Thursday we celebrated the culminating milestone in the lives of our seniors, the Graduation Ceremony of the Class of 2020. The ceremony was intimate and moving, all the sweeter after months of wondering if such an event could happen at all. This Class will go down in history for the disappointments they weathered and the obstacles they overcame–but yesterday they graduated together with the pride of a global community behind them.
In accordance with the Shanghai Education Commission’s health and safety guidelines, it was not possible to hold the traditional event in the Theater, or to welcome on campus the families and friends who had been looking forward to this day for so long. Instead, the ceremony was held in the Music Room with only the 10 graduates present in Shanghai, five faculty/administration members, and the IT crew present. Physical distancing was maintained throughout the ceremony, and masks were worn along with caps and gowns. Six of our graduates joined virtually from outside the border, wearing our Chinese silk caps and gowns that were shipped special delivery to Finland, Israel, the USA, and Japan. Parents, relatives, friends, alumni, and former teachers and other well-wishers joined on Zoom, and shared in the spirit of the event from all corners of the globe. At the same time, our own Grade 6-11 students were gathered in their own classrooms up and down the halls to enjoy the proceedings.
Within this at once intimate and global setting, the traditions of SCIS were upheld. Senior award winners gave moving speeches reflecting on the lessons of an SCIS education, and Ms Cara Whiteside’s address to the graduates focused on the resilience that we are all learning to exercise as we ride through this turbulent time. Laughter and tears, Diplomas and tassels, this was a shared experience that our Dragon grads will take with them into the world beyond the high school.
Graduation Media Page
We have developed a webpage to share the pictures and videos from graduation. There are a number of individual and group photos available for download. The tech team is busy creating a video of the graduation ceremony which will be available later next week. We will also be uploading pictures from the ceremony and the cap toss as they become available. Please check back next week for updated. You can access the GRADUATION MEDIA PAGE HERE.
Summer Program at SCIS Pudong
We are excited to be able to offer a summer program for our Upper School students. All registered students and parents should have received the course sign-up email with the link to the course sign-up form. Please email the Upper School secretary Jelly Ling (jling@scis-china.org) if you did not receive the email and you are already registered for the summer program.
We did not have enough interest in the week’s 3-6 summer program in Pudong to be able to move forward. We have also been notified by the Shanghai Education Commission that summer programs in July may not be allowed. We will communicate the final summer program offerings to families that have expressed interested once we have received the final guidance from the SEC. Thank you for your patience.
Return to Campus Web Page
SCIS-PD has developed a web page dedicated to communicated important information regarding our return to campus procedures. This web page includes information regarding the daily health reporting requirements, school safety procedures, and information on how daily routines will be impacted. We encourage all families to review this information closely with your children. The web page can be accessed HERE.
Family Travel Survey
As a reminder, we are required by the Shanghai Education Commission to keep records on the locations of all of our families. Please be sure to update this FAMILY TRAVEL SURVEY if you location has changed since the last time you completed it. Thank you!
Announcements
Technology Support Reminders
Technology Help Desk Support: is available Monday-Friday 8am-11pm Shanghai time.
SCIS-Pudong Summer Program Registration Ends Today (Friday, May 22nd)
All families should have received the information regarding our plans to offer an Upper School summer program. Due to the lost face-to-face instructional time this year, the SCIS Board of Directors is offering the first two weeks of the summer program free of charge for all students. The Pudong Upper School program will include academic enrichment, athletics (volleyball, basketball, and soccer), design, arts, robotics, literacy and service opportunities. This is a great opportunity for students to continue their learning this summer and participate in activities they haven’t been able to enjoy due to the restrictions on after-school activities.
Please note that there will also be a fee based summer school program that will run from June 29-July 24. Students can sign up for 1-week sessions. Summer programming will depend on the degree of student interest. If there is not enough interest to run a Pudong-based summer program for this session, students will be able to participate in the Hongqiao-based program. Transportation will be available. We will notify all families by Friday May 29th if the program will take place on the Pudong campus. We are excited to offer this opportunity.
Virtual Graduation Ceremony Will be Celebrated May 28th
The time has come to celebrate the accomplishments of our graduating class. While SEC regulations will not allow us to hold our typical graduation ceremony, we have come up with a way for students to still experience this important rite of passage while complying with government health and safety requirements. Friends and family around the world will be able to tune in online to witnesses the Class of 2020 celebrate their graduation. A small ceremony will be held on campus May 28th at 1:30pm. Mr. Demas has graciously welcomed us into his music room where the ceremony will be held. We will celebrate the occasion with all of the typical pomp and circumstance; caps, gowns, diplomas, speeches, and performances, just without a live audience. Instead we will be streaming the event online for the friends and family to be able to watch wherever they may find themselves around the world. We will also be arranging a special schedule for the Upper School so they can tune in to the ceremony as well. This creative celebration would not be possible without the tremendous efforts of some very important individuals. We would like to thank in advance Mr. Demas, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Shanks, and Ms. Kelly for all of their efforts. Congratulations Class of 2020!
Class of 2020 Gives Back as They Prepare to Graduate
Students in grade 12 completed their final assessment on Monday, May 18th but that hasn’t stopped them from coming to school. Grade 12 students were recruited by the science department to support high school and middle school students in their science learning. Grade 12 students served as teaching assistants in the science classroom, explaining concepts and supporting students through their laboratory work. Grade 12 students were excellent mentors as they put their hard earned knowledge to work. Special thanks to Ms. Sculerati, Ms. Hedderson, and Ms. Marcos for organizing and a huge thank you to the grade 12 students for giving back!
