SCIS Pudong Lower School Principal's Post

Dear Families,

It’s been a wonderful week of learning throughout the Lower School as students across grade levels are well into their first unit of inquiry for the school year.  As you will see, based upon the chart below, many students are immersed in the transdisciplinary theme, Who We Are or How we Organize Ourselves.  These two units are ideal for the beginning of the school year as the overarching focus is on the nature of the self, as well as the importance of building relationships with, and appreciation for, those within your community. 

Similarly, students are formulating an understanding of how communities work together and structure themselves for success based upon societal decision-making processes.  As parents, we ask that you continue to actively be involved in your child’s inquiry journey by regularly checking their seesaw journal, providing positive and growth mind-set-oriented feedback and continuing the “learning conversation” at home.  The below image is an overview of the current unit of inquiry for all grade levels as well as the central ideas, lines of inquiry and questions that guide each of these units.

Evacuation Drill Announced for Tuesday

Next Tuesday, September 10th at 9:00 am, the whole school will be having our first evacuation drill. Teachers will be sharing the procedure with all classes on Monday so all students are well prepared to exit the school safely.

Indoor Recess

At SCIS-Pudong we are very fortunate to have plenty of indoor learning spaces for students to utilize during rainy days when the weather does not allow outdoor play or on days in which the AQI is over 200.   As part of our facility enhancement improvements that occurred over the summer a lower school rock climbing wall and a large block building area were added to the basement floor near the ball room.   Additionally, the lego creation space continues to evolve as more legos are added and students continue to explore, create and build in this fun and interactive learning space. 

The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) MAPS

Starting next week, the NWEA MAPS (Measurement of Academic Progress) test will be administered to students in Grades 2-5.  During this online assessment, students will be tested in the areas of Reading, Language Usage, and Mathematics. The MAPs test is not a traditional test that students can or should study for.  Rather it will provide a snapshot of the students’ abilities within these curricular areas at this point in time.  The best thing you can do to support your child is make sure they are well rested, and eat a good breakfast, as we hope they do for every school day.   Teachers receive immediate results with MAP that show what students know and what they are ready to learn.  For more information on NWEA MAP visit www.nwea.org

After School Activities Session 1:  Off to a Great Start!

It has been a successful first week of after school activities and students have enjoyed the range of ASAs that have been provided this session.  At the beginning of each ASA, the teacher or provider responsible for the ASA reviews the expectations and agreements that students are required to adhere to, to ensure success and full participation within the ASA.  Please note, that it is a privilege for students to have the opportunity to participate in the After School Activities program and in the event a child demonstrates their behavior is not in line with the expectations of the ASA provider, they will be dismissed from that ASA.  If you have any questions surrounding your child’s ASAs please contact Coach Vic Caban (vcaban@scis-china.org) or Ms. Vicki Xu (vxu@scis-china.org).

Birthday Celebrations

At SCIS-Pudong we want to help students celebrate their birthdays.  However, please be mindful that class birthday celebrations are restricted to no more than 30 minutes and should be in conjunction with snack, lunch or the end of the school day.  Additionally, the giving of gifts is prohibited including goodie-bags or party favors.  Food options need to be considerate of allergies and preferably include healthy choices.  Parents are asked to keep celebrations simple and clear all plans with the classroom teacher well in advance. 

Picture Day on Tuesday

Picture Day will be next Tuesday. Classes will be smiling from ear to ear.

Warm Regards,

Liz Gale & Ian Sylvester

Lower School Principal & PYP Coordinator

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Dear Families,

It was wonderful to see so many of you at Back to School Night.  I whole-heartedly believe that strong school-family partnerships are key to student success and motivation as a learner. Current research on school-community partnerships states, “the most accurate predictor of a student’s achievement in school is not income or social status but the extent to which the student’s family is able to: 

1. Create a home environment that encourages learning.
2. Express high (but not unrealistic) expectations for their children’s achievement and future careers.
3. Become involved in their children’s education at school and in the community.

There are so many ways that you can be involved, and I encourage you in whatever capacity you are able, to stay connected and excited about your child’s learning.  Whether it is through attending one of your child’s fantastic learning celebrations that will occur at varying points throughout the year or simply asking them to share some of the learning experiences from their school day around the dinner table; the research on the positive and long-term impact of parent involvement on schooling cannot go unnoticed. 

Benefits for children whose parents are involved include:  achievement of grade level academic expectations, higher standardized test scores and consistent school attendance.  Additionally, children whose parents who are involved in their education tend to have higher levels of self-esteem, more self-discipline and greater levels of motivation. 

