SCIS Pudong Lower School Principal's Post

Dear Lower School Families,

As we wrap up the 3^rd week of virtual learning, I’d like to take this opportunity to share a realization I had while visiting class Seesaw accounts this week.  While perusing journal feeds, I came across videos of a few students responding to the question, “what do you miss the most about school?”  While I initially experienced feelings of sadness as I listened to students describe how much they missed their friends and teachers, these emotions were quickly taken over by feelings of pride and gratitude.  I am so proud to be part of a community where students consistency feel safe, are happy, and engaged in meaningful learning.  While virtual learning is certainly not a substitute for face-to-face learning, I am grateful for our incredible teachers who are working tirelessly to continue to build classroom communities where students feel comfortable and confident to take risks as communicators, collaborators and virtual learners.  

As you have likely seen from the Lower School community message surrounding the launch of Live Learning Sessions that was sent to your scis-parent inbox, we are making an adjustment to our Virtual Learning Program to include Live Learning Sessions for students each week.  These sessions led by Homeroom Teachers could take various forms depending upon student needs.  For example, the session may be framed as an opportunity for students to ask specific questions surrounding a particular assignment or virtual learning in general.  Teachers may also use the session as an opportunity to run a class meeting or provide specific instruction on an identified learning target.   Ultimately, our hope is that through the implementation of live learning sessions, we will be able to further support students during the virtual learning period and ensure they maintain a sense of connection and community to their teachers and classmates. 

Implementation of Live Learning Sessions

In order to implement the Live Learning Sessions, the Microsoft Teams platform will be used consistently across grade levels.  We understand that for many parents this is likely a new platform that you may or may not have experience with using.  As such, we have done our best to provide you with step-by-step guides and a video tutorial detailing how to get your child connected to the Microsoft Teams platform.

To ensure your child is able to access Microsoft Teams, parents will need to review and follow the below or attached instructions based upon the age of their child(ren). 

• Nursery – Grade 3 Parent Microsoft Teams Overview
• Grades 4 – 5 Parent Microsoft Teams Overview

Additionally, please view the parent video tutorial on joining a live session.  

Members of the Lower School Faculty in collaboration with the IT Department have done our very best to make this transition to Live Learning as simple as possible for students and parents.  However, we recognize that you may experience complications or difficulties during set up.  In the event that you are unable to sign-in to your child’s Microsoft Team please connect with Barry Johnson in our IT Department at pd-technology@scis-china.org 

Week #3 Virtual Learning Parent Feedback:

We continue to appreciate the support of families during this virtual learning period.   We hope you recognize that based upon your feedback, as well as that which has been received from students and teachers, we have been modifications to our Virtual Learning program to better meet the needs of students during this Virtual Learning period.   As you can imagine there are many challenges related to virtual learning that unfortunately are out of our control (i.e. internet connectivity).

As such, we seek your continued feedback on what you believe is going well, and the ways in which we can improve our effort to optimize virtual learning for all students.  Please take a few minutes to provide your valuable feedback by completing the SCIS-Pudong Lower School Week #3 Virtual Learning Parent Feedback Survey. Please note the survey will close on Monday, February 24^th at 3:00pm.

February 28^th Announcement: Please note that next Friday, February 28^th will continue as an instructional day (it was previously scheduled as a teacher professional development day). February 28^th will be a Day 3.  The reason for it being a Day 3 is to make up for the Day 3 that was missed on Monday, February 3^rd.  

Resources for Academic and Emotional Well-being:

During this times of uncertainty, such as that which we are currently experiencing it is very common to experience a range of strong emotions including feelings of ambiguity, fear, frustration, and anxiety.  As a way to support students and parents the SCIS Counseling Department has put together a Virtual Learning Survival Guide in effort to provide some connection, communication, and resources that will support you and your child during this time.