Grades 6-8 Get Back into the Rhythm of School
Monday morning was an exciting time to be on campus as we welcomed back our middle school students. The excitement was palpable as students’ smiles were so big they could be seen through their masks. Despite some early nerves, students were quickly able to adjust to the new health and safety procedures and adapt to school life. Even Virtual Learning students were part of the return to campus as many participated real time in lessons through Microsoft Teams. We would like to thank the parents for their trust and support of our efforts. We would also like to thank the students and the teachers for their role in our successful return to campus. Thank you all!
Virtual Learning Continues as 30% of our Upper School Community Participates in our Return to Campus Remotely
We recognize this is a difficult time for those teachers and students still outside Shanghai. We want to make sure that everyone outside of Shanghai knows that you are in our hearts and on our minds as we return to campus. Virtual Learning will continue for as long as the borders remain closed to ensure we continue to serve you. We will also work to find every possible opportunity to integrate you into the classrooms, even if at a distances. It is a sign of our new reality that we now experience classroom lessons and faculty meetings simultaneously in person and virtually through Microsoft Teams. For those still outside of Shanghai, we look forward to reuniting together as soon as the borders open. We are here for you!
Return to Campus Web Page
SCIS-PD has developed a web page dedicated to communicated important information regarding our return to campus procedures. This web page includes information regarding the daily health reporting requirements, school safety procedures, and information on how daily routines will be impacted. We encourage all families to review this information closely with your children. The web page can be accessed HERE.
Family Travel Survey
As a reminder, we are required by the Shanghai Education Commission to keep records on the locations of all of our families. Please be sure to update this FAMILY TRAVEL SURVEY if you location has changed since the last time you completed it. Thank you!
Announcements
Technology Support Reminders
Technology Help Desk Support: is available Monday-Friday 8am-11pm Shanghai time.
Our return to campus has brought many emotions for staff and students alike. Excitement, anxiety, joy and relief are some of the most commonly used adjectives by staff and students when they describe their feelings about returning to campus. What school would be like after 3 months of virtual learning and a host of new health and safety regulations was the number one question on the minds of teachers and students as they prepared for the opening of campus. In reflecting on these changes as we wrapped up our second week of learning on campus, Ms. Hedderson put it best, “more is the same than is different”. We couldn’t agree more. Laughter and socializing has once again filled our halls and classroom learning picked up quickly where it left off. The joy of just being together has been the dominant theme of our return. The focus on health, safety, and social-emotional well-being does consume significantly more time and energy with our daily health procedures, safety precautions, and extended advisory lessons. However, we have all been reassured by how normal our return to campus experience has been and how quickly our community has adjusted. We are looking forward to next Monday as we welcome back the final members of our Upper School Shanghai-based community.
As always, we will continue to support our students learning face to face and those continuing with virtual learning. We want all of those outside of Shanghai to know that you are as important a part of our community as ever. We will continue to search for new and creative ways to incorporate those students outside of Shanghai into our campus based experience until you are able to join us here on campus. We would like thank everyone for their support and efforts in making our return to campus a success. Thank you!
Grades 6-8 Return to Campus Reminders
We are excited to have grades 6, 7, and 8 join us back on campus this Monday, May 18th. By this point, parents should have already been completing the daily health form which includes logging your child’s temperature. All of the information in this section was reviewed in the Tuesday return to campus meeting. If you were unable to attend the meeting you can watch a RECORDING OF THE RETURN TO CAMPUS PARENT ORIENTATION. We are relying on every Dragon family to support the health and safety of our community through these essential measures:
Before returning to campus, each student must:
have been physically present in China and have not travelled to Hubei province within the past 14 days,
have completed all quarantine requirements and have a Green Health Code. [Students who do not have smart phones may use their parent’s codes.]
If your child does not yet meet these requirements, we will continue to support their virtual learning as long as is needed.
Return to Campus Procedures
All parents/guardians must take their child/ren’s temperature and check them for other symptoms every morning before school. Please do not send your child/children to school if they have any symptoms of illness. Students with an elevated temperature of 37.3°C or above will not be permitted to board the bus or to enter the school building.
Morning home health checks, along with other pertinent information, must be documented on the Daily Student Health Card. Students are required to bring a hard copy of their Daily Student Health Card every day. They will show this card and their Green QR Code (QR Code Procedures Here) to the bus ayi before boarding and must also submit the card and show the green QR code every morning as they enter campus. Students who do not carry their Daily Student Health Card and Green QR Code will not be permitted to board the bus or to enter the school building.
Students must board the busses and arrive to school with masks. All staff and students are to wear masks for the duration of the school day.
Only students and staff are able to enter the SCIS-Pudong campus at this time. Parents will continue to participate in campus life virtually, through Microsoft Teams.
Shanghai Health and Travel QR Code Update
Please note that we have updated the Shanghai Health and Travel QR codes we accept as a school. All students must show their Shanghai Green QR code from either WeChat, Alipay, or HealthCloud (pictured above). Students may continue to use their parent’s QR code.Bus riders will show the QR codes to the bus Ayi before entering the bus while bike riders and/or walkers will show their QR codes at the school gate. Thank you for your cooperation.
