Shanghai Community International School & Hangzhou International School November/December 2014

SCIS-HIS TRULY International

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P. 34-35 // HongqiaoJerry Rice Visits SCIS

P. 36-37 // Hongqiao ECEBehind the Scenes of the ECE Concert

P. 04 // Superintendent’s Letter

P. 05 // Editor’s Letter

P. 19 // Host Culture Did you Celebrate 11/11

Singles Day and the “Double Eleven” Shopping Festival

TABLE OF CONTENTS

FeaturesP. 12-15 // Curriculum:

WORLD LANGUAGES

P. 24-31 //Feature Theme:

TRULY INTERNATIONAL

P. 38-39 // PudongOperation Cambodia

P. 16-18 // ART GALLERY

P. 32-33 // HangzhouWest Lake Model United Nations Conference Hosted at HIS

Campus Highlights

Community

P. 08 // Celebrating History

P. 09-11 //Special FeatureBack In My Day

P. 20-21 // Sports Recaps

P. 22-23 // Favorite SpotLooking for a New Restaurant to Try? Make it a Warmer Winter With HOT POT

P. 40-41 // Teacher SpotlightLoving Life

P. 42-43 // Family Spotlight Welcome to the Community

P. 44 // Coach Corner Her name is Hailey Gribble

P.45-46// Student SpotlightMegan Mullen

P. 47 // Alumni InterviewEmma Howat With Her First Job at Deloitte

P. 50-51 // Director’s Letter

P. 52 // TechnologyAll Kids C@n {code}

P. 53 // Safety This is the Most Common Injury to Young Athletes

P. 54 // The Librarians Corner

P. 55 // Admissions It’s Time for Re-enrollment!

P. 56-59 // PAFA

P. 60 // Multi Language Parallel

P. 61 // Fun PageSCIS-HIS LEDGER

P. 62-63 // Looking Back, Looking AheadP. 48-49 // Community Feature This is Halloween this is Halloween...

P. 06-07 // Educational Insights

Leading a Balanced Life

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I’ve been the Communitas editor for the past 10 issues starting at the beginning of the 2013 year. When

I took it over I thought it was too news oriented —this is happening in this class….that is happening in that class. While those are great newspaper articles, I wanted this to be a magazine. I wanted it to be a place people inside and outside of the SCIS-HIS community can go to read interesting stories. I wanted it to be entertaining. I wanted it to be cool. But I couldn’t change the entire thing all at once. So I formed my Ten Issue Plan set to take place over a year-and-a-half culminating with this issue.

First I started by introducing some new reoccurring features. Perhaps you recognize and look forward to some of them: The Student, Teacher, and Alumni Interviews; The Technology Feature; The Alumni Class Notes; Recommended Books; Health Tips….

This issue I have launched the final set of the new features: the Back in My Day; The Favorite Spot in the City; The Sports Recap; and the Looking Back/Looking Forward.

Lastly, the final phase of the Ten Issue Plan is revealed in the following pages with an overhaul to the graphics and stylization of the magazine.

As you read through the magazine, I hope you enjoy reading about our community and the beautiful cities of Shanghai and Hangzhou. Also, I hope you find the pictures and articles entertaining and cool. Most importantly, I want to thank all the teachers and administrators at the SCIS-HIS schools for taking the time to write articles and contribute. We should all be proud of our magazine and our Truly International community.

Best Regards,

Jonathan PaulsonEditorjpaulson@scischina.org

From the Editor

Jeffry R. StubbsSuperintendent of Schools

Dear SCIS-HIS Community and Friends,

Over the past few weeks, our schools have been celebrating our commitment to international understanding and the rich diversity within our communities. Having been an international school student myself, I am still truly amazed at how many nationalities, language backgrounds, and cultural heritages are represented at SCIS-HIS schools. Our students also come from many different educational systems. Having such a range of cultural backgrounds and previous learning experiences and expectations presents us with very real challenges and very unique opportunities. Yet with a supportive parent community, committed professionals, and highly motivated students, SCIS-HIS schools are able to provide access to the highest caliber of ‘truly international’ learning experience for all its students. We seek to go well beyond the limitations of any national system designed to educate a general public as we know our students deserve more. We believe it is a privilege to offer a program that is designed specifically with the international student in mind. In this edition of Communitas magazine we share stories and images that highlight the ‘Truly International’ character of SCIS-HIS schools.

Whether an SCIS-HIS child is in Preschool or Grade 12, we believe there should be no surprises in what basics should be expected of them to know and be able to do. These standards can be assessed in a variety of ways, depending on each child’s developmental strengths, skills and capacities. Of greatest importance is that regardless of where students come from or how strong their English is, our challenge is to provide opportunities for value-added learning so that all our students thrive. Our success within the IB Diploma Program can be directly attributed to the strength of our program, instruction, and support during a student’s time with us at SCIS-HIS schools. And while the IB Diploma Program was conceived in Geneva, Switzerland, the program is widely implemented throughout the world. In fact, there are more IBDP schools in the United States than the rest of the world combined, but the program has maintained its uniquely international character and founding vision of serving international school students. At SCIS-HIS schools, we too believe in the vision of serving unique international school students with the research-based best practices in international schooling.

I hope you enjoy the ‘truly international’ spirit of our wonderful school communities on the following pages. Have a wonderful Winter Break and as always…. GoooOOO Dragons!

Nov-Dec 2014

EditorJonathan Paulson

PublisherAnne Hunt

Art DirectorMun Yee Choo

Graphic DesignerVane Wang

...............................................

The Communitas magazine is publishd eight times per

year for the SCIS-HIS community in particular as well as for the larger

Shanghai-Hangzhou community in general.

The Communitas welcomes letters from readers. Please

send all correspondence to jpaulson@scischina.org. Letters may be edited for

publication.

The Communitas welcomes submissions and suggestions.

If you have an idea for a great story, please share

it. Remember, nobody like secrets, and nobody like spreading good stories

more than us. If you have an idea, please query first to the Communitas editor via email (jpaulson@scis-

china.org).

Visit us on the web atwww.scis-his.org

www.scis-his.org/communitas

SUPERINTENDENT ‘S LETTER EDITOR’S LETTER

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We recently had a group of Chinese educators visit SCIS Hongqiao. The group was led by a professor from the

Peking (Beijing) University, the most prestigious University in China. They were on a mission to learn about western style education. After touring the campus, the Peking University professor had a question for me. What is special about SCIS? What makes SCIS different from other schools? My answer was, “We are the happy school.” This response was based partially on comments from families that I have led on tours. I frequently hear comments from parents and students about how friendly and happy our students and teachers seem compared to some of the other high schools they have visited. The smiles and friendly hellos from students and staff directed towards potential

families and others visiting our school are a great first step in living up to the word `community’ in our name. Sometimes parents move their children from other schools to SCIS because we seem to have more a balanced approach to education. Academics are important—but not everything.

Among the 10 IB Learner Profile qualities there are `Caring’ and `Balanced.’ In this highly competitive city in a highly competitive world, how do students maintain balanced lives? How do they continue to learn to care for others inside and outside of the school? How do they stay happy?

If you talk to a 12th grader who is busy with their Extended

EDUCATIONAL INSIGHTS

Leading a Balanced LifeEssay, Internal Assessments, and university applications, it is clear to see that maintaining a balance between school work and leading healthy happy lives is not easy. One reason many Chinese educators are studying western style schools is that they are concerned that their education system puts too much emphasis on study and not enough on developing other aspects of a student’s abilities and character. One of the merits of the IB diploma is that it includes the CAS (Creativity, Action, and Service) component. You can’t earn an IB diploma if you don’t document and reflect upon community service, physical activity, and some sort of creative activity. The developers of the IB hope that this requirement, like other parts of their curriculum

would naturally happen as a part of a balanced, holistic IB curriculum. Unfortunately, for some students, especially students who lack time management and prioritizing skills, CAS becomes another stressor as opposed to something that adds balance.

One of the areas I admire our students and families for is that despite the pressures of a rigorous academic program and never ending deadlines, they keep their chins up and are able to smile and welcome new members into the SCIS community.

By RAFAEL KATZHongqiao Campus College Counselor

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Cheryl AndersonCurrent Job? Grade One. SCIS Hong-qiao ECE School.Where did you grow up? Sackville, New Brunswick, CanadaName of School? Sackville High School

How was school different back in your day? We knew all the teachers, and they knew all the students and their parents—not necessarily a good thing! We also went through all 12 years of school with basically the same group of kids. There were two elementary schools, but everyone went to the same high school. We did not wear uniforms; jeans were

allowed. Our high school had a home economics/industrial program, commercial program (typing, short hand- no computers!!), and academic program.

What was the best part of school back in your day? The best part of school is still the same—being with your friends and having fun, especially in extra-curricular activities. We also enjoyed hanging around our lockers instead of going to class! Some classes were more fun than others because the teachers were interested in you as a person not just another kid in the class.

What was your least favorite part of school back in your day? Trying to learn Math and French. I did

solve both problems: I married a mathematician and moved to a country that doesn’t speak French!

Do you have a favorite school memory to share? It is hard to choose only one. I think graduation may be a stand out. The class graduation picture would be on display

Anja SantiagoCurrent Job? ESOL Coordinator and Teacher. SCIS Pudong Lower School.Where did you grow up? Norwalk, Connecticut, USAName of School? Elementary schools: Wolfpit Elementary School and St. Phillips School

How was school different back in your day? When I was in elementary school we sat in individual desks that were in rows. My teacher’s desk was in the front of the room. She often taught from her desk or standing by the chalkboard. The chalk would get everywhere! If we were lucky we would be chosen to go outside and bang the erasers against the brick building in order to get the chalk out of them. We found this hard work so fun and were proud of the chalk dust falling off our uniforms. I was in the after school program, and somehow I also found it fun to help my teachers wash the chalkboards with soap and water. Sadly, my mom failed to translate this enjoyment of cleaning to my own room.

What was the best part of school back in your day? Recess of course! It is when I got to play with my friends. We only had one recess a day, right after lunch.

What was your least favorite part of school back in your day? The mornings. My mother just did not understand my fashion sense. Wearing two different colored socks was cool and my clothes had to clash. She says it was one of the many reasons she eventually sent me to a private school – uniforms. It was an easy way to put an end to our morning arguments over my sense of style.

Do you have a favorite school memory to share? When I was is third grade my principal decided to retire. In his honor the whole

school put on a big show to say goodbye at the end of the year. I remember getting to make a cutout of him that was my size and then hold it in front of myself while I danced. It was so much fun!

What were you like in school? When I was in kindergarten I did not understand why I couldn’t sit in my teacher’s lap. Our relationship needed time to recover after that denial! Overall, I was a contentious and hard working student. I really enjoyed learning, but I was also very shy so I was never the first person to answer a question.

What was your school neighborhood like? When I attended public school all my friends lived nearby and in fact many of them walked to school. When I moved to a private school (10 minutes further away), I began to make friends who lived all over my city and even in different towns! It made play dates harder to get too, but luckily my best friend changed schools at the same time I did and she was still a short three minute drive away. I had to cross a busy street to get there, so sadly I was never allowed to walk to her house.

Back in My DayCELEBRATING HISTORY SPECIAL FEATURE

A Brief History of SCIS-HISThe fourth International School in Shanghai…The first truly international one.

Shanghai in the mid 1990’s was a much different place than it is now on many levels. In the education industry, there were only three schools for foreigners then: one American School (SAS), one German School (DSS), and one bilingual school (YCIS). Three educators at North Jakarta International School felt Shanghai needed a truly international school—a school that had both breadth and depth of international families; a school that could take the best practices from each countries curriculum; and a school that would teach the lingua franca to new students making sure everyone felt part of the larger global community. Shanghai Community International School was founded in 1996 to serve that purpose.

After seeing steady growth and high demand for this rigorous truly international education, Shanghai Community International School decided to open a second school in Pudong in 2002, which at the time, was the first international school to be built in

Pudong period. Also at this time, a second campus was opened in Puxi. This gave SCIS a two campus presence in Puxi, the original campus in Changning and a second campus in Hongqiao. As growth continued, the two Puxi campuses were combined in 2005 into what is now the Hongqiao Main Campus. In 2006, as the ten-year SCIS anniversary was being celebrated, a third sister school was opened in Hangzhou called Hangzhou International School, creating the SCIS-HIS sister school system. More recently, a second campus was added to Pudong in 2009 (the Upper School) and a second was added to Hongqiao in 2010 (the ECE Center).

Fast forward to the present, SCIS-HIS is one of the oldest and most respected international school groups in China. It has been able to get world class results in a family-friendly community environment that is truly international. As the original name implies—SCIS-HIS truly is a community international school.

By JONATHAN PAULSONEditor

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downtown at the photographer’s studio, in the school, and in the local paper. It was a big deal for the school and a big event for the whole town. Of course, the senior prom was the biggest event of the year. I was lucky enough to go with my high school sweetheart. I feel like I am recapping an episode of Happy Days!! (And if you look at the hair-do in my picture, I was on the cutting edge of style back in 1968)

What were you like in school? I enjoyed playing sports more than being a student, although I did study hard enough in high school to get into university. I may have been one of those students who chatted too much…just maybe ;). I liked most of my teachers and was always respectful—in a small town if you got into trouble at school your mom knew before you got home, even without internet and cell phones, and usually you were in more trouble at home.

What was your school neighborhood like? I was lucky to live in a small university town of 5000 people. Most families lived in a single home with a yard, a garden, and one car. I walked to and from school, often with my brothers and sisters, and went home for lunch. My mom was always there after school to hear about the day. Many of the people I went to school with are still in that town.

Tara Morgan LaffertyCurrent Job? 6th/7th Language Arts & ESOL Teacher. SCIS Hongqiao Middle School.Where did you grow up? Gallatin, Tennessee, USAName of School? College Heights Christian Academy/Gallatin Senior High School

How was school different back in your day? I remember it being so carefree, even if we did have to do everything by hand! Life seemed simpler. There was no Internet, Social Media, or Instant Messaging…all came much later in my life. I think technology is incredible and offers so much to our lives; but I sometimes miss the simplicity of years ago. Sometimes, I just want to break out the construction paper, scissors/glue, and poster boards to hand make a presentation. I mean it was so much fun!