Clearly, you are a vital part of what makes our learning community a success and I look forward to working together with all of you this year and continuing our quest to ensure every child’s educational journey is the best it can possibly be.  

I wish all families a wonderful weekend!

After School Activities Session 1

Next Monday, September 2^nd, Session 1 of After School Activities (ASAs) will begin.  Please take note of the days your child will be participating in an after school activity and prepare them accordingly.  If you have any questions surrounding your child’s ASAs please contact Coach Vic Caban (vcaban@scis-china.org) or Ms. Vicki Xu (vxu@scis-china.org).

The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) MAPS

The NWEA MAPS (Measurement of Academic Progress) test will be administered to students in Grades 2-5 between September 9th through 18th.  During this online assessment, students will be tested in the areas of Reading, Language Usage, and Mathematics. The MAPs test is not a traditional test that students can or should study for.  Rather it will provide a snapshot of the students’ abilities within these curricular areas at this point in time.  The best thing you can do to support your child is make sure they are well rested, and eat a good breakfast, as we hope they do for every school day.   Teachers receive immediate results with MAP that show what students know and what they are ready to learn.  For more information on NWEA MAP visit www.nwea.org

Birthday Celebrations

At SCIS-Pudong we want to help students celebrate their birthdays.  However, please be mindful that class birthday celebrations are restricted to no more than 30 minutes and should be in conjunction with snack, lunch or the end of the school day.  Additionally, the giving of gifts is prohibited including goodie-bags or party favors.  Food options need to be considerate of allergies and preferably include healthy choices.  Parents are asked to keep celebrations simple and clear all plans with the classroom teacher well in advance. 

Seesaw Privacy Policy

Seesaw’s mission is to create an environment where students can be their best.  To accomplish this goal, it’s essential that Seesaw is a safe place for students to document their learning, and that parents and teachers are in complete control over how that information is shared. 

To guide our development of Seesaw, and our privacy commitment to you, we’ve developed the following Privacy Principles.

• We don’t own the content you provide – students and their schools do.
• Student work is private to the classroom by default. Teachers control what is shared and with whom.
• We will never advertise to students, create student profiles or sell any user data.
• We use security industry best practices and routinely monitor our systems to protect you.
• We are transparent about our practices and will notify you if things change.
• We are COPPA and FERPA compliant.

You can read more about our Privacy Principles and our commitment to privacy here:  https://web.seesaw.me/privacy-policy

If you have any questions surrounding Seesaw and its use within the Lower School please contact Barry Johnson at bjohnson@scis-china.org

More Photos from a Wonderful Week!

Warm Regards,

Liz Gale & Ian Sylvester

Lower School Principal & PYP Coordinator

A warm dragon welcome to all new and returning SCIS families.  After the success of last year’s Principal Blog, I will once again be utilizing online communication platform to share information surrounding lower school happenings, educational research, as well as the ways in which parents can support their child(ren)’s growth and development at home.  As such, I look forward to connecting with you through this online venue on a weekly basis throughout the year.

We have had a fantastic start to the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year as students at all grade levels have participated in a variety of fun learning experiences focused on building strong relationships with their new classmates and teachers.  Similarly, students have also been part of developing the procedures, routines and essential agreements that will govern their classroom community throughout the school year. 

Fostering a positive classroom culture where students feel safe, happy and confident taking risks with their learning is an essential part of the beginning of a new school year.  Involving children in discussions about how they will work and learn together and valuing their contributions, allows students to have both a voice, as well as choice regarding the establishment of a learning environment that meets their needs. 

At SCIS we strive to honor students’ ideas, opinions and learning styles.  We believe every child is unique, capable and has something valuable to contribute.  Giving students voice and choice in how their learning community will function leads to a long-term commitment to ensuring the learning environment is one in which all members feel a part of.

This year the Lower School Teachers will continue to develop the Positive Discipline approach to support students with their social-emotional development.   In a school that uses Positive Discipline practices teachers

“create classrooms where children are treated with respect, have the courage and excitement to love learning, and have the opportunity to learn the skills they need for a successful life.  The Positive Discipline vision is about schools where children never experience humiliation when they fail but instead feel empowered by the opportunity to learn from their mistakes in a safe environment,” (Nelson, Lott, & Glenn, 2013, p.4).

I will be sharing more information on Positive Discipline in upcoming posts and will also include strategies you can use at home to support your children in continuing to use their personal power to make choices that positively influence their environment.

Lastly, we are always looking for ways to improve your child’s experience and therefore, please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions, concerns or comments you have! During my leave, Ian Sylvester, our new PYP Coordinator (isylvester@scis-china.org), and Laurie Luebbe, our Lower School Counselor (lluebbe@scis-china.org), will be available to support families.  

