We hope you all had a good break during the National Holiday week and that you back to school full of energy and enthusiasm.
Secondary leadership and staffing. I want to inform you that Mrs. Jacqueline Smith, who has been absent in the recent weeks for urgent medical reasons, will not be able to return to Hanova and thus will no longer be our Head of Secondary School and the Secondary Pastoral Coordinator.
We have already announced the expanded roles of Mr. Robert Muntzer, appointed Acting Head of Secondary School in addition to his other roles, and of Mrs. Sandy Trull, now Acting Secondary Pastoral Coordinator, in addition to her coordinator role.
Please join me in wishing well to Mrs. Jacqueline Smith in this difficult moment of her personal and professional life, and do not hesitate to contact Mr. Muntzer and Mrs. Trull also for their additional responsibilities in the Secondary School.
We are also happy to announce a new teacher of MYP / DP English Language and Literature and Language Acquisition. Mrs. Jelena Djovic will join us in January 2018 from southern Africa, where she has been teaching MYP English Language and Literature in two IB World Schools. Jelena is also an IB Examiner in Diploma English A Language and Literature.
University news. This week we hosted visits from the University of Pittsburgh and the Art Institute of Chicago. This week we will host the Baylor University and the University Fair.
The University Fair will take place on the 18th and is open to public. You are welcome to invite your friends to join us. Parents are strongly encouraged to attend these university events, a translator could be provided here at Hanova if needed. The event will include the following institutions:
- Roger Williams University
- Saint Peter’s University
- Berkeley College
- Merrimack College
- Hudson Vally Community College
- University of Hawaii Kapi’olani Community College
- Portland State University
- Eastern Washington University
- Clayton State University
- Rider University
- George Mason University
- Columbia College-Chicago
- Monmouth College
- University of Oregon
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact our University and Careers Counselor Ms. Zhu ( sharon.zhu@his-xian.com ).
- Roger Williams University
- Saint Peter’s University
- Berkeley College
- Merrimack College
- Hudson Vally Community College
- University of Hawaii Kapi’olani Community College
- Portland State University
- Eastern Washington University
- Clayton State University
- Rider University
- George Mason University
- Columbia College-Chicago
- Monmouth College
- University of Oregon
DP news. We are pleased to announce that the school has purchased annual subscriptions of “Smartbacc” for the IB Diploma students. Smartbacc has been developed over the past ten years by Oxford Study Courses, who are world-known for their excellent IB Diploma revision courses and outstanding study guides. Smartbacc is an interactive web portal that contains detailed, concise yet comprehensive revision guides on more than 50 different IB Diploma subjects. There are also on-screen workshops on study skills, revision skills, examination techniques as well as interactive quizzes and activities. Students will soon be given access to this web-site well ahead of time for their examination revision.
MYP news. We strive to cultivate a sense of international mindedness throughout our school. In the final assembly before the holiday our Year 11 students shared what they have found out about the global trade in coffee and other commodities. “In class, by looking at economic mechanisms, we came across one of the leading problems in today’s economy. This is the problem of inequalities between the buyer and seller of a raw product (on the commodity market). By looking at this issue, we have created posters, newspapers and even an animation to show how we as a community can create a more fair trade system!” (Micah Rice – Year 11)
The audience was also treated to a fantastic display of the dances created by the Year 8 students in their Arts module. Congratulations to all performers and to Ms. Krystal for her relentless efforts.
MYP interim reports and MYP Parent-Teacher-Student Conference. MYP interim reports will be available on the 18th October on Managebac. If you still find it difficult to access Managebac, please contact our IB MYP and DP Administrator, Ms. Li ( lilian.li@his-xian.com ).
All MYP parents should then attend the Parent Information Session and the Parent-Teacher-Student Conference on Wednesday 18th October, to acknowledge the academic progress that many of our students have made in the first half of this semester. Please continue to encourage your children to be vigilant about their time management, so that all work is submitted by the given deadlines in the future. We recommend you book the Parent-Teacher-Student Conference date, while you should have received all details from our MYP Coordinator, Mrs. Trull ( sandy.trull@his-xian.com ).
Secondary inter-house quiz. Last Friday before the holiday, the Secondary House Quiz took place, where the smartest members of each house battled against each other for one thing, honor! Each house was represented by 3 members of a wide range of classes. Questions were displayed in a way so that the quickest and smartest members would win a point for the house. And after an intense House Quiz (Thank you to all participants for your efforts), Tang was the house that claimed victory! Which granted it the biggest prize and the win for the first inter-house competition! (Alessandro Sanita – Tang House Captain)
PYP news. Last Friday before the holiday, the PYP classes enjoyed sports and fun games as part of House activity day. This is the first of many House activities planned for students to earn House points, learn group skills and get to know students from different classes.
Next week will be “Book Sharing Week” in the PYP. We are hoping to increase our classroom library books including books in the Mother tongue languages of our classes. Many children have books that they have read many times and these books could be shared with other children. If your children have some books to donate to their classroom either in English or Mother tongue please bring them to school next week. Your child’s teacher will create a classroom library.
International Day. On Friday, Nov 3rd, we will be having our 6th annual International Day event. This day is intended to celebrate all of the nations and cultures represented by our students and staff members at Hanova, as well as to encourage students to develop international mindedness. A letter with the program will be sent home soon.
Thanks again for your continuing support.
Yours,
Francesco Masetti-Placci
Upcoming Events
Please take note of these dates, while we will soon inform about any additional events and activities that will take place in the following weeks:
Tuesday 17th October Baylor University (USA) – 1:00pm
Wednesday 18th October University Fair (14 universities) – 2:00 pm – 3:15 pm
Wednesday 18th October MYP Parent-Teacher-Student Conference-3:15 pm – 3:45
Wednesday 25th October PYP English Acquisition Programme – 3:00pm
Friday 3rd November International Day
Friday, 17th November Staff Professional Development – No school for students