Welcome to Hangzhou International School
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Welcome to A GUIDE FOR LIVING IN Hangzhou HANGZHOU, CHINA International School < HANGZHOU WESTLAKE NATURE AND HISTORY COMBINED HIS members have been working through a book study of Douglas Ota’s book, Safe Passage over the last year. It provides information about students, teachers, and community members’ roles in arriving, staying, and leaving international communities. “Moving is one of life’s greatest challenges. Firmly grounded in psychologi- cal theory and cutting-edge neuroscience, Safe Passage maps the challenges and charts a course for individ- uals, schools, and accrediting bodies to navigate them. Although primarily focusing on international schools, the hopeful message within this book reaches into any school, university, or organization where human beings come and go.” We encourage you to read this book and begin the transition process before you join us in China. PRODUCED BY HANGZHOU INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL SECTION 1 Introduction We are excited to meet you in person, and look forward to a great year to come! As you are preparing for your new adventure in China, here are a few bits of information that you can use to help you adjust. Use this book as the beginning point of your orientation. < STUDENTS IN THE GYMNASIUM WHETHER ON CAMPUS WITH THE COMMU- NITY OR EXPLORING THE CITY, HANGZHOU HAS MUCH TO OFFER. < GARDENS IN HANGZHOU HANGZHOU HAS MANY BEAUTIFUL GARDENS, HIKING TRAILS, AND TEMPLES TO EXPLORE. SECTION 1 ARRIVING IN HANGZHOU ORIENTATION PROGRAMS We request that you book your flight to land in Hang- New faculty members will be paired with a returning zhou, not nearby cities. Please refer to the information faculty member in order to develop positive connec- from the secretary regarding arrival date. Early arrivals tions, encourage new experiences, and help bridge are discouraged because we won’t have staff on hand the gaps in understanding life in China. to welcome you or get you settled. Upon arrival, one of the HIS Leadership Team members will meet you We invite you to join the 2020 Hangzhou New Hire at the airport to welcome you to your new home in WeChat Group to get to know each other and ask Hangzhou. questions in advance of your move to China. In the first week,d uring orientation, we’ll cover a variety of topics designed to get you ready to enjoy your adventure in China, so that it becomes home to you quickly. You’ll be able to ask questions via the new-hire WeChat group as well. It’s important to remember that you are going to Inform the secretary how many suitcases or luggage experience a bit of culture shock upon arrival. This items you will be bringing with you on the plane, so is natural, and to be expected. Embrace it, plan for that we can have a large enough vehicle to accommo- some times where you may miss home, or have date your needs. We will need your boarding passes some difficulties,b ut be prepared to interact with to complete your registration process soon after you your colleagues to get through these tough times. arrive. Please keep these handy. SECTION 1 COMPLETING PAPERWORK • Scanned copy of Criminal Clearance Report from Peggy will send you an email giving instructions on after February 01. obtaining your work visa. The information below is CV and Credentials merely an overview of the process and requirements. • Send updated CV according to the information Complete the process as quickly as possible to avoid provided. Ensure that there are no gaps in work delays and ensure that you get your passport back in a history and indicate beginning and ending dates of timely manner. educational history. • Authenticate all relevant educational credentials *Note: Some Chinese Embassies or consular offices including university degrees and teaching certifica- will have different requirements that supercede the in- tion. formation below. It is your responsibility to check with Location of Chinese Visa Application Process the Chinese Embassy you will be dealing with. Some • By April 30, please confirm with Peggy Pan exact- faculty members have experienced difficulties with ly which specific Chinese Embassy or Consulate processing paperwork at Chinese embassies outside office in your home country you will be using for their home country. Be prepared to return to your the visa application process. home country to finalize all documents. AUTHENTICATION PROCESS OVERVIEW OF REQUIREMENTS FOR VISAS You may be asked to “authenticate” documents. This School Documents practice ensures that notarized documents from one •Employment Agreement -- signed and scanned to country are recognized by another country as authen- Peggy Pan tic documents. Sometimes you can present original • HIS Online Application -- if you have kids, please documents and receive them back, other times you complete this by going to the