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hanova's school newsletter

New Family Welcome at Hanova

Dear Parents and friends

New Family Welcome at Hanova.  Starting at a new school is an exciting yet sometimes daunting experience for both students and their families, especially when the school is in a new country or cultural setting. Hanova’s New Family Welcome event, held on Tuesday January 7th, served as a warm introduction to our school community, easing the transition for newcomers and setting the stage for a fresh start in 2025.

The event was designed to help new families feel at home in their new environment. It began with an informative session for families, presenting an overview of the school’s vision, mission and core values, and achievements. In addition, parents had the chance to connect with school leadership, key staff members, and HPTA committee members. This was also a great opportunity to learn about a typical day for students in the PYP, MYP, or DP levels. Moreover, families from various cultural backgrounds came together, creating a vibrant, multicultural community in a diverse and supportive environment.

Welcome to all our new Hanova families!

Warmly,

Hanova School Leadership

Welcome Back and a Special Visit from Our Alumni! - written by Ms Sharon Zhu.  As we returned to school after the holiday break, we were delighted to welcome two distinguished alumni: Isaiah Smith (Class of 2021), who is studying European Studies in the Netherlands, and Elijah Smith (Class of 2023), who is pursuing social studies education in the United States. Their visit was a wonderful opportunity for our current DP students to connect with these former classmates and gain valuable insights from their experiences.

One of the key pieces of advice they shared was the importance of making the most of the resources and guidance available at Hanova. They noted that the skills and knowledge they acquired here have prepared them well for university life. Their experiences serve as a testament to the strong foundation that Hanova provides, ensuring that our students are well-equipped to succeed in their future endeavors.

This visit was more than just a “home visit” from our dear graduates but also an inspiring event for our current students. It reinforced the strong community spirit at Hanova and the lasting impact of the education we provide. We wish these and all our alumni continued success in their future endeavors. We look forward to more such interactions in the future, as more alumni continue to bridge the gap between our current students and the wider Hanova family.

Primary & Secondary School Ensemble (Orchestra) Recruitment - written by Ms Krystal Jiang.  Hello students! We are recruiting students for the Primary and Secondary School Ensemble (Orchestra). Joining the ensemble will provide students with the opportunity to work together in small or large groups, fostering musicianship and orchestral skills. This experience will enhance aesthetic awareness, deepen musical study, and offer entertainment. We welcome experienced players (e.g., string, woodwind, brass instruments) and beginners (less than 2 years) to join us as reserve players.  

All new members are required to submit a practice video to Ms. Jiang (krystal.jiang@his-xian.com). Orchestra practices will be held after school on Mondays from 4:10 to 5:00 PM (PYP) and Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:30 PM (Secondary).

Did You Know?!

The Diversity of New Year Celebrations and the Role of Calendar Systems.  Different countries around the world celebrate the New Year according to their own traditions and calendar systems, and the ways in which they celebrate vary greatly. Most countries that use a solar calendar welcome the New Year on January 1st. In Europe and North America, New Year’s Eve is marked by countdowns and fireworks, while in Spain and Latin America, the tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight, known as "Las 12 Uvas," is enjoyed, accompanied by the tolling of twelve bells. In Japan, people celebrate the New Year by visiting shrines or temples for Hatsumode (the first shrine visit of the year) to make wishes, and share traditional New Year’s foods called osechi ryori (おせち料理) with their families. Meanwhile, countries like China, Korea, and Vietnam celebrate the Lunar New Year, known as Spring Festival (春节), Seollal, or Tết Nguyên Đán, based on the lunar calendar, typically around late January to early February. Families gather to share traditional foods, honor their ancestors, and engage in various games and customs.

The date of the New Year is determined by the characteristics of each calendar system, alongside these cultural traditions. The solar calendar is based on the Earth's revolution around the sun, with the modern Gregorian calendar derived from this system. In contrast, the lunar calendar is based on the moon’s cycles, with a month being approximately 29.5 days long. Because of the difference between the solar and lunar calendars, the Lunar New Year falls on different dates each year, typically between late January and early February.

The calendar system reflects the natural concepts of each culture, and the lunar calendar is particularly significant as it aligns more closely with natural changes. For example, China’s Spring Festival and Korea’s Seollal celebrate the beginning of the year in alignment with the end of winter and the arrival of spring, which is significant in agricultural societies where seasonal changes have a major impact on life. The reason the Lunar New Year falls on a different date each year is due to the lunar cycle, which reflects nature’s rhythm more directly. For instance, there is the Lunar New Year’s Full Moon Festival. In modern times, to reconcile the social schedules of solar-based societies with the lunar calendar, systems such as the lunisolar calendar have been introduced, allowing traditions to be preserved while meeting contemporary needs.

Upcoming Events:

- January 11: XIAC U19 Basketball Tournament at KCIS

- January 11: XIAC U14 Volleyball & U11 Mini Volleyball Tournament at DEXA

- January 16-18: Chang’An Cup U19 Basketball Invitational at XLIS

- January 24: CNY Celebration

- January 27-February 7: CNY Break


More News & Events



About the School Principal


Mr Lucas J. Roberts

School Principal

Mr Lucas J. Roberts is the current School Principal at Hanova. Mr. Luke, as he prefers to be called, has served in international school education in China for the past 14 years in Wuxi, Shanghai, Suzhou and Beijing. He has served during those years as Secondary Principal, whole school Vice Principal, School Principal (K-7th grade), High School Principal and Primary School Principal. He graduated university with a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies and continued on to earn an M.Ed. in Educational Administration. He joined Hanova in the summer of 2023 and is currently working on completing his Ed.D in Educational Leadership through Wilkes University (USA).