This extremely useful guide provides resources on the following for parents and students:

• Anxiety and Fear
• Organization, Time Management, and Self-Regulation
• Mindfulness
• Motivation
• Transitions and Changes
• Resilience

In addition to the above, there are also IT Virtual Learning Resources for Parents that include information on:

• Seesaw
• Reading Resources
• Login information to sites such as:  Brainpop and Flipgrid

Coronavirus:  Community Updates and FAQs Page:

Please take time to regularly visit the SCIS Coronavirus: Community Updates and FAQs page on the SCIS school website which provides detailed information on the school closure in relation to the Coronavirus outbreak.

IT Support with Virtual Learning  

Given various challenges related to technology access and internet reliability please feel free to reach out to our SCIS-Pudong IT Department at pd-technology@scis-china.org if you experience any issues or complications with Seesaw and/or other technology platforms.  We appreciate your support and are here to help you make virtual learning a success in any way we can.

Seesaw Videos and Live Learning Session Etiquette:

While we understand that the vast majority of our students are either in the comfort of their own home or in an environment that allows them an opportunity to be dressed very casually, please remember that when children post a video to Seesaw as a response to an assignment they should be appropriately clothed. This includes the covering of shoulders, midriffs (stomachs), and the wearing of shorts or skirts that are a suitable length.  Additionally, students and parents should be mindful of the environment in which they are posting to ensure that other individuals who may be unaware that a video is being recorded are not mistakenly seen or heard in the background.

School Attendance and Student Participation:

During the Virtual Learning period student attendance will not be taken; however, assignment completion will be used to validate student participation and progress in virtual learning.  Students will be afforded a flexible 48-hour window in order to participate in a way that allows them to complete assignments.  Students / parents should communicate with their teacher(s) if more time is needed surrounding specific assignments. 

Additionally, we recognize that students may not be able to complete all assignments due to families varying circumstances including access to appropriate technology and internet reliability.  Please know that while students will not be penalized academically, lack of participation in the online learning platform may hinder progress against the grade level core or subject area standards.   As such, if students do not partake in the learning experiences it will be difficult for teachers to assess and report on student progress which may potentially result in students receiving the achievement indicator IE (insufficient evidence), AE (approaching grade level expectation), or NME (not meeting grade level expectation) on the student’s semester report.

Reenrollment has begun for the 2019-2020 School Year

Last week, all SCIS families should have received an email via your scis-parent email account providing instructions regarding re-enrollment for the 2020-2021 academic year.  Please note that seats are likely to fill up quickly and we have multiple grade levels in the Lower School that are currently at capacity.  As such, if you are confident that you would like your child to continue at SCIS-Pudong for the 2020-2021 school year, we encourage you to submit your re-enrollment as quickly as possible. 

Please note, you must use your @scis-parent.org email account details when signing in to the Online Re-Enrollment Website.  If you have any questions regarding the process for re-enrollment, please do not hesitate to reach out to the SCIS Admissions team at admissions@scis-china.org.

Dear Families,

As we conclude the second week of virtual learning, I’d once again like to express my sincere thanks to all members of our Lower School learning community for another fantastic week filled with risk-taking, problem-solving, critical thinking, and collaborating.  I continue to be amazed by the tremendous creativity demonstrated by both teachers and students surrounding the creation and completion of learning assignments.  As I scroll through the Virtual Class Blogs each day, I can’t help but be inspired and motivated by the extraordinary learning that is taking place across grade levels and subject areas.

I’m also beyond grateful to the Lower School parents and caregivers that have unfailingly dedicated time, resources, and space to ensure your child(ren) are able to continue their learning despite the inevitable challenges we have faced in the move to an online learning platform.   Your support, patience, and understanding over the course of the past two weeks is truly appreciated.

Week #2 Virtual Learning Parent Feedback:

As mentioned above, we greatly appreciate the support of families during this virtual learning period.   Please know that our goal for your child(ren) moving forward is to not only to provide a continuity of rigorous and engaging learning, but more importantly, we aim to create a safe and collaborative virtual learning space where students can maintain ongoing and positive daily interactions with their teachers and peers while being inspired and motivated to continue their learning journey over the course of upcoming weeks.