Summer School
SCIS will be offering a tuition free summer program for students June 15th-26th. There will also be a paid session from June 29-July 24. All Upper School students are encouraged to participate. The final summer school program will depend on the degree of student interest expressed by the community. Summer school activities may include athletics (volleyball, basketball, and soccer), Design, the Arts, robotics, literacy, mathematics enrichment, creative writing, and other activities. If you are interested in participating please be sure to REGISTER HERE.
Design Class Contributes to Social Distancing Education
Students in Mr. Willauer’s Design class were tasked with a timely challenge and that was to design a wearable social distancing device that promotes social distancing guidelines. In order to achieve the highest possible score, students were required to test their social distancing devices in public. Students on campus were required to wear their designs to lunch and students studying virtually were required to wear them in the presence of others as appropriate to their location. While watching students line up for lunch and wash their hands certainly provided some welcomed comic relief, students also provided an important community service by raising the awareness of the importance and realities of social distancing. We would like to thank Mr. Willauer and the Design students bringing a smile to our day and for contributing to our health and safety education efforts. Well done!
Health, Safety, and Social-Emotional Support for Returning Students
Each Monday as a new cohort of students returns to campus we will hold morning advisory training sessions to orient students to health and safety procedures. We will also continue with our adjusted advisory schedule with meetings every morning and at the end of the day in an effort to support our students as they adjust. The foundation of this additional advisory time with students is built on the principals of Psychological First Aid. Psychological First Aid is designed to treat the emotional distress individuals experience during or after a traumatic event. The pandemic we are all experience has taken a toll on all of our ability to be emotionally resilient. Psychological First Aid is Designed to be deliver by non-mental health professionals and primarily involves supportive care, assessment, and appropriate referral. We realize the best support of our students can only be provided in collaboration with families. We ask that you communicate with you child’s teachers, advisors, administration, and our school counselor if you have any concerns or questions.
Return to Campus Web Page
SCIS-PD has developed a web page dedicated to communicated important information regarding our return to campus procedures. This web page includes information regarding the daily health reporting requirements, school safety procedures, and information on how daily routines will be impacted. We encourage all families to review this information closely with your children. The web page can be accessed HERE.
Family Travel Survey
As a reminder, we are required by the Shanghai Education Commission to keep records on the locations of all of our families. Please be sure to update this FAMILY TRAVEL SURVEY if you location has changed since the last time you completed it. Thank you!
Announcements
Technology Support Reminders
Technology Help Desk Support: is available Monday-Friday 8am-11pm Shanghai time.
We were excited to welcome students back to campus this week for the first time in over three months. Students quickly learned to navigate the new health and safety procedures entering and throughout the building. It was heart warming to see teachers and students catching up in the hallways, classrooms, and the cafeteria after so much time apart. The smiles were obvious, even behind the masks and sleepy eyes of the students readjusting to the school schedule. We would like to thank the staff, teachers, and parents for all of their support in our lead up to this milestone. Most importantly, we would like to thank the grade 10 and 12 students for blazing the trail for the rest of the students in our return to campus.
Health, Safety, and Social-Emotional Support for Returning Students
We will continue to emphasize health and safety along with social-emotional wellbeing as we enter our second week of campus based learning. Each Monday as a new cohort of students returns to campus we will hold morning advisory training sessions to orient students to health and safety procedures. We will also continue with our adjusted advisory schedule with meetings every morning and at the end of the day in an effort to support our students as they adjust. The foundation of this additional advisory time with students is built on the principals of Psychological First Aid. Psychological First Aid is designed to treat the emotional distress individuals experience during or after a traumatic event. The pandemic we are all experience has taken a toll on all of our ability to be emotionally resilient. Psychological First Aid is Designed to be deliver by non-mental health professionals and primarily involves supportive care, assessment, and appropriate referral. We realize the best support of our students can only be provided in collaboration with families. We ask that you communicate with you child’s teachers, advisors, administration, and our school counselor if you have any concerns or questions.
Grades 9 & 11 Return to Campus Reminders
We are excited to have grades 9 and 11 join us back on campus this Monday, May 11th. By this point, parents should have already been completing the daily health form which includes logging your child’s temperature. We are relying on every Dragon family to support the health and safety of our community through these essential measures:
Before returning to campus, each student must:
have been physically present in China and have not travelled to Hubei province within the past 14 days,
have completed all quarantine requirements and have a Green Health Code. [Students who do not have smart phones may use their parent’s codes.]
If your child does not yet meet these requirements, we will continue to support their virtual learning as long as is needed.
Return to Campus Procedures
All parents/guardians must take their child/ren’s temperature and check them for other symptoms every morning before school. Please do not send your child/children to school if they have any symptoms of illness. Students with an elevated temperature of 37.3°C or above will not be permitted to board the bus or to enter the school building.
Morning home health checks, along with other pertinent information, must be documented on the Daily Student Health Card. Students are required to bring a hard copy of their Daily Student Health Card every day. They will show this card and their Green QR Code (QR Code Procedures Here) to the bus ayi before boarding and must also submit the card and show the green QR code every morning as they enter campus. Students who do not carry their Daily Student Health Card and Green QR Code will not be permitted to board the bus or to enter the school building.
Students must board the busses and arrive to school with masks. All staff and students are to wear masks for the duration of the school day.
Only students and staff are able to enter the SCIS-Pudong campus at this time. Parents will continue to participate in campus life virtually, through Microsoft Teams.
Return to Campus Survey
If you have questions regarding the return to campus, please share them IN THIS FORM.
