Written by: Roseline Yang, Parent Relations Officer
We are impressed and inspired by the positive attitude of our community in spite of the challenges and difficulties posed by the current worldwide pandemic. We’re working together to keep our daily life as normal as we can. We are so grateful to our school leaders for their continual efforts to help us deal with all the uncertainties imposed by the external regulations.
In the same way, our teachers and staff have worked collaboratively to keep adapting to new ways of managing the school day whilst maintaining the high-quality learning experience and opportunities that we expect for all our students.
Our parent volunteer community together with the support of Parent Relations Officer have come together, whenever possible, to explore various ways to offer their service to the members of the school community, while following rules of restrictions imposed.
Having to take into consideration the rules of “avoiding big group gatherings”, “keeping low-key event promotions”, and “no parents on-campus”, the school leadership team reached out to the different groups of parent volunteers to discuss and brainstorm creative solutions to connect with the parent community. Through feedback and exchange of thoughts, new ideas came up such as meeting in near-by coffee shops to connect parents with academic leaders for ECE parents and Primary class representatives, and even with subject teachers for Secondary parents.
Some of these positive interactions highlighted parents’ interest to connect with one another and led to a spirit of care andsupport for the community. One of these meetings led to the organization withintwoweeks of a Picnic for ECE families at Century Park on Saturday, November 27. Another one allowed to recruit new parent volunteers to join the Christmas Choir Surprise on Friday, December 18, which then led to the eagerness of newly joined parents to organize second-hand uniforms sales and help the parent community to be prepare for the school photos.
While some parents started to discover more about POP, the Parent Organization Pudong, which aims to create a positive community atmosphere at the school by supporting teachers, parents interaction, and enhancing students learning exposure, the POP core members and new POP members experienced great teamwork when organizing the POP Giving Tree Project in collaboration in December.
After the Christmas holidays, parents were keen on getting together to prepare for the Chinese New Year Parent Performance on Friday, February 5 as well as to welcome the group of newly joined Parents on Wednesday, January 20.
Although there are still uncertainties about the near-future and we need to learn tomakedo with what we have, there’s no doubt that with such like-minded people, the power of kindred spirits will allow us to face any challenges and we will be able to also think creatively about how to organize Staff Appreciation and Global Community Day.
The theme of this year for Global Community will be: Love and Charity around the World – How people come together to support others in-need. We are always looking for parents who want to contribute and support, but we are also here to connect you with kindred spirits. Please email rpcp.parentrelations@sh.ycef.comif you want to connect or need help!
Inspirational lines from the YCIS Hymn
“Yew Chung, we arise now shining forth so bright,
In the darkness because of you.
Real greatness will be judged to the extent
We give ourselves in serving others.
Charity and Love must be our guiding force
In our thought and word and deed.”