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YCIS-SV Community Connection

May 9th, 2025

YCIS-SV CommunityConnectionMay 9th, 2025

Happy May! This month brings with it a sense of renewal, celebration, and deep connection—reflected so clearly in the recent moments we’ve shared as a community.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for Spring Family Day! The sunshine, laughter, and BBQ created the perfect backdrop for families, students, and staff to relax, reconnect, and celebrate the vibrant spirit of our school. These moments strengthen the bonds that make YCIS truly feel like home.


We also had a wonderful time at our Middle School Potluck & Trivia Night, where families came together for an evening of food, fun, and community. A special highlight was welcoming back YCIS alumni, who shared memories and conversations with current students—reminding us that the connections formed here last well beyond graduation.

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing parents for making Teacher Appreciation Week so meaningful. Your thoughtful gestures and kind words lifted the spirits of our teachers and reminded us of the powerful partnership between school and home.

And as we head into the weekend, we want to wish all the incredible mothers in our community a Happy Mother’s Day! May your day be filled with love, appreciation, and joyful moments with those you hold dear. " I LOVE MY MOM!" BY TK STUDENTS

Early Childhood Education (ECE) Early Childhood Education (ECE)

Soap Making in Sun Class for Mother's Day

The hands of the Sun Class children stirred and swirled, the gentle scent of lavender and rose filling the air. Colorful petals, carefully plucked from the garden, were nestled into molds, soon to be suspended in creamy swirls of homemade soap. Each child poured in drops of fragrant essential oils, infusing their creations with soothing (and fruity) aromas. These budding soap makers weren't just crafting gifts; they were blending their affection and care into each bar, creating a fragrant offering that whispered of warmth and love for their mothers on their special day.

On Sunday, April 27th, Ms. Carolyn, Alice, Vivian, and Anita proudly represented YCIS Silicon Valley at the First Annual CCY/Parents Place Peninsula Preschool Fair in Palo Alto. They had the pleasure of connecting with local families and sharing the distinctive strengths of our Early Childhood Education (ECE) program—including our nurturing, inquiry-based environment and our unique Mandarin-English bilingual approach.


It was a wonderful opportunity to introduce YCIS to new families, answer thoughtful questions, and highlight the joyful, well-rounded experience our Preschool and TK students receive.


As valued members of our community, we invite you to help us spread the word! If you know families who are exploring school options for their young children, please encourage them to schedule a campus tour and discover what makes YCIS ECE and K–8 programs so special. Your recommendation can make all the difference!

Thank You!!

We are deeply touched by your incredible generosity and the heartwarming kindness you've shown us throughout Teacher Appreciation Week. Your thoughtful gifts, heartfelt notes, and expressions of gratitude have truly brightened our week and reminded us of the wonderful partnership we share in educating your children. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for making us feel so valued and appreciated.

Elementary (Kindergarten - 4th Grade) Elementary (Kindergarten - 4th Grade)

Kinder Buzz: A Visit from Sager Family Farm
This week, Kindergarten got buzzing with excitement as Ms. Jennifer from Sager Family Farm visited our class! As part of our study on “How Do Living Things Sustain Life?”, the children learned all about bees and their important role in nature. Ms. Jennifer brought beekeeping tools, bright visuals, and a live observation hive—complete with real bees! The kids were excited to watch the bees care for their young, make honey, and protect the hive.They also learned how bees work together as a team and how their role in pollination helps plants grow, sustaining life on our planet. It was a fun, hands-on experience that sparked lots of curiosity and questions from the students!

Second Graders Take Learning to the Field at Stanford
On Thursday, our second graders visited the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability as part of their unit, “What is our responsibility to our planet?” The hands-on experience gave students a chance to explore the natural world through the eyes of a geologist. They classified rocks, identified creatures living in compost-rich soil, and used minerals to create artwork. With Geology Field Books in hand, students recorded their discoveries and observations throughout the day. Guided by Stanford student volunteers, the trip sparked curiosity and helped students make meaningful connections between Earth science and caring for our planet.

