Dear all,
Equipment Testing of Fire-fighting System on this coming Saturday (Aug 19th) 8:00am~4:00pm.
Please ignore the broadcasting, the alarming bell during the period.
Thanks for your understanding.
Facility Team
ACAMIS Tennis 2023-24
NIS is working toward taking a Tennis Team to Beijing for this years ACAMIS Tournament.
This opportunity is available to students from Grades 6-12.
To register your interest in being part of this team, please come and see Mr Brady in the Design Centre for more information.
Robots Robots Robots – Do you love Robots ?
Are you in G8-12 and have an interest and passion in Robotics?
Shanghai American School Puxi is holding an exciting Vex 16hr Robotics Build Event on Saturday 16th of September and Mr Brady has been able to reserve a number of places for NIS students to participate.
Students get to attend two workshops throughout the course of the day, and will get hands on, practical experience with building, programming and competing (for fun). This is a community focused event with an emphasis on team work and having fun.
This event is being organised and led by the Shanghai American School Robotics Officer team and places have been strictly limited. The event will run from 0600 – 2200 (yes, you did read that correctly, 6a.m. start!!!). So participating students would travel to Shanghai on Friday afternoon and return Sunday morning.
No equipment or experience is needed, everything will be provided. Students just need to bring a can-do attitude and breakfast! SAS will host a pizza party in the evening. Students get to partner up with a friend, and will then be put in mixed teams from there.
So, if you are interested in participating, please come and see Mr Brady in the Design Centre. There are a limited number of positions available, so come and see Mr Brady early so you don’t miss out.
Welcome Assembly Reminder
Good Morning!
Primary: Friday assembly time this morning as normal.
Secondary: Extended Advisory this morning. Seated in the PAC at 2:29pm this afternoon for assembly.
See you there!
Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities
Universal Design for Learning Graduate Certificate Program (Starts September 13)
Inquiry in Secondary Maths in HKIS Hong Kong, September 16th
Cathy Berger Kaye Service Learning in SCIS Shanghai, October 14-15
ACAMIS Early Years Conference in Shanghai, October 14 and 15
Learning2 Asia IS Bangkok, November 2-4 (Deadline August 31)
Universal Design for Learning Virtual Courses and Certificates
All of the above are eligible for professional learning allowance funding. Please see Jacqui or Sara if interested, then complete the PLA request form. Thanks!
Secondary Attendance Block One
Hello All Secondary Day 4, Block 1 teachers!
Please remember to take attendance today at the start of Block One at 8:40am (after Extended Advisory).
Thanks!
YinYan Help Desk
Our travel agent Mary (Yin Yan Travel Company) will start their weekly visits this Friday, 18 August 2023.
Schedule:
1430h to 1600h every Monday and Friday during school weeks.
Location:
Lounge Room at the Centre behind the Front Desk.
Important:
From the beginning of the current school year, there will be a change in the payment method. Yin Yan will only accept the following:
- WeChat Payment or
- Local Bank Debit Cards or
- Local Bank Credit Cards.
- Yin Yan will cease accepting payment by salary deduction.
Please contact our accounting office if you require further assistance in this matter.
Arek and the Team
EARCOS Workshops & Webinars | September through December
Every month EARCOS offers a range of free and paid courses, for more information on coming events check out this link. There is also a great library of past events in the form of free webinars which you can find here.
Here are just some of the great free events running from September through December
Creating a Sense of Belonging Through Instructional Coaching
Presented by: Kim Cofino
Saturday, Sept 2, 2023
9:00 – 10:30 AM HKT
Featuring stories & evidence from schools around the world, this session demonstrates that properly-implemented instructional coaching does much more than “just” improve student learning; it creates a culture of growth and belonging which can lead to greater teacher satisfaction and retention. By demonstrating a school’s commitment to personalizing professional learning, coaching empowers all learners to flourish and develops humanizing organizations. You’ll leave this session with the 3 key criteria needed to build a successful and sustainable instructional coaching program, along with specific pitfalls to avoid along the way.
Heads Deserve This: Fair and Competitive Compensation and Personal and Professional Renewal
Presented by: John Littleford
Saturday, Sept 16, 2023
9:00 – 10:30 AM HKT
Heads of schools experienced a very challenging three-year period and many expended immense amounts of energy and political capital and reached the limit of family tolerance for the stress that the job entails. Most boards are acknowledging their leaders’ past and ongoing efforts and want to retain and reward valued heads. Boards need to initiate and engage heads in a frank discussion of their professional and personal goals and think creatively about a compensation package that addresses heads’ needs within the limits of the school’s budget.
Establishing a Student-Staffed & Managed Learning Center Workshop
Wednesday, Oct 14-15, 2023
VENUE: International School of Tianjin | Tianjin, China
In this two-day workshop, participants learn the nuts-and-bolts of how to establish a successful student-staffed and managed learning center. This workshop builds on the success of the International School of Tianjin’s Literacy Lab, a 9-year tested and proven model for a student-staffed and managed learning center that supports the acquisition of literacy skills.
