Upper School Newsletter - Aug 31, 2026
Upper School | 31 August 2026
Upcoming Events
Visit the HIS School Calendar
Aug 31 (Mon): Local schools orientation week, plan for increased traffic
Sept 1 (Tue): Upper School Back-to-School Night
Sept 3 (Thu): Lower School Back-to-School Night
Sept 5 (Sat): HIS Welcome Back BBQ
Sept 7 (Mon): CCAs begin
Sept 11 (Fri): No School (in-service day for staff)
Sept 25 (Fri)-Oct 02: No School (holiday and in-service)
Oct 16 (Fri) Mid-Semester Progress Reports
Oct 20 (Tue): Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences
Sept 1 (Tue): Upper School Back-to-School Night
Sept 3 (Thu): Lower School Back-to-School Night
Sept 5 (Sat): HIS Welcome Back BBQ
Sept 7 (Mon): CCAs begin
Sept 11 (Fri): No School (in-service day for staff)
Sept 25 (Fri)-Oct 02: No School (holiday and in-service)
Oct 16 (Fri) Mid-Semester Progress Reports
Oct 20 (Tue): Parent-Teacher-Student Conferences
Message from the Upper School Principal
Dear Parents and Families,
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.
Building a Caring Community Through Unified Schools
Last year, HIS had the wonderful opportunity to begin a partnership with Yanglingzi Special School through the Special Olympics East Asia Unified Schools initiative. We are excited to continue and deepen this partnership throughout the year ahead.
HIS students will visit Yanglingzi Special School regularly, building meaningful relationships while developing leadership skills and engaging with the wider community. We are equally excited to welcome Yanglingzi students to HIS, where they will have opportunities to join our students in learning experiences, activities, and sports throughout the year.
This partnership brings our HIS mission 'to provide all international learners with opportunities to pursue academic and personal excellence within a caring community' to life. A caring community is built when we create opportunities to learn with and from one another, celebrate the strengths each person brings, and ensure that everyone experiences a genuine sense of belonging.
Through these shared experiences, our students have the opportunity to demonstrate the IB Learner Profile in action: being caring, open-minded, communicative, and reflective, while discovering that leadership is often about connection, inclusion, and service to others.
We look forward to sharing more about these exciting opportunities throughout the year. Stay tuned for some awesome Unified Schools events ahead!
Sincerely,
Cynthia Wissman
Upper School Principal
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.
Building a Caring Community Through Unified Schools
Last year, HIS had the wonderful opportunity to begin a partnership with Yanglingzi Special School through the Special Olympics East Asia Unified Schools initiative. We are excited to continue and deepen this partnership throughout the year ahead.
HIS students will visit Yanglingzi Special School regularly, building meaningful relationships while developing leadership skills and engaging with the wider community. We are equally excited to welcome Yanglingzi students to HIS, where they will have opportunities to join our students in learning experiences, activities, and sports throughout the year.
This partnership brings our HIS mission 'to provide all international learners with opportunities to pursue academic and personal excellence within a caring community' to life. A caring community is built when we create opportunities to learn with and from one another, celebrate the strengths each person brings, and ensure that everyone experiences a genuine sense of belonging.
Through these shared experiences, our students have the opportunity to demonstrate the IB Learner Profile in action: being caring, open-minded, communicative, and reflective, while discovering that leadership is often about connection, inclusion, and service to others.
We look forward to sharing more about these exciting opportunities throughout the year. Stay tuned for some awesome Unified Schools events ahead!
Sincerely,
Cynthia Wissman
Upper School Principal
HIS News
Upper School Back-to-School Night September 1st
Starting 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 will meet with all the subject teachers. You’ll hear about subject expectations, 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.
Please note the following:
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.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Starting 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 will meet with all the subject teachers. You’ll hear about subject expectations, 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.
Please note the following:
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.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Understanding Our Attendance Framework
A Partnership Approach to Supporting Regular Attendance
Regular attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success. At HIS, we partner with families early and supportively whenever patterns of absence begin to emerge. Our goal is always the same: to understand barriers, offer help, and keep students engaged in learning.
Below is a simplified overview of how we respond as absences accumulate. You will always be contacted and invited into the conversation as a valued partner.
How We Respond as Absences Accumulate
Regular attendance is one of the strongest predictors of student success. At HIS, we partner with families early and supportively whenever patterns of absence begin to emerge. Our goal is always the same: to understand barriers, offer help, and keep students engaged in learning.
Below is a simplified overview of how we respond as absences accumulate. You will always be contacted and invited into the conversation as a valued partner.
How We Respond as Absences Accumulate
What This Means for Families
We reach out early not to punish, but to partner: Most attendance concerns are resolved through simple conversation and practical support. The earlier we talk, the easier it is to find solutions that work for your child and family.