Masks and Physical and Health Education Participation
In light of the recent tragedies experienced during PE class in local Chinese schools outside of Shanghai we set out to further explore best practices for keeping all of our students safe. For those of you who may not know, students at the Chinese schools were participating in the mandatory endurance run required for the following school year’s admission application. In an attempt to be safe from COVID-19, both students were wearing N95 masks while participating in this endurance run exam. In response to this tragedy, the SEC has allowed some flexibility on how Shanghai schools can improve their PE programs to allow students to remove their masks as long as social distancing is ensured.
In order to learn more about the usage of masks and their role in PE class we reached out to our long time medical partner and advisor, XpertHealth. Over the past 3 years XpertHealth has provided both our Pudong and Hongqiao campuses with certified Athletic Trainers (ATs) to care for all of our dragon athletes and to provide free consultations for our faculty & staff. On this topic of masks, the Xperthealth recommendation was clear, “No N95 masks should be used during physical activity”. They state that there is “too much restriction in oxygen intake and CO2 output for any activity level”. When we asked them to share their thoughts on the possible effects of general surgical masks, which are the most commonly used around town, they commented that they would fine for “low to mid level activity, but would recommend to not use any masks for heavy activity,” like the endurance run examinations that took place at the schools mentioned above. In addition to masks, Xperthealth recommended that all teachers be aware of other factors that may have an effect, especially when wearing masks including: the temperature, the humidity, whether the class/event is taking place outdoors vs indoors, pre-existing respiratory issues, etc.
XpertHealth will continue to update us as more information becomes available and further research done. On our end, here at SCIS, we have communicated the following policy to our PE teachers and the entire faculty:
PE classes will continue and students can expect to be appropriately active. Students will need to continue wearing masks as noted on the SCIS faculty (and student) website. Exceptions to this policy will be made by the PE teacher based on their professional judgement according to activity level, weather, and social distancing within the activity.
The safety and wellbeing of all of our students continues to be a top priority for us while providing them the best learning experience possible.
Return to Campus Web Page
SCIS-PD has developed a web page dedicated to communicated important information regarding our return to campus procedures. This web page includes information regarding the daily health reporting requirements, school safety procedures, and information on how daily routines will be impacted. We encourage all families to review this information closely with your children. The web page can be accessed HERE.
Family Travel Survey
As a reminder, we are required by the Shanghai Education Commission to keep records on the locations of all of our families. Please be sure to update this FAMILY TRAVEL SURVEY if you location has changed since the last time you completed it. Thank you!
Announcements
Technology Support Reminders
Technology Help Desk Support: is available Monday-Friday 8am-11pm Shanghai time.
The time has come! We are delighted to confirm we will be reopening the SCIS-Pudong Campus to Grade 10 and Grade 12 students beginning on Wednesday 6 May, with Grades 9 and 11 joining on Monday 11 May, and Middle School ready to join us the following week, 18 May.
As we open the doors of our building once again, our highest priority is the health and safety of each and every member of our community. We are committed to making SCIS a safe space to learn and to work for all Dragons: students and teachers, support staff and drivers, ayis and cafeteria workers…each and every one of us. In order to do so, we have developed a detailed plan based on guidance from the World Health Organization, the Centers of Disease Control of multiple countries, and the local authorities with whom we are in constant communication. We understand that keeping each individual safe will require constant vigilance by the entire community. The “C” in SCIS is more important now than ever before.
We are relying on every Dragon family to support the health and safety of our community through these essential measures:
Before returning to campus, each student must:
have been physically present in China and have not travelled to Hubei province within the past 14 days,
have completed all quarantine requirements and have a Green Health Code. [Students who do not have smart phones may use their parents codes.]
If your child does not yet meet these requirements, we will continue to support their virtual learning as long as is needed.
Return to Campus Procedures
All parents/guardians must take their child/ren’s temperature and check them for other symptoms every morning before school. Please do not send your child/children to school if they have any symptoms of illness. Students with an elevated temperature of 37.3°C or above will not be permitted to board the bus or to enter the school building.
Morning home health checks, along with other pertinent information, must be documented on the Daily Student Health Card. Students are required to bring a hard copy of their Daily Student Health Card every day. They will show this card and their Green QR Code (QR Code Procedures Here) to the bus ayi before boarding and must also submit the card and show the green QR code it every morning as they enter campus. Students who do not carry their Daily Student Health Card and Green QR Code will not be permitted to board the bus or to enter the school building.
Students must board the busses and arrive to school with masks. All staff and students are to wear masks for the duration of the school day.
Only students and staff are able to enter the SCIS-Pudong campus at this time. Parents will continue to participate in campus life virtually, through Microsoft Teams.
All families are asked to review together the safety protocols that will be laid out at the Return to Campus orientation meeting on Monday, May 4th at 3:30pm. Students and parents should attend the presentation together on MS Teams. It will be posted online after the meeting. Please use this Campus Orientation Meeting Link to access the MS Teams meeting.
We have been preparing for this day since our campus closed in February and will continue to do everything in our power to make sure our return and reunion is safe and positive.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions. We are all in this together.
See you at school!!!
Return to Campus Web Page
SCIS-PD has developed a web page dedicated to communicated important information regarding our return to campus procedures. This web page includes information regarding the daily health reporting requirements, school safety procedures, and information on how daily routines will be impacted. We encourage all families to review this information closely with your children. The web page can be accessed HERE.