Measuring the Experience of Families in Your School
Presented by: David Willows & Suzette Parlevliet
Saturday, November 25, 2023
9:00 – 10:30 AM HKT
Most schools survey their parents from time to time to check on how things are going. Sadly, though, this feedback will often sit in unread reports and never lead to positive change and growth. In this webinar, David Willows and Suzette Parlevliet will help us to reflect on the journey that families are making through our school, offering some key insights into how to measure the felt experience of families at each stage of this journey in simple, coherent, and transformative ways.
Strategic Planning: Necessary, often Exciting and sometimes Risky
Presented by: John Littleford
Saturday, December 9, 2023
9:00 – 10:30 AM HKT
Schools undertake strategic planning for many reasons: the requirements of accreditation; to look over the horizon at next generation learning; preparing for capital campaigns and a more secure financial future; ensuring schools can compete for teachers in an increasingly challenging environment; managing enrollment in ways that meet the mission and guarantees full enrollment; and providing for risk assessment, diversity/equity/inclusion and belonging.
For more information on these and other coming events check out this link.
Opportunities are also available to submit articles to the EARCOS Journal. Get in touch with me if this is something you are interested in.
For more info on everything EARCOS visit https://earcos.org
Secondary Assembly Item Submissions
Do you have something you want to share in an assembly? Maybe some information or a performance? Or perhaps your teacher has bullied you into presenting or performing! In any case, we have a system in place to make our AMAZING assemblies run smoothly…
Anyone wishing to add an item to a Secondary Assembly should kindly read the attached document. Points to highlight:
- All requests to participate in an assembly should be made through Mr Joyner or Mrs Morrow at least a week in advance
- All performers/presenters and supervisors must attend a technical rehearsal the Thursday before the assembly 12:30-1:00pm in the PAC
- All items must be fully prepared and vetted
- Any digital file must be given to Mr Brown by 12:00pm on the Wednesday prior to the assembly
The Assembly Organisers
The Performing Arts Centre at NIS – all you need to know!!
Please find attached the PAC Handbook. This is a how-to guide for anyone wishing to use the facility!
If you are stretched for time, or simply can’t be bothered to read the whole document (I won’t be offended) then in a nutshell: contact Mr Brown as far in advance as possible to get your activity/event booked in. Yes, even if your event is Week 38 on 20th June! It’s pretty much a first-come-first-served policy so the more notice the better! You can pop down to the PAC and see me, email me, call me, WeChat me…
The Library is Open for Business!
While we are still unpacking books and everything looks a little crazy the library is officially open! Secondary teachers, feel free to bring your classes by so your students can check out books. It makes things easier for us if they bring their ID card. Students can also check out during lunch and after school. Let me know if you have any questions!
“When can students be on-campus after-school?”
… For officially scheduled and supervised NIS activities or appointments only.
“But I want to hang out and game on the sweet NIS WIFI…” No.
“But I want to throw baseball and play football with my friends…” No.
“But I want to hang in the cafeteria and eat chocolate danishes…” No.
“But I want to sit in the pagoda and vibe…” No.
“But my ride is late…” Wait in the Centre Foyer.
“But I’m in Grade 11/12…” The lounge, cafe, and fitness room are accessible to you for reasonable use. You’re good.
“But I have an ASA…” Awesome! Just do it!
“But it doesn’t start until 4:15pm…” Cool. Wait in the cafeteria or library.
“Can I come to school on the weekend?…” Is it an officially scheduled and supervised NIS activity?
“Yes…” Awesome! Just do it!
“No…” No.
“Why all these rules?” To keep you and everyone else safe and well of course!
YinYan Help Desk
Our travel agent Mary (Yin Yan Travel Company) will start their weekly visits this Friday, 18 August 2023.
Schedule:
1430h to 1600h every Monday and Friday during school weeks.
Location:
Lounge Room at the Centre behind the Front Desk.
Important:
From the beginning of the current school year, there will be a change in the payment method. Yin Yan will only accept the following:
- WeChat Payment or
- Local Bank Debit Cards or
- Local Bank Credit Cards.
- Yin Yan will cease accepting payment by salary deduction.
Please contact our accounting office if you require further assistance in this matter.
Arek and the Team
WIDA Testing
Catch up WIDA Testing
Please send the following students to D240 (Ms Kelly’s room) for Block 5 today.
| Grade | Name |
| 6B |
Guo, Yuxi Lee, Seungjun |
| 6C | Hu, Xiyuan |
| 7A | Park, Junmin |
| 8B |
Park, Yueun Zimmer, Frederik |
| 8C | Zhu, Xinyue |