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YCIS-SV Community Connection

April 25, 2025

YCIS-SV CommunityConnectionApril 25, 2025

Layla (1st grade), 2nd place of 2025 Watershed Watch Earth Day Poster Contest Layla (1st grade), 2nd place of 2025 Watershed Watch Earth Day Poster Contest

Dear YCIS Community,


Thank you for another joyful and inspiring few weeks together. We've seen more students shining on stage and being recognized for their talents in Chinese and Art—what a wonderful way to celebrate their growth and creativity.


It’s also been a time full of meaningful cross-campus connections. Our Kindergarten and First Grade students recently visited the ECE campus to share their PBL projects with our youngest learners—an uplifting example of leadership through sharing and storytelling. In addition, our K–8 Coordinators and teachers had the pleasure of joining the April Parent-Teacher Social to connect with ECE families and strengthen the bridge between early childhood and elementary. We’re excited to keep this spirit going next month as our Middle School students join in as well!


Building a strong, connected community takes all of us—and we’re so grateful for your continued involvement. Please keep being an active part of YCIS life. And don’t forget—our Family BBQ is tomorrow! We can’t wait to see you there for good food, fun, and meaningful moments together.


Warmly,

Kevin and Vivian

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K-8 Campus Uniform Policy Reminder K-8 Campus Uniform Policy Reminder

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1CUEqateld7GglS7tUrKK5fG9ncOsbR3aI7VxnUYms7A/present?slide=id.p

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Last Day to order yearbooks is April 30th! Last Day to order yearbooks is April 30th!

Click on the flyer below to order yours now! The yearbook is for both ECE and K-8 Campus! 😁

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

1st Graders Showcase Shadow Puppet Show for ECE Campus

To our amazing first graders, a huge thank you for bringing such joy and wonder to our three-year-old and TK friends with your fantastic shadow puppet show! Your creativity and hard work in putting on such a captivating performance truly lit up their faces. It was such a treat to see your storytelling skills in action, and we know the younger students were absolutely delighted. Thank you!

1A: https://youtu.be/2Sb093EsRe4

1B: https://youtu.be/senL8sDlkB4?si=DBNcAy3TzGjFJ5lW

Thank You for Joining Our Teacher-Parent Social!

We’re so grateful to all the parents who joined us for our recent Parent Social—your presence and enthusiasm truly made the event special. A heartfelt thank you also goes to our K–8 team for sharing their insights and giving a glimpse into life at YCIS beyond the ECE years.


It was a joy to connect, answer your questions, and celebrate the strong, supportive community that defines YCIS. Thank you for taking the time to be with us—we look forward to continuing this meaningful partnership as your children grow with us.


Couldn’t make it? No worries! You can view the presentation slides [here].

Galaxy Class Visits Google Campus

The Galaxy class had the opportunity to visit the Google campus thanks to their parents who helped arrange the visit! Their keen interest in structures and building was great to see as they explored the unique designs and innovative architecture around the Google grounds. We hope their visit sparked even more curiosity about the world of engineering and design, and perhaps even planted the seeds for future builders and innovators. We look forward to seeing where this exploration and visit takes them as they make their way back to the classroom.

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

Picture Book Reading Contest Success

We are incredibly proud of our students who participated in this year’s CLTAC (Chinese Language Teachers Association of California) Picture Book Reading Contest. This contest challenges students to demonstrate their Chinese language skills through expressive reading and interpretation of picture books—and our students rose to the occasion with creativity, confidence, and heart.


Seventeen YCIS students submitted their reading videos, showcasing not only their fluency but also their ability to bring Chinese stories to life. We’re excited to announce that seven of them received awards for their outstanding performances!


Their achievements reflect not only their hard work and dedication, but also the strong partnership between home and school—many families worked together to craft meaningful, engaging storytelling videos. We invite you to celebrate their success by watching the videos and seeing their talent in action!

Mandarin Chinese Speech Contest Highlights

We are proud to celebrate the outstanding achievement of our students in this year’s CLTAC Mandarin Chinese Speech Contest. Among 180 elementary participants, 9 out of our 11 YCIS competitors earned spots on the winners' list—a remarkable accomplishment that reflects their hard work, confidence, and dedication to Mandarin learning.


Their success is a powerful testament to the strength of our bilingual program and our students’ deepening connection to Chinese language and culture. Bravo to all our participants for representing YCIS with excellence!

Publishing with Purpose: Students Showcase Their Understanding of Structure

At YCIS Silicon Valley, learning goes far beyond textbooks. Our Project-Based Learning (PBL) approach empowers students to explore big ideas through meaningful, hands-on experiences. As we wrapped up Unit 2 just before Spring Break, students across grade levels participated in Publishing Events to proudly present their learning centered around the concept of Structure.

