YCIS-SV Community Connection

Dear YCIS Community,

Welcome to October! A big thank you to all the parents for your continued involvement and support. Whether you're spending time in the classroom reading stories or helping with school field trips, your presence—both on and off campus—is truly appreciated. A special thank you to those who participated in weekend events and fairs to introduce and promote YCIS to the wider community. Thank you!

Although this week is shorter for most of our staff, we are especially grateful to our Office team and ECE teachers who are supporting Mini Camp on both campuses. Thank you!

Looking ahead, next week our 5th graders will embark on an exciting 5-day, 4-night trip to Walden West. We are also eagerly anticipating our Founder’s Day celebration next Thursday. On Wednesday night, we will join a live celebration with our YCYW campuses in Hong Kong and Mainland China, and on Thursday, both the ECE and K-8 campuses will host a fun Field Day to mark the occasion.

More details about the Wednesday night YCYW Founder’s Day celebration will be shared on Monday. Thank you for being an essential part of our YCIS community!

We’ve just wrapped up our first Mini-Camp, and what an amazing time it was! With 36 children divided into three classrooms, our low student-to-teacher ratio allowed for personalized attention and meaningful connections. This setup created the perfect environment for our teachers and students to build strong relationships while having tons of fun together! From interactive activities to shared learning experiences, it’s been a wonderful start to what we know will be a memorable year!

The KA class has launched a mystery reader program and center volunteer initiative to encourage more parents to share their talents with the students, fostering a sense of community in the classroom. Recently, Ailin's mom captivated the children by reading the book It Is Okay to Be Afraid, which validates their emotions by acknowledging that fear is a natural feeling and reassuring them that it's okay to experience it. The book opens a dialogue about feelings, creating a safe environment for students to express their emotions and worries and seek or give support as needed. In the KB classroom, Ian's mom further contributed by sharing valuable insights on showing compassion to others, even when they may be strangers. She engaged the students in a mindfulness activity involving raisins, teaching them to be present and aware. Together, these parent contributions enrich the students' learning experiences and promote compassion and understanding among peers.

In a recent weekly assembly, the 4th-grade class took the lead, focusing on the theme of compassion. They shared a beautiful story about a magic island that thrived because its residents were filled with kindness ("善意"). However, when selfishness arrived on the island, its magic faded away. A musician, using the power of her music, awakened the people and reminded them of the strength of kindness and gratitude, restoring the island’s magic and vibrant colors. To bring this message to life, the class led the entire school in an activity called "passing kindness and gratitude," symbolizing the spread of kindness and compassion. YCIS can be a magical place that continues to spread compassion and kindness to everyone around us. Can we all contribute to creating such a magical school? Yes!

Next week, our 5th graders will embark on their much-anticipated 5-day, 4-night trip to Walden West, where they will dive into exciting outdoor education activities and develop team-building skills in a natural setting. We hope they have a productive and enriching experience, exploring the environment, learning new skills, and growing together as a group. We look forward to hearing their stories and insights when they return, as they share the valuable lessons and memories they've gained from this adventure!

On Tuesday right before the fall break, our students had a blast in the YALP cooking activity, where they learned to make delicious egg tarts from scratch! From understanding the ingredients to following the baking procedures, our students were hands-on every step of the way. They didn't just learn to make egg tarts, but also learned how to follow instructions carefully, share responsibilities, and support each other throughout the process. At the end, they proudly enjoyed their own handmade egg tarts and some even saved a few for their parents. Many students were so excited and planned to make these treats for their families at home during the break! We love seeing our young chefs gain new skills and confidence in the kitchen!

Questions:

1. Do you know how to make egg tarts? Our kinder students will show you step-by-step with the following pictures.

2. Do you know the difference between Portuguese Egg Tarts (葡式蛋挞) and Hong Kong Egg Tarts (港式蛋挞)? YALP students will tell you!

👪Common Ground Speaker Series (Oct 9, See flyer below)

🎂YCIS Founder's Day (Oct 10, See flyer below)

• YCYW Founder's Day live Celebration (Oct 9 Night, more information will be shared later)

💙Family Fun Day (Oct 12, See flyer below)

🤝ECE Parent Social (Oct 17) Save the Date!

👕PO Uniform Sale (Oct 21) Save the Date!

📌PO Monthly Meeting (Oct 25)

👪Common Ground Speaker Series (Oct 29, See flyer below)

🎃Pumpkin Decorating Contest (Oct 30, More information to follow)

👻Imagination Day (Oct 31, More information to follow)

The Stress Prescription: Living and Parenting with More Joy and Ease with Dr. Elissa Epel

Wed, Oct 9; 7pm-8:15pm, in-person at Sacred Heart School,

Campbell Performing Arts Center, 150 Valparaiso, Atherton

Would you like to better understand the science of stress and how to become more resilient in the face of what often feels like unrelenting challenges, whether as a parent, student, or just as a 21st century human? Renowned UCSF professor and clinician Dr. Elissa Epel, the author of The Stress Prescription, and co- author of The Telomere Effect, will discuss the psychological, social, and behavioral processes related to chronic psychological stress on our health and how interventions that combine behavioral, psychological, and mindfulness training can help.

Details and Register

• Doors open at 6:30pm at Campbell Performing Art Center. We strongly encourage carpooling.

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BRIAN FONG,
FACING HISTORY & OURSELVES

CIVIC ENGAGEMENT:
How to Talk About Controversial Issues in Polarized Times – An Interactive Workshop Tues, October 29, 2024; 7pm-8:15pm, in-person at Silicon Valley International School, 151 Laura Lane, Palo Alto

We are not always equipped for difficult conversations. How do we express our opinion while leaving room for someone else’s viewpoint? How do we ensure our discussions are rooted in reliable information and that we treat each other with dignity and respect? Engaging in civil discourse means bringing your mind, heart, and conscience to reflective conversations on topics that matter. Brian Fong, Program Director at Facing History & Ourselves, will teach us the skills we need to navigate highly-charged topics in this workshop-style* event.

Details and Registration

*Seating is limited. Register early.

View the Fall 2024 speaker event schedule here. Sign up for the Common Ground newsletter to be informed of all our speaker events.

Visit ycissvpo.org and stay connected with our community!

Alice Song, one of our 2nd-grade students at YCIS, confidently promoted our school at the Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) alumni event in Bay Area. She shared her deep love for YCIS, expressing her desire for more students to join the community, including "bigger and younger brothers and sisters," to experience the joy of learning Chinese and exploring Eastern culture in a warm, supportive environment. Alice's pride in being a YCIS student shines through, and YCIS is equally proud of her for representing the school with such passion and confidence.