1. education
2. school

Shanghai Community International School & Hangzhou International School
SEPTEMBER 2012
SCIS-HIS STUDENTS,
FACULTY AND FAMILIES
ARE “BACK TO SCHOOL”
WHAT IS SCIENCE?
CLASS OF 2012
POST EXCEPTIONALLY
GOOD IB RESULTS
1
CONTENT
CAMPUS HIGHLIGHTS
FEATURES:
New System Administrators
Director’s Letter
Curriculum: Science
Theme: First Day of School
Host Culture
04
05
08
12
17
Hangzhou
Hongqiao
Pudong
06
14
10
COMMUNITY
Educational Insights
Dragon Cup
Health
Partners: CCS
Coming Events
2
18
20
21
22
23
[ SUPERINTENDENT’S LETTER ]
PAFA NEWS
back to school
Dear SCIS-HIS Community,
We welcome you all back in this first edition for the 2012-13 school year of our “Communitas” magazine,
a monthly magazine that features some of the initiatives and accomplishments at our individual campuses and
within our sisterhood of schools. The Latin translation of the SCIS-HIS motto “communitas” is “together, a gift”
and it is in this spirit we celebrate our unique commitment to value the contribution of our communities in
supporting the teaching and learning at and between our schools. The theme for the first edition of the
Communitas magazine is “Back to School” and our aim within the following pages is not only to feature some
of the smiling faces of students, parents, and staff at each campus, but to also highlight the efforts to bring our
schools together and take advantage of the opportunities present in being three schools with one common
vision and mission.
Before our 2500 students were back to school, we welcomed in more than 250 new and returning faculty to our
five campuses. This year, our driving theme for professional development will be increasing the professional capacity
of our staff to improve learning for all students. We have phrased this push as “providing opportunities that are
just right” for students and teachers. Meeting this goal for a faculty that is represented by over 20 nationalities and
a student population that is represented by over 60 nationalities is a most ambitious endeavor. However, it is
a worthy initiative as SCIS-HIS schools are founded on values that celebrate diversity, promote intercultural
understanding, and strive for the highest levels of academic and personal excellence. We are committed to
continuing as a truly diverse international community with truly unique and rigorous learning opportunities.
A couple of new faces in charge of senior levels of responsibility within our mission were brought onboard this year.
I am happy to announce the appointment of Mr. Daniel Jubert as our new SCIS-Pudong Head of School. Mr. Jubert
has been with SCIS-Pudong since 2009, after serving positions in Honduras and the United States. Joining our
system levels of educational administration is Mr. John Wishart, who will serve as our Director of Technology,
Mr. Francis Lai as Business Manager and Ms. Mun Yee Choo as Marketing and Communications Manager.
On a final note, I am pleased to remind our SCIS and HIS communities that we will be undergoing a single selfstudy and joint-accreditation process with our American-based accrediting organization, the Western Association
of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and our Chinese accrediting organization, the National Center for Curriculum
and Textbooks (NCCT). This process will invite involvement and feedback from all members of our SCIS-HIS
communities. Effectively this will allow our Shanghai and Hangzhou communities to work together towards school
improvement and the WASC Focus on Learning protocols.
Again, welcome back to the 2012-13 school year! Enjoy!
Jeffry R. Stubbs
Superintendent of Schools
MR. JEFFRY R. STUBBS is the
Superintendent of Schools for SCIS-HIS
Communitas is the official magazine for the Shanghai Community International School
and Hangzhou International School.
It is the publication of all things learning and teaching in the SCIS-HIS system of schools.
Communitas Editorial Team:
JEFFRY R. STUBBS
MUN YEE CHOO MAUREEN NI
Please contact us at: Communitas@scischina.org
3
[ ADMINISTRATORS ]
WElcome aboard
For the school year 2012-2013, SCIS-HIS welcomes new personnel to our System Administration team. John Wishart,
Francis Lai and Mun Yee Choo join the current administrators Jeffry Stubbs, Superintendent of Schools; Shawn Knudson,
Director of Admissions; Tammy Rodabaugh, Director of Curriculum and Tina Kasono, Business Relation and HR Manager
in management and vision of our 5 campuses, 3 schools, 2 cities and one shared vision that unites our schools.
JOHN WISHART
(SCIS-HIS Director of Technology)
John joins SCIS-HIS schools after serving as Director of Technology at the
International School of Kenya (ISK), Jakarta International School (JIS), and
several schools in his home county of New Zealand. John carries a Masters of
Education (MED) from Trenton State College and a Bachelors of Science (BSC)
in Computers and Math. He joins SCIS-HIS with his partner, Barbara Fultz, who
teaches IB Math at the SCIS-Hongqiao Campus. As the Director of Technology,
John oversees the development of software and database systems that serve
the needs of the SCIS-HIS community, including inventory, student records, curriculum and resources, web presence, and administration. John works
with campus technology coordinators, technology integration specialists, and
technology teachers to develop and implement our 3-year technology plan.
FRANCIS LAI
(SCIS-HIS Business Manager)
Francis joins SCIS-HIS schools after serving as College Director at Raffles
Design Institute. He received his Masters of Business Management (MBA)
from Harris‑Stowe State University in St. Louis, Missouri. Francis is Singaporean
and has worked in several international institutions. He is fluent in Mandarin,
Cantonese and English, and has conversant proficiency in Japanese, Thai, and
Hokkien. Francis is married and has one son. As the SCIS-HIS Business Manager,
Francis is responsible for the planning and managing of the school’s business
affairs including finances, human resources, government relations, risk
management, legal matters, long range planning, security, operations and
maintenance, construction and auxiliary services.