As such, we seek your continued feedback on what you believe is going well, and the ways in which we can improve our effort to optimize virtual learning for all students.  Please take a few minutes to provide your valuable feedback by completing the SCIS-Pudong Lower School Week #2 Virtual Learning Parent Feedback Survey.  Please note the survey will close on Monday, February 17^th at 3:00pm.

Resources for Academic and Emotional Well-being

During times of uncertainty, such as that which we are currently experiencing, it is very common to experience a range of strong emotions including feelings of ambiguity, fear, frustration, and anxiety.  As a way to support students and parents the SCIS Counseling Department has put together a Virtual Learning Survival Guide in effort to provide connection, communication, and resources that will support you and your child(ren) during this time.

This extremely useful guide provides resources on the following for parents and students:

• Anxiety and Fear
• Organization, Time Management, and Self-Regulation
• Mindfulness
• Motivation
• Transitions and Changes
• Resilience

In addition to the above, there are also IT Virtual Learning Resources for Parents that include information on:

• Seesaw
• Reading Resources
• Login information to sites such as:  Brainpop and Flipgrid

Coronavirus:  Community Updates and FAQs Page:

Please take time to regularly visit the SCIS Coronavirus: Community Updates and FAQs page on the SCIS school website which provides detailed information on the school closure in relation to the Coronavirus outbreak.

IT Support with Virtual Learning  

Given various challenges related to technology access and internet reliability please feel free to reach out to our SCIS-Pudong IT Department at pd-technology@scis-china.org if you experience any issues or complications with Seesaw and/or other technology platforms being used.  We appreciate your support and want you to know we are here to help you make virtual learning a success in any way we can.

Seesaw Video Images:

While we understand that the vast majority of our students are either in the comfort of their own home or in an environment that allows them an opportunity to be dressed very casually, please remember that when children post a video to Seesaw as a response to an assignment they should be appropriately clothed. This includes the covering of shoulders, midriffs (stomachs), and the wearing of shorts or skirts that are a suitable length.  Additionally, students and parents should be mindful of the environment in which they are posting to ensure that other individuals who may be unaware that a video is being recorded are not mistakenly seen or heard in the background.

School Attendance and Student Participation:

During the Virtual Learning period student attendance will not be taken; however, assignment completion will be used to validate student participation and progress in virtual learning.  Students will be afforded a flexible 48-hour window in order to participate in a way that allows them to complete assignments.  Students / parents should communicate with their teacher(s) if more time is needed surrounding specific assignments. 

Additionally, we recognize that students may not be able to complete all assignments due to families varying circumstances including access to appropriate technology and internet reliability.  Please know that while students will not be penalized academically, lack of participation in the online learning platform may hinder progress against the grade level core or subject area standards.   As such, if students do not partake in the learning experiences it will be difficult for teachers to assess and report on student progress which may potentially result in students receiving the achievement indicator IE (insufficient evidence), AE (approaching grade level expectation), or NME (not meeting grade level expectation) on the student’s semester report.

Re-enrollment has begun for the 2020-2021 School Year

Last week, all SCIS families should have received an email via your scis-parent email account providing instructions regarding re-enrollment for the 2020-2021 academic year.  Please note that seats are likely to fill up quickly and we have multiple grade levels in the Lower School that are currently at capacity.  As such, if you are confident that you would like your child to continue at SCIS-Pudong for the 2020-2021 school year, we encourage you to submit your re-enrollment as quickly as possible. 

Please note, you must use your @scis-parent.org email account details when signing in to the Online Re-Enrollment Website.  If you have any questions regarding the process for re-enrollment, please do not hesitate to reach out to the SCIS Admissions team at admissions@scis-china.org.

Dear Families,

As our first week of virtual learning comes to an end, I’d like to begin this post by saying thank you to all members of our learning community. 

Thank you to all students for demonstrating your ability to be risk-takers, problem-solvers and virtual communicators.  I have truly been amazed by the ways in which you have engaged with online learning.  I am so proud of each and every one of you for showing your independence, enthusiasm, and imagination as you work hard to complete your learning assignments each day.  Keep up the great work!

