Primary School News

T2W1 — 29 Nov 2024

Dear SSIS Parents,  

November has been a month full of exciting activities and community-building at SSIS. From school-wide events to enriching cultural experiences, our students have had numerous opportunities to grow, connect, and showcase their talents. 

Key Dates: 

• Nov 30 – Parent Teacher Conferences
• Dec 5 – Winter Magic (15:45-18:30), no ASP, Open to Public
• Dec 6 – Annual Golf Invitational
• Dec 11-13: Lunchtime Santa’s Workshop  
• Dec 13 – House Shirt Day & PEP: Christmas themed Parent Art Workshop, Sign up
• Dec 18 – Winter Variety Show & Last Day before Winter Break (Half-day)
• Dec 19 to Jan 1 – Winter Break Begins (School Closed)
• Jan 2 – Return to School 

Student Council Updates 

Our Student Council has been actively meeting and working on initiatives to enhance student life and foster a positive school environment. In addition to organizing engaging activities, they are preparing for an exciting upcoming event: the election for Student Council President. This voting process will give students an opportunity to exercise their voice in school leadership and strengthen their sense of responsibility and community across all grade levels. A big thank you to Ms. Avie for her dedication in supporting our Student Council. 

Sports Day Highlights 

November also saw the excitement of Sports Day, where students and families enjoyed a day full of athletic spirit and friendly competition. Congratulations to Sapphire House, the winning house for Grades 1-2, and Ruby House, which claimed victory for Grades 2-6. In addition, parents won the lower grades relay, while teachers triumphed over parents in the upper grades relay. A special thank you to our athletics department for their hard work in organizing such a successful event, and to our teachers, volunteers and parents for their invaluable support and enthusiasm throughout the day. 

Girls’ Soccer Achievements 

Our girls’ soccer team, led by Coach Martin and Coach Cian, had an outstanding month of training and competition. The team recently participated in a match at Shanghai Community International School for CISSA Juniors, where they drew 1:1. Impressively, our girls’ team, composed of students from Grades 3 to 6, competed against teams made up entirely of Grade 6 players, showcasing resilience and determination. We look forward to more exciting matches as the season progresses. Thank you to Mr. Martin and Coach Cian for their inspiring leadership and support of our young athletes. Congratulations to the team on their achievement.

Cool Korean–Kids 

The Cool Korean Kids recently gathered for a special lunch, diving into Korean culinary traditions. Together, they prepared a range of Korean dishes, including gimbap (a roll similar to sushi), grilled rice noodle skewers, and comforting Korean ramen noodles in broth. This hands-on activity provided an opportunity for cultural sharing and team building, allowing students to practice cooking skills and deepen their appreciation for Korean cuisine. They are planning to showcase these menus to the Grades 4 to 6 students in the upcoming months. Recently, they also participated in the Korean Letter Writing Competition as a group to represent SSIS. Special thanks to Ms. Jae and Mr. Kwak for their guidance and support in making this event meaningful for our students.  

International Family Bazaar 

Our annual International Family Bazaar was a fantastic success, thanks to the dedication of the Parent Support Group and the enthusiastic involvement of teachers who led various games and craft booths. Students and families enjoyed browsing a vibrant array of community vendor stalls and sampling diverse cuisines. The highlight was seeing our primary students explore booths created by senior school students and sharing their musical and dance talents on stage, creating unforgettable memories and strengthening our school spirit. 

Reading Extravaganza Week 

Reading Extravaganza Week was filled with literacy-focused fun! Primary students engaged in a variety of exciting activities, including a character parade where they dressed as their favorite book characters, a poetry gallery showcasing student-written poetry, and a book-tasting activity that allowed them to explore new genres and stories. On Pajama Day, senior students joined in the festivities by reading to primary students, fostering cross-grade bonding and a shared love of literature. During the Reading Extravaganza Assembly, we celebrated the winners of the poetry contest, recognizing their creativity and passion for writing. 

A heartfelt thank you to Nalaysha Jenkins, Head of the English Department, and Jason Brown, School Librarian, for their dedicated planning efforts that made this week such a success. It was a fantastic week that encouraged students to dive deeper into the world of reading. 

Exciting Times for Sports

Our Sabres athletes have been busy this term, and the energy and enthusiasm across our teams are incredible to see! 

In SABRES CISSA Football, our focus has been on building teamwork, skill, and sportsmanship. We currently have five teams representing us: Boys and Girls C1 (selective and competitive), Boys C2 (a participation-based team open to everyone), and Boys and Girls Junior teams (Grade 5 and 6, with selected Grade 3 and 4 students). The season has brought some great results, along with valuable lessons, and most importantly, lots of smiles on the faces of our young athletes. 

Beyond CISSA, we’ve also taken our U9 and U11 teams to tournaments at Wellington College Pudong and Dulwich College Suzhou. These events were wonderfully supported by our parent community and provided fantastic opportunities for our students to compete and have fun on a Saturday. We look forward to offering more of these experiences in the future. 

A new initiative this season is the SABRES multi-sport kit, which allows students to represent our school in style across all CISSA sports. These kits have been a huge hit, and we’ve just closed the shop on the second round of orders. For those who missed out, don’t worry—there will be another chance to purchase in the future. 

To further enhance communication, we’ve introduced Activities WeCom groups. These groups provide a more streamlined and timely way for parents and the Activities Department to connect. Whether it’s about fixtures, updates, or important reminders, we’re committed to keeping everyone informed and engaged. 

Finally, as part of the broader Activities Department initiatives, we’ve embraced the ‘Sweep the Sheds’ philosophy inspired by the New Zealand All Blacks. This value system emphasizes humility, hard work, and shared responsibility, and it’s something we’re proud to instill in all our Sabres athletes. To learn more about ‘Sweep the Sheds,’ you can watch this inspiring video: Sweep the Sheds. 

Thank you to our students, parents, and Sabres Crew for their unwavering support. We’re excited for what’s ahead! Go Sabres! 

Daniel INNS, Director of Sports and Activities 

Chinese Programme News 

Invitation to the 4th Global Chinese Writing Competition for Young Writers 

The 4th Global Chinese Writing Competition for Young Writers is coming. SSIS had excellent achievements in the prior two competitions and its Chinese department will keep organizing this one and guiding students interested in it. The competition, jointly organized by two associations, aims to be a significant event to showcase young learners’ talent and passion for Chinese writing.

Competition Themes: 

This year the competition is focusing on 24 solar terms +illustration. The students can create an illustration that represents the 24 solar terms. 二十四节气 is a fantastic way to showcase the beauty and significance of Chinese culture and its connection to nature. We will encourage students who are interested in painting to join this competition.  

Award Ceremony: December 2024 

Chen Yue Lin, Director of Chinese (Language) and Culture