MUN YEE CHOO
(SCIS-HIS Marketing and Communications Manager)
Mun Yee also joins us from Raffles Design Institute. She received her
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Graphics Design at the Academy of Art
University, San Francisco, CA. Mun Yee spent many years working with
brand design and website development in the U.S., then spent some time
working in her home country of Malaysia, before joining her husband to live
in Shanghai. She has one child. Mun Yee is fluent in English, Malay,
Cantonese and Mandarin. Mun Yee’s key responsibility is to show off our
wonderful communities and share the teaching and learning that is taking
place in our schools.
4
[ DIRECTOR’S LETTER ]
Help and Advice
from Your SCIS-HIS
Admissions Office
W
elcome to the start of another
wonderful school year. This is a
special time for all our families and faculty
alike, and there is a feeling of excitement
in the air that can be felt on each of our
campuses. Returning families are eager to
catch up with friends and resume familiar
routines and schedules, while new families
are ready to embark on a new adventure.
This time, however, can also create
anxiety and stress as students and parents
transition into a new school environment,
some for the first time. Thankfully there is
plenty of support at each of our campuses
to help ease these concerns and assist
new families. A great place to start is
with our Parent and Friends Association
(PAFA). They provide many opportunities
from New Parent Orientation held each
semester, to the Ambassador Program,
which connects a new family with an
existing one through email. This is crucial
leading up to the big move, and even
after in those first few months of school
when so much about the country, city
and school are different. Your child’s
classroom teacher is another source of
support. They are all experts at transitioning
into new environments as they have
many students who are new each year,
as well as being expats themselves.
Another great resource is the counselor
at your school. They hold a wealth of
information and experience, and have a
number of tips and strategies to help with
the transition process of starting a new
school in a new country. At our Hongqiao
Campus, upper school counselor Mr. Mark
Wiser suggests the following:
• Keep in close communication with your
child and monitor their moods. Look
for signs that the transition is not going
well such as depression, severe anxiety,
frequent ailments, and withdrawal.
Photo credits Mr. Joel
Sutton, HQ and Mr.
Doug Brunner, HIS
• You are in a new place, so you have an
opportunity to start some new rituals.
Find time each day to debrief with your
children. Dinner is a great time to do
this when everybody is unplugged from
technology. Ask open-ended questions
about their day such as, “What’s the best
and worst thing that happened today?”
• Set up a poster on one of the walls in
your home about Shanghai and your
family’s likes and dislikes. All family
members should contribute items
throughout the year. This can serve
as a reminder of things to buy and
look forward to when you go home
for a visit.
• Bring things from home that have
sentimental value such as music, photos, and personal items – sometimes
just having things in a backpack or in a
prominent place in the room can be
very comforting.
• Set up an easy and convenient way to
stay in contact with people from back
home. Skype calls, phone calls, emails,
etc. are great ways to do this.
Mr. Wiser also reminds families to seek
professional support from the community
when children exhibit behaviors beyond
their control. The Community Center
of Shanghai is equipped to handle
such matters, and is another place to
seek assistance.
Moving to China is a great opportunity
for families. The cultural experience
alone is well worth the time and energy that is needed to ensure a smooth
transition. Being well prepared for the
highs and lows, choosing your housing and
schooling, and understanding the stages
your children will go through are key to
your success.
If our Admissions Department can be of
any assistance to you during the planning
stages, please do not hesitate to contact
us. We are experienced and ready for
your questions.
MR. SHAWN
KNUDSON is Director
of Admissions for
SCIS-HIS
5
[ HANGZHOU HIGHLIGHTS ]
The Karakoram
Highway by Bicycle
R
obert Vander Eyken, Head of School at Hangzhou International
School (HIS) and his 12 year old son, Felipe, a student at HIS,
shared a tremendous travel adventure together. The following are
excerpts from their travel journals.
Robert writes:
I had planned on spending the entire summer in sultry
Hangzhou, studying Mandarin and putting up with the heat and
humidity. The idea of biking the Karakoram highway from the
Pakistani border down to Kashgar with Felipe was born from a
conversation with a colleague in Shanghai who has set out on
a solo ride from Xining down to Sichuan through the heart of
what used to be eastern Tibet. Although the idea of returning to
the land of the Tibetans and Buddha was appealing, the prospect
of a shorter trip with Felipe through the high mountains and
stark deserts of far western China was something I could not
pass. This trip would be a combination of my love for Felipe,
biking and mountains.
Felipe writes:
We took off to the road and it was easy at the beginning because
most of the road was flat. After that, the ride turned out to be
tougher than we expected. It was uphill and it took us 10 hours
to pass all the uphill parts. So we pulled over and found a spot
where we wouldn’t be conspicuous. We set up the tent, brushed
our teeth and went to bed. It was the longest day of my life.
Thursday: Staying in a Yurt
Now the rest of the ride was downhill. We could see an
enormous mountain that was on our side so we pulled over
6
Photos courtesy of
Mr. Robert Vander Eyken
when we reached the Lake Kerrakul to take a picture of the
mountain and the lake that was in the reflection. We heard the
sound of a motorcycle, a man came off the motorcycle and
walked towards us. He asked if we wanted to stay for a night in
a yurt. We wouldn’t be able to stay in such a beautiful place if
we continued our trip so we said “Yes”. The man then said to
follow him and we did. When we got to the yurt, we unpacked
the bikes, put the things inside and we walked around the lake.
The best part of it was crossing the green wetlands because it
smelled like life. After we passed the wetlands, we went back
to the yurt for food and sleep.
[ HANGZHOU HIGHLIGHTS ]
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7
[ CURRICULUM FEATURE ]
What is Science?
Science is the study of the structures and behaviors of the physical and natural world accomplished
through observation (intellectual activities) and experimentation (practical activities).