This unit invited students to explore the interconnected nature of our world—recognizing that structure exists in all living things, systems, and environments. From science to society, students discovered how thoughtful organization helps the world function—and how these insights connect across subjects and real-life situations.

Here’s a glimpse of how each grade level brought their learning to life:

  • Grade 4 ran a mock government campaign to explore civic structure and decision-making.

4th Grade
  • Grade 3 built simple machines to solve real-world problems using knowledge of force and function.

  • Grade 2 hosted a “Backpack Show,” using design thinking to explore the structure and properties of materials.

  • Grade 1 investigated light and sound, culminating in a joyful shadow puppet performance for parents.

  • Kindergarten students constructed marble runs to demonstrate energy, force, and motion in action.

Through these creative projects, students not only deepened their understanding of structure, but also developed critical skills in communication, collaboration, and innovation—skills they’ll carry with them far beyond the classroom.

Third Graders Travel Through Time to Discover California’s Economic Roots

Our third-grade students recently stepped into the past on a hands-on field trip that combined history, innovation, and real-world skills. Taking on the roles of 1880s family farmers, 1900s cannery workers, and 1930s business owners, students explored how early Californians used natural resources and entrepreneurial spirit to build strong communities.


Through creative challenges involving engineering, graphic design, and math, students learned how industries like Del Monte, Orchard Supply Hardware, and Bank of America began—and how they continue to influence our lives today. This immersive experience supported key academic standards while helping students connect the past to the present by understanding how goods and services are produced and how communities grow.


Our young historians and problem-solvers walked away with a deeper appreciation for the resourcefulness and innovation that helped shape our region—and the confidence that they, too, can help shape the future.

Celebrating Science, Sustainability, and Earth Day!

On April 24, our school had the pleasure of hosting The H2O Show by EarthCapades—an engaging and educational performance that brought the science and importance of water to life in celebration of Earth Day.


Students attended sessions tailored to their grade levels, with presentations thoughtfully aligned to both lower and upper grade science curricula. Through a vibrant mix of music, juggling, magic, comedy, and audience participation, EarthCapades’ multi-talented performers took students on an exciting journey through the water cycle. From clouds and rainfall to pipes and treatment plants, students discovered where our water comes from, how it moves, and why caring for it is crucial.


The performance was both entertaining and meaningful, leaving students inspired and more aware of how water connects us all and sustains life on Earth.


It was a perfect way to honor Earth Day—with fun, learning, and a powerful reminder to protect our planet’s most precious resource.

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

Renaissance and Roman Art

The 6th and 7th grade students recently went on an educational field trip to Stanford University, where they explored the Cantor Arts Center and the Memorial Church. This gave them a unique opportunity to step into the world of Renaissance and Roman Art. Their visit allowed them to connect and deepen their appreciation and understanding of the various techniques, stories, and cultural significance as they observed the sculptures, vivid paintings, and architecture.

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

Learning, Exploring, and Laughing Every Day at YALP!

This week in Kinder, our theme was Skyscrapers Around the World. The students explored the tallest skyscrapers in the world, discovered why these giants don’t fall over, and learned how architects and engineers solve the challenges of supporting such massive structures. They even built their own LEGO tower and tested its strength and stability!


Our curious learners didn’t just watch a demonstration, they became real scientists! Teachers provided a variety of materials like sugar, salt, and soda, and let students experiment on their own to discover what makes eggs float. Through hands-on exploration, they uncovered the science behind density and buoyancy, learning through trial, error, and a lot of excitement.


Creativity is never missing at YALP! Students tried a new scratch painting technique (刮画技术/刮畫技術). Using shaving cream and food coloring, they pressed paper on top and scraped across with a ruler to reveal colorful, swirling artwork beneath.


It’s a harvest time for our upper-grade students! They proudly gathered the green onions and vegetables they planted earlier this term, made delicious scallion vegetable pancakes (蔬菜葱油饼/蔬菜蔥油餅) and joyfully shared them with teachers and parents.


Our teachers are so proud to see the activities they plan come to life, filling each moment with wonder, learning, and lots of laughter.

Upcoming Events Upcoming Events

🍉4/26 YCIS Family Fun Event & Spring BBQ Picnic

💡4/29 Common Ground Speaker Series

☕5/2 Coffee with the Principals

🥰5/5-9 YCIS Teacher/Staff Appreciation Week

📝5/12-16 CTP Testing (Grades 3+)

🤝5/15 ECE Parent Social

🦁🐯🐢🐼🐉🔥5/15 House Lunch (TK-7th wear house T-shirts)

👩🏻‍⚖️5/23 YCIS-PO Meeting

💙5/26 Memorial Day (NO SCHOOL)

🤯5/30 Sharing Our Learning

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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