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Hawks play in XIAC U19 volleyball tournament

Dear Parents and friends

XIAC U19 Volleyball Tournament - written by Mr Julian Barnsley, Head of Athletics.  Play started on Saturday afternoon and continued late in to the evening. We took a mixed squad to play in the Boys division. For many of the players this was their first experience of tournament volleyball. It was great to see all of the players rise to the occasion as they worked hard to apply their developing skills. I am delighted to share that the squad were able to earn third place after an epic 5-set battle in a final match that lasted for over an hour. It is difficult to think of any player that did not stand out for their efforts. That said, a special mention for Xenne Gerrits who was rewarded for his contribution with the Boys All Tournament MVP.

U14 Boys’ Basketball season a great success! - written by Mr Julian Barnsley, Head of Athletics.  The team made huge strides of improvement and progress throughout the season because of their determination and commitment to getting better, as well as having the best fans in the league.  Our parents and fans kept us motivated when games were difficult. During our first couple of games, our turnover rate was high, but by midseason the boys' had come together  as a true team.  They were always looking for the open person and passing the ball around until they found the right shot.  They won their last game of the season, which was a very intense game.  During the game, the boys stayed calm and composed and made big plays to beat their opponents by 11 points!  It was the perfect way to end the season.  Thank you top everyone who supported us!

Secondary School Halloween Celebration - written by Ellie Bae, Year 12 student.  Thursday, November 2nd, our secondary students celebrated Halloween with a lot of fun and activities. Students and teachers dressed up as their favorite characters – witches, ghosts, vampires and werewolves – as well as silly costumes that made all of us laugh. At the last two periods of the day, everyone marched in a parade, showing off their creative and well-made costumes.

Following the parade, contests were held for selecting the best costumes. We then had a house pumpkin-carving competition, where students carved Jack-O-Lanterns with beautiful designs. The activities of the day were organized by the Secondary Student Forum.

MYP Geography field trip to Sha Jing Cun - written by Mr Gary Wood, MYP Humanities.  On Monday the MYP Geography students went on a field trip to an urban village (城中村) as part of their urbanization unit. The students were able to spend time wandering through the alleys, analyzing the services and items on sale, as well as checking out the haphazard architecture! This trip was fit in well with their recent study of informal settlements and it helped the students understand that urban villages are not purely eye sores, but provide many benefits to those who live there. Overall, a great trip and one the students thoroughly enjoyed.

U8 Festival of Football - written by Mr Julian Barnsley, Head of Athletics.  This was a first for Hanova. A celebration for our youngest footballers. Players we organised into three team and got to play. A great way to spend a morning with runs, tackles, shots, saves and goals. Well done players and thank you parents for your support.


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About our School Principal


Dr Lucas J. Roberts

School Principal

Dr Lucas J. Roberts is the current School Principal at Hanova. He thoroughly enjoys being part of the Hanova Hawks community! Having served in international school education in China for over 15 years in Wuxi, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Beijing, being in Xi’an with his family to lead Hanova is indeed a joy and a privilege. “Mr. Luke,” as students call him, has served in numerous leadership capacities over the years, including Head of Primary, Head of Secondary, and School Principal/Head of School. Since 2014, he has served on nearly 20 WASC accreditation visiting committees around Asia to support other schools’ ongoing school improvement efforts, giving him substantial perspective on the international school world. Earning a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies helped spark Dr. Roberts’ belief that learning, rather than being isolated, should help students see patterns and connections across subjects with an emphasis on life skills and application. In other words, what we DO with knowledge is just as important as having knowledge, much in line with the IB Learner Profile and Hanova’s mission to develop responsible, wise, lifelong learners. Dr. Roberts earned an M.Ed. in Educational Administration and a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership, and he is a researcher, author, and conference speaker on a range of topics in education.