Dear Parents,
I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to you as we begin the 2025-2026 academic year at XLIS! Whether you are returning to our community or joining us for the first time, we are thrilled to have you with us.
For the 2025-2026 Academic Year, we are proud to welcome 686 students from 48 countries and regions. This year, we have opened 43 classes, 22 in Primary and 21 in Secondary.
Our Key Focus: Reading
This year, we are placing special emphasis on reading as a cornerstone of student learning and as a direct pathway to achieving Goal One—making every teacher is a language teacher as well as supporting students to develop their competencies in XLIS’s language of instruction. Strong reading habits build vocabulary, deepen comprehension, and strengthen communication skills, all of which are essential for mastering the language of instruction. They also enrich students’ knowledge, enhance academic performance in all subjects, and inspire curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. I invite every parent to join us in building a reading culture, reading with your children, discussing books together, and modeling the joy of reading at home.
Preparing for the Year Ahead
Before the school year began, our senior leadership team, new teachers, and staff participated in a comprehensive two-week orientation. The program covered XLIS’s mission and vision, education- related laws and regulations, school policies, homeroom teacher’s responsibility, child protection, reading strategies, teaching planning, approaches to teaching, assessment and data analysis, gap analysis, and sharing of best practices. As of now, XLIS has 96 Chinese and foreign teachers from over 20 countries and regions. Please follow the link to view the updated information.
https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/oISTgjGu2xKIzbKtKEeRVg
To better support our children’s education, I encourage every parent and community member to review our key school policies: the Child Protection Policy, Restorative Practices Policy, Academic Integrity Policy, and the Parents and Caregivers Code of Conduct. These are outlined in the parent and student handbooks, which were emailed to you by our PR Department on August 11th, 2025. If you have not yet reviewed them, please use the attached QR code for quick access.
Upcoming Event
Meet the Teacher Night–August 29th
I am excited to invite you to Meet the Teacher Night on August 29th. Meet your child’s homeroom and subject teachers, learn about their daily routines, and gain an overview of the year’s curriculum. To strengthen our parent-school partnership, I strongly encourage you to attend in person rather than sending a representative in your place. More details will be shared by our academic team.
XLIS Dragon Cave Dormitory Challenge – M3A/B August 25 to September 5
The XLIS Dragon Cave Dormitory Challenge is a unique residential initiative designed to provide our MYP2 and MYP3 students with an opportunity to further develop their self-management and essential life skills, thereby encouraging greater independence. This initiative has also been reviewed and strongly supported by our PTA, reflecting our shared commitment to fostering students’ personal growth.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this program, please feel free to contact Ms. Lu Liu, the Dormitory Coordinator, at lu.liu@xalis.com
Staying Connected
You can expect regular updates from our senior leadership team:
- First Tuesday of each month: Email from me, Dr. Lily Liu, Head of School
- Second & Fourth Tuesdays: Emails from Ms. Marly Song (Primary Principal) and Mr. Shameek Ghosh (Secondary Principal)
- Third Tuesday: Email from Mr. Brian Lalor, Deputy Head of School
These communications will highlight key events, student achievements, and practical tips for supporting your child’s learning this year. You will also receive reading recommendations tailored to different age groups.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s education, please don’t hesitate to reach out to my secretary, Ms. Amy Li, at amy.li@xalis.com, to schedule a meeting with our SLT member. I am always available to collaborate with you to ensure your child’s success.
Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success. — Henry Ford
Sincerely,
Lily Liu
Head of XLIS
Email: lily.liu@xalis.com
WeChat: lily6_sunshine
August 19th, 2025