You will always be informed and invited in: At every stage, families receive clear communication and are welcomed as essential partners in the process.
Credit is the last step, not the first: Formal credit review occurs after extensive support has been offered and documented. Our priority remains helping every student remain on track for success.
Questions or concerns? Please reach out to your child’s counselor or advisor at any time. We are here to support you and your student.
We reach out early not to punish, but to partner: Most attendance concerns are resolved through simple conversation and practical support. The earlier we talk, the easier it is to find solutions that work for your child and family.
You will always be informed and invited in: At every stage, families receive clear communication and are welcomed as essential partners in the process.
Credit is the last step, not the first: Formal credit review occurs after extensive support has been offered and documented. Our priority remains helping every student remain on track for success.
Questions or concerns? Please reach out to your child’s counselor or advisor at any time. We are here to support you and your student.
Health and Safety
Bicycle & E-Bike Safety Reminder
We would like to remind families about the rules regarding children riding bicycles and electric bicycles (e-bikes) on public roads in China.
Chinese road traffic regulations establish clear minimum ages:
Children must be at least 12 years old to ride a bicycle on public roads.
Children must be at least 16 years old to operate an electric bicycle (e-bike) on public roads.
For students who are old enough to ride a bicycle legally, families should also ensure that children understand basic road safety expectations and are wearing a helmet every time they ride. When they enter the campus, they should do so at the Main Gate car entrance, stay to the right, and ride on the track (past the SnackShack) all the way back around the school to where the Chinese garden (Pagoda) is, to park their bikes. This avoids students having to ride where the buses are entering and dropping students off.
We would like to remind families about the rules regarding children riding bicycles and electric bicycles (e-bikes) on public roads in China.
Chinese road traffic regulations establish clear minimum ages:
Children must be at least 12 years old to ride a bicycle on public roads.
Children must be at least 16 years old to operate an electric bicycle (e-bike) on public roads.
For students who are old enough to ride a bicycle legally, families should also ensure that children understand basic road safety expectations and are wearing a helmet every time they ride. When they enter the campus, they should do so at the Main Gate car entrance, stay to the right, and ride on the track (past the SnackShack) all the way back around the school to where the Chinese garden (Pagoda) is, to park their bikes. This avoids students having to ride where the buses are entering and dropping students off.
Athletics and CCAs: News &
Updates
CCA 1 Dates: September 7 – February 5
Weeks without CCAs: November 9–13 and December 14–18
Semester 1 athletic teams, clubs, and CCA allocations have now been completed and should be visible on your SchoolsBuddy calendar.
Several CCAs have been extremely popular, with demand exceeding the number of available places. Unfortunately, this means we are unable to accommodate every interested student at this time.
To ensure a fair allocation of places, priority has been given to students who did not participate in these activities during CCA Blocks 2 and 3 last year. In cases where demand is particularly high, students may be allocated a place in only one of the four CCA blocks. This will allow as many students as possible to participate and ensure that all interested students have the opportunity to join an activity during the year.
If you missed the registration period, please do not worry. You can still submit a join request through SchoolsBuddy for any sports team or CCA with available spaces.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mr Rob West or Ms Nany Pan directly.
Weeks without CCAs: November 9–13 and December 14–18
Semester 1 athletic teams, clubs, and CCA allocations have now been completed and should be visible on your SchoolsBuddy calendar.
Several CCAs have been extremely popular, with demand exceeding the number of available places. Unfortunately, this means we are unable to accommodate every interested student at this time.
To ensure a fair allocation of places, priority has been given to students who did not participate in these activities during CCA Blocks 2 and 3 last year. In cases where demand is particularly high, students may be allocated a place in only one of the four CCA blocks. This will allow as many students as possible to participate and ensure that all interested students have the opportunity to join an activity during the year.
If you missed the registration period, please do not worry. You can still submit a join request through SchoolsBuddy for any sports team or CCA with available spaces.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Mr Rob West or Ms Nany Pan directly.
News from the Pool: Aquatics
Updates
Aquatics Department
Water Weekly - First Week Back!
Dear Swim Team Families,
We are beyond excited to welcome our Swim Team members back to The Wave next week as our full program begins. Ahead of our start date, the Aquatics Department would like to familiarise our new and returning families with our communication pathways to help you stay up to date throughout the year.
Hangzhou Water Monthly [NEW]
We are excited to announce our new monthly newsletter, which details upcoming dates, competition information, captain biographies, and much more. Check out the attachment to brush up on everything HIS Swim Team!