What is Science at SCIS-HIS? Science at SCIS-HIS is instructing students to think about
science and perform science correctly. SCIS-HIS teachers and curriculum inspire curiosity along
with a disciplined approach to learning which stresses precision and accuracy.
Dr. Prasanna Velamuri, SCIS Pudong High School Science
Scientific Method
Are all drops of water equal? If you use an eyedropper, carefully,
to make drops of water, will each drop have the same size?
The answer to this question seems to be “maybe.” After testing
hundreds, if not thousands of drops of water, HIS students have
reached the following conclusions: holding the water dropper
at different angles does not seem to affect the size of a drop of
water, unless the dropper is parallel to the surface onto which the
water drops will fall and drops
of water made by one person
sometimes have a very different size than drops of water
made by a different person.
Also, drops of glycerol have a
similar size to drops of water,
but drops of oil are smaller.
Photo credits to Mr. Thomas Robinson, HIS
Through the rigor and study
of a seemingly simple task,
the processes of the scientific
method are realized.
Inquiry
The process of inquiry focuses on questioning, creating, exploring, and
coming to conclusions by looking for patterns and trends. Through
inquiry based study, students devise their own experiments to test
concepts being taught. Using the scientific method in a genuine way, they
become proficient in using different metric measurements, microscopes,
graphing, higher-level thinking
and collaboration skills.
By teaching students how to
learn and how to ask questions,
we develop the high level thinking skills that then develop into
the critical thinking skills that
make for a successful scientist
and successful student.
8
Photo credits to Ms. Maranda
Brunner, HIS Middle School Science;
text contributions from Ms. Brunner
and Dr. Selime Cimen, SCIS
Hongqiao High School Science.
[ CURRICULUM FEATURE ]
Modeling
The modeling process requires that students make observations and measurements and
then use the data to construct mathematical and physical models. In short, the modeling
process becomes a recipe for how to manage the complexity of our world.
Mathematical Models:
Physics courses explore how mental models
can be used to describe phenomena that we
can observe. Observing movement of objects
such as cars or bikes, we ask questions about
what we observe – what does constant velocity movement look like? What does this model
look like as a graph, or as a table of data? What
must we measure to construct a mathematical
model for what we see? As the year continues,
more complex systems are studied such as acceleration down an incline, collisions, electrical
power generation as well as the study of waves
resonance and light.
Photo and text credits to Mr. Evan Weinberg, HIS High School Physics.
Physical Models:
Earth Science students construct a physical model based on
their study of the planet earth. Using materials of their choosing,
from Rice Krispies to modeling clay, students study the layers of
the earth from core to crust requiring accurate measurements
to assure the model is to scale. Continents must also be
accurately represented to finalize these models.
Photo and text credits to Ms. Clare McDermott,
SCIS Hongqiao 7th grade Science.
9
[ PUDONG HIGHLIGHTS ]
Changing of the Guard
On September 3rd, Dan Jubert took
over the helm as Head of School at SCISPudong. The search committee considered
a number of highly-qualified candidates
for this position, ultimately settling on Mr.
Jubert as the right fit for SCIS-PD.
Mr. Jubert holds a Bachelor’s Degree
in Psychology from the University of
Wisconsin, a Master of Arts in Educational
Psychology from the University of
Minnesota, and is nearing completion of
a Doctor of Education degree from that
same university in the field of International
Education. The comments and feedback from the school community were
uniformly positive and enthusiastic. His
responses to our questions and some of
the hypothetical situations we proposed
reflected a comprehensive grasp of the
nuances and complexities involved in
being an effective educational leader.
The importance of stability was another
factor in selecting Mr. Jubert. It was clear
from our interview that in the four years
Mr. Jubert and his wife, Katharine, have
been at SCIS, he has developed a thorough
understanding of who we are as a school,
why our students are thriving, and what
needs to be done to maintain momentum
in every aspect of our school’s programs.
A related and very large part of this
“stability” factor were the plans of Don
and Jane MacMillan to remain at SCIS
after this school year, and Ty Smeins
staying on and becoming Middle School
Principal next school year.
With these educators at the helm, we
have an exceptional team of leaders at
SCIS-Pudong for this school year and
beyond. I’d like to say thank you to the
many people who took time to meet and
talk with us over the past several weeks
to help us chart our school’s path, and
“welcome” Mr. Jubert to his new role as
Head of School at SCIS-Pudong.
MR. MICHAEL S.
DOUGHERTY, SCIS
Board of Directors
A Word from Head of School
It is a great honor that I now serve as
the Head of School for our SCIS-Pudong
campuses. I have been part of this
wonderful community for over 3 years,
and I couldn’t be more excited to
continue building on our successes.
I believe whole-heartedly in what SCIS
represents. We are a community school
made up of students, parents, and faculty
from around the world. We are a school
that recognizes the individual needs and
talents of all students. And, we are a school
10
that continues to be the international school
of choice in Shanghai. Since the year
began, I have been thoroughly impressed
with our dedicated faculty, our involved
parents, and our enthusiastic students.
Together, we form the fabric that weaves
our community together.
I would also like to take this opportunity
and thank the entire SCIS-Pudong
community for their support of my new
role. The transition has only been met with
words of encouragement and optimism,
and I can say with confidence that there
is no other community of learners with
whom I would rather work. I look forward
to seeing you on our campuses.
MR. DANIEL JUBERT
is Head of School at the
SCIS Pudong campus
[ PUDONG HIGHLIGHTS ]
IB Program Success
As of May, 2010, SCIS Pudong has been
authorized to deliver the International
Baccalaureate (IB) program to our eleventh and twelfth grade students. The IB
is recognized by colleges and universities
throughout the world as an excellent
college preparatory program and is very
popular among international schools.
