Dragon Tales

For many parents, nothing matters more than knowing their child is safe, supported, and cared for throughout the school day. At Hangzhou International School (HIS), student safety is not viewed as a single policy or procedure. It is a proactive, schoolwide commitment that influences everything from campus design and transportation to staff training and emergency preparedness.

Hangzhou International School (HIS) has been named among the Top 30 Schools for Children of Foreign Personnel in China in the KingLead 2026 China International School Innovative Competitiveness Rankings, receiving a AAA rating for innovation competitiveness. While rankings are only one measure of a school, it's always encouraging when the work happening across our community is recognized by others. And what makes this recognition meaningful isn't really the ranking itself. It's what sits behind it.

The Hangzhou International School (HIS) Class of 2026 represents the very best of what an international education can be. Comprising a record 41 graduates from 13 nationalities, this diverse group of students leaves HIS with outstanding academic achievements, a global outlook, and a shared commitment to making a positive impact in the world. 

At Hangzhou International School (HIS), students can join Early Years 1 (EY1) from the age of two, with most of our students turning three throughout the school year. At this age, EY1 is often their first experience of regular socializing with other children and adults who are not family members. As a result, many EY1 children begin school with social skills that are still developing, and one of our most important goals throughout the school year is to support social and emotional development.

The 2026-27 school year is officially underway at Hangzhou International School (HIS), and the energy across campus reflects one of the strongest starts in the school's history.

As the new school year prepares to start and students get ready to resume their studies, a different kind of school work is just finishing at Hangzhou International School (HIS). Throughout the summer months, our campus becomes a hub of activity as builders, designers, and school leaders work together to enhance the learning environment for every student.

For me, success has never been about the prestige of the university. It has always been about fit. The greatest joy comes from witnessing students find the place where they truly belong – where their personalities, values, and cultures align with the university they will soon call home. And in 2026, we have seen so many of our students do exactly that. The Hangzhou International School Class of 2026, altogether 41 graduates, were accepted to 235 universities in 14 countries, with almost USD 1 million awarded in scholarship money.

When people reflect on school, they often talk about achievements first. Grades, awards, competition results, leadership positions — the measurable things. Those are the moments that appear on report cards and university applications, so naturally they seem important. For a long time, I thought those things were the clearest proof of growth too. I believed improvement would look obvious: better results, bigger accomplishments, clearer evidence that I was becoming more capable than before. Looking back now, I think I misunderstood what growth actually feels like.

On International Children’s Day, June 1, Hangzhou International School (HIS) took a meaningful step forward in its commitment to inclusion, signing a Special Olympics Unified Schools partnership agreement with Hangzhou Yanglingzi School. The visit brought together the President of Special Olympics East Asia, Ms Freda Fung, alongside HIS leaders, staff, and students for a day of shared experiences and forward-looking collaboration.

At Hangzhou International School (HIS), science is much more than a subject. It is a way for our youngest learners to explore, question, and make sense of the world around them. In our Lower School and Kindergarten classrooms, scientific inquiry sparks curiosity, nurtures critical thinking, and helps children develop lifelong skills for learning.

In the foreign‑passport international high school category, HIS remains in the Top 30 Schools in China, standing alongside a well‑regarded group of international schools across the country evaluated for academic outcomes, teaching quality, school environment, and future‑focused development. For families, this recognition confirms that students at HIS are learning in a school that meets rigorous national standards, with a successful pathway to graduation that leads to top universities worldwide.

The 2026 Hangzhou Student Film Festival, hosted by Hangzhou International School (HIS), brought together young filmmakers from HIS, CIS Hangzhou and Nanjing International School for an inspiring evening of creativity, collaboration, and cinematic storytelling.

At Hangzhou International School (HIS), we're always looking for meaningful ways to support our educators in growing professionally – especially when it comes to thoughtfully integrating technology into our IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) teaching and learning. That's where Nova comes in: our new internal SharePoint-based hub designed specifically as a central resource and playground for teachers to explore, learn, and share around technology integration

At Hangzhou International School, one swimmer has emerged as a symbol of what dedication and community can achieve. At just 14 years old, Grade 8 student Jean M is already rewriting records and inspiring teammates with his modesty and drive. I sat down with him a few weeks ago to talk about his recent successes, his motivation, and the realities of balancing life as both a middle schooler and a competitive swimmer.

Every year Hangzhou International School asks us, as teachers, to set goals for ourselves. This year my professional goal was to try to increase student engagement by embedding daily hands-on, interactive activities into my lesson planning.