Dear Parents of FIS,

Happy Halloween!

I hope you are enjoying the change of season, as Shanghai moves from its hot and humid summers to these cooler, breezier days. Here at FIS, we’ve just finished the first quarter of the school year, and would therefore like to take this opportunity to meet with you to discuss your children’s progress so far.

Please note: The date for the Parent Teacher Conference is on Monday November 17, 2008.
The meeting is set for one week after we have distributed report cards, in order to give you and your children enough time to read and discuss grades and comments before you come to speak with teachers. Reports card are being mailed out on Friday, November 7th.

You will receive a separate invitation to attend this important conference, but please put the date on your calendar now and plan to attend. This is a great opportunity for you to meet your children’s teachers face-to-face and hear about what progress s/he is making.

Here’s our schedule for November:

Friday, November 7 - Preliminary heats for track meet
Tuesday, November 11 - Preliminary heats for track meet
Friday, November 14 - Track meet at Fudan High School
Friday, November 14, 15 - Boys Basketball Game in Hangzhou.
Tuesday, November 18 - American Mathematics Contest 8
Monday, November 17 – Parent Teacher Conference
Friday, November 28 - Basketball Games (Pudong)

Have a great November!

Regards,

Jack Chang
Director of Fudan International School

A Cultural Exchange between FIS and Turkey

Last year, Turkish students from EGE Lisesi High School came to FIS to take part in a cultural exchange.

Our FIS students made such a deep impression on the visitors that they invited our school to visit their school in Turkey this year.

We have scheduled a trip for FIS students to go to Turkey for sixteen days during the Spring Festival vacation in January/February. During the first week, FIS students will participate in EGE Lisesi High School and Middle School classes and give a presentation before the Turkish students. The second week will include educational travel to historical places around Izmir and Istanbul.

We at FIS would love for our students to participate in this cultural exchange. We look forward to the trip and hope that it proves to be not only an enriching experience for our students but also a step in creating a bridge between FIS and other schools abroad!

If you have any questions, speak to Ms. Hale Dere, our Turkish math teacher, who is planning the trip. All students are welcome to sign up, and additional information will be posted shortly.

Dr. David Brown from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) came for two days in October to assess the FIS curriculum and school management system, to see if they are on par with WASC standards.

He spoke with administrators, teachers, students, and parents to gain better insight into the school’s current situation. FIS teachers and students have a lot to benefit from a WASC accreditation. Dr. Brown’s final report will be out early next year.

For more information about WASC, please visit this Web site:

http://www.acswasc.org/

We are currently seeking authorization to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, which we hope will provide FIS students with the opportunity to access leading international curricula and better chances at gaining admission to leading universities all over the world. We hope to offer the programme, beginning in September 2009, to our current Grade 10 students. If you have any queries, please feel free to contact Kay Yang, Assistant Director, by e-mail at

kayyang3@gmail.com

or by phone at 15821168813.

A November Checklist from the College Office

This month, all 12th grade students should make sure that....

• They have turned in their final college lists.

• They have given Jennifer a copy of any transcripts from previous high schools.

• They have begun to fill out all of their applications and are aware of the due dates.

• They have already gotten any necessary recommendations.