Principal's Pen

ECC & Elementary

Dear Parents,

Clubs are off to a great start this semester as we move into the Spring season, I wanted to share how wonderful our school clubs have been going. It has been amazing to see our students engaged, building friendships, and developing new skills by participating in various activities. From creative arts to sports, each club is thriving, and we are so proud of the enthusiasm our students bring each week.

With Spring just around the corner, we are also excited to announce some upcoming events that we would love for you to participate in! Be on the lookout for more details about:

• Doughnuts with Dads - April 11
• Spring Musical – April 25
• Muffins with Moms – May 7

These events will be a great opportunity for students to share their school life. We encourage families to join us and take part in the fun!

Thank you for your continued support in making our school a vibrant and engaging place for all students.

Warmly,

Miss Barsalou


Secondary

Dear Parents,

It’s good to be back in Tianjin. Last week, I had the privilege of traveling to Korea. Our Guidance Counselor, Mrs. Cotton, as well as our Korean Guidance Counselor, Mrs. Jackie Lee, were able to do a lot in just three days. First, we attended an alumni dinner on Sunday. It was so neat to see TIS graduates all the way back from 2020. Overall, there were more than 20 alumni there. Over dinner, they were catching up with each other and with us. We’re so proud of all that they are doing. Most are still in university, and a few graduate this March and will enter the workforce. We can’t wait to see where they soar to. Once an Egale, always an Eagle!

Monday and Tuesday, we then were able to travel to six Korean universities. We met with admission departments to hear what they are looking for in an applicant and also to advocate for our students here at TIS. I was able to explain the importance of holistic education and our rigorous AP program. We were also pleased to show these universities all of the leadership and extracurricular activities our students participate in. All of it comes together to help our students compete and get into the top universities in the world. We are grateful for the hospitality and relationships that were built. We look forward to many more trips for years to come!

I’m also pleased to announce that our High School students will be participating in a Model United Nations (MUN) conference in Qingdao, called MUNISQ, next weekend, while our Middle School students travel to Beijing the following weekend to compete in MUN at Dulwich College. These conferences are incredible opportunities for students to grow. They all have done research on international topics ahead of time and will then attend ready to find solutions. They will improve public speaking through formal speeches and debate, practice their writing through composing resolutions, and learn collaboration by working with other students to find a solution to their problem. MUN helps students see the world and understand their place in it, while also molding them to be the future leaders we all want to see. I can’t wait to hear how the conferences go!

Lastly, our High School VEX tournament is being held today and tomorrow. Students have worked tirelessly to build, code, and steer their robots. They are competing against other LifePlus schools as well as schools from all over China. Winners will be selected to travel to the regional tournament next week. We’re proud of the 8th grade TIS teams who already qualified and will be there. If you are available today and tomorrow, swing by and see our teams compete. Go Eagles!

Thank you,

Mr. Way

School Wide Announcements

Tianjin International School Robotics Challenge 2025
VEX V5 Robotics Competition - High Stakes
Friday and Saturday, February 21 and 22
Gymnasium

Divisional News

ECC & Elementary

Elementary Clubs

Secondary

Guidance Counselor

Senior 2025 Newsletter

SAT March 8 - Registration

https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/dates-deadlines

AP Practice and Tips

https://www.youtube.com/@advancedplacement

10th GRADE: PSAT10 (ONLINE) is set for MARCH 10

Click here for practice exams (BLUEBOOK DOWNLOAD NEEDED): https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/practice

PTO

Health Office

We are in the midst of Winter, and it is the most susceptible time to catch a cold. Because infectious diseases are spreading widely in the city, and it is easy to catch them, we need to pay attention to personal hygiene and keep social distance for prevention. Although not required, we highly recommend getting the flu vaccination to help protect yourself and your family. In addition, as their immunity wanes, some boosters are required. For example, TIS requirement of Tdap/DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis 3-in-1) is five doses for Grades 1-8. Students must have a booster dose of Tdap after the age of 10 and before Grade 9. For the safety of students during extracurricular activities and travel, a tetanus booster shot is also required by the school. Please check your children’s immunization records and make plans to obtain this vaccine while traveling outside China, as the booster shot of Tdap for teenagers is not available in mainland China. If your child missed this vaccination or others, the holidays are a good opportunity to get a catch-up shot. Thank you for your cooperation in helping to keep TIS a healthy and safe environment.

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