Lower School Newsletter Sept 14
Lower School | 14 September 2026
Upcoming Events
Sept 23 (Wed): PAFA Welcome Back Brunch (see poster below)
Sept 25 (Fri)-Oct 02: No School (holiday and in-service)
Oct 12-16 (M-F): School Photos
Oct 12-16 (M-F): Book Week
Oct 14 (Wed): Books, Baskets, and Breakfast Picnic / Book Character Parade - parents invited (see poster below)
Oct 16 (Fri): Reports go home
Oct 20 (Tue): Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences (not a regular day for students)
Oct 26 (Mon): In-Service Day (no school for students)
Oct 31 (Sat): Spooktacular! HIS community event
Visit the HIS School Calendar
Sept 25 (Fri)-Oct 02: No School (holiday and in-service)
Oct 12-16 (M-F): School Photos
Oct 12-16 (M-F): Book Week
Oct 14 (Wed): Books, Baskets, and Breakfast Picnic / Book Character Parade - parents invited (see poster below)
Oct 16 (Fri): Reports go home
Oct 20 (Tue): Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences (not a regular day for students)
Oct 26 (Mon): In-Service Day (no school for students)
Oct 31 (Sat): Spooktacular! HIS community event
Visit the HIS School Calendar
Message from the Lower School Principal
Dear HIS Lower School Families,
As we begin another full week of school, it is wonderful to see our students increasingly settled into their routines, building relationships, and engaging confidently in their learning. Across the Lower School, classrooms are busy with inquiry, literacy, mathematics, Mandarin learning, specialist experiences, athletics, and CCAs. At this point in the year, the rhythms of school are becoming more familiar!
I would also like to offer a very sincere thank you to our students and parents for the kind words, messages, and small tokens of appreciation shared with teachers last week in recognition of Teachers’ Day on September 10. These gestures meant a great deal to our educators. Teaching is demanding, important, and deeply meaningful work, and it is always appreciated when our community takes a moment to recognize the tremendous care, energy, and dedication our teachers give to students every day.
One important reminder this week is about morning arrival and traffic. As illustrated in the traffic diagram below, congestion increases significantly as we approach 8:00 am. We ask families to plan to have students on campus by 7:55 am, so they are ready for the school day to begin promptly at 8:00. Arriving a little earlier not only reduces the stress of morning traffic, but also gives children time to enter school calmly and prepare for learning. Most importantly, please do not drop students off on the opposite side of the road from the school entrance and have them cross through traffic. This creates an unnecessary and serious safety risk, particularly during the busiest part of the morning. Please use the designated drop-off areas and follow the directions of our security and traffic teams. A few extra minutes in the morning can make an important difference in keeping everyone safe.
There is plenty happening across our community this week. Our Mandarin classes continue their grade-level learning, athletics and CCAs are well underway, and Friday Market continues to provide a relaxing way for families to connect at the end of the week. We also hope parents will take advantage of the upcoming PAFA opportunities, including the Welcome Back Brunch, Book Club, and fitness activities highlighted later in the newsletter.
A quick calendar reminder as we look ahead: school is in session every day this week. Next week, however, our final school day will be Thursday, September 24. The fall holiday begins on Friday, September 25, as we move into the Mid-Autumn Festival period, followed by China’s National Day on October 1. We hope families will enjoy the opportunity for some additional time together during the holiday. Finally, please mark your calendars for Book Week from Oct. 12-16. On the Wednesday (14th) will be our Book Character Day/Parade, when we will also be holding a special breakfast picnic that you are invited to. Please the poster near the bottom of this newsletter.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership. The strength of our Lower School comes from the combined efforts of our students, families, teachers, and staff, and we appreciate all that you do to help make HIS such a positive and caring community.
Take care,
Jeff
R. Jeffery Hart
Lower School Principal
As we begin another full week of school, it is wonderful to see our students increasingly settled into their routines, building relationships, and engaging confidently in their learning. Across the Lower School, classrooms are busy with inquiry, literacy, mathematics, Mandarin learning, specialist experiences, athletics, and CCAs. At this point in the year, the rhythms of school are becoming more familiar!
I would also like to offer a very sincere thank you to our students and parents for the kind words, messages, and small tokens of appreciation shared with teachers last week in recognition of Teachers’ Day on September 10. These gestures meant a great deal to our educators. Teaching is demanding, important, and deeply meaningful work, and it is always appreciated when our community takes a moment to recognize the tremendous care, energy, and dedication our teachers give to students every day.