Thank you to all parents for your tremendous support as we navigate the complexities of our Virtual Learning program.  Your willingness to embrace this new educational medium, provide ongoing support to your child(ren), and collaborate with teachers is sincerely appreciated and vital to the ongoing success of virtual learning within the Lower School.  Additionally, we recognize that implementing a consistent daily routine and providing an environment that meets the needs of your child(ren) and allows them to fully participate in the virtual learning program is not easy.  Please know we are here and eager to support you however we can.   Thank you for your open-mindedness and patience.  You are appreciated!

Thank you to all teachers for your incredible dedication to ensuring the success of the virtual learning program.  I am humbled and honored to be working with such a phenomenal group of educators whose creativity, commitment, collaborative approach to online teaching and learning, and willingness to wholeheartedly embrace change has been exceptional.  I am in awe of the variety of ways in which Lower School teachers have engaged students virtually through the design of interactive and meaningful learning experiences.  In addition, it has been remarkable to see how teachers have maintained personal connections and continued to develop a virtual classroom community.  It is an absolute privilege working with and learning from a truly extraordinary Lower School Faculty.  You are amazing!

Seeking Parent Feedback:

We greatly appreciate the support of families during this virtual learning period.   Please know that our goal for your child(ren) moving forward is to not only to provide a continuity of rigorous and engaging learning, but more importantly, we aim to create a safe and collaborative virtual learning space where students can maintain ongoing and positive daily interactions with their teachers and peers while being inspired and motivated to continue their learning journey over the course of upcoming weeks.

As such, we would appreciate your feedback on what you believe is going well, and the ways in which we can improve our effort to optimize virtual learning for all students.  Please take a few minutes to provide your valuable feedback by completing the Lower School Virtual Learning Parent Feedback Survey.  Thank you for your time.

Coronavirus:  Community Updates and FAQs Page:

Please take time to regularly visit the SCIS Coronavirus: Community Updates and FAQs page on the SCIS school website which provides detailed information on the school closure in relation to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Virtual Learning with Seesaw

At this point, all students / families should be connected to the Seesaw Class App.   If you haven’t had an opportunity to download the class app please go directly to the Seesaw site or use the web-based version:

• Seesaw Class App Android Download site address:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=seesaw.shadowpuppet.co.classroom&hl=en 
• Seesaw Web address (for laptop users):  https://app.seesaw.me 

Once you download the Class App, you will then be able to scan the QR code for your child’s Homeroom Class in order to ensure they have access to and are participating in the Virtual Learning program.  If you experience any issues or complications with Seesaw and/or other technology platforms students / families are beings asked to use, please immediately reach out to your child’s Homeroom Teacher or our SCIS-Pudong IT Department at pd-technology@scis-china.org. 

Seesaw Video Images:

While we understand that the vast majority of our students are either in the comfort of their own home or in an environment that allows them an opportunity to be dressed very casually, please remember that when children post a video to Seesaw as a response to an assignment they should be appropriately clothed. This includes the covering of shoulders, midriffs (stomachs), and the wearing of shorts or skirts that are a suitable length.  Additionally, students and parents should be mindful of the environment in which they are posting to ensure that other individuals who may be unaware that a video is being recorded are not mistakenly seen or heard in the background.

School Attendance and Student Participation:

During the Virtual Learning period student attendance will not be taken; however, assignment completion will be used to validate student participation and progress in virtual learning.  Students will be afforded a flexible 48-hour window in order to participate in a way that allows them to complete assignments.  Students / parents should communicate with their teacher(s) if more time is needed surrounding specific assignments. 

Additionally, we recognize that students may not be able to complete all assignments due to families varying circumstances including access to appropriate technology and internet reliability.  Please know that while students will not be penalized academically, lack of participation in the online learning platform may hinder progress against the grade level core or subject area standards.   As such, if students do not partake in the learning experiences it will be difficult for teachers to assess and report on student progress which may potentially result in students receiving the achievement indicator IE (insufficient evidence), AE (approaching grade level expectation), or NME (not meeting grade level expectation) on the student’s semester report.

