U14 Girls Basketball Team are 3x Xi'an Jam Champions! - written by Mr Jason Cui.  On another exciting Saturday of sport, the U14 girls’ basketball team went to XLIS to once again defend their Xi'an Jam title against XIS, DEXA, KCIS and XLIS, seeking a third consecutive championship. The young female Hawks had won each of their friendly games during the season, yet tournament play is always tough.

The Hawks soundly defeated DEXA in the semi-finals, and, after a dramatic double overtime victory over KCIS in the semi-finals, XLIS faced the Hawks in the final.

In a tough and physically demanding game, the Hawks won the final 28-14, becoming Xi'an Jam Champions for the third straight year! Our female Hawks were incredibly resilient, courageous, and committed in defense to keep the lead until the end. Each player contributed to the Hawks’ strong defensive and offensive performance.

All-Tournament team nominations were Alice Zhang and Isabella Chen.

Thanks to parents and staff for all their support, it’s been another amazing season!

HANMUN - written by Ms Jane Lei.  On November 1st and 2nd, Hanova hosted our student-led HANMUN conference that brought over 50 delegates, including 15 delegates from Maple Leaf International School here in Xi’an. The event, hosted at Hanova, was a resounding success, filled with thought-provoking debate, strategic negotiations, and the pursuit of creative solutions to global challenges. The event also marked the first MUN collaboration between the two schools in an important show of school-to-school partnership to enhance student learning opportunities in Xi’an.

Model United Nations (MUN) is an academic simulation of the United Nations where students act as delegates representing different countries. Delegates engage in discussions and debates in various global issues. The aim is to draft resolutions, form alliances, and solve problems using diplomacy, negotiation, and teamwork. At HANMUN, delegates engaged in the following topics:

General Assembly (Intermediate):

- Ensuring the equitable and peaceful use of outer space and preventing the weaponization and over-exploitation of space resource

- Addressing the issue of the international black markets, transnational crime, and illegal transactions of organs

- Issue of the utilization of inhumane weapons in conflicting regions

UNESCO (Beginner):

- Reevaluating the ownership of historical artifacts and the claim of cultural relics of former colonies

- Addressing the accessibility to education, ensuring the fair distribution of educational resources

From the very first session at the beginner committee, our chairs explained the rules of procedures to fellow participants. For the General Assembly, delegates started impressive debates with depth of knowledge and effective presentation skills. Importantly through the delegates’ diplomacy, the General Assembly passed a number of resolutions.

The conference concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing the exceptional effort of delegates. The organizing team extends its gratitude to all participants, chairs, volunteers, and teachers who made this weekend an unforgettable experience. As we look forward to next year, the spirit of MUN lives on in the conversations and commitments inspired by this event.

Han Kang Nobel Laureate Event -  written by Ms Soohyun Park, Ms Faye Griffiths.

Celebrating Read-a-Thon Week: A Journey into the World of Books - written by Ms Lindsey Burrows.  This year’s Read-a-Thon Week was filled with exciting activities that sparked our students’ love for reading. From daily reading challenges to interactive activities to our annual Book Fair, Hanova primary school came together to celebrate the magic of books.

Each day, students enjoyed DEAR Time (Drop Everything And Read), where they paused their activities to dive into a book for ten minutes. With music signaling DEAR Time, students eagerly picked up their books, adding a calm, focused energy to our school day.

Outside the library, a display board challenged students to ‘Guess the Reader’ from photos. Homeroom teachers guided their classes in analyzing the mystery readers, adding excitement and curiosity as students pieced together clues.

In true Read-a-Thon spirit, students tracked their reading progress with color-coded logs representing their House Teams. This friendly competition encouraged teamwork and individual accountability, as students aimed to fill out their logs by the end of the week.

During library lessons, students participated in a phonics scavenger hunt, which turned reading into an interactive game. The activity encouraged them to identify sounds and words, strengthening their phonics skills while keeping the spirit of fun alive.

Each class also created a video book recommendation, creatively sharing a different book with reasons why they loved it. These videos were a highlight of the week, as they showcased the students’ enthusiasm and helped others discover new and interesting reads.

Additionally, Hanova held a splendid Book Fair at which students, parents, and teachers could browse and buy new books throughout the week. The week culminated with a lively assembly and parade. Students dressed as their favorite book characters! A colorful cast of characters paraded through the auditorium, proudly holding their books in hand, wrapping up a wonderful week of reading and learning.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to making Read-a-Thon Week a memorable event. We look forward to seeing the love for reading grow throughout the school year!

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Upcoming Events:

- November 7: University Visit - University of Calgary

- November 8: ‘Pathways to Success’ Info Session and US University Fair

- November 9: XIAC Cross-country @ DEXA 

- November 12: University Visit- University of Toronto

- November 15: Secondary Arts Showcase

- November 23: XIAC Swim Invitational @ DEXA

- December 14: Christmas Market/Winter Concert