IB Diploma program students engage with
a well-designed and challenging curriculum
within their classes and also benefit from
a number of aspects unique to the IB.
These include the Creativity/Action/Service (CAS) program, the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course and the extended
essay. Each of these is designed to extend
the personal and intellectual development
of students.
The CAS program ensures that students
become involved in a meaningful way in
activities beyond the classroom. TOK is
a class that asks students to consider the
nature of knowledge and learning and to
reflect on the relationships between the
subject areas they study in their other
classes. The extended essay gives students
an opportunity to independently research
and write about a topic of interest in a
manner that will prepare them for the
demands of university writing.
Students who complete the IB program
will find themselves well positioned for
college applications and for success in
their university programs. Many universities and colleges not only place a premium on the IB Diploma, but also offer
credit for courses in which students score
well in their IB exams. The IB Diploma
program is demanding, but the personal
and academic rewards are high.
This past May, our first cohort of IB
students completed their exams. So, how
did these trailblazers do? We are pleased
to report that over three quarters of
those pursuing a full diploma earned one,
and did so with an average score of 29.8,
which places them solidly with their peers
worldwide. In addition, each of our students, full IB candidates or not, completed
a comprehensive CAS program and
researched and wrote an extended essay.
They are now attending colleges and
universities of their choice world wide,
fully prepared to be successful in their
studies and in their subsequent careers.
Congratulations to each of them!
MR. DON MACMILLAN
is High School Principal at
the SCIS Pudong campus
11
[ THEME STORY ]
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Photos courtesy of
Mr. Joel Sutton, HQ
Mr. Nick Togneri, PD
A
s the school buses arrive on the 5 campuses of SCIS-HIS
the morning of August 16, the full range of emotions are
on display. Under the watchful eyes of teachers, administrators
and staff, anxious new students as well as familiar returning
students are welcomed. The energy and excitement of new
beginnings mixes with the happiness and shouts of recognition
as old friends find each other. The SCIS-HIS community begins
the 2012-2013 school year!
The first day of school is not only a first for some students but
to new faculty as well. After an introduction and an adjustment
to their new environs, new faculty and staff join those returning in workshops and social events. All then welcome students to campus for another year of learning in the SCIS-HIS
12
Mr. Doug Brunner, HIS
Ms. Mun Yee Choo
vision of providing all students opportunities to pursue academic
and personal excellence in nurturing, international community
environments.
While proud mothers and fathers watch their little ones begin
their very first day of school in our Nursery, Pre-School or
Kindergarten classes, 11th graders began their first classes in the
IB Diploma and AP programs and happy upper school students
are excited to receive their Macintosh laptops.
From new languages to new instruments, assemblies to activities,
it is evident that another year packed with opportunities for success, achievement and learning is underway.
[ THEME STORY ]
13
[ HONGQIAO HIGHLIGHTS ]
HQ Class of 2012 Post
Exceptionally Good IB Results
wonderful diversity of our student body,
our graduates continue with their tertiary
education across the globe.
From Top to bottom, left to right:
HELENA CARLSSON has accepted an offer to attend Southhampton University,
United Kingdom
CHRISTINA CHOI has accepted an offer to attend Hong Kong University
YURINA SHIMBORI will attend Keio University in Japan
BRIAN (TAE-JONG) YU has accepted an offer to attend Hong Kong University
JIWON LEE has been accepted to Hong Kong University and is pursuing
acceptance to Korean universities as well
KELSEY WATT will attend Monash University in Australia
DAVID HUNG is attending University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
PAOLO BURINI is attending the University of Miami, Florida
JACKLINE HUNG is attending the University of California, Davis (UCD)
O
f the 37 members of the graduating
class of 2012 from the Hongqiao
campus of the Shanghai Community
International School, 34 decided to take
on the challenge of the full International
Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP).
The IBDP program is a rigorous program
of study followed by students in the final
two years of high school. The program
revolves around the study of six core
courses, the completion of a 4000 word
extended essay, completion of the theory
of knowledge course and completion of
150 hours dedicated towards creative,
active and community service projects.
14
Of the six courses, students follow three
at higher level and 3 at standard level.
Higher level courses require 240 hours of
teaching time and standard level courses
require 150 hours.
In just the third exam session of the IB
Diploma Program at SCIS-HQ, 26% of
the students earned 36 or more total
points. The maximum that a student
can earn on the IB diploma is 45. A 36
point total, or above, represents academic
excellence, dedication and hard work,
and opens the doors to some of the
finest universities in the world. Like the
This year’s results are significant as it
reiterates the true philosophy of the
International Baccalaureate Organization
(IBO), and how SCIS interprets and
actualizes this philosophy into a pedagogic
reality. SCIS has an open IBDP policy
which allows for all its students to enroll
into the program. Unlike some other
international schools around the world,
we do not pre-select or otherwise limit
entry of our DP candidates, and therefore
all our students have an equal chance
and opportunity to strive for this highly
sought-after internationally recognized
diploma. For this past session, our cohort
of students attained an average of 33
points (max 45), a subject average grade
of 5.25 (max. 7), and an 85% full diploma
pass rate.
Congratulations to all our wonderful students! A very special word of congratulations to the following SCIS-HQ students,
who achieved a 36 or higher in externally
graded exam session:
Helena Carlsson, Christina Choi, Yurina
Shimbori, Brian (Tae-Jong) Yu, Kyu-Dong
Lee, Jiwon Lee, Kelsey Watt, Melina Toscani and David Hung.
Having completed exit interviews with
each of our graduates, they each felt
confident and well prepared to meet
whatever challenges may come next, as
they move onto university. With the constant in-house training and DP initiatives,
we fully expect a similar star performance
from our current senior class in their May,
2013 finals.