Re-enrollment has begun for the 2020 – 2021 School Year

In January, all SCIS families should have received an email via your scis-parent email account providing instructions regarding re-enrollment for the 2020-2021 academic year.  Please note that seats are likely to fill up quickly and we have multiple grade levels in the Lower School that are currently at capacity.  As such, if you are confident that you would like your child to continue at SCIS-Pudong for the 2020-2021 school year, we encourage you to submit your re-enrollment as quickly as possible. 

Please note, you must use your @scis-parent.org email account details when signing in to the Online Re-Enrollment Website.  If you have any questions regarding the process for re-enrollment, please do not hesitate to reach out to the SCIS Admissions team at admissions@scis-china.org.

Dear Families,

It’s been a wonderful week of celebration and learning at SCIS-Pudong! 

On Monday afternoon all Lower School Teachers participated in two TTT (Teaching Teachers Teaching) sessions on various topics led by Ms. Adika, Ms. Hunt, Ms. Mount, Mrs. Ruf, Dr. Myers, Mr. Sylvester and Ms. Gale.  Teachers were able to learn from colleagues surrounding topics such as inclusion, citizen science and the (new) scientific method, positive discipline, consequences, interactive read-alouds, effective meeting structures, and the SCARF model.  Through TTTs teachers are able to share expertise and facilitate discussions on important topics related to their professional work. In addition, research shows that providing structures for ongoing collaboration and professional dialogue is directly correlated to enhancing and increasing student learning and achievement.  

On Thursday afternoon students in Grade 4R revealed a fabulous Light Sound exhibit that showcased student learning as a result of their current unit of inquiry on Light and Sound.  During this unit students explored the properties of light and sound and how these properties can be used and manipulated to create different effects.  During the exhibit, students share the properties of light they used to create their display and discussed the ways that light can be used for dramatic effect.

The final celebration of the week was the Chinese New Year Assembly and Lower School Chinese Temple Fair that took place on Thursday afternoon from 1:00-3:00pm.  Both events were a huge success as students participated in a variety of traditional Chinese cultural activities.  I would like to take this opportunity to say, congratulations and thank you to our Mandarin Department and specifically to Ms. Olive Sun, Ms. Yang Liu and Ms. Gina Zhang for their excellent work surrounding the planning, preparation and organization of the Temple Fair and Chinese New Year Assembly.  An incredible amount of effort went into making this event a success and it certainly served as a marvelous tribute to our host country, China.  Also, a huge thank-you to all parent volunteers and teachers who assisted with running the Temple Fair stations.  What a memorable and fun event for the entire SCIS community!

Please note the Chinese New Year holiday will begin on January 24^th and end on February 2^nd.   School will resume on February 3^rd.

I wish all families a fantastic Chinese New Year Holiday and happiness and success in the Year of the Rat!

Gōngxǐ fācái!

Xīnnián kuàilè!

Reenrollment has begun for the 2019-2020 School Year

Last week, all SCIS families should have received an email via your scis-parent email account providing instructions regarding re-enrollment for the 2020-2021 academic year.  Please note that seats are likely to fill up quickly and we have multiple grade levels in the Lower School that are currently at capacity.  As such, if you are confident that you would like your child to continue at SCIS-Pudong for the 2020-2021 school year, we encourage you to submit your re-enrollment as quickly as possible. 

Please note, you must use your @scis-parent.org email account details when signing in to the Online Re-Enrollment Website.  If you have any questions regarding the process for re-enrollment, please do not hesitate to reach out to the SCIS Admissions team at admissions@scis-china.org.

Flu Season

With the ongoing cold weather, also comes the potential of student illness.  To help stop the spread and lessen the duration of student illnesses at school please be sure your child receives plenty of rest, is eating a balanced diet, and drinking plenty of water.  Sending your child to school if they are ill can be very frustrating to families, as well as teachers as we do our best to keep children, parents and teachers healthy.  Please remember one of the BEST ways to prevent the spread of illness is to wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap.  Please review our parent handbook, page 17, for more information on Student Illness Policies.

