I feel Stamford has positively impacted my child both academically and socially.  We were new to Hong Kong and Stamford welcomed us and provided a warm, supportive environment for my child to thrive and build confidence.  We especially love the bilingual Mandarin program.  What a fantastic, unique opportunity to learn Chinese and embrace the language and culture.  
 

Five years ago, our family relocated to Hong Kong from the US.

My husband and I, and our 7-year old son Nick, made an advance trip to HK to visit schools and view accommodations.  We were captivated by this fast-paced city, its natural surroundings, cultural offerings and it was easy to imagine us living here for a while.  The most daunting part was finding the right school for Nick as Hong Kong offers a large variety of International Schools and the selection progress can be overwhelming.

We decided to keep Nick in an American style program and learned Stamford American International School was opening a new campus in Hong Kong.  We were impressed by the reputation of Stamford’s Singapore school and after attending an informative presentation about how Stamford’s mission to create Students of the Future, we came to the conclusion that Nick would be a good fit. The application process was efficient, Nick was accepted in a timely manner and we couldn’t wait for the school to open and begin his new adventure.

Inaugurating a new school is exciting.  Five years later, we feel part of the Stamford family with our son growing up alongside his school.  Both matured together, with the school continuously enhancing its campus, opening a state-of-the-art library, chemistry lab, outdoor roof top arena and expanded classrooms.

What makes Stamford special is the care, knowledge and professionalism of the staff and faculty.  Nick has been thriving academically, transitioning from Elementary to Secondary with the help and guidance of his teachers and counselors. When asked about his favourite subject, Nick said that he likes them all.  During the pandemic, the school pivoted to an excellent online learning program.  Communication and support from the school to parents remain consistently strong.

Stamford’s STEMinn and Arts program are key strengths of the school.  This year’s Mission Inspire Project gave Nick the opportunity to collaborate and innovate with fellow students to create and code a space attack video game.  Coding is a new skill Nick is now passionate about.  Frequent group projects have taught Nick to work well with others.  Learning Mandarin five days a week is a plus.

For the past 4 years, Nick has been on the student council, representing his class, implementing suggestions, and hosting activities throughout the school year.  Being part of the school community is encouraged by the school, for students and parents alike.  Smaller class sizes help teachers to build close connections with students.

A wide variety of after-school offerings introduced Nick to fencing and drama.  He gained self-confidence after participating in two musical performances.  Fencing has become his athletic focus. It is great to watch him grow and challenge himself physically.

Stamford American International School is a well-rounded school establishing itself among the top International Schools in Hong Kong, providing a safe and personable environment for our son to excel.  We are excited to be part of Stamford’s journey and can’t wait to see what’s in store next.

As a first-year Stamford family, we could not be happier with every aspect of the school. From the quality of their academic program, the support from the administrative and teaching staff, and their modern facilities, Stamford maintains the perfect balance of being a great international school while still having a smaller and more personalized feel. We chose Stamford for this reason and our two children continue to thrive in this supportive environment. 

As we were planning our arrival to Hong Kong, applying to all the international schools was extremely stressful since we were still living in another country. We knew we wanted to continue with the American curriculum and had several schools to choose from. The Stamford admissions team was amazing. They were responsive to all our emails, even down to the specific question of school bus routes and pickup and drop off times. They made an effort to get to know us and we did not feel like just another number in the application process. The personal emails from the teachers and administrative staff checking in with us during COVID virtual learning are a testament to their warm and welcoming environment. 

In terms of the academic curriculum, Stamford has it all from the sciences, the arts, and physical education. Their smaller and more personalized approach allows our children to have exposure to all these classes, even though they are in the elementary school. Our first-grade son loves the STEMinn classes in the new lab and is always showing us his inventions and ideas. Our kindergarten daughter loves music class and continues to amaze us with all the Chinese she is learning. Like the administrative staff, the teaching staff really make you feel like you are a part of the Stamford community. They welcome in-class involvement from parents when appropriate and we have seen firsthand the diverse and inclusive learning environment they make for the children. Stamford’s academics have absolutely impacted our children in a positive way, fostering their creativity and desire to learn everything from new cultures to ways to save the planet by recycling.

Stamford is the perfect fit for our family’s learning needs. They are receptive to feedback and continually strive to make the school and the community better in every aspect. Stamford is large enough and has all the aspects of a top-tier international school, but is also small enough to make sure every child and family feels intimately involved. It truly has a perfect balance. This is our favorite part about Stamford and you will immediately experience it when you apply.

Prior to the pandemic, I had moved to Hong Kong from California in May of 2019. I had only finished half of the seventh grade and I was applying to join the 8th graders, trying to enroll on February 3rd, a week after CNY 2020. Most schools were quick to brush off my application and wanted me to repeat 7th grade. However, Stamford gave me a chance to prove myself and start a new chapter. I hadn’t been the best student at my previous school so it wasn’t hard to see why most schools didn’t want me, but I couldn’t help but feel pretty devastated, I was at my lowest point, feeling like a failure. However, that’s when Stamford had reached out. Stamford was the only school that let me try classes first to see if I could keep up with 8th-grade material. I felt revitalized, the entire staff was so communicative and incredibly flexible during my citizenship application process. I felt so motivated and excited, knowing that there are people that believe in me and what I can achieve. However, things didn’t all go as planned as the pandemic hit in the beginning of 2020, making my first day at school online. I was nervous for sure, as I had no idea what to expect, and if I would even make friends. All those doubts would fade as quickly as they came,  as I quickly realized that Stamford prides themselves upon their character and embracing core values. 

Everyone, from students to teachers were all such kind people. Within a few weeks of meeting my classmates, a couple of us had already set up a hangout. I had never felt such a sense of comradery and community until I was at Stamford. I knew right then and there that this was the school I was going to commit to for the rest of my high school journey. Ever since then, I’ve never felt more at home than I do now. 

Through the thick and thin my school has backed me up and supported me. Due to the innovative and passionate teachers, I’ve been able to unlock my full potential that I’ve always envisioned myself to one day show. I’ve found school and learning as something to enjoy now, and it’s all thanks to the incredible staff here that has shaped me into the young man I am today. One of the most important things I credit the school so much for is how much we preach mental health awareness here. 

Personally, I think mental health is something that often gets overlooked, but having a strong mental mindset really plays a huge role in being the best version of yourself. I feel like we teach that really well here at Stamford. I’m so thankful to be a part of this ever-growing community. These past few years have been the most memorably special years of my life. I have learned so much and could not be more grateful for all of the wonderful people I’ve been so lucky to have met on my journey,  as well as all of the opportunities this school has provided me to truly showcase my talents. Go Lions!