One important reminder this week is about morning arrival and traffic. As illustrated in the traffic diagram below, congestion increases significantly as we approach 8:00 am. We ask families to plan to have students on campus by 7:55 am, so they are ready for the school day to begin promptly at 8:00. Arriving a little earlier not only reduces the stress of morning traffic, but also gives children time to enter school calmly and prepare for learning. Most importantly, please do not drop students off on the opposite side of the road from the school entrance and have them cross through traffic. This creates an unnecessary and serious safety risk, particularly during the busiest part of the morning. Please use the designated drop-off areas and follow the directions of our security and traffic teams. A few extra minutes in the morning can make an important difference in keeping everyone safe.
There is plenty happening across our community this week. Our Mandarin classes continue their grade-level learning, athletics and CCAs are well underway, and Friday Market continues to provide a relaxing way for families to connect at the end of the week. We also hope parents will take advantage of the upcoming PAFA opportunities, including the Welcome Back Brunch, Book Club, and fitness activities highlighted later in the newsletter.
A quick calendar reminder as we look ahead: school is in session every day this week. Next week, however, our final school day will be Thursday, September 24. The fall holiday begins on Friday, September 25, as we move into the Mid-Autumn Festival period, followed by China’s National Day on October 1. We hope families will enjoy the opportunity for some additional time together during the holiday. Finally, please mark your calendars for Book Week from Oct. 12-16. On the Wednesday (14th) will be our Book Character Day/Parade, when we will also be holding a special breakfast picnic that you are invited to. Please the poster near the bottom of this newsletter.
Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership. The strength of our Lower School comes from the combined efforts of our students, families, teachers, and staff, and we appreciate all that you do to help make HIS such a positive and caring community.
Take care,
Jeff
R. Jeffery Hart
Lower School Principal
HIS NEWS
ECE Parent Welcome Afternoon
Last Thursday, we were pleased to welcome a small group of our new Early Childhood Education families for our ECE Parent Welcome Afternoon. The smaller gathering created a relaxed and personal setting where parents could connect with one another, ask questions, and learn more about the ECE experience at HIS.
The afternoon was led by our ECE Coordinator and Lower School Vice-Principal, Ms. Rene Smal, who shared more about our ECE program and the ways we support young children during these important early years. Parents had the opportunity to learn more about our approach to learning, discuss aspects of school life, and better understand how we work in partnership with families to help children feel secure, confident, and successful at school. Additionally, and most importantly, they had some time to play - a critical part of learning in the ECE!
Just as importantly, the afternoon provided an opportunity for our new parents to get to know one another. Building community is an important part of the ECE experience. Not only for our students, but for their families as well. These informal conversations and connections can make a meaningful difference as families settle into a new school and, for some, a new community.
We hope those who attended enjoyed the afternoon and left feeling a little more connected to our ECE community. Thank you to Ms. Rene for leading the session and to all of the parents who joined us. We look forward to many more opportunities throughout the year for our ECE families to learn, connect, and grow together.
The afternoon was led by our ECE Coordinator and Lower School Vice-Principal, Ms. Rene Smal, who shared more about our ECE program and the ways we support young children during these important early years. Parents had the opportunity to learn more about our approach to learning, discuss aspects of school life, and better understand how we work in partnership with families to help children feel secure, confident, and successful at school. Additionally, and most importantly, they had some time to play - a critical part of learning in the ECE!
Just as importantly, the afternoon provided an opportunity for our new parents to get to know one another. Building community is an important part of the ECE experience. Not only for our students, but for their families as well. These informal conversations and connections can make a meaningful difference as families settle into a new school and, for some, a new community.
We hope those who attended enjoyed the afternoon and left feeling a little more connected to our ECE community. Thank you to Ms. Rene for leading the session and to all of the parents who joined us. We look forward to many more opportunities throughout the year for our ECE families to learn, connect, and grow together.
Mandarin Language Learning: Weekly Update
September 14--18 Chinese Learning Summary 9月14日-- 18日中文学习摘要
During the week of September 14 to 18, our students continued their engaging journey in Mandarin language learning, further enriched by cultural connections and unit inquiries. This period emphasized not only linguistic development but also the practical application of knowledge and skills across various contexts, fostering both academic growth and personal expression.