At SCIS we are community of learners made up of students, parents, teachers and staff.  I am confident that by working together and maintaining ongoing and open communication we will be able to ensure that all children are safe, happy and learning each day.

Warm Regards, 

Liz Gale & Ian Sylvester

Lower School Principal & PYP Coordinator

Dear Families,

We made it!  The 2018-2019 school year has officially concluded, and summer holiday has begun! 

As the Lower School Principal, one of my goals each day is to ensure that students are safe, happy and learning.  With our group of passionate and dedicated teachers, assistant teachers and support staff, I feel we have been able to achieve this goal and have enjoyed another extremely successful year.  As I reflect upon my third year at SCIS-Pudong, I find myself feeling extremely proud and honoured to be part of this school and community.  A place where teachers, parents, and the administration work together to provide students with meaningful, real-world opportunities to learn new skills and knowledge, accept responsibilities, work with others, and most importantly laugh and enjoy their learning journey each and every day.  

Before we embark on the summer holiday, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful parents and extremely talented students for your ongoing enthusiasm and support surrounding our Lower School Program.  Also, a huge thank you to our incredible Lower School faculty who have an unwavering commitment to ensuring each and every student experiences success and develops a life-long passion for learning.  Undoubtedly, we should all be very proud of our accomplishments this year!

As the school year comes to an end I would like to take this opportunity to say good-bye to all departing families.  Whether you have been at SCIS for one year or many, you will always be part of the SCIS Dragon community.  I wish all students and their families the best of luck as you embark on exciting learning adventures in new schools, cities and countries.  

For all returning families, I hope you have a fantastic summer and I look forward to seeing you in August.   The first day of the 2019-2020 school year will be on Tuesday, August 13^th.  Returning students have the option of coming to school on Monday, August 12^th in the afternoon to find out their class and meet their new teacher.

Summer Learning

There is a great deal of research that confirms the benefits of having children set aside time each day during the summer to engage in academic-based learning experiences, so they maintain the growth and progress they have made throughout the course of the school year.  Often children that do not participate in daily reading or other academic based activities regress or simply maintain their current level of performance.  As such, it is highly recommended that you set aside time each day throughout the summer to ensure your child engages with reading, writing and/or mathematics-based learning experiences.  Below are several useful online resources and articles to help children stay committed to their learning throughout the summer. 

• Three ways to Prevent the Summer Reading Slide
• 8 Resources for Parents to Promote Summer Learning
• 7 Ways to Prevent Summer Learning Loss

Mathematics:

• A compiled list of Mathematics Resources:  https://padlet.com/caty_romero/o281lgfyj2dx

Brain Pop:

o   Brain Pop Jr (K-3) – https://jr.brainpop.com/

o   BrainPop (4- ) – https://www.brainpop.com/

o   BrainPop ESL – https://esl.brainpop.com/

o   BrainPop ESP – https://esp.brainpop.com/

• Log in using the username pudong and password shanghai

Semester 2 Reports

Please note that access to Semester 2 Reports will be sent home via parent email accounts today, Friday, June 14^th.  Additionally, the NWEA MAPs test results for students in Grades 2-5 can be accessed as well via Managebac or visiting the link:  https://scis-pd.managebac.cn/parent/academics/reports.  Parents will need to log-in using their scis-parent email and password.

Lower School Field Day

On Wednesday students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 participated in Lower School Field Day which was a tremendous success thanks to the planning and organization of Ms. Tarsi and the PE Department.  Also, a GREAT BIG thank you to all parents who volunteered to run the field day activity stations.  Students enjoyed participating in 12 different events that allowed them to utilize their physical skills and abilities.  Of course, the primary goal of the day was to HAVE FUN and based upon comments from students, teachers and parents, fun was certainly had by all!

Parent Appreciation BBQ

The Parent Appreciation BBQ was also a success due to the large parent turn-out.  We were so happy that over 60 Lower School parents, grandparents and other friends were able to enjoy a special lunch with their child(ren).  Thank you to all parents for your continued support throughout the year.  We appreciate that you “stick with us,” each and every day!

Grade 5 Moving On to the Middle School and MYP

On Tuesday, all grade 5 students participated in the Moving On Ceremony which honored the completion of Lower School and the Primary Years Programme and marked the transition to Upper School and the Middle Years Programme.  During the ceremony, students performed a musical piece titled, “We are the Children of Rock and Roll,” received certificates of completion from Ms. Gale and Mr. Luebbe, listened to two fantastic speeches by elected classmates, and thanked teachers and parents for their support.  During the ceremony, it was shared that on the whole, the grade 5 class considers themselves to be knowledgeable and caring learners – two wonderful attributes that will certainly serve them well in Middle School and beyond.  Congratulations to all the Grade 5 students on their tremendous accomplishment!

