NEWSLETT ER Yantai Huasheng International School January 14, 2021 ANNOUNCEMENT FROM REGISTAR As we end the first semester of the 2020/2021 school year, we understand that some families may be returning to their home country or moving to another city/country at the end of the semester. If your family is planning to leave YHIS at the end of this semester, we would appreciate your assistance in informing the Admissions Office before 2:00 pm, this Friday, Jan. 15. A check-out form will be sent to your child this Friday. Please complete the form and return it to your child's homeroom/Advisory teacher by Monday, Jan. 18. We hope to have some time to help your student prepare for the transition as well as complete all the necessary school documentation for you. Upon submission of the check-out form, the school will prepare the documents needed for you. As the semester ends on Friday, Jan. 22, the documents will be delivered to your child on that day. COMMUNITY LANGUAGE POLICY (CLP) Given the number of different native languages spoken by students and staff at YHIS, the school has selected English as the common language to speak at all times during school hours. English was chosen since this is the language used for instruction at YHIS, so one benefit of the CLP is that it will result in improvement in English language skills which will result in better grades. A second motivation for the CLP is the Golden Rule: treat others as you would like to be treated. It is easy for individuals to be isolated if those around them are speaking a language they don't speak, and the best way to care for those around you is to always speak in the common language (English) while on the campus or on the bus, since this is what you would want others to do for you. We encourage parents to remind students about the importance of the CLP for the two reasons stated above. More information about the CLP can be found in the Parent-Student Handbook. If you have feedback on the CLP, please send it to [email protected]. LOCKDOWN DRILL We conduct various safety drills throughout the school year, so that students and staff know what to do in case an emergency does happen. The school practiced a lockdown drill today. A school lockdown drill is used when there is a threat of violence or risk of harm in or around the school. It is used when movement in or around the school is not safe. Lockdowns are utilized to isolate a threat and protect students and staff. The pictures below are from today’s lockdown drill. CHINA WEEK Chinese Spring Festival is one of the most important holidays in China. As a school, we would like to celebrate this time together! YHIS China Week will be from Feb. 1-5. Various hands-on activities will be happening throughout the week. On Friday, Feb. 5, 1:30 – 3:10 pm, we will have China Week Performance in the large auditorium where students will perform various Chinese songs and dances. Due to the new campus entry policy, parents are not allowed on campus. As such, the China Week Performance will be livestreamed via Zoom. On that Friday, we would like to suggest that students dress in traditional Chinese clothes or wear red, China’s main valued color. Please refer to the China Week and concert rehearsal schedule below. Students not in Chinese class will not participate in the rehearsal and take the school bus home after school. Date Activity Location Time Straw Plaited Article Chinese classroom Chinese class Feb. 1 Concert Rehersal (Elementary) Large auditorium 3:15-4:15 pm Feb. 2 Spring Festival Couplet Chinese classroom Chinese class Chinese Zodiac Designed by Five Grains Chinese classroom Chinese class Feb. 3 Concert Rehersal (Elementary) Large auditorium 3:15-4:15 pm Concert Rehersal (Secondary) Large auditorium 3:15-4:45 pm Chinese classroom/ Feb. 4 Chinese New Year Treasure Hunt Chinese class school building Feb. 5 Concert Large auditorium 1:30 – 3:10 pm FULL SCHOOL UNIFORMS TO BE WORN FROM S2 Our international school's uniform is an important part of our identity. beginning Semester 2, all students are expected to wear either a purple or white short- or long-sleeved polo shirt with school logo. The school approved zip-front jacket is the only outerwear allowed to be worn in the school building. A heavier winter jacket may be worn to and from the student’s home. All shirts must be tucked-in with no midriff showing. For more information about the School Uniform Policy, please refer to pages 41-43 of the Parent- Student Handbook. CHILD SAFETY AND PROTECTION AT YHIS Here at YHIS we are committed to safeguarding children