YCIS-SV Community Connection

Dear YCIS Community,

These past few weeks have been an important reminder that YCIS Silicon Valley is part of something much larger than our own campus. We are proud to belong to a global educational community with a shared vision, a rich history, and a deep belief in the power of education to connect people across cultures and generations.

Thank you to the more than 120 students and family members who joined us on campus for our Founder’s Day celebration. It was a joyful evening of connection as we celebrated YCIS’s history and our place within the wider YCYW community alongside fellow schools around the world.

Last weekend, we were also pleased to attend a YCYW global alumni gathering in San Francisco. It was inspiring to see our Silicon Valley alumni connect with fellow alumni from Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Chongqing. The room was filled with stories, shared memories, and opportunities to build new relationships.

Today, these alumni are pursuing their studies at universities such as Stanford and UC Berkeley, while others are contributing their talents in workplaces throughout the Bay Area. Their journeys reflect the confidence, curiosity, and cross-cultural understanding that a YCYW education seeks to nurture. At YCIS Silicon Valley, we are proud to contribute to this global legacy, preparing our students not only for future academic and professional success, but also to build meaningful relationships and make a positive difference in an increasingly connected world.

Our global connections are also enriching the learning taking place on campus this week. We are honored to welcome Dr. Lydia Chan, Deputy CEO for Higher Education at YCYW, and Ms. Josephine Lo, Creative Arts Director of the YCYW Educational Network, who are visiting from Hong Kong. We are also pleased to welcome Professor Stephanie C. Sanders-Smith from the University of Illinois and Dr. Christina Krist from Stanford University. In addition, Ms. Nicky Weir, who leads early childhood education development across YCYW, will spend three days on campus supporting our teachers’ professional learning and continued growth.

These visits provide valuable opportunities to exchange ideas, learn from one another, and strengthen the relationships that connect YCIS-SV with the wider YCYW network and educational community. If you see any of our visitors on campus, please take a moment to say hello and extend a warm YCIS-SV welcome.

Next week, we will also welcome our Superintendent, Mr. Martin Scott, to campus. We look forward to his visit and to welcoming him as part of our ongoing work together.

At YCIS-SV, our community extends far beyond our campus. It is strengthened through shared traditions, lasting relationships, the exchange of ideas, and a common commitment to helping every student reach their potential. We are grateful to be part of a global community that enriches our work and reminds us that the connections we build today can have a lasting impact for generations to come.

Warmly,

Vivian & Kevin

The children in the Bumblebee Class have been busy diving into the world of music and sound lately. Their musical journey has been full of discovery as they explore a variety of instruments, experimenting with the vibrant tones of the steel drum, the varied sounds of the keyboard, and the warm strumming of the ukulele. Adding to the excitement, the growing performers loved using a microphone to hear their own amplified voices fill the room as they sang along to their favorite songs, making for a truly engaging and joyful experience.

The State of California has set new requirements for school volunteers (Field Trip Drivers, Chaperones, etc.). You can find the new policy, requirements, and resources here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FiGaS29HvUksvx2Qg8AeVNXVqpEiPN9q/view?usp=sharing for your convenience.

TB FORMS and MANDATED REPORTER CERTIFICATES should be emailed to phoebes@sv.ycef.com for further processing.

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In our first project-based learning (PBL) unit, students are exploring the overarching concept of Relationships, discovering how connections among people, cultures, and history shape our communities. Through interviews, community connections, and learning beyond the classroom, our second and third graders are investigating different questions that help them better understand the world around them.

Grade 2 is exploring, “In what ways does learning about the people within our community develop an appreciation of diversity?” Students have been designing their dream communities and imagining the people who might live and work in them. This week, they brought fresh perspectives to their designs by interviewing teachers and students from different backgrounds at YCIS and GISSV. These conversations are helping students appreciate the people who bring communities to life and consider how to create welcoming places for everyone.

Grade 3 is investigating, “How do people use the past to guide the present?” Their field trip to the Ohlone Cultural Program brought this question to life as students explored Ohlone peoples’ relationships with the land, traditional uses of natural resources, and daily life. Learning about Ohlone cultures past and present helped students connect ancestral knowledge with traditions that continue today.

Across both grades, these experiences inspire curiosity, build respect, and deepen appreciation for the people and histories that enrich our communities.