 Photos from a Wonderful Final Week!  Have a GREAT SUMMER!

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Dear Families,

The Lower School has been abuzz this week with excitement surrounding the end-of-the-year events.  The Lower School Variety Show was a resounding success as students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 took risks and performed everything from dancing and singing to telling jokes, playing the piano, whistling, performing skits, and displaying gymnastic talents.  The Variety Show was a true showcase of the diversity of amazing talents our students have at SCIS-Pudong.  A HUGE THANK YOU to Variety Show committee members Mrs. Luebbe, Ms. Putnam, and Ms. Molly Yang for the work and preparation they put into organizing this terrific event!

Lower School Field Day

The next upcoming fun and family-friendly Lower School event is Field Day which will take place next Wednesday, June 12^th.  We continue to seek parent volunteers to assist with running the field day stations.  If you would be willing to help us ensure field day is a success by volunteering to run a field day station either during the morning or afternoon session (or both) please contact Ms. Tarsi immediately at tbali@scis-china.org.  Ms. Tarsi will be connecting with all parent volunteers prior to the event.  On field day students should wear their SCIS PE uniform, along with athletic shoes.  Students should also bring a change of clothes in the event their clothes become wet due to participation in the activities that involve water.  A big thank you to all parents who have already signed up to help lead an activity station. 

Field Day Overview:

• 9:30-11:30am:  Kindergarten – Grade 2 Field Day.
• 11:30-12:30:  Parent Appreciation BBQ
• 12:30-2:30:  Grade 3-5 Field Day

Parent Appreciation BBQ

Also, on June 12^th, the Lower School will host a Parent Appreciation BBQ from 11:30am-12:30pm in the school cafeteria.  Please come and enjoy a BBQ style lunch with your child either before or after they participate in field day.  Kindergarten – Grade 2 students will have lunch from 11:30am-12:00pm, while students in Grades 3-5 will have lunch from 12:00-12:30pm.

Swedish Dance Troupe

Next Monday PS-Grade 5 Students will enjoy working with a Swedish Dance Troupe throughout the day.  Feel free to join for any of these performances.

• 8:15-8:35am:  TARZAN (PS, PK and K)- audience sits on the stage
• 1:30-2:15:  Beauty and the Beast (grades 1-5) audience in theater chair
• 2:15-2:50:  Grade 5 Workshop (on stage)

Grade 5 Moving On Ceremony

Next Tuesday, our Grade 5 students will be celebrating their completion of the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and movement into the Middle Years Programme (MYP) during the Grade 5 Moving On Ceremony which will take place from 10:30am-11:30am in the Black Box Theater.  All community members are invited to attend this celebratory event.   Following the ceremony, all Grade 5 students, parents and teachers will be invited to a pot-luck brunch also located in the Black Box.

SCIS-Pudong Year Book

The SCIS Pudong Yearbook is now on sale. Orders are due by Monday June 10^th. Don’t miss out!  Use the QR code in the poster below to order your child’s yearbook.

End-of-the-Year Transitions:

Just a reminder to please let your child’s teacher know if they are experiencing difficulty surrounding end of the year transitions or good-byes, as we want to ensure that all students feel positive and supported during their remaining weeks of school.   Next Thursday at the Lower School Farewell Assembly we will be recognizing all students who are leaving SCIS and wishing them all the best as they move on to new schools and adventures.

Lower School Enrollment:

Lower School seats are filling up fast for the 2019-2020 school year.  There are several grade levels that are close to being full or are already full, which means that incoming students will need to be waitlisted.  Therefore, if you plan on staying for the 2019-2020 school year and haven’t re-enrolled your child(ren) please do so as soon as possible by contacting our admissions office at admission@scis-china.org

Please Label Your Child’s Belongings

With the recent change in weather and the need for students to attend school in various layers of clothing, we ask that parents take extra care to label your child’s personal belongings.  In the event, that an item is misplaced, the item can easily be returned to its owner if it is properly labeled with the child’s name and grade. 

Student Safety

We would appreciate your support with helping us tighten up our safety protocols by letting the school know, no later than 2:00pm each day if there are changes to your child’s departure plan.  Last minute requests have the potential to result in safety concerns surrounding miscommunication.  If there are changes to your child’s departure plan please contact the Lower School Secretary, Ms. Vicki Xu at vxu@scis-china.org or by calling the school directly at 5812-9888.

