Upper School Newsletter May 22nd, 2023

Above: Band

Below: MYP Science

 UPCOMING EVENTS

May 24  Fine Arts Curriculum Night  May 26           TOK Exhibition           May 26           Pilates Day Event        May 29-June 2    China Adventure Trips  May 29-June 2     Grade 11 Exams    June 5,6,8,9     Senior Presentations   June 16       Senior Breakfast              June 16       Graduation Parade           June 16       Graduation                      June 19-23      Grade 9 Week Of Work Internships                                          June 20       Grade11 EE Exhibition   June 22       Dragon Boat Festival (no school)                                                June 24            Dragon Run                June 27-28  Group 4 Science Exhibition  June 28        US Music Concert          June 29   Grade 8 Promotion Ceremony  June 30    End of Semester 2/ Semester Reports

CLICK HERE FOR PHOTOS

A NOTE FROM ADMINISTRATION

Mr. Fursey Gotuaco

Upper School Principal

MINUTES, MILESTONES, & MOMENTS

"IF YOU PLAN FOR 1 YEAR, PLANT RICE.  IF YOU PLAN FOR 10 YEARS, PLANT TREES.  IF YOU PLAN FOR 100 YEARS, EDUCATE MANKIND."                                                                                          Chinese Proverb

"LIFE ISN'T A MATTER OF MILESTONES, BUT OF MOMENTS."

                                           Rose Kennedy

As our school year comes to a close, notice that many of our events are used to mark our progress and successes... like milestones on a journey.  We see them as 'rites of passage' or even a moment of closure.  We look at activities like exams, promotion ceremonies, graduation, and even our beloved China Trips.  Some are celebrations and others are designed as tests, challenges to prove that we have accomplished something.  For each grade, the challenge is a little different.

The Grade 6 students head out to QianDao Hu (Thousand Island Lake).  They will have opportunities to explore team building and some water activities.  The grade 6 students have also been doing an amazing job working with our Grade 5 students and helping them transition to the upper school next year.  We hope to make this a new tradition for 6th graders.  What an excellent way to learn about servant leadership.

The Grade 7s are excited about their upcoming trip to Guilin/Yangshuo.  Their first week away with the school will be filled with an exploration of raft building, high ropes, and team initiatives.

The Grade 8s will have their promotion ceremony on June 29th.  But before then, they will have their China Adventure in Xiamen complete with High Ropes and Farming activities.  They will also complete their Community Projects on June 8th.

The Grade 9s are closing their first year in high school with their trip to Lijiang.  They are also preparing for their World of Work Internships.  If anybody would like to host them at your workplace, please contact Mr. Liam O’Shea.  We would love to hear from you.

The Grade 10 students, mark the end of their MYP journey.  They have already completed their Personal Project Exhibitions and are now ready to take their China Trip Adventure to Inner Mongolia.  Behind the scenes, they are filling out their course selections for their classes next year as they near their final 2 year preparations for life after high school.

Our juniors, grade 11s, are now about to take their exams which will measure the learning of this first year of the DP program.  It is the midpoint of their 2 year program filled with milestones such as their TOK Exhibition (May 26), Extended Essay Exhibition (June 20), Group 4 (science) Exhibition (June 27/28), and finally, their trip to Li Jiang.  We invite you to come and see what great learning these 11s have ready to share with you.

And finally, our seniors who have just finished their IBDP Exams, marking the culmination of not only their DP careers but their educational journey from the last 12-14 years.  The immediate outcomes are a mark or score that determines which college they can attend but on a greater scale, the exams are just one piece of the puzzle that they have been assembling over the past 12 year.  The content they study is embedded in over 10 years of projects, tests, homework, and activities.  They not only stand on the shoulders of their DP teachers but they also stand on a scaffold of teachers who have lined the road from Lower School, through Middle School and culminating with High School.  Most importantly, before they can cross the stage in cap and gown, marking their crossing of the ‘finish line’, they will do their SENIOR PRESENTATIONS, in which they will look back on the journeys they have walked and reflect on their accomplishments.