在9月14日至18日的一周中，学生们继续深入中文学习之旅，并通过文化联系与单元探究进一步丰富学习体验。这一时期不仅注重语言发展，更强调知识与技能在不同情境中的实际应用，促进学术成长与个性表达。
Early Years 幼儿园小班
This week, our Early Years Mandarin learners will build emotional awareness. On Wednesday, we will focus on our unit of inquiry about emotions. Students will listen to different songs and explore how each piece makes them feel, learning to recognize and name emotions such as happy, sad, calm, and angry. On Friday, we will revisit our KWL chart about emotions, encouraging children to reflect on what they have learned about feelings throughout the week and share any new questions they may have, all within a supportive group discussion.
本周，幼儿园小班的中文学习者将培养情绪认知能力。周三，我们将聚焦于情绪探究单元。学生们将聆听不同的歌曲，探索每首曲子带给他们的感受，学习识别并说出快乐、悲伤、平静和生气等情绪。周五，我们将再次回顾关于情绪的情知图（KWL图表），鼓励孩子们在小组讨论中反思本周所学关于感受的内容，并分享他们可能产生的新问题。
Pre-K 幼儿园中班
In our Mandarin class, under “Who We Are,” Unit 1, “Our Senses,” we will focus on getting to know one another in a fun and friendly way. We will practice greetings and simple introductions using short sentences, such as “Hello everyone. My name is ….”. We will use songs and games that help students remember new words and sounds. Through interactive activities, we will learn how to say our names confidently and respond to basic questions. We will also connect our language learning to the idea of senses, noticing sounds and rhythms while we sing and play. By the end of the week, students will be able to greet classmates and introduce themselves using Mandarin.
本周，幼儿园中班的中文学习者将围绕“我们是谁”第一单元“我们的感官”，我们将以有趣且友好的方式专注于相互认识。我们将练习问候和简单自我介绍，使用短句如大家好，我叫……。我们将运用歌曲和游戏帮助学生记住新词和发音。通过互动活动，学生们将学习自信地说出自己的名字并回应基本问题。我们还将把语言学习与感官概念联系起来，在唱歌和游戏中留意声音和节奏。到本周结束时，学生们将能够用普通话问候同学并介绍自己。
Kindergarten 幼儿园大班
This week marks our first rotation week for Kindergarten Mandarin lessons. Our focus will be on community and teamwork. Children will get to know the people around them, build a basic understanding of what a community is, develop a sense of belonging within our Kindergarten community, and learn to collaborate with peers while experiencing the joy of working together. We will kick off with a sound based game, Guess Who I Am, where children will learn about different teachers in our Kindergarten. Building on this activity, each child will pick one teacher and design a colourful work uniform for them. We will also have a sweet popcorn activity for kids to document warm, happy moments shared with people around them. In our colourful dragon project, children will work collaboratively to create Kindergarten decorations that celebrate our community. We will also explore the folk tale Three Monks Carrying Water, allowing children to experience the true meaning of teamwork firsthand. We are going to have so much fun this week!
本周是我们幼儿园大班普通话课程的第一轮周。我们的重点将放在社区和团队合作上。孩子们将认识身边的人，建立对社区的基本理解，在幼儿园社区中培养归属感，并学习与同伴协作，体验合作共事的乐趣。我们将以一个声音游戏“猜猜我是谁”开始，孩子们将认识幼儿园里的不同老师。在此基础上，每个孩子将选择一位老师，并为他们设计一套色彩缤纷的工作服。我们还将进行“甜蜜爆米花”活动，让孩子们记录与他人共度的温馨快乐时刻。在我们的彩色龙项目中，孩子们将合作制作装饰品，庆祝我们的社区。我们还将探索民间故事《三个和尚挑水》，让孩子们亲身体验团队合作的真正意义。本周我们将玩得非常开心！
Grade 1 一年级
This week in Grade 1, we’ll learn the “rhyming/chanting song” to experience Chinese rhythmic beauty. We’ll also learn more pictographic characters and link character forms to real objects. We’ll also learn associative compound characters in “sun, moon → bright”, exploring how simple characters combine for new meanings. For G1 foreign language learners, students will practice asking and answering “What time is it?” in Chinese. Students will develop key sentence patterns and basic communication skills for everyday use.