Summer Camp 2019

Shanghai Community International School (SCIS) is excited to offer specialized summer camp designed with the whole child in mind. Our summer camp programs are non-academic, thematic programs filled with action-packed fun for children in the ECE through grade 5. Your child’s summer will be filled with fun days of games, sports, outdoor exploration, water activities, field trips, art, music, drama, Mandarin language/culture fun, and more! All students from the Shanghai community are welcome to enroll. Summer camp offers flexible weekly enrollment options for families with limited availability or travel plans. More information to come in the new year!

Dear Families,

Another wonderful week at SCIS-Pudong filled with fantastic field trips, fun learning experiences and of course an unforgettable Grade 12 Graduation ceremony in which all SCIS-Pudong faculty were in attendance cheering on the graduates as they embark on the next chapter in their journeys.

As a Nursery through Grade 12 campus, students at SCIS-Pudong have a unique opportunity to interact with one another on a variety of levels.  Frequently during learning celebrations that occur, students across grade levels and divisions provide support to one another and learn about the incredible thinking and work that is happening throughout the school.  For example, this past week, students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 had a wonderful opportunity to observe the Grade 6 and 7 drama students as they presented an entertaining performance of the Greedy Crows.   Additionally, this past Thursday, Lower School students showed their support to Grade 7 students as they showcased the Grade 7 Sustainable Development Project Exhibition.  This was a wonderful opportunity for lower school students to formulate an understanding of what a student-centered inquiry project looks like in the Middle School.

In addition to the wonderful learning experiences that are happening across the school, please take note of the fantastic events that are happening over the course of the final two weeks of the school year.  We hope you can join us and participate in these fun end-of-the-year celebrations!

Lower School Variety Show

Please note that the Lower School Variety Show will take place next Thursday, June 6^th from 1:30-2:45pm in the Theater.  All lower school students will attend the variety show and support their peers as they showcase an array of talents on the Theater stage. If you have any questions regarding the variety show, please contact Mrs. Laurie Luebbe at lluebbe@scis-china.org.  We hope to see you at this fantastic event!

Swedish Theater Group Visit

On Monday, June 10th a Swedish Theater Troupe will be working with Lower School students throughout the day. Feel free to join students for this fun event.

Lower School Field Day

Field Day for the Lower School will take place on Wednesday, June 12^th.  We hope you will consider joining us for this fun event as all students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 will participate in a variety of outdoor games and activities where they will use their physical and collaborative skills to complete an assortment of challenging tasks.  Students will move freely with peer groups through activity stations that will be set up around the soccer field.  A big thank you to all parents who have already signed up to help lead an activity station.  If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Tarsi Bali at tbali@scis-china.org

Field Day Overview:

• 9:30-11:30am:  Kindergarten – Grade 2 Field Day.
• 11:30-12:30:  Parent Appreciation BBQ
• 12:30-2:30:  Grade 3-5 Field Day
• All students should wear their PE uniform on this day and bring a complete change of clothes to change into at the conclusion of field day

Parent Appreciation BBQ

As a way for us to express our gratitude for all that you do, we would like to invite all parents to attend a Parent Appreciation BBQ on Wednesday, June 12^th between 11:30am-12:30pm in the SCIS Cafeteria.  Please come and enjoy a BBQ style lunch with your child(ren) either before or after they participate in Field Day! 

SCIS-Pudong Year Book

The SCIS Pudong Yearbook is now on sale. Orders are due by Monday June 10^th. Don’t miss out!  Use the QR code in the poster below to order your child’s yearbook.

Class Placements for 2019-2020

Just a reminder that an important letter was sent to all SCIS-Pudong Lower School parents at the beginning of May surrounding class placements for returning students.   Please take a moment to read through the letter in order to gain a deeper understanding of the tremendous amount of thought that is put into establishing balanced classes.  As mentioned in the letter, “In order to establish balanced classes, we are unable to consider parent requests for specific teachers. We are also unable to accept requests for students to be placed in the same class with a particular child. Please do not submit such requests, as they will not be considered.

We will however, accept emails in which you may share particular information about your child and his/her academic and social needs that you think the school should take into consideration when formulating class lists as described above. While we accept such correspondence, it should be noted that we believe that all our teachers are well placed to meet the needs of our students and it will be more important to meet with your child’s teacher at the commencement of the new school year to discuss your child’s individual circumstances. Should you wish to share specific information regarding your child’s needs, please email me at egale@scis-china.org before June 14^th.

