Ms. Selene Baldini recently joined the American International School of Hong Kong as our Elementary School G1 homeroom teacher. With nearly 10 years of experience in teaching young learners, she is passionate about creating equal learning opportunities for all her students. Hong Kong holds a special place in her heart, as she has forged lasting connections with the students and colleagues she has met over the past eight years.

I joined the American International School of Hong Kong to advance my teaching practice and to work in a community that unites teachers and students around shared core values. I find this approach to be truly unique!

I love that innovation is always around the corner, and I can learn something new every day. I also appreciate how proactive everyone is, ready to think on their feet whenever a quick solution is needed. All my colleagues have been supportive from day one.

I have many sources of inspiration for different aspects of life: my students for creativity and for living life fully, my friends for kindness and my family for love.

Doing ceramics is always a good way to spend my free time, but lately I’ve been obsessed with rock climbing. Hong Kong from the top looks awesome.

Cherry tomatoes, olives and tuna salad. My Mediterranean roots don’t lie.

Ms. Janet Lai joins AIS this year as our new Elementary School STEAM teacher. She has had the pleasure of working with children for more than 13 years, and truly enjoys being around them. She is always amazed at what they do and say, and feels energized every time she is with them. Outside of teaching, Ms. Lai is a passionate dessert lover, and is always on the lookout for new dessert spots to explore.

I chose to work at AIS because of the School’s core values “Justice, Knowledge and Love” and its emphasis on student-centered learning and guiding students to think critically for themselves and be creative. Being able to work in such a positive environment and contribute to the whole child development of young people aligns with my own educational philosophy.

I really enjoy the sense of community and collaboration at AIS. We are surrounded by so many dedicated teachers who want to create a supportive learning environment. I love to see students engaged and excited about what they are learning as well as the diversity of perspectives in the classroom. The energy inspires me to be a part of their growth and success.

I am inspired by my former principal who created a supportive environment for both teachers and students. It was amazing. She consistently encouraged teachers to try out new ideas in their teaching and valued open communication to make all the teachers feel heard and valued. From this experience, I learned how important it is to foster relationships within the school community.

I am trying to be healthier so I’ve been putting sandwiches in my lunch box but sometimes I will include some chips as well.

Today, I had butter chicken accompanied by some vegetables for lunch.

I firmly believe that a smile has the power to change a person’s day. Life is not solely about grand gestures; it is the small, everyday moments that we recognize and acknowledge that can make a significant difference in the lives of others. Therefore my goal as a teacher is to make a meaningful impact.

On December 5 2024, AIS Grade 2 student Bambi Fong and her mother, Carole Fong, sat down with Learning Activator Jeremy Green to share some exciting news with the AIS community. The occasion celebrated Bambi’s remarkable achievement in the XXVI Joy of Europe painting competition, held in Belgrade, Serbia. Their conversation provided insight into Bambi’s creative journey and the inspiration behind her award-winning artwork. The interview is as follows.

Let’s start first with your overall interest in art and where it started. Can you tell me a little bit about how you discovered that you were interested in creating art?

S: I like to do crafts – cutting up paper. I use the cutouts in my artwork and also do origami. I started really getting into painting last year.

C: Bambi really first became interested in art as a result of the school’s field trip to the Apple Store for the educational workshop on using Procreate in Grade 1 Junior. We had an iPad at home, so we thought we would start giving her opportunities to try some artwork on the iPad.

B: So then we downloaded Procreate!

C: She enjoyed it so much that we decided to start taking art classes outside of school about once a week around the age of five.

So you’ve been really getting into painting since around the age of five. Have you been doing any fun painting projects here at AIS?

B: Yes! I did a few with Ms. Meyers and some this year with Ms. Janice. I made these at school (pointing to her portfolio) and drew this story. This one goes back to even G1 Junior.

Wow! You’ve kept all the artwork.

C: Yes, I try to so we can see her progress over the years.

What do you enjoy painting the most?

B: This character (pointing to her portfolio). It’s a fried shrimp from Sumikko Gurashi.

C: It’s a Japanese cartoon character set. There are about five main characters, but she really likes this one.

B: They are from a movie.

C: You also really love drawing dandelions. She usually includes dandelions somewhere in her artwork (pointing to the portfolio).

B: There are a lot of dandelions near my house near the MTR.

C: I think the school is doing a great job, especially with teaching digital art through Procreate. Bambi knows a lot more than I do. She often comes home and says, “Mom, let me show you this trick I learned about how to create this fun art using this new tool.”

B: I have done some 3D artworks too! I drew a 3D house (showing it on the iPad).

How did you feel when you found out you had won the Joy of Europe painting contest?

B: I don’t know.

What was your response when your mom told you?

B: Just “Okay.”

Well, do you feel like you’ve achieved a lot by getting the top spot in this contest? Has it helped you to grow your creative confidence?

