Lower School Newsletter Aug 31 2026
Lower School | 31 August 2026
Upcoming Events
Aug 31 (Mon): Orientation begins at public schools (be aware of increased traffic starting next week)
Sept 1 (Tue): Upper School Back-to-School Night
Sept 2 (Wed): PAFA Book Club (09:30AM)
Sept 3 (Thu): Lower School Back-to-School Night
Sept 5 (Sat): HIS Welcome Back BBQ
Sept 7 (Mon): CCAs begin
Sept 10 (Thu): New Parent ECE welcome
Sept 11 (Fri): No School (in-service day for staff)
Sept 25 (Fri)-Oct 02: No School (holiday and in-service)
Oct 20 (Tue): Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences
Visit the HIS School Calendar
Sept 1 (Tue): Upper School Back-to-School Night
Sept 2 (Wed): PAFA Book Club (09:30AM)
Sept 3 (Thu): Lower School Back-to-School Night
Sept 5 (Sat): HIS Welcome Back BBQ
Sept 7 (Mon): CCAs begin
Sept 10 (Thu): New Parent ECE welcome
Sept 11 (Fri): No School (in-service day for staff)
Sept 25 (Fri)-Oct 02: No School (holiday and in-service)
Oct 20 (Tue): Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences
Visit the HIS School Calendar
Message from the Lower School Principal
Dear HIS Lower School Families,
It is hard to believe that we are already beginning our third week of school. Over the past almost two weeks, our students and teachers have moved from the excitement and adjustment of the opening days into the routines of learning. Walking through the Lower School, I am seeing classrooms increasingly focused on inquiry, collaboration, building relationships, and establishing the learning habits and expectations that will support our students throughout the year.
Thank you to our families for your continued support as we have settled into the new school year. The beginning of school always requires some adjustment, but our arrival and dismissal routines are becoming increasingly familiar, students are growing more confident navigating their days, and our new students are becoming part of the HIS community.
An important traffic reminder for this week and next: Local schools in Hangzhou begin their orientation and opening activities this week, with schools fully reopening next week. As a result, we expect significantly more traffic on the roads, particularly during the morning and afternoon school commute. Please plan accordingly and leave home earlier than you have during these first two weeks.
We also have a busy and exciting week ahead. Lower School Back-to-School Night is this Thursday, September 3, beginning at 6:00 PM in the Theater. This is one of our most important parent events at the beginning of the year and an opportunity to learn more about your child’s classroom, curriculum, routines, expectations, and the learning experiences ahead. Following our opening together, there will be two grade-level sessions so parents with children in different grades can attend more than one presentation. I hope to see you there.
This week’s newsletter also contains several updates worth taking time to read. Our counselors share how they are supporting students as they settle into the year and the message of “Words Matter” that they introduced during Friday’s assemblies. You will find information about our attendance support framework (repeated from last week), CCA allocations and the start of activities, aquatics, and upcoming PAFA and community events.
And speaking of community, we finish the week with our HIS Welcome Back BBQ on Saturday, September 5, from 5:00–7:00 PM. This is always a wonderful opportunity for new and returning families, students, and faculty to spend time together outside the regular school day. Please remember to register by September 1 if you plan to attend.
As we move further into the year, please continue helping your children establish the simple routines that make such a difference: getting enough sleep, arriving at school on time, wearing the correct uniform, talking about their day, and coming to school ready to learn. These small habits build independence and help children feel secure and successful at school.
Thank you, as always, for your partnership and for helping us build a caring, welcoming, and successful Lower School community.
Have a wonderful week ahead, and I look forward to seeing many of you on Thursday evening and again at Saturday’s BBQ!
Take care,
Jeff
R. Jeffery Hart
Lower School Principal
It is hard to believe that we are already beginning our third week of school. Over the past almost two weeks, our students and teachers have moved from the excitement and adjustment of the opening days into the routines of learning. Walking through the Lower School, I am seeing classrooms increasingly focused on inquiry, collaboration, building relationships, and establishing the learning habits and expectations that will support our students throughout the year.
