We are approaching the end of the First Semester of this Academic Year and the Festive Season for Chinese New Year and the Spring Festival. Hereafter the news of the week.
Back to School 2017. During last week we had to cancel the academic activities, because of an exceptionally high pollution level. We apologize for the inconvenience, however we were asked to follow the guidelines of the Xi’an Government Authorities.
We have then considered the impact to the overall Academic Calendar in both Primary and Secondary Schools and we can confirm you that all the legal requirements for this school year can still be assured.
The First Semester students’ reports, originally due next week on 18th January, will be ready by the 26th morning, our last day of school before the Chinese New Year holiday. All the other dates and deadlines previously communicated will be respected.
For additional information please contact our Marketing and Liaison officer Ms. Yang ( zena.yang@his-xian.com ).
Air Quality Policy. In any case, you all know that our school has developed its own Air Quality Policy, with stringent requirements related to inclement weather and pollution level, to ensure the health of our students. For additional information please contact our Athletic Director Mr. Lynn ( anthony.lynn@his-xian.com ).
Chinese New Year Celebrations. During last week we had to cancel the academic activities, thus it has also been decided to reduce our Chinese New Year Rotation Activities, to recover some curriculum time without the need to add new days of school.
PYP classes will then celebrate Chinese New Year on 20th January with in-class festivities according to the class and Year Group programs. There will be a variety of activities including cooking dumplings, designing fans and kite making.
PYP Focus This Month. Our Learner Profile focus this month is Open Mindedness. The IB definition of Open Mindedness is to be open or receptive to the perspectives, values and traditions of others. Open-minded people seek to understand different points of view and are willing to grow from new experiences.
The New Year is a perfect time to be open to new life experiences. Our students will be adapting to a different environment and routines and meeting many new friends. We all learn so much from each other. As we approach the wonderful festivities of Chinese New Year this may consist in trying new foods, developing new skills and experiencing timeless traditions.
New Lunch Menus. We have worked with Shangri-La to develop new lunch menus, according to the most popular preferences and to new proposals for their catering service. These new menus can be seen at the following links:
PYP: https://jinshuju.net/f/85mgBW
MYP: https://jinshuju.net/f/VTARTe
In addition, the two-dimension QR code of our school lunch order will be included in the email attachment and posted in the school main entrance.
DP Mock Exams. Year 13 students have been sitting for the Diploma mock exams during this week, and this will continue for the beginning of next week. This is an important preparation for our first cohort of DP students, due to graduate this summer 2017.
ECAs. Wednesday 18th January will be the first day of our 2dn Semester ECAs, with buses leaving after 4:30pm. From this upcoming week, school will finish later on Wednesdays (at 4:20pm) and buses will leave accordingly until the end of this block of ECAs.
Primary students will be involved in house tournaments during January, with ECAs starting officially only in February (forms will be sent out soon).
Secondary students already received a first form, which could be further expanded with few additional clubs, to start ECA activities from this Wednesday 18th January.
In addition, some sports and other selected activities will be offered also on Tuesday and Thursdays, but in this case students will have to arrange their transportation home after school.
Thanks again for your continuing support.
Yours,
Francesco Masetti-Placci