What was the best part of school back in your day? I think any opportunity I had to socialize with my friends was the highlight of my

day. Recess, lunch, bathroom breaks, you name it as long as it did not involve actual schoolwork! (Oh, wait, except Art Class. I loved Art class!) My mom once told me that in one of the Parent/Teacher conferences she attended, the teacher informed her of my great skill of socializing. My mom said she was not surprised one bit (laughing).

What was your least favorite part of school back in your day? Reading! Reading anything!! It was so boring. I just wanted to play and talk with my friends. Getting me to read a book was like pulling teeth. I know it drove my mom nuts, especially since my sister read books upon books. Luckily, High School would prove to be different.

Thanks for keeping it 100. I can’t wait for this answer now: do you have a favorite school memory to share? In High School, there was a Literature teacher by the name of Eva Jane Johnston. This woman was notorious for being the most difficult, meanest teacher in the entire school. At the end of every year, before the release of the next year’s school schedule, you would hear the small pleas and prayers of those around you hoping they were not be put in “EVIL JANE’S” class. I remember holding my schedule in my hand and feeling my stomach drop. Not only did I hate reading, but also I was now going to be in Evil Jane Johnston’s Literature class…for an entire semester. EEK! The woman handed out “F’s” like candy. Many did

not survive. How would I?? To make a long story short, Evil Jane Johnston was the best teacher I ever had! She taught me so much, and she is the sole reason I now have a passion for reading. Look at me now. I am a Language Arts & Reading teacher in Shanghai. Isn’t it funny how life throws you curve balls that ultimately change your life for the better. Thank you, Evil Jane Ms. Johnston!

What were you like in school? In Elementary School, I think I was quite outgoing, but when I had to transfer to the local public school for high school, I became a bit more introverted. Many people perceived me as a snob when they would first meet me. However, as for my involvement, I was a little bit of everything! I was a cheerleader, volleyball player, swimmer, drama performer, Student Council Secretary, and Girls’ Cotillion. I loved being involved!

What was your school neighborhood like? The elementary school I went to was an extremely small, private school. It was affiliated with a church, and classes were held in the church building attached to the Sanctuary. Enrollment was roughly 300 students K-12. It was very special and close knit community of families. I was so mad when my parents sent me to the local public school for my high school years. The high school literally looked like a penitentiary…I kid you not.

Russel O’NeillCurrent Job? Lower School Principal. Hanzhou International School.Where did you grow up? Perth in Western AustraliaName of School? My family travelled around lots so I attended 8 different schools but most of them were around the Perth metropolitan area.

How was school different back in your day? The main difference was the fact that we didn’t have any technology. There were no computers, iPads or even mobile phones. Rich people had typewriters but we never did. I was in Grade 8 before I used my first manual typewriter.

What was the best part of school back in your day? For me the best part of school was PE and lunchtime. I always rushed out at lunchtime to play cricket in the sumer and soccer in the winter. My whole school life revolved around sport. I remember having lots of friends which made it fun and exciting to get up and go to school each morning. School for me was a wonderful experience.

What was your least favorite part of school back in your day? I remember that they had a rule that you had to drink milk every morning recess time, even if you didn’t like milk. We were told that it was healthy and that it would make us strong. The problem is that the

milk was usually delivered around 9am and we didn’t get to drink it until 10.30am. It sat out on the hot verandah for 90 minutes even if it was 42 degrees Celsius outside. Often it had gone bad and was always warm but we still had to drink it.

Do you have a favorite school memory to share? My favourite memory from school would be the trips, excursions and camps that I attended. Getting outside of the school was where I learnt the most and had the most fun. I was fortunate that for most of my schooling I was able to attend a camp at least once a year. I attended the Grade 7 China trip to Qingdao this year and I know that many of the students who attended will carry the memory of that trip with them for many years to come.

What were you like in school? I was fairly quiet and unassuming student at school during my early years but I did tend to come out of my shell when I hit Upper School. I ended up becoming a Student Councilor and Sports Captain and I found that these roles were very important for me in developing my confidence and pubic speaking skills. Had it not been for several very dedicated and committed teachers during these years, my life may have turned out differently. It is these teachers during my formative and influential years that helped shape who I am today. In fact it was my admiration of my teachers that made me determined to become a teacher myself. I am sure that many of us have fond memories of at least one teacher who made an impact on our lives.

What was your school neighborhood like? As I said above, my family moved around a lot so we were always moving house. Back in my day you started school in Grade 1. They never had Nursery, Pre School, Pre Kindy or Kindy. So on my first day in Grade 1 we were living on a farm in a small town. There were only 20 children in the whole school and I was in a class with children from Grade 1 all the way to Grade 7. There was only 1 teacher for all of us. I now know how difficult it must have been for that teacher.

Later when we moved to the city I had 45 students in my class with just one teacher and no assistants. Even though there were so many children, we learnt a lot and generally behaved well. If we didn’t the teacher would throw a piece chalk at you or a blackboard duster (we never had white boards it was all chalk and blackboards). If you were really bad then you were sent to the principal who would give you a hit on the hand with a bamboo cane. Luckily I never received that but I saw boys who came back from the principal with 6 red marks on their hand. It must have been very painful.

Laura UnzuCurrent Job? Dance teacher. SCIS Hongqiao Lower School.Where did you grow up? Pamplona, SpainName of School? Carmelitas School

How was school different back in your day? We didn’t have any technological devices. Everything was so old-school. We just used pens and paper and talked with each other instead of typing on computers and texting over Iphones.

What was the best part of school back in your day? After school time with friends.

What was your least favorite part of school back in your day? Waking up early, I love sleeping. School started late actually…9:00am….but I needed more sleep!!! (laughing).

What were you like in school? I loved playing with boys. While girls were pretending to be mums taking care of their babies, I was playing football or some other sport.

What was your school neighborhood like? It was very safe, and we all knew each other. Back then we spent most of our time and enjoyed being outside. There wasn’t as many video games, movies, and internet surfing options to keep us entertained inside. So we hung out outside talking and playing.

SPECIAL FEATURE SPECIAL FEATURE

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Is China a Good Place to Learn a Foreign Language?

CURRICULUM FEATURE CURRICULUM FEATURE

What are the benefits of learning a foreign language?Languages open us doors for the future and help us to be able to communicate, integrate, socialize and feel more stable and confident leaving or traveling to a foreign country. But psychology studies prove that studying a foreign language have more benefits such as: develops multitasking skills, increases our perception and awareness, improves our decision-making skills and improves the way we use our own language by being aware of the grammar, conjugation and sentence structure.

W rldLanguage At the very core of the SCIS

sisterhood of schools, is its culturally diverse nature. To honor this diversity, our campus celebrated our annual International Day on Nov 24th. It was an opportunity for all students to showcase their nationality, language, food, traditions, costumes and dress. But just as important, the festivity was the perfect occasion to celebrate the many languages represented in our campus!

My role as an ESL & French specialist is not only to teach languages, but also to

examine the similarities and differences across them, which can be a daunting task considering the wide range of existing vocabulary. However, it never ceases to amaze me how many words across languages sound and look the same but mean entirely different things. Many of my students often enjoy learning and reflecting upon those differences. Allow me to show you how a few of those “false friends” work. They might come in handy to the world traveller, which most likely you are:

Being “embarrassed” in English is not the same as embarazada, which means to be pregnant in standard Spanish! Mistaking the two might put you in an awkward situation.

The French word “bras” means arm, but in English a bra is an undergarment worn by women to support the breast.

The “exit” in English shows you the way

out, but in Spanish the word exito refers to success in every sense of the word.

Going back to French, let’s consider the noun “retard” which indicates lateness of delay, the same spelling and meaning occur in English except for the added semantic bonus that implies a derogatory term for a person who is mentally disabled.

The verb “to sing” in English can quickly change to the noun monkey in French by adding an “e” to it: singe.

There are, of course, many more words that share some spelling and phonetic traits, but are poles apart when it comes to meaning. At HIS, we are proud to celebrate these differences on International Day as well as on our daily teaching practice. By Andres SanchezHIS ESOL/IB French Teacher

False Friends and the Differences in Languages

But, are the students aware of those personal benefits? What is the motivation for them to learn a foreign language?In my opinion, most of the students are not aware of those benefits. One of my objectives as a teacher is to motivate them by creating an ideal learning environment.

In my lessons the students always get a big picture of what they are going to learn and be focused on, but I of course always try to surprise them with multiple different activities. The students work individually and in small groups with activities according to their level. The students use new technologies and resources (websites, songs, games, projects, tests…). And these combinations result in fun interactive learning.

Is SCIS a good place to learn a foreign language?In my opinion, SCIS creates a magical place to learn a foreign language. The first reason is the so many kids from different countries offers the possibility to creates a perfect atmosphere to learn a new foreign language as Spanish. With English as a

thread conductor the students can learn, practice, understand and respect other language and cultures. What is my goal as a foreign language teacher?My goals is to get students to enjoy the process and make solid progress, and I

always encourage them to practice and use the language s much as possible and being open to learning about other cultures.

By BEATRIZ CACHEDA DE PAZPudong Campus Upper School,Spanish and PE Teacher

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CURRICULUM FEATURE CURRICULUM FEATURE

When we are immersed in the languages field, we often hear or

read about foreign languages. Before we accept this as fact, should we question if certain languages like Spanish are in fact foreign languages? If I dare to say that, then I must try to understand what it means to be a “foreign language”.

Obviously, every perspective is different, and there will be many answers to the “foreign” question. But I think we should all start by asking ourselves if we can talk about the concept of foreign language in this globalized world? Thinking about it this way: something feels wrong! We are global citizens!! How can a global citizen have a foreign language?

Each culture has their own richness of diversity, and language is part of that. If our reference is that we are in China, then yes, some will say that we speak a “foreign language”. What a pity, right? In my opinion “foreign” of “foreigner” terms should disappear.

As a human being, and as social animals, we have the necessity to communicate. From simple requests to complex ideas, written and spoken communication has developed a lot throughout the centuries.

History of Spanish:Spanish is a very complicated language with its origins in Latin (language brought to the Iberian peninsula by the Romans in the year II BC). Spanish, like its Italian, French and Romanian cousins, is called a “Romance Language”. These “Romance Languages” have all been through their own process of development but Spanish, or Castilian (which in my opinion is the right name, because there are many other languages in Spain), has developed in a very unique way. It was enriched by the Celts, Visigoths, and Moros. Additionally, after Spanish colonialism in the Americas, Philippines and Africa, it became one of the most colorful and spicy language in the entire world .

One of the Most Colorful and Spicy Languages in the WorldIn Spanish we can express our ideas and emotions in a very detailed way. This detail and accuracy of expression is in fact very unique to the language. To give an example, the verb “to love” has basically three forms in English: love, loved and loving, while in Spanish we have: amo, amas, ama, amamos, amásteis, amaron, amaba, amabas, ameis, amaría, ame, ames, amado…I can keep going if you like…

Some people asked me why Spanish and Latin American people are very passionate or loca! Well, I concede, that is the way we are. But it doesn’t end there. In fact, our temperament has influenced our language, or perhaps the other way around. In Spanish we have some verb tenses that reflect the mood of the speaker rather than how English bases the verb tense around the time when the idea was spoken. It’s a little bit tricky to explain and beyond the scope of this article, but it is called the Subjunctive tense. The point remains is that the Hispanic Latin American community developed different forms of verbal expression to reflect their strong social behavior. An Interrelatd Global Language Some Spanish words have become widely used throughout the world: Salsa, tobacco, chocolate, cacao, llama, condor, toucan, bongo, congas, samba, mambo,etc. Other Spanish words have been adopted and adapted by other languages. For example, “platino”, became “platine” in French or “platinum” in English. Similarly, Spanish has adopted some Chinese words for use. For example, Chifa is the word for a Chinese restaurant based on the word chifan in Chinese which means “eat”. And Chaufa means fried rice in Spanish just like chaufan means rice in Chinese.

Ok, lets go to a nice restaurant to eat a nice BBQ!! Aha! That word is also is taken from Spanish which is derivate from the word Barbacoa. We all enjoy a nice Barbacoa with a nice salsa de chile!!

Again, can we dare to say that Spanish is a foreign language? Sí? No? Well, Salud amigos!

By RICARDO MEZAHongqiao Campus IB Spanish Teacher

What is Mandarin（中文）? To most non-Mandarin speakers, Mandarin is simply a “mystery” language like Egyptian hieroglyphics or Assyrian Chickenscratch. Unlike those ancient languages, this language is spoken by many people in the world today. But to those who don’t know the language the Chinese characters really look like sticks that are randomly put together.

Here at SCIS, we try to get students to break through the “stick screen” and actually see words and meanings. All high school students develop their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills in Mandarin classes here at SCIS. Getting students, especially high school students, to learn speaking and listening is easy. They are just beginning to have more mature and independent social lives in school and off campus, so it’s easy to get them motivated to speak as they suddenly need to use Mandarin to take a taxi, order food in a restaurant, bargain in the market, or even to make Chinese friends. Many enjoy learning to speak Mandarin to make their life easier and more interesting in China—both in Shanghai and when they travel elsewhere in the country.

However, when it comes to reading and writing, Chinese characters are always a “tough nut” to crack for most beginner students. To help students memorize the Chinese characters—these “mystery symbols”—we Mandarin teachers use a lot of strategies to make retention as easy as possible for our students.

First, we introduce our students to radicals. Radicals are the ‘root elements’ and the foundation of all Chinese characters. They

act as common denominators that the mind commits to memory when sizing up the character. For example, “火” means fire. The characters that have the fire radical are mostly fire related, such as ‘烟’ which means smoke and “焰” which means flame. In our high school novice

1 Mandarin class, we introduce about 50 radicals in the first quarter. After a semester of studying all of our high school students can tell the meaning of these radicals. Through knowing the radicals, students can recognize more characters by identifying that extra detail. This allows them to no longer think of unknown characters as “random strokes”. As you may noticed, this process is similar to how a knowledge of Latin roots can help English speakers decode unknown words, allowing students to guess the meaning of a character that they have not yet learned by recognizing the radicals.