B: Yes, I think so.

Can you tell me the story behind the specific artwork that you entered for the contest?

B: I drew it when I was five. It’s a deer. It’s looking at the flowers. The teacher in the art school helped me to select some pictures to look at for ideas. I liked this one. It’s not really a story, just a deer enjoying its time in the meadow. This is the one that will go on the stamp.

C: The class helped them choose an object, in this case, a deer. But she chose the colors herself and painted the whole thing through her own creative interpretation.

B: The bright blue is the sky and makes the deer very noticeable.

How did you hear about this competition?

B: Actually, the teacher didn’t tell us and just put this in the competition.

So it really must’ve been a surprise!

B: Yes, even my parents didn’t know!

C: I got a WhatsApp message from the teacher. She sent a certificate along with a little letter. I thought it was a regular newsletter. It was talking about how we had a student from our painting class who got an achievement, but I was too busy and just glanced at the painting and thought it was very pretty. I remember thinking, “I wish my daughter could achieve something like this!” After two more weeks had passed, they sent me another message with another letter asking if we would be going to Serbia. My reaction was, “Why am I going to Serbia?” They were explaining this package where I get free hotels and flights, and I just kept wondering why.

At that point, I backtracked the other messages and realized that it was Bambi’s name listed as the student who had won the contest and prizes! So it was actually quite funny and a slow-building surprise.

So you started art when you were five and you’re seven now. Over the last two years of growth, what role did your teachers, family, and friends play in your development of these art skills?

B: My mom. She always reminds me to practice my artwork and gives me ideas for things to paint and encourages me to learn new skills on the iPad in Procreate. She also takes me to my art class once a week.

Ms. Meyers also helped me a lot with one of my favorite artworks, the flowerpot (pointing to it in her portfolio). There are lots of different kinds of flowers and different colors and designs.

Looking at the stamps, how do you feel about your artwork becoming a stamp? So many people will see your artwork now. What do you hope will be people’s reaction when they see your artwork?

B: I feel good about it. I think this is good for celebrating young artists. I just want people to feel happy.

What do you hope that you can do more related to art in the future?

B: I want to do more 3D!

3D digital art and design will have lots of opportunities in the future. What advice might you give young artists your age who are just getting started?

B: Find an area or character that you like and practice drawing it a lot. Through practice, you’ll get better and better.

Mr. Elliot Shi is an incoming Grade Two teacher here at American International School, and has been teaching for three years. Prior to teaching, Mr. Shi worked in education technology, as well as finance. We’re glad he’s here with us. 

I am super excited by the opportunity to teach grade two at an established school with the american curriculum. The core values of Justice, Knowledge, and Love are very close to my own.

The community of teachers here is very supportive, and has made my transition to this school fun and easy. We have lots of teachers from all over the world and I am always eager to hear about their experiences as well as learn from them.

My students inspire me to become the best teacher that I can. With inspiration from my students, I come up with new ideas to bring to the classroom. I am constantly learning new things from them.

For sports, I love to do fencing, as well as play tennis and badminton. For hobbies, I really love board games, and I used to perform magic!

Today, it’s a classic Hong Kong meal with rice, choi sum (my favorite vegetable), and mapo tofu.

Ms. Sarah Markmann joins us at American International School this 2024-2025 academic year as our Grade Three teacher. She resonates with our core values of Justice, Knowledge, and Love — especially Love, which is what brought her to AIS. We wish her a great start to the new school year!

I came to AIS because I resonated with the core values of Justice, Knowledge, and Love. In particular, I believe it is crucial to lead with love when teaching young children, and to make learning fun for them!

I also came to AIS because I wanted to live in Hong Kong so that I could be closer to home. I grew up in Shanghai and Beijing and have a deep love for living in Asia.

My favorite thing about being at AIS is how supportive and friendly all of the staff and teachers are. From the moment I arrived in Hong Kong, the newbie committee was extremely welcoming and helpful with the settling in process.

My parents inspire me because they have always been supportive of anything I set my mind to. They taught me from an early age to be open-minded, kind, and curious.

I enjoy going to yoga classes, reading books, and going on hikes in my free time. I am passionate about traveling and am looking forward to traveling to many places in Asia. I am also a big foodie and love trying new foods.

My ideal lunch box would have some type of pasta, some fruit, and a sweet treat.

Ms. Janice Chan is our new Elementary School Art specialist at American International School in Hong Kong. We’re excited to have her join the Elementary School as she strives to provide a creative, positive and respectful environment, where all her budding artists will feel valued and supported.

The collaborative and inclusive work environment at this school is something I greatly admire. I am also impressed by the school’s emphasis on cultivating a positive school culture that promotes core values like love, justice, and knowledge. I am also drawn to its reputation for fostering a love of learning among students. I strongly believe that such an environment is essential for students to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally especially when they enjoy learning at school.

