This month, we are refocusing and retraining our staff and students on XIS culture.

Some key aspects of our culture that we have been focusing on both inside and outside of the classroom are:

English Immersion Environment

Honor Code

Technology Use

English Immersion Environment sets XIS apart as the only international school to reinforce an immersive environment while students are on campus. The Lead Teachers sat down and discussed that we have effective procedures, when staff use the procedures. So we trained staff on English Only expectations and added a detail that if students, after a warning, repeatedly use other languages while on campus can be sent immediately to the office where an administrator will kindly go over the policy and Honor Code with that student to help get them back on track. This week, I’ve noticed an improved awareness with our students and I hope to see continued growth in this area as it only helps them both build international friends and achieve more in the classroom.

The Honor Code is a focal point of XIS culture. It’s how we catch students doing well (Smile Cards and Warrior Breakfast) as well as how we redirect students who are making bad decisions (Time-on-the-Line, Lunch Refocusing Opportunities, as well as Principal Office visits and calls home). Once again, we started with Lead Teachers discussing our observations in the classroom and although the Honor Code has been effective with helping students who are making bad decisions, we are not effective with catching students doing well. So the XIS staff is setting out to put Smile Cards (positive examples only) in every learning environment at XIS, near the bathroom passes, so that students and staff will remember to fill them out and share them on our bulletin boards for all to see. Our students are amazing and try hard to make good choices and we are working more and more on publicly sharing the many positive Honor Code Traits our students show every day.

Technology Use is a nuanced subject. There are differences with younger versus older students as well as class to class. But the staff discussed the important question, “how is this technology helping the student’s future?”. We had many responses, which included assessing if the students have exceeded the Common Core State Standards in Technology combined with the subject level standards. We all agreed that using technology less is helpful for all and that all phones must be in the phone holders at the start of all secondary classes, with exceptions to our older, more responsible students.

Overall, I’ve been impressed with our action points and goals in these overall topics coupled with department level action points and goals. Updating already excellent parameters has helped all of us add our voices to XIS Culture and we hope you as parents will see the benefits at home.

Every month, the Leadership Team observes one department and in April, I’m observing secondary classes. Although it’s only the beginning of the month, I can see how our teachers are life-long learners as well as caring. From 6^th grade to 12^th grade, I can see the teacher and student interaction has been positive, the note taking intensive, and the questions challenging. Something I want to praise is XIS’s focus on note taking. This is a taught skill that has research that proves that it yields great benefits for university students. I’m so thankful to see our students’ note taking skills taught by each of their teachers!

Although I’m focused on observing classes in secondary this month, I enjoy my morning and afternoon random walk through of classes in elementary, Chinese, and specials/electives. From my walkthroughs, I see comfortable students who have great questions and are learning and growing every day. There are many times I see your child struggling with the content, but each time have been encouraged to see the teachers take note and in a caring and friendly way, help the student learn and push past their struggles.

A teacher recently told me, in elementary, that they had a student in their class say “I’m not good at math. I’ll never be good at math.” Through patient practice, encouragement from the teacher, and hard work from the student, the teacher told me the student recently received a 100% on their math test. The student then excitedly showed the teacher and said, “I’m great at math!” Wow! What a difference in attitude and confidence.

Thanks for choosing XIS! We know that it takes a village to raise a child and we love each and every one of our XIS Warriors. Building a common, XIS Culture helps us not only focus on learning in the classroom, but also helps our XIS unity!

With Care Always,

Ms. Harris
XIS Principal

U08 Basketball

On Saturday, April 15, the XIS Warriors traveled to Xi’an Liangjiatan International School for a U08 Basketball Game. The XIS Warriors battled against the Blue Dragons, and ended in a tie by a final score of 4-4. We are so proud of a great effort from all our Warriors as they continue to learn and grow!

U08 Basketball Final Score

XIS: 4

XLIS: 4

Warrior Scorers: Daniel Kim – 2 points; Leo Shin – 2 points

U11 Girls Basketball

On Saturday, April 15, the XIS Warriors traveled to Xi’an Liangjiatan International School for a U11 Girls Basketball Game. The XIS Warriors battled against the Blue Dragons, but were defeated by a final score of 18-10. We are so proud of a great effort from all our Warriors as they continue to learn and grow!

U11 Girls Basketball Final Score

XIS: 18

XLIS: 10

Warrior Scorers: Joy Lee, Joyce Kim, Stella Kim

U11 Boys Basketball

On Saturday, April 15, the XIS Warriors traveled to Xi’an Liangjiatan International School for a U11 Boys Basketball Game. The XIS Warriors battled against the Blue Dragons, but were defeated by a final score of 30-13. We are so proud of a great effort from all our Warriors as they continue to learn and grow!

U11 Boys Basketball Final Score

XIS: 13

XLIS: 30

Warrior Scorers: Evan Fong, Owen Guo, Cibi Deng

XIS Track: U08, U11, U14, U19

On Saturday, April 15, the XIS Warriors traveled to Dehong Xi’an School for the First XIAC (Xi’an International Athletic Conference) Track Invitational. The XIS Warriors finished in 3rd place out of 4 schools competing in U08, U11, and U14, and U19 Boys and Girls Divisions! Congratulations to our XIS Warriors on competing as they continue to learn and grow!

Warrior Medalists

U08 Girls

Morgan Kim – Front Throw, 2nd Place

U11 Boys

Jayden Ban, Bill Eo, Jun Eo, Seong Yun An – 4×100 Meter Relay, 3rd Place

Jayden Ban – Front Throw, 3rd Place

U14 Boys

David Kim – Shot Put, 2nd Place

Kimi Lee – Long Jump, 1st Place

Preston Papendorf – 800 Meter Run, 2nd Place; 400 Meter Run, 3rd Place

U14 Girls

Helina Ju – Shot Put, 2nd Place

U19 Boys

Abraham Kim – 400 Meter Run, 3rd Place

David Kim – Shot Put, 1st Place

Kyle Jang – 100 Meter Dash, 2nd Place; Long Jump, 2nd Place

Sawyer Papendorf – 100 Meter Dash, 3rd Place; 400 Meter Run, 1st Place; 800 Meter Run, 2nd Place

Kyle Jang, Abraham Kim, Solomon Choi, David Kim – 4×100 Meter Relay, 1st Place

U19 Girls

Rui Yang – 400 Meter Run, 2nd Place

Julie Lee – Long Jump, 2nd Place

Abigail Carrillo – Shot Put, 3rd Place

Julie Lee, Lilly Kim, Jisu Kim, Crystal Lee – 4×100 Meter Relay, 3rd Place

**If you do not see your name listed and did win an award at the XIAC Track Invitational, please let Mr. Burks know via Teams.**

Upcoming ASA Events

If you or your family would like to learn more about our XIS community, please contact us by phone at (+86) 029-8533-5014 or (+86) 182-9289-3276 or send us an email at office@xischool.com.

Go Warriors!