Second, we also encourage our students to create stories to remember the characters. For example, “人” means people, and “土” means soil. The character “坐” looks like two people back to back, sitting on the ground (soil), so “坐” means sit. Here is another example: “宀” means roof and “女”means female.

How to Teach the “Mystery Language” of Mandarin

Put them together, and the character “安” means safe because it is safe for girls to stay at home. These creative stories really help students remember more characters. As a side bonus, these stories provide insight into the wisdom of the Chinese culture and language.

Last but not least, we also use a lot of technology to help students learn Chinese characters. We learn by typing Chinese characters on the computer and on our phones. By keying in Chinese pinyin, students can find the Chinese characters they want to type, which is much easier than handwriting. We also use the online dictionary to help us extend our vocabulary and solve some daily problems. If a student sees a street sign “停” and wants to know the meaning, www.nciku.com is a perfect

choice to help decode the character. Using the handwriting function, he can try to copy the character that he wants to know. He can find out the meaning immediately. For reviewing the vocabulary we learned in the class, Quizlet is a good “free tutor ”. For example, I have created Quizlet links for each chapter my class has learned this semester so that students can easily go there to practice and review what they know. We are so lucky that technology has made language learning much easier!

Are you interested in learning Chinese now? Join our Mandarin class next year and you will not be disappointed☺ You will be proud of yourself and your life in China will also become more interesting and convenient!

Zai jian (再见)！

By KELLY HUANG Hongqiao Campus High school Mandarin Novice 1, IB Ab Initio and IB Chinese Literature Language A Teacher

Is Spanish a Foreign Language?

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ART GALLERY ART GALLERY

Arya, Jason, Emily and Moa G5

Astha Patel G8

Ji-min Park G6

Marina Jardim G7

Simone Abolis Carrasco G7

Sakura Endo G8

Lila Bienhold G6

Hye Seung Lee G8

Min Yu Cho G2

SCIS PD Grade 5 Students

Colin Hao and Linde Bastian G3

Park Ji-Yoon, Jamieson-Jones Francesca and Olabarrieta Irene G4

Shimoda Katy and Tsuruyama Amy G3

Bacckman Lucas, Bracke Marie and Lana Lara G4

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ART GALLERY

John Barret G11

Ben Maechem G10

Sarah Sun G11

Chae Yun InG10

Maayke Vlas G10

Cande G9

Anita Liang G12

Emily Machan G10 Every year, November 11th has significant meaning for most of Chinese, especially the youth of China. 11.11 in numbers showed

four ones which look like four single person standing there without any connection. So this day, named “ One’s day,” is for young single folks who call themselves “Single Noble.” It’s quite popular in the universities. On this day, many singles choose to say goodbye to their single lives and couple up! Restaurants and cinemas hold “blind date” parities and “Matchmaker” activities to attract more consumers. Additionally, four ones could also be interpreted as “only one,” so some people will use this meaning and this date to tell their special someone that they are the only “one” in their heart.

How romantic a day it is!

However, since the 2009 November 11th, this date has given all Chinese people another, and perhaps more exciting, emotion. Discounts. Sales. Shopping. Competition. Panic. 1 Billion People. Quick. Order. Buy More. This day has became the biggest online shopping festival of the year. Taobao’s Tmall discounts are never bigger. The Singles Day Sale is very quick. You only have a 24 hour window to order what you want, and because there are over a 1 billion people in China also searching at the same time, you have to order things before they run out. In order to buy things as quickly as possible, everyone finds their items on the 10th, when the sale prices can be seen. This year, in 24 hours from 12 am on November 11th to 12 am on November 12th, the total revenue was around RMB 57 billion. 57 billion!!! In 24 hours. What a miracle! (editor’s note: for comparisons sake, that is more than the Black Friday and Cyber Monday combined).

Maiti Rooth from G12 said, “As a huge fan of Taobao, I love singles day. I found 2 pairs of shoes, 2 bags, and some nail polish. My friend who lives in the US even used international taobao to find 3 bags and some shoes as well. All of this on a regular day would have been over RMB 1,500. But on singles day it was around 800!” Ms. Lin from HIS Lower school said, “All of my deliveries were good quality, and I was very happy with everything that I ordered on Singles day this year!” I also interviewed one of my friends Mr. Li, who worked in Taobao’s Tmall, he said, “It’s success is not accidental. Tmall’s marketing strategies closely match people’s requirements and desires!”

Mr. Li also gave some suggestions and experience that would be useful in single day’s shopping for the future. Firstly, make sure you put everything you want into the shopping cart ahead of time. The discount only lasts for one day, so be prepared to buy quickly. Secondly, prioritize buying electronics before other stuff such as clothing. Why? Electronics are more expensive, so you save more money by buying electronics than clothing. Thirdly, famous brands always also have coupon sales as well as the discount. Make sure you stack the coupon on top of the discount. Fourthly, on that day you can pay 10% of the amount of money you need to pay for an item to make sure its reserved, then you can pay the rest at any time of the day. And lastly, remember the time when the product is renewed. The times are 0am, 9am, 12am, 6pm, and 9pm. At these time periods, sellers will put new products onto the internet. Remember, with 1 billion people, they won’t last long. So strike fast!

Here’s to hoping everyone will have a happy shopping experience for next year’s Double Eleven’s Shopping Festival.

By LILY ZHOUHIS Mandarin Coordinator

Singles Day & the "Double Eleven" Shopping Festival

11/11Did you Celebrate

HOST CULTURE

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SPORTS RECAPS SPORTS RECAPS

Fall Sports RECAP:

PD Boy’s Volleyball Record: 8-8Coach: Trevor MrakCaptain(s): Alex Reither ’15

PD Girl’s Volleyball Record: 16-13Coach: Sara SokolaCaptain(s): Olivia Hartman ‘15

and Sandra Rautavuori ‘15

PD Swimming Record: 6th Place Finish at SCIS HQ InvitationalCoach: Gary John McDonaldCaptain(s): James McGee ‘15 and Derek Mallon ‘15

HZ Boy’s Volleyball Record: 3-7 (3-4 at ACAMIS)Coach: David WattsCaptain(s): Paul Jesuda ‘15, Tanay Bapna ‘18

HZ Girl’s Volleyball Record: 4-6 (3-4 at ACAMIS)Coach: Lisa Pater, Jose NanningaCaptain(s): Maiti Rooth ‘15, Xenia Niesel ‘17

HQ Boy’s Volleyball Record: 15-3Coach: Kathryn ClouthierCaptain(s): Victor Feng ‘15 and Michael Lewis ‘15

HQ Girl’s Volleyball Record: 15-3 (9-2 SISAC)Coach: Darby DavisCaptain(s): Hailey Gribble

HQ SwimmingRecord: 239 Personal Best Times at the SCIS HQ InvitationalCoach: Noah Randall, Kelsey Barden, & Azelea XinSenior(s): Lou Salome Chou ‘15

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coal-burning chimney. The waiter gave us complementary candied hawthorn berries, and a menu…all in Chinese. Luckily, I was with some adventurous girlfriends. We ended up circling items based on the popular childhood game, “Eeny, meeny, miny, moe,” and pointing. It turned out well.

A cart arrived, full of cabbage heads, bowls of mushrooms and plates of bok choy. A platter of thinly sliced pork sat next to a generous helping of lamb meatballs. It was enough to feed a family of ten, but the four of us ordered more.

The delicate broth turned rich, and we ladled large helpings into ceramic bowls. We slurped, and we dipped anything and everything into our peanut sauce concoctions. The steam from the cauldron billowed around our faces.

It was a night I won’t soon forget—not only for the great food, but for the experience. Because, even while I’m far from my warm home in Florida, there’s always a cozy hot pot in Shanghai to gather around with good friends.

If you want to try Dong Lai Shun:English Address: 215 Shimen Er Lu, near Xinzha Lu, Jingan DistrictChinese address: 东来顺,静安区石门二路215号,近新闸路

Telephone: 5228 7877 (Note: They do not speak English)Metro: Nanjing Xi Lu

By JENNIFER STEVENSPudong Campus High School Language Arts Teacher

Growing up in Florida, the word “winter” was never in my vocabulary. Pools were never covered, flip-flops were worn

year-round, and the closest thing anyone had resembling a coat was a thin cotton hoodie. Life was good.

Then I moved to Seoul a few years ago and everything changed. Initially, I thought winter lasted a couple of months. I imagined wearing cute boots and petticoats. I fancied sticking my tongue out to catch snowflakes. And I pictured myself making snow angels with my students. But then I quickly realized: winter is not fun. It takes a solid 5-10 more minutes to get dressed in the morning, you can’t feel the snow when it hits your tongue, and making snow angels ruins your hair. As a Floridian, my idea of winter was shattered in about a week.

That is, until I tried Chinese hot pot.

Seoul, much like many places in the world, has enough Chinese immigrants to boast some pretty outstanding Chinese food. And the thing that tops my personal list, especially during the upcoming winter months, is that flavorful, steaming bowl of broth.

Needless to say, I was pretty pleased when I landed a job in Shanghai.

Though I knew that I was returning to a place that experienced all four seasons again, I felt somehow prepared—somehow experienced. At least I no longer held onto the previous romantic notion that winter would be a white wonderland. Plus, I knew even if I was freezing my butt off, I could be in a hot pot restaurant in no time.

For those of you who don’t know, hot pot is basically China’s version of fondue. The broth varies depending on what region you’re in. The Sichuan province fills their broth with hot chili peppers and peppercorns, while Beijing offers a mild broth, intended to gain flavor as the night goes on. Shanghai in particular is not known for its hot pot, but since it’s so multicultural, you can find all sorts of versions throughout the city.

For my first experience, I chose a place called Dong Lai Shun, famous for its lamb and peanut satay.

The mild broth arrived in a beautiful, brass cauldron, with a small

FAVORITE SPOT FAVORITE SPOT

Looking for a New Restaurant to Try?

Make it a Warmer Winter With

HOT POT

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what is an international school?what makes an international education?

THEME FEATURE THEME FEATURE

truly international?

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The first international schools can be traced back to the 1950’s, when a significant increase in the number of

expatriate westerners were moving to foreign countries. Two of the earliest international schools—The United Nations International School in New York and the International School of Geneva—were established to meet the needs of newly created embassies, growing multinational corporations, and an internationally mobile population. Since this time, international schools have experience phenomenal growth across the globe. Recent estimates suggest there are over 6,000 international schools around the world, and this number will likely reach 9,000 by 2020. International schools are establishing a lasting presence in education, however the question regarding what is an international school is yet to be resolved.

By popular definition, an international school is a school that operates independently of the national school system and offers a curriculum different than the host country. International schools began as a response for the need of alternative options to the national school system in foreign countries. Most often, families and organizations sought education for students in English following a western curriculum. Expatriate communities gathered around such schools, establishing communities and a strong social network. The transient nature of these families dictated that the curriculum needed to be comparable to western school systems in order to facilitate reentry upon repatriation or acceptance into another international school for a future posing.

In more recent years, international schools have developed not only to serve the English speaking foreign population, but also to deliver a highly sought after “international education.” In many international schools there has been an increase in the number of local nationals enrolling, seeking an educational experience

that differs from their local system. Some research attributes the popularity of international schools as a result of the increasing dominance of English as the main international language. Providing an English language education attracts foreign and local non-English speaking families who have the mutual goal of providing multilingual opportunities for their children. The growing power and affluence of the global middle class has propelled the number of international schools to meet the demand for high-quality education. Families are motivated to equip their children with the language skills and background knowledge to enroll in foreign universities and work in an increasingly globalized market.

However, while international schools have grown in response to this practical need, there has been a secondary movement of schools wishing to foster international-mindedness in students, including a desire for world peace and the breaking down of barriers arising from prejudice and ignorance. This has led to an “ideological impetus” behind a new wave of international schools. While it remains unclear what exactly an internationally minded curriculum entails, there are four basic criteria which researchers have identified as commonalities of schools included in this movement. These commonalities are:

• they have a curriculum that differs from the host country • they serve the educational needs of an expatriate community

living in a host country• they have a student body that is international• they have modified their curriculum to make the most of an

international setting

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) is a widely regarded and frequently used international program. In 2014, the

IBO updated their definition of international education to include eight defining principles:

• developing citizens of the world in relation to culture, language and the capacity to live together

• building and reinforcing students’ sense of identity and cultural awareness

• fostering students’ recognition and development of universal human values;

• stimulating curiosity and inquiry in order to foster a spirit of discovery and enjoyment of learning

• equipping students with skills to learn and acquire knowledge, individually or collaboratively, and to apply these skills and knowledge accordingly across a broad range of areas

• providing international content while responding to local requirements and interests

• encouraging diversity and flexibility in teaching methods• providing appropriate forms of assessment and international

benchmarking

At SCIS we have adopted the IB Diploma Programme and follow the IB’s principles outlining an international education. We believe international education is not only a fundamental aspect of international schools, but also one that must be purposefully built into the dimensions of student experience.

The history and development of international schools has lead to the evolution of educational institutions that vary in their goals to provide alternative education. Many international schools aim to foster international mindedness and make students global citizens. At SCIS this is integral to our educational philosophy. We view the characteristics of an international education as essential competencies that will provide our students with a

competitive edge as they grow and develop into citizens of the 21st century. We welcome you on our campuses to view first hand a truly international school community.

By DAN JUBERTPudong Campus Head of School

References:

Bates, R. (2011). Schooling internationally: Globalisation, internationalisation and the future for international schools. New York: Taylor & Francis.

Brummitt, N. (2007). International schools: Exponential growth and future implications. International Schools Journal, 27(1), 35.

