Highlights from the Alumni Survey

“Community. No matter where you are in the world, you’re able to find a least several alums and they’re always willing and happily connect with you.”

“What I value most is that even after all these years, I still feel connected to a part of my life that was one of the happiest and most formative. HKIS wasn’t just a school — it was a community that shaped who I am. Being an alum means I’m not forgotten, and I’m still part of something meaningful.”

“HKIS truly fosters a global mindset. Being immersed in a community with students and faculty from so many different nationalities and backgrounds not only broadened my worldview but also developed my empathy and ability to understand diverse perspectives.”

When asked to share “inspiring moments or experiences,” alumni recalled a vibrant and diverse mix of academic, athletic, service, and cultural milestones that defined their time at HKIS:

Interim: Probably one of the most defining experiences in High School

Interim is arguably the experience most cited by alumni, consistently described as a special and memorable time: “Thailand Habitat for Humanity,” “Interim Trips to Japan and the Maldives,” and “I had the opportunity to travel to Tibet twice.”

Dragon Athletics: The sports experience left a powerful, lasting impact, emphasizing life lessons learned beyond the scoreboard. Christmas Basketball Tournaments were frequently mentioned, described as "such special times that brought everyone together" and a "true homecoming."

“Athletics for sure. I was a part of many different sports teams which taught me about sportsmanship, team work, work ethic, strategy, mindset, time management and more.”

“Playing on the Varsity Basketball team”, “Traveling for the rugby team”, and running “cross country through Stanley market!”

Service and Community Outreach: Alumni highly valued opportunities to serve and share fond memories about their experiences.

“Designing and launching the Day of Giving... as a way for students to get involved in community service.”
Memories included engaging in “community service in the Vietnamese refugee camps” and “The opportunity to sing Chinese songs with my class in a local retirement home.”

Co-curricular Activities: From the classroom to the stage, experiences fostering critical thinking and creativity were memorable. Experiences in the arts included "doing the musical in Junior High” and “Taking part in Guys & Dolls and other stage performances,” alongside hands-on learning like “Science week on Lantau Island.”

“Participating in interschool Model UN in Hong Kong and IASAS Model UN” and “mock trial in 8th grade was quite a fun and interesting experience.”

School Spirit and Milestones: Alumni fondly recalled moments that strengthened school identity and culture: “Chinese New Year ceremonies”, “Spirit Weeks”, “dodgeball during recess”, and the historic “get-together for the aerial photo session to celebrate the opening of the Tai Tam campus.”