Grade 8 students practicing for next week's China Day celebration.

Announcements

• QISS would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and all the best in 2012!
• Today marks the half way point of the school year, the end of the second quarter in the Upper School and the end of unit three in the Lower School. Thanks for everyone's hard work; let's have a great second half of the school year!
  
• High School Students are writing semester exams through Monday. QISS High School Exam Schedule - January 2012.pdf
• QISS would like to welcome Ms. Roz Maurel and Ms. Jana Halikova, both qualified teachers, to the QISS staff. Ms. Maurel will be taking over Ms. Nordstrom's Middle School LA and CS classes and Ms. Halikova will be teaching Ms. Yulia's ESL classes while she is on maternity leave.
• The annual QISS China Day performance will take place next Wednesday, January 18 from 1:00 until 3:30 in the QISS theatre. All parents and community members are welcome!
  
• QISS is offering a Writer's Workshop series for students in Grades 1 to 5 and their parents. The workshops will take place over three consecutive Saturdays in February (11th, 18th and 25th). Please see the Lower School Principal's Newsletter for times and sign-up information.
  
• QISS is looking for substitute teachers among our QISS community. If you are interested in being on our substitute list, please contact Alberto Gutierrez (agutierrez@qiss.org.cn), Peter Thorpe (pthorpe@qiss.org.cn) or Bill Corey (wcorey@qiss.org.cn).
• QISS teachers are always available to discuss academic or social issues concerning your child. For a list of all QISS staff and their email addresses, click here.
• Congratulations to our Lower School Art teacher Mr. Jorge on having two of his drawings featured in the latest RedStar magazine. You can see the drawings on pages 12 an 13 of the January edition. Click here for the online version.
• The new QISS Upper School News website is updated on a regular basis. Click here for the latest news!

A warm welcome to...

• Agatha Francke, who started in our Kindergarten class on January 12
  
• Anush Francke, who started in our Grade 3 class on January 12
• Brent Taejun Chung, who will start in our Pre-K class on January 16th
• Clara Taehee Chung, who will start in our Kindergarten class on January 16th
• Jiyoung  Yi, who will start in our Grade 4 class on January 16th
• Hyo Keun (Harry) Lim, who will start in our Grade 5 class on January 16th
• Mattias Eek, who will start in our Grade 6 class on January 16th
• Yihui (Carol) Dang, who will start in our Grade 7 class on January 16th
• Zhonghao (Andy) Hua, who will start in our Grade 7 class on January 16th

...we wish you much success and happiness at QISS!

And a fond farewell to...

• Anno Woo, who is leaving our Grade 4 class.
• Harry Park, who is leaving our Grade 6 class.
• James Woo, who is leaving our Grade 6 class.

...we wish you all the best in the future!

The Shark's Tale

• In preparation for the upcoming ACAMIS Basketball Tournament in Suzhou (February 9 - 11) the QISS Varsity Boys Basketball team will play against the QISS guppies (teachers) today after school.
• QISS is looking for people interested coaching High School Soccer. Please contact Mr. Adie (dadie@qiss.org.cn) if you are interested.

Next Week at QISS

Monday, January 16

• Grade 9 Physics Exam (8:30 - 10:00)
• Grade 11 Biology Exam (8:30 - 10:00)
• AP Economics Exam (8:30 - 10:00)
• Intramural Table Tennis for Grades 3 - 5 (12:00 - 12:15 in the Table Tennis room)
• Upper School Intramural Badminton (12:00 - 12:20 in the Gym)
• Grade 10 Chemistry Exam (12:25 - 1:55)
• Grade 7 Language Arts Key Assignment - Theatrical Perfomance of A Christmas Carol (12:25 - 1:55)
  
• Varsity Girls Basketball practice (3:30 - 5:30)

Tuesday, January 17

• Upper School Intramural Table Tennis (12:00 - 12:20 in the Table Tennis room)
• Varsity Boys Basketball practice (3:30 - 5:30)

Wednesday, January 18

• Grade 6 Language Arts Key Assignment - Presentations on Novel Study Sign of the Beaver (10:30-11:30 in US Room 303)
• Upper School Intramural Basketball (12:00 - 12:20 in the Gym)
• China Day Performance (1:00 - 3:30 in the Theatre)
  
• Varsity Girls Basketball practice (3:30 - 5:30)

Thursday, January 19

• High School Intramural Soccer (12:00 - 12:00 on the soccer pitch)
• Varsity Boys Basketball practice (3:30 - 5:30)

Friday, January 20

• Middle School Intramural Soccer (12:00 - 12:20 on the soccer pitch)
• QISS Varsity Girls Basketball team plays against the QISS Girl Guppies (female staff and parents). Parents interested in participating should come ready to play!

Upcoming Events

• January 11, 12, 13 & 16 - High School Semester Exams
• January 13 - Lower School End of Unit 3
• January 13 - Upper School End of Quarter 2
• January 20 - Upper School Report Cards sent home
• January 23 to February 3 - Spring Festival - no classes
• February 6 - Classes resume
• February 8 - Upper School Assembly/Pep Rally
  
• February 9 to 11 - ACAMIS Basketball Tournament in Suzhou
• February 11 - Lower School Writer's Workshop
• February 18 - Lower School Writer's Workshop
• February 22 - Early dismissal (1:00) for Staff Inservice
  
• February 25 - Lower School Writer's Workshop
  

Links

• QISS Website
• QISS 2011-2012 Calendar
• Lower School Principal's Letter
• Lower School News by Kids!
• Upper School QISS News
• Qingdao Expat Group
• RedStar Magazine Online
• Western Association of School and Colleges (WASC)
• Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS)
• AP (Advanced Placement) Central