2025 International Student Leaders

Having five International Student Leaders in 2025 is a key highlight of our school’s international student programme. These leaders come from diverse cultural backgrounds, reflecting both the diversity of our international student community and our school’s core value of Diversity.

The 2025 leaders are:

• Danni Nguyen – originally from Vietnam, domestic student
• Kevin Kaiwen Yang – from China, International Student
• Loxley Clark – originally from the United States, domestic student
• Rohan Sidwell – from New Zealand, domestic student
• Saoirse Lahiff – originally from Ireland, domestic student

The International Student Leaders take their leadership roles seriously and work collaboratively as a team. They meet regularly with their mentor, Ms. Joanne Qiao, to identify students’ needs, share their experiences, and provide valuable tips from both a learner’s and a teenager’s perspective.

Since the beginning of the school year, the International Student Leaders have actively supported the international team and assisted students, starting with the International Office Orientation Week.

During the school’s Orientation Week (O-Week), they promoted the International Student Instagram account, encouraging staff and students to follow and share their Springs experiences with the wider school and international community.

What may seem simple for experienced or local students—such as speaking fluent English, making a sandwich for lunch, registering for clubs, or participating in events like Athletics Day—can be challenging for international students. To help with this, the student leaders joined the International Office staff to guide new Asian students through these tasks, including club registration and accessing important information on school or public websites.

International Student Leaders also participated in seminar sessions, meeting overseas visitors and officials. They shared their experiences at Springs and their personal growth stories. Having studied at Springs for up to five years, they proudly showcased the school’s values, culture, and development.

Guests heard firsthand about their appreciation for the modern, innovative learning environment, the passionate teachers and support staff who care for students’ academic and personal growth, the diverse range of subjects available, and the school’s non-uniform policy.

Currently, the international team is running daily lunchtime workshops for small groups of international students. These sessions bring together both new and returning students from different nationalities to share their settlement experiences. Our leaders actively participate, offering insights and support to help their peers adjust to life at Western Springs College.