Stanford Visits YCIS-SV with 14 Educators from Hong Kong

Stanford University facilitated a multi-year fellowship with 70 innovative K-12 leaders from Hong Kong committed to developing future-ready inclusive schools. Part of their experience involved traveling to the Bay Area and visiting local schools already integrating these concepts into their instructional practices. We were honored to host a small group of 14 educators and the Associate Director from Stanford's Center to Supporting Excellence in Teaching, Tammy Wu Moriarty, on Thursday, May 1st.

Their visit began with a presentation and a site tour highlighting our school's mission, principles, and academic practice. Immediately following, a few of our YCIS Students, Yihan (G5), Erica (G6), Alice (G2), and Yucheng (G6), concluded the experience with a heartwarming Q&A panel. The feedback from Tammy and the fellow educators was highly positive, sharing how our commitment to supporting students through real-world experiences shines.

We intend to maintain our connection with Stanford’s Center for Supporting Excellence in Teaching and the educators from Hong Kong. Experiences like this remind us of our “why” and collectively motivate us to maintain a mindset of being lifelong learners.

Middle School (5th- 7th Grade) Middle School (5th- 7th Grade)

The middle school students ended their unit on Structure and Function with a frog dissection. This hands-on experience allowed them to observe both the external features and internal organs of frogs, which aids in their understanding of how organ systems work together to support life. Through this exploration, they gained insight into how studying animal anatomy can enhance our understanding of the human body by highlighting the similarities and differences across species.

We’re excited to invite students entering 5th grade and up in the 2025–2026 school year to apply for the ASB (Associated Student Body) Leadership Team! ASB members will represent student voice, lead school-wide events, mentor younger students, and promote a positive and inclusive school culture. To apply, students must complete an application with a teacher recommendation, submit a letter of interest, and may be invited to an in-person interview. Selected students will also be invited to participate in a 3–5 day Summer Leadership Workshop in 2025. Applicants should be in good academic standing, demonstrate positive behavior, and commit to attending meetings and events. Applications are due by May 23, 2025, and interviews will take place on June 3, 2025.


YCIS ASB Application Link

YALP (Yew Chung Art & Language Program) YALP (Yew Chung Art & Language Program)

Celebrating with Creativity and Purpose at YALP

We've had several celebration days recently.


In Kindergarten, the students explored facts about our environment and celebrated Earth Day with a variety of hands-on activities. They used recycled materials such as CD discs, cardboard, and string to create their favorite instrument,the guitar, and crafted ocean scenes featuring jellyfish and other sea creatures to raise awareness about protecting marine life and our planet.


We’d like to especially highlight a fantastic project from our first graders. Under the guidance of Zeng Laoshi, students discussed ideas and made plans for their projects, then collected recycled materials like bottles, cans, and paper towels, and continuously improved their designs throughout the week. Their final group projects showcased impressive creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. We’re truly proud of their efforts and very grateful to Zeng Laoshi for expertly supporting them through this meaningful process.


In addition to these environmental projects, the students also created thoughtful gifts for Mother’s Day and drew heartfelt pictures for their favorite teachers in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week.


Can you guess which teacher Evelyn chose to draw?

Upcoming Events Upcoming Events

📝5/12-16 CTP Testing (Grades 3+)

🤝5/15 ECE Parent Social

👩🏻‍⚖️5/23 YCIS-PO Meeting

💙5/26 Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL)

🤯5/30 Sharing Our Learning

🥁6/6 Spring Concert

Register Today: https://www.ycis-sv.com/en/academics/summer-camp

YCIS-SV Summer Camp YCIS-SV Summer Camp

YCIS Parent Organization (P.O.) YCIS Parent Organization (P.O.)

Visit ycissvpo.org and stay connected with our community!


Sign-up for a Camping Spot NOW! 😆


https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1UDDIkXdiJpniRYCyrH6LnCg5fYd0jxlQLJac-2SAzTg/edit

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