Each one of these events marks a moment in time, a moment of growth, and a moment of learning.  They are academic, emotional, cerebral, and often out of our comfort zones.  They force us to take a step in a direction we may not want to take.  They require us to move forward on a path that may be filled with the unknown, hazards of doubt.  But in all cases, our teachers and staff are there to support them.  All along the way, we have a community to encourage them on their journey, wherever the road may take them.  Whether they are in grades 6,7,8,9,10, 11, or 12, they will put one foot in front of the other.. whether it is on a rope high in the air or across the stage at commencement.  Let us put our hands together to applaud their steps, whether they be small or large, so that they feel the courage to take the next step, and the one after that. 

For some, we only have a few moments left before we go our separate ways... So don't count the minutes.. instead, make the minutes count.. And let's turn every minute into a moment that marks another milestone on our journey together!!!

ITS A GREAT DAY TO BE AN HIS DRAGON!!!

On Wednesday evening this week, we will be having our Fine Arts Curriculum evening at 6:00pm.  Be sure to join us for a variety of events at all grade levels.  Choir, Band, Orchestra, Visual Arts, and Theatre Arts – ALL WILL BE ROCKIN’ THE HOUSE!!!!

“It’s Ok” a picture book by grade 10 student Amy Zhiyan Zhang created during her MYP personal project will be on sale!

Many parents and students enquired about the possibility of buying a copy. Please, see the information below.

MAY 25's Coffee Morning is titled  INQUIRY and will be led by Mr. Liam O’Shea.  The focus will be on the incredibly important concept of inquiry that powers our most successful learning and lessons.  It's going to be a fun and interactive lesson.  Join us on Thursday, May 25th at 8:30am.

China Trips Photo Contest 2023

Open for all the MYP students Grade 6 to Grade 10.

See the information below.

Hangzhou International School Dragons donate one more library!  

-Save the date for the 16th Annual Dragon Run, June 24-

The 15th annual HIS Dragon Run fundraising event, thanks to the support of the HIS parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends at the last June 2022 event, was able to continue supporting the Library Project (library-project.org) by donating one more library in a local school in China.

This time, the HIS Dragon Run brought a new library to Niuzhai Central Primary School in Niuzhai Village, located in Daijia Township, Wu Gong County, Xian Yang City, Shaanxi Province.

The new library received more than 1000 Chinese language books, wall bookshelves, library tables, library sofas, chairs, stools, globes, STEAM activity materials, bookends, day activity materials, training materials, and a comprehensive librarian training course.

The books in the Chinese language included history, science, short stories, fairy tales, dictionaries in Pinyin, reference books, comic books, and sets of encyclopedias. Books are of the highest quality, published in China, and full color.

The donation ceremony was last May and aimed to raise the reading interest among students and share the wonderful world of reading. Students listened to many stories with the help of volunteers who read different books during the donation day. Throughout the stories, they got themselves inside fantastic worlds, countries, and cultures. The students were excited and could not wait to pick their favorite book to start their reading journey.

The Dragon Run continues supporting the Library Project. This well-established organization brings literacy and benefits children in local communities by setting up libraries and reading rooms with the money fundraised. The Library Project team works tirelessly to improve education by “one book at a time”, and Hangzhou International School is proud to be part of it.

The Dragon Run organizers, Mr. Chaddwick Plotz and Ms. Andrea Stubbs thank the generous sponsors (poster below), volunteers, runners, and HIS community.  You can see the library donation video by scanning the QR code below.

It is great to be a HIS Dragon!

Save the date! 16th ANNUAL DRAGON RUN! Join the fun! -Saturday, June 24- Registration will open next week!

You can participate in the 5K Race, the 1K Fun Run (Registration payment gives you a t-shirt and a goodie bag. All profits go to the Library Project).  If you are not a runner, come and cheer while enjoying the different activities, performances, and food stalls and support the Library Project, a charity that builds libraries and reading rooms in Chinese schools. Scan the QR code below to see last year’s event video!

If you would like to learn more about how to become a sponsor of this 16th Dragon Run, email: dragonrun@hisdragons.org.cn or Ms. Andrea Stubbs at andreastubbs@hisdragons.org.cn

International Pilates Day 2023

Join us for this healthy activity organized by Grade 10 students Tina and Martina. This activity is ONLY open to HIS parents and students. More information in the posters below.

FINE ARTS CORNER

Fine Arts Head of Department, Brian Vincent

PLEASE JOIN US FOR AN EXCITING EVENING OF ARTS!!!

LEARN HOW THE STUDENT ARTISTS MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Hello, HIS Community!