All the staff here are so supportive and welcoming. I can feel the positive vibes here as a new member, I believe this is how students feel as well.

My Elementary School Art Teacher. The way she taught and supported us was so positive and creative that it helped cultivate my passions and talents. She inspired me to explore new artistic styles and feel joyful in the creative process. She’s also one of the reasons why I wanted to be an Art Teacher like her.

I am a foodie, I love cafe hopping and traveling. I’m also an animal lover. If you ask me what animals I prefer, I will say dogs. I am definitely a dog person. Besides making Art and Crafts, spending time with my dog and family is something that I enjoy doing.

Usually salad or leftovers from the night before. I do love making pasta or curry rice because they are easy to prepare, so you will see them in my lunchbox very often.

I believe that each of our students is a distinctive individual who is born with talents, strengths and diverse needs. That’s why I strive to provide a positive and respectful environment where all students feel valued and supported.

Ms. Emma Fields is a Grade 4 Homeroom teacher at American International School in Hong Kong. In her six years of teaching she has been a Technology, Yearbook, Science, ESL and General Elementary Classroom teacher in Hong Kong, Spain, the Dominican Republic and her home country of the USA. She designs lessons for students to use diverse media and technology to create, explore and experience content in deep, meaningful ways. In her free time, Emma enjoys traveling, photography and playing sports.

I had never been to Southeast Asia before moving here, but was interested in exploring another part of the world! I love traveling and after living in multiple other countries, I thought it would be a great experience to see another side of the world and immerse myself in cultures I’m unfamiliar with. When I found AIS, I was instantly drawn to the values of Justice, Knowledge and Love. It excited me to work for a school that values instilling these principals above all else in their students. 

How welcoming and kind everyone is! The staff at AIS have helped me out so much. All the staff have helped me find things on the island, have taken me out to restaurants and to explore different neighborhoods around the city. It’s also so fun to meet people from so many different backgrounds. Everyone has such an interesting story of how they came to AIS and it’s so fun to learn about people’s stories. 

My parents inspire me. How they have lived their lives, raised our family and want to leave a positive legacy on this earth is inspiring to me. I aspire to be as kind, generous and family oriented as they have been in their lives and careers. They have always set such a great example to me and I see the great impact they have on every person they meet. I hope to be able to impact people and make lasting change like they have.

I love photography and traveling. I love getting outside, exploring and taking cool pictures of the places I go. I started a photography course that has really improved my photography skills the past two years and my goal is to finish it this year. I love sharing my photography online and creating videos or photo galleries of my work. I also love to be active. Whether it’s playing volleyball, wakesurfing, hiking or exploring a new beach — I’m always looking for something fun to do outdoors.

A sandwich with grilled veggies & hummus. Lots of fruit.. an apple, mango slices or grapes are my go-to’s. Since moving to Hong Kong I’ve been trying to explore asian cuisine and recently have been making a lot of Ramen soups!

Come say hi! I love meeting new people and hearing stories of people’s lives. I’d love to know yours!

Ms. Gemma Cauchi joins AIS after being in Hong Kong for five years where she has been serving as an elementary teacher. Prior to teaching, she was a Geo Environmental Engineer in the United Kingdom. Gemma is excited to be at AIS and considers teaching to be her greatest passion in life.

I have lived in Hong Kong for 5 years now and taught in a variety of schools. The great attraction of AIS initially was its longstanding history in Hong Kong and how it is continuing to thrive all these years on. I believe that is down to its core values that sets it apart from other schools.

The sense of belonging I have felt since my first visit to campus. AIS is truly a caring community, I can’t wait to see what we can do together and really start to become a part of it.

Prior to my teaching career and move to Hong Kong I was an Environmental Engineer in the U.K.. A fellow engineer was new to the U.K. and I was inspired by her sense of adventure and working away from home to take the leap myself. My other inspiration comes from the teachers who guided me along my path in life, particularly my Math and Geography teachers; I hope I can support my students in the same way.

In recent years, I have discovered CrossFit and enjoy pushing myself to see how strong my body is. I love baking and cooking, especially the eating part! I like to read books and watch movies. I am also the community manager of a support group for international women here in Hong Kong.

Usually leftovers from the night before. My favourites are either leftover lasagne or dumplings!

Ms. Kitty Leung, a Hong Kong native, joins us this 2022-23 academic year as our Elementary School Library SPAce Teaching Assistant. We’re excited to have her join us!

I heard many fantastic comments about how AIS is a true family which helps students thrive and achieve both academically and socially. This makes AIS stand out among all other international schools in the community.

We are a truly caring community. Everyone does their best to make the puzzle complete. We work hard and play hard!

