Three years is a long time to hold your breath, but it is an ever-decreasing
faction of my life.
Certainly the three years in Hangzhou and at HIS have gone by
quickly which means the time was engaging, important, and fast-paced.
What made
these years most gratifying have been the students, teachers and parents of HIS.
Looking back...
Plus
Three years is a long time to hold your breath, but it is an ever-decreasing faction of my life. Certainly the three years in Hangzhou and at HIS have gone by quickly which means the time was engaging, important, and fast-paced. What made these years most gratifying have been the students, teachers and parents of HIS. Looking back over the 40 years since I first started teaching I can say without doubt that the HIS community has been the most consistently and uniformly positive and rewarding group with whom I have ever worked. For your talents, spirit and cooperation I thank you. Memories of this school will be warm and long lasting. A few people have kindly asked what I will be doing next and so far I have been vague. As of last week though it is settled that I will be principal and writing teacher in a college prep center within a large Chinese high school in Shenzhen. I’m happy to stay in China and looking forward to the new insights this position will give. Best wishes to
Moins
Par kjkramer
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Publiée le 6 Juin 2010
Pages: 23
Lectures: 309
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West Lake is in full flourish, the spring chill has finally retreated, and the school year
has shrunk to only a few weeks.
It’s time for a well-earned sigh of relief, but also for a final
burst of energy for your children.
In a rush of celebration, we have upcoming awards ceremonies, plays, music concerts, field trips and...
Plus
West Lake is in full flourish, the spring chill has finally retreated, and the school year has shrunk to only a few weeks. It’s time for a well-earned sigh of relief, but also for a final burst of energy for your children. In a rush of celebration, we have upcoming awards ceremonies, plays, music concerts, field trips and graduation. Virtually every HIS student will be showcased at least once. And whether they are beaming youngsters waving to you from the stage or sanguine senior high students pretending you are invisible, they all want you to attend these final events. The demands of work, the crush of traffic, and the long distance between the job, home and school make showing up a challenge. But you’ve raised them well and have a lot of which to be proud. I look forward to seeing your smiling face in the audience this spring. You can be sure of warm enduring memories; treasures only the heart can buy. Kurt Kahlenbeck, Head of School Thanks for the Memories Mr. Kurt Kahlenb
Moins
Par kjkramer
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Publiée le 7 Mai 2010
Pages: 18
Lectures: 69
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West Lake is in full flourish, the spring chill has finally retreated, and the school year
has shrunk to only a few weeks.
It’s time for a well-earned sigh of relief, but also for a final
burst of energy for your children.
In a rush of celebration, we have upcoming awards ceremonies, plays, music concerts, field trips and...
Plus
West Lake is in full flourish, the spring chill has finally retreated, and the school year has shrunk to only a few weeks. It’s time for a well-earned sigh of relief, but also for a final burst of energy for your children. In a rush of celebration, we have upcoming awards ceremonies, plays, music concerts, field trips and graduation. Virtually every HIS student will be showcased at least once. And whether they are beaming youngsters waving to you from the stage or sanguine senior high students pretending you are invisible, they all want you to attend these final events. The demands of work, the crush of traffic, and the long distance between the job, home and school make showing up a challenge. But you’ve raised them well and have a lot of which to be proud. I look forward to seeing your smiling face in the audience this spring. You can be sure of warm enduring memories; treasures only the heart can buy. Kurt Kahlenbeck, Head of School Thanks for the Memories Mr. Kurt Kahlenb
Moins
Par kjkramer
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Publiée le 5 Mai 2010
Pages: 18
Lectures: 12
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The time is fast approaching for upper school students and their parents to make some class
choices for the coming school year.
The purpose of this article is to clarify the process so that
class choices are well planned and are a family decision.
In the next two weeks students in grades 5-11 will receive information that they will...
Plus
The time is fast approaching for upper school students and their parents to make some class choices for the coming school year. The purpose of this article is to clarify the process so that class choices are well planned and are a family decision. In the next two weeks students in grades 5-11 will receive information that they will use to choose courses. For grades 6-9 the choice is easy, either take Mandarin or French. Students who do not speak Mandarin are to take at least a year of Mandarin. Students who already have a good base in Mandarin can take either language. From grades 10-12 students will have an increasing number of choices as they advance through the grades. These students will also receive the HIS graduation requirements and a copy of next year’s schedule to help them plan. When you look at the schedule you will notice that it is a change from this year. Like our Shanghai schools, the upper school will move to classes meeting every other day for about twice as l
Moins
Par kjkramer
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Publiée le 1 Avr. 2010
Pages: 21
Lectures: 100
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Like well run businesses, good schools operate in two time frames at once.
We are
energetically teaching and caring for students on a daily basis while also planning for the year
to come.
Here are three important areas on which HIS is working.
One future focus is curriculum improvement.
There is ongoing curriculum work
taking place...
Plus
Like well run businesses, good schools operate in two time frames at once. We are energetically teaching and caring for students on a daily basis while also planning for the year to come. Here are three important areas on which HIS is working. One future focus is curriculum improvement. There is ongoing curriculum work taking place to further refine and strengthen what is now taught. Also, all teachers are getting training on a powerful curriculum organizing software called Atlas/Rubicon which will allow us to store, organize and easily access the curriculum as it is created. Also, plans are underway to refine the lower school progress report so that it is clearly and understandably reflects your child’s progress. Finally, lower school teachers are reviewing the newly introduced student led conferences, and upper school teachers are getting ready for these conferences to start next spring. A second major effort is the hiring of new teachers. International schools around the wo
Moins
Par kjkramer
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Publiée le 2 Mars 2010
Pages: 22
Lectures: 121
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The Senior Project Experience
By Alex Hah
HANGZHOU
On Thursday, December 10th, the only high schoolers who had to attend
school were the seniors.