MR. JEFF SMITH is
the IBDP Coordinator
/ High School Vice
Principal at the
Hongqiao Campus
[ HONGQIAO HIGHLIGHTS ]
My Mexican
Summer
Tulum Beach
Ruins
Photos courtesy of
Carnie Lewis
Chichen Itza Main Pyramid
I
’ll be frank by stating I’ve traveled a lot, to a variety of different
unique destinations. Nevertheless, I feel I can honestly say that
I can call Playa Del Carmen, a city located just 40 minutes away
from Cancun, Mexico, my favorite travel experience yet. My
goal of the summer was to go on a two week Spanish-learning
camp in Central America but I never realized just how much
more I would get out of this camp than an increased proficiency
in the Spanish language.
Playa Del Carmen is one of those young cities that has grown
from a fishing village to a major tourist attraction in a mere 30
years- it is lively, accommodating, adventurous and, above all,
incredibly cultural. The town is set out like a grid, with the
famous ‘Quinta’ Street lining itself alongside the most beautiful
beaches of white sand and crystal blue water. Shops, hotels,
hostels, restaurants, bus stations, markets, you name it- are
within minutes of walking distance. This turned out to be incredibly
handy as we were able to explore the city, on foot, with ease.
Every Tuesday and Thursday nights, free salsa classes for the
public were held on the beach and every Sunday, restaurants
would cook up a feast for a tasty brunch. Every day I was able
to lay in the sun or swim, parasail or jet ski on
the beautiful water, or travel to Cozumel, an
island known for the oldest Mayan Ruins found,
within a 40 minute ferry ride. The great thing
about Playa Del Carmen was that there was so
much to do, and I was within proximity of so
many other incredible sites.
beauty and historical significance to the Mayan Ruins. From Playa
Del Carmen I was able to book a tour to Chichen Itza, one of
the largest and most famous excavation sites of a Mayan City,
Valladolid, a Spanish colonial city, and two different cenotes.
Cenotes are unique to the Yucatan peninsula; they are large caverns where limestone has collapsed and which fresh water has
filled. Cenote Ik-kal (a cenote which is a 250 meter drop from
the surface) and Chichen Itza are incredibly amazing to see, but
my ultimate favourite experience lay in Playa Del Akumel. On
the outside, Playa del Akumel looks like another beautiful beach,
but the real treasures lay 200 meters from the shore. Once you
swim away from the shore, one is able to swim alongside stingrays, fish and my favorite, wild green turtles. These turtles were
incredible, ranging from 50 centimeters to a meter in width, and
having no apparent fear of human creatures.
I’m a photographer so capturing the image of a wild turtle while
I swam so close to them that I could have touched them, was an
experience I will never forget. In fact I will never forget my entire
Mexican experience because it was beyond words, beyond
imagination, beyond everything I ever expected. I would go back
in a heartbeat.
CARNIE LEWIS is a Hongqiao 12th grader.
For example, for just four American dollars, I could take a small bus known as a
‘Colectivo’ to Tulum, a city with one of the
‘top 50 beaches’ of the world because of its
Akumal Bea
ch Turtle
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[ HONGQIAO HIGHLIGHTS ]
Hongqiao Band’s
South East Asia Summer Trip
T
wenty-one Hongqiao Band students
had quite an exciting and unique start
to their summer vacation last June. The
Dragon Band, under the direction of Mindy
Ruskovich, went on an unforgettable tour.
After an entire year of fundraising, early
morning rehearsals, and the support from
SCIS and the Shanghai community, they
set off on their South East Asia Dragon
Band Tour.
Their travels first took them to Kuala
Lumpur, Malaysia. In addition to performing on this tour, one of the main
missions was to donate musical instruments to a school with a budding music
program. St. John’s School was selected
as the beneficiary. SCIS students had the
opportunity to meet the kids, perform for
them, and present over 30 new instruments. It was quite rewarding for our
band members to experience the result
of all of their hard work in fundraising for
this cause.
The second stop on the tour was Bali.
Here, our students faced one of the most
unique performance situations. In the
mountains high above the city of Kuta, it
became clear that the concert wasn’t very
well advertised. With years of marching
experience behind them, they quickly
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reviewed a few tunes on the bus, rigged
up the drums with rope, and set off to
march through the village to drum up
some excitement. They soon had what
seemed to be the entire village following
them to the stage. There, they put on a
show for the town, complete with one of
the local children joining as the guest director. The Bali adventure was definitely
one of the highlights for the students, and
the waterpark with super slides didn’t
disappoint either.
Final stop: Tokyo. Here, the students had
a chance to study Taiko at the world famous Myamoto Taiko Studio and Factory,
visit shrines, scale to the top of Tokyo
Tower, and of course shop their hearts
out. Last but not least, the long awaited
performance at Tokyo Disneyland arrived! The Dragon Band was escorted
back stage, treated like true professionals,
and performed beautifully at the Lucky
Nugget Stage.
MS. MINDY
RUSKOVICH is the
Band Director at the
Hongqiao campus.
Photos by Mindy Ruskovich
[ HOST CULTURE ]
What’s the Most common
Chinese family name
at SCIS pudong lower school?
Mandarin students in 4th and 5th grade conducted a survey on
what would be the most popular family name in the Pudong
Lower School. They decided to ask the Ayis. Ayis have a lot in
common as they are friendly, hard-working and very helpful.
However, they have various family names.
Students first learned about how to ask for family name and
also how to spell it. Many Chinese characters share the same
pronunciation but vary in meanings.
