As the final day of the last academic year came and went, we knew that the start of the new academic year would bring its challenges. As a school it has been our aim to bring some normality back to our community, employing additional teachers to support in our classroom along with developing a warmer and more welcoming environment.

Bright sunny weather brought our teachers and new students together on campus to celebrate the annual New Student Orientation event on Friday 14^th August. After a warm welcome from our School Leadership Team, students and their families were given the opportunity to meet with the teachers, tour the campus and get familiar with our facilities. Many students were able to make new friends before classes even begin!

In Primary Learning Communities, various introductory activities had been organised. With a mix of excitement and anxiousness, the new students took that ‘first step’ into a new world, joining in with all the activities, it was wonderful to see the pride in the faces of the parents and teachers.

Our new Secondary students started a different type of trip, one that will ultimately lead them to examinations and the character building that goes with it! Along with the excitement that the tour of their new school brought, they were also able to show their interests and passions during the teacher presentations. Many of them can’t wait to discuss their subject with the teachers, already we could see a great determination to achieve!

Even after the event had ended, many students wanted to stay, sharing their experiences of the morning, talking with their teachers or making arrangements to meet up with new friends on Monday.

At YCIS, we don’t just teach, we inspire! It was great to see how inspired our new students were and the promise of a happy, safe and productive learning environment awaits them.

We look forward, with great expectation, to another exciting year at YCIS Chongqing!