In the last few week, K3C children started to develop a new interest in washing, bathing and its opposite, getting dirty and playing with mud. Children bathed themselves, played with bubbles, they bathed dolls and stuffed animals. They experimented with real mud. They talked about hygiene, and how to wash themselves. As they did, they discussed anatomy as well. As time passed, children developed their stories. They started pretend washing themselves and each other using sponges, shower caps, loofahs, back brushes and empty bottles of shampoo and body wash. They also started to dry themselves and each other with towels, drying and combing each other’s hair. K3C children’s interest in hygiene recently extended to dental hygiene and learning about teeth and dentists. They role-played dentist and brushing teeth, they discussed their understanding of a good teeth brushing routine. They also discussed teeth themselves and what they are for. K3C parents were involved in K3C’s new interest by sending pictures of their child(ren) at home teeth brushing routines. K3C children are also developing their social skills, becoming more independent and self-confident, setting up their own bath role-play or drawing real baths for their toys.

K3C Co-teacher – Claire Pointeau & Liangqun KANG

The April holiday has gone, and as the year-end approaches, there is a lot of learning taking place in the specialist classes!

In Music, students are participating in an array of lessons ranging from learning rhythm in Year 3 to musical games and even composing songs in Year 6. In PE, students have been playing a variety of games, such as invasion games, and net and wall games. The children are developing many skills, strategies and lots of teamwork throughout these lessons. ICT and Art classes are packed full of excitement as well. In year 6, students have been working on a collaborative lesson that began in Art where they created clay 3D models of insects, leaves, grass and other environmental objects. Then, these creations were moved to the ICT room and small teams are now using these objects to produce short, stop-motion animations. Both the students and teachers are really looking forward to seeing the final products in the upcoming weeks.

ICT Teacher – Kady MELVIN

With the grass growing and the songbirds flying in the sky, the willows wave along the riverside. It is a typical picture of spring and a perfect time for kite flying.

Qingming Festival falls on early April each year. Being also called Spring Outing Festival, Qingming is a traditional Chinese sacrifice festival for ancestor worshiping and tomb sweeping. Traced back to Zhou Dynasty, Qingming Festival has a history of over 2500 years. In Chinese Studies classes, Year 5 students began their topic study of Qingming Festival. In class, students not only gained the knowledge of the origins of the festival and its traditional food, but also learned about several traditions during the festival including kite flying, outings, trees planting, tomb sweeping, etc. They also took part in the appreciation of beautiful poetry regarding the Qingming Festival under the teacher’s instructions.

During the practice time, students designed their own kites with colorful pens. They decorated the kites with delicate patterns and wrote their favorite poems on them. Every student was satisfied with their own masterpieces and cherished them so well.

Running against the fair spring wind, children held up their kites high. The kites looked like colorful butterflies flying in the blue sky with white clouds.

Let the kites fly high.

May the kites carry children’s beautiful dreams and soar above the sky freely.

 

Y5A Co-teacher – Sandra XU

Last week students in our Year 3 to 6 classes held Student-Led Conferences. These conferences were an important opportunity for students to: take responsibility for reviewing their own learning; set targets for where they hope to grow and improve in their learning and to share their successes and goals with parents. They also provided an opportunity for parents to spend some time in the classroom engaging with the learning that takes place there on a daily basis. This is our first round of Student-led Conferences at Hongqiao Campus and feedback from teachers, students and parents has been very positive. At Ronghua Campus, students in Year 1 and 2 also had the chance to share about their learning and achievements with parents at an Open Afternoon.

Primary Vice Principal – Sherrilie BURTON

Where are you from?

I am from France and Hong Kong.

How long have you been at YCIS HQ?

I have been here for 2 years.

What do you enjoy most about learning here?

I enjoy the projects we do in our classes and the spacious playground.

Tell us an interesting fact about you?

I love animals and one day I would like to run a horse ranch.

Can you share some words of wisdom?

Look after your mind, body and heart. Your mind helps you make mature choices; your body allows you to move and grow strong; your heart pumps blood. If you take care of these three things, you will be fine.

 

Interviewed by:

School Captains –  Owen Tianmiao BANKS & Qing Levona SHU

Where are you from?

I am from Shanghai.

How long have you been teaching at YCIS?

I have been a teacher here for 8 years.

What do you enjoy most about teaching at YCIS?

Working with children who are so committed to their learning and education.

Tell us an interesting fact about you?

I enjoy cooking and reading.

Can you share a favourite book?

‘Tao Te Ching’ —  Lao Zi (philosopher in the Spring and Autumn Period, founder of Taoism)

 

Interviewed by:

School Captains –  Owen Tianmiao BANKS & Qing Levona SHU

2017‐2018 Puxi Campus CCAs Session Two will finish on 11th May except the following activities:

 

15^th May: 

Y3-Y6 Drum Kit

Flower Arrangement

Y1-Y2 Key Board

Sewing Club

 

18^th May: 

Y1-Y2 Drum Kit

 

12^th June: 

Y3-6 Cello Group

 

14^th June: 

Chinese Dance

Pop Dance

Y1-2 Ballet Dance

Y3-6 Hip-Hop Dance

Junior Choir

Senior Choir

 

15^th June: 

HQ Orchestra

 

20^th June: 

Junior Ensemble

 

The K3B children are quite the inquisitive scientists and caretakers as they’ve been observing small tadpoles in our classroom. A K3B friend provided the class with a small tank of tadpoles and each day the children check on how the tadpoles are growing or changing. They’ve used their creativity to develop different kinds of tadpoles using art and recyclable materials. They have made predictions on how many tadpoles are in the tank and how long it will take for them to grow into frogs. A few of the children are questioning if the tadpoles will grow into toads or once they are frogs do they turn into fish? We’ve ordered a big fish tank for our tadpoles to continue to grow and transform in. The children have cooperatively excavated and cleaned stones from our playground to use in the tank. We hope to release the tiny frogs or toads back into a nearby pond once they have grown up.

 

K3B Co-teachers – Rebecca PAIKOWSKI & Jennifer LI

The Year 3 and 4 Student Council drove the initiative to get their classmates to use and create less waste during the school day. After Student Council members met with their classes, we all committed to supporting Waste Week by trying to have less food left over on our lunch trays, bringing our own reusable drink bottles instead of taking bottled water from the cafeteria, and bringing reusable snack boxes each day.

Hongqiao Campus has been given a certificate of participation from the organisers of Waste Week and many students have expressed their strong interest to take part again next year. Well done Year 3 and 4!

Y4E Co-teacher – Jake JONES

Embroidery is an ancient technique in China with a long history. The diligent Chinese people created the beautiful patterns on the fabrics with needles and threads to express their best wishes for a happy life.

After the Chinese New Year celebration, Year 6 students learned the topic of Embroidery in their Chinese Studies classes. By watching the vivid video of the history and development of Chinese embroidery, students became quite amazed with the proficient skills of embroidery craftsmen. By using the needles and threads in a technical way, the craftsmen revealed their inspiration and talent in pattern design and color matching. Besides, they also displayed the calmness, patience and passion for the embroidery art.

In addition, students got the opportunity to learn the technique by watching the craftsman’s embroidery performance in the classroom. Through close observation, children acquired the techniques of pinning, leading, lining and knotting as well as witnessing the production of delicate patterns by the craftsman.

In class, students were able to create their own-designed insoles with needles and threads and experienced the happiness of creativity. Both the intelligent girls and imaginative boys were devoted to being creative. Those colour insoles not only decorated the classroom, but also brought colours to our campus life.

Y6D Co-teacher – Lily SUN