our community help to make sure that our students belong.
Numbers are just numbers. Success is always a story. Seventy new students is a nice number to achieve in a year, but the welcome that turns someone into a trusted part of a class learning together - that is the story of success.
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