Senior School News

T1W10 – 10 Nov 2023

Dear Senior School parents,

Please click on the following updates below:

Congratulations to all our girls and boys volleyball teams that placed 4^th and 5^th at last weekend’s ACAMIS tournament In Beijing. The students were assets to SSIS as they showed outstanding sportsmanship and leadership throughout the tournament.

Following huge success in previous rounds, SSIS students headed to Yale last week for The Tournament of Champions of World Scholars Cup (WSC). They joined hundreds of students from around the globe who come together in competition over four key events: The Scholar’s Bowl, Collaborative Writing, Scholar’s Challenge and Team Debate.

The Tournament of Champions is more than just another Global Round. Students had the chance to interact with and learn directly from Yale students and faculty. As well as taking part in the WSC competition, they could attend a special panel on college life at Yale and on how to leverage their World Scholar’s Cup experience as part of their college admissions portfolio. They had the opportunity to meet WSC keynote speakers, including a Yale University professor and come away knowing what it’s like to be a student at one of the world’s greatest universities.

This week, we celebrated “Reading is an Adventure.” This year’s theme was “Reading is an Adventure”. Thanks to the English Department and Mr Browne for an excellent celebration of literature in this week’s assembly

However, the true measure of success will be how many Senior School students, teachers and parents visit the library and read at least one book by the end of the month. Research consistently demonstrates that students who cultivate a habit of reading for pleasure experience greater happiness, improved empathy, and overall well-being. Parents continue to encourage your children to read for pleasure to yield the long term well being benefits. Every book is an excursion, an adventure abroad, or a glimpse into the future. How can one not love reading?

Read more about the Benefits of reading here

SchoolsBuddy will be open for parents to book teacher conferences from Friday 24^th November 8am to Monday 4^th December.

I look forward to seeing many of you at tomorrow’s IFB.

Mr Steven Gaynor, Senior School Principal

Dates for your Diary

Saturday 11^th November: International Family Bazaar (IFB)
Friday 17^th November: Student Council Fall Event
Friday 17^th – Sunday 19^th November: SHAS Model United Nations (MUN)
Saturday 19^th November: Shanghai Swim League Round 2
Friday 24^th November: SSIS Christmas Tree Light-up (community event)
Saturday 25^th November: G8 (IGCSE) and G10 (IBDP) Course Options Morning
Saturday 2^nd December: SAT testing
Monday 4^th – Friday 8^th December: Gratitude and Kindness Week
Wednesday 6^th December: IGCSE Awards and Recognition Ceremony
Thursday 7^th December: IGCSE Art Exhibition
Friday 8^th December: Student Council Winter Event
Saturday 9^th December: Parent Teacher Conferences (PTC)
Thursday 14^th December: Winter Evening Concert (6:30pm)
Friday 15^th December: Senior School Winter Show (afternoon)
Monday 18^tDecember to Monday 1^st January: Winter Holiday
Tuesday 2^nd January: Return to School

Student Wellbeing

Dear parents/guardians,

November marks Anti-Bullying month at SSIS so our monthly theme is ‘All for one and one for all’. We want our students to understand what inclusion is and to show courage in handling day to day matters, working with others despite differences and seizing opportunities to be the best they can be.

This is also Reading Extravaganza Week and students have participated in a host of activities to ignite a love for reading.

Coming up, we have an innovative student-led ASP by Jason Hsu Grade 12 – our Technology Scholarship winner – who is keen to spark a passion for technology with fellow students.

Do encourage your child, if this is of interest to them, to sign up for this ASP in Session 2.

Another exciting student-led activity is the One Act Festival. This is an opportunity for students to challenge themselves with drama, public speaking and entertaining an audience. Lastly, The Student Council Fall Event is next week, and we are excitedly looking forward to an evening of dress-up, fun and games.

Ms Shireen Naidoo, Senior School Assistant Principal shireen_naidoo@ssis.asia

Reminders

Student Absence, Uniform and Regular communication

If your child is absent, please email your child’s form teacher as soon as possible with a reason. It is a Shanghai Education Committee requirement for all schools to record attendance and reasons for absence.

A reminder that students should arrive at school wearing shoes and ties. Full school uniform needs to be worn throughout the school day with the exception of PE lessons. As the weather starts to cool, students should also wear their school blazer as the first outer layer of clothing.

Please email me with any questions you may have, and we can arrange a follow-up phone call or meeting through the Senior School PA, Katharine Chen.

Contact Information

Mr Steven Gaynor	Senior School Principal	steven_gaynor@ssis.asia
Ms Katharine Chen	PA to Senior School Principal	katharine_chen@ssis.asia

Yours sincerely,

SSIS Senior School