Principal’s Monthly Letter In April 2025
Principal’s Monthly Letter
30th April, 2025
Dear parents,
April, breathes life into the campus—fresh bamboo sways in emerald hues, and every corner hums with the energy of learning and growth. This is a season of vibrant ideas and unleashed creativity, where children step beyond classroom walls to explore the vast tapestry of our nation. While teachers who teach with heart, shaping minds with patience and insight. Together, let’s keep weaving bridges of trust and helping each child find their own footing in this wide and wondrous world.
TEACHING AND LEARNING：
Primary School: In pastoral care, innovative lectures with hands-on activities ignited scientific curiosity. Philosophy-infused class meetings fostered critical thinking, while interdisciplinary comic projects blended fable analysis with art to cultivate holistic literacy. Academically, tailored feedback and peer interactions enhanced collaborative learning. The English division combined PM reading material with storytelling pedagogy, while Chinese studies explored nature through classical poetry. Additionally, math, English, ethics and music teams received district acclaim for demonstration lessons.
Middle School: Centered on “Deepening Growth, Empowering Futures”, pastoral care this month emphasized personalized support. G6’s Qufu Confucius enrichment trip immersed students in classical wisdom, while upgraded clubs implemented dual evaluations tracking progress and outcomes. The “Career Mentor” initiative pooled cross-disciplinary resources to tailor guidance for each learner. Academically, refined assessment systems and the “Academic Action Plan” strengthened teaching efficacy. G9 maintained steady progress in Zhongkao second round of mock exams, while the Trivium Center continued to advance immersive language learning and hands-on inquiry.
SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT：
This month, the school has made significant strides in curriculum development and quality enhancement. In curriculum construction, the “SHZS Student Profile” was enhanced with grade-specific targets, while the CCA program expanded its diverse offerings. The mentorship program introduced “Student Growth Portfolios,” and the philosophy course for children launched its first “Philosophy Festival” to examine AI-era concepts. Additionally, the primary division scored 8/10 in district evaluations, outperforming peers and showcasing strong academic foundations.
For school reputation, our Open Day welcomed more than 400 families with 50 more interactive classes, which was highly praised. As for international exchanges, Thailand’s Education Ministry delegation commended our teaching diversity, while Hungary’s Liszt Academy experts conducted choral masterclasses. Exchanges with schools from Changshu and Zhongshan enhanced inter-school collaboration through joint research and demo lessons, which built up a strong school image to other schools.
In logistics and support, the school excelled in Shanghai’s unannounced inspection on safety, dining and child protection. Cafeteria upgrades included Western chefs to ensure healthy diet for all. And, the vision impairment rates dropped 1.03%, demonstrating a solid impact of holistic education at the school.
STUDENTS DEVELOPMENT：
In April, the Development Center collaborated with academic divisions to create diverse growth platforms for our students. The orchestra enchanted audiences with melodious performances during the Open Day, while the choir diligently prepared for the Vienna World Peace Choral Festival, ready to share their voices with the world. The Sports Carnival introduced innovative inter-house competitions in basketball and shuttlecock kicking, blending athleticism with fun to foster team spirit. The STEAM ignited scientific curiosity through hands-on experiments, and the “Happy Farm” project integrated house systems with the “Around the World in 80 Days” theme, as students collaboratively mapped global herb distributions, merging art with geography.
Our students have demonstrated outstanding comprehensive abilities and innovative spirit, achieving remarkable results across various competitions. Congratulations to: Xu Yiqi, Gong Siyu, Yan Yaozhang, Gong Tiancheng, Qin Siqi, Wu Yuhan, Zhang Luoning, Zhang Jingshu, Qiao Yiran, Tan Sibian, Cheng Xi, Ma Canglan, Lin Rucheng, Dai Jinchen, Feng Haochen, Liu Wangle Xin, Gong Yanan, Ma Qinan, Pan Chenxi, Liu Wangle Du, Liu Chenrui, Zhang Yubin, Chen Moyan, Xia Yutong, Liu Shiqi, Qiao Tianxin, Zeng Yiren, Cao Zhiye, Milan, Sun Yifei, Hou Jingyi, Tian Haoran, Guan Yuxuan, Fei Yihan, Ma Runfeng, Pan Chenxi, Liu Zhao, Jin Yutai, Chen Zhijun, Li Yicheng, Li Ruoyi, Wang Rongxi, Ba Xiaorui, Li Qingyuan, Tian Yuhan, and all other award-winning students. These accomplishments not only reflect our students’ dedication and intellectual growth but also exemplify the success of our school’s core value of “holistic education with academic excellence”.
