Dear Parents,
Happy new year and welcome to 2021 - let’s hope it is a better year than last! We have seen snow this week in Chengdu, and although the weather is set to become even colder over the weekend, perhaps this is a positive start to the year. It has certainly been positive in school, with many of my colleagues saying how well the students have started back after the holiday, with none of the usual settling in period required. Everyone is glad to be back in class.
Year 6 presented their assembly today about what they had learned in 2020 and what their resolutions are for this year, and interviewed me as part of this. Many of their suggestions mirrored my own, in recognising the need to be flexible and adaptable, the need to listen and to focus more, and the need to pay attention to personal wellbeing and mindfulness. As a result, we are moving ahead with our plans to improve our Primary curriculum, with Drama lessons being offered in Years 1 to 6 starting next week. The skills learned in drama boost confidence, develop language and assist in so many areas of life, we are very excited than our Primary children now have this opportunity. We are also going to increase the number of PHE lessons for our Primary students, starting after CNY when the weather starts to improve. We want to increase physical activity and development, not only as we recognise that 2020 saw many children indoors for long periods of time, but also as we become more aware of the need to keep healthy in mind and body to encourage resilience, determination and of course fitness. Later this month as well we plan to officially open our newly renovated football pitch and athletic track, which we are equally very excited about.
Next week our Secondary students will be participating in a kindness week. In assembly we will encourage everyone to perform acts of kindness in our school. In addition our IB Diploma students start their mock exams, and we wish them luck. We know that the interruption of last year has resulted in the need for greater focus and engagement with their learning, and the students have coped with this admirably.
It has been a busy week, yet enjoyable as always.
We are delighted to introduce Mr. Paul Highdale to his new role as Head of Secondary.
Paul has over 20 years of teaching and leadership experience in both UK and International schools. Paul will move into his new role from the 1st of August and comes with a breadth of experience in implementing and launching both the IB Diploma and Middle Years Programme's.
We are thrilled to introduce our new principal, Mrs Tracy Connor who will move into her new role on the 1st August. With over 20 years of teaching and international leadership experience and a proven track record in leading change, we are very excited to welcome Tracy into her new role.