本周，一年级中文课将学习对韵歌，体验中文的韵律之美。我们还将学习更多象形字，将字形与实物联系起来。此外，我们将在日月明中学习会意字，探索简单汉字如何组合产生新含义。一年级外语学习者课程，学生将练习用中文问答“现在几点了？”学生将掌握关键句型和日常基本沟通技能。
Grade 2 二年级
This week, G2 students focused on emotional health through a series of in-class learning activities. We introduced the Zones of Regulation framework to help children better understand and manage their feelings. Students completed a workbook that explored the different physical expressions of emotions and discussed practical strategies for handling various feelings. We also read picture books about anger and worry, followed by in-class writing exercises. These activities not only reinforced comprehension of the stories but also helped students become more aware of their emotions in a positive way, while strengthening their writing skills. This week, the Grade 2 foreign language learners will start learning Chinese around the theme of “Birthday.” They will first master core birthday-related vocabulary, then use practical Chinese sentence patterns to try to introduce their own and their family’s birthdays in Chinese. In class, students will practice repeatedly through reading, writing, oral interaction, and various group activities, and gradually use the vocabulary and sentence patterns naturally and skillfully.
本周，二年级学生通过一系列课堂学习活动关注情绪健康。我们引入了情绪调节区框架，帮助孩子更好地理解和管理自己的感受。学生们完成了一本练习册，探索情绪的不同身体表现，并讨论了处理各种感受的实用策略。我们还阅读了关于生气和担忧的绘本，随后进行课堂写作练习。这些活动不仅强化了对故事的理解，还帮助学生以积极的方式更敏锐地觉察自己的情绪，同时加强了写作能力。二年级外语学习者将开始围绕“生日”主题学习中文。他们首先掌握核心生日相关词汇，然后运用实用中文句型尝试用中文介绍自己和家人的生日。课堂上，学生将通过阅读、书写、口语互动和各种小组活动反复练习，逐步自然熟练地运用词汇和句型。
Grade 3 三年级
This week in G3, we completed our My Wise Choices manual, reflecting on how choices affect ourselves and others. Next, we begin our new story “What I Want Is the Gourd”—a fable exploring how choices influence personal growth and harmony with the environment. Students will compare wise and unwise choices, explore the link between leaves and gourds, and practice diary writing. They will also share their personal insights from the story in small group discussions. Next week, the Grade 3 foreign language learners will start learning Chinese around the theme of “Chinese Zodiac”. They will first master core vocabulary related to the 12 animal zodiac, then use simple Chinese sentence patterns to talk about their own zodiac signs. In class, students will practice repeatedly through reading, writing, oral interaction, and various group activities, and gradually use the vocabulary and sentence patterns naturally and skillfully.
本周，三年级完成了《我的明智选择》手册，反思选择如何影响自己和他人。接下来，我们开始学习寓言故事《我要的是葫芦》，探讨选择如何影响个人成长及与个人对环境的适应。学生将比较明智与不明智的选择，探究叶子与葫芦之间的联系，并练习写日记，同时在小组讨论中分享从故事中得到的个人感悟。三年级外语学习者将围绕 “十二生肖” 主题学习中文。他们首先掌握十二生肖相关核心词汇，然后运用简单中文句型谈论自己的生肖。课堂上，学生将通过阅读、书写、口语互动和各种小组活动反复练习，逐步自然熟练地运用词汇和句型。
Grade 4 四年级
This week, the Grade 4 students will review and summarize the texts on personal characteristics they have studied over the past two weeks. They can choose a distinctive person from their familiar relatives, teachers, or friends around them, and finish this in-class writing practice. For foreign language learners, we will continue our learning on the topic “I Don’t Have a Phone.” Students will practice key vocabulary and sentence patterns related to what we have or do not have, using simple, everyday examples through modeling, guided speaking activities, and partner role-play.
本周，四年级学生将复习并总结过去两周所学的关于个人特点的课文。他们可以从身边熟悉的亲戚、老师或朋友中选择一个特点鲜明的人，并在课堂上完成写作练习。四年级的外语学习者将继续学习主题“我没有手机”。学生将通过示范、引导口语活动和伙伴角色扮演，使用简单的日常例子，练习与“有什么”或“没有什么”相关的关键词汇和句型。
Grade 5 五年级
This week, Grade 5 will continue with the "Sharing the Planet" unit. Students will read the prose “Egrets”, immersing themselves in the beautiful text to feel the beauty of natural creatures and further understand the profound meaning of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. For G5 foreign language learners, students will focus on learning phone conversations in Chinese. Students will develop key sentence patterns and communication skills for everyday use.
本周，五年级将继续“共享地球”单元。学生将阅读散文《白鹭》，沉浸在优美的文字中，感受自然生物之美，并进一步理解人与自然和谐共处的深远意义。五年级外语学习者将重点学习中文电话会话。学生将掌握日常使用的关键句型和沟通技能。
During the week of September 14 to 18, our students continued their engaging journey in Mandarin language learning, further enriched by cultural connections and unit inquiries. This period emphasized not only linguistic development but also the practical application of knowledge and skills across various contexts, fostering both academic growth and personal expression.