Lower School Enrollment:

Lower School seats are filling up fast for the 2019-2020 school year.  There are several grade levels that are close to being full or are already full, which means that incoming students will need to be waitlisted.  Therefore, if you plan on staying for the 2019-2020 school year and haven’t re-enrolled your child(ren) please do so as soon as possible by contacting our admissions office at admission@scis-china.org

Please Label Your Child’s Belongings

With the recent change in weather and the need for students to attend school in various layers of clothing, we ask that parents take extra care to label your child’s personal belongings.  In the event, that an item is misplaced, the item can easily be returned to its owner if it is properly labeled with the child’s name and grade. 

Student Safety

We would appreciate your support with helping us tighten up our safety protocols by letting the school know, no later than 2:00pm each day if there are changes to your child’s departure plan.  Last minute requests have the potential to result in safety concerns surrounding miscommunication.  If there are changes to your child’s departure plan please contact the Lower School Secretary, Ms. Vicki Xu at vxu@scis-china.org or by calling the school directly at 5812-9888.

Summer Camp 2019 Save the dates! Summer camp is coming to both Puxi and Pudong campuses from June 17 – July 12, 2019.

Shanghai Community International School (SCIS) is excited to offer specialized summer camp designed with the whole child in mind. Our summer camp programs are non-academic, thematic programs filled with action-packed fun for children in the ECE through grade 5. Your child’s summer will be filled with fun days of games, sports, outdoor exploration, water activities, field trips, art, music, drama, Mandarin language/culture fun, and more! All students from the Shanghai community are welcome to enroll. Summer camp offers flexible weekly enrollment options for families with limited availability or travel plans. More information to come in the new year!

Dear Families,

The end-of-the-year countdown has begun, and all grade levels have a variety of fun events planned over the next 3 weeks to reflect upon and celebrate the incredible amount of learning that has taken place throughout the school year. 

The incredible learning experiences that children encounter each and every day is the result of an amazing Lower School Faculty who dedicate countless hours to ensuring the implementation of best practices across subject areas and disciplines; practices that nurture the development of curious inquirers and ultimately children who love to learn.  As educators, we also love to learn, and are on a continual quest to improve our practices in order to meet the needs of all students. 

In addition to both internal and external professional development that is provided for faculty throughout the year, the vast majority of the Lower School faculty also participate as members of one or more of the Lower School Curricular Teams.  These teams have been instrumental in shaping the direction of the curriculum to ensure the consistent implementation of research-based best practices in Literacy, Mathematics, Early Childhood, and Technology.   Additionally, the Lower School Leadership Team has been extremely influential in providing insightful input into the ways in which we can better our processes and procedures in order to meet the needs of students and encourage the development of caring learners who contribute positively to their communities.  A HUGE THANK YOU to all Lower School Faculty who dedicated extra time this year to participate as a member of one or more of these teams as we continue our quest to provide an exceptional learning experience for students and families.

As we prepare to wrap up the 2018-2019 school year and begin planning and preparations for the 2019-2020 school year, I’d like to take this opportunity to highlight the new and returning Lower School Teachers and their respective teaching positions.

SCIS-Pudong Lower School Faculty 2019-2020
Nursery / ECE Coordinator	Ms. Stacey Poncia
Nursery	Ms. Virginia Hunt
Preschool / Prekindergarten	Ms. Tami Litzelman
Preschool / Prekindergarten	Ms. Aleksa Moss
Preschool / Prekindergarten	Ms. Adika Kay Cremet
Preschool / Prekindergarten	Ms. Amy Jauch
Kindergarten	Miss Malika Meidinger
Kindergarten	Ms. Larisa Mount
Grade 1	Ms. Leanne Kridl
Grade 1	Ms. Arielle Gutierrez
Grade 2	Ms. Marlene Muy
Grade 2	Mr. Ethan Schultz
Grade 3	Mrs. Tiffany Johnson
Grade 3	Ms. Emilee Van De Laarschot
Grade 4	Mr. Matthew Ruf
Grade 4	Mr. Ryan Brown
Grade 5	Mr. Bart Kelly
Grade 5 / Literacy Coach	Mrs. Whitney Ruf
Lower School Counselor	Mrs. Laurie Luebbe
EAL	Ms. Melissa Lawrence
Leaning Support Coordinator	Mr. Zachary Berezowski
Learning Support / Student Support	Ms. Lana Revutsky
Learning Support / Student Support	Dr. Molly Myers
Music	Ms. DeVeor Rainey
PE	Dr. Tarsi Bali
Visual Arts	Ms. Briton Coombs
Library	Ms. Emily Williams
Technology Coordinator	Mr. Barry Johnson
Mandarin	Ms. Yang Liu
Mandarin	Ms. Olive Sun
Mandarin	Mrs. Gina Zhang
Mandarin	Ms. Linda Zhang
PYP Curriculum Coordinator	Mr. Ian Sylvester
LS Principal	Ms. Liz Gale

