Our second year concludes. Our second year has been as memorable as our first. There have been so many rewarding, enriching and memorable times for all of us this year – so much has been crammed into the time. You can be reminded or maybe even relive some of these moments through the annals of the Yearbook. We have had many students and parents purchase our Yearbook since it was released on Wednesday. If you haven't already ordered a yearbook, you can still get one from the school office at RMB200 per copy.
I really appreciate the wonderful support from you especially in this year of such rapid growth and change, as at every event the parents and community have supported us. Mainly my thanks are for your support for your children and your school in our joint educational journey.
School Organisation 2014-15. We have finalised (at last!) the staffing for next year. Please see the attached document for details. I hope to get brief biographies of each new member of staff to you soon. The search for high quality teachers has been going on all year. Since January we have received more than 350 applications, of whom we have interviewed over 100. A few teachers have had changes in personal circumstances, which have led to last minute changes. We are finally at the point where we can confirm the staffing for next year.
The teaching staff, not including Teaching Assistants, continues to grow. By the end of our first year (June 2013) we had 19 teachers, which grew to our current 33 teachers at the end of this second year. 10 staff are leaving to go on to other things and we have 21 new staff coming ready for the start of August. Our teaching complement will be 44 at the start of next school year.
Student numbers have also grown. In the last set of applications, we have set much higher standards then before on the level of English required for students to be admitted to Hanova. We continue to aim to serve the needs of the whole community, but unfortunately cannot meet the demand from all who wish to attend Hanova. Our student body is currently 209 and we have currently got 221 enrolments for August. There are a number of late student applications that came after our deadline of May 23rd, which have not been finalised.
We are making considerable improvements in the quality and extent of the programmes we are offering across the school. We will have for example, two specialist teachers in each of PE, Art and Music as we expand our creative arts and PE programmes. There are improvements in the provision in the Middle Years, but in particular to our oldest students in the Diploma Years (Y12 and 13).
Next year we are offering the following subjects in the Diploma Years:
- English Language and Literature
- Chinese Language and Literature
- English Acquisition
- Mandarin Acquisition
- Economics
- ITGS (Information Technology)
- General Science
- Maths (Higher Level)
- Maths (Standard Level)
- Maths Studies
- Visual Arts
In Year 10 and 11 we are offering the Cambridge IGCSE programme covering the following subjects:
- First Language English
- World Literature
- Literature
- English Second Language
- Chinese Second Language
- Chinese Foreign Language
- Geography
- ICT
- History
- Economics
- Coordinated Science
- Combined Science
- International Maths
- Art and Design
- Music
- PE
In Year 7 to 9 the IB MYP offering the following subjects:
- First Language English
- World Literature
- Literature
- English Second Language
- Chinese Second Language
- Chinese Foreign Language
- Geography
- ICT
- History
- Economics
- Coordinated Science
- Combined Science
- International Maths
- Art and Design
- Music
- PE
Finally in the Primary Years, the IB PYP covering the following subject areas:
Note – most subjects, with the exception of Chinese, Art, Music and some aspects of Personal Social and Physical Education (particularly PE) are covered by the Homeroom Teacher and are integrated into a Unit of Inquiry.
- English
- Chinese
- Maths
- Science
- Social Studies
- ICT
- Art
- Music
- Personal, Social, Physical Education
Summer break. I hope you and your family are able to have some quality time over our summer break and hope the children come back refreshed and energised for the new school year.
The school office will be open over the summer, weekdays 9am-4pm, although with fewer staff than normal. A member of the Senior Leadership team will be available in Xi’an this summer throughout the holidays as we work on preparation for the forthcoming year.
Families new to the school will have a Family Induction day on Friday, 15th August and school starts for all students on Monday, 18th August. We know one or two of our families may arrive a few days late at the start of next school year. If you are in that position please send an email to april.hu@his-xian.com .
Last day. As the school will be open for a half day only on Friday, this is just a reminder that the buses will leave at 1:15. There will be no assembly at 9 o'clock this Friday.
Best regards,
Martin Hughes
Forthcoming events
Friday, 20th School closes 1pm Buses leave 1:15pm 5th June
August
Friday, 15th New families orientation
Monday, 18th School opens to all students
