General Announcements
This Week in Pictures
Counselors Corner
ECC Announcements
Elementary Announcements
Middle School Announcements
High School Announcements
Athletic Announcements
Dates to Remember
Next Year's International Day
As we have both students and teachers from almost all 50 states, next year's International Day's Focus Country will be The United States of America. The theme is "County Fair." And if you know anything about a county fair, you will know that there are numerous stalls showing off their wares; animals, exhibits, pie eating contests, cook-offs, square dancing, talent contests, and lots, lots more!! Please be thinking of how your family and friends may represent your country, through dressing in your country's colors or traditional clothes, song, dance, and/or food. If you are interested in being a part of the County Fair, please send an e-mail to: dwilliams@tiseagles.com. We are looking forward to a great day!
Visa and Passport Expiring?
Please check all passports and visas for your family to ensure that any that are due to expire during the summer holiday are renewed in a timely fashion. Any student turning 18 years of age should contact our HR department at least 1 month prior to their birthday to arrange a student visa if they are to remain enrolled at TIS. If you have questions please contact Admissions.
Report Cards
Year-end report cards for returning students will be available from PowerSchool, FileBox on Tuesday, June 10 from 12 noon. Senior and leaving students records will be ready for pick up at 4:00 pm, Friday, June 6, if requested two weeks in advance. On Saturday, June 8 the Admissions Office will be open from 9am to 11:30 am for leavers documents that have been requested 10 working days in advance. To minimize delays, parents or students themselves, not friends, should pick up the report cards to ensure accuracy of information. Final report cards cannot be prepared any earlier that the above dates due to exams and testing which continue through the final week of school. Thank you for your understanding!
Leaving Students
If you know you will be leaving us at the end of this school year please let the Admissions Office know so we can prepare any documents you need to take with you. We require 10 working days notice. Monday is the final day to request documents if they need to be picked up on the last day of school. If you have questions, please contact the Admissions Office. Tel: 8371-0900 ext. 311.
From the Library - End of Year Book Collection
Dates to remember for library book returns:
May 26 - May 30: Last week to check out library materials.
June 2 -- June 6: All outstanding items must be returned. Damaged and lost items should be paid for.
June 9: First day of the summer session for returning staff, students, and their families.
Comments or Suggestions
At anytime if you have comments or suggestions to make to our Administrative Staff you may use the online suggestion form. The form can be found under the ‘Community’ tab on the website, click on Suggestion Box. Be sure to click “submit” when you have completed your comments. Please note you may submit your comments anonymously, but we will not be able to return your message personally. You may also write your comment down and pop it in our Suggestion Box located in the school lobby. Any of our 4 main language groups may be used, we will arrange translation.
This Week in Pictures
Counselors Corner, by Dr. Cindy Harvel
Guidance Counselor, Ph.D. University of Nebraska at Lincoln; M.Ed. Mount Vernon Nazarene College; BS Ohio University
Transitioning to a New School or University
According to Gaw (2000), 37, 000 TCKSs, Third Culture Kids will return to the United States alone to attend college. Students who lack affiliation with their parent’s culture may feel out of place, and experience reverse culture shock. Going back home, whether that home is Korea, England, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia, the US, or one of the many other countries from which our students hail, may be actually more difficult than their initial transition into China!
So, how can we help these Eagles who are flying to parts unknown?
Finding New friends:
The more interaction they have with peers from their college or new school country’s culture, the less challenges and the better adjustment according to Hervey (2009). Soon, college students will be given the name and email address of their new room-mate. Encourage them to start building relationships and making new friends.
Leaving Old friends:
Help them to reconcile with friends or teachers where there may be conflicts before they leave. We take bitterness with us, and as they old saying goes, “Bitterness is an acid that destroys the vessels that contains it.”
Encourage them to spend time with friends to have those good last memories together. Encourage them to affirm those who have been good friends, teachers, and neighbors.
Help your son or daughter to really say “Good-bye” in meaningful ways: an over-night sleepover with their best “buds”, an excursion to a meaningful place in Tianjin with good friends, time to laugh and cry together. Don’t be afraid of tears, tears bring healing and refreshment to our souls.
