New Parent Orientation

August 21, 2013

Agenda History Curriculum Units of Inquiry Literacy Support IT Support ELL Support Counseling Library Services Health Services Food Services PE Kits

History

XIS was the first international school in Fujian Province in 1997 to be authorized by the Ministry of Education to accept expatriate students. XIS is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), California and by IBO.

Communication

School website Principal’s message Grade level and teacher sites Student handbook/emails School wide emails Emergency SMS

Essential that we have your correct numbers!

Curriculum

XIS previously used the Washington State standards but has moved this year to using the Ontario Standards of Canada due to it’s strong compatibility with the IB program.

Curriculum teams are currently writing documents for each subject area and hope to completes these documents this school year.

IB Primary Years Program Student learning is best done when it

is authentic—relevant to the “real” world; and transdisciplinary—where the learning is not confined within the boundaries of traditional subject areas but is supported and enriched by them. It is a programme that each student will engage with in ways that are developmentally appropriate and it is intended that schools will implement the programme in an inclusive manner.

5 Essential Elements

Knowledge Skills (Approaches to Learning) Attitudes Concepts (Approaches to Teaching) Action

Video

Knowledge- 6 Themes form the Units of Inquiry (UOI)

Who We Are Where We Are In Place and Time Sharing the Planet How We Express Ourselves How the World Works How We organize Ourselves

Learner Profile Thinker Caring Principled Communicator Reflective Inquirer Courageous (Risk-taker) Balanced Open-Minded Knowledgeable

Literacy Support Coach- Deborah Castle

Daily 5/CAFÉ Word s Their Way 6+1 Traits of Writing Writing Process

Integrated with grade level UOIs

Math- Everyday Math

Text- oriented Homework links Mathletics website

ELL Support- ELL Team

One teacher per grade level Push in support Co-planning, co-teaching Language proficiency continuum

IT Support

IT Coordinator IT Integrator for Elementary teachers Students learn 21st Century skills BYOD for gr. 4-5 IPad integration IT Integrated into all subject areas

Counseling- Heather Cronk

Counseling services and referrals Third Culture Kids Transitions- “Entry Stage” to

“Reinvolvement Stage” Find a mentor Be aware of Culture Shock Communicate

TRANSITION MODEL-IN ALL TRANSITIONS, WE GAIN AS

WELL AS LOSE

Settled- belong, close relationships Leaving- separation, loss Moving- Chaos, confusion New place- anxiety, unknown,

introductions Settled- belong, close relationships

Culture Shock

Culture shock is the personal disorientation a person may feel when experiencing an unfamiliar way of life due to immigration or a visit to a new country

One of the most common causes of culture shock involves individuals in a foreign environment

4distinct phases: Honeymoon, Negotiation, Adjustment, and Mastery

4 F’s- Fun, Flight, Fight, Fit

Unpack Your Bags and Plant Your Trees…..

“Ruth, wherever you go in life, unpack your bags- physically and mentally- and plant your trees. Too many people never live in the the now because they assume the time is too short to settle in. They don’t plant trees because they expect to be gone before the tree bears fruit. But if you keep thinking about your next move, you’ll never live fully where you are. When it’s time to go, then it’s time to go, but you won’t have missed what this experience was all about. If you never eat from the trees someone else will.” And he followed his OWN advice by planting trees all around their home in Kano, Nigeria. After 12 years, Ruth returned to her village and ate an orange off of one of his tress and she knew that her dad was right!

Library Services- Mr. Mann

“Librarymann” to all the students

PreK to Gr.5 have weekly lessons, story and book check out

Parents can check out books as well

Library Services

xiamen.follettdestiny.com

Select books by Key wordPreselect Interest Level

Student may pick up books next day

Visit the Library to find further assistance

Friends of the Library

We invite your help to improve the facilities and resources of the Library

Reading GardenDisplaysFurnitureand more …

librarymann@gmail.com

Health Services

2 local nurses Access to a doctor at Ying Cai Medication to be left with Nurses Immunizations need to be up to date

and current emails and phone numbers are essential

Food Services

Jaili Food Services 600 rmb, 20 rmb deposit Students need to bring own snacks

and have the option to bring their own lunch.

XIS promotes the idea of healthy snacks for Elementary students.

PE Kits

Samples Not mandatory yet Shorts, T-shirt, and running shoes swimsuit, goggles, swim cap

Questions / Clarifications?