As a reminder, children should not attend school if they have any of the following symptoms:

• Fever (over 100F/37.2c)
• Diarrhea or more than 2 loose bowel movements within 12 hours
• Vomiting
• Discharge from eyes or ears
• Heavy nasal discharge
• Persistent cough
• Unidentified rash

Semester 2 Parent Coffee Morning Topics:  COME AND LEARN WITH US!

Please mark your calendar for the following Parent Coffee Mornings where members of our Lower School Pedagogical Leadership Team will provide insight into various aspects of the curriculum including how and why of teaching and learning at SCIS-Pudong!

Dear Families,

It’s been another fun week of learning at SCIS-Pudong. 

This week during our Lower School professional development meeting, teachers spent time reflecting on challenges and learnings from 2019, while participating in a goal-setting exercise where they selected “one word” they will focus on as a means to inspire and transform their life and/or work in 2020.  As educational philosopher John Dewey states, “we do not learn from experience, we learn from reflecting on experience.”  As educators, it is important that we take the time to share our challenges, work together to brainstorm solutions, and provide support to one another to ensure we continue to foster a nurturing and collaborative environment for teachers and students. 

At this point in the school year, many grade levels are well on their way to finishing up their 3^rd unit of inquiry and are getting ready to delve into their fourth unit.  Prior to the beginning of each unit, teachers and specialists participate in a PYP Kick-off meeting where they reflect on the overarching goals of the unit and determine the best learning path forward that will spark curiosity and enthusiasm with their current students.

As parents, we continue to encourage you to travel alongside your child in their learning journey by frequently visiting the class Seesaw journal and asking your child questions related to the pictures and postings you see.  Additionally, please take some time to provide a positive comment or feedback to your child related to the learning experiences.  Research shows that feedback is one of the most powerful influences on student learning and achievement.

Likewise, positive feedback that promotes a growth mindset has the power to motivate children to ensure they remain persistent, resilient and focused on the process of learning.  Below are some examples of feedback that promote the development of a growth mindset:

• I’m so proud of the effort you put forth with _________.
• I’m very proud of you for not giving up, and look what you have to show for it!
• All that hard work and effort paid off!
• What choices did you make that you think contributed to your success?
• I can see you really enjoyed learning _________.

After School Activity Session #2

Please note, that next Monday, January 20^th, Session #2 of our SCIS After School Activities program will begin.  Throughout this session, please remember that children will not be allowed to “skip” or miss their ASA, unless the school has received a direct email or phone call from a parent.   Once a student has signed up for an ASA they are making a commitment to attending all sessions of that ASA, unless the school has been notified otherwise by a parent.   While we want to encourage students to take risks and try a variety of After School Activities, we also want to help them understand the importance of following through with their commitment as a member of the ASAs they sign up for. 

Chinese New Year Assembly and Temple Fair

Over the course of the next few weeks Mandarin Department will be very busy preparing for this year’s Chinese New Year celebrations.   Similar to past years, there will be a Chinese New Year Assembly for the whole school that will begin at 1:00pm in the Theater.   Additionally, similar to last year, the assembly will be followed by a Chinese Temple Fair for Lower School students.  The Temple fair will provide students with an opportunity to participate in a variety of fun Chinese cultural activities.  The temple fair, which will be located in and around the Black Box will take place from 1:40-2:40pm.  At 2:40pm students will return to their classrooms to prepare for dismissal.  In order for the Temple Fair to be a success we need parent volunteers to help assist running the sessions.  If you are interested in helping run a station for 30 or 60 minutes, please contact Ms. Yang Liu at yliu@scis-china.org or scan the below QR code to join the volunteer WeChat Group.

It’s COLD Outside

While students across grade levels continue to enjoy outdoor recess and exploration, please remind your child(ren) to dress appropriately for the cold weather by sending them to school with warm coats, hats, mittens or gloves.  Also, please remember to label all your child’s personal belongings with their name to ensure their items can be returned in the event they are misplaced. 

