With the aim of helping children and parents settle successfully into the school year, YCIS Shanghai hosts a series of Parent Information Sessions for the different levels of the school. These Parent Information evenings provide pertinent information regarding the school year ahead, and they are always well attended. The structure of each session is customised to each section of the school, and plenty of time is built into the schedule to allow for questions and discussion from the parents.

Kindergarten

The Parent Information Night for parents of the school’s youngest children – those in Early Childhood Education (ECE) – focuses on two main topics.

First, the evening allows parents to spend time in the classroom to understand the wonderful things that take place there. The session also covers a range of topics, including updates regarding how well the children have settled in, a self- introduction by their child’s Co-Teachers, and the ways parents are regularly able to communicate with teachers and staff.

Second, the evening serves to provide parents with an understanding of the learning that takes place in the classroom, and the differences between each year levels. Additionally, parents receive guidance on how to support their children at home. The information session is scheduled two weeks into the school year, allowing families time to develop their questions based on the first weeks of school.

"Since we look at the individual children, and how each class interacts as a group, every year is slightly different, which is why we encourage all families, even returning families, to attend. By attending, parents gain an understanding of what their child will do this year and where their educational journey will take them," said Ms Veronica Martin, an ECE Co-ordinator at YCIS Shanghai.

Primary

The purpose of the Information Night in Primary is to help give parents the opportunity to meet their child’s Co-Teachers and to learn about the curriculum, instruction, assessment, and day-to-day life in the classroom. Parents visit their child’s classroom, where Co-Teachers give a presentation on important information, providing details about the English and Chinese curriculum, course topics, the types of learning that take place, how classes are taught, homework, parent involvement, the class newsletter, and how to use the Parent Online resource in order to keep connected. Parents also have the opportunity to meet their child’s Specialist Teachers, and to get to know other families in the YCIS community.

Ms Mindy Willis, a Primary Curriculum Co-ordinator, notes the importance of the session, saying “The home-school partnership is very important to us. We appreciate the excellent attendance we get at these events, as it gives our staff the opportunity to introduce themselves, to get to know the children’s parents, and to share the exciting things happening in our classrooms.”

Secondary

Similar to the ECE and Primary sections, Secondary parents learn about the curriculum and school policies, and are provided with an overview of the YCIS educational philosophy. At Gubei Campus, Co-Principals Dr Richard Swann and Ms Vicki He also introduced parents to what is to be expected in the IGCSE and IB programmes, and discussed additional resources available to families, including the University Guidance Counselor team.

Following the very helpful Parent Information Sessions, families are prepared for and excited about another great year at YCIS. This school year will also see the celebration of YCIS Shanghai’s 20th anniversary, a testament to the school’s long-standing success in delivering excellence in education.