Anita Mui was a remarkable singer and actress from Hong Kong. Although she passed away in 2003, she never stopped showing how vivid living can be and the importance of cherishing the time we have available each day. 

I like jogging, going to the countryside, and practicing aromatherapy. I have even completed a diploma course on aromatherapy!

Love from my mother!

We only live once. Don’t hesitate to try out new things!

Congratulations to the completion of our 2021-22 academic year! We are extremely proud of our learning community for making this a special year despite the incredible challenges we faced. We came together and never gave up. We acted with kindness and we committed to excellence. Thank you for staying strong. As always, we celebrate our students’ achievements on the last day of the academic year with an End of Year Awards Ceremony.

Find all photos from the End of Year Award Ceremonies here! 

Our Expected School-wide Learning Results (ESLRs) Awards are given to students who exemplify what being an AIS student should strive to be. The Empowered Thinker is a student who accesses and critically evaluates information, demonstrates flexibility, creativity and innovation, applies learning to real life situations, and is reflective. The Global Citizen is a student who values and respects diversity, makes a positive difference, assumes responsibility, and is action-oriented. The Effective Communicator is a student who listens actively, organizes ideas to produce clear and coherent writing, uses appropriate media to convey messages, and is articulate. Lastly, the Well-Rounded Individual is a student who leads an active, balanced and healthy lifestyle, embraces new opportunities and challenges, works well both independently and collaboratively, and is engaged.

The school emblem, the Eagle, is a universal symbol of strength, endurance and pride that unites our community under the motto Justice, Knowledge and Love. These students chosen by faculty for the Eagle of the Year award demonstrate the core values of our school and embody the qualities of our ESLR’s of Global Citizenship, Empowered Thinking, Effective Communication and being a Well-Rounded Individual.

G5 Eagle of the Year	G6 Eagle of the Year	G7 Eagle of the Year	G8 Eagle of the Year
Nga Kiu C.	Melis O.	Sarthak C.	Anna Wing Lam L.

The Justice, Knowledge, and Love awards are based on our Core Values. The Justice Award celebrates students who are fair, open-minded, honest, and responsible. The Knowledge Award celebrates students who engage in the pursuit of truth, and who actively develop the skills needed to successfully investigate the world. And lastly, the Love Award celebrates students who are united within AIS, including whole-hearted cooperation, collaboration, kindness, and school spirit.

The school emblem, the Eagle, is a universal symbol of strength, endurance and pride that unites our community under the motto Justice, Knowledge and Love. These students chosen by faculty for the Eagle of the Year award demonstrate the core values of our school and embody the qualities of our ESLR’s of Global Citizenship, Empowered Thinking, Effective Communication and being a Well-Rounded Individual.

G9 Eagle of the Year	G10 Eagle of the Year	G11 Eagle of the Year	G12 Eagle of the Year
Edward Frederick C.	Angelo Hyoung June P.	Maia I.	Palak Utsav G.

Our Expected School-wide Learning Results (ESLRs) Awards are given to students who exemplify what being an AIS student should strive to be. The Empowered Thinker is a student who accesses and critically evaluates information, demonstrates flexibility, creativity and innovation, applies learning to real life situations, and is reflective. The Global Citizen is a student who values and respects diversity, makes a positive difference, assumes responsibility, and is action-oriented. The Effective Communicator is a student who listens actively, organizes ideas to produce clear and coherent writing, uses appropriate media to convey messages, and is articulate. Lastly, the Well-Rounded Individual is a student who leads an active, balanced and healthy lifestyle, embraces new opportunities and challenges, works well both independently and collaboratively, and is engaged.

The Emory Book Prize was created by The Emory University Hong Kong Alumni to recognize American International School’s talented students and to raise awareness of the many things that make Emory University a top destination for students seeking an education in the US.

The AmCham Charitable Foundation Prize Book Award was established by the American Chamber of Commerce in 1986. A prize book and check for HK$1,000 is presented to each awarded student in the next graduating class who combines excellence in scholarship with achievements in community service, leadership, and other related fields.

The Harvard Book Prize is one of the highest awards a school can make to a student in the junior class”. As defined by the Harvard Alumni Association, the Book Prize is to be awarded to an outstanding student in the next-to-graduating class who “combines excellence in scholarship and high character, with achievements in other fields.

The EARCOS Global Citizen of the Year Award comes with a prize from the East Asian Region Council of Overseas Schools, and an opportunity to apply for a grant to sponsor a service project of the student’s choice. This student is selected for being a proud representative of his/her nation while respectful of the diversity of other nations, has an open mind, is well informed, aware and empathetic, concerned and caring for others encouraging a sense of community and strongly committed to engagement and action to make the world a better place. Finally, this student is able to interact and communicate effectively with people from all walks of life while having a sense of collective responsibility for all who inhabit the globe.