Flu Season

With the ongoing cold weather, also comes the potential of student illness.  To help stop the spread and lessen the duration of student illnesses at school please be sure your child receives plenty of rest, is eating a balanced diet, and drinking plenty of water.  Sending your child to school if they are ill can be very frustrating to families, as well as teachers as we do our best to keep children, parents and teachers healthy.  Please remember one of the BEST ways to prevent the spread of illness is to wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap.  Please review the health and safety section of the parent-student handbook for more information on Student Illness Policies.

As a reminder, children should not attend school if they have any of the following symptoms:

• Fever (over 100F/37.2c)
• Diarrhea or more than 2 loose bowel movements within 12 hours
• Vomiting
• Discharge from eyes or ears
• Heavy nasal discharge
• Persistent cough
• Unidentified rash

Professional Development with Jennifer Abrams

This weekend 20 educators from around the Shanghai will be attending a workshop at SCIS-Pudong with international educational and communications consultant Jennifer Abrams.  Jennifer trains and coaches teachers and administrators on a variety of topics including being generationally savvy, having hard conversations and collaboration skills.  Jennifer has been recognized as one of “21 Women All K-12 Educators Need to Know” by Education Week’s ‘Finding Common Ground’ blog, and the International Academy of Educational Entrepreneurship. Jennifer considers herself a “voice coach,” helping others learn how to best use their voices – be it collaborating on a team, presenting in front of an audience, coaching a colleague, and supervising an employee. For more information on Jennifer visit www.jenniferabrams.com

On Friday, the entire SCIS-Pudong Lower School Faculty including Mandarin Assistants and Assistant Teachers had an opportunity to work with Jennifer Abrams to deepen our collective understanding of how to effectively engage in having “hard conversations” and develop our capacity to function as a progressive and collaborative professional learning community.   According to Michael Fullan, “Improving schools requires collaborative cultures . . . Without collaborative skills and relationships, it is not possible to learn and to continue to learn as much as you need to know to improve.”  Additionally, creating a collaborative cultures is the single most important factor for successful school improvement initiatives (Eastwood & Lewis).  As we move forward with the IB and WASC Self-Study Process it will be essential to ensure that all members of our community are provided with opportunities to have a voice as we continue our quest for continuous improvement and educational excellence.  

Parent Coffee Morning on the new SCIS Schoolwide Learner Outcomes

Tuesday morning’s parent coffee morning focused on the new SCIS Schoolwide Learner Outcomes (SLOs) was a tremendous success with over 30 parents in attendance representing ECE, Lower School, and Upper School.  During the meeting, parents were provided with an opportunity to learn more about the IB and WASC self-study process and the importance of developing a communal understanding of our Schoolwide Learner Outcomes and the role they play in students daily lives.   Parents worked in groups to unpack the SLOs by discussing what each SLO looks like, sounds like, and feels like in a school setting.  Afterwards, parents had an opportunity to provide feedback on the ways in which the school is currently development students who demonstrate the SLOs, as well as the ways in which we could improve.  It was a collaborative and inspiring meeting and we look forward to ongoing opportunities to involve parents both in the self-study process and the development of our Schoolwide Learner Outcomes.

Congratulations to 4R

A BIG SHOUT OUT to all students in 4R for their informative and entertaining assembly performance focused on the importance of teamwork and the skills needed to work effectively as a collaborative group.  During the assembly students participated in a variety of group challenges and then sought feedback from the audience on what went well and the ways in which they could have improved.  Great Job 4R!

Semester 2 Parent Coffee Morning Topics:  COME AND LEARN WITH US!

Please mark your calendar for the following Parent Coffee Mornings where members of our Lower School Pedagogical Leadership Team will provide insight into various aspects of the curriculum including how and why of teaching and learning at SCIS-Pudong!

Dear Families,

Happy New Year and welcome to second half of the 2019-2020 school year!  This semester we are welcoming 14 new students and their families to the Lower School.   These new families, representing eight different nationalities are joining SCIS-Pudong from other schools in Shanghai, as well as from various locations around the world.  Having a truly diverse and multi-cultural learning environment is something we highly value at SCIS, as students are provided with daily opportunities to learn from the backgrounds and experiences of their peers.  Developing a strong cultural intelligenceor the ability to relate and work effectively across cultures is essential as we prepare children to be successful in the 21^st century.