from harm. We work to provide an environment where students are safe from all forms of abuse and seek to be a safe place for students to get help if they experience harm. We seek to do this through; safe recruitment practices, regular training in Child Safety for all our staff and volunteers, Child Safety Policies and by having 2 staff who take the role of Child Safety Specialists. These staff undertake extra training to be able to respond to any Child Safety concerns raised. So we wanted to take a moment to introduce you to your Child Safety Specialists: Name: Mary Vars (Learning Support Co-ordinator) Email: [email protected] Name: Winnie Zhang (Admissions Manager, PS Administrator) Email: [email protected] If you have a question regarding our Child Safety policies or if you are concerned that a child may be experiencing harm please contact either of these staff, they are here to help. You can see more details about this topic and view our Child Safety Policy and Code of Conduct on the updated Child Safety Page of our school Website. (click here) We will be adding Child Safety resources, for you and your family, to this page in the months ahead - look out for updates coming soon. Faith Yap – Director of Child Safety for iSC – [email protected] Q3 ELEMENTARY AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES Q2 Elementary After-school Activities run until Friday, Jan. 22. A list of Q3 activity and sign-up links will be shared next Monday. Please note that the Q3 activities will run from Monday, Jan. 25 until Wednesday, Mar. 31. YHIS/YIA AMC 10/12 MATH COMPETITION FOR HS STUDENTS We are pleased to announce that YHIS/YIA is a hosting site for the American Mathematics Competition (AMC) for high school students on Friday, Feb. 5 from 9:40 – 11:45 am. The AMC 10 is for students in 10th grade and below and the AMC 12 for students in 12th grade and below. They are both 25-question, 75-minute, multiple choice examinations in high school mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills. The AMC 10/12 provides an opportunity for high school students to develop positive attitudes towards analytical thinking and mathematics. Please click here to view more details about the competition. Interested high school students are to regiser by scanning the QR code below by Friday, Jan. 22 <AMC 10> <AMC 12> YHIS/YIA SECONDARY WRITING COMPETITION We are pleased to announce that YHIS/YIA is hosting their first annual secondary writing competition on Saturday, Jan 30 with a focus on short stories. The competition will give students an opportunity to learn how to approach writing creatively and use language as a tool to produce literary art by reflecting on the world around them. Please refer to the details below. Entrants: secondary students in Yantai How to register: complete a WeChat interest form by scanning the QR code. Registration fee: 50 RMb for internal students and 100 RMb for external students by Monday, Jan. 25. Award and Prize: one student for first place, two students for second place, and three students for third place will be awarded. Details on prize will be shared closer to the date. Award Ceremony: Friday, Feb. 5 (time to be determined) SCHOOL LUNCH UPDATES As part of continuous improvement for school lunches, we would like to inform you of some updates. For ECC lunch, the current plastic plates will be replaced with stainless steel plates, and a food warmer trolley will be used to keep foods warm. ECC students have three menu options to choose from, and parents can pre-order lunches for their child by 3:00 pm on Fridays by completing a short survey. Please refer to the menu of the week of Jan. 25 on page 8 and click here to pre-order lunches by 3:00 pm, Friday, Jan. 22. The changes will take effect from Jan. 25, 2021. Korean – 15 RMb (2 meat, 2 veggies, 1 soup, dessert, fruits) Western – 15 RMb (2 meat, 2 veggies, 1 soup, dessert, fruits) Chinese – 12 RMb (2 meat, 2 veggies, 1 soup, dessert, fruits) Optional – Seaweed packet (2 RMb) Elementary and secondary students can freely choose meat dish (choice of two) and veggie dishes (choice of two) from Korean and Western lunches. There is no change in menu prices. SECONDARY PARENT WORKSHOP SESSION The Secondary Principal, Mr. Ryan Jeffers, is hosting a parent workshop on Thursday, Jan. 21 at 10:00 am. The workship will cover Parenting Styles and Decision Making, the topic that most parents chose on the workshop survey. Here is the Zoom meeting link (no password, just waiting room):https://ldiglobal.zoom.us/j/7909039438. Translation will be provided.