A few weeks ago, our K4A Family embarked on our first field trip to the Shanghai Natural History Museum to learn more about dinosaurs. Since then we have seen their interest evolve to opening a Dinosaur Hospital and now to police and their roles and equipment. The latest interest started when one friend made a pair of handcuffs which then inspired others to design badges and now we see friends assembling police cars and making well thought out “bad guy” chase scenarios. We look forward to carefully observing this interest in order to support their rich dramatic play and expand their knowledge of a police officer’s role in a community. K4A Co-teachers – Traci RAPP & Daisy XU

 

On Friday 17^th of November YCIS began their transition program for our Year 6’s. Moving to high school can be a worrying and even intimidating time for both students and teachers. We are working with the teachers in Gubei to try and ease this transition and make it as stress free and hopefully as exciting as possible. It is extremely important that the students get the opportunity to become familiar with their potential high school campus and the wonderful students and teachers they will have the opportunity to work with there. Throughout the year there will be many planned activities and excursions which will allow our Year 6’s the opportunity to learn about high school life. Our first planned event was where the Year 7’s from the Gubei Campus came to visit our Year 6’s to meet, greet and work together as a team. We held team building rotation activities which all students had a great time participating in. It was great to see so much interaction and enjoyment. We look forward to our next event!

Year 6 Leader & Y6A Co-teacher – Ruth FERGUSON

 

In Year 3 Chinese Studies classes, the children learned the topic ‘Old Shanghai’. They not only learnt about old Shanghai stories and the characteristic of Shikumen architecture, but also experienced the folk games which their parents played during childhood.

Using a ‘Learning Community’ approach, teachers introduced four kinds of folk games: hoop rolling, shuttlecock kicking, rope skipping and hopscotch, from which students gained the basic understanding of folk games.

In the following Chinese Studies classes, the children were divided into groups to play these games. They studied the skills for rolling the hoop, attempted to find the best way to kick the shuttlecock and also stumbled to pick up the sandbag when playing hopscotch. The folk games brought a lot of happiness to students and laughter to our campus.

Y3E Co-teacher – Lavender XU

The Year 1 and 2 students last week had a wonderful opportunity to explore their new campus. The first to visit were the Year 2s on Monday. With 6 classes in the year level, teachers and children are working together to plan the move and prepare for this exciting change. The final Topic unit for the semester, in the lead up to the Christmas break, has been modified with the move in mind. The new unit ‘Places and Spaces’ focuses on the ways schools have changed over time, why aspects of school have changed, and ways we can support each other through these changes.

In preparation for the field trips to Ronghua campus the Year 1 and 2 teachers and children had prepared questions and thoughts about what the move might entail. On the day, students, knowing where their new classroom was going to be, prepared a plan for where furniture, equipment, resources and supplies might be kept in the class and in the learning commons area. They considered how they might be able to make all these resources available and handy for everyone to use. With clipboards in hand, imagination and excitement, the students explored the classrooms, the open spaces, the new Art, Music and ICT rooms and importantly the new cafeteria. This space proving a highlight with the new and improved facilities. The two playground spaces on the third floor led to excited conversations about the games and opportunities for fun.

Downstairs in the basement Hall space many children (and teachers!) were excited about the rock clambering and climbing wall. With multiple options for climbing, and developing coordination and strength the children were thrilled. However, the part of the new campus which drew the most excitement was the swimming pool. Despite the cooling November weather the children were most excited to explore this new space, if only from a distance. On returning to the Hongqiao campus, thoughts quickly turned to making preparations for the move. Making sure everything we are going to need at our campus will come with us. But also thoughts about all the good times that have been had in the HQ A Building over the years.

Soon it will be time for ECE, Year 1 and 2 to head to Ronghua, but that also means that soon it will be time for Hongqiao A Building to begin its exciting renovation.

Primary Coordinator – David BURTON

2017‐2018 Hongqiao Campus CCAs Session One will be finished on 7th December except the following activities:

 8^th December: Movie Making

1^st February: Y1-Y2 Chinese Dance

2^nd February: Y3-Y6 Chinese Dance

Where are you from?

I am from Brisbane in Australia. My dad is from Perth.

How long have you been at YCIS HQ?

I have been here for nearly 5 years.

What do you enjoy most about learning here?

My favourite subject is Physical Education and I’m very proud to be the House Captain for Green Dragons this year.

Tell us an interesting fact about you?

This year I am the main villain in our school musical Ali Baba and the Bongo Bandits.

Can you share a favourite quote?

Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible’! – Audrey Hepburn

 

Interviewed by:

School Captains –  Owen Tianmiao BANKS & Qing Levona SHU

Where are you from?

I am from Melbourne in Australia. This is my first year at YCIS.

Where did you teach before coming to YCIS?

I was teaching at a Jesuit college called Xavier college in Melbourne.

What do you enjoy most about teaching at YCIS?

I enjoy working with the students from a range of different backgrounds and learning about their culture.

Tell us an interesting fact about you?

I have the same name as a famous actress – Liz Hurley!

Can you share some words of wisdom for our students?

Always be curious and strive to achieve more.

 

Interviewed by:

School Captains –  Owen Tianmiao BANKS & Qing Levona SHU

Over the last few weeks, K3C children have demonstrated a growing interest in tools, construction and interior design. They explored building tools, and decorated their toy houses. They explored furniture and house decoration catalogs. They shared their personal knowledge and experiences during exploratory play and mat times.

K3C children decided they wanted to see real-life tools and contacted the school’s worker, Shu Shu. They wrote and delivered a letter to Shu Shu to tell him all about their new interest and invite him to come to the classroom as a ‘Tool and Building Expert’. He accepted the children’s invitation and came to share the content of his toolbox and compare them with the ones we have in the classroom. Children asked him to come back to the classroom to demonstrate how to use a few of his tools.

K3C children are now developing their play and interest by discussing the need for projects and plans. They had discussions about how to design and decorate houses, including discussing appropriate furniture for different rooms. Children also discussed what materials could be used to build a school and the different problems that could come from making a school with paper walls or carton walls.

Their emergent interests extended outside the classroom to discussions about buildings around the school playground. They invented a ‘Tool Song’ with Miss Jane during Music Class and asked their teachers to find books about their interest in the library.

After a month, they continue to show a growing interest in tools, construction and interior design. We wonder where their interest will lead them to next? Will they build something with Shu Shu as a common project? Will they show interest in the construction process that took place in RongHua Campus? Will they draw blueprints or discuss further the process and materials involved in building their imaginary school?

K3C Co-teachers – Claire POINTEAU & Liangqun KANG