Family Travel Survey
As a reminder, we are required by the Shanghai Education Commission to keep records on the locations of all of our families. Please be sure to update this FAMILY TRAVEL SURVEY if you location has changed since the last time you completed it. Thank you!
Announcements
Technology Support Reminders
Technology Help Desk Support: is available Monday-Friday 8am-11pm Shanghai time.
Return to Campus Update from the SCIS Director of Schools
Dear SCIS Parents,
SCIS has received notification that we will begin the process of campus inspections for both the Hongqiao and Pudong campuses tomorrow. We are working with the various authorities (SEC, CDC, Health Bureau, Transportation Dept., etc.) to make sure we will be well prepared for each element of our inspections. We understand that once we have completed the inspection period, we will be given approval to announce start dates for specific grade levels.
We are pleased to be in the position to begin our process of returning to campus learning. We also recognize that we will be going through a very precise structure of regulations that enhance our commitment to the health and safety of our community. Our focus is on meeting and exceeding all requirements for an eventual return to campus. We will share all meaningful updates on our status and appreciate your continued understanding as we move through the next phase of preparing our campuses for an eventual return to campus, welcoming students again. Korean and Chinese translations of this message are available HERE.
Sincerely, Daniel D. Eschtruth Director of Schools Shanghai Community International School 1161 Hongqiao Road, Shanghai, China 200051
Pictures from Today’s Inspection
IB Arts Exhibition Goes Forward Despite Campus Closure
This has certainly not been the senior year any of our grade 12 students expected. Transitioning to online learning and adjusting to the modified requirements of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program has certainly been a challenge. But teachers and students have refused to let these challenges hold them back. One example of a challenge students faced completing their IB Diploma Program remotely has been meeting the requirements of the Arts courses which face unique challenges in the online environment given the IB expectations. Teachers and students alike have demonstrated their resilience and work ethic in finding creative solutions. This past weekend Ms. Whiteside traveled to the Johnson family home to help Izzy Johnson complete the requirements of her IB Exhibition. We would like to thank Ms. Whiteside for her enduring support of the Arts at SCIS and we would like to congratulation Izzy Johnson on completing this capstone experience.
Family Travel Survey
As a reminder, we are required by the Shanghai Education Commission to keep records on the locations of all of our families. Please be sure to update this FAMILY TRAVEL SURVEY if you location has changed since the last time you completed it. Thank you!
Announcements
Coronavirus Community Information
SCIS has developed a webpage on our system website outlining the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). We encourage families to check this link in order to access important information regarding our current campus closure and our response to the coronavirus. Previous updates are also logged on this site. If there are specific questions you feel need to be added, please email the administration.
Technology Support Reminders
Technology Help Desk Support: is available Monday-Friday 8am-11pm Shanghai time.
The global scale of the Covid-19 pandemic continues to rock the our world, reshaping everything about the way we live, the way we work, the way we play, and as we have seen so powerfully over the last 10 weeks, they way we learn. We continue to be blown away by the commitment our SCIS Dragons–students and teachers alike–show to making the most of each school day, even when school happens through a laptop on the dining room table. In very many ways, the experience of social distancing has brought us together. Thank you for your daily support of your students. Dragon Spirit does not need a building to thrive.
Shifts at the global scale have local impact, and we refer you to the letters sent to your scis-parent email account from both Mr Eschtruth and Mr Luebbe earlier today. Mr Eschtruth’s communication is also reproduced belowIf you haven’t already had an opportunity to read Mr. Luebbe’s Head of School Blog post today, please do, so as it contains very important information related to communication from the SEC about a return to campus date, as well as additional information on a restructuring of administrative roles at the Pudong campus for the 2020-2021 school year. If you have questions about any of the content within these emails please submit your questions or comments via this form.
Grade 10 Looks to the Future
Having finished their MYP cap-stone Personal Projects from the comfort of home, our Grade 10 students are ready to look to the future, to their Diploma Years. Every Spring our College Counselor Ms Kelly and our Vice Principal Ms Shanks look forward to working with the 10th grade class to plan out their transition to the culminating Program of an IB World School–their Diploma Years. The process began back in December, when the 10s were introduced to the Diploma requirements and completed an initial survey about their course selection preferences. Last week we held a special Teams meeting virtually with the Grade 10 parents, going over the both the details of the two-year program for Grades 11-12, and the support offered by our College Counselor to support the students towards reaching their post-secondary goals. Click the slide below to review the presentation. This group session is being followed by individual meetings with each Grade 10 family. We discuss the each student’s strengths and goals and work as a team to build a schedule that works for them, We will be inviting families for their personal meetings over the next three weeks, prioritizing those who have finalized the re-enrollment process.
Message from Director of Schools, Dan Eschtruth
Dear SCIS Parents,
SCIS, along with all other international schools in Shanghai, have received additional clarification from the Shanghai Educational Commission on our next steps. We now understand that May 6th is identified as a date by which we should be operationally ready for a return to campus, having completed all mandatory preparation work, and submitted our application for the inspection.
We still do not have a specific timeline for our return-to-campus learning which would include students and teachers. If we learn of a date, we will share this with all of you. In the meantime, we will focus on that which we can control and continue our efforts toward complying with all requirements for the operational and planning requirements for our eventual return. We will stand ready as soon as there is a confirmed return-to-campus learning date established.
Thank you for your ongoing understanding and patience as we continue through this situation together.
