Dear WIS Parents,
At this time of the school calendar year the students are reviewing and reflecting on their learning journey, identifying improvement strategies, and having summative assessment tasks; to further grow and develop as a WIS student. The teachers are taking time analysing the students’ results and comments, and writing Semester 1 Reports to be shared next week. We also find time to do inspiring field trips and preparing for Chinese New Year – exciting times!
WIS Newsletter and Website
Starting in February, at the end of each month, the WIS newsletter will be sent out to all WIS and WBS parents – sharing activities and student work from all the WIS classes. It will be a newsletter that is linked to our new informative and great-looking website, that we have just launched: wischina.org
A huge thank you to Betsy, our technology and design expert, with her team for creating and designing these fantastic sharing platforms!
IB Update
We have received a letter from the IB including the following great news:
It means that we are on track to become fully authorised for the academic year 2020/2021, and that it is acknowledged that we are complying to all IB requirements; including teaching staff experience and knowledge, curriculum, inquiry-based learning, budget, facilities, teacher training etc.
ManageBac
During the teachers’ professional development day on 18 February, we will be trained in a new information sharing platform and curriculum depository called ManageBac. It is the leading planning, assessment and reporting platform for the IB Programmes. The trusted choice of IB students from over 2,500 leading IB world schools. It is also the platform that we will use to share with parents; the students’ curriculum, assignments calendar, results, attendance, report cards etc.
Semester 1 Report Cards
On Friday 25 January you will receive your child’s Semester 1 report card, both as a hard copy and as an e-mail attachment, from the homeroom teacher. In the folder you will also receive the results of the MAP testing, with thorough explanations in both English and Chinese on how to interpret the report, which was conducted in November last year. In next week’s Newsflash I will spend some time explaining the rationale and process of the MAP testing at WIS, and the value of this kind of diagnostic testing which will be conducted twice a year at WIS.
Important WIS Dates
Here are some of our important upcoming dates for activities taking place in January and February:
Please try and find time to come to the parents’ meeting in February. I will present IB and WIS updates, as well as engaging you in a mini-workshop on how we use an inquiry-based approach in our teaching here at WIS – Welcome!
Anders Hjelm
WIS Principal 校长
