SSIS Athletics, a Culture of Joy and Perseverance

Every child deserves a chance to play, and every team is stronger when every member grows. At SSIS, we believe athletics should be a source of joy, growth, and unforgettable memories. 

 "We want our students to experience success, but more importantly, we want them to develop into confident, compassionate athletes," says Athletics Director Danial Hogg. "At SSIS, success isn’t just about medals—it’s about pushing oneself, supporting teammates, and finding joy in the game." Whether on A, B, or Development teams, every student is given the opportunity to challenge themselves, build resilience, and thrive.

"Competing at our school gave me more confidence and comfort when facing new challenges in a competitive environment with new people to learn from," Bora, Grade 11, says of her experience.

A Culture of Growth and Joy

Introducing our philosophy early fosters confidence, teamwork, and a love for sport. From their very first game, our youngest athletes learn that effort, perseverance, and sportsmanship matter most—values that guide them throughout their time at SSIS and beyond.

Sports have played a major role in Grade 8 student Seoyoung's life and connected her with teammates and friends worldwide through events like MRISA. "I am incredibly grateful for new athletic experiences that have brought out my passion for many sports, leadership skills, motivation, and connected me with so many amazing athletes and people, creating new friendships and unforgettable memories that I will cherish forever," she shares.

“During trainings we've grown much closer as a team, formed incredible bonds and memories. Although there is a significant age gap, we were still able to bond over shared experiences and support each other through more difficult times," shares Apolline, Grade 10, a member of the tennis team. 

SSIS athletics continues to expand, supported by top-tier facilities, extensive playing fields, and a commitment to inclusion. During last school year, our program fielded 123 teams with over 500 student-athletes participating. This school year, our golf program has grown to nearly 80 students, while, even while renovating our pool, our swim team continues to see increasing numbers. By offering multiple team levels within each sport, we ensure that athletes can develop their skills and compete at an appropriate level.

The Heart of the SSIS Dragons

Celebrating the journey of our athletes, from the first-time competitor to the seasoned leader for their perseverance, dedication, and hard work is a philosophy that embodies the true heart of a Dragon. So although we recognize the many achievements, such as our MRISA Junior Football/Soccer Boys becoming the champions of the tournament, and our Varsity Basketball Boys and Tennis Girls making history with their highest SEASAC tournament performances and record number of victories in Season Two, we are even prouder of the messages from Athletic Directors around the region who follow up with praise for how our teams carry themselves.

“We have already been invited to join other international tournaments, because not only do SSIS Dragons compete hard and provide a high level of competition, but we also demonstrate the very best of the moral values that athletics programs can teach us: honesty and integrity, hard work and determination, spirit, and perseverance,” shares Mr. Hogg.

And going into Season Three we're feeling the same energy, excitement, and Dragon spirit, in these beginning weeks. With the unwavering determination of our athletes and the dedication of our coaches, the unwavering support of our parents, and the behind-the-scenes efforts of our grounds, maintenance, and athletics staff, we know it is going to be amazing!