YCIS-SV Community Connection

Dear YCIS-SV Community,

We hope you all had a restful and meaningful Thanksgiving break. It was truly heartwarming to see our children return to campus this week with energy and joy — especially our Grade 7/8 students who just returned from their China trip, full of stories, cultural experiences, and new friendships. We are so proud of them and grateful for the learning that took place beyond the classroom.

Thank you to all the families who joined us for our Thanksgiving Feast before the break. Moments like these remind us how special our community is — when students, teachers, and families come together to celebrate, share food, connect, and build memories. We also want to express our sincere appreciation to the families who have contributed to our Annual Fund. Your generosity directly supports programs, teacher development, and the vibrant learning environment we are building together.

We look forward to welcoming you to several upcoming events in December:

📍Kindergarten Teacher/Parent Panel — ECE Campus
Wednesday, 12/10 · 4:30–5:30 PM
A great opportunity for preschool families to learn more about Kindergarten at YCIS-SV.

📍K–8 Sharing the Learning — K-8 Campus
Friday day, 12/12 2:00-3:15PM
Come see student work and the growth they’ve made this semester.

📍YCIS Open House — ECE & K–8 Campuses
Saturday, 12/13 (ECE 9:30-11:30AM, K-8 10:00AM-12:00PM)
If you have friends or families interested in learning more about YCIS, please warmly invite them to join. Our teachers will be onsite and excited to welcome them.

Thank you for being part of this community. We feel grateful every day for the trust you place in us and for the joy your children bring to our school. We look forward to continuing this journey of partnership, growth, and learning together.

With gratitude,
Kevin Reimer & Vivian Qian
Co-Principals, YCIS Silicon Valley

Thank you to all the families who have contributed to our Annual Fund so far—we’ve had a wonderful response this year. Our Giving Tuesday campaign closes this Sunday, so there’s still time to participate. Every gift, of any amount, makes a difference for our students. You can give through our Donation Form, via employer giving (Tax ID: 04-3678629), or by donating stock (email georget@sv.ycef.com).

The ECE Campus is officially beginning to sparkle with holiday spirit! Our children's eyes lit up when they noticed a large Christmas tree in the hall. This has prompted a lot of questions, exploration, creativity, and imagination in the classrooms. From exploring fake snow to making ornaments and decorating various types of trees, the excitement in the air is palpable. We are all eagerly anticipating a month full of exciting holiday fun and cheerful activities! Speaking of traditions, We'd love to hear about some of your family's favorite holiday traditions!

We look forward to welcoming families to our Sharing Our Learning event this Friday, December 12. This special afternoon invites you to visit classrooms, hear student presentations, explore exhibits, and celebrate the growth and learning that has taken place across K–8 this semester.

Please see the schedules below for grade-level presentation times:

The Sharing Our Learning Schedules can be found here:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/106zEaQYkw7UtjNBWxnJpdXyJG0JIQEB9

K-4 Schedule

Middle School Schedule

As a reminder, this year’s Grades 1–8 Spelling Bee will shift to a written format to better align with Scripps’ focus on both spelling and vocabulary. All students will take a written spelling and vocabulary test during the week of December 15–19, with grade-banded lists to ensure developmental appropriateness. Classroom teachers will share the exact testing day for each class.

The top two students from each class will advance to the All-School Spelling Bee in January, and the top three scorers schoolwide will move on to the Scripps Regional Qualifier, which is also a written assessment. Study lists for each grade level—as well as optional challenge lists—have been shared to support students’ preparation. We look forward to celebrating our spellers and their hard work throughout the Bee season!

Study Lists:

• First Grade Spelling and Vocabulary Study List

• Second Grade Spelling and Vocabulary Study List

• Third Grade Spelling and Vocabulary Study List

• Fourth Grade Spelling and Vocabulary Study List

• Fifth Grade Spelling and Vocabulary Study List

• Sixth Grade Spelling and Vocabulary Study List

• Seventh Grade Spelling and Vocabulary Study List

• Eighth Grade Spelling and Vocabulary Study List

Students who master their grade-level list may move on to the School Spelling Bee Study List with Definitions

_____ 🐝 _____

• Date: Dec 19th
• Time: 1:30-3:00 (Doors open at 1pm)
• Location: MPR
• Student dress code: white top & black bottom

If any parent volunteers can help with tuning the instruments before the concert please contact Mr. Moalem beerim@sv.ycef.com We would be very grateful for your help 🤗

Please encourage your child to participate in the ANCCS Chinese Academic Contest (中文學術競賽). This exciting academic event celebrates students’ Chinese language skills and cultural learning through friendly competition, and it’s a wonderful chance for them to challenge themselves and shine. Registration is open now—please sign up using the contest registration form or clicking on the link:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2eKTL0a2ntkatTgaRynkrpGmbTc_ROPj0o2qQEDBCGo2_wQ/viewform

Here is a video from the K-A Class: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vsgIrnCAb5SpCHJzGx3Tfenb5wgky3LI/view?usp=sharing

YCIS & Hope's Corner Food Drive will end Monday Morning. Please bring what you can to K-B (Room 10) Currently, The Lion House is in the lead!