There were some students from grades nine through
eleven, of course, but the only ones who still hadn’t finished finals week was the
12th Grade.
For the past semester, seniors have been...
Plus
The Senior Project Experience By Alex Hah HANGZHOU On Thursday, December 10th, the only high schoolers who had to attend school were the seniors. There were some students from grades nine through eleven, of course, but the only ones who still hadn’t finished finals week was the 12th Grade. For the past semester, seniors have been working on a project which emphasizes self-learning and helps teach seniors what experiences they may soon face once they go to college, but still have a safe environment. Seniors create a thesis of their choice, which is presented to judges, who accept (or don’t) and allow the senior to proceed on his or her chosen topic. The senior must create an eight-to-ten page paper supporting his or her thesis, using information researched by the senior. The idea is for the senior to gain a lot of knowledge about his or her topic, but write about only a very specific point. The second large portion of the class goes to creating a “physical project,” which is a rep
Moins
Par kjkramer
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Publiée le 17 Déc. 2009
Pages: 3
Lectures: 78
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December has always been a cheerful month for
me.
Blessed with a loving family growing up, it was a
time for decorating the Christmas tree, finally opening a
long awaited present, and the snow-filled freedom of
winter vacation.
With youth long past, it still is a month
in which I anticipate trips to places unknown to me as a
boy and...
Plus
December has always been a cheerful month for me. Blessed with a loving family growing up, it was a time for decorating the Christmas tree, finally opening a long awaited present, and the snow-filled freedom of winter vacation. With youth long past, it still is a month in which I anticipate trips to places unknown to me as a boy and still a time to take a deep breath after half a year of school. But now it’s also a time for reflection on the past year and goal setting for the year to come. Our student led conferences are an attempt to begin instilling this habit of reflection at a far earlier and more profitable age. While childhood should be happy and largely free of care, thinking carefully about one’s behavior and setting goals for improvement need not be stressors. Rather they are behaviors that can sharpen thinking and elevate performance; behaviors that can be part of the difference between a life of satisfying success and regretful mediocrity. Thus reflective thinking and
Moins
Par kjkramer
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Publiée le 2 Déc. 2009
Pages: 21
Lectures: 185
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Blue skies and 25 degrees don’t put someone like me
from Minnesota in a jingle bells mood, but the long winter
holiday is really just around the corner.
While some parents
will be working hard through much of the December 19January 12th
school holiday, many of us are fortunate to be
planning interesting vacations.
Parents, as you...
Plus
Blue skies and 25 degrees don’t put someone like me from Minnesota in a jingle bells mood, but the long winter holiday is really just around the corner. While some parents will be working hard through much of the December 19January 12th school holiday, many of us are fortunate to be planning interesting vacations. Parents, as you plan your family’s time, I offer several suggestions. First, your children will deserve a break from regular school work since they are now over half way through the semester and almost all are doing well. Encourage them to keep reading material they are interested in and to pursue their hobbies more vigorously with their extra time, but regular old school work can be put on pause. Second, be mindful of semester testing in upper school during the week of December 7-11 and final end of quarter work during the week of Dec 14-17. Please don’t start your vacation during this week. Third, remember that January 11 and 12 are teacher professional development d
Moins
Par kjkramer
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Publiée le 4 Nov. 2009
Pages: 19
Lectures: 186
Téléchargements: 0
Along with a freshening breeze, October brings the
end of first quarter, report cards, and parent conferences.
Whether it is your twelfth year of conferences or your
very first, I strongly encourage you to attend.
Lower school studentled conferences may seem a big change.
Upper school conferences;
well they should be old enough to...
Plus
Along with a freshening breeze, October brings the end of first quarter, report cards, and parent conferences. Whether it is your twelfth year of conferences or your very first, I strongly encourage you to attend. Lower school studentled conferences may seem a big change. Upper school conferences; well they should be old enough to take care of themselves. And work has been so busy lately. But go. For nobody ever outgrows the need for being cared about. It is our safety net as we walk each day’s jittering tightrope. So lower school parents, let your children tell you about what they are learning. Patiently encourage them if they falter and praise them for their success. Upper school parents, despite your sons’ and daughters’ feigned indifference, visit their teachers. Then have a sit down conversation about what you heard. Applaud their accomplishments and help them think through a plan to remedy the rough spots. Sincere care gives strength to the cared for and purpose to t
Moins
Par kjkramer
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Publiée le 30 Sept. 2009
Pages: 27
Lectures: 137
Téléchargements: 0
I am now in my fifth decade of starting the school year
as a teacher, and this past week reminded me once again why
education can be such a rewarding profession.
While the first day always unearths a few overlooked
problems, the overall feeling around HIS was one of slightly
nervous excitement, determination to do well, and the...
Plus
I am now in my fifth decade of starting the school year as a teacher, and this past week reminded me once again why education can be such a rewarding profession. While the first day always unearths a few overlooked problems, the overall feeling around HIS was one of slightly nervous excitement, determination to do well, and the optimism of another fresh start. Emotions ranged from the disconsolate wailing of a preschooler just separated from mother, to the bursting cheer of rollicking elementary students, to the studied swagger of a seasoned senior. And while we teachers have our emotions more veiled, we are both excited and resolute in knowing that by doing our professional best; we will make a significant difference in our students’ lives. Thank you for putting your trust in us. Let’s work together for your children’s futures. Kurt Kahlenbeck Head of School 2009-2010 A NewYear Begins Mr. Kurt Kahlenbeck, Head of School Ms. Kelly Kramer, Assistant Principal August 26, 2009 Vol
Moins
Par kjkramer
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Publiée le 29 Sept. 2009
Pages: 19
Lectures: 144
Téléchargements: 3
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