Yes, to New Opportunities and Adventures:
Encourage your son or daughter to attend the pre-orientation most schools or campuses offer, even if there is an additional cost. The cost is worth the foundation these days give to new students on campus by allowing them to make friends in the midst of planned fun-filled activities, get to know the school or campus (for both safety and convenience), and find what their new life will look like before the pressures of classes and assignments begin.
Go through the school or university’s on-line site to encourage them to pick out a campus club or special school activity they might join to begin to spread their wings and learn a skill or participate in a service they might really enjoy.
Letting go of our China home may be difficult, but with love, encouragement, and communication from family and friends, our leaving students will make smoother and healthier transitions. Get ready to fly!
Gaw, K. F. (2000). Reverse culture shock in students returning from overseas. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 24 (1),83-104. Gaw, K. (2007). Mobility, multiculturalism, and marginality: Counseling Third-Culture students. In J. A. Lippincott (Ed.) Special populations Hervey, E. G. (In Press). Cultural transitions during childhood and adjustment to college. Journal of Psychology and Christianity.
ECC Announcements
Step Up Day
On Thursday, May 29, we will have Step Up Day. Each class will get to visit the next classroom up. It is a fun day for the children to get a chance to see what next year might be like for them. There will also be a meeting for all current kindergarten parents at 2:45 in Miss Barsalou's 1st grade classroom on that day.
Sports Day
Please mark your calendar for our ECC Sports Day on the morning of Friday, May 30! Please plan to join us for this fun day. The event will be from 8:30-9:40 and will be followed by a snack picnic.
Kindergarten Graduation
The Kindergarten Graduation will be held in the 1st floor choir room on Wednesday, June 4, at 7:00 pm. All parents, family and friends of Kindergarten children are invited. Your children should go to their classrooms by 6:45 pm. A bus schedule will be advised soon.
Friday, June 6 - Half Day
School ends for this year at 12:00 pm on Friday, June 6. Buses will leave the school at 12:15 pm. Lunch will not be served, so you may want to pack a healthy snack that is not messy! If your child does not travel on a school bus, please collect him/her from the ECC at that time.
Elementary Announcements
After School Activities
Love 2 Jump and 1st/2nd grade Ballet will meet on Monday, May 26. Please make sure your child attends in preparation for the performance.
iPad Exploration
Parents, please join us on May 28 from 10:00am to 12:00pm in the Blue Room for a time to hear more about our iPad initiative and to have a chance to explore some of the exciting learning that your children have been engaged in and will be involved in next school year.
Enrichment Celebration
This year Enrichment Celebration will be on May 28 at 2:00pm in the auditorium. This will include Enrichment clubs, Love 2 Jump, Ballet Club, and the 5th Grade Band. All parents are welcome.
End of the Year Fieldtrip
This annual field trip will take place on June 3 at the Water Park. Details for this day will be included in the Eagle's Nest soon. If it rains on this day, there is no alternate date planned. This is always a very exciting day for our elementary students. This is a student and teacher field trip only, a time for students and teachers to spend some quality time together before summer.
Elementary Upcoming Dates to Remember
May 28
iPad Exploration Parent Meeting (Blue Room Cafeteria)
Enrichment Celebration
1st Grade Author Showcase
May 29
Step-up Day
June 3
End of Year Field Trip
June 6
5th Grade Graduation, 8:20am in the Auditorium
Middle School Announcements
Student Checkout Forms
Students will receive their checkout form from their homeroom teacher on Monday, June 2. Students are encouraged to complete the checkout process (the top half of the form) with all of their teachers as they take final exams. Students must wait until Thursday afternoon's checkout fair to complete the bottom half of their form.
Middle School Checkout Fair
In order to help the students check out, a middle school checkout fair will be held from 1:15 to 2:30 on Thursday, June 5. Middle school students at this time may check out with the following departments: Athletics, Computer, Finance and Library. All completed check out forms should be handed into the Admissions Office Table at the Fair to receive a special ‘completed check out’ surprise! Students may bring or purchase lunch from 12:15 to 12:45, and busses will leave at 3:30.
