Dear XLIS Parents and Guardians,
As the warm year-end sun bathes our campus, the joy of Christmas and the New Year quietly unfolds. At this special moment, as Head of School, I am delighted to reflect on the growth and heartfelt moments of 2025 with you, and to share our aspirations and journey ahead—for behind every achievement lies your trust, and every step forward requires your companionship.
2025’s Glory and Home-School Synergy!
2025 has been a year of “breakthroughs” and “harvests” for XLIS. This year, we achieved a milestone: our student body officially surpassed 700, making us Xi’an’s largest non-profit international school. Beyond the numbers lies your recognition of our educational philosophy and, more importantly, our students’ love for campus life. Meanwhile, we retained our top spot in the 2024 Hurun International School Rankings for Central and Western China, with our IBDP pass rate consistently ranking among the global leaders. Many students claimed awards in international academic competitions and art exhibitions; most excitingly, the Class of 2026 has already received offers from top universities in the US, Canada, the UK, etc. These accomplishments are not the work of the school alone, but the result of the harmonious resonance between families and the school. It is your patient listening at parent-teacher conferences, your companionship and guidance on your kid’s daily reading, and your active participation in school events that have given our students a solid foundation for growth. Here, I want to sincerely say: Thank you, every parent walking alongside XLIS!
Uniting Educational Strengths Amid Challenges.
The global international education landscape is currently facing multiple trials: declining birth rates have intensified student recruitment competition, and geopolitical shifts have impacted the flow of global educational resources — Principals from private schools in North America and Europe frequently visit China to recruit students, and recently, private schools from Thailand and Singapore have also made special trips to Xi’an for recruitment. The “global race for students” is clearly underway. The international education market in first-tier cities has long been a “war without smoke,” and the bottleneck of insufficient international student enrollment in second-tier cities urgently needs to be broken.
Yet challenges are never a reason to retreat, but an opportunity to unite. Just like our annual “Chang’an Cup” Basketball Tournament, where students from various schools compete fiercely on the court yet embrace and share experiences after the game — this is the power of “symbiosis” that XLIS has always believed in. Martin Seligman, the father of positive psychology, once said: “True resilience stems from the connection between individuals and the collective, from a community that supports one another.” In the face of difficulties, we have chosen not to fight alone: on one hand, we have collaborated with multiple international schools from other regions to facilitate the flow of resources; on the other hand, we need to stand side by side with parents—your understanding of the school, your support for teachers’ work, and your tolerance for your children are the confidence that fuels our breakthroughs. For we deeply understand that education is never a “solo performance by the school,” but a “chorus of the entire community.” Let us work together to create a miracle of international education for this ancient city.
Welcoming Principal Gill Presland to the XLIS Family in 2026!
This year, we are also thrilled to welcome an important new member—our new Secondary School Principal, Gillian Presland (Ms. Presland). As a seasoned educator with 33 years of teaching experience and 25 years in international education, Principal Gill’s resume is filled with “professionalism” and “warmth”: she has held leadership positions in international schools across Australia, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, and other countries, focusing on “student growth” and “curriculum optimization” in every role; she also has 6 years of experience working at the IB Global Centre in Singapore, overseeing the training and management of over 1,200 IB educators in the Asia-Pacific region and possessing a profound understanding of the full IB PYP, MYP, and DP continuum. Additionally, she holds a Master’s degree in International Education from King’s College London and has always adhered to the philosophy of “valuing both academic excellence and student well-being”—we believe that under Principal Gill’s leadership, the Secondary School will create a more in-depth and nurturing environment for our students, enabling every child to develop academically and personally in tandem.（It should be noted that another candidate we considered for hire in October chose the school of his previous employer for personal reasons.）
Cultivating Global Citizens with Professional Excellence.
As we stand at the end of 2025, our goal remains unwavering: to be not only a “large-scale” school but also a “professionally strong” school. In 2026, we will welcome the joint visiting accreditation by IB and WASC—an important assessment of our educational quality and an opportunity to move towards higher standards. Meanwhile, for our MYP students, we are designing a series of “progressive challenges”: adding top international academic programs, expanding career exploration opportunities, and launching residential challenge courses, allowing students to “learn by doing” and develop problem-solving skills through challenges.
For XLIS’s vision has never been to “only cultivate academically outstanding students,” but to “nurture responsible global citizens”—we hope our students will not only master knowledge but also possess a vision to “see the world and care for others,” and a character to “face difficulties with courage and responsibility.” The realization of this vision cannot be achieved without the strong support of the entire community: when you participate in school charity activities with your children, cheer for sports events, pass on the values of “inclusiveness and respect” in family education, support your children in improving their English reading skills step by step, communicate timely with teachers about your children’s growth challenges, and help them resolve social worries—you are contributing to this vision. I firmly believe that as long as we work together, we will enable every child to become a “compassionate, resilient, and responsible individual,” and ensure that every community member is proud to say “I am part of XLIS.”
Year-End Wishes: Celebrating a Peaceful and Joyful Holiday
Finally, as Christmas and YuanDan festival approach, on behalf of the school, I extend my most sincere wishes to every family: may you and your loved ones enjoy the warmth of reunion and moments of relaxation during the two-week holiday; may our students recharge their energy through rest and feel happiness through companionship. I eagerly look forward to our Christmas Concert this Saturday—let us share joy through beautiful melodies.
In 2026, let us continue to uphold the original aspiration of “educators” and the sincerity of “fellow travelers” as we accompany our children on every step of their growth journey.
Wishing you:
A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Lily Liu
Head of XLIS
Email: lily.liu@xalis.com
December 9th, 2025