Message from SCIS Admissions: Revised 2020-2021 Enrollment Deadlines
Dear SCIS Community,
During this health emergency, the SCIS Admissions Office remains open and committed to fostering the SCIS community. Of course, first-and-foremost, our priority is the health and safety of your family and our entire SCIS community. We continue to work with current and new families as we strive to effectively plan for yet another successful school year. For current families, our re-enrollment process is in full swing; and for prospective families, we have already begun accepting new students for the 2020-2021 school year. We are confident that SCIS will once again be able to foster one of the strongest and most diverse learning communities within Shanghai.
As this health emergency continues, we understand that it may be difficult to progress through the standard re-enrollment process with certainty. Thus, in order to further support our current SCIS community, we have adjusted the re-enrollment timeline in order to provide a flexible timeframe that ensures all current families have first priority to register for the upcoming school year.
Please review the adjusted re-enrollment timeline below and visit our re-enrollment webpage for more information. We thank you again for your continued support and involvement in our school community and hope to welcome your family for yet another successful year at SCIS.
If you have any questions regarding re-enrollment or need any assistance, please contact our admissions office at admissions@scis-china.org or visit our re-enrollment webpage for more information.
Sincerely, Jeffrey T. Ginter Director of Admissions Shanghai Community International School 1161 Hongqiao Road, Shanghai, China 200051 Work: 86-21-6261-4338 • Wechat ID: JGinter Email: jginter@scis-china.org • Website: www.scis-china.org
Family Travel Survey
As a reminder, we are required by the Shanghai Education Commission to keep records on the locations of all of our families. Please be sure to update this FAMILY TRAVEL SURVEY if you location has changed since the last time you completed it. Thank you!
Announcements
Coronavirus Community Information
SCIS has developed a webpage on our system website outlining the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). We encourage families to check this link in order to access important information regarding our current campus closure and our response to the coronavirus. Previous updates are also logged on this site. If there are specific questions you feel need to be added, please email the administration.
Technology Support Reminders
Technology Help Desk Support: is available Monday-Friday 8am-11pm Shanghai time.
Many of you will have already heard the news that was announced Thursday, April 9th regarding the opening of schools in Shanghai. While the Shanghai Education Commission (SEC) has announced opening dates for public and private schools, we are still awaiting clarification from the SEC on when international schools can open. Our understanding currently is that we will fall somewhere within the announced window of April 27- May 6. Please note that depending on the SEC guidance, the school will most likely open on different dates for different grades. Director of Schools, Dan Eschtruth, will be sending out a community update with the confirmed date once we receive the information from the SEC.
In the meantime, the school is undertaking all of the necessary operational steps to ensure we are prepared to open on the first possible date allowed by the SEC. We will provide detailed information on our preparations as well as new health and safety guidelines over the coming weeks. There are also a number of guidelines that are being published by the SEC that will prevent us, at least temporarily, from returning to operating as we did prior to the pandemic. For example, non-educational gatherings are currently prohibited and outside visitors will not be allowed on campus. Once we have received and reviewed all of these directives from the SEC, we will communicate them to the community. Please note that virtual learning will continue for all grades until they are back on campus and we will make provisions for those families that have not yet been able to return (see below) to Shanghai.
Despite the restriction and challenges we will face in this transition, we are over joyed to finally see a pathway to bringing our community back together. We have all been through so much together while we’ve been apart. We are looking forward to continuing our journey in person together.
Families Still Outside of China
While the news of a return to campus is certainly exciting for those who are here in Shanghai, we recognize that not all families have been able to make the return trip. Please rest assured that we are making provisions to ensure that learning continues online for students that are unable to return to Shanghai. SCIS is committed to supporting all of its students, wherever they are, until the boarders reopen and families are able to return to Shanghai.
College Counseling Update: Planning for the Future During a Time of Uncertainty
-A message from our College Counselor Maja Kelly
All over the world, young people’s plans for preparing for their university applications have been disrupted by the global pandemic. Schools are closed, lessons are delivered online, PSATs, SATs and IB exams got canceled and all extracurricular activities – clubs, sports and plays have been suspended indefinitely. As every year of high school is an important stepping stone on the path to university, the question on everyone’s mind is: what can students do, under these unusual circumstances, to maximize their college readiness?
Rather than seeing this challenging time as an obstacle, students should be encouraged to look for opportunities to let their creativity and independence shine. Universities always take interest in young people who make the most of the resources and opportunities available to them. It’s easy to see why. The current health crisis has posed a clear challenge to individuals, businesses, organizations and governments to adapt. Restaurants have switched to delivery/takeout/drive-through modes only, stores have organized curbside pickup of items ordered online, talk show hosts do their broadcasts from their living rooms and schools create opportunities for teachers and students to connect via apps such as Teams and Zoom. Perhaps more than ever before, it is clear that the world needs innovators and creative thinkers. And opportunities for students to demonstrate these skills abound. Whether it is picking up a new hobby, teaching oneself how to play an instrument via YouTube tutorials, keeping a blog of living through the coronavirus, starting a YouTube channel to teach others how to do a craft or prepare meals from canned and dried foods, interviewing people virtually and writing up vignettes about how people around the world are coping with the coronavirus, opportunities for students to show their creativity, resilience and ability to adapt are limitless. Admissions officers are always in search of students who are resourceful and willing to shape a new path rather than follow a familiar one that somebody else had created for them.