Hayden, M., & Thompson, J. J. (2008). International schools: Growth and influence United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

International Baccalaureate Organization (2014): How does the IB define “international education.” Retrieved January 15, 2014 from http://www.ibo.org/programmes/slideb.cfm

Hill, I. (2006). Student types, school types and their combined influence on the development of intercultural understanding. Journal of Research in International Education, 5(1), 5-33.

International School Consulting (ISC) Research. Mapping the world of international schools. Retrieved May 1st, 2014, from http://www.iscresearch.com/

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THEME FEATURE THEME FEATURE

It is Friday, September 26. You walk into the front office of the Early Childhood Campus. There are three people at the front

desk, but the rest of the school seems empty and quiet. As you near the stairs you hear music. Realizing the music is coming from above, you approach the stairs and climb. You’re hearing the pulsating sound getting louder as you near the top. Upon reaching the third floor you turn and head to the gym. Before your eyes is a huge room full of adults and students and energizing pop song lyrics …

“Put your flags up in the sky.And wave them side to side.Show the world where you’re from.Show the world we are one.”

Every teacher, assistant, administrator, and student fills the floor dressed in traditional clothing from countries all over the world, and all are dancing, smiling, jumping up and down, even doing the now famous (at ECE) “hair flip” all as ONE.

This was a truly unique and amazing way to begin our yearly celebration for the United Nations International Day of Peace. It solidified my belief that music and dance know no cultural, language, or social barriers. Whether we could understand the words or not, did not matter. Whether we were trained dancers or not, did not matter. Whether we were five or fifty, did not matter. For those three minutes, we were united in the warmth of the sound and the movement of our bodies. We were smiling. We were laughing. We “were” international!

The idea for this truly inspirational event was the brainstorm one of our Pre-School teachers, Jennifer Martinez. A “peace” dance? What was she thinking? Jennifer explains, “ When I heard the song “We Are One,” the chorus stuck with me. I knew it would be perfect for International Day of Peace. I wanted to do something that united us as a school and I thought a Peace Dance would do just that! My two younger cousins helped me choreograph the dance and insisted that the hair flip was a must! To see the dance come alive was such a special experience. I hope years from now when our students hear ‘We are One,’ they remember our dance and think about how we came together as a school to be one and dance for peace.”

Following the dance, the students returned to their classrooms and created artwork representing the theme of international peace. During the day various grade levels could be seen marching in beautiful colors around the playground in an International Parade. The day ended with parents joining us to share the flavorful varieties of foods from this great world that we represent. I will never forget the joy we shared as we danced our way into our celebration of peace.

In the words of Mahatma Ghandi, “Be the change that you want to see in the world.” Our International Day of Peace celebration solidified our unity as a school and helped us remember to embrace our differences and also revel in the fact that we are very much alike. We came to realize that in celebrating peace, our young students can certainly grow up to change the world into a better place!

By MICHELLE STARKSECE Grade 1 Teacher

On September 26th the students and staff at SCIS celebrated the United Nations’ International Day of Peace. This

year, rather than just celebrating for one day, the Pudong lower school campus decided to embrace what it means to be globally minded for the entire month of September. Students and faculty extended the learning of other cultures from one project to present during the annual assembly, to a month of learning. They dove deeper into cultures, countries, and communities to discover what it means to be internationally minded within our own school culture and greater community. Our Lower School campus celebrated this day by paying tribute to our international and multicultural school community made up of an estimated 40 different nationalities.

On the day of the event students, teachers, and members of the school community were encouraged to come in traditional dress from their home countries. The event began with an incredible display of country pride and colors in the Parade of Nations, with students from each country greeting the audience in their native tongue. The celebration continued with a song by grades 2-5 on stage. Each grade level from Pre-K through grade 5 displayed their

learning projects in a Peace Walk that allowed them to view each others’ work and share what they had learned through the projects with friends and family members in attendance. Projects ranged from a large world map displaying pictures of all the students from their native country, posters about different cultures around the globe, clay models to represent parables, mobiles displaying cultural facts, books and poems about peace, and fingerprint doves.

The event concluded with an International Food Fair offering special cultural dishes from around the world, prepared and cooked by the parent community. The Food Fair was considered the favorite event for many!

The celebration was a true display of the qualities that make SCIS a unique international community, showcasing our diversity, community spirit, and continued quest for excellence. It is one example of how we seek out opportunities to educate a globally minded student body.

The UNIDOP Committee CHRISTI CHASE, MEGAN LAIRD, ANJA SANTIAGO, CHERRY ZHANG, JANE MACMILLAN, BRIAN BYRNE

dancing for Peace!

united nations’ international day of Peace

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THEME FEATURE THEME FEATURE

strength in diversity -hangzhou international school

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HANGZHOU HIGHLIGHTS HANGZHOU HIGHLIGHTS

Over the weekend of November 14 – 16, HIS hosted the West Lake Model United Nations conference

for its eighth consecutive year. Over 250 students from 17 different schools throughout China, some from as far as Beijing and Tianjin, gathered together for three days to discuss and debate relevant global issues from the perspective of countries represented in the United Nations. “This was my third year being on the executive team of Westlake MUN. This year we had two new schools attend, which expanded on how much of China was represented at the conference,” said senior Maiti Rooth who served as Secretary General. Students represented countries from Bulgaria to Vanuatu as they challenged one another and worked together to create resolutions on issues such as the rights of migrant workers, combating contemporary forms of slavery, and post-natural disaster reconstruction. The West Lake Conference emulated seven forums taken from the halls of the United Nations. These committees were set up throughout the campus with small forums occupying classrooms, showing the wonderful willingness of the HIS staff and faculty to support the efforts of our students, and larger forums utilizing our performance space and auditorium.

HIS was well represented in the conference with 18 delegates ranging from grade six to 12. There were also over 50 students from HIS who gave up part of their weekend to offer help during the conference. The conference itself was entirely student planned, involving an incredible commitment of time and effort and it was astonishing to see this kind of dedication on display over the course of the weekend; a testament to our school’s message of academic excellence, global awareness, and selflessness. Senior, Maiti Rooth took on the responsibility of planning all aspects of the conference with the help of Sophie Chen (8th grade), who was the Deputy Secretary General. Both students did an excellent job and received

much praise from the visiting schools regarding their organization, professionalism and successfully run conference. Maiti deserves special recognition as this year’s conference was her last. Florine Spiekerman (senior) is another HIS student who contributed significantly to this weekend’s events. A veteran of five West Lake Conferences, Florine’s expertise of MUN proved invaluable. The three aforementioned students made our school exceptionally proud throughout the entire planning of West Lake MUN. Maiti, Flo, and Sophie often surrendered weekends at a time to its preparation, as well as staying until past-midnight the first day of the conference to ensure all documents and resolution were printed and ready for debate, surviving on a mixture of black coffee, stroopwafels, a love of our world’s current geo-political climate. Such commitment is a rarity. We are so fortunate to have them as a part of our community. A special thanks should also be given to Mrs. Francis Spiekerman, who went above and beyond what is expected of a parent in terms of her time commitment to MUN and the HIS community. Lastly, the conference’s success should also be credited to the overwhelming support of the entire HIS staff; from administration and teachers, to maintenance, AV/tech, and dining.

After three days of engaging debate that saw the passing of numerous resolutions and the occasional new friendship, West Lake came to and end. Following its conclusion, the reviews began to roll in and they were rousing. “I was very happy with how everything went this year. I really enjoyed walking around and viewing all of the debate in the rooms. Everything ran very smoothly and everyone who I talked to was satisfied with the conference. Since this was my last conference I am delighted that everything went so well,” Maiti said. Others directors seemed to agree. West Lake has already begun planning for next year and we can only hope to duplicate this year’s successes.

West Lake Model United Nations Conference Hosted at HIS

By WILLIAM HOVERSENHIS Social Studies Teacher

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HONGQIAO HIGHLIGHT HONGQIAO HIGHLIGHT

Many knew him as Jerry Rice — NFL Legend, Member of the Hall of

Fame, Greatest Wide Receiver to ever play the game. Others knew him as Jerry Rice — Dancing with the Stars Season 2 Runner Up. And we all knew him as Jerry Rice — major celebrity.

But what I didn’t know was that he was going to be a fantastic speaker. He totally killed it. Tony Robbins wouldn’t have wanted to follow his act.

For an hour, he entertained, engaged, and educated. And he fielded all questions with articulate genuine responses.

“During you high school years, were you confident you were going to a D1 school?” No, you know…I was kind of nerdy in High School. I was skinny with these really big hands. Think of how funny that looks. Skinny kid. Big Hands…..

“What was it like to run onto the field after you became a star?” 60,000 people screaming and cheering. My heart was beat-ing so fast — I was nervous!....

“What’s your take on Talent versus Hard Work?” I think you have to have both….But the way I approached it — I would not be outworked. Nobody was going to outwork me…

He even obliged two girls who asked him to do his favorite dance by inviting them on-stage for a quick dance-off. “Did you have a High School crush?” He answered that one too! Telling students his High School romance story.

While he spent 45 minutes answering questions, the most important thing, he was just a great guy. When we all first walked out onto the stage to sit down for the talk-show style interview, he broke the ice by saying to the student interviewers, “I get really nervous doing these things, so I’m relying on all of you to help me get through this,” which allowed everyone to laugh and relax. And from my point of view, that wasn’t for show. That’s just the kind of guy he is.

I was with him the whole time — backstage, onstage, walking through the café — he never ‘big timed’ anybody. He took the

initiative to make everyone else around him was comfortable. He consistently showed interest in others, asked questions, and tried to bend the no-autographs-and-no-pictures rule by signing and taking as many of them as he could. I even saw him let multiple peeps try on his super bowl ring! Heck, I don’t even let people try on my watch.

In a world where athletes have tended to become me-first players, it was awesome to see one of the best and most famous athletes be a you-first person.

One of my favorite stories that I have ever heard about an athlete is the one that Steve Young, one of Rice’s former team-mates, told about him at his Hall of Fame enshrinement. Young said that just three or four days after they won the Super Bowl, Young happened to stop by their training center to pick up a few things and clear out his locker for a long vacation. And what did he see? Jerry Rice, their best player, out on the field running wind sprints.

Fortunately for everyone present on November 19th, we now have our own story to share about the greatest wide receiver of all time. And for me, I now know him as something else too: a true role-model.

Behind the Scenes — How did Jerry Rice end up in China and at SCIS?

The NFL office has been making a massive push into China. They are trying to do the same thing here that they were able to do in England. You know how England now has three regular season games a year and there is talk about relocating a franchise there… Well, China is next. Operation bring-the-greatest-game-on-earth-to-China is just about ten to fifteen years behind England (I’m not biased. Everyone knows that true talk).

Anyways, the NFL is still just getting started here. They have been here only since the mid 2000’s. Remember, they were in Europe before way back in the early 90’s, before I was even in High School! Their headquarters office here in Shanghai, and they do a number of things to promote the game.

One of the things they do is bring out the biggest superstars. Two years ago they had Barry Sanders come out to do a meet and greet and sign autographs. Last year they had Joe Montana out for a couple dinners and to throw the ball around. I was thinking about this one night and just kind of looked up into the air and just BING, straight cartoon light-bulb style an idea came to me: I should see if they will

come and speak at our schools. Truth be told, I had no idea if this idea would actually work. But hey, why not try?

And so back in January I had a meeting with the NFL office and we planned out different ways we could collaborate. For us at SCIS, I thought collaboration would give our kids cool opportunities, and for them at the NFL office, I figured it would help grow the sport. A traditional win-win partnership.

So we came up with a number of collaboration opportunities. A Private Football Clinic with football coaches for our kids. Our Marching Band playing at NFL Home Field events in Shanghai. Give our students inside access to be ballboys and help out at local games. Continue to bring NFL Cheerleaders over to work with our Cheerleading team. A QB Challenge Booth at our family events. And lastly, have Superstars give a Motivational Speech of some kind to our students.

We talked about these back in January and have been implementing them throughout the year. So when Jerry Rice was finalized as the guy to come over, I

just emailed them to follow up and see if we could get him to come into the school. They emailed back yes, “Yes… We are open for Wednesday Nov 19 or Friday Nov 21.” My reaction would have made Taylor Swift proud. I was like, holy cow — that worked!!!

I didn’t really have any idea what kind of format we should do. I’m not saying I didn’t confidently throw out two great ideas (a motivational speech or a talk-show style sports interview), but I am saying that I didn’t have any real idea of how to put on a successful event like this. Luckily, the NFL office is full of a bunch of professionals that know what they’re doing and suggested a better program: (1) Intro Video (2) Motivational Speech (3) Student Led Interview (4) Hand out Tickets to the NFL China University Bowl VI event this weekend. I know a good idea when I see one and jumped on it.

We ended up altering it a bit so Jerry could interact with the audience more and settled on (1) Intro Video (2) Talk Show Style Interview on Stage (3) Audience Questions (4) Group Picture on Stage and (5) Ticket Hand Out. And I just thought out every detail I could imagine before hand, and since we have great students, faculty, and administration, everything went off perfectly well. And I think all parties were happy. I think the NFL and Jerry Rice made some new fans. And I think our students got a once-in-a-lifetime type chance to hear a positive message from a true role-model.

By JONATHAN PAULSONEditor

Jerry Rice Visits SCIS

NFL Hall of Fame LegendJERRY RICE

“Today I will do what others won’t, so tomorrow I can accomplish what others can’t.” – Jerry Rice

Event Program:

Introduction Video

Motivational Speech

Student Led Interview

Visits SCISDate: Wednesday, November 19th. Time: 9:30-10:30am

Location: SCIS Hongqiao Theatre Auditorium

SUPERBOWL

Champion

3 TimeIN NFL HISTORY

TOUCHDOWNsMOST

HAll of fameNFLMember of the

“Attention all, don’t miss out on the Jerry Rice Autograph Signing at NFL University Bowl VI on Sunday, November 23rd from 1-2pm at Luwan Stadium.”

