CISPA - The Canadian International School Parents' Association

As the school year draws to a close and many of us pack our bags for the summer, we want to wish parents, students and staff a wonderful holiday. Special wishes go to our Graduation Class of 2010, as they set out on their next adventures. It's been a year full of learning and laughter, but also a year in which we lost both Alan Dick and Dr the Hon. Leo T.H. Lee, who were so important to the growth and development of our school and who shared the dream that became our outstanding Leo Lee Arts Centre. Let us honour them both by committing to and supporting life-long learning not only for our children, but for ourselves.

Again this academic year, your parents' association dedicated ourselves to enriching the CDNIS experience, beginning with welcoming new families to CDNIS with orientation lunch and coffee sessions and hiking tours all over Hong Kong. This year CISPA held an even bigger and better Family Fun Fair, a rollicking Chinese New Year Flower Fair, and a Thai-themed Staff Appreciation Lunch, and supported "Spring into Reading!", all of which, incredibly, got even better this year. Hats off to the teams of volunteers who coordinate and implement what have become our signature events.

With new volunteers and fresh ideas, we also assisted with some new events, including the Lower School Festival of the Arts, a Writers' Workshop for Grade 9 students, the first-ever Chinese Studies Creative Writing Contest, and film presentations that provided some amazing experiences for our children, truly enriching not only their studies but also their lives. For parents, we introduced a new CISPA website, a weekly e-newsletter called The CISPA Beat, a parent book group, and our first-ever – and highly successful – Quiz Night.

In the new school year, among many exciting initiatives, we look forward to dedicating a refurbished Forum to Alan Dick on 27 August, welcoming our new Lower School Principal, and working further to reduce CDNIS' environmental impact. We have lots of events planned for the new school year, so do check back with www.cispa.hk in late August, when CISPA itself will have a fresh new face. We look forward to seeing all you in 2010-2011, and especially to sharing our activities with more and more parents. Please come out and join in the fun!

Have a great summer!

Jamie and Karen
CISPA Chair and Vice-Chair