We hope that you can join us for a series of online sessions where we will discuss university programs and application procedures in countries around the world. The sessions will take place on Microsoft Teams, as follows:
– Thursday, April 16 1 pm: Studying in the US and Canada
– Thursday, April 24 1 pm: Studying in the UK and Netherlands
– Thursday, April 30 1 pm: Studying in Hong Kong, Japan and Australia
We look forward to seeing you there! -Ms. Kelly
Grade 6 Flash Mob Brings Real Life Smiles to our Virtual Day
One of the rites of passage for grade 6 students is participating in the annual flash mob. This is the culminating experience and summative assessment for students in grade 6 Physical and Health Education. For each of the past four years, grade 6 has surprised the SCIS community with an unexpected live dance performance. This usually takes place at lunch time, when the cafeteria is filled with students and staff. Virtual learning presented some challenges for this tradition, but Coach Vic and the grade 6 students were not going to let being away from campus stop them. Instead they came up with a virtual flash mob which was filmed in locations around the world and unified with edited. It was hidden in the daily email announcements and brought unexpected connection and cheer to our community. Special thanks to Coach Vic and the grade 6 students for all of the work putting this together!
The students and teachers in our literary club, Long Talk, have also been busy over the last few weeks. Despite being separated, the group was able to come together under the leadership of Ms. Boldon and Ms. Roberts to make their latest issue a reality. Happy reading!
Message from SCIS Admissions: Revised 2020-2021 Enrollment Deadlines
Dear SCIS Community,
During this health emergency, the SCIS Admissions Office remains open and committed to fostering the SCIS community. Of course, first-and-foremost, our priority is the health and safety of your family and our entire SCIS community. We continue to work with current and new families as we strive to effectively plan for yet another successful school year. For current families, our re-enrollment process is in full swing; and for prospective families, we have already begun accepting new students for the 2020-2021 school year. We are confident that SCIS will once again be able to foster one of the strongest and most diverse learning communities within Shanghai.
As this health emergency continues, we understand that it may be difficult to progress through the standard re-enrollment process with certainty. Thus, in order to further support our current SCIS community, we have adjusted the re-enrollment timeline in order to provide a flexible timeframe that ensures all current families have first priority to register for the upcoming school year.
Please review the adjusted re-enrollment timeline below and visit our re-enrollment webpage for more information. We thank you again for your continued support and involvement in our school community and hope to welcome your family for yet another successful year at SCIS.
If you have any questions regarding re-enrollment or need any assistance, please contact our admissions office at admissions@scis-china.org or visit our re-enrollment webpage for more information.
Sincerely, Jeffrey T. Ginter Director of Admissions Shanghai Community International School 1161 Hongqiao Road, Shanghai, China 200051 Work: 86-21-6261-4338 • Wechat ID: JGinter Email: jginter@scis-china.org • Website: www.scis-china.org
Family Travel Survey
As a reminder, we are required by the Shanghai Education Commission to keep records on the locations of all of our families. Please be sure to update this FAMILY TRAVEL SURVEY if you location has changed since the last time you completed it. Thank you!
Announcements
Coronavirus Community Information
SCIS has developed a webpage on our system website outlining the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). We encourage families to check this link in order to access important information regarding our current campus closure and our response to the coronavirus. Previous updates are also logged on this site. If there are specific questions you feel need to be added, please email the administration.
Technology Support Reminders
Technology Help Desk Support: is available Monday-Friday 8am-11pm Shanghai time.
This week teachers and students resumed virtual learning. Students and teachers reported that the time away from virtual learning has helped them refresh and refocus. Teachers this week noticed a marked improvement in student participation and engagement which was encouraging to hear. The weeklong break from virtual learning allowed some students to get caught up on missed work and gave everyone a much needed break. This week many students transitioned into new units as we enter the last quarter of the year. We encourage parents to engage students by asking them about these new units and by helping them make connections between these new units and previous learning or real world experiences.
We have also been monitoring student feedback and perceptions regarding virtual learning through our weekly Advisory survey. Advisors and teachers use this feedback to adjust their instruction and monitor student wellbeing. This week’s survey identified a decrease in students reporting emotions like sadness and anxiety with a corresponding increase in those students reporting they felt happy and peaceful. There was also a decrease in the number of students expressing the need to talk to their advisor or our counselor Ms. Kelly regarding. Our assessment is that this Spring Break had a positive impact on our student’s emotional wellbeing. We will continue to monitor our students in this way and reach out to parents as needed. If you are concerned about your child’s emotional wellbeing please don’t hesitate to reach out to Ms. Kelly, your child’s advisor, or the administration for support.
IB Exams Cancelled – Seniors Press On!
Last week the International Baccalaureate Organization announced that for the first time in its 50 year history, the May IB Exam session would be cancelled, in response to the now international pandemic. The IBO is developing a process by which the Class of 2020, including our own Dragons, will be awarded their IB Diplomas through an alternate calculation focusing on their coursework. Projects that are normally assessed by teachers are being submitted to the IB now for external assessment. Students have shifted gears, continuing their preparation for May exams which will this year be run internally by SCIS. We remind the students and their families that the true reward of an IB education is the knowledge, understandings, skills, and attitudes developed over the two-year process. No virus can rob our Dragons of the tremendous gains they have made. The future is as bright as ever, and we trust that our graduates’ plans and pathways will be ready and waiting once the global crisis has run its course.
