Dr. Lily Liu – Head of School
Introducing Our Senior Leadership Team
XLIS offers the IB-Primary Years Programme, IB-Middle Years Programme the Diploma Programme continuum from kindergarten to high school. XLIS is the only SAT and AP test center authorized by the American College Board in the northwestern region of China.
Welcome to Xi’an Liangjiatan International School (XLIS), and thank you for your interest in one of the most attractive and ambitious schools in Xi’an.
At XLIS, our emphasis is on life-long learning. We endeavor to build a world-class school with an international perspective. We understand that in order to achieve success, students have to be committed to learning. We aim not only for the highest standards in everything we do, but also for the school to serve the global community. This begins with a highly engaging educational program that focuses on developing the academic, social, and emotional capabilities of each child.
Xi’an Liangjiatan was named after the Horse Pasture of the Great General-Mr. Liang Huafeng, from the Qing Dynasty, which is nestled between the iconic Qingling Mountain range and the Historic Feng River’ iconic scenery. As the most influential international community in Xi’an, we proudly share our vision which is “to lead education through innovation and a student-centered, community-driven approach”. We believe that with the strong support of Shaanxi Province, Xi’an City government and Xi’an High-Tech Industrial Development Zone, Xi’an Liangjiatan International School will achieve greater development and success.
We are grateful to have each member joining XLIS family，I hope that every member of XLIS community will be a cross-culture communicator and be open to the voice of all the students, parents and faculty members to promote the ongoing growth of the Xi’an Liangjiatan International Education Community as a diverse, inclusive and lifelong learning community.and let’s join hands together to depict the greater blueprint of XLIS, to make 2023-2024 another fantastic academic year and to change life through education.
Lily Liu
Head of School
Mr. Brian Lalor – Deputy Head of School
Welcome to Xi’an Liangjiatan International School, where our mission is to enable confident, open-minded, global citizens, through life-long learning and a sense of community.
My name is Brian Lalor and I currently serve as the Deputy Head of School. I have worked in teaching roles as well as a curriculum coordinator and principal. I came to the school in 2014 with a two-year-old and a one-month-old baby. I now have three daughters in the school, with one of them transitioning into middle school this year. I work for the IBO in the role of Evaluation and Program leader, where I support the development of schools in our region. I also volunteer regularly for ACS WASC in a similar role.
A lot has happened in the XLIS journey over the past years, but perhaps the most notable event for me was the school becoming fully accredited by The Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Through this process the school was able to gather input from parents, students, staffand our governing body. This community agency led us to develop our four schoolwide goals. These are the four goals we will be working on over the next five years.
XLIS Schoolwide Goals
Goal 1: Supporting students to develop their competencies in XLIS language of instruction.
Goal 2: Vertical articulation – Align curriculum between PYP, MYP & DP to ensure smooth transitions of students between the programs.
Goal 3: Implement self-study recommendations to create a cohesive organization.
Goal 4: To increase communication between parents and the school. To gradually work with our PTA to develop stronger community partnerships.
I greatly appreciated being part of the process to listen to various stakeholders, analyze student data and consider our demographics in developing these four goals. We have made much progress on these goals this year and have a plan in place to achieve them systematically in the coming years. Goals 2 and 3 have us focused on creating one cohesive learning experience as students go through our school. One area in particular is the major transition students experience as they move from PYP to MYP. Students move from having one homeroom teacher and four single subject teachers to having eight single subject teachers. Through a new homeroom system which we are developing, we are planning to improve this transition. Also, by aligning the curriculum much more closely, students will experience a seamless transition.
Finally, there are just two things I am focused on and they are the following. I desire for every child in our school to have their social-emotional needs meet, by being in a safe and supportiveenvironment. I also desire that every child will achieve his or her full academic potential while with us.
Brian Lalor
Deputy Head of School
Ms. Jaimala Quinlan – Secondary Principal
Welcome to the new academic year, 2023-2024. The past year was a very busy year for the Secondary Department when we introduced a few activities and events that proved to be very successful.
Our DP results were the highlight of the year, with a 100% pass rate for our students-a big thank you to all the teachers who have been working tirelessly to ensure the success of our students. This year we have another new DP 1 cohort, and we hope they will make the best of all the opportunities to perform to their full potential.
