Dear YCIS Community,

Thank you to everyone who joined us over the weekend for our Moon Festival celebration! It was a wonderful time together, and we appreciate your presence and support. We are also pleased to share that the 1st ECE Teacher-Parent Social was a great success. We hope to see even more families participating in upcoming events at various levels—class, grade, campus, whole school, and community-wide.

The parent-teacher partnership is vital to student success, and strengthening the home-school connection is one of our key goals for the year. Together, we can make a positive impact on our students’ learning journey. Let's continue to work together to achieve this!

We were thrilled to see so many of you at Back-to-School Night. Your presence and participation mean a lot to us. Thank you for being a part of the YCIS community! Your support is invaluable as we embark on this new school year. We’re excited to collaborate with you as we create a positive and enriching learning environment for your children. Thank you again for joining us, and we look forward to a fantastic year together.

The Moon Festival, a beautiful celebration of harvest and lunar appreciation, is a time for families and friends to gather and enjoy traditional customs. One of the most beloved traditions is the sharing of moon cakes, delectable pastries filled with sweet or savory ingredients that symbolize wholeness and reunion. Another cherished activity is lantern making, where people create colorful lanterns to illuminate the night sky. At the ECE Campus, the festive atmosphere was present as the children talked about the moon and had the opportunity to make their own moon cakes filled with red bean paste. Some also made lanterns as they talked about some of the traditions of the Moon Festival.

Over the past weeks, our K-8 students engaged deeply with the cultural traditions surrounding the Moon Festival. Through various activities and lessons, they explored the festival’s rich history and customs, gaining a deeper appreciation for its significance in Chinese culture.

A highlight of our celebration was the 3rd-grade performance of 水调歌头 (Shuǐ Diào Gē Tóu) during the Monday assembly. Students brought to life Su Shi’s famous poem, which reflects on the beauty of the moon and themes of family reunion. Their performance was a wonderful showcase of both their learning and their growing connection to this cultural tradition. It was a memorable way to celebrate the festival together as a school community!

During the recent Professional Learning Community (PLC) meeting, teachers engaged in collaborative professional development, emphasizing shared learning and instructional growth. In the Level Chinese workshop, educators analyzed assessment data to enhance student progress in reading while tailoring challenges to meet diverse learning needs.

Additionally, YCIS staff members Zhang Laoshi, Anqi Laoshi, and Mrs. Pham participated in the Pi Project’s “Lesson from Singapore” workshop, led by distinguished educators Kathleen Jalalpour and Corrinne Khoo-Lieu. Kathleen, an award-winning teacher with 40 years of experience, and Corrinne, a seasoned math coach from Singapore, introduced the Concrete-Pictorial-Abstract (CPA) approach, which reflects Singapore's emphasis on deep conceptual understanding and rigorous math instruction. The workshop highlighted the use of manipulatives, word problems, and providing students ample time to master complex concepts. This professional development opportunity strengthens YCIS’s commitment to delivering a high-quality math curriculum that nurtures strong problem-solving abilities and number sense among students.

In 5th Grade Humanities, students have been diving into the analysis of wisdom quotes. At first, they found it challenging, but with guidance from Mr. Lee, they discovered that reading comprehension is like solving a puzzle—it takes effort! It’s been exciting to witness their “aha!” moments as they unlock deeper meanings. In Social Studies, the students enjoyed a hands-on field trip to Mission Santa Cruz, where they learned about Native Americans and the arrival of European colonists. They even made adobe bricks and discovered historical artifacts! While discussing the complex history of the Spanish missions, students reflected on how history can be both inspiring and difficult to understand. A highlight was observing students from Holy Cross Catholic School, which sparked thoughtful discussions about different worldviews and the diverse backgrounds that make up American history. It’s been a fantastic learning journey so far!

In 6th/7th Grade Social Studies, students have been having a blast earning participation points each week to build their own virtual museums! These museums showcase their learning journey in a fun, interactive way. Recently, during the Mesopotamian unit, they got to add a special stelae to their collection after earning enough points—what an exciting way to make history come alive! In Math, students are mastering the art of turning word problems into algebraic models, giving them a whole new way to visualize and solve complex problems. Meanwhile, Science has been full of hands-on excitement as they explored the water cycle with a dynamic lab experiment, bringing "The Cycle: From Sky to the Land and Back Again" right into the classroom. It's been an incredible few weeks of learning!

Our kindergarteners made a special "树洞" (tree hole) where are encouraged to share their secret messages, all while learning math in a creative way by using numbers to paint self-portraits. What numbers do you spot in Yohan's self-portrait?

First graders crafted beautiful 3D "中秋节翻翻书" (Mid-Autumn Festival flip books) highlighting the festival's history, ancient poems, riddles and culture elements--all in Chinese.

Second and third graders took on a team project, building and decorating a large house together as their shared home, fostering collaboration and imagination. Can you believe they even added a mailbox, BBQ station and pets in their sweet home!

Meanwhile, our fourth and fifth graders got intentive with recycled bottles, transforming them into stunning, colorful lights.

Every day at YALP, students engage in fun and creative activities that enhance learning and teamwork! We are so proud of all they have accomplished!!

We hope you enjoyed our first PO newsletter! Your feedback is valuable to us, so please share your thoughts to help guide us as we move forward. Also please make sure to visit ycissvpo.org and stay connected with our community!

🍁Fall Break (Oct 2-4) No School & Mini Camps

🎂YCIS Founder's Day (Oct 10) More information to come

☕Coffee with the Principals ( Oct 11)

💙Family Fun Day (Oct 12, 10am-12:30pm) See Flyer for more details

"I love the way he is so present for the teachers AND the students. This is why Kevin is a Great Principal!"

"Cristy has been incredibly flexible and supportive, always stepping in to assist both teachers and students whenever needed. She truly shines as a behind-the-scenes star, making a difference in countless ways."