Recently, grades 4 and 5 of Shanghai High School International Division Puxi Campus successively held the first parent meetings on October 16th and October 17th. The parent meetings were divided into two sessions. In the beginning, parents gathered our new Hsi Building Auditorium to receive a presentation of our school's educational philosophy, educational goals, and various educational practice.  They were informed of the activities of the academic stage, as well as the overall situation of students in this grade in terms of daily behavior, moral character, and subject literacy. Following the introduction they entered homeroom to have in-depth conversations with homeroom and subject teachers. They jointly discussed growth and development of children to help foster their bright future.

The parent meeting for Grade 4 took "Understanding Independence and Moving Towards Self-Reliance" as their theme, aiming to guide students through the transition from the lower grades of primary school to the upper grades, with the goal being, to help them grow into more independent learners.

First, Ms. Zhuo, Supervisor of Grade 4, warmly introduced the general situation of the grade. This semester, Grade 4 has hand many new changes, including: teaching environment makeover , adjustments of subject teaching teachers, changes in course time and course content, and  newly added after-school clubs. While Grade 4 students have more freedom, they are also met with greater challenges. In addition, Ms. Zhuo highlighted the core values of grade four, GROW -  G meaning, growth mindset. Encouraging students to embrace changes and adapt to the new environment with a mindset to evolve and grow. At the same time, she also shared goal setting, ASB daily work and grade activities such as class collaboration. Ms. Zhuo’s expectations for the new semester include, students studying independently and also achieving progress through individual capabilities and the collective cooperation.

Afterwards, Ms. Sun, the psychology teacher, introduced SHSID’s psychological support work. She pointed out that in the face of changes and challenges during this new semester, students may encounter emotional roadblocks among academic pressure. As the students well-being is a number one priority, the school pays special attention to the psychological growth of students. Ms. Sun focused on "conversation rooms", "lunch club" and various activities, including psychological mini classes. Throughout the CME course, Ms. Sun introduced, in detail, how students can conduct self-exploration and emotional regulation. Ms. Sun emphasized that these platforms not only provide students with opportunities to release pressure and find resonance, but also invisibly cultivate their self-awareness and social interaction capabilities. In addition, the school will also provide professional educational support for parents through parent classes and expert lectures, with the objective to foster the healthy growth of children.

Finally, Ms. Lu, Director of SHSID Puxi Campus Grade 4-5, expressed the hope that in the new school, students and parents will move forward hand in hand, to  recognize the importance of trust, understanding and cooperation. She emphasized that when family, school and students are closely connected, resonate at the same frequency, and form a harmonious and unified learning community, can we understand the inner world of children more deeply and better help the all-round development of children.

Back in the homerooms, subject teachers first elaborated on the learning scope of this semester to parents, emphasizing key points and difficulties in the learning process and introduced the course evaluation system. Secondly, in the introduction of subject topics and classroom activities, teachers showed the exploration and practical activities that students have completed thus far. They also outlined project-based learning and topic learning, while explaining that activity designs aim to further stimulate students' innovative and critical thinking abilities. Finally, the teachers also provided a series of practical suggestions, from how to create a good learning atmosphere at home, to how to effectively improve children's learning efficiency, along with how to cultivate autonomous learning habits. Each suggestion embodied wisdom and rich experience of teachers. Teachers encourage parents to actively participate in their children's learning life, walk side by side with their children, grow together in mutual support and understanding, to become a strong backing on their growth path.

This parent meeting helped foster communication between parents and the school, allowing parents to better understand their children's learning and living conditions for their children on a daily basis. It not only deepens the understanding and trust between home and school but also lays a solid foundation for "home-school cooperation to help students develop". It is believed that with the joint efforts of home and school, children will surely thrive and shine with their own brilliance.

Written by Ting Cao, Teng Chen

Pictures by Minxuan Cao

Edited  by Cong Luo, Judah Kuhn