Good teaching is at the heart of a great school, and our teachers are dedicated to developing our students’ academic skills. Learning at XLIS is student-centred, with the teacher as a facilitator to create a conducive learning environment. We have introduced several events this year to enhance the academic rigour at XLIS. Years 1 and 2 of the MYP engaged in project-based learning, and they showed the ability to think out of the box and make connections between their subjects when completing their projects. The MYP3 students started the Community project, which the IB recognizes as the culminating project for the MYP3 students. This was a first for the M3 students and a significant learning curve for them. The high school focused on preparing for exams in May. MYP4 completed end-of-the-year exams to get them used to applying knowledge within a limited time.MYP5 undertook their Personal Project and sat for the IB e-assessments. The aim is to prepare the students for the rigour of the Diploma Programme. Our DP cohort 2024will continue putting effort into meeting the deadlines for the EE and all the Internal assessments.
We at XLIS believe that our students should find the right balance between academics and activities. We will continue with our sporting events and Week Without Walls. This year the Middle School (Yrs 1-3) had their trips for WWW in April and the High school in June. This year, we also added the Science Fair, which took place in March. This event has been in great demand, and it was a great success and great to see what our young scientists can come up with. Another exciting event was the Work experience week for the MYP 5 students, which we believe will help them decide on their future careers. Students came back from this week excited about the experience, and they shared helpful feedback during their assembly. Our academic year will start with an exciting event for our DP students- a retreat at a school in Malaysia. This is a unique opportunity for our students, and we know they will make the most of this trip and come back energized for this academic year.
This academic year will be another busy year for us at XLIS- with Covid over, we want to give our students the opportunity to experience school in all different ways, and we look forward to another exciting year.
Jaimala Quinlan
Secondary Principal
Ms. Marly Song – Primary Principal
Dear XLIS Community,
Welcome to the 2023 – 2024 academic year at XLIS! We have much to look forward to in this upcoming year, as we strive to work towards our mission of enabling confident, open-minded global citizens through lifelong learning and a sense of community.
We continue to have many wonderful initiatives that have been growing and developing over the years, such as the International Day of Peace, our ECA program, Student Council, Mathematics competitions, and our swimming and athletics programs, to name a few. This year will be no different as we look to continue with the traditions we have started while adding elements for improvement and advancement. As a growing community, we celebrate our diversity and encourage our students, teachers, and parents to get involved in the development of our school culture.
We can consider this year as being a ‘fresh start’, as we have all come to the other side of the pandemic era where we can commit to working towards our goals without the worry of interruption. As a member of the XLIS community, you will hear us continuously reference our 4 Schoolwide Goals – to strengthen student outcomes in the XLIS language of instruction (English), to vertically weave together our three programmes in a holistic way so our students have seamless transitions as they move through our programmes from Early Years to the Diploma Programme, to strengthen collaboration between all departments within the school, and finally to continue building a culture of communication between parents and the school. Several strategies are being used to help us achieve these goals such as more time built into the teacher’s calendar to allow for professional development and team collaboration, promoting the use of English in classrooms, collecting and analyzing student data, and ensuring we are offering a rigorous academic program that challenges our students, allows them to find their talents, and enables them to become confident open-minded global citizens. Together, we will work towards achieving the mission of XLIS!
I look forward to working with all of our XLIS community to make the 2023 – 2024 school year productive, enjoyable and memorable!
Marly Song
Primary Principal
Ms. Echo Zhao – Head of Brand Development
Dear Members of the XLIS community,
Welcome to the start of a new academic year at our esteemed school! We are thrilled to have you as part of our dedicated team, and we extend a warm welcome to all our new staff members.
As an international school, we pride ourselves on fostering an environment that embraces diversity and promotes global citizenship.Each staff member plays a vital role in shaping the minds and futures of our students, and we are grateful for your commitment to this noble cause.
Since XLIS was accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) in 2022, we have embarked on a new journey at XLIS.This year’s critical focus areas continue to be the development of family-school communication. We will share international school best practices, curriculum development, and parenting education across the community through our BDT promotion media and events, keeping hundreds of parents and educators engaged and working together regularly.
Family education and school education are both indispensable in children’s growth. We organized all these events to ensure that families and our school can cooperate and collaborate effectively to promote students’ healthy and happy growth. This year, we will continuously listen to parents’ voices and give timely feedback on their needs so that we can take everything parents care about seriously. Parents and the school will jointly agree upon every major decision while focusing on a student-centred approach.