T
he use of family names varies from different cultures. In
many cultures, particularly in Europe, the Americas,
Oceania as well as in the Middle East, South Asia and most
African cultures, the family name is normally the last part of a
person’s name. In other cultures, often called the Eastern order,
such as China, Korea, Japan and Vietnam, the family name
comes first. (quoted from Wikipedia)
The Chinese family name is very important. Some people even
have family archives that trace back to their famous ancestors
in history. Do you know that if one family name has a 女
(woman) in it, it may come from a very remote age of time?
Mandarin students learn about family names and how to ask for
it in two ways. “你姓什么？” is a common way of asking. “您
贵姓” shows respect and asks in a more polite way.
It is the first time that these students have stepped into the
Ayi’s room. Students looked for an Ayi who was available to be
interviewed and they quickly wrote down the Ayi’s name on the
survey sheet. Frederik was a little shy to talk until he happened
to see his bus driver. He was so excited and got the driver’s
family name in a very short time. Andrea and Jeni even took the
opportunity and learned some Shanghai dialect from the Ayi.
The students did a great job conducting their interviews and
the Ayis were kind and informative to our beginning language
students. A great exchange of culture and learning for both
students and staff.
MS. DAISY YE is the Mandarin Coordinator
for the Pudong Upper School
Teachers Day
I
n 1985 the Chinese government formally designated September
10th as “Teacher’s Day” to encourage society to respect teachers
who were at that time severely underpaid. For example, my
beginning salary as a middle school teacher in 1988 was only 56rmb!
Two decades later, teachers are now widely respected in China
and called “engineers of human souls”. This day honors teachers’
virtues and contributions not only to their own students but also
to society in general.
Students often express their gratitude by sending their teachers
a card, flowers or other presents. In Taiwan, the Teachers’ Day
falls on September 28th. This date was chosen to commemorate
the birth of Confucius, believed to be the model master educator
in ancient China.
MS. HELEN HE is the Modern Languages
Coordinator for Hongqiao Upper School.
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[ EDUCATIONAL INSIGHT ]
Tough Transitions
T
ransitioning from the lower school to
the middle school is often a difficult
period for adolescents. They must learn
new routines, follow schedules that
include eight different classes, find the
rooms for these classes in a foreign space,
learn to lock and unlock lockers, manage
newly discovered independence, and find
their place in the social pecking order
all while their bodies are going through
one of their greatest periods of change.
When most adults think back to their
middle years, they do so with a shudder
if they haven’t repressed it altogether.
Transitioning from lower to middle grades
is tough, but there are things parents can
do to help their kids.
The first and foremost important thing
that parents can do is to help their
children meet their most basic needs of
plenty of sleep and a healthy diet.
Adolescents today have an incredible
number of distractions that help them
avoid sleep, mostly electronic. Set a
bedtime for your student and remove
distractions out of the bedroom, no matter
how much they fight it. Additionally, we
all know the importance of a healthy diet.
It is doubly important for adolescent
bodies that are growing at a rate only
comparable to infancy. It
aids a stable emotional state.
Preteens deal with enough
emotional spikes and valleys
naturally in a day without the
aid of sugars and caffeine.
A second way to combat
the anxiety of this
transitional period is to
get organized. Help your
children find systems that work for them.
They need to know where and how to
keep track of assignment due dates and
completed homework. They need a
system to differentiate between A day and
B day materials. They need to separate
notes and handouts from different
classes. Most importantly, it is important
that this works for your child, not just
you. Adolescents’ brains are all over the
map. They need stability in the form of
organizational systems. They also need
to keep things neat and orderly. Make
sure that book bags and bedrooms are
kept tidy and clean. An organized
environment precedes an organized life.
Another way to help your student is
to find the happy medium between
parenting styles of being too strict and too
permissive. When students constantly
feel the pressure from parents to get
an A+, they focus on the performance
end of school and not the real reason
they are there, to get educated. On
the flip side, allowing children to entirely
monitor themselves results
in bad habits that will come
back to haunt them later.
The key is to allow students
to make mistakes, but to use
these mistakes as learning
opportunities. Your children
will appreciate your support
while having a chance to get
to know themselves. Kids are
only kids once, so let them
enjoy it while helping them make the
most of their learning.
For more ways to help your child in
what is arguably the most challenging
and confusing time of one’s life, please
check out the Parent’s Field Guide to
Middle Schoolers or the Road Map to
Middle School success found on the left
panel of the SCIS Pudong website.
http://pd.scisdragons.net/
MR. TY SMEINS
is Upper School
Vice Principal at
the Pudong campus
PAFA NEWS
SCIS-HIS has parent organizations called the Parents and Friends
Association (PAFA) on each campus. PAFA serves as a way that
parents can communicate ideas for the betterment of the school
to the administration and Board. SCIS and HIS are proud of the
high level of parents participation in their schools and value their
partnership with the parent community.
charity fundraisers to volunteer support for teachers and
students. Each campus has a PAFA board who works closely with
each campus’ administrations to plan events that help to make
SCIS-HIS schools a unique experience for families, faculty, and
students alike.
PAFA conducts various activities, from community events to
For more information about PAFA, please contact us at:
Hongqiao PAFA President:
We are always welcoming new members!
Pudong PAFA President:
Wendy Eldredge
Renae Darling
18
Cindy Tao (Upper School)
ctao@scischina.org
president.scispafahq@gmail.com
information.scispafahq@gmail.com
darlingfam@yahoo.com
Hangzhou PAFA President:
Francis Spiekerman
13989884205
pafa_hz@scischina.org
www.hischina.org/Pafa
[ EDUCATIONAL INSIGHT ]
The Way to a Kid’s Brain
is Through Their Stomach
Interesting Statistics Regarding Poor
Nutrition and Learning from Studies
in the USA
• Among fourth grade students,
those having the lowest amount
of protein in their diet had the
lowest achievement scores
• Iron deficiency anemia leads
to shortened attention span,
irritability, fatigue, and difficulty
with concentration. Consequently,
anemic children tend to do
poorly on vocabulary, reading,
and other tests.