Pictures of our Community at Work and on the Move
During the week prior to Spring Break, we asked for pictures of our students and families engaged in the work of virtual learning. We share some of these here to help us all remember the amazing community we are all so lucky to be a part of. Please continue to share your pictures in your grade level chats or directly with administration. Thank you!
Midsemester Progress Report Posted Friday April 3rd
Reports were published and available for students and parents to view on Friday, April 3rd in the report section of ManageBac. Please contact the Upper School secretary if you are unable to access the reports or contact Tech Support if your password needs to be reset. Please contact teachers and advisors directly with questions regarding reports.
Message from SCIS Admissions: Revised 2020-2021 Enrollment Deadlines
Dear SCIS Community,
During this health emergency, the SCIS Admissions Office remains open and committed to fostering the SCIS community. Of course, first-and-foremost, our priority is the health and safety of your family and our entire SCIS community. We continue to work with current and new families as we strive to effectively plan for yet another successful school year. For current families, our re-enrollment process is in full swing; and for prospective families, we have already begun accepting new students for the 2020-2021 school year. We are confident that SCIS will once again be able to foster one of the strongest and most diverse learning communities within Shanghai.
As this health emergency continues, we understand that it may be difficult to progress through the standard re-enrollment process with certainty. Thus, in order to further support our current SCIS community, we have adjusted the re-enrollment timeline in order to provide a flexible timeframe that ensures all current families have first priority to register for the upcoming school year.
Please review the adjusted re-enrollment timeline below and visit our re-enrollment webpage for more information. We thank you again for your continued support and involvement in our school community and hope to welcome your family for yet another successful year at SCIS.
If you have any questions regarding re-enrollment or need any assistance, please contact our admissions office at admissions@scis-china.org or visit our re-enrollment webpage for more information.
Sincerely, Jeffrey T. Ginter Director of Admissions Shanghai Community International School 1161 Hongqiao Road, Shanghai, China 200051 Work: 86-21-6261-4338 • Wechat ID: JGinter Email: jginter@scis-china.org • Website: www.scis-china.org
Family Travel Survey
As a reminder, we are required by the Shanghai Education Commission to keep records on the locations of all of our families. Please be sure to update this FAMILY TRAVEL SURVEY if you location has changed since the last time you completed it. Thank you!
Announcements
Coronavirus Community Information
SCIS has developed a webpage on our system website outlining the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). We encourage families to check this link in order to access important information regarding our current campus closure and our response to the coronavirus. Previous updates are also logged on this site. If there are specific questions you feel need to be added, please email the administration.
Technology Support Reminders
Technology Help Desk Support: is available Monday-Friday 8am-11pm Shanghai time.
As we end our seventh week of virtual learning, we would like to congratulate students, teachers, and parents on their efforts. The teachers and administrators have been impressed by the resilience, hard work, and positive attitudes our students have demonstrated during this transition to virtual learning. Students should be proud of what they have been able to accomplish. As administrators, we would also like to celebrate the amazing faculty and staff we are blessed to have. These dedicated educators worked hard through the Chinese New Year Break to launch virtual learning over 7 weeks ago, literally on a moments notice. Their creativity, hard work, and dedication supporting our students and each-other has been nothing short of inspirational. Finally, we would like to thank all of the parents who have taken on the role of tutor, virtual learning guide, and cheer leader on top of all of the parental roles they already play. These last 7 weeks have been a true community effort. Everyone should be proud of the role they have played. We will pick-up where we left off on Monday March 30th, hopefully one step closer to a return to campus.
Midsemester Progress Report Update
Due to the announced Spring Break March 23-27, we have changed the Midsemester Progress Report date. Reports were scheduled to be published on Friday, March 27th. However, due to the fact that we will be observing Spring Break at that time, we have moved the reports to the following week. Reports will be published and available for students and parents to view on Friday, April 3rd in the report section of ManageBac.
Spring Break March 23-27
As noted in Director of School’s Dan Eschtruth’s community update, SCIS will be observing our Spring Break March 23-27. This will allow our faculty and families overseas to return to shanghai to ensure they are in place, through their 14 day quarantine period, and ready to start school once the Shanghai Education Commission provides its approval. In addition to supporting travel back to Shanghai, we hope that families and faculty take time over the break to recharge. This period of no new work will also allow some students who have fallen behind the opportunity to catch up on assignments as well. However, we also encourage those that will be using the break to catch up on work to take some time to rest and enjoy other activities. We look forward to reuniting virtually on March 30th. Please enjoy the break!
Week 7 Virtual Learning Parent Feedback Survey
Please continue to share your feedback with us each week as we seek to fine tune our program. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts!
Announcements
Coronavirus Community Information
SCIS has developed a webpage on our system website outlining the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). We encourage families to check this link in order to access important information regarding our current campus closure and our response to the coronavirus. Previous updates are also logged on this site. If there are specific questions you feel need to be added, please email the administration.
Technology Support Reminders
Technology Help Desk Support: is available Monday-Friday 8am-11pm Shanghai time.
Re-enrollment has begun for the 2020-2021 School Year
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 be sure to follow the instruction contained in the email for re-enrollment. Please note, you must use your @scis-parent.org email account details when signing in to the Online Re-Enrollment Website. The re-enrollment deadlines have been adjusted to account for the current situation. Please visit the admissions page for more details. 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.
Warm regards,
Frank Volpe, PhD Naomi Shanks Upper School Principal Upper School Vice Principal