在9月14日至18日的一周中，学生们继续深入中文学习之旅，并通过文化联系与单元探究进一步丰富学习体验。这一时期不仅注重语言发展，更强调知识与技能在不同情境中的实际应用，促进学术成长与个性表达。
Early Years 幼儿园小班
This week, our Early Years Mandarin learners will build emotional awareness. On Wednesday, we will focus on our unit of inquiry about emotions. Students will listen to different songs and explore how each piece makes them feel, learning to recognize and name emotions such as happy, sad, calm, and angry. On Friday, we will revisit our KWL chart about emotions, encouraging children to reflect on what they have learned about feelings throughout the week and share any new questions they may have, all within a supportive group discussion.
本周，幼儿园小班的中文学习者将培养情绪认知能力。周三，我们将聚焦于情绪探究单元。学生们将聆听不同的歌曲，探索每首曲子带给他们的感受，学习识别并说出快乐、悲伤、平静和生气等情绪。周五，我们将再次回顾关于情绪的情知图（KWL图表），鼓励孩子们在小组讨论中反思本周所学关于感受的内容，并分享他们可能产生的新问题。
Pre-K 幼儿园中班
In our Mandarin class, under “Who We Are,” Unit 1, “Our Senses,” we will focus on getting to know one another in a fun and friendly way. We will practice greetings and simple introductions using short sentences, such as “Hello everyone. My name is ….”. We will use songs and games that help students remember new words and sounds. Through interactive activities, we will learn how to say our names confidently and respond to basic questions. We will also connect our language learning to the idea of senses, noticing sounds and rhythms while we sing and play. By the end of the week, students will be able to greet classmates and introduce themselves using Mandarin.
本周，幼儿园中班的中文学习者将围绕“我们是谁”第一单元“我们的感官”，我们将以有趣且友好的方式专注于相互认识。我们将练习问候和简单自我介绍，使用短句如大家好，我叫……。我们将运用歌曲和游戏帮助学生记住新词和发音。通过互动活动，学生们将学习自信地说出自己的名字并回应基本问题。我们还将把语言学习与感官概念联系起来，在唱歌和游戏中留意声音和节奏。到本周结束时，学生们将能够用普通话问候同学并介绍自己。
Kindergarten 幼儿园大班
This week marks our first rotation week for Kindergarten Mandarin lessons. Our focus will be on community and teamwork. Children will get to know the people around them, build a basic understanding of what a community is, develop a sense of belonging within our Kindergarten community, and learn to collaborate with peers while experiencing the joy of working together. We will kick off with a sound based game, Guess Who I Am, where children will learn about different teachers in our Kindergarten. Building on this activity, each child will pick one teacher and design a colourful work uniform for them. We will also have a sweet popcorn activity for kids to document warm, happy moments shared with people around them. In our colourful dragon project, children will work collaboratively to create Kindergarten decorations that celebrate our community. We will also explore the folk tale Three Monks Carrying Water, allowing children to experience the true meaning of teamwork firsthand. We are going to have so much fun this week!
本周是我们幼儿园大班普通话课程的第一轮周。我们的重点将放在社区和团队合作上。孩子们将认识身边的人，建立对社区的基本理解，在幼儿园社区中培养归属感，并学习与同伴协作，体验合作共事的乐趣。我们将以一个声音游戏“猜猜我是谁”开始，孩子们将认识幼儿园里的不同老师。在此基础上，每个孩子将选择一位老师，并为他们设计一套色彩缤纷的工作服。我们还将进行“甜蜜爆米花”活动，让孩子们记录与他人共度的温馨快乐时刻。在我们的彩色龙项目中，孩子们将合作制作装饰品，庆祝我们的社区。我们还将探索民间故事《三个和尚挑水》，让孩子们亲身体验团队合作的真正意义。本周我们将玩得非常开心！
Grade 1 一年级
This week in Grade 1, we’ll learn the “rhyming/chanting song” to experience Chinese rhythmic beauty. We’ll also learn more pictographic characters and link character forms to real objects. We’ll also learn associative compound characters in “sun, moon → bright”, exploring how simple characters combine for new meanings. For G1 foreign language learners, students will practice asking and answering “What time is it?” in Chinese. Students will develop key sentence patterns and basic communication skills for everyday use.
