This week the American tradition celebrates Thanksgiving, a period to show appreciation to family and friends and to show gratitude for the positive aspects of our lives. It also starts the countdown to the Winter Holidays, which will start soon.
Hereafter the news and the activities information related to this week and the dates of the upcoming important events to add to your diary.
Author Visit. Stan Cullimore, an author from U.K, spent two days with Hanova Primary students this week and shared with our students his experiences in becoming an author. During his stay, he led special creative writing workshops and storytelling sessions with both PYP and MYP students, taking them from building ideas to writing drafts to the ending process. The workshops were well received by teachers and students, who all enjoyed themselves very much during Stan’s workshops.
Secondary Teacher- Parent conference. Wednesday 23rd from 2pm to 4pm we held the Secondary Parent Teacher Conferences in the Auditorium, welcoming a large number of parents and students who attended.
It was really a successful event, with very worthwhile conversations about learning outcomes and student progress. Objectives, Goals and Target Setting was also on the agenda, and all proceedings were conducted in purposeful vibrant dialogues, with great pleasure to share our students’ successes.
We greatly value our Parents in Partnership meetings and parent consultations, and all Secondary teachers appreciated parents taking time out of their busy schedules to come and speak to us here in school during the school day about their child.
PYP Parent – Teacher Conferences. We would like to invite all primary parents to attend the first Parent-Teacher Conferences for this school year, as a way to discuss students’ learning, report on progress, and set learning goals. Primary School will finish at 2pm on these two days. Each conference lasts 10 minutes. If a longer period is required a further appointment can be made at the meeting with the teacher.
- Tuesday 29th November: Chinese curriculum meeting at 1:30pm, Parent-Teacher Conferences between 2pm and 5pm.
- Thursday 1st December: Chinese curriculum meeting 1:30pm, Parent-Teacher Conferences between 2pm and 5pm.
Primary Music Events. 15 PYP students (From Y3 to Y6) will perform a short Christmas Concert at the Gran Mélia Xi’an Hotel on December 3rd, around 5:00pm. This is part of the Christmas Decoration Lightning Ceremony, and they will entertain the audience with two Christmas Songs (Santa Claus is Coming To Town, Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree) and a spiritual in two voices (Kumbaya).
Our Primary students are also preparing a Winter Concert that will consist of a wonderful journey through several countries, presenting how people celebrate Christmas around the World. These countries are China, Indonesia, Israel, New Zealand, Czech Republic, United States and Scotland. Every Year Group has chose an original song coming from the musical tradition of these countries, and they will perform using instruments, dancing and acting, and singing also using the original language.
This Winter Concert will be held on Thursday 8th December at 6:00pm. Few seats are available also at the dress rehearsal on Tuesday 6th December.
Secondary Winter Showcase. The secondary students in years 7 and 11 are preparing a Winter Showcase to present their work in drama this semester. The Year 7’s will be presenting “Humbug High: A Contemporary Christmas Carol” The year 11’s will present selected scenes from the “Sound of Music”.
This showcase will be held on 15th December, the performance time will be announced later. Since some students may be absent on the 15th, parents and family members are invited to a dress rehearsal Tuesday 13th December at 2:00pm.
Second Hanova Christmas Market. On 3rd December, from 10:00am to 1:30pm, we will host Hanova’s 2nd Christmas Market. Last year the event was a great success, with great fun and activities, a lot of vendors in the Auditorium and a fantastic buffet in different stations around the campus. A big thanks already to all teachers, parents, members of staff who are preparing this year’s event.
All proceedings will go to charity, as part of our growing social responsibility activities.
ECAs. Last Wednesday 23rd November was the last day of our 1st Semester ECAs, with buses leaving after 4:30pm. From this upcoming week, school will finish earlier on Wednesdays (at 3:30pm) and buses will leave accordingly until the next block of ECAs. However, some ECA activities (Model United Nations, Basketball, …) will continue regularly until 14th December: please contact the respective teachers and supervisors for specific information. In these cases, students will have to arrange their transportation home after school.
Thanks again for your continuing support.
Yours,
Francesco Masetti-Placci