Lower School Field Day

Field Day for the Lower School will take place on Wednesday, June 12^th.  On this day, all students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 will participate in a variety of fun outdoor activities where they will use their physical and collaborative skills to complete an assortment of challenging tasks.   Students will move freely with peer groups through activity stations that will be set up around the soccer field.   To ensure the activity stations run smoothly and successfully we are looking for parent volunteers to assist in leading a station.   Students in Kindergarten through Grade 2 will participate in Field Day from 9:30am until 11:30am, while students in Grades 3-5 will partake in the fun from 12:30 until 2:30pm.  If you would be interested in helping run a station for 45 minutes during the K-2 Field Day and/or the 3-5 Field Day please contact Ms. Tarsi Bali at tbali@scis-china.org

Parent Appreciation BBQ

As a way for us to express our gratitude for all that you do, we would like to invite all parents to attend a Parent Appreciation BBQ on Wednesday, June 12^th between 11:30am-12:30pm in the SCIS Cafeteria.  Please come and enjoy a BBQ style lunch with your child(ren) either before or after they participate in Field Day! 

Lower School Variety Show

Please note that the Lower School Variety Show will take place on Thursday, June 6^th from 1:30-2:45pm in the Theater.  All lower school students will attend the variety show and support their peers as they showcase an array of talents on the Theater stage. If you have any questions regarding the variety show, please contact Mrs. Laurie Luebbe at lluebbe@scis-china.org  We hope to see you at this fantastic event!

Class Placements for 2019-2020

Just a reminder that an important letter was sent to all SCIS-Pudong Lower School parents 2 weeks ago surrounding class placements for returning students.   Please take a moment to read through the letter in order to gain a deeper understanding of the tremendous amount of thought that is put into establishing balanced classes.  As mentioned in the letter, “In order to establish balanced classes, we are unable to consider parent requests for specific teachers. We are also unable to accept requests for students to be placed in the same class with a particular child. Please do not submit such requests, as they will not be considered.

We will however, accept emails in which you may share particular information about your child and his/her academic and social needs that you think the school should take into consideration when formulating class lists as described above. While we accept such correspondence, it should be noted that we believe that all our teachers are well placed to meet the needs of our students and it will be more important to meet with your child’s teacher at the commencement of the new school year to discuss your child’s individual circumstances. Should you wish to share specific information regarding your child’s needs, please email me at egale@scis-china.org before June 14^th.

Lower School Enrollment:

Lower School seats are filling up fast for the 2019-2020 school year.  There are several grade levels that are close to being full or are already full, which means that incoming students will need to be waitlisted.  Therefore, if you plan on staying for the 2019-2020 school year and haven’t re-enrolled your child(ren) please do so as soon as possible by contacting our admissions office at admission@scis-china.org

Please Label Your Child’s Belongings

With the recent change in weather and the need for students to attend school in various layers of clothing, we ask that parents take extra care to label your child’s personal belongings.  In the event, that an item is misplaced, the item can easily be returned to its owner if it is properly labeled with the child’s name and grade. 

Student Safety

We would appreciate your support with helping us tighten up our safety protocols by letting the school know, no later than 2:00pm each day if there are changes to your child’s departure plan.  Last minute requests have the potential to result in safety concerns surrounding miscommunication.  If there are changes to your child’s departure plan please contact the Lower School Secretary, Ms. Vicki Xu at vxu@scis-china.org or by calling the school directly at 5812-9888.

Summer Camp 2019

Save the dates! Summer camp is coming to both Puxi and Pudong campuses from June 17 – July 12, 2019.

Shanghai Community International School (SCIS) is excited to offer specialized summer camp designed with the whole child in mind. Our summer camp programs are non-academic, thematic programs filled with action-packed fun for children in the ECE through grade 5. Your child’s summer will be filled with fun days of games, sports, outdoor exploration, water activities, field trips, art, music, drama, Mandarin language/culture fun, and more! All students from the Shanghai community are welcome to enroll. Summer camp offers flexible weekly enrollment options for families with limited availability or travel plans. More information to come in the new year!

More Photos from a Great Week!

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With only 19 days left of the 2018-2019 school year, the next few weeks are going to be filled with a variety of fun, engaging and collaborative learning experiences that we hope you will have an opportunity to participate in.

As you know, the next four weeks are also going to becoming increasingly warmer as temperatures rise.  To prepare for these weather changes please ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for school each day.  Navy blue shorts or skirts along with the SCIS light blue polo shirt would suitable for the weather, while adhering to the SCIS dress code.  Additionally, please ensure that your child water bottle is carefully labelled with their name.  We continue to encourage all children to regularly drink water throughout the day to ensure they stay healthy and hydrated.

