Dear Parents ,
Good morning and welcome to Semester 2 of the 2025_2026 academic year! We are excited to begin this new semester as we also enter into the Year of the Horse! This is the year of the “Fire Horse” and is a rare occurrence in the Chinese calendar. From what I have read, it is supposed to be a year of optimism and opportunity. I believe this aligns well with our school vision of “leading education through innovation and a student-centered, community-driven approach”. With our IB/WASC synchronized visit on the horizon, this is the perfect time for the XLIS community to reflect on our current practices and set new goals for the future!
In today’s email, I will highlight some upcoming events and provide some information for our new families.
New Students
We are always working on our admissions and welcoming new community members to XLIS. This week, I am very excited that 5 new students have joined us in our primary school. As an inclusive school, we strive to ensure all children feel a sense of belonging, are safe, and are supported in their learning. When new students arrive at our school, we ensure they have a buddy who helps them adjust to their new school life and make friends. The students at XLIS consistently demonstrate they are caring, open-minded individuals as they welcome these new students and help them to settle in.
Some reminders for current parents and for our new parents. At XLIS, we take student safety very seriously. We have a Child Protection Policy and a committee that reviews reports of abuse or concern for our students’ welfare. While on campus, all adults in our community (parents, caregivers, grandparents, staff of the school, ECA providers, etc) must remember:
- During any event or activity at the school, only use the bathrooms that are labeled ADULT. An adult should never enter one of the student bathrooms with children. If you are unsure where the adult toilet is, please ask a staff member.
- During any activity on a normal school day (parent workshop, Open Day, classroom activity), do not take photos or videos of the students. Only pictures of our school environment are allowed. (During big school events such as assemblies, Christmas Concert, Summer Fair, etc photos and videos of your child are okay)
- No smoking anywhere on the campus grounds or inside the facility, please exit the school gate to smoke along the roadside.
- Review the Restorative Practices Policy in the handbook and trust the teachers and school staff to support children to resolve conflicts. Please do not approach another person’s child about a conflict while on campus.
Thank you for your attention to these items, as they help us ensure the safety of all of our students.
Semester One Report Cards
On January 23rd, you received your child’s Semester One Report Card through the Managebac system. I apologize that the email to notify you did not go through, but the report is accessible through your parent portal, either through the APP or on the website.
Please download this document and read it carefully. Remember, we do not give letter grades in the PYP. The 1, 2, 3 numbers you see beside the learning outcome indicate where your child is in their understanding and ability to demonstrate their learning. A ‘1’ stands for ‘emerging’, meaning he or she is just beginning to understand and needs support from the teacher. A ‘2’ stands for ‘developing’, meaning they have started to show their learning and understanding of the skill, but still may need some support at times. A ‘3’ represents ‘demonstrating’, which indicates the child has shown they understand and are able to explain or show the skill independently.
Parent Teacher Conferences
After a reporting period, we give the teacher and parent the opportunity to discuss the student’s learning and progress. Tomorrow, Wednesday, January 28th, you have a 15-minute time slot assigned to you. Please come to the school at that time and bring any questions you may have about your child’s learning. Our single-subject teachers (PSPE, Mandarin, and Visual Arts) will also be available, sitting at tables along the first-floor corridor. You may stop by or email them to set up a time. Please note that there are no classes for students on this day, and there will not be any child supervision at the school. It is best if the children are left at home or with a caregiver.
CNY celebration
Our Mandarin department has been busy preparing for our Chinese New Year celebration that will take place on February 9th and 10th, 2026. Our Primary School parents are invited to participate in this day, and you will receive an “Activities” invitation through the WeChat mini-program closer to the date to register. Each year group will have a timeslot for their activities:
Early Years
February 9 (in the students’ classrooms)
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
P1 – P6
February 10 (in the big gym):
P1–P2: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
P3–P4: 10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
P5–P6: 1:00 PM – 2:40 PM
More information will be coming soon from our Mandarin team. We are all looking forward to welcoming the Year of the Horse together!
As you know, I love to hear from our parent community, so please do send me a message or an email at any time to let me know how things are going for your child. I always tell the children, my #1 priority as the Primary Principal is to make sure our students are safe and happy. I will do everything I can to make that come true for all of our students.
Have a lovely day,
Sincerely,
Marly Song
WeChat: principal_marly
Email: marly.song@xalis.com