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HONGQIAO ECE HIGHLIGHT HONGQIAO ECE HIGHLIGHT

When ECE has to put on a show at the Hongqiao stage, I always feel a

bit like I’m that farmer trying to cross the river with the dog, the chicken, & the bag of grain — except that things are much more complicated. Let’s take 160 kindergarten and Grade1students and put them all onto one stage with smooth transitions, make them sing, dance and play instruments, and above all, make sure they have a good time doing it too. Luckily, I don’t have to do it all alone; it’s a huge team effort.

Students Who Bring ItThese kids really sing and dance their hearts out. Each class had some time to show off musical skills, be it tap, instruments or pretending to be a monster under a bed. The final Indian song, performed by all classes, really brought the house down with those wavy arms and Bollywood moves.

Lighting and Sound Crew Who Really Care About

Making It MagicalIt’s a sign of a quality tech team to be invisible to the audience, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t know about these two: Hodia and Dou. Pretty much everything flashy on that stage is down to them: the microphone placements, the stunning lighting, hanging all the props from the beams…all the razzmatazz.

Stage Props ASA KidsAfter school these kids, led by two high

Behind the Scenes of the ECE Concert:

We need to practice, in the gym, at the theatre. One more time, please.

school volunteer helpers, Martha and Taylor, threw on an old t-shirt and got creative with bright paints and glitter sprinkles. The children made all the props themselves and all of Grade 1 and Kindergarten loved seeing that strawberry pie from the “Moon Moon Moon” song.

Faculty, Staff and AdminPretty much everyone gets involved. Angela arranges transportation the entire Building A, and Rex handles getting the

risers and all concert paraphernalia to the right place at the right time. In the final rehearsals it’s all hands on deck. Teachers practice transitions with children as well as helping move props on and off the stage. When the students finally ascend the stage beaming it is because their teachers have been sensitively aware of making them feel comfortable and confident. Everyone gives encouragement before a show and the following day extra hands are around at bus duty for congratulatory

high fives as students arrive at school.

Putting on these shows can be important for an individual’s personal development, no doubt. But it is also a chance for these children to experience a way of contributing to a community. And community is what we’re all about, right?

By NICOLA FADERHongqiao ECE Campus Music Teacher

ECE

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Middle School Strings Band DazzlesDirected by Mark Miller, the Strings band performed “Curse of the Rosin Eating Zombies

from Outer Space.” It was another smash hit by one of the Miller’s, as Mark and wife Jessie (the LS Music Teacher) have continually captivated

audiences with their student performances since 2013.

Photography by Jonathan Paulson

In October I was afforded the opportunity to take part in a program

evaluation in Cambodia, through Lehigh University. My role: to be a part of a group of graduate students who would assess the programs implemented at Caring for Cambodia (CFC) schools in Siem Riep. These are government schools that are privately funded through the non-government organization called Caring for Cambodia whose goal is to provide education opportunities for low-income children. More specifically, I was in charge of assessing the attitudes and beliefs of teachers and students regarding gender equity and the “Girls Matter” program that supports girls in their educational pursuits.

This was an unforgettable opportunity that allowed me to better understand the world of education outside of my own teaching experiences and to see how others were helping students gain an education. In order to provide an adequate assessment I spent several months reading about gender equity in education and CFC schools. I also developed a few evaluation instruments that would ensure that I could fully understand what was happening at these schools.

I went to Cambodia to assess the program, but I quickly realized that, even after all of effort to learn about gender equity and CFC, I had much to learn in terms of my own assumptions about education and about gender equity. As is

often the case with first world individuals entering third world cultures with the aims of helping, I assumed that I knew what should be happening. What I came to realize is that I hold my own assumptions about gender that can be distinctly different from those from other cultures.

While I was able to do a lot of good for those schools and for the organization, I may have even benefitted from it more myself as a teacher. From this experience I began to realize that I just may be completely unaware of assumptions of gender and how they impact those around me. This has fueled a desire to create a deeper understanding of cultural differences in gender attitudes and beliefs and to stimulate dialogue that can lead to a deeper awareness of gender at SCIS.

Gender is a deeply embedded concept that stems from cultural and familial factors, and these influences are often taken for granted or go unnoticed. I came to realize that the myriad of cultures and backgrounds of the students at SCIS requires the consideration of all these different beliefs and attitudes and the opportunity to freely discuss them to ensure that all students achieve their potential. Such conversations can only bring light to an assumption-laden topic that is deeply important for empowering all students.

By KELLY GRACEPudong Campus Kindergarten Teacher

Operation CambodiaPUDONG HIGHLIGHTSPUDONG HIGHLIGHTS

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Mr. and Mrs. Valenza are in the middle of their sixth year at SCIS. Originally from the USA (for the

most part), they have spent their entire career teaching around the world. They have two beautiful children who currently attend SCIS, and they have been soaking up Shanghai ever since they got here. Luckily, I was able to get them to sit down with me…

Hmmmm…so you have the same last name. I’m guessing you’re not dating?K: We’ve been married for 13 years. Seems hard to believe!

Well, come on….what’s the adventure love story? How did you make it to China?P: I was born in Brazil and lived there as a kid, and Karin took several trips overseas growing up. So, we kind of always thought we’d end up living outside the U.S. When we first starting out on this whole international teaching thing, we were actually trying to go to Brazil but ended up with a job in Kuwait. I know, it’s kind of the same thing! (laughing) Then, after four years in Kuwait, we were ready for someplace new and the opportunity opened up here in Shanghai. So here we are!

5 years teaching at SCIS! Rock on! What keeps bringing you back year after year?K: Everything! The school, Shanghai, all of it! We love the

Mr. Paulo and Mrs. Karin Valenza

Loving Life

true community feel to the school—it has become our family! We also love the diverse, cosmopolitan vibe of Shanghai. If you want to have a “Chinese” day of riding bikes through rice patties and eating street food, you can. If you want to go see an IMAX and eat burgers, they’ve got that too! We love the ability to “choose” the kind of experience we want.

And you live down in Kangqiao next to SCIS-Pudong. While it might not be a clubbing hot-spot in Lonely Planet Shanghai, how’s that area for raising a family?P: Great! House with a backyard, calm streets the kids can ride their bikes on…and once Starbucks came, it was the complete package! I still remember the staff meeting back in August of 2011 when they announcement one had opened up in Wanda over the summer. That was the loudest cheer I’ve ever heard at a staff meeting!!

Wait. Before I forget. I heard this crazy rumor: you guys actually own a car and drive around Shanghai yourself?K: Yes! We both drive, and we have an awesome, orange Great Wall! (editors note: apparently, that is a type of car) After driving in Kuwait, China is a piece of cake!

So I just gotta say, you guys look great. What’s the secret?P: Both of us have made a radical transformation in the way we approach food. About 2 years ago, I discovered juice fasting with freshly squeezed vegetables and fruits! Together my wife and I would do periods of time where all we’d “eat” were juices! Some times maybe for a few days, other times for as long as 40 days! We still do it on and off but of course the biggest life change has been our eating habits and trying to live a more active life.

Oh my goodness, I almost forgot. Paulo, what do you do here at SCIS?P: I’m the Tech Coordinator for the Pudong Upper School.

(lost & confused)…ok…(awkward silence) Is that, exciting?P: Yes, very exciting. Everyone loves

technology right?! Actually, I really enjoy helping people and making things run better. Probably what I enjoy the least is after a day of troubleshooting, going home only to find out I need to reset my home router. But in general it’s a great job!

(Still not sure if I understand…)…Ok moving on then. Karin, what do you do here at SCIS?K: Middle School…I’ve taught Grade 8 Algebra, Grade 7 Pre-Algebra, Grade 7 Science, and even a High School math elective class. But, currently, I’m teaching Grade 6 Math & Science.

New line of questioning: What should people know about you?P: I’m Batman! No, seriously! I was bitten by a bat as a kid and now I have super-powers!

TEACHER SPOTLIGHT TEACHER SPOTLIGHT

Whoa. Crazy. Is there any message you want to send to people?K: Hi Mom! ☺

Serious question now, what’s your favorite thing about SCIS?K: People! I love my job!! I love the smiling, genuinely happy faces that I get to see everyday!P: I have to agree. Working with the teachers and admin at Pudong, the students, it’s great! I love that I still know many of the students from back when I was a teacher.

You’ve taught in Guatemala; you’ve taught in Kuwait; now you’ve been teaching in Shanghai. What’s in store for the future?Both: At least two more years of SCIS!” -- That is a breaking news development.☺

Interview by JONATHAN PAULSON Editor

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Where do you and your family live?We live in the Shimao Riviera Garden in Lujiazui. Our apartment overlooks the Huangpu River and Puxi. The view is incredible both day and night but our children especially enjoy the boats lit up on the water at night. There is always something exciting going on in this city and our view truly makes us appreciative of that fact. Are there any family friendly perks?There are many family-friendly perks to living at the Shimao. There are two large gyms—both with pools. In addition, there is an extremely large outdoor pool complete with a wave machine, sandy beach, palm trees, and snack bar. There are also lovely parks throughout the complex for riding bikes, riding scooters, or walking your dog. Children love the large open field for playing ball or just running around with friends after school. Within 10 minutes we can walk from our apartment to one of the many east-west canals which run through Pudong. There is a beautiful walking path running alongside it on both sides which runs from the Huangpu, through Century Park, and continues father east.

Welcome to the Community

Paul and Madeleine Stewart. -Paul works at Disney.-Daughter Eileen in Grade 8 at SCIS-PD.-Daughter Emily in Grade 5 at SCIS-PD.

Where do your children go to school and why?We have four children. Aidan, 21, is completing his last year back home at Virginia Commonwealth University. Allis, 19, attends Donghua University in Puxi, where she studies Mandarin full-time. Eileen,14, and Emily, 10, both attend the Shanghai Community International School in Pudong. After visiting other schools on our pre-move trip, it was clear that SCIS was a perfect fit for our younger girls. The head of the school, Dan Jubert was so kind to our family when we toured the Pudong Upper and Lower school. Our daughters instantly felt at home there. We agreed, especially upon meeting some of the teachers, walking down the halls and passing by students who seemed to interact so well with the faculty. There is a strong sense of community, including a “home away from home” feel which was not an act meant to attract us to the school but just how the school actually is. Our girls are almost done with their first semester and that same “vibe” is omni-present. What issues did you face as a family moving to Shanghai?The issues we faced were typical of a large family of four. It was not so much moving to China as much as it was leaving the States. It was our first International move without our eldest son. Our eldest daughter had just graduated from high school and now needed to decide if she wanted to attend a university in America or move to Shanghai with us to attend an interna-tional college where she could learn a new language and culture. The biggest issue for our younger daughters was temporarily saying goodbye to their home, their friends, and their dog and bunny :(

Any advice for Newbies?It is important to keep an open mind, a positive attitude, and patience. Appreciate this opportunity to live in such a unique city that is growing so quickly. We would highly recommend doing as much “homework” as possible prior to moving. Come up with a list and a ranking of “must-haves” versus “not-importants.” If it’s important for example that your family live, shop, eat, or go to school in a manner more closely approximating your home country, there are specific neighborhoods which will be better-accommodating than others to fulfill that need. Favorite Landmark in Shanghai?Shanghai City Temple next to Yu Gardens in Puxi. Favorite Attraction in Shanghai?Our kids love the Shanghai Wild Animal Park & The Science Museum. Favorite Restaurant in Shanghai?“Yangs Dumplings” over by the Pearl Tower (the line can be long at times but well worth the wait for an excellent Shanghai dumpling.

Interview by JONATHAN PAULSON Editor

Is there anything you don’t like about your neighborhood?Not at all. We live in a very large but peaceful complex right in the heart of the busy city. There is so much to do and see right here. No need to walk far to experience and appreciate local cuisine, unique shops, and famous landmarks like the Oriental Pearl Tower & Jin Mao Tower. We couldn’t be happier with our location. One thing to keep to always keep in mind at times and throughout the city is traffic safety. Crossing the street can be very dangerous. Vehicles do not wait for pedestrians at corners and two and three-wheeled vehicles will take any route available to them including sidewalks, so you must take extra care not only when crossing streets but on the streets in general, especially if you have young children. Make sure to teach them to be very careful. What’s the best thing about bringing up your kids in Shanghai?We agree with our eldest son who feels the most important reason is that living in any country other than your own helps break preconceived stereotypes of a foreign culture. It exposes them constantly to another language, habits, etiquette, foods etc, which would be impossible to simulate at home. How has Shanghai been different/similar in reality when compared to your preconceived notions?To be honest, I’m not sure any of us had any pre-conceived notions about China. We are from the United States and have moved within our own country many times (west coast, mid-west, and mid-Atlantic) and have also lived in Tokyo, so we are used to moving and our children have always adapted well to their new surroundings. They love to learn about new places, customs and local cuisine. Our children are also fortunate to have relatives who have lived in Asia for long periods before, including a cousin who studied Mandarin in Beijing via Columbia University. This was an immense help to our family in preparing for the move here. Perhaps the most unexpected difference is again the constant danger on the streets. Nothing can prepare you for xperiencing it first-hand.

FAMILY SPOTLIGHT FAMILY SPOTLIGHT

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This is Megan’s first year at HIS. She moved to Hangzhou with her

parents (both teachers) from Gig Harbor, Washington in the USA by way of two years in Zimbabwe. This is her first year in the new IB Program at HIS, and I’ve luckily got her to take a few minutes to sit down and talk with me about Hangzhou, life, and the IB…

Hi Megan. We’re four months in. 4 months into Hangzhou. 4 months into the IB. And 4 months into China. How’s life going?Life is going great! I am slowly settling into our new life here in Hangzhou. Our grade 11/12 China trip to Sanya gave me an opportunity to start to build relationships with students in my class. I’m very active in our Outreach Club, and I have also recently joined the HIS swim team. Even though I came from an IB school, the actual act of jumping into the Diploma Programme has been very hard, but I continue to work my best.

So Zimbabwe…that sounds adventurous but in a different way. What’s been the biggest difference coming from there to here?

