Principal's Pen

ECC & Elementary

Dear Parents,

Last week was an exciting week for all the elementary classes with either trips or a campout at school! All of the trips had a great time with invaluable experiences. Please ask your child about the highlights and the areas where they grew. Leaving school on a trip changes how students see themselves and others. On the Grades 5 and 6 trips, they had the opportunity to try and do hard things that challenged them physically and emotionally. The Grade 4 students also had their first taste of this as they set up tents on their own.

There are two more big events left in ECC & Elementary. The first is Kindergarten Graduation. Kindergarten Graduation is a celebration for Kindergarteners and their families to celebrate the end of their time in the ECC. It is a fun night to celebrate their learning growth in the last three years.

The second event is Grade 6 Graduation. Grade 6 Graduation is on June 12 at 8:45 a.m., following the House Winner Ceremony. Grade 6 Graduation is a celebration of learning and growth as well. The students are ready to now become Secondary students as they began that transition this year. They have grown and changed in so many ways and are ready for their six years in Secondary. I am proud of the young men and women they are becoming. I can't wait to see how they grow!

It is also the time of year that we say goodbye to friends and classmates. Please talk to your child about friends who are leaving. If you are leaving, please take time to talk with your child about what they will miss, what they have loved, and what they haven't liked. All three of these things are important as they process this transition.

Miss Barsalou

Secondary

Dear Parents,

Thank you to all teachers for leading Spring Trips! I hope all students enjoyed time with their friends and learned about the diverse landscapes and cultures in China.

Summer is almost here! It has been my honor and joy to have been your principal this year. Thank you all for a wonderful and memorable 2023-2024 school year. Over the summer, I encourage you to keep practicing English. Whether that is through music or movies, listening to English will help the transition back to school be easier. I also strongly encourage you to rest. You have worked so hard this year. Please find time to be with family, in nature, and eating great food. All these things will recharge and replenish your soul. See you next year!

To the class of 2024: Tonight, we are all here to celebrate you. Tonight represents years upon years of study, effort, grit, determination, and hopefully a little fun along the way. Tonight is a milestone. Thank you, all, for your dedication to this school — you have definitely made your impact. You have left your mark. And as we say here at TIS, once an eagle, always an eagle.

Mr. Way

School Wide Announcements

Graduation

Our Senior Graduation Ceremony will begin at 7:00 p.m. tonight, Friday, June 7. Those wishing to attend the ceremony are welcome to come.

Bus Schedule

To TIS
Bus 1: 5:50 AC - 6:30 TIS
Litchi 荔 枝 津AY 0223 Zhu Shifu 137 0219 5771

Bus 2: 5:55 BDHT (main gate) - 6:18 QYC LSY - 6:20 QYC QRY - 6:30 TIS
Peach蜜 桃 津AY 0126 Song Shifu 130 7206 5741

From TIS at 9:30 p.m.
Bus 1: TIS - AC
Apple 苹 果 津AY 0366

Bus 2: TIS - AC
Litchi 荔 枝 津AY 0223

Bus 3: TIS - AC
Grape 葡 萄 津AY 0106

Bus 4: TIS - QYC QRY - QYC LSY - BDHT(main gate)
Peach 蜜 桃 津AY 0126 Song Shifu 130 7206 5741

Bus 5: TIS - BDHT(back gate) - YSY
Pineapple 菠 萝 津AY 0065

No school on June 10

There will be no school on Monday, June 10, in celebration of Dragon Boat Festival.

Divisional News

ECC & Elementary

Some dates to keep in mind:

June 11 – Kindergarten Graduation
June 12 – Grade 6 Graduation
June 12 – Last Day of School

Secondary

2024 - 2025 Science Fair

The Tianjin International School Science Fair is CHANGING!

In previous years, we have had all projects in a single judging bracket with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards given to the top three projects. This has worked well for as long as TIS has been holding the annual science fair.

However, after discussions with parents and internal discussions within the STEM department, we have decided to CHANGE things up!

Starting with the Science Fair this coming November 25 (date subject to change), we will have awards in two categories:

• “Application-Based Science” projects: Awards will be given for 1st and 2nd place
• “Experiment-Based Science” projects: Awards will be given for 1st and 2nd place

The judges will also pick two “Best of Show" projects that will be invited to advance to the Sichuan International Science Fair. The two “Best of Show” awards may or may not be awarded to the 1st place winners from each of the categories above as they will be selected by the judges as the two projects most deserving of advancing to the next level of competition, regardless of category. (For example, “Best of Show” projects might be awarded to 1st and 2nd place winners in the same category.)

Another big change is that I am stepping down from the science fair lead position and passing it off to the most capable Mr. Barta. So, if you are interested in participating in the 2024 Tianjin International School Science Fair, please send an email with your group member names to jonathan.barta@tiseagles.com, and you will be added to the TIS Science Fair Canvas page.

Here is some additional information concerning the Science Fair that may be useful as you make your plans:

The Science Fair is open to all Grades 9 – 12 students. The main rules of the Science Fair are as follows:

1: The project must be 100% original.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• What already exists that is similar to my idea/topic/project?
• How is what I am doing an "original" application of my idea/topic/project?
• How is my idea/topic/project adding to the existing body of knowledge?

2: You may have no more than three team members, but they CAN be from multiple grades (9 – 12).
3: You must complete the project approval process BEFORE you perform your experiment (found on the TIS Science Fair Canvas page).
4: You must have a Science advisor (TIS Science staff in addition to any other qualified scientist) who is kept up to date on your project, its progression, and adjustments you are making.

Timeline of how a student should expect to progress their project:

1: Group formation and topic selection, January 2024 – May 2024
2: Students will have used the summer to do extensive research to ensure their chosen topic/project is fully original. While TIS staff will assist with ensuring originality, it is the STUDENTS’ responsibility to research their projects.
3: By the first week of school, students should have chosen a Science Advisor and given them a copy of their proposal for them to look over to make recommendations. This can be done earlier!
4: By the end of August, project proposals are submitted to the safety review committee to read through and approve BEFORE EXPERIMENTATION BEGINS. This can be done earlier!
5: Experimentation/design-build are completed by the end of October.
6: Data analysis, project summary, and presentations are nearly completed by the middle of November.
7: Project boards and presentations are prepared to be presented to judges during the Science Fair, November 25 (date subject to change).

Again, any interested parties should send an email to Mr. Barta at jonathan.barta@tiseagles.com so they can be added to the TIS Science Fair Canvas page for resources and additional direction.

Thank you so much for considering Science Fair. I can’t wait to see what you will do in the coming year!

Guidance Counselor

Graduation Ceremony – June 7 @ 7:00 p.m.

House Points Total