Thank you to our families for your continued support as we have settled into the new school year. The beginning of school always requires some adjustment, but our arrival and dismissal routines are becoming increasingly familiar, students are growing more confident navigating their days, and our new students are becoming part of the HIS community.
An important traffic reminder for this week and next: Local schools in Hangzhou begin their orientation and opening activities this week, with schools fully reopening next week. As a result, we expect significantly more traffic on the roads, particularly during the morning and afternoon school commute. Please plan accordingly and leave home earlier than you have during these first two weeks.
We also have a busy and exciting week ahead. Lower School Back-to-School Night is this Thursday, September 3, beginning at 6:00 PM in the Theater. This is one of our most important parent events at the beginning of the year and an opportunity to learn more about your child’s classroom, curriculum, routines, expectations, and the learning experiences ahead. Following our opening together, there will be two grade-level sessions so parents with children in different grades can attend more than one presentation. I hope to see you there.
This week’s newsletter also contains several updates worth taking time to read. Our counselors share how they are supporting students as they settle into the year and the message of “Words Matter” that they introduced during Friday’s assemblies. You will find information about our attendance support framework (repeated from last week), CCA allocations and the start of activities, aquatics, and upcoming PAFA and community events.
And speaking of community, we finish the week with our HIS Welcome Back BBQ on Saturday, September 5, from 5:00–7:00 PM. This is always a wonderful opportunity for new and returning families, students, and faculty to spend time together outside the regular school day. Please remember to register by September 1 if you plan to attend.
As we move further into the year, please continue helping your children establish the simple routines that make such a difference: getting enough sleep, arriving at school on time, wearing the correct uniform, talking about their day, and coming to school ready to learn. These small habits build independence and help children feel secure and successful at school.
Thank you, as always, for your partnership and for helping us build a caring, welcoming, and successful Lower School community.
Have a wonderful week ahead, and I look forward to seeing many of you on Thursday evening and again at Saturday’s BBQ!
Take care,
Jeff
R. Jeffery Hart
Lower School Principal
HIS NEWS
Back to School Night - Lower School: Thursday, Sept 3 @ 6:00pm
Starts in the theater at 6:00pm
We are excited to invite you to our Back-to-School Night! This is a special evening designed for you to connect with your child’s teachers and gain insight into the year ahead.
During the evening, you’ll hear about classroom routines, curriculum highlights, and the many ways we’ll support your child’s learning and growth this year. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to ask questions, meet other parents, and see how we can work together to make this a successful school year.
We look forward to seeing you there, building stronger partnerships, and starting the year with together! Starts in the theater at 6:00pm.
We are excited to invite you to our Back-to-School Night! This is a special evening designed for you to connect with your child’s teachers and gain insight into the year ahead.
During the evening, you’ll hear about classroom routines, curriculum highlights, and the many ways we’ll support your child’s learning and growth this year. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to ask questions, meet other parents, and see how we can work together to make this a successful school year.
We look forward to seeing you there, building stronger partnerships, and starting the year with together! Starts in the theater at 6:00pm.
The evening will be divided in repeated sessions to allow parents of siblings to visit multiple grade levels. Here is the evening's schedule:
- 6:00pm to 6:15pm - parents in the theater for an introduction to the evening from Jeff Hart, the Lower School Principal.
- 6:25pm to 6:45 Session 1 - Parents are invited to hear from their child's teachers in their grade level common wing.
- 6:55pm to 7:15pm Session 2 - Parents are invited to hear from their child's teachers in their grade level common wing.
- 7:30pm - The evening comes to an end.
- This night is meant for parents and not students.
- This is not the time to meet with teachers and have conversations about your child or individual concerns. You have opportunities to request meetings at any time or wait until the Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences in October.
Counselor’s Corner September 2026