Her name is Hailey Gribble

COACHES CORNER STUDENGT SPOTLIGHT

First Year in the new

IB Program at HIS

Megan Mullen

Q: Who and/or what are your greatest motivations to be the student-athlete that you are and why?My dad is my greatest motivation to be the student-athlete that I am. He has been teaching me how to play basketball for years, and it is a passion that we both share. He has shown me what hard work and persistence can get you in life, and I strive to be like him. My dad is an inspiring role model and has the best heart of anyone I know.

Q: Oh my gosh, that’s so sweet I’m distracted…um…What has been your sports highlight (so far)?My greatest sports highlight so far was winning basketball ACAMIS last year on our home court. The support and cheering from the crowd was insane! It was really great to have my friends and family there to support me for the win.

What have you learned from your toughest challenges in sports?I’ve learned that any physical challenge is achievable if you put your mind to it. You can be down by 20 points in a game and still come back to win it. In the fourth quarter, when you think you can’t run anymore, you can. I have learned that playing sports is just as much a mental game as it is a physical one.

Q: Oh, we should probably get to the basics. What sports / position do you play?I play post or point guard in basketball, middle in volleyball, and striker in soccer.

Q: Think FAST—three quick questions: Favorite basketball move? Favorite Athlete? Favorite pre-game meal?I love fast breaks. I love throwing the ball to people on the fast break or taking it myself. The adrenalin is always pumping as players are chasing behind you to stop your lay-up. My favorite athlete is probably Blake Griffin. He can shoot from anywhere, but at the same time, he can also post anyone up, making him practically unguardable. Although I don’t really have a favorite pre-game meal, I’d probably have to say spaghetti because the carbs help to keep me packed with energy during games.

Q: Why do you play sports?I play sports because I like to be part of a team. I love working out and exercising in general, but playing a game that I enjoy with my friends makes it that much more satisfying.

Q: Three adjectives that describe you the basketball player?Determined. Intense. Aware.

Interview by MIRO BRAUN Hongqiao Campus Upper School PE Teacher with JONATHAN PAULSON

A rural lifestyle to a big city world. In Zimbabwe, I had a huge house, with a yard and swimming pool. In Hangzhou, it is the first time we have lived in a big city as well as the first time living in an apartment.

The energy of the city, along with all of the conveniences within walking distance of our apartment has been a great experience. Another big difference… wait can I have two?

I think we can make a special exception here…The second difference: the language barrier. I have no previous experience in Mandarin. Most African countries that I have lived in or visited have a very strong English foundation in addition to their native tongue. It has been challenging to be immediately immersed in a culture that uses very little English language.

So when I say “Hangzhou,” you say____? New Experience.

What’s so valuable about these new experiences?International students all over the world are more aware of the perspectives of other cultures. This not only makes us more compassionate, but better global citizens. Living overseas has given me these opportunities.

Switching subjects, tell me about the IB. On a scale of 1-10, ten being your BFF and one being your archenemy, where does IB fall on your love/hate scale?I really think that the IB is a great example

of a love/hate relationship; some days IB is a 2 and some days it can be an 8. Having my older brother and his classmates from Zimbabwe go through the IB Diploma Programme, I knew how rigorous but rewarding this program could be. I really appreciate how open minded and balanced the IB Program allows you to be. It also encourages you to focus on activities outside of normal school curriculum, and adds in the service learning component. However, it’s not easy; some days I can be up late doing lots of work. :(

If only the IB would make beauty sleep a learner profile! Seriously though, moving back, what class do you love the most? It doesn’t mean you don’t love the others also, it’s just means you love them less.I’m taking higher level Art this year, and by far, it is my favorite subject. I have a visual art journal where I record my process, but I also have monthly projects that I work on. In grades 9 and 10, I took high school art taught by a fantastic IB instructor who really prepared me for the IB program. I’m really looking forward to see how I improve over the years, and how my final art exhibition will turn out.

Your older brother did the IB Diploma Programme in Zimbabwe. Did he have any advice for you?My brother Ryan is glad that he successfully completed the IBDP Program, and said it really helped him to be prepared for this year at UC Berkeley. He also told me that procrastination can be your worst enemy. He said to make sure to stay current on your projects, try not

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to stress out, and continue to work hard; in the end, you will survive, and it will pay off. Ryan also said that his involvement in the community and service work was a huge factor in his university applications, so he said to stay well rounded.

You’ve had a chance now to experience three continents —America, Africa, and Asia. Now is the time most people start thinking hard about which college they want to go to. With the IB diploma and your experience, you would be qualified and able to go anywhere in the world you wanted. Where are you currently leaning towards?My goal is to head back to the US, and possibly attend a school near my brother in California or at least on the West

Coast. Researching school prospects is very exciting, and I’m looking forward to sending out applications next year for the next chapter in my life.

24 Second Shot Clock is in effect. So you gotta answer fast. Ready? What is your favorite HZ event so far? Mid-Autumn Moon Festival. It is fascinating to hear about the background history of this cultural event. It’s similar to an “American Thanksgiving.” It is also a great Chinese holiday that involves the cycles of the moon, and you can often see great tidal bores on the Qiantang River during this time.

What is your favorite restaurant out there?There are great little local restaurants within walking distance from my apartment.

My family and I enjoy eating local Chinese food there at least one a week; they have great egg fried rice! We also enjoy going to Saffron which is an Indian Restaurant located within a quick eBike ride from our apartment. They have a great selection of authentic Indian vegetarian dishes.

Last question now: Saturday afternoon… the sun comes on…all your work is done…what is Megan about to do?My weekends are VERY full of homework, however, when I’m lucky enough to finish it all, I enjoy spending time with my family. Sometimes we will just take a taxi to West Lake and go on a walking/shopping adventure. There is always something new around every corner!

Interview by JONATHAN PAULSONEditor

Tell us about yourself.I am studying a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Melbourne. My majors are in Finance and Marketing. I am also employed by the university as a casual tutor of business statistics. After I graduate in November, I will start working at Deloitte.

You’re at one of the world’ Top Universities, how well prepared do you feel coming from SCIS?I was nervous about starting university because I knew all my peers would be smart. Despite my fears, I noticed that my critical analysis and written communication skills were relatively strong. The work I did at SCIS during IB was really challenging and played an important role in shaping my ability to think critically and present my ideas articulately.

What do you think the biggest difference coming from an international school versus coming from a regular school?Culture! At my previous secondary school, people formed groups and friendships based on shared characteristics and had little interest in embracing diversity. At an international school everyone is so different, so if you want to make friends, you are forced to embrace diversity. This is a good thing because the resulting culture is very inclusive.

When you first moved to Shanghai and attended SCIS, have you thought you would be where you are today?I think I knew I would end up back in Melbourne after high school and I had hoped I would achieve the grades needed to get into the University of Melbourne. I was only 15 when I moved to Shanghai, so I was focused on enjoying my short time overseas rather than worrying too much about the future.

What advice will you give to those in high school right now preparing to go to university?My grade 10-12 Chemistry teacher once commented that IB brought him closer

with his students - he said that it had become “him and his students versus the IB.” Work with your teachers during IB. They want you to do well and they will go to a lot of effort to help you reach your potential. You have to be proactive though!

I know you were multi-sport athlete in high school, have you continued to participate in any sports in the university?When I moved back to Australia, I started playing netball again. Unfortunately I ruptured a ligament in my knee while playing and had to have surgery. So currently I am taking a year off sport while I rehabilitate my knee. I look forward to returning though!

Do you have a favourite SCIS story to share?After finishing IB, two classmates organised a dinner and party at their compound. They invited everyone in our graduating class and ALL the SCIS IB teachers. It was a really fun night and a testament to how close we had become with our peers and teachers.

What was the most memorable moment as a student?Graduation. I think it may have been the last time the graduating class of 2011 was together all at once. It was nice to reflect on our years at SCIS while also looking ahead to the future.

Are you still friends with anybody you met at SCIS?Of course! We all live in different parts of the world now but we have a group on Facebook for our graduating class which helps us keep in touch. Additionally, when I visit Shanghai, I try to catch up with all the other SCIS alumni who are in town.

What is your lasting impression of SCIS?One of my favourite SCIS memories is market day. During the warmer months, everyone gathered during lunch to chat, relax after a busy week and enjoy the

food on sale. My memory of market day is a reminder of what I like most about SCIS—the sense of community.

What is your most significant accomplishment?As a student, my most significant accomplishment was my IB score. SCIS was new to the IB and so there was no historical benchmark to give you an indication of where you could or should be. Accordingly, I felt a lot of uncertainty about how I might perform. I had a huge surprise when I received my grade. That was unforgettable because I surpassed my own expectations.

5 years from now, what do you see yourself doing after graduated from university?Hopefully five years from now my career at Deloitte will be developing. The benefit of working for an international firm is the potential for travel. So I would love to do a secondment at some point; perhaps I could return to Shanghai for a year!

As you mentioned before, after your graduate next year, you will start your first job at Deloitte. How did you get this fabulous job? And what position will you be in?After completing some research into potential career opportunities I decided to apply to their graduate program. I will start as an analyst in their tax team.

Interview by MUN YEE CHOO SCIS-HIS Marketing Manager

STUDENGT SPOTLIGHT

THE CLASS NOTES OF GRADUATESClass of 2010PD Alumni Ambassador: Kaz

Jeni Lin is spending her freshman year studying abroad at one of NYU’s Italian campus in Florence. She is really liking the culture-filled and historically rich city. It’s not all fun and games though. Jeni reports she has to get straight A’s each semester to continuing pursuing her business degree in the prestigious Stern School of Business. One of her current highlights: she was a number of a very few select students to get into a program called La Pietra Dialogues, which will take her inside the European Union headquarters in Brussels next week.

Kimberly Kim writes from the University of Pugent Sound in Tacoma, Washington that the “campus is beautiful, professors are truly inspiring, and everyone is nice and welcoming.” She has been enjoying the famous outdoors of the Pacific Northwest, participating in the Outdoors Club. Additionally, she has been giving back to the community working as a mentor for young students in the Tacoma Public School.

College is also going great for Tori Wolf, although she reports that it is weird living on her own, dealing with money, and generally taking care of herself. In between staying up way to late, making lots of friends, and going to ALL THE FOOT-BALL GAMES, she has been getting good grades and credits the IB for that.

THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONAlumni Mission: The SCIS-HIS Alumni Association has been established in order to foster the continued cordial relations of the SCIS-HIS community. The Alumni Association seeks to generate and maintain the active interest of all SCIS-HIS alumni in its regular business. It will provide the alumni with regular opportunities to assemble and maintain valued relationships through the promotion of

alumni events and communications.

Alumni Contact: Jonathan Paulson // jpaulson@scischina.org

Alumni Requirements:1. Graduated from a SCIS-HIS school

OR2. Went to school here for at least one year AND be over 18

Social Media facebook site: www.facebook.com/ SCISandHISalumni

Linkedin site: www.linkedin.com/groups/ SCISHIS-Alumni-4757677

Upcoming EventsJune 2015 in Shanghai

ALUMNI INTERVIEW

Melbournite Emma Howat spent her last three high school years at SCIS before returning to her hometown for University and soon to be career. She was very successful at SCIS, and her success has continued at the University of Melbourne (one of the world’s top universities). Emma recently sat down with the Communitas to talk about how her time in Shanghai helped shape her life…

EMMA HOWAT with her first job at

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COMMUNITY FEATURE COMMUNITY FEATURE

This is Halloween this is Halloween...

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A GREAT BEGINNING 1st International Early Childhood Conference hosted at SCIS ECE

ACAMIS ARTICLE ACAMIS ARTICLE

The Association of Chinese and Mongolian International Schools

(ACAMIS) is an organization of over 65 member schools throughout East Asia. SCIS-HIS has been a long-standing member school of ACAMIS because the mission of ACAMIS aligns so well with SCIS-HIS’ ongoing effort to inspire and support not only student learning, but also that of the faculty and administration. One of the stated purposes of ACAMIS is “to advance the professional growth of individuals within ACAMIS schools and

like schools.” Through its partnership with ACAMIS, SCIS-HIS schools have been able to develop collaborative educational partnerships within the region. ACAMIS conferences and weekend workshops provide targeted and differentiated professional development opportunities for member communities. They connect schools, communities, and individuals through the use of technology to promote collaboration, communication, intercultural understanding, and access to broader educational opportunities. Further, these

opportunities engage both educators and students in learning activities across the region and promote friendship, under-standing and global citizenship. An effort to ensure that all educators have access to the great learning activities created the initiative that led to SCIS offering to host the first ever ACAMIS Early Childhood Education (ECE) Conference. Planning began in the spring of 2014 at the general ACAMIS conference where a strand of ECE administrators from across the region laid out the framework for how a conference could be most successful in meeting the unique needs of ECE teachers and administrators. This planning meeting ultimately led to the SCIS Hongqiao ECE campus hosting of the conference this past November 28 and 29th.

The conference was a perfect opportunity for a diverse group of educators that gathered to support each other in furthering best practice across the region of member schools. The theme of the conference was “A Great Beginning:

Developmentally Appropriate Practice in International Early Childhood Programs” a theme that embodied both the spirit of the first ever ECE Conference and early childhood educators daily challenge to provide young students with incredible opportunities to learn. The ACAMIS ECE Conference had two full days of keynote speakers, presentations, and job-alikes that were focused on equipping early childhood educators with the tools to guide their students toward reaching their full potential. Two keynote speakers, both hailing from Australia provided much food for thought on how schools need to consistently adapt to meet the needs of modern students and get the most out of their exposure to literacy. Additionally, there were thirty-five workshop sessions led by teachers and administrators. The workshops were organized in different strands which included: STEM- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math; Literacy; Mandarin; and ECE Curriculum. SCIS ECE, SCIS Pudong, and Hangzhou International School each had faculty

members lead workshops, proudly shar-ing the knowledge and creativity exhib-ited throughout our classrooms.