Join us in helping our community by donating non-perishable food items (preferably family-sized portions)! We’re collecting:

🫛 Canned veggies & fruits

🍜 Canned or instant soups (shelf-stable)

🍝 Dry pastas & sauces

🍚 Dry rice & beans

🧂 Seasonings & condiments

🧃 Cooking oils & shelf-stable snacks for kids

This will be a House Competition! Let’s see which House can bring in the most items — students, staff, and families are all invited to participate! Together, we can make a difference! 💪

Clink on the link to see a video from our K-B Class: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RGXkQlRfSrZeXfNV7uDVAAQDV3pkOl7q/view?usp=sharing

_______ ❤️ _______

As part of their inquiry into “How does understanding place and time enable us to reflect on our identities?” our first graders recently enjoyed a hands-on learning adventure at History Park San José. This experience invited students to step into the daily lives of children growing up in rural Santa Clara County in the 1870s and compare them with their own lives today. During the visit, students rolled up their sleeves to do laundry using an 1860s washing machine, milked a cow, gathered eggs, and ground coffee beans at the historic Umbarger House. They also practiced 19th-century classroom routines—reading from a primer, writing on slates, and minding their manners—before exploring the Santa Ana One-Room Schoolhouse.

Our learners are developing a deeper understanding of how the experiences of different times and places shape who we are. It was a meaningful connection between history, identity, and our broader community.

As part of our second graders’ inquiry into “In what ways does learning about the people within our community develop an appreciation of diversity?” YCIS was honored to host Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein on campus. Mayor Klein spoke with students about his role in the community, the many responsibilities that come with public service, and the initiatives he has championed to support Sunnyvale’s diverse residents. Our students had the valuable opportunity to hear firsthand how different community members contribute to shaping the place we call home.

Through conversations like these, learners deepen their understanding of the many perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences that strengthen our community. A special thank you to Mayor Larry Klein for taking time out of his busy schedule to inspire our second graders and support their learning.

Our 3rd graders recently visited the Ohlone Cultural Program to deepen their understanding of California’s Native People. Through this program, students learned about Ohlone culture, their strong connection to the land and natural resources, and traditional skills that are still used today. With hands-on activities and time outdoors, students explored artifacts, specimens, and tools, gaining a clearer picture of how the Ohlone people lived, survived, and built their homes in harmony with nature.

Being on the land in person helped students realize that challenges are a natural part of life. What matters most is our attitude—how we learn from difficulties and grow through them. After the field trip, students reflected on the big question, “How do people use the past to guide the present?” and shared thoughtful answers about how Ohlone traditions and resilience can still teach us today. This experience gave students both cultural understanding and meaningful life lessons to carry forward.

Fourth graders are engaged in a Relationship PBL guided by the question: “How can understanding different perspectives and cultures help us create harmonious and symbiotic relationships?” Through discussions, reading, reflection, and varied teacher-student designed learning activities, students are connecting this big idea to real life—learning how empathy, respect, and thoughtful communication build stronger relationships.

A key part of the project is getting to know our senior friends’ cultural backgrounds. Students are discovering that understanding someone’s traditions, memories, and life experiences helps us understand the person more deeply, communicate with respect, and form meaningful cross-generational connections.

Students also explored the theme of Love & Charity, asking why these values matter in school and in life, and how they help us become better classmates and community members. To put learning into action, students planned two senior visits. On 11/16, they visited a senior home to interview residents, listen to their stories, and learn about their needs. Now, based on what they discovered, students are preparing a second visit before Christmas to respond with caring, meaningful acts of kindness. Through this project, our 4th graders are growing servant hearts and learning how to give love within our community.

The 5th grade class took a trip to Santa Clara University, the oldest university in California and a site that once served as a Spanish mission. Students explored the complex history surrounding the missions, particularly the changes brought about by the meeting of two vastly different civilizations. From examining Ohlone artifacts to getting an exclusive look inside the restored Saint Francis chapel (normally closed to the public) they gained insight into the Bay Area's past.

Beyond learning about local history, the visit also encouraged students to think about their future as learners. After the Mexican-American War, the site was transformed into a university, and students got a small glimpse of college life by eating lunch in the cafeteria and exploring possible future careers during a visit to the university library. Who knows? Maybe some of them will return one day as college freshmen and become part of this place’s ongoing story.

Learn Chinese and Discover New Skills Every Day at YALP!

At YALP, students dive into themed, hands-on activities that make every day exciting and fun!

1. Kinder students created a festive Thanksgiving board! Each student’s photo was featured, and wrote their own personalized card underneath. What a creative way to celebrate the season.

2. Grade1 students explored the three elements of combustion—fuel, oxygen, and heat. They also experimented with candles covered by a glass breaker, observing how the flame changes when oxygen is removed, making science come alive!

3. Grade 2 students have learned many Chinese idioms, practicing them in daily conversations and deepened their appreciation for the richness of Chinese culture.

4. Upper grade students engage in academic challenges that reinforce school learning. Lily Jiang is creating a math “Monopoly” game (数学大富翁游戏), turning math concepts into an interactive, playful experience.

5. Friday fun is always a highlight of the week! K–2 students take over the field for games and sports, friendly competition, teamwork, and plenty of laughter.

At YALP, every day is an adventure in learning, playing, and growing—where curiosity meets creativity!

Register Here: https://www.ycis-sv.com/en/admissions/enquiry-n-visit

🧠 12/12: K-8 Sharing Our Learning

🚨12/12: ECE & K-8 Campuses Close @5pm

🎅 12/17: ECE & K-8 Santa Visit

🎁 12/15-12/18: ECE Holiday Celebrations

🐝 12/15-12/19: K-8 Spelling Bee

🎵12/19: K-8 Winter Concert

⛄ 12/21-1/2: Christmas Break, ECE & K-8 Campuses will be closed

🍎 1/5/2026: NO SCHOOL, Teacher In-Service Day