Working in an international school can be challenging, as it involves adapting to different languages, customs, and educational systems. However, we are confident that your expertise, passion, and resilience will enable you to excel in your roles. Remember that you are not alone in this journey – our supportive community is here to help you every step of the way.
As we embark on this new academic year, let us embrace the opportunities and challenges. Let us inspire and empower our students to become compassionate global citizens who positively impact the world. Let us foster a sense of belonging and inclusivity among our staff and students. Furthermore, above all, let us strive for excellence in everything we do.
Once again, welcome to the new academic year at XLIS. We are confident that, together, we can change life through education.
Echo Zhao
Head of Brand Development
Mr. Alex Rambaud – Head of Whole School Cultural Activities & Dormitory
Dear XLIS Community,
Welcome to the 2023-2024 Academic Year, at XLIS! The XLIS Staff Handbook and its carefully compiled contents are an excellent guide for all members of the school’s academic and administrative bodies. I warmly invite you to find out more about our “Whole School Support Team” and to reach out whenever our assistance is needed.
Our team of specialists oversee the design and implementation of the XLIS Extra Curricular Activities (ECA), the XLIS Library, the Aquatic Facilities, the XLIS Dormitory, our organization’s Social and Emotional Counseling Services, and all our “School Wide”, community-driven events.
Finally, please do not hesitate to contact me at alex.rambaud@xalis.com if you would like to find out more about our services.
I look forward to supporting you and working together toward achieving our school’s mission and vision during what promises to be another year of growth and accomplishments at XLIS!
Mr. Alex Rambaud
Director of Whole School Cultural Activities & Dormitory
Mr. Kriss Parker- Head of Logistics
Dear XLIS Member,
On behalf of the logistics department, I’d like to welcome you to Xi’an Liangjiatan International School. My name is Kriss, and I’m the head of logistics here at XLIS. Our mission is to educate and develop students to become confident, open-minded global citizens, in a safe and positive learning environment.
The 2023-2024 school year promises to bring many changes as a school, with new members joining our senior leadership and senior management teams, the logistics department is looking forward to working alongside you as we strive to provide our school and students with the best educational environment, ensuring stu dents reach their full potential.
As the head of logistics my responsibilities are to support the effective running of our school campus, ensure the health and safety of all staff and students, and provide leadership and support to our resource and IT departments, and the schools health centre.
Whether you’re returning to XLIS this year, or transitioning into a new role, the logistics department at XLIS is here to support you. It is a privilege to work alongside so many dedicated educators who have joined XLIS is achieving its vision and mission, and we look forward to working with you.
Regards,
Kriss Parker
Head of Logistics
Ms.Maria Zialcita – Head of All Staff Well-being & PYP Coordinator
It is with great pleasure to welcome you to XLIS!
Well-being at XLIS is developing and driven by our sense of community and teamwork. We are fortunate to have a diverse community of staff and students from various cultural and linguistic backgrounds. We strive to create a culture where diversity is shared and celebrated, promoting a sense of belonging.
Our well-being program is guided by the five ways to well-being:
• A Diet of Learning – Trying new things and challenging yourself
• Giving – Volunteering and doing something nice for others
• Taking Notice – Being aware of the world around you and reflecting on your experiences
• Connecting – Making time for relationships with friends, family, and colleagues and elsewhere within the community
• Being Active – Exercising and physical activity
In its first year, the Well-being, in partnership with our HR department, under Ms. Kathy Wei’s leadership, has organized events such as Teacher’s Day, MOVEMBER, Baby Shower, and Women’s Day. In addition, we supported events initiated by our staff, such as Family Triathlon, Football, Tennis, and use of facilities such as swimming pool. We also partnered with our whole school counsellor in sending a weekly newsletter for helpful tips and quotes related to mental health, coping strategies, and developing social, emotional, and personal skills.
We encourage our community to contribute and share their passion for advocating the value of keeping a balanced lifestyle and staying healthy. I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who contributed and helped us create programs that will become an exciting part of XLIS culture!
As I mentioned previously, everyone is on my team! If you have any suggestions, we want to hear your voice. Please do not hesitate to reach out. My email: wellbeing@xalis.com
I wish you all a healthy and safe year!
Maria Zialcita
Head of All Staff Well-being & PYP Coordinator