With their shared vision of creating opportunities for lifelong learning, the SCIS-HIS system of schools and the Association of Chinese and Mongolian International Schools form a strong and mutually beneficial relationship. By establishing the first ever ECE conference for international educators within China and Mongolia, the two have ensured that all educators within the region are able to participate in professional development opportunities. As such, ACAMIS is able to achieve their purpose to an even broader community of educators and the region as a whole gains from what was most certainly, “A Great Beginning.”

By DAN ESCHTRUTHHongqiao ECE HEAD OF SCHOOL

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All Kids C@n {code}

TECHNOLOGY SAFETY

“Learning to write programs stretches your mind, and helps you think better. [It] creates a way of thinking about things that I think is helpful in all domains.”- Bill Gates, Founder of Microsoft

Banking, cell phones, computers, websites, televisions, washing

machines, taxi meters, cash registers, elevators, and nearly every other aspect of our life uses some type technology that involves a program using coding. Thousands of educators recognize the importance of at least basic coding for all children because of the current and growing opportunities in the global market for those that have an understanding of the concepts related to coding.

The resources are available and free, so the biggest change that needs to be made is the attitude towards coding in our schools and homes. In our classrooms and afterschool programs at SCIS we have begun introducing students to coding and the language of technology, but we need your support. We need you to help introduce your children to these rsources and encourage them to seek out these programs and websites that allow students to learn coding while improving their critical thinking skills, spatial recognition skills, and their general technology skills. Best of all, once we introduce these resources to students, odds are they will realize how interesting and fun coding can be.

The following three programs are free and have extensive resources built within them to help students become familiar with a variety of types of coding. Top Three Programs to Help Students Learn to Code

Code.org (Ages 8+) is one of the newest resources for coding but also one of the strongest. Using current popular

games such as Flappy Bird and Angry Birds and using a block-style programming language makes this beginning programming very accessible to the students. Code.org additionally provides three 20 hour courses for elementary students to help them learn coding on their own.

“When we get to play with Flappy Bird and Plants vs. Zombies [on Code.org] and change the games to do what we want, it is really fun. I’m getting better every time, but the puzzles keep getting harder!” – 4th Grade Student

Scratch (ages 7+) is a program created by MIT’s Media Labs to get kids coding early, because even if they can’t make sense of the common complex languages of programming they can begin to understand the process it takes to build computer programs. In order to use Scratch, kids just need to log onto the site and start dragging blocks of code and clicking run to see programming happen right in front of their eyes.

Codecademy (ages 12+) is a higher level resource that moves away from the block style programming language to more authentic programming syntax but still at the beginning level such as HTML which is used for website construction.

“Codecademy is really tough for me sometimes but when I get the code perfect I love seeing what I did come up right away on the screen. It’s really fun to

learn how write HTML just like on websites.” – 5th Grade Student at SCIS

Some other useful coding resources:

Daisy the Dinosaur (ages 5 to 8) is a similar to scratch with it’s block-based programming but is geared towards the youngest possible students. Just drag one-word commands like “roll,” “jump,” and “grow,” into the programming space, and press play. Players can see a direct relationship between the commands they assign and the actions Daisy takes.

Code Monster (ages 9 to 14) is a program created by a programmer to help his own children learn to code. When kids alter the variables on the script side, the images transform instantly in response. Under the instruction of a friendly monster, each new lesson brings new colors and shapes to the right side of the screen. Plus, the editor remembers your progress, directing you to the last lesson you completed each time you reopen the program.

Computer Science Unplugged (all ages) is a collection of free learning activities that teach Computer Science through engaging games and puzzles that use cards, string, crayons and lots of running around. http://csunplugged.org/

“I think that great programming is not all that dissimilar to great art. Once you start thinking in concepts of programming it makes you a better person...as does learning a foreign language, as does learning math, as does learning how to read.”- Jack Dorsey, Creator of Twitter

By ANTHONY PASCOEHongqiao Campus Technology Integration Specialist

Half of all pediatric sports medicine injuries are from overuse. What can

parents do to protect their children while still encouraging them to live a healthy, active lifestyle?

There are so many benefits to being a young athlete! Children not only get the exercise they need to develop a healthy heart and strong muscles and bones, but they learn to work together in groups, make friends, socialize, and develop healthy habits that last a lifetime. However, injuries are more common among young athletes because children’s bones are not as resilient as adult bones. Overuse injuries are the most common type. However, the good news is overuse injuries are also much easier to prevent than accidental acute sports injuries.

How do I know if my child has an overuse injury?

An overuse injury means a bone, tendon, ligament, or muscle is damaged because it has been used too much, too often, without adequate time to heal. These injuries develop in stages:

1. Pain in an area after playing 2. Pain while playing, but performance is

not affected3. Pain while playing, and performance is

affected4. Persistent and chronic pain

Looking out for the symptoms can help you stop an overuse injury. If your child complains about pain after playing a sport, make sure they rest and give the affected

area adequate time to heal before using it again. If you think your child may have an overuse injury, stop physical activity immediately and contact their doctor.

Preventing an overuse injury

Looking out for the signs of an overuse injury can help prevent the injury from getting worse, but there are also some things we can do to help prevent overuse injuries from occurring at all.

1. Prepare• Get a physical before beginning each

new sport or season• Get regular check-ups with their pedia-

trician throughout the season • Always warm-up AND cool-down

properly • Maintain good physical condition in the

off and pre-seasons

2. Avoid “Burn-out” • A child should not specialize in one

sport before puberty • Try a variety of sports to strengthen,

but not overuse, different muscles and bones

• Children should have two days off a week

• Play one team sport per season

3. Train Smart • Increases in training time, repetitions,

increments etc. should not exceed 10% per week (if they are running 10 miles a week, do not increase by more than 1 mile per week when conditioning)

• Train using multiple types of exercise • Perform “drills” in different ways or places

4. Listen• Encourage your child to listen to their

body and communicate with your about it - if it really hurts, don’t do it

• Do not “push through” an injury; stop and rest no matter how important the game is

If you think your child has suffered an overuse injury, or if you have more questions on how to prevent one, please consult a pediatric orthopedic. Dr Southern, of the Institute of Western Surgery, is China’s only western pediatric orthopedic specialist and is here to help. For more information, please visit our website at: www.westernsurg.com

About the AuthorKatie works for the Institute of Western Surgery and helps educate the community on how to live healthier lives. The Institute of Western Surgery has operates in both Puxi and Pudong of Shanghai and is committed to bringing the best surgeonsin the world to Shangahi.

This is the Most Common Injury to Young AthletesBy Katie Sonnevedt

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WHO PUT THE COOKIES IN THE COOKIE JAR?by George ShannonIllustrations by Julie PaschkisFor grades Pre-School – Grade 1

Synopsis: It’s easy to take a cookie out of the cookie jar: just reach in. But how does it get in there in the first place? It’s more complicated than you might think. Someone has to milk the cow, grow the wheat, harvest the sugar cane—everyone has a special job to do to make that cookie possible.

In Who Put the Cookies in the Cookie Jar? George Shannon and Julie

Paschkis take us on a delicious cookie journey, showing how many hands work together so that one hand can take the cookie out—and so that you can take a huge yummy bite!

Mr. Wong’s take: I love the concept in this book about how a global community contributes to creating just one cookie, a theme that can be used to spark many interesting conversations. The beautiful illustrations show a diversity of cultures and at the end of the books is a sugar cookie recipe.

THE GREAT TROUBLE: A MYSTERY OF LONDON, THE BLUE DEATH, AND A BOY CALLED EELby Deborah HopkinsFor grades 5 and up

Synopsis: Eel has troubles. As an orphan and a “mudlark,” he spends his days in the filthy River Thames, searching for bits of things to sell. He’s being hunted by Fisheye Bill Tyler, and a nastier man never walked the streets of London. And he’s got a secret that costs him four pre-cious shillings a week to keep safe. But even for Eel, things aren’t so bad until that fateful August day in 1854—the day the deadly cholera (“blue death”) comes to Broad Street.

Everyone believes that cholera is spread through poisonous air. But one man, Dr. John Snow, has a different theory. As the epidemic surges, it’s up to Eel and his best friend, Florrie, to gather evidence to prove Dr. Snow’s theory—before the entire neighborhood is wiped out.

Mr. Wong’s take: A great historical novel that transports readers to a time when very little was known about Cholera. Eel is a great character that uses his compassion for those around him to be motivated and focused. You sympathize with his predicament and are also shocked at how quick and deadly Cholera was in

that time, and the story makes you think about how easily other diseases in this age can spread.

WINGERby Andrew SmithFor grades 7 and up

Synopsis: Ryan Dean West is a fourteen-year-old junior at a boarding school for rich kids. He’s living in “Opportunity Hall,” the dorm for troublemakers, and he is rooming with the biggest bully on the rugby team. Plus, he’s madly in love with his best friend Annie, who thinks of him as a little boy.

Ryan Dean manages to survive life’s complications with the help of his sense of humor, rugby buddies, and his pen-chant for doodling comics. But when the

unthinkable happens, he has to figure out how to hold on to what’s important, even when it feels like everything has fallen apart.

Filled with hand-drawn infographics and illustrations and told in a pitch-perfect voice, this realistic depiction of a teen’s experience strikes an exceptional balance of hilarious and heartbreaking.

Mr. Wong’s take: I laughed out loud a few times. Ryan Dean is a funny guy. Besides being set at a rich boarding school, the daily events are very real and described exceptionally well from a teenager’s point of view. I also enjoyed getting to know each of the main characters in the book. You get to meet a diverse cohort, and that is part of what makes this book a satisfying read.

ZOMBIE BASEBALL BEATDOWNby Paolo BacigalupiFor grades 3 to 7

Synopsis: The zombie apocalypse begins on the day Rabi, Miguel, and Joe are practicing baseball near their town’s local meatpacking plant and nearly get knocked out by a really big stink. Little do they know the plant’s toxic cattle feed is turning cows into flesh-craving monsters! The boys decide to launch a stealth investigation into the plant’s dangerous practices, unknowingly discovering a greedy corporation’s plot to look the other way as tainted meat is sold to

thousands all over the country. With no grownups left they can trust, Rabi and his friends will have to grab their bats to protect themselves (and a few of their enemies) if they want to stay alive...and maybe even save the world.

Mr. Wong’s take: I like how this story takes on themes from food safety to racism and immigration all packed in to an adventure that will get kids thinking about where their food comes from.

SCIS-HIS Parents

Re-enrollment for the 2015-2016 academic year is just around the corner. Parents will only have the option to re-enroll their children through PowerSchool. We encourage parents to participate in early re–enrollment

of their children through PowerSchool because of its ease and efficiency. If you are unsure of your username and password, or have forgotten it, please contact your campus secretary for assistance (see the list below for your reference). The early re-enrollment period for PowerSchool will begin on Monday, January 19th.

We anticipate full classes at many grade levels and wish to ensure all of our current families have first priority. Please let the admissions office know if we can assist you in any way through the re-enrollment process. We look forward to your continued support and involvement in our school community and hope to welcome your family for yet another successful school year.

Book ReCoMMenDaTIonS FoR aLL aGeS

THE LIBRARIANS CORNER ADMISSIONS

Hongqiao ECE Campus: (Nursery-Grade 1)

Name Job Title Email Ext

Maggie Yang School Secretary/Admissions Maggie_yang@scischina.org 7004

Hongqiao Main Campus: (Grades 2-12)

Name Job Title Email Ext

Alice Dai Lower School (Grade 2-Grade 5) adai@scischina.org 5131Kinny Wang kwang@scischina.org 5133

Sunny Jiang Middle School (Grade 6- Grade 8) sjiang@scischina.org 3153Lisa Ni lni@scischina.org 3155

Sarah Jin High School (Grade 9-Grade 12) Sarah_jin@scischina.org 3103

Name Job Title Email Ext

Kerri Lang School Secretary/Admissions kliang@scischina.org 86-571-8669-0045

Hangzhou International School: Nursery-Grade 12

Name Job Title Email Ext

Joanna Zhou Lower School Secretary (Nursery-Grade 5) kliang@scischina.org 6776

Jelly Lin Upper School Secretary (Grade 6- Grade 12) jling@scischina.org 6015

Pudong Campus: Lower School Campus (Nursery-Grade 5) / Upper School Campus: (Grade 6-Grade 12)

IT’S TIME FOR RE-ENROLLMENT!

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PAFA PAFA

The morning of October’s International Food Festival

brought blue skies with white puffy clouds—a perfect autumn day for a party. Parent and student volunteers

arrived hours before the opening to ensure all the preparations proceeded smoothly. This burst of early-morning activity was worth the effort…

With forty countries participating in thirty food booths, the food festival highlights the international makeup of SCIS Hongqiao. Volunteers were happy to share their foods and traditions with the festivalgoers. Friendly competition for the Wooden Spoon, awarded to the table with the most tickets collected, encouraged country table participants to lure in customers by decorating their booths vibrantly with flags, tablecloths, and other objects from their home countries.

The International Food Festival ScenePandan Cakes and Apple Pie:

Country TablesA tour of the country booths provided tasty insights into the diversity of the SCIS community. The Japanese booth had a lovely display of rice bowls tied with silk cording and clear packets of “confetti” candy, guarded by a fierce red goblin mask. Finland’s table was adorned with festive royal blue and white patterned cloths. Student Sophia Best and her mother prepared the popular Karelian pie, made from rye flour crepes filled with rice porridge and decoratively topped with boiled eggs and butter.

At the Korean booth, bowls of japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), gimbap (Korean sushi) and bulgogi (grilled marinated beef) were stacked with impressive precision. A team of Korean mothers ladled the wholesome dishes into bowls as others manned the skillets, frying rice cakes. USA’s table was a flurry of activity during set-up. Students industriously repaired cupcake frosting, while others were busy sticking flagged toothpicks into cookies.

Brazil’s country table, vibrantly appointed in green and yellow, held a circular tray of sweet tidbits. As parent Renata Bernardes explained, the chocolate truffles rolled in sprinkles were called brigadieiro, and their companions on the tray were beijinho, which translates to “little kisses.” These condensed milk balls covered in coconut shavings are usually served at birthday parties or weddings.

