On January 16, a fun-filled Learning Carnival titled Gallop with Joy, Learn Together was held, bringing together first graders and kindergarten children. The event featured eight interactive subject-based booths, allowing students to apply their knowledge through games and hands-on activities. It concluded with an exciting robot competition in the gymnasium.This carnival effectively helped first graders consolidate their learning while introducing kindergarteners to the primary school environment, supporting a smooth transition between educational stages.

Congratulations to Bu Chenlin (Grade 4) for winning the district second prize and advancing to the municipal level in the 2025 Jiading District Chuying Cup Young Science Innovator contest ! Well done also to his instructors, Jamila Li and Tracy Wang.

On January 16, PYP Learning Celebration was held by the Rose Class. Students presented their recent learning achievements to parents through artworks, performances, and interactive sessions.During the event, learners confidently shared their inquiry-based projects across subjects and engaged in meaningful discussions with their families. Parents gained first-hand insight into their children’s holistic development in knowledge, skills, and attitudes.This celebration not only provided a platform for students to express themselves and build confidence, but also strengthened home-school collaboration, highlighting each child’s individual growth within the PYP framework.

On January 12, the MYP branch of the secondary school hosted a student-led forum centred on thetheme ‘AI is All Around Us: Tool, Partner or Opponent?’ Through English song and dance performances, bilingual speeches, scientific English comedy sketches, English debates, English short plays, and so on, the event vividly showcased students' multifaceted perspectives on AI. The event not only reflected students' engagement with technology and creativity but also sparked profound discussions among staff and students on sustaining learning, collaboration, and reflection in the AI era. AI serves not merely as a tool, but as a mirror reflecting human intellect and development. This event was mainly organized by the Student Union, fully respecting students' agent while enhancing their initiative and confidence. Participants impressed attending parents with their fluent English delivery.

Last week, the K2 Rose Class held a learning celebration based on the IB theme How We Express Ourselves. Children explored art as a tool for emotional expression through activities like DIY mood costume shows, art creations inspired by masters such as Monet and Van Gogh, traditional crafts, and stage performances. Parents were invited to participate, fostering a warm atmosphere and strengthening home-school collaboration.

Last week, the K2 and K3 Red Beech Class successfully carried out a five-day English Picture Book Performance Week. Through listening, speaking, and acting, the children practiced English expression in engaging scenarios. Each day began with a foreign teacher reading a picture book, followed by interactive QA to help students understand the story and learn key expressions. K2 students performed group recitations, while K3 students worked in small groups to act out short English plays, applying vocabulary and sentence patterns in role-play. Activities such as voting and peer feedback with heart-shaped signs also encouraged the children to speak up confidently and collaborate, effectively boosting their interest in English and strengthening their overall language skills.

On January 12, Rain Jiang (Heiman Jun), an honors graduate from SABS High School’s class of 2024, returned to his alma mater to share time‑management strategies with current students and discuss his role in founding the Manman Hope School through donations. Currently studying at the University of Melbourne, he balances academics, self‑media work, and philanthropy. Facing challenges in establishing the rural school, he persisted by collaborating with foundations and launching live‑streamed crowdfunding campaigns. The school now implements a Comprehensive Literacy Curriculum, including the Travel Far module, which teaches students how to plan trips, purchase tickets, and explore beyond their hometown—offering valuable inspiration to educators. Rain’s philanthropic spirit is reflected in his motto: “Stay rooted, grow patiently, and keep sowing seeds.” His continual growth remains an inspiring example to us all.

We are proud to announce that in the 2025 year-end performance evaluation of Jiading District's education system, SABS, SABK, and ASTEM Kindergarten have been awarded the title of Advanced Unit in the Education System of Jiading District. As a result, all three institutions have been honored as Advanced Units within Jiading District's education system! This marks the first time in our decade history that all three schools have received this distinction simultaneously. It demonstrates SABS’s widespread recognition and high quality, diverse, inclusive, and caring education.

All domestic high school art students have passed the Gaokao Art Exam.Congratulations to all students and high school.

On January 10, President Gloria Gong attended the Fourth Membership Congress of the China Private Education Association and the 15th China Private Education Development Conference in Beijing. She was successfully elected as a new council member following a vote by over 500 representatives.The China Private Education Association is a national-level organization established in 2008 under the approval of the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Civil Affairs. It operates as a non-profit, sector-wide body comprising private educational institutions and professionals across the country.The conference brought together nearly 800 representatives from kindergartens, schools, universities, and training institutions across 36 provinces and cities. Ministerial-level leaders, including Cai Dafeng, Chairman of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, and the Vice Minister of Education, addressed the assembly.Discussions centered on the development direction, policy guidance, internationalization, and innovation of private education as China enters the 15th Five-Year Plan period. The conference recognized the significant role private education has played during the 14th Five-Year Plan in enriching educational resources, meeting diverse needs, promoting reform, and supporting social development. It was emphasized that private education remains a vital force in building a strong educational system.As 2026 marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan, SABS, as a member of the association, will continue to adapt proactively, embrace change, and explore new pathways to contribute to the advancement of education in China.

On January 7-8, the PD Center successfully concluded the 2025 school-based research project report process, with 10 research teams participating in the presentations. The project topics were precise and valuable, closely focusing on current buzz topics in educational reform and the practical challenges faced in school development. This fully demonstrated the teachers' clear problem oriented approach and deep awareness of school-based research.The research process was generally rigorous, emphasizing action research and empirical evidence. Most reports clarified the process of “problem diagnosiss-olution design-practical intervention-effect evaluation-reflection and optimization.” With clear research approaches, they produced rich practical cases and actionable tools/models. The outcomes demonstrated strong practical applicability, initially forming operational teaching strategies that provide valuable references for school-based teaching research.

On January 9th, the Celebrating Us themed drama festival hosted by the Rose Class of the Primary School successfully concluded. This event innovatively integrated performances from all five grade levels into a cohesive showcase. Through drama, singing, and dance, the students explored and presented the customs and traditions of various countries. The festival not only provided a platform for students to demonstrate their artistic talents but also enhanced their understanding and appreciation of diverse cultures in an engaging and educational manner, fully embodying the theme of Celebrating Us. The event received positive feedback from teachers, students, and parents alike.

At the start of the new year, the 2022 cohort's outstanding graduates, Zhang Shizao and Jiao Yubiao, returned to campus to visit their teachers and share insights from their academic journeys with younger students. Both graduates are soon to complete their undergraduate degrees in Marine Science at the University of Miami and Electronic and Information Engineering at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Their sense of purpose and self-motivation throughout high school and beyond have brought immense pride to their teachers. We wish them every success in their graduate school applications and look forward to hearing more good news from them!

SABK recently held a K1 inquiry celebration with the theme Sharing the Planet, focusing on Saving Marine Life. Parents were invited into the classroom to observe their children's learning in action.During the event, K1A conducted an English Morning Circle that blended stories, music, and art in an immersive bilingual setting, allowing parents to see their children's language and holistic development. K1B set up inquiry stations based on the principles of Voice, Choice, Ownership, where children demonstrated their understanding through storytelling, building, and explanation, showcasing their growing agency and cognitive skills.Through role-play and interactive activities, the celebration effectively conveyed the importance of marine conservation and encouraged children to turn their sense of care and responsibility into real-life actions.

The New Beech Cup Teaching Showcase concluded successfully last week. Aligned with the theme of Digital Intelligence in Education, 30 faculty members from all divisions presented innovative teaching practices. New teachers actively integrated technology and data-driven approaches to nurture students' critical thinking and digital literacy. The school will continue to offer training and resources, share exemplary cases, and promote a collaborative teaching community.