Artists, Actors, Musicians, Come ONE, Come ALL!

Join us for a Music-making, Acting and Art Making festival on Wednesday evening at 6:00 PM at our Arts Curriculum Night.

The night will begin in the Theatre, where our Superintendent, Mr. Stubbs be joined by our PYP, MYP and DP coordinators to describe how Arts Education plays a role in your Children’s Education.

Then the evening takes flight!  Explore Lower School and Upper School student lead curriculum demonstrations of Music, Acting, and Visual Art. 

We look forward to demonstrating how learning in the Arts works by igniting our student's imagination and developing skills through the Creative Process. 

JOIN US ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT MAY 24TH

FROM 6:00PM - 7:30PM.

                                     HIS                                        COLLEGE COUNSELING INFORMATION      

OUR COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES THUS FAR

ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY

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BEST UNIVERSITY YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF!!!

The SAT is now available digitally so students can take practice exams on their laptops before taking the official exam. Find information about how to practice the SAT here: https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/digital/digital-practice-preparation

H0W CAN I HELP YOU?

Hello,

My name is Iris Zhang, College Counselor at HIS. This past semester, I focused on helping our grade 12 students who are applying to colleges. This month, I am conducting one-on-one counseling sessions with grade 11 students and in March, I will work with our grade 10 students.

For the individual counseling sessions, we will start with general topics like what their interests are, which subjects they are doing well in, what their current grades for each subject are, what their parent’s expectations are, which country they want to travel or reside, etc. Studying in another country is not only about achieving academic excellence, but also finding the environment that best supports their success. Through these individual meetings, I can better understand their lifelong goals and help each student find the school that is the ‘right fit’ for them.

When we think of “good schools,” we may think of the most prestigious, most selective, or even the schools with the most successful alums in the field we wish to study. Finding the right fit goes beyond published rankings. It is also critical to look at school size, teacher to student ratio, available opportunities such as internships or research, and even social settings that offer the best opportunity for students to find the best version of themselves. And much job-hunting, there is no one-size-fits-all college, but instead, a number of potential great picks for every individual student.

Ivy League schools are often the first thing that come to mind when Americans think of “best colleges,” as are a number of small, highly selective, and highly ranked college. However, if a student decides to attend a school for the perceived prestige alone, ignoring their own gut feelings and instincts about the campus culture and how they’d fit into it, they could very well end up unhappy even among the nation’s “best colleges.”

As a college counselor, I understand I have big responsibilities to help students with not only their college applications, but also help them find the ‘right’ schools where they can achieve academic excellence and personal growth.

Analysis: Undergraduate Colleges Have Not Followed Elite Law Schools In Abandoning US News Rankings

Inside Higher Ed (12/5) explores the question: “Will the moves by leading law schools against the rankings of U.S. News & World Report spread to undergraduate institutions?”

         So far, 11 law schools, led by Yale University, announced they will stay out of the rankings. Yet those who were waiting “for a similar push by undergraduate colleges” have so far “been disappointed.” One theory put forward by former Reed College President Colin Diver is that “undergraduate schools view their constituency (mostly 16- to 18-year-old high schoolers) as more naïve, gullible, impressionable (and therefore rankings-bewitched) than law schools view their constituencies (22- to 30-year-old college graduates and often early-careerists).” As a result, “at least many of the top-tier law schools are willing to take the risk that a postboycott drop in their ranking won’t hurt them and might actually help them with their more worldly constituencies.”

        David Hawkins, chief education and policy officer at the National Association for College Admission Counseling, told Inside Higher Ed via email: “The fact that high-profile law schools are walking away from the rankings constitutes a potentially important step toward ‘unilateral disarmament,’ so to speak. Many institutions, whether law schools or undergraduate institutions, have heretofore been hesitant to step away for fear of the negative effects. Such effects include, but are not limited to, actions that U.S. News could take to ‘estimate’ data and blowback from institutional stakeholders, such as boards, state legislators, or alumni if there is a perceived drop in prestige. These law schools may have signaled to all institutions that with enough alignment at the institutional level, colleges can step away if they do not benefit from either the rankings themselves or the methods used to compile the rankings.”

We encourage students to contact one of the university counselors  with any questions about university entrance requirements. 