I’d like to thank all SCIS families that have recommended SCIS-Pudong to friends, acquaintances and colleagues.  Your assistance in helping us continue our quest to build an exceptional program focused on implementing current research-based best practices, including valuing and appreciating all cultures and capabilities is at the core of what makes SCIS a great school.  

With that said, re-enrollment for the 2020 – 2021 school year is right around the corner and seats are likely to fill up quickly.  We have multiple grade levels that are currently at capacity.  As such, please be on the lookout for an email from the SCIS-Admissions Department in the upcoming days regarding steps to re-enroll your child(ren) for the 2020-2021 school year.

School Uniform Reminder

As the weather becomes colder and students come to school dressed in layers, please remember that it is still important that your child wears their school uniform. As a reminder Nursery through Grade 5 students may wear navy blue trousers, shorts, or skirts and the SCIS light blue polo shirts (short or long sleeved). During cooler weather students may wear sweaters, jackets or hoodies of school colors and winter coats. Thank you for your attention to this.

Seeking Positive Discipline Parenting Workshop Input

We continue to seek Lower School Parent input surrounding ideal days / times to host our next series of Positive Discipline parenting workshops.  Positive Discipline parenting workshops usually consist of four 3-hour sessions for a total of 12-hours. There is a possibility we will be able to provide bilingual translation, so the workshop could be in English and Chinese if there is enough parent interest.  Please help us determine the ideal days and times by completing this short Positive Discipline Parent interest survey.  Your input is greatly appreciated.

正面管教课程征询

我们正在为下一期的正面管教课程做准备的同征求一些意见或建议。通常正面管教课程是4节课每节课3小时总课时为12小时。如果有更多的家长参与进来的话我们将提供双语课程即中英文课程。请完成这个简单的正面管教调查表（short Positive Discipline Parent interest survey. ）来帮助我们规划课程的日期及时间。非常感谢您的支持。

Lower School Assembly

The next Lower School Assembly featuring 4R will be on Thursday, January16th starting at 8:15am in the Theater.  All parents are welcome to attend Lower School assemblies.  We will also be welcoming the new K-5 students and recognizing them for being risk-takers as they have courageously made the transition to a new school and community.

Chinese New Year Assembly and Temple Fair

Over the course of the next few weeks Mandarin Department will be very busy preparing for this year’s Chinese New Year celebrations.   Similar to past years, there will be a Chinese New Year Assembly for the whole school that will begin at 1:00pm in the Theater.   Additionally, similar to last year, the assembly will be followed by a Chinese Temple Fair for Lower School students.  The Temple fair will provide students with an opportunity to participate in a variety of fun Chinese cultural activities.  The temple fair, which will be located in and around the Black Box will take place from 1:40-2:40pm.  At 2:40pm students will return to their classrooms to prepare for dismissal.  In order for the Temple Fair to be a success we need parent volunteers to help assist running the sessions.  If you are interested in helping run a station for 30 or 60 minutes, please contact Ms. Yang Liu at yliu@scis-china.org or scan the below QR code to join the volunteer WeChat Group.

Semester 2 Parent Coffee Morning Topics:  COME AND LEARN WITH US!

Please mark your calendar for the following Parent Coffee Mornings where members of our Lower School Pedagogical Leadership Team will provide insight into various aspects of the curriculum including how and why of teaching and learning at SCIS-Pudong!

Substitute Teachers Needed

If you or someone you know has experience as a teacher or would be interested in gaining experience through being a substitute teacher, please connect with Ms. Gale at egale@scis-china.org.  While teaching experience or certification is not necessary, a passion for working and learning with children is essential.   

School Class Photos:

Please note that Class Photos, individual student re-takes, and new student photos will take place on Tuesday, March 3rd.  Students will need to wear their SCIS blue collared shirt for their class photo.   PE uniforms can be brought to school that day.