C
learly, parents are concerned about
their children’s academic performance and providing the best possible
education in order for them to be able to
enter the best universities. Much of their
attention tends to lean toward books,
homework, math and grades. However,
there are other factors that have an equal
or even greater impact on student success. One of these is nutrition. According
to Science Daily, poor nutrition early in
life can impair neural development and
lead to lower IQ in humans. Results of
various scientific studies suggest that poor
early nutrition can have long-lasting negative consequences for cognitive ability.
With respect to childhood obesity, studies show that children do not gain weight
at school. At school, kids’ days are fairly
regimented, they do not have continuous
access to food, and they are required to
participate in physical education classes.
Most childhood weight gain occurs during holidays when kids stay at home and
have unlimited or uncontrolled access to
the refrigerator and kitchen cupboards.
If your child is feeling hungry, perhaps
from missed meals, particularly breakfast, it will affect their learning. Hungry
children tend to be irritable, disinterested,
nervous, timid passive, and unable to
concentrate. Making sure children eat
well at home and take a healthy lunch
or snack to school is one of the most
important elements of “home work”.
Tips for Parents to Promote Healthy
Eating:
• Children who suffer from poor
nutrition during the brain’s most
formative years score much lower
on tests of vocabulary, reading
comprehension, arithmetic, and
general knowledge.
2. Keep offering different fruits and
vegetables, even if rejected at first.
Usually a child will try a new food if
they are served without them being
forced to eat it.
• Six- to eleven-year-old children
from food-insufficient families
had significantly lower arithmetic
scores and were more likely to
have repeated a grade. In addition,
food-insufficient teenagers were
more likely to have been suspended
from school, and children in this
category were more likely to have
seen a psychologist and to have
experienced difficulty interacting
with their peers.
3. Encourage your child to experiment
with different tastes and textures.
Offer your child different shapes, sizes
and textures of foods to stimulate
interest.
• Even moderate under-nutrition
(inadequate or sub-optimal nutrient
intake) can have lasting effects and
compromise cognitive development
and school performance.
4. Do not worry about how much your
child eats at a single meal or even in a
single day. Over a week, the choices
should even out - and provide a
balance of nutrients that best meet
his or her needs.
• Morning fasting has a negative
effect on cognitive performance,
even among healthy, wellnourished children. A test of the
speed and accuracy of response
on problem-solving tasks given
to children who did or did not
eat breakfast found that skipping
breakfast had an adverse influence
on their performance on the tests.
1. Substitute different foods from the
same food group. All fruits and
vegetables provide vitamins and minerals (variety is important so that different vitamins and minerals are eaten).
MR. ROBERT
VANDER EYKEN is
the Head of School
of the Hangzhou
International School.
19
[ COMMUNITY FEATURE ]
“The Dragon Cup goes Spirit
award goes to…”
Photos courtesy of Sho Murphey, HIS student and Mr. Joel Sutton, HQ
Fair play and sportsmanship are alive and
well and work well within competitive
events. As evidence to this, the Dragon
Cup tournaments are held in our
community within SCIS and HIS. They
are valuable events that jump-start our
High School’s SISAC leagues and help our
students to recognize the value of the
great schools that are SCIS-HIS.
Most recently, in the “spirit” of fair play,
good sportsmanship, and friendly
competition, the games have been
modified from a results-based trophy
tournament to a true preseason event.
The focus is on the athletes and the
teams- not winning and losing. The
emphasis has shifted from winning the
Dragon Cup to hosting an event that
focuses on the game skills, sportsmanship,
and the game itself.
20
At this year’s August Volleyball Dragon
Cup, all coaches, coordinators and players
were informed of the spirit criteria
beforehand. Each coach voted for the
Varsity team they played against and
all schools both were nominators and
nominees.
It was great to see what everyone thought
about this important aspect of the game
and congratulations goes to SCIS Hongqiao.
The Red Dragons were voted to have
the most spirit and were presented the
coveted “Dragon Cup” trophy.
SCIS Pudong will challenge our coaches
and athletes to demonstrate fair play at
the Basketball Dragon Cup. The theme”
Sportsmanship” is based largely on team
fouls in their games.
Soccer has been the biggest challenge
in creating non-competitive criteria to
challenge the athlete’s physical and
emotional skills. Although, all that may
pale to the incredible opportunity Mr.
Vander Eyken and Hangzhou will offer us
on their brand new FIFA T-2 soccer pitch
this spring. We can’t wait to see the new
pitch at HIS. That said, the three schools
have worked over the last couple of
seasons to create a fitness-based rubric to
challenge the student athletes in the Soccer
Dragon Cup in Hangzhou. Go Dragons!
MR. JEFF MARTIN is
the Athletics and
Activities Coordinator
at SCIS Hongqiao
[ HEALTH ARTICLE ]
Childhood immunization
Recommendations from International SOS
P
rotecting and maintaining children’s health and well-being
is the number one priority on every parent’s list. Childhood
immunization is one weapon that helps prevent our children
from getting devastating diseases like meningitis, pneumonia and
polio. However, navigating the immunization process while living
in another country or moving between countries can seem like a
daunting process.
Which childhood immunization schedule should you follow?
What are the differences between the schedules? What if you
want to add something to your home country’s standard schedule?
What about special immunizations tailored to life in China?
Many countries have generally agreed on which childhood
immunizations are essential; however, there may be minor
differences from country to country. It’s fair to say that most
countries include tetanus, diphtheria, whooping cough (also
known as pertussis), Haemophilus influenza B (Hib) and hepatitis
B in their immunization schedules. The Hib vaccination protects
against meningitis and a serious disease of the upper airway
called epiglottitis.