                          Ms. Iris Zhang     iriszhang@hisdragons.org.cn

                  Mr. Fursey Gotuaco     furseygotuaco@hisdragons.org.cn

                        Dr. Aaron Ayers    aaronayers@hisdragons.org.cn

                      Dr. Monica Prieto    monicaprieto@hisdragons.org.cn

                     Dr. Ryan Beddows    ryanbeddows@hisdragons.org.cn

 International Baccalaureate  Diploma Programme

TOK TALK

Terry Strombeck

TOK/DP History Teacher

MAY 22

Exams: like  them or not, we want to categorize performances. 

The end of the school year approaches and for many students this means the approach of final exams. Grade 12 students have only just completed their final IB exams; the intense and rigorous examinations in each of the subjects.  For the IB Diploma Program (DP) exams, students wrote two sets of exams for their Standard Level courses (two HL courses are required) and three sets of exams for their Higher-Level courses (three HL courses are required).  

The exams cover all material learned in their two-year courses.  Now those exam papers are sent to IBDP examiners who will make judgments on the quality of knowledge students demonstrated.  A question that often comes up in TOK classes centers around this worthwhile TOK musing: ‘Is it possible to accurately evaluate student knowledge of a course by asking one question?’ More broadly, the question could be widened to ‘Do exams accurately evaluate the knowledge and skills a student has learned?’  The truth may be ‘No the exams do not’ (or some degree of ‘no’).  

Yet it is also the truth that we must accept that a judgment of knowledge must be made. In fact, all of us make some sort of judgement about the quality of skills and knowledge, be it related to education or so many other areas of life. We evaluate skills and knowledge of our dentists, doctors, home builders, bankers, airline pilots, taxi drivers, restaurants, and so on.  So, like exams and judgements or not, TOK encourages us to reflect on how we arrive at making judgements on the quality of knowledge. 

DP May Exam

Developing Resilience in Teenagers

Resilience is the capacity to withstand or to recover quickly from difficulties. It is important for teenagers because it helps them build the skills needed to cope with challenging situations, such as bullying, academic pressure, and physical and emotional health issues. It teaches them how to manage stress, recognize and cultivate positive relationships, and develop problem-solving skills that can help them navigate through life's ups and downs. By providing teens with the tools to respond to difficult situations in healthy, productive ways, resilience can help them develop a sense of security and confidence as they make their way through adolescence.

If you have any questions or worries about your children please contact Dr Ryan Beddows by email ryanbeddows@hisdragons.org.cn.

STUDENT LEADERSHIP

Student Leadership is a priority here at HIS. 

Each week, we spotlight a student leader and give them an opportunity to tell you about their clubs, sports, and activities.  

WESTLAKE MUN

BELLA MENG

GRADE 7

Hello everyone, this is the delegate of Bella! I recently had the opportunity to attend the WLMUN conference, a school-level Model United Nations (MUN) conference that brings together students from different schools to simulate the workings of the United Nations. MUN is an educational simulation in which students learn about diplomacy, international relations, and the United Nations. The conference features several committees, including Ecosoc, GA1, GA2, and Environmental, and allows students to represent countries and engage in debates on real-world issues."

I would first like to thank the WLMUN Secretariat for their amazing work that led to such an amazing conference. I would then like to thank the WLMUN Media Team for taking such beautiful pictures and catching the shiniest moments of delegates for remembrance. Then, I would like to thank the admin team and our chairs and fellow school directors for coming from places all across China and helping to sustain the order of the entire conference. Finally, thank you all delegates for attending and performing so well in all the committees and having made our WLMUN such a wonderful memory.

At WLMUN, I had the opportunity to represent Hungary in the Ecosoc committee. This was a challenging role, as I had to research Hungary's stance on different issues and make persuasive arguments in favor of that position. However, it was also incredibly rewarding to engage in debates with other delegates and learn about their perspectives on global issues. One of the highlights of the conference was the chance to meet students from other schools and exchange ideas with them. Despite coming from different backgrounds, we all shared a common interest in learning about international relations and making a positive impact on the world. I was impressed by the level of passion and dedication that my fellow delegates brought to the conference, and I felt inspired by their ideas and proposals. Through my experience at WLMUN, I also gained a deeper understanding of the importance of Model United Nations.