Final Exams (Tuesday - Thursday, June 3-5)
June 3 will be the first day of final exams. Below is the final exam schedule:
8th graders will have final exams in all of their courses on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday
7th graders will take math, English, Chinese, and science final exams on Wednesday and Thursday
6th graders will take math and English final exams on just Thursday
Busses will leave at 12:30 on Tuesday and Wednesday for students taking final exams and lunch will not be provided for students taking finals on these days.
Middle School Schedule for Thursday, June 5
8:15 - 12:10 Finals
12:15 - 12:45 Lunch
2:50 - 1:10 Yearbook Assembly (Auditorium)
1:15 - 2:25 MS Checkout Fair
2:30 - 3:15 Fun Class Competitions (Gym)
3:30 Busses Leave
Awards Ceremony Friday, June 6
The second annual middle school awards ceremony will be held in the auditorium from 9:35 to 10:35 on Friday, June 6. Middle school students are required to leave campus at 12:15 pm after the high school awards ceremony and begin enjoying their summer break!
Spring Trip Return Times
9th Grade Flight CA 1418 Lijing-Tianjin 15:30-20:15 Bus to pick up students in TJ Airport at 20:15
10th Grade Flight BK 2820 GuiLin-Tianjin 11:45-14:20 Bus to pick up students in TJ Airport at 14:20
11th Grade Flight MU2443 XiNing-Beijing 16:30-18:45 Bus to pick up students from Beijing Airport at 18:45
12th Grade Flight JD 5195 Sanya-Tianjin 14:40-18:00 Bus to pick up students from Tianjin Airport at 18:00
Students will be picked up and returned home to BDHT, HYCZ, AoCheng, YG100
High School Final Exams
High School final exams will take place Tuesday - Thursday, June 3-5. The previous Friday and Monday will be focused on cumulative review in preparation for the exams. Students have access to the Final Exam schedule on the "High School Students" page at vle.tiseagles.com. Tuesday and Wednesday dismissal will be at 12:30, but on Thursday high school students are required to stay until 3:30 pm (checkout fair, lunch, assembly, Yearbook distribution, Yearbook signing, etc.).
Senior Portfolio Presentations - please note change in location
Starting on Tuesday, May 27, the Class of 2014 will be giving their Senior Portfolio Presentations. These presentations provide an opportunity for students to reflect on what they have learned academically, and how they have grown personally during their time at TIS. Students will present their reflections to a panel of TIS staff, and we want to invite parents, other family members, mentors, and friends as well. The presentations will take place in room B324 (the Elementary Science Lab). The location is a change from last week's announcement. We look forward to seeing many of you there!
Friday morning schedule, June 6
High School students will get feedback on their final exams before attending the high school awards assembly. The high school awards assembly will take place in the auditorium from 10:45 am to 12:00 noon. Busses will leave at 12:15 pm.
2014 High School Graduation Ceremony
On Friday evening, June 6, the class of 2014 will celebrate their graduation from high school in an 8:00 PM ceremony at the TIS auditorium. Family, friends, and the TIS community are invited to join this happy occasion. A cake reception will follow the ceremony. Bussing will be provided.
From Dr. Harvel's Desk
Congratulations to Gemma Klopper, voted by her high school teachers to be this year's TIS representative for the EARCOS Global Citizenship Award. This award is presented to a student who embraces the qualities of a global citizen. This student is a proud representative of his/her nation while respectful of the diversity of other nations, has an open mind, is well informed, aware and empathetic, concerned and caring for others encouraging a sense of community and strongly committed to engagement and action to make the world a better place. Finally, this student is able to interact and communicate effectively with people from all walks of life while having a sense of collective responsibility for all who inhabit the globe.
Athletic Announcements
All sports seasons are complete! We look forward to some great competition next year! GO EAGLES!
Dates to Remember
May 27-30
Senior Portfolio Presentations
May 30
ECC Sports Day
June 2
Dragon Boat Festival (No holiday, regular school day)
June 3-5
Secondary Final Exams
June 4
ECC Kindergarten Graduation
June 5
Secondary Check Out Fair
June 6
Last Day of School
High School Graduation