The country table for the Netherlands introduced an arcade atmosphere with two games that festivalgoers could play. Lower

School student Lisa Van Der Veen operated the game called sjoelen, in which players slide wooden discs into cubbies of different point values. There was also a shoe toss: contestants threw beanbag squares into wooden shoes decorated like dairy cows.

The colorful patterned batik cloths and beautiful head coverings of the volunteer moms drew attendees to the Southeast Asian table. They were in for a treat: the signature entrée was spicy nasi lemah (rice prepared with chili, crispy onions, dried fish and egg). Tenth Grader Teresa Tan was in control of the dessert area, handing out green pandan cake. The pandan leaf is used in foods throughout Southeast Asia for its light green color.

Go Behind the Scenes of The International Food Festival with

Donna Bose

It was, as usual, a little hectic in the morning getting set up, but by 11:30 I think most of us were ready to go. Electricity

seemed to be a little better organized this year, not so many outages during the day. Alec Guo did a great job keeping on top of it. Everyone seemed quite happy with the new location for the DJ, band and dancers (except for the Swedish booth who was right beside the speakers! - Nobody will be in that spot next year I promise). Mr E did another fantastic job as our Master of Ceremonies! (Thanks Dan! :)

Behind the scenes staff you may not be aware of: Renee Zhao, Head of School Secretary, is my go-to person, any question any time of day or night Renee is there with the answer!! Candy Shi is operations manager, she controls all of the deliveries, grounds keepers, ayis, and workers - all without blinking an eye or ever saying that something can’t be done. Mandy Ma is our cafeteria operations manager. All of those cafeteria tables we used, thanks to Mandy for organizing them. So the next time you see one of them, be sure and thank them for their behind the scenes help in getting this incredible event accomplished so smoothly!

What a hard task ahead of me, the Booth Awards :) Best decorated, best organized, most volunteers, most variety of food....and the biggest question, how much money did we raise? Who gets the wooden spoon?? Rhonda, our Treasurer, reported that we raised 190,000 RMB!!!

On that note, I’d like to explain where all of this hard earned money goes.

International Food Festival is the one and only time that we ask our community to help us fundraise for PAFA. We ask that nobody else be present to sell anything on this day because it is our only fundraiser. Every RMB earned goes back to our kids. We have four schools at SCIS HQ; ECE, Lower School, Middle School, and High School. We hope to spend the money earned during the same year so that our kids benefit right away. Our Ex-Pat Kids come and go. Some are only here for a year, many for just two. So, spending the money right away is the fair for them to enjoy the benefits.

We have been asked why don’t we use the money raised to go towards a charity? What are the criteria for spending money? One of our past PAFA presidents came up with the list of four questions that must be answered to qualify for spending: (PAFA by-laws: Article II: Vision and Structure)

1. Does this build community?2. Will this be used within our four walls?3. Is this considered above and beyond the scope of school curriculum (basically extra-curricular)?4. Is this offered to all students?

Once the VPs from each school have a spending request from their respective schools, a vote is taken and if it is approved the money is given right away for that request. Each school receives 1/4 of the profit to be used for their students. The budget and by-laws are available on the SCIS website if anyone would like more details.

Throughout the year we have many PAFA events where students step up and volunteer to raise awareness and money towards the charity that they are involved in. I love that our SCIS students are always looking for ways to volunteer! Did you know that we had over 200 SCIS Student volunteers yesterday?!! They were the kids in Red SCIS T-Shirts. We had several kids not on the list walk up to different booths and ask how they could help! How fantastic is that?!!

HS Seniors ran our first ever Senior Take Over Booth. They volunteered to organize and man the Swiss Booth this year. How great to see our Seniors in their Black Senior T-shirts stepping up! We’d like to see an unrepresented country have a group of seniors running it each year. Great kick-off with the Swiss booth Seniors!

You may have seen the MS GIN Club at IFF yesterday. They volunteered to try and raise awareness for recycling. They organized cardboard recycle bins throughout the field and tried to collect all of the recyclable empty bottles and cans. As a first time venture I think these Middle School kids did a great job!

You should all be so proud of your kids and our SCIS students! What a wonderful community we are part of! We are truly an International School with Exceptional students and families.

By DONNA BOSEHead of Special Events at HQ PAFA

Continue on page 58…

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Hongqiao PAFA President:President: Don Rendallpafapresident.scispafahq@gmail.com Events Coordinator: Donna Boseevents.scispafahq@gmail.com

PAFA NEWS

Hangzhou PAFA President: Jerry JosephLS Vice President- Anu MehtaLS Vice President- Anuja JainUS Vice President- Carmen FreissmuthUS Vice President- Crystal Wu

Pudong PAFA Chairs:Lower School: Katie Berkaw katieberkaw@icloud.com

Upper School: Robin Williams mikeandrobinwilliams@gmail.com

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. PAFA conducts various activities, from community events to 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. We are always welcoming new members!For more information about PAFA, please contact us at:

IFF Fair Fast Facts

3,000 People 200

Students Volunteered

190,000 RMB Raised 30

CountriesRepresented50 Booths

Businesses DONATED100 75PARENTS Volunteered

PAFA PAFA

At the Swedish booth, lingonberry jam pancakes were arrayed next to apple pie slices. Parent Veronica Axelsson explained that the apple pies she bakes are made with “a lot of cinnamon and sugar with the apples, then you don’t need as much in the crust.” She uses salted butter in the crust, and adds a good portion of love.

Performances, Photos and Playground FunLower School and ECE children mobbed the playground throughout the day, running and spinning maniacally. They continued their revelry through the musical and dance performances, offering a lively backdrop for the carefully rehearsed presentations.

The High School and Middle School dancers looked fresh in their green leggings, colorful tee shirts, and red feathered hairpieces as they performed barefoot to melodies influenced by music from Southeast Asia. At one point, they utilized hot pink fans with fluttering edges to achieve a wave motion. The Mexican dancers were equally vibrant, twirling decisively in their brightly colored full skirts, and the Korean dancers looked lovely in their delicate traditional costumes.

IFF Photo Contest hopefuls snapped photographs throughout the festival. There were many smiling group shots, and camera lenses also focused on the beautifully presented dishes. People were excited to take the photos, regardless of whether they were using camera phones or hefty, professional-looking cameras with zoom lenses.

There was also a performance from this term’s musical, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. A string quartet provided a calming interlude before the rock bands ADHD and Kemchi

Power cleaned out ear passages with their enthusiastic renderings of popular songs.

Lucky DrawsThis year, PAFA had two levels for Lucky Draw participants. The VIP Lucky Draw cost 100 rmb per envelope and offered restaurant vouchers, wines, gift baskets, spa services, sports equipment, and kitchen appliances. The High Roller Lucky Draw contained prizes above 500 rmb in value, including ten hotel stays in destinations such as Vietnam, Phuket, Hong Kong, Hangzhou, Sheshan and Shanghai, a one-of-a-kind carpet, exclusive wines, and other delights. In total, 150,000 rmb worth of prizes were donated by our generous sponsors.

Satisfying EndAs the event concluded, Lucky Draws sold out and country tables ran out of food. Parents were dancing to the DJ’s tunes, and both students and adults were sprawled over the green space as they caught up with friends and digested their international food samplings. The last of the bundles of energy on the playground exhausted themselves. There were budding gymnasts performing cartwheels and splits, and several instances of stealth ice attacks and cold water dumping kept kids and adults alert. A peewee soccer match spilled out of its boundaries, and the game ball nearly beaned a rest-ing festivalgoer. Piles of bunting and tablecloths hung in front of the booths and piled up in the grass like deflated parachutes as parents and students tidied up the last of their table decorations. What a satisfying end to an autumn afternoon.

By KRISTIANNA FOYEPublic relations representative for SCIS Hongqiao’s Parents and Friends Association. She has four children who attend SCIS.

…Continue from page 56

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The Orange Dragon is a school for Dutch language and for Dutch and Belgium cultural education. Each school year we

celebrate our cultural heritage through different events like Kings day or the celebration of Saint Nicolaas.

Saturday October 18th we focused on celebrations that are not that well known with our students like e.g.: Saint Maarten; Liberation day and Fools day.

During the opening meester Tom from The Netherlands tried to teach juf Hilde from Belgium how to make oliebollen for New Years Eve. A typical sweet the Dutch eat on this evening. But the recipe was a little awkward, the backing became a mess and the oliebollen a disaster.

After this play the tone was set for a day full off of fun and learning. Soon the classrooms were filled with activities like games, puppet play, video’s, writing and music and dancing.

At the end of the day we all went home with a lot of cultural knowledge but most important with a strong sense of belonging.

Christa Sterk

De Oranje Draak is een school voor Nederlandse taal en voor Nederlandse- en Belgische cultuur. Ieder jaar vieren

wij ons culturele erfgoed door middel van verschillende feesten zoals: Driekoningen en Sinterklaas.

Zaterdag 18 oktober vierden wij tijdens onze cultuurdag die feestdagen die niet zo bekend zijn bij onze leerlingen, zoals bijvoorbeeld: Sint Maarten, Bevrijdingsdag en 1 april.

Tijdens de opening leerde meester Tom uit Nederland, juf Hilde uit België, oliebollen bakken op Oudjaarsavond. Een typische Nederlandse lekkernij die de Nederlanders op deze avond eten. Het recept was een beetje raar, het bakken gaf heel veel rommel en de oliebollen waren niet lekker, maar dit mocht de pret niet drukken.

Na dit toneelstuk waren we allemaal klaar voor een dag vol plezier en leren. Al snel waren de klaslokalen gevuld met spelletjes, poppenkast, video’s, schrijven en muziek en dans.

Aan het eind van de dag hadden we allemaal veel geleerd over de verschillende Nederlandse en Belgische feestdagen.

Christa Sterk

A Festive Cultural Day

Een Feestelijke Cultuurdag SCIS-HIS

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raised this year at theHQ International

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spent on Doughnuts at the HQ Illy Café since August

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MULTI LANGUAGE PARALLEL ARTICLE FUN PAGE

62 63

Dec 16: High School Drama Production at 6pm in the Theatre.

Dec 19: End of First Semester and Start of Winter Holiday

Jan 13: New Family Orientation Open House

Jan 14: First Day Back and Start of Second Semester

Jan 16: Spelling Bee Kick Off Round 1 at the Community Center Shanghai

Jan 24: SAT Offered at SCIS HQ and SCIS PD

Jan 29 – Feb 1: ACAMIS Basketball Tournament

Feb 16-21: Chinese New Years Holiday

LOOKING BACK

LOOKING AHEAD

LOOKING BACK LOOKING BACK

Oct 25: International Food Fair at HQ. This popular event is the only fundraiser for the entire HQ community. Over 3,000 people came to sample over thirties country’s delicacies (food + desserts).

Nov 14-16: SCIS HQ presented, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown. The show was a heartwarming classic and a delight for all ages. The production followed an average day in the life of the beloved Peanuts character, Charlie Brown and his dog, Snoopy. Throughout the show we saw moments from Charlie Brown’s life, from Valentine’s Day to the baseball seasons, and from wide optimism to utter despair. We also saw the lives of his friends, highlighted by delightful song and dance numbers.

Nov 14-16: HIS hosted the “West Lake MUN.” This event brought together students from all over the world to

participate in a Model United Nations, giving them practice in working together to solve vital current and future world issues.

Nov 19: NFL Legend Jerry Rice Visited SCIS HQ

Nov 6: University Parent Workshop at Hangzhou

Nov 24: International Day at HZ. Students wore their home country’s traditional clothes, marched in a Parade of Nations, and sampled delicacies from around the world at the International Food Fair.

Nov 27-29: HQ ECE hosted the 1st International Early Childhood Education Conference in China ever.

Nov 10: SCIS PD launched a new Kids Club Program—a FREE program open to parents and their children aged 0-3. It is run by PD Early Childhood Education experts one time per week for 2 hours. It provides fun social learning activities in a structured and safe environment.

Nov 30: Passport day. This month was the Netherlands. Kids “traveled” all over the school to learn various key facts about this country and its people.

Dec 5: The annual Intercontinental Hotel Tree Lighting ceremony took place in Hangzhou

Dec 11: The SCIS PD Lower School presented Pirates, a 60 minute musical adventure suitable for the entire family. Last year’s Snow Biz production was consistently rated as the one of the best musical’s ever put on by lower school kids. This one, coordinated by the same director, Jessie Miller, was a can’t miss event.

Dec 1-5: The SCIS PD Upper School presented “An Art for Everyone.” This week long celebration was aptly titled as many different arts took place from Painting Galleries to Dance Shows to Orchestra performances. There was truly ‘an art for everyone.’

Dec 4: HQ ECE presented the Toddler, Pre-Kindergarten, and Kindergarten Concert at the HQ ECE Gymnasium Stage. ECE music teacher Nicola Fader wrote the original music and created original choreography to the popular kids book Guess How Much I Love You.

Dec 13: Winter Holiday Market and Open House at PD.

64

Tour our campuses by calling 86-21-6261-4338 ext.1 www.scis-his.org

HONGQIAO • PUDONG NURSERY – GRADE 12

“The warm community at SCIS helped me develop a sense of personal motivation and independence. This facilitated my transition into university where the ability to take responsibility for your own work is essential. These qualities have also been instrumental in the development of my career - I am very excited to start a full-time position at Deloitte in 2015!”

– Emma HowatClass of 2011, Attended SCIS for 2 years

I amSCIS

AttendingUniversity of Melbourne

High School Model United NationsHigh School Tennis

High School Drama and French Club

Majoring in Commerce

(Emphasis in Finance and Marketing)

SCIS is a truly international school. Our rigorous curriculum and excellent co-curricular opportunities promote high achievement. Our diverse community of over 60 nationalities and our caring environment promote future success. Visit us to discover for yourself the amazing SCIS community. No school does it better.

High School IB Score

41

The art and science of education since 1996

communitas alumni ad final Emma Howat.indd 1 12/1/14 4:09 PM