本周，一年级中文课将学习对韵歌，体验中文的韵律之美。我们还将学习更多象形字，将字形与实物联系起来。此外，我们将在日月明中学习会意字，探索简单汉字如何组合产生新含义。一年级外语学习者课程，学生将练习用中文问答“现在几点了？”学生将掌握关键句型和日常基本沟通技能。
Grade 2 二年级
This week, G2 students focused on emotional health through a series of in-class learning activities. We introduced the Zones of Regulation framework to help children better understand and manage their feelings. Students completed a workbook that explored the different physical expressions of emotions and discussed practical strategies for handling various feelings. We also read picture books about anger and worry, followed by in-class writing exercises. These activities not only reinforced comprehension of the stories but also helped students become more aware of their emotions in a positive way, while strengthening their writing skills. This week, the Grade 2 foreign language learners will start learning Chinese around the theme of “Birthday.” They will first master core birthday-related vocabulary, then use practical Chinese sentence patterns to try to introduce their own and their family’s birthdays in Chinese. In class, students will practice repeatedly through reading, writing, oral interaction, and various group activities, and gradually use the vocabulary and sentence patterns naturally and skillfully.
本周，二年级学生通过一系列课堂学习活动关注情绪健康。我们引入了情绪调节区框架，帮助孩子更好地理解和管理自己的感受。学生们完成了一本练习册，探索情绪的不同身体表现，并讨论了处理各种感受的实用策略。我们还阅读了关于生气和担忧的绘本，随后进行课堂写作练习。这些活动不仅强化了对故事的理解，还帮助学生以积极的方式更敏锐地觉察自己的情绪，同时加强了写作能力。二年级外语学习者将开始围绕“生日”主题学习中文。他们首先掌握核心生日相关词汇，然后运用实用中文句型尝试用中文介绍自己和家人的生日。课堂上，学生将通过阅读、书写、口语互动和各种小组活动反复练习，逐步自然熟练地运用词汇和句型。
Grade 3 三年级
This week in G3, we completed our My Wise Choices manual, reflecting on how choices affect ourselves and others. Next, we begin our new story “What I Want Is the Gourd”—a fable exploring how choices influence personal growth and harmony with the environment. Students will compare wise and unwise choices, explore the link between leaves and gourds, and practice diary writing. They will also share their personal insights from the story in small group discussions. Next week, the Grade 3 foreign language learners will start learning Chinese around the theme of “Chinese Zodiac”. They will first master core vocabulary related to the 12 animal zodiac, then use simple Chinese sentence patterns to talk about their own zodiac signs. In class, students will practice repeatedly through reading, writing, oral interaction, and various group activities, and gradually use the vocabulary and sentence patterns naturally and skillfully.
本周，三年级完成了《我的明智选择》手册，反思选择如何影响自己和他人。接下来，我们开始学习寓言故事《我要的是葫芦》，探讨选择如何影响个人成长及与个人对环境的适应。学生将比较明智与不明智的选择，探究叶子与葫芦之间的联系，并练习写日记，同时在小组讨论中分享从故事中得到的个人感悟。三年级外语学习者将围绕 “十二生肖” 主题学习中文。他们首先掌握十二生肖相关核心词汇，然后运用简单中文句型谈论自己的生肖。课堂上，学生将通过阅读、书写、口语互动和各种小组活动反复练习，逐步自然熟练地运用词汇和句型。
Grade 4 四年级
This week, the Grade 4 students will review and summarize the texts on personal characteristics they have studied over the past two weeks. They can choose a distinctive person from their familiar relatives, teachers, or friends around them, and finish this in-class writing practice. For foreign language learners, we will continue our learning on the topic “I Don’t Have a Phone.” Students will practice key vocabulary and sentence patterns related to what we have or do not have, using simple, everyday examples through modeling, guided speaking activities, and partner role-play.
本周，四年级学生将复习并总结过去两周所学的关于个人特点的课文。他们可以从身边熟悉的亲戚、老师或朋友中选择一个特点鲜明的人，并在课堂上完成写作练习。四年级的外语学习者将继续学习主题“我没有手机”。学生将通过示范、引导口语活动和伙伴角色扮演，使用简单的日常例子，练习与“有什么”或“没有什么”相关的关键词汇和句型。
Grade 5 五年级
This week, Grade 5 will continue with the "Sharing the Planet" unit. Students will read the prose “Egrets”, immersing themselves in the beautiful text to feel the beauty of natural creatures and further understand the profound meaning of harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. For G5 foreign language learners, students will focus on learning phone conversations in Chinese. Students will develop key sentence patterns and communication skills for everyday use.