Teacher Appreciation

Thank you to PAFA for providing a fantastic teacher appreciation breakfast on Friday morning as a way to thank teachers for the tremendous amount of time, energy and passion that put into each and every day. We are very fortunate to have such a supportive parent community that take the time to recognize the exceptional SCIS-Pudong faculty!

Lower School Field Day

Field Day for the Lower School will take place on Wednesday, June 12^th.  On this day, all students in Kindergarten through Grade 5 will participate in a variety of fun outdoor activities where they will use their physical and collaborative skills to complete an assortment of challenging tasks.   Students will move freely with peer groups through activity stations that will be set up around the soccer field.   To ensure the activity stations run smoothly and successfully we are looking for parent volunteers to assist in leading a station.   Students in Kindergarten through Grade 2 will participate in Field Day from 9:30am until 11:30am, while students in Grades 3-5 will partake in the fun from 12:30 until 2:30pm.  If you would be interested in helping run a station for 45 minutes during the K-2 Field Day and/or the 3-5 Field Day please contact Ms. Tarsi Bali at tbali@scis-china.org

Parent Appreciation BBQ

As a way for us to express our gratitude for all that you do, we would like to invite all parents to attend a Parent Appreciation BBQ on Wednesday, June 12^th between 11:30am-12:30pm in the SCIS Cafeteria.  Please come and enjoy a BBQ style lunch with your child(ren) either before or after they participate in Field Day! 

Lower School Variety Show

Please note that the Lower School Variety Show will take place on Thursday, June 6^th from 1:30-2:45pm in the Theater.  All lower school students will attend the variety show and support their peers as they showcase an array of talents on the Theater stage. If you have any questions regarding the variety show, please contact Mrs. Laurie Luebbe at lluebbe@scis-china.org  We hope to see you at this fantastic event!

Congratulations Grade 4:

Congratulations to Ms. Briton and all students in 4C for their awesome assembly performance at Thursday’s Lower School Assembly!  Students used their current unit of inquiry focused on Sharing the Planet to explore how the common spaces in the school are used and shared.  Students created and presented informative videos on the ways to inappropriately and appropriately use and share the spaces to ensure that all students are safe, respectful and responsible at school.  The final Lower School Assembly will be the farewell assembly on June 13^th at 8:15am in the Black Box.

Class Placements for 2019-2020

This afternoon an important letter was sent to all SCIS-Pudong Lower School parents surrounding class placements for returning students.   Please take a moment to read through the letter in order to gain a deeper understanding of the tremendous amount of thought that is put into establishing balanced classes.  As mentioned in the letter, “In order to establish balanced classes, we are unable to consider parent requests for specific teachers. We are also unable to accept requests for students to be placed in the same class with a particular child. Please do not submit such requests, as they will not be considered.

We will however, accept emails in which you may share particular information about your child and his/her academic and social needs that you think the school should take into consideration when formulating class lists as described above. While we accept such correspondence, it should be noted that we believe that all our teachers are well placed to meet the needs of our students and it will be more important to meet with your child’s teacher at the commencement of the new school year to discuss your child’s individual circumstances. Should you wish to share specific information regarding your child’s needs, please email me at egale@scis-china.org before June 14^th.

Please Label Your Child’s Belongings

With the recent change in weather and the need for students to attend school in various layers of clothing, we ask that parents take extra care to label your child’s personal belongings.  In the event, that an item is misplaced, the item can easily be returned to its owner if it is properly labeled with the child’s name and grade. 

Student Safety

We would appreciate your support with helping us tighten up our safety protocols by letting the school know, no later than 2:00pm each day if there are changes to your child’s departure plan.  Last minute requests have the potential to result in safety concerns surrounding miscommunication.  If there are changes to your child’s departure plan please contact the Lower School Secretary, Ms. Vicki Xu at vxu@scis-china.org or by calling the school directly at 5812-9888.

Summer Camp 2019

Save the dates! Summer camp is coming to both Puxi and Pudong campuses from June 17 – July 12, 2019.

Shanghai Community International School (SCIS) is excited to offer specialized summer camp designed with the whole child in mind. Our summer camp programs are non-academic, thematic programs filled with action-packed fun for children in the ECE through grade 5. Your child’s summer will be filled with fun days of games, sports, outdoor exploration, water activities, field trips, art, music, drama, Mandarin language/culture fun, and more! All students from the Shanghai community are welcome to enroll. Summer camp offers flexible weekly enrollment options for families with limited availability or travel plans. More information to come in the new year!

More Photographs from a Great Week of Learning!

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