Shekou International School (SIS) is starting this school year with a robust athletics and activities program for students across all grade levels. Starting his 5th year as the SIS Director of Athletics & Activities, Thomas Mathews shares the key highlights of the first few weeks of the 2024-2025 school year.

"We are excited to have finished last year with 89% participation in Athletics & Activities across all divisions at SIS," says Mathews. This high level of engagement speaks to the vibrant community of students at the school. Over 50% of seniors participated in at least one varsity sport last year, while 80% were involved in the school's activities program, many in leadership roles.

Three new sports (HS Table Tennis, MS Table Tennis, and MS Tennis) have launched in middle and high school, adding to the already impressive list of over 40 sports teams that will compete regionally this year. 

The primary school also has extensive offerings, with over 100 different activities available for students in the first trimester alone. To kick off the year, the school hosted its 2nd annual ASA (After School Activity) Fair, where community partners showcased the activities they will be providing.

This year's new highlight is the student ambassador program in primary, where selected students will learn to be the voice of SIS. Additionally, primary students will launch their student broadcast, "Gecko News," modelled after the successful secondary student news program.

Sustainability, together with Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, & Belonging, remain key priorities, with numerous student-led initiatives underway. Even Jingshan's youngest students learn about these crucial topics through specially designed ASAs.

SIS has also expanded its partnership with the ISS Sevilla FC Academy to offer a football ASA at the new Net Valley roof field. Additionally, SIS will host events with Five Star Basketball to deliver expert training for students.

"SIS continues to be a school that not only provides a rigorous education but produces students who are principled contributors in our transforming world," says Mathews. "And their experiences in athletics and activities directly correlate to this success."

With such a holistic program and a high level of student engagement, the 2024-2025 school year is shaping to be exciting for the SIS community. 

新学年伊始，深圳市蛇口外籍人员子女学校（SIS）为各年级学生精心策划了多姿多彩的体育活动。Thomas Mathews先生即将迎来他作为体育与活动部总监的第5个年头，他将与大家分享2024-2025学年前几周的精彩亮点。

Mathews先生说道："我们很高兴去年SIS各年级的体育与活动参与率达到89%。" 如此高的参与率彰显了学校学生群体的活力。

去年，超过50%的高年级学生参与了至少一项校队运动，而有80%的学生积极参与了学校的各类活动项目，其中许多还主动承担了领导职责。

初中部和高中部新增了三个项目：高中乒乓球校队、初中乒乓球校队以及初中网球校队。今年将有40多支校队参加地区比赛。

小学部的活动同样精彩纷呈，仅在前三个学期就为学生提供了超过100种不同的活动。为了欢迎新学年的到来，学校成功举办了第二届课外活动课程（ASA）展览，由社区合作伙伴们展示他们即将进行的课程。

今年的新亮点在于小学部开展的学生大使计划，选中的学生将迎接挑战，成为SIS的代言人。此外，小学生们将延续中学生成功的新闻节目栏目的风采，推出名为“壁虎新闻”的学生报道。

可持续发展以及多元化、平等、包容、公正和归属感，仍是学校的重中之重，我们将继续围绕这些核心价值展开工作。许多由学生主导的活动正在紧锣密鼓地进行中。即使是幼儿园校区中年龄最小的学生，也通过精心设计的课外活动课程（ASA）来学习这些重要课题。

SIS进一步扩大了与ISS Sevilla FC Academy 俱乐部的合作，为学生提供课外足球训练课程，中学校区的天台多功能活动空间将是这项合作的新据点。此外，学校还将与五星篮球俱乐部合作，举办专业培训活动，为学生提供更多训练机会。

Mathews先生表示：“SIS不仅注重严谨教育，还致力于培养学生成为在不断变化的世界中有原则的贡献者。学生在体育和活动中的经历与取得成功息息相关。”

基于这些全面项目和学生们高水平的参与，2024-2025学年必将成为SIS社区燃情奋斗的一段美好时光！向前冲！壁虎学子们！