本周，五年级将继续“共享地球”单元。学生将阅读散文《白鹭》，沉浸在优美的文字中，感受自然生物之美，并进一步理解人与自然和谐共处的深远意义。五年级外语学习者将重点学习中文电话会话。学生将掌握日常使用的关键句型和沟通技能。
Athletics and CCAs: News &
Updates
Thank you to the parents who have contacted me to change or cancel their child’s CCAs because the activity was not of interest to them. To ensure a positive experience for all, it is important that students are registered in activities they enjoy. We will follow up on any unexplained absences from CCAs. Please note if a student misses three sessions without an explanation, they will be removed from the CCA.
This Saturday, we will have our first athletics competition of the year. The HIS U11 Boys and Girls Football Teams will travel to Wellington-Hiba for a football festival. This will be a noncompetitive event, with a focus on participation and friendly competition. It should prove to be an enjoyable start to the year for lower school athletics.
This Saturday, we will have our first athletics competition of the year. The HIS U11 Boys and Girls Football Teams will travel to Wellington-Hiba for a football festival. This will be a noncompetitive event, with a focus on participation and friendly competition. It should prove to be an enjoyable start to the year for lower school athletics.
News from the Pool: Aquatics
Updates
Hangzhou Water Weekly: Sept. 14 - Sept. 20
Next week's training
Monday 14th September, we are hosting a 'Towel Swim' (aka Time Trials), and many students will attend outside their usual training schedule and times. Everyone attending is up to date on SchoolsBuddy. If you usually have training on Monday and have not officially signed up for Towel Swim, your training has been cancelled.
Thursday 17th September: White Squad cancelled.
Friday 18th September: White Squad cancelled.
Monday 21st September: White Squad cancelled.
All other programs are running as usual. Coach Cheryl will be in Australia attending the AusSwimCon 26'. We have found solutions to keep our Gold Squad running as usual; however, we cannot find a suitable solution for the White Squad. Apologies in advance.
Towel Swims - SIGN-UP CLOSED
Towel Swims will be on 14th September with warm-ups beginning at 3:00 pm. All student athletes must attend until the end of the final event. If a student needs to leave early for any reason, there must be a face-to-face handover with parents. This is for the safety and supervision of all students; we encourage all students to remain at the event until 5:30 pm.
If you did not sign up and are not listed on SchoolsBuddy as attending or on the meet program (below), we will not add or adjust the program under any circumstances. Our Aquatics Department are busy with PE lessons all day and has no time to fix and readjust the program.
Spectators are warmly welcomed; school records can be broken.
Please find the meet program here: MeetProgram-HISTowelSwim20261.pdf
Next week's training
Monday 14th September, we are hosting a 'Towel Swim' (aka Time Trials), and many students will attend outside their usual training schedule and times. Everyone attending is up to date on SchoolsBuddy. If you usually have training on Monday and have not officially signed up for Towel Swim, your training has been cancelled.
Thursday 17th September: White Squad cancelled.
Friday 18th September: White Squad cancelled.
Monday 21st September: White Squad cancelled.
All other programs are running as usual. Coach Cheryl will be in Australia attending the AusSwimCon 26'. We have found solutions to keep our Gold Squad running as usual; however, we cannot find a suitable solution for the White Squad. Apologies in advance.
Towel Swims - SIGN-UP CLOSED
Towel Swims will be on 14th September with warm-ups beginning at 3:00 pm. All student athletes must attend until the end of the final event. If a student needs to leave early for any reason, there must be a face-to-face handover with parents. This is for the safety and supervision of all students; we encourage all students to remain at the event until 5:30 pm.
If you did not sign up and are not listed on SchoolsBuddy as attending or on the meet program (below), we will not add or adjust the program under any circumstances. Our Aquatics Department are busy with PE lessons all day and has no time to fix and readjust the program.
Spectators are warmly welcomed; school records can be broken.
Please find the meet program here: MeetProgram-HISTowelSwim20261.pdf
Ensuring Proper
Uniforms
Uniform and Dress Code (from LS Handbook)
HIS students adhere to a dress code which promotes a sense of orderliness and school community and helps with campus and field trip security.
Lower School students (Early Years through Grade 5) wear navy blue trousers, shorts, or skirts and the HIS light blue polo shirts (short or long sleeved). Tights and socks should be white, black, nude, or navy blue. During cooler weather students may wear sweaters, jackets or hoodies of school colors and winter coats. It is highly recommended that uniform items be labeled on the tag to assist in retrieval of lost items.