Our 5th graders visited the de Saisset Museum for an engaging exploration of the diverse communities that have shaped American history. Through a guided tour, historical artifacts, and interactive activities, students examined how European arrival affected Native American lands, cultures, and traditions. Our students also explored the lives and lasting impact of Spanish colonists who established missions and settlements throughout California, learning about the diverse immigrant groups who came to the region and the challenges they faced. This experience helped emphasize on topics related to our class curriculum such as the development of the United States, interactions among diverse culture groups, and the ways geography, migration, and historical events have shaped our nation. By going on this field trip and considering multiple historical perspectives, the 5th graders moved beyond textbooks to develop historical thinking and a better understanding of the complexities of our shared past, which encourages critical thinking and meaningful connections between classroom learning and the world around us.

Fall fun is coming to YCIS! Students are invited to show off their creativity in our 2026 Pumpkin Decorating Contest. Pumpkins should be student-created and decorated, but not carved. Students must also be able to carry their own pumpkin on campus. Pumpkins should be brought to school and registered on the morning of Thursday, October 29. Students will vote for their favorites in two groups: Lower Grades (K–2) and Upper Grades (3–8).

Then, get ready for our annual Imagination Day Parade on Friday, October 30, from 8:30–9:00 AM! Students are invited to come dressed in a fun, creative costume and parade around our K–8 campus. For everyone's safety, please remember no costume masks, weapons, or toys. Families are welcome to join us and cheer on our students!

🏆 Pumpkin Decorating Contest winners will be announced after the parade. We can't wait to see all the creativity and imagination our students bring to campus!

Our YALP Grade 4/5 classroom has become a little art studio this month! Our students have been exploring creativity through imaginative designs and traditional crafts.

Doraemon’s Anywhere Door (哆啦A夢任意門): Students designed their own magical doors and wrote about their dreams and challenges. Ku laoshi used a fun and imaginative approach to encourage her students to express their emotions.

Autumn in Pastels: Students explored drawing objects and scenes from observation, and captured the beauty of the season in vibrant colors

The Secret Life of Leaves: Students placed real leaves beneath foil sheets to reveal their intricate vein patterns, and created beautiful 3D artwork combining science and art.

Ancient Poems in Ink: Students leaned the classical Chinese poetry 山行, and practice it through traditional brush calligraphy, connecting with Chinese cultural heritage.

Papermaking by Hand: To complete their creative journey, students made their own paper from scratch, transforming pulp into handmade sheets for their art projects.

We are so proud of our young artists and their curiosity, imagination, and enthusiasm to explore new ideas. In YALP, every project is an opportunity to learn, create, and grow.

We’re entering our open enrollment season, one of the most important times of the year for our school, and there’s no one we’d rather grow alongside than the families who already make this community so special. We are excited to launch our new Family Referral Program for the 2027–28 school year as a way to thank you for the families you send our way.

Know a family whose child would thrive here as a cross-cultural learner? Now you and the new family can both be rewarded when they enroll and list your family on their child’s application. You’ll receive a $500 tuition credit, and the new family will receive a $250 tuition credit as a welcome.

If you have a family in mind, please reach out to Alice Huang, our Head of Admission and we'll take care of everything else.

Review the program details for more information.

We are excited to offer the YCIS Silicon Valley community the opportunity to purchase our official school hoodie! Made by the same manufacturer and in the same style as those worn at our sister YCIS campuses in Hong Kong and China, these hoodies are available in Blue or Red for $38 each. Please complete the form below to select your color, size, and quantity. Use this link to order by Friday, October 23rd by 10 pm: https://ycis-sv.regfox.com/ycis-sv-202627-hoodie-order

• Pumpkin Decorating Contest (Oct 29) K-8 Families
• Imagination Day Parade (Oct 30) K-8 Families

RAISING KIDS IN A WORLD WE DIDN’T GROW UP IN

Tues, November 10: 7 - 8:15pm PST

Virtual via Zoom

Join internationally recognized author and educator Rosalind Wiseman, in conversation with Dr. Betty Noel-Pierre, the head of school at Castelleja School, for an engaging evening on the “invisible operating systems” - the patterns we all learned long ago - that shaped how we communicate with the young people in our lives. Through humor, real-world stories, and practical strategies drawn from decades of work with students, educators, and families, they will discuss how parents can turn today’s most common power struggles into moments of trust, connection and growth. Come ready to recognize your own “invisible operating system” (aka the patterns you learned long ago) and how they shape the way you talk to your kids.

Save your seat here once ticket registration opens on October 20! ( https://luma.com/zscj1287?lm_source=embed )