Hanova Parent-Teacher Association (HPTA) first open meeting - written by Ms Jane Lei, University & Careers Counselor. On Tuesday, March 26th, we were excited to invite our parents for our first Parent-Teacher Association open meeting. It was a wonderful opportunity to strengthen our school community and engage in meaningful conversations with other parents and teachers, also learn about upcoming events and initiatives within our school community.
Led by our HPTA president Angela Chen and two vice presidents Victoria and Haiyan, our first open meeting began with a brief presentation, outlining our goals for the school year and introducing our committee members to our community.
Additionally, we discussed our upcoming events International Day and Sports Day. The meeting was followed by an open forum for parents to ask questions, share feedback, and make suggestions for how we work together to support our students.
Thank you to all who attend the meeting and shared your thoughts and ideas. Your involvement is truly appreciated, and we are confident that together, we can create a positive and engaging learning environment to build a stronger school community.
DP Visual Arts Exhibition: Delving into the Anxiety - written by Ms Lily Li, MYP & DP Visual Arts teacher. We are delighted to share with you the profound impact of the recent DP Visual Arts Exhibition held on March 27th in Xi'an Hanova International School. This exhibition aimed to explore the intricate and multifaceted realm of anxiety, inviting viewers to engage with a collection of artworks that make them contemplate their own encounters with anxiety while exploring the various landscapes.
The artworks within in this exhibition looks at anxiety from different angles, addressing themes such as the passage of time, societal pressures, personal challenges, and fears. Through a thoughtfully curated range of themes and artistic techniques, the exhibition created a captivating atmosphere that served as reflections of artist own encounters with anxiety, while also resonating with the broader audience, stimulating personal contemplation and dialogue.
As visitors entered the exhibition space, they were greeted by a remarkable display of creativity. Paintings, collages and mix-media artwork adorned the display boards, evoking a sense of intrigue and curiosity. Each piece offered a unique perspective on anxiety, capturing its various landscapes and the intricate interplay between internal struggles and external influences.
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the DP student Alicia who poured her passion and vulnerability into her artworks, bravely sharing her experiences with anxiety. We would also like to express our gratitude to the teachers, parents, and students who attended the exhibition, offering their support and engaging in meaningful conversations. Your presence and engagement contributed to the success of this extraordinary event and helped create an atmosphere where the impact and significance of anxiety could be explored openly and thoughtfully.
As we reflect on the DP Visual Arts Exhibition, we recognize the power of art to transcend boundaries, spark meaningful conversations. It is through events like these that we foster a culture of artistic appreciation and understanding, empowering our students to use their creativity as a vehicle for self-expression. We eagerly await future opportunities to celebrate the artistic achievements of our students.
Year 2 students: Being a risk-taker is fun! - written by Ms Isabella Helberg, Year 2 Teacher. “If you feel safe in the area you're working in, you're not working in the right area. Always go a little further into the water than you feel you're capable of being in. Go a little bit out of your depth. And when you don't feel that your feet are quite touching the bottom, you're just about in the right place to do something exciting.”
— David Bowie
During our training session with Tania Lattanzio, we learned how to use different materials in your classroom and went back to our classrooms with our heads buzzing with ideas, deciding to be more of a risk-taker.
Since then we have used some of her ideas in class, for example the walk around the room exercise. Students rotated between six posters and had to write their ideas on each poster, using a different color marker. Our students enjoyed this activity and they followed all expectations we agreed upon.
We tried new materials as part of their learning experience. Before we set up stations with foil and scrap paper, we had mini lessons demonstrating how to use and shape foil and then with scrap paper we showed them how to manipulate a shape when tearing paper.
First, we tried foil – students loved using foil to make any living thing of their choice. We had the loveliest creations and students made us proud with their creativity.
Next up we used scrap paper. Tearing paper can be fun and our students love to create animals or habitats with the paper they tear.
Being a risk-taker doesn’t only help your learning, it also helps you to have fun while learning, and most of all being excited about your learning!
Exploring Academic Horizons: DP Subject Introduction Assemblies - written by Ms Sharon Zhu, DP Coordinator. On Friday, March 29th, Xi’an Hanova International School ignited academic curiosity with its eagerly anticipated DP Subject Introduction Assembly. The event provided a platform for our experienced DP teachers and students to illuminate the diverse spectrum of subjects offered in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme.
With creativity and expertise, teachers and students presented IB DP subjects to the audience through dynamic presentations, captivating videos, etc. From Group 1, encompassing languages and literature, to Group 3, delving into individuals and societies, attendees gained unique insights into each subject's essence and relevance.
Given the breadth of subjects and the wealth of information to be shared, the assembly was split into two parts/assemblies. While the first segment provided an overview of subjects from Group 1 to Group 3, the second part promises an in-depth exploration into the realms of Group 3-6 which are sciences, mathematics, and arts.
Understanding the significance of parental involvement in students' academic journeys, we extend a special invitation to Hanova's secondary school parents, particularly those with students in Year 11, to join us for Part 2 on Friday, April 19th at 14:50 in the Auditorium. This invaluable opportunity will offer parents a closer look at the subjects that shape their child's educational path, facilitating informed decision-making and fostering supportive partnerships between home and school.
The DP Subject Introduction Assemblies not only serves as a beacon of academic inspiration but also exemplifies Hanova's commitment to nurturing well-rounded, intellectually curious individuals prepared to thrive in a globally interconnected world. Join us as we embark on a journey of academic exploration and discovery!
MYP Design students design and build robot arms - written by Mr John Ashworth, MYP Design. The year 7 MYP Design classes have been designing and building robot arms controlled by Scratch code as part of their ‘Mars Lander Robot Arm’ project. They have been working in specialised groups and brought their work together to make the current models. This brings together their learning from the Mechanical Hand project, Scratch coding for EV3, and their research into levers and pulleys. The robot arms are designed to address the problem of how to unload the first robots from the first spaceships that land on Mars. Now that the first prototypes are working the groups will continue to collaborate to develop more effective and reliable designs.