All students wear laced shoes or sturdy sandals. Athletic shoes or sneakers are acceptable. Flip-flops, thong sandals, and other beach-type footwear are not appropriate for school. Caps or hats in buildings are also inappropriate.
All students are expected to be well groomed and appropriately dressed at school or during school-related functions off campus.
There are occasionally free dress days on which students are not required to wear the school uniform. These may occur approximately once a month, usually in connection with a special holiday or event. Students will normally wear the school uniform for field trips, unless otherwise indicated on the permission form.
HIS students adhere to a dress code which promotes a sense of orderliness and school community and helps with campus and field trip security.
Lower School students (Early Years through Grade 5) wear navy blue trousers, shorts, or skirts and the HIS light blue polo shirts (short or long sleeved). Tights and socks should be white, black, nude, or navy blue. During cooler weather students may wear sweaters, jackets or hoodies of school colors and winter coats. It is highly recommended that uniform items be labeled on the tag to assist in retrieval of lost items.
All students wear laced shoes or sturdy sandals. Athletic shoes or sneakers are acceptable. Flip-flops, thong sandals, and other beach-type footwear are not appropriate for school. Caps or hats in buildings are also inappropriate.
All students are expected to be well groomed and appropriately dressed at school or during school-related functions off campus.
There are occasionally free dress days on which students are not required to wear the school uniform. These may occur approximately once a month, usually in connection with a special holiday or event. Students will normally wear the school uniform for field trips, unless otherwise indicated on the permission form.
NEW POSTS & STORIES!
Community Events
Friday is Market Day!
Tasty treats and excellent snacks from the food vendors in the Main Building between The Cafeteria and The Wave.Come for a pleasant afternoon to end the school week and head out for a relaxing and fun weekend with a happy stomach!
PAFA News
Welcome Back PAFA Brunch for Parents!
Let’s connect while meeting HIS parents, both new and returning, during brunch!
This activity is open to all HIS parents. Children and people outside our HIS community are not included. Let’s stay connected in a positive and meaningful way!
RSVP by scanning the QR code on the poster or click here to follow the link.
This activity is open to all HIS parents. Children and people outside our HIS community are not included. Let’s stay connected in a positive and meaningful way!
RSVP by scanning the QR code on the poster or click here to follow the link.
PAFA Book Club for HIS parents! Join us: Today a Reader, Tomorrow a Leader!
Join us to share your thoughts and, if you haven’t, get inspired to read this and other books. We encourage each other to discover a passion for reading!
This activity is open to all HIS parents. Scan the QR code on the poster for more information and register.
#WeAreHISDragons!
Join us to share your thoughts and, if you haven’t, get inspired to read this and other books. We encourage each other to discover a passion for reading!
This activity is open to all HIS parents. Scan the QR code on the poster for more information and register.
#WeAreHISDragons!
PAFA Fitness! We are back to being fit and healthy!
One more Zumba session! Come and get fit while enjoying good tunes! Scan the QR code on the poster for more information and to register.
This activity is open to all HIS parents, and every Thursday from 8:15 to 9:40 am, we try to provide a different way to keep fit, healthy, and connected in a positive and meaningful way!
#WeAreHISDragons!
One more Zumba session! Come and get fit while enjoying good tunes! Scan the QR code on the poster for more information and to register.
This activity is open to all HIS parents, and every Thursday from 8:15 to 9:40 am, we try to provide a different way to keep fit, healthy, and connected in a positive and meaningful way!
#WeAreHISDragons!
Check here every week for new and upcoming school and PAFA events
Please ensure you have your HIS ID Cards. These
are required to access the campus.
Lower School Uniforms
Please wear our school uniform with pride each day, and we seek your support in having your child dressed in the complete uniform each day. We will notify you if it is a special day to dress up; otherwise, students should be in uniform. Also, please have your child wear their PE kit on swim days (Grade1-5). Please label your child's clothing to help us return it to you. We often find many items without names, and the students cannot recognize their belongings.
For more information, please contact the dragon shop: olivexu@hisdragons.org.cn
For more information, please contact the dragon shop: olivexu@hisdragons.org.cn
LinkLower School Principals
Jeff Hart
Lower School Principal
Rene Smal
Lower School
Vice-Principal &
ECE Coordinator
Sinae VanHaastert
Lower School
Vice-Principal &
2190 Xiangbin Road, Binjiang District, Hangzhou 310052
+86 571 8669 0045