Hangzhou Water Weekly
Please see all weekly updates via our website linked here. This will include any cancellations or other important information. This week's Water Weekly includes:
Early morning practice – breakfast updates
No late bus reminder
Final Reminders for Swim Team
Parents and students are kindly reminded that, as HIS Swim Team members, student-athletes are encouraged to take ownership of their responsibilities. This means bringing all the equipment required for your team, bringing a full water bottle, and arriving to each session on time, prepared and ready to learn.
If student-athletes are unable to attend training on time or at all, please email your primary coach so they can make any necessary arrangements.
If you have any questions regarding our communication pathways or any of our Team Expectations, please feel free to email your primary coach or the Aquatics email: aquatics@hisdragon.org.cn.
We look forward to seeing all of our student-athletes next week!
Dear Swim Team Families,
We are beyond excited to welcome our Swim Team members back to The Wave next week as our full program begins. Ahead of our start date, the Aquatics Department would like to familiarise our new and returning families with our communication pathways to help you stay up to date throughout the year.
Hangzhou Water Monthly [NEW]
We are excited to announce our new monthly newsletter, which details upcoming dates, competition information, captain biographies, and much more. Check out the attachment to brush up on everything HIS Swim Team!
Hangzhou Water Weekly
Please see all weekly updates via our website linked here. This will include any cancellations or other important information. This week's Water Weekly includes:
Early morning practice – breakfast updates
No late bus reminder
Final Reminders for Swim Team
Parents and students are kindly reminded that, as HIS Swim Team members, student-athletes are encouraged to take ownership of their responsibilities. This means bringing all the equipment required for your team, bringing a full water bottle, and arriving to each session on time, prepared and ready to learn.
If student-athletes are unable to attend training on time or at all, please email your primary coach so they can make any necessary arrangements.
If you have any questions regarding our communication pathways or any of our Team Expectations, please feel free to email your primary coach or the Aquatics email: aquatics@hisdragon.org.cn.
We look forward to seeing all of our student-athletes next week!
Dress Code
Middle School Uniform Guidelines 6-8
MS students should wear tan shorts, trousers, or skirts and a navy
blue polo shirt (short or long sleeved) with the HIS book logo. A
navy fleece or cardigan sweater with the HIS logo or other approved
outerwear such as the HIS hoodie sweatshirt can be worn in the
cooler weather. All students must wear laced shoes.
High School Uniform Guidelines 9-12
HS students should wear tan shorts or trousers, or plaid skirts
(girls only) and a light blue Oxford cloth button down short or long
sleeved short with the HIS book logo. A navy fleece or cardigan
sweater with the HIS logo or other approved outerwear such as
the HIS hoodie sweatshirt can be worn in the cooler weather. All
students must wear laced shoes.
Students will be asked to remove outerwear in lessons unless they carry the HIS logos. Students who are cold will be invited to go to the Dragon Shop
to purchase acceptable HIS items.
Caps or hats in the classroom are inappropriate. It is preferred that winter outerwear be navy blue, grey or tan in color, and these garments should be removed when indoors. The use of light sweatshirts/hoodies or sweaters that are not distributed by the school are not acceptable during school hours.
All students are expected to be well groomed and appropriately dressed at schoolor during school-related functions off campus. Facial jewelry or distracting or bizarre jewelry is not allowed. Immodest or distracting attire is inappropriate in our multi-cultural setting, and this can extend to haircuts, hair dyes, jewelry, makeup, body art or other aspects of personal appearance.
MS students should wear tan shorts, trousers, or skirts and a navy
blue polo shirt (short or long sleeved) with the HIS book logo. A
navy fleece or cardigan sweater with the HIS logo or other approved
outerwear such as the HIS hoodie sweatshirt can be worn in the
cooler weather. All students must wear laced shoes.
High School Uniform Guidelines 9-12
HS students should wear tan shorts or trousers, or plaid skirts
(girls only) and a light blue Oxford cloth button down short or long
sleeved short with the HIS book logo. A navy fleece or cardigan
sweater with the HIS logo or other approved outerwear such as
the HIS hoodie sweatshirt can be worn in the cooler weather. All
students must wear laced shoes.
Students will be asked to remove outerwear in lessons unless they carry the HIS logos. Students who are cold will be invited to go to the Dragon Shop
to purchase acceptable HIS items.
Caps or hats in the classroom are inappropriate. It is preferred that winter outerwear be navy blue, grey or tan in color, and these garments should be removed when indoors. The use of light sweatshirts/hoodies or sweaters that are not distributed by the school are not acceptable during school hours.
All students are expected to be well groomed and appropriately dressed at schoolor during school-related functions off campus. Facial jewelry or distracting or bizarre jewelry is not allowed. Immodest or distracting attire is inappropriate in our multi-cultural setting, and this can extend to haircuts, hair dyes, jewelry, makeup, body art or other aspects of personal appearance.
Community Events