HIS website: can submit certified copies of the original documents https://www.his-china.org/join/apply-online for authentication. Using the procedures from the US • Digital Signature -- send an e-signature to Peggy State Department, documents can be authenticated Pan using the following process. Check with the specific • Photo: Both digital version and print copies (12 Chinese Embassy or Consulate with which you are photos) are necessary for new hires and each dealing for changes to this process. accompanying family member. See precise photo Step 1: go to a local notary public to have the docu- measurements in Peggy’s email. ment notarized. (*Note: If it is a certified copy issued Personal and Family Documents by Federal or State office, this step not necessary) • Scanned copy of all passports (actual size). Pass- ports should be valid for at least 2 years and have Step 2: Authenticate the document with the Secre- at least 4 blank pages. tary of State where the document was issued. (Note: • Scanned copy of all Birth / Adoption and Marriage some states may require an additional County Clerk certificates. You may be requested to get these office certification). documents authenticated. In some cases, these will Step 3: Submit your document to the US State be kept, so having a scanned and certified copy Department for authentication. Your document will can be helpful. receive a seal and signature indicating its authenticity. • Scanned copy of the Chinese embassy’s Authen- tication document of Birth/Adoption or Marriage Step 4: Submit authenticated documents to the certificates. Documents must be authenticated by Chinese Embassy / Consulate to complete the legal- Chinese embassy or consulate where the certifi- ization process. cates were issued. SECTION 1 < Sample version of the seal of authentication provided for documents submitted to the Chinese Embassy. SECTION 2 Welcome to HIS Welcome to Hangzhou International School. The following photos should help give you a perspective of the facilities you will be using. SECTION 2 Welcome to HIS Photos of the HIS community. HIS STUDENTS COME FROM MANY DIFFERENT COUNTRIES, BUT MAKE FRIENDS ACROSS THESE BORDERS. SECTION 2 < The God of Money shares hongbao with the students at the Chinese New Year Cere- mony Access t Grade 10 Science class Lower School Chinese Fan Dance at the CNY Assembly Upper School Music class TOK talk with Grade 12 SEMESTER ONE SEMESTER TWO JULY JANUARY M T W TH F M T W TH F 1 2 3 School Calendar 1 6 7 8 9 10 4 5 6 7 8 13 14 15 16 17 11 12 13 14 15 20 21 22 23 24 2020-2021 18 19 20 21 22 27 28 29 30 31 25 26 27 28 29 AUGUST IMPORTANT DATES: FEBRUARY M T W TH F AUGUST M T W TH F 3 4 5 6 7 05-11 New Faculty Inservice 1 2 3 4 5 10 11 12 13 14 12-17 All Faculty Inservice 8 9 10 11 12 17 18 19 20 21 18 New Family Orientation/Open House 15 16 17 18 19 24 25 26 27 28 19 First Day of Semester One 22 23 24 25 26 31 SEPTEMBER 11 Professional Inservice (no school for students) SEPTEMBER MARCH M T W TH F OCTOBER M T W TH F 1 2 3 4 01-09 Mid-Autumn Festival and National Holiday 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 16 Mid-Term Progress Reports 8 9 10 11 12 14 15 16 17 18 20 Parent-Teacher Conferences 15 16 17 18 19 26 Professional Inservice (no school for students) 21 22 23 24 25 22 23 24 25 26 28 29 30 NOVEMBER 29 30 31 27 Professional Inservice (no school for students) OCTOBER APRIL DECEMBER M T W TH F M T W TH F 18 End of Semester One and Semester Reports 1 2 1 2 5 6 7 8 9 JANUARY 5 6 7 8 9 12 13 14 15 16 11 Professional Inservice/New Family Orientation (no school for students) 12 13 14 15 16 17 19 20 21 22 23 12 First Day of Semester Two 19 20 21 22 23 26 27 28 29 30 26 27 28 29 30 FEBRUARY 11-19 Chinese New Year Holiday NOVEMBER MAY M T W TH F MARCH M T W TH F 2 3 4 5 6 16 Student-Led Conferences 3 4 5 6 7 9 10 11 12 13 19 Mid-Term Progress Reports 10 11 12 13 14 16 17 18 19 20 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 APRIL 24 25 26 27 28 02 Professional Inservice (no school for students) 31 30 05-09 Qingming “Tomb Sweeping” Festival Holiday and Spring Break DECEMBER MAY JUNE M T W TH F 03 Labor Day Holiday (observed) M T W TH F 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 7 8 9 10 11 JUNE 7 8 9 10 11 14 Duanwu “Dragon Boat” Festival Holiday 14 15 16 17 18 14 15 16 17 18 25 End of Semester Two and Semester Reports 21 22 23 24 25 26 Professional Inservice (no school for students) 21 22 23 24 25 26 28 29 39 31 28 29 30 Total Student Days: 180 New Family Orientation Day/Open House Professional Inservice (no school for students) Conferences Legal Holidays (no school) School Holiday (no school) Beginning/End of Semester New Staff Inservice (no school for students) Back to School Nights (announced by each division) Saturday/Make Up Day (if needed) SECTION 3 Life in China As you are planning what to pack, remember that there are plenty of items available in Hangzhou.