MUN provides a unique opportunity for students to learn about international relations, diplomacy, and global issues in a hands-on, interactive way. By simulating the workings of the United Nations, students are able to gain a better understanding of how the international community can work together to address global challenges. Moreover, MUN encourages students to develop critical thinking, public speaking, and research skills, all of which are essential for success in the 21st century. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, it is crucial that students learn how to communicate effectively and collaborate with people from different backgrounds and cultures.

I would encourage students and members of our community to join MUN as it provides a plentiful number of opportunities and can really strengthen the abilities of delegates and admin from all aspects. It was an extremely amazing experience, and everyone enjoyed the conference!

In conclusion, my experience at WLMUN was a valuable learning opportunity that taught me about the importance of international relations, diplomacy, and global issues. The next WLMUN will be in November, and I feel grateful for the chance to participate in such a meaningful event and look forward to continuing to learn and grow through Model United Nations in the future.

MEET THE LIBRARIANS

Sara Freeman

Newsletter – Upper School Library

US Newsletter, 5/22/2023

Hello, parents!

As promised, I’m here to tell you about the US Library’s activities happening this month for Multilingual Musical May-Nia. We are collaborating with the languages and music departments and have a plethora of fun for our students to do between classes and after school.

We asked our Mandarin and Spanish teachers to give us some projects students can create or practice in their spare time. Our Spanish teacher, Ms. Kellys Dominguez, gave us several worksheets and speaking cards for students to learn basic phrases or vocabulary, like numbers, fruits, vegetables, etc. Some of our students have never studied Spanish, and it’s rewarding to see them practice and retain the knowledge they’ve learned, simple though it may be, day after day. A Mandarin teacher and our librarian assistant, Ms. Amy Yi, gave students templates to practice their Chinese character writing by recreating ancient Chinese poems. We also set up a very successful calligraphy station that, without exaggeration, has students RUNNING to the library on break and after school to try their hand at it. I’ve tried it myself, and it's relaxing to put brush to paper and write something beautiful on the special calligraphy paper.

Our music department, specifically Mr. Brian Vincent (HOD), Mr. Emer Cordoba, and Mr. Kyle Kresge, knocked their contribution to the library out of the park this month. They helped us set up a DIY Music Studio in one of our study rooms with a desktop computer equipped with Garage Band and a keyboard in front where students can tinker with their musical creations. I bought some party lights to add to the atmosphere, and students from G6-G12 often go in there to rock out in their own mini KTV booth. I’ve walked by the room a few times to find students dancing.

Mr. Emer Cordoba delivered an AMAZING competition for students to take part in as well—he chose 4 songs from 16 different languages(!) that students can practice singing. If they join the Flipgrid account we have created for the competition, students can upload videos of themselves singing for a chance to win a prize. All the videos are available on both Bilibili and Youtube. Please encourage your kiddos to join and see you in the library!

      UNIFORM EXPECTATIONS        

Middle School Uniform Guidelines 6-8

Middle Schoolers should wear tan shorts, trousers, or skirts and a navy blue polo shirt (short or long sleeved) with the HIS book logo. A navy fleece or cardigan sweater with the HIS logo or other approved outerwear such as the HIS hoodie sweatshirt can be worn in the cooler weather. All students must wear laced shoes.

High School Uniform Guidelines 9-12

High Schoolers should wear tan shorts or trousers, or plaid skirts (girls only) and a light blue Oxford cloth button down short or long sleeved short with the HIS book logo. A navy fleece or cardigan sweater with the HIS logo or other approved outerwear such as the HIS hoodie sweatshirt can be worn in the cooler weather. All students must wear laced shoes.

Students will be asked to remove outerwear (coats, hoodies, sweatshirts, etc) in lessons unless they carry the HIS logos. Students who are cold will be invited to go to the Dragon Shop to purchase acceptable HIS items. 

Families can purchase items at the Dragon Shop open 

Mondays to Fridays from 

9:00am - 11:00am and 1:00pm - 3:00pm

For more information, please contact the Dragon Shop: olivexu@hisdragons.org.cn

     LUNCH   

See the updated lunch menu weekly and monthly as posted on the school website. 

Lunch Menu

HIS Mission Statement

We provide international learners with opportunities to pursue academic and personal excellence within a caring community.

Hangzhou International School
2190 Xiangbin Road, Bin Jiang District, Hangzhou 310052
Phone: +86 571 8669 0045
Email: news@his-china.org Website: www.his-china.org