This may sound like a lot of needles but fortunately new
combination vaccines (like the 5-in-1 vaccine) are available
right here in Shanghai. Other standard immunizations cover polio,
meningococcal, pneumococcal, measles, mumps and rubella
(also known as German measles). The 2011 outbreak of polio
in northwest China highlights the importance of keeping
up-to-date on vaccinations for kids. Additional vaccines found on
some countries’ schedules include BCG (bacille Calmette-Guerin)
to protect against tuberculosis, chicken pox (varicella) and rotavirus
which causes serious gastroenteritis in young children.
Older kids and teenagers are also included in the vaccination
schedule. Having booster shots at the right time is essential for
them to stay protected as they get older. There are also several
vaccines specially geared towards teens, such as the human
papilloma virus (HPV) and meningitis vaccines. The HPV vaccine is
recommended around the ages of 12-13 to help protect against
cervical cancer in women. The meningitis vaccine is highly
recommended for teenagers going off to university – especially
for those who will be living in dorms.
In addition to the standard childhood vaccinations, there are
other vaccinations to consider for living and traveling in China.
These include hepatitis A, typhoid, rabies, and Japanese encephalitis.
Hepatitis A and typhoid fever are serious infections usually
transmitted by contaminated food or water, while Japanese
encephalitis is carried by mosquitoes and has been found in
some areas of Beijing.
Any mammal – including cats, dogs, monkeys and bats – potentially
carries rabies, a deadly disease.
Since China has many strays, the rabies vaccine is particularly
recommended for children and those traveling in rural areas of
China. Last but not least, all children and adults should get the
Influenza vaccination every year. Kids are particularly vulnerable to
infection.
One of the unique challenges of living in Shanghai’s expat
community is good record-keeping. For families that are often
on the move and get vaccinated in different countries, this can be
difficult. Using an International Immunization Record book for each
of your children will ensure that the right vaccinations are given
at the right time. Catching up on immunizations is recommended
for kids who might have missed out on some essential vaccines.
International SOS has been supporting their members and their
families in China for more than 20 years, for routine medical and
security advice and emergency assistance, anytime, anywhere.
International SOS members can discuss their specific immunization
needs with our medical team at any time. Simply call our China
Alarm Center on +86 (10) 64629100 to speak directly with a
doctor, or visit one of our four international clinics located in Beijing,
Nanjing, Tianjin or TEDA.
Not sure if you’re already an International SOS member? Email
us at china.comms@internationalsos.com
Article written by DR. LYN WREN,
Child Specialist and Family Physician
at International SOS
21
[ PARTNER PAGE ]
Community Center Shanghai
and SCIS – a partnership
becoming stronger every year
by Kamini Parashar, Marketing Director, Community Center Shanghai
partnership grew to new levels with SCIS
providing the venue for the final of the
Spelling Bee competition in March 2012.
The Community Center Shanghai (CCS)
Vision is helping expatriates settle into
life in Shanghai and CCS does this in
partnership with SCIS.
Starting from Shanghai 123 – the first
stop essential orientation for new arrivals
provided at no cost to participants. Here,
expats are given helpful advice and tips
on culture, medical emergencies, daily
routine challenges and an opportunity to
meet other new arrivals. Other services
include programs and classes ranging from
international cooking, Chinese calligraphy
and language classes,photography, “Intro
to Macs” and international cooking courses.
New classes are added regularly as we
cater to the ever changing expat population.
Additionally, we offer tours that are
practical as well as informative – from
shopping tours for new arrivals to
department stores, linen markets as well
as educational tours of Shanghai. And our
new classes ‘Dine with Dana’ have added
that extra way in which you can enjoy
the real Shanghai. We make settling into
Shanghai much easier with opportunities
for volunteering, professional counselling
and much more.
While physical well-being is extremely
important for the Shanghai expat, we
understand that in addition to all the
22
exciting and enriching aspects that come
with living and working in Shanghai,
people can also feel overwhelmed while
adjusting to their new lives. CCS
Counseling Service supports individuals
and families in need with our Care
Center team comprised of internationally
accredited and experienced counsellors.
Our team members come from Asia, the
United States, Australia, New Zealand
and Europe. Each counsellor has their
own professional expertise and personal
approach to therapy.
The SCIS and Community
Center partnership
SCIS and CCS have been partners since
2009, when CCS Hongqiao was still
a young center without a permanent
home, SCIS saw the value of the services
that were being offered in Pudong and
stepped up to the challenge of becoming
the founding partner of the CCS Hongqiao center. Today, that center is thriving
and alive with activity!
Thanks to the great partnership and
generosity of SCIS, CCS is able to use
school facilities for a raft of activities. SCIS
has been the venue for sorting parties for
our charity River of Hearts and provides
valuable support to Giving Tree. The
Come Join Us!
So become involved with the CCS – take
a course, attend an orientation or coffee
morning, participate in an event or
volunteer, sponsor or donate – every
bit makes a huge difference. Find our
offerings in our publications such as
The Guide, CARE and our weekly
newsletter or check out our website at
www.communitycenter.cn.
As a non-profit organization, our
volunteers, sponsors and partners are
a vital part of what we do—enabling
us to continue serving the international
community in Shanghai. So if you have
some special talent, some spare time
and the enthusiasm and energy – we
want to work with you. Contact
marketing@communitycenter.cn.
Your home away from home
– Community Center Shanghai.
23
SCIS…You’ve Made The Right Choice!
More Caring, More Diverse, and More Opportunities to Succeed.
Visit www.scischina.org or call our admissions office
6261 4338 x1 today to tour our state-of-the-art facilities.
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