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With all four siblings having attended CIS, the school has been an enormous part of Sze family life! Our parents originally chose CIS for us because of the incredible intercultural learning environment, and we are so grateful they did. We’ve had unique opportunities venturing beyond the classroom. In particular, the Hangzhou year was a one-of-a-kind experience. Ethan is about to begin, and we have been telling him stories and how memorable the year is going to be. Incredible service trips have shaped our deep commitment for caring for our communities, instilling CIS’s motto of ‘seeking and serving’, an outlook that will stay with us forever. All four of us have also proudly worn the CIS Phoenix jersey in local and international basketball tournaments, championing the school spirit CIS is known for. 

This vibrant and caring community has shaped us from Reception all the way through to graduation and beyond. We’ve met people who have left a deep impact on us – from our forever friends to the brilliant teachers and staff who have gone above and beyond in empowering us to chase our dreams. Thank you CIS for all the memories. We can’t wait to continue making new ones!  

We have embraced the CIS community just as they have embraced us when we returned to Hong Kong back in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic. My volunteer service as a CISPTA GC member, at the community farm, PF40, CIS Fair and generally around school is a reflection of the gratitude that we have for this special community. And besides, it is fun to be on campus to see all of our kids laugh and learn alongside our dedicated teachers, staff and administrators.

My name is John McArthur, and I have the privilege of teaching primary art at CIS. I am deeply appreciative of our vibrant community, which fosters a supportive, enriching environment for learners, teachers and the wider community.

​What I enjoy most is witnessing our students' creative enthusiasm. They are eager to collaborate and express themselves, constantly inspiring me with their unique responses and mutual support. Equally, I value our parents' involvement. A yearly highlight is the Mosaic Exhibition, where families actively gather to celebrate their children's artistic achievements.

​As an art educator, I particularly enjoy making interdisciplinary connections. Art powerfully helps students explore concepts across all areas of learning, and I am continually amazed by the links we build through our projects.

CIS offers incredible opportunities for both learning and building meaningful relationships within the school and the wider community. It is a truly special place, and I feel fortunate to be part of it.

Starting my teaching career at CIS in 2007 was the best beginning I could have asked for. It remains my second home and a place I genuinely look forward to coming to every single day. What I love most about my role is watching our curious, talented, and open-minded students grow into thoughtful global citizens. This inspires me just as much as I hope to inspire them. Our remarkable community enriches that daily connection. We have a compassionate leadership team and deeply passionate colleagues who constantly collaborate, bounce ideas off one another, and act in the best interests of the students. CIS also invests in its teachers, actively supporting our individual interests, new initiatives, and ongoing professional growth. What makes teaching here so deeply rewarding is being part of a school that feels like a true family, where both teachers and students are empowered to thrive.

I feel so proud to be a CIS parent. I have been fortunate to serve as the Co-chair for CIS Annual Fund over the last two years, working with over 180 parents who volunteer as advocates to reach out to the parent community for funding. Against the most difficult macro environment in Hong Kong in decades due to COVID, we managed to increase our participation rate and the dollar-amount raised for the Annual Fund campaign. The results reflect the true meaning of community. The culture of parents, school leadership and students working together at CIS is amazingly strong, making the community unique and resilient. 

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My passion for football started from kicking a ball around with my friends during breaktime and lunch, but it was really only until Year 7 or Year 8 that I realised that I was pretty talented and decided to focus on football.

I think my time at CIS really taught me lessons on discipline and sacrifice. The academic work was pretty rigorous and demanding, and balancing that with football meant giving up a lot of free time—weekends, evenings with friends. But learning to make those sacrifices early on made me more focused and resilient, and those habits have stuck with me ever since.