TEACHERS DEVELOPMENT：
This month, the Development Center organized a series of professional training programs to enhance teaching expertise. Highlights included a two-day on-site certification training by CIE Cambridge Assessment, the “China-Adapted English” workshop from American WASC accreditation, the Teachers’ PD Day, and masterclasses by Russian vocal experts alongside municipal-level ceramics and printmaking research sessions. These initiatives explored innovative approaches to education in the new era. Additionally, the “holistic education through subject teaching” instructional design exhibition showcased cutting-edge pedagogical practices.
Congratulations to our exceptional teachers! We’re thrilled to recognize our outstanding educators and their students’ achievements to ESDP Awards instructors, SPBCN Spelling Bee coaches, Art & Science tutors and published essay guiders Ms. Wang Jingwen, Ms. Wang Ping, Ms. Zhou Lu, Ms. Dong Lixuan, Ms. Zhou Ziwei, Ms. Xie Hong, Ms. Qin Chen, Ms. Ji Jiani, Ms. He Qian, Ms. Xiao Tian, Ms. Hu Wen, Ms. Xu Wen, Ms. Guan Chang, Mr. Xu Leigang, Ms. Liu Jiaxin, Ms. Song Yao and Ms Wang Hongmei. Also, a special honor to Ms Wu Xia for her entering in national orienteering finals. Warm thanks for all of your kind dedication which inspires excellence and drives our school forward. Well done!
NEW CAMPUS：
The New Campus construction reached key milestones this month. All exterior walls, arcades, and corridors are complete, defining the campus skyline. Bilingual classrooms, dorms, and the activity center enter final finishes, while the admin building and arts center interiors advance as planned. Landscaping has begun with roads taking shape and planting underway. Faculty tours were conducted to prepare for relocation. This thoughtfully designed campus will soon offer an enhanced learning environment. Please kindly wait for our invitation to visit the new campus soon!
Dear parents, we are truly grateful for your enthusiastic participation in the “Parent Professional Committee”, bringing diverse expertise and real-world experience into our classrooms to support children’s holistic growth. Education is much like tending a garden – it requires patience, care, and the wisdom to let nature take its course. Each child, like a unique plant, grows at their own rhythm and in their own way. At SHZS, I firmly believe in nurturing rather than forcing growth. Our approach combines academic rigor with real-world experiences, helping students develop their strengths while gently guiding them through challenges. As we welcome May, I look forward to continuing this journey together, to cultivate an environment where every child can thrive and reach their full potential.
Now Let’s take a look at the plans for May:
Week 11
5月1-5日 Labour Day Public Holiday
Week 12
5月7日 G5 Math Demo Lesson
5月8日 “Greeting for Seasons” Art Show
5月9日 G2 Open Day & G7 Kids Forum
Week 13
5月15日 G5 Moral & Law Demo Lesson
5月16日 Zizhu Charity Event
5月17-18日 G9 Science & English Pre-exam
Week 14
5月20日 Pink Day
5月22日 DOE Mentor Training
5月23日 G3 Open Day & Trivium Mental Health Day
5月24-25日 “Sino-Australia Cup” & “Trivium Cup” English Speech Event
Week 15
5月29日 G8 14th Birthday
5月30日 Children’s Day Celebration
5月31日-6月2日 Dragon Boat Festival
Warm regards,
Leo GE
Principal
