Service as Action Assembly: Are we creating a culture of service learning? - written by Ms Lydia Song, MYP & DP Librarian. Last Friday, January 12th, a Service-learning assembly was held to strengthen awareness to serve and be more reflective about our service as action in the Hanova community.
“To be socially responsible as global citizens” is quoted from the Hanova school mission and core values. To that end, Y10 students, David Kim, and Amy Lu warmed up the topic by sharing an organization: Global Citizen, stating how it matters to take a small and good action as a global citizen, just like what we have been doing in the Service as Action.
When it comes to an interview with the principal, Mr. Luke addressed that our school keeps looking for ways to encourage students to get involved in a more meaningful SA project, by relating the learning to real-world problems. “I hope SA isn’t seen as just one more thing to do, just check check check…done. But good service as learning should flow out of what you’re learning in class, and help other students, the people in our community, or even people around the world. Think of SA as what you GET TO DO TO HELP OTHERS, not what you HAVE to do for SA/MYP requirements…” said Mr. Lucas Roberts. In addition, 2 House activities were followed, led by the SA team, getting everyone engaged by defining the service learning with words or phrases on a house paper, and creating an “I hope…” statement to express the specific issue they were concerned most. These activities inspire students and teachers to be change agents and action-makers.
Although this assembly came to an end with dynamic discussion and sharing, service learning will never come to an end in our school life. It is rewarding to see that we are stepping forward in the journey of service learning at Hanova.
Snowy Adventures with Curious Children from Year 3A - written by Ms Dominique Wilinska-Essa, Year 3a Teacher. On Monday morning, as the snow began to fall, the children's curiosity was instantly piqued. They crowded by the window, eyes wide with wonder, and a flurry of questions began to fill the air. We quickly jotted down their inquiries, recognising this as a perfect spontaneous learning opportunity. Embracing their enthusiasm, we prepared for an outdoor investigation, bundling up in warm clothes and equipping ourselves with magnifying glasses to examine the snowflakes up close.
Once outside, the children became young scientists, observing the intricate designs of each snowflake, noticing patterns and differences. Their engagement with the natural world was palpable, and their hands-on exploration was a prime example of inquiry-based learning in action.
Back in the classroom, they asked even more questions and the children's excitement was channeled into further research. In pairs and groups, they used iPads to seek answers to the questions we had collected earlier. This technology-enabled investigation allowed them to extend their learning and satisfy their curiosity about the snowy phenomenon they had observed.
The following day, as snow continued to grace our school, the joy of shared experiences was evident. The children played together in the snow, their laughter and camaraderie a testament to the strong sense of community we foster in our learning environment. These moments, both educational and playful, are what make the PYP framework so special, as it supports the whole child and encourages a balance of learning and well-being.
DP Parents Afternoon - written by Ms Sharon Zhu, DP Coordinator. We are delighted to invite you to a special event tailored for parents of our DP students (both Y12 and Y13) at Xi’an Hanova International School. This event aims to provide valuable insights and support for both you and your child as they progress through the challenging Diploma Programme.
The event will take place on Monday, 29th January from 13:00 to 17:00 and will consist of the following sessions:
13:00 – 14:00 Navigate the DP Core Components (TOK, EE & CAS)
14:00 – 15:00 Supporting Your Kid in Stress Management & Anxiety
15:00 – 17:00 Y13 Parents-Teachers-Students Conference
During the "Navigate the DP Core Components" session, our experienced DP core components coordinators will introduce you to the core elements of the Diploma Programme. You will gain an understanding of how these components can help our students develop crucial skills such as critical thinking, research, and communication.
Following this, our Learning Support Coordinator, Mr. Rombout van Eekelen, will lead the session on "Supporting Your Kid in Stress Management & Anxiety." This session will provide valuable guidance on how you can support your child at home in managing stress and anxiety.
From 15:00 onwards, the afternoon will transition into the Year 13 Parents-Teachers-Students Conference. This will be an excellent opportunity for you to meet your child’s subject teachers, core components coordinators/supervisors, DP coordinators, homeroom teachers, and university counselors.
You are welcome to attend any or all of these sessions based on your availability and preferences. However, we highly recommend attending all of them to gain comprehensive insights and support for your child's educational journey.
If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact me via email at sharon.zhu@his-xian.com.
We look forward to your participation in this event and to working together to support the success and well-being of our students.
Learner profile awards - written by Mr Gary Wood, MYP Humanities and Secondary Pastoral Coordinator. Inquirer, thinker and knowledgeable. It was great to finally hand out the last of the learner profile awards last week. Every 3-4 weeks, Hanova secondary highlights one of the IB learner profile attributes and ensure students are made aware of them. This small gesture is a nice little pat on the back for the students when they receive their learner profile certificates. It’s a small token of recognition and an acknowledgement to the students that staff members are constantly paying attention to their progress. Well done to all those who received their awards!
The Giant Snow-White Dragon! - written by Ms Sanaz Sasannejad, PYP & MYP Visual Art. The Year 6 A & B Visual Arts took this beautiful opportunity of nature with the falling snow all day Monday to showcase and create a Giant Snow-White Dragon for the coming Chinese New Year! After drawing the concept, they made a sculpture with their frozen hands and after completing were one happy and proud Year 6! We take every opportunity to create and spread joy in our community, welcoming the Giant Snow-White Dragon to HANOVA in our coming Chinese New Year!
Y5 students have also used the White Snow Canvas for their drawing!
