On September 21 and September 23, 2026, the Pudong Campus of Shanghai High School International Division successfully held its New Academic Year Parent Meetings for Grades 1–5. These meetings centered on student development, curriculum learning, character education, and home-school collaboration. The meetings provided parents with a comprehensive overview of the educational priorities and learning expectations for the new academic year. Through keynote sharing, subject presentations, and classroom discussions, the events strengthened a shared understanding between families and school.

01 | Understanding Before Guiding: Looking Beyond Children's Behaviors

To help parents understand children’s inner world and develop effective approaches to family education, the Grade 1–3 Parent Meetings featured a special psychological lecture by Ms. Wu Lei, entitled “Decoding Children’s Behaviors, Guarding Growth with Heart.” The session encouraged parents to look beyond what children do and consider why they may behave in certain ways, helping families become more attentive to the psychological signals behind everyday behaviors.

Drawing on common behaviors observed during childhood development, Ms. Wu explored the connections between children’s emotions, needs, and behaviors. Some behaviors that appear simple on the surface may communicate feelings that children are not yet able to express in words. Repeated behaviors may also reflect a child’s need for attention, understanding, security, or support. Recognizing these underlying needs can become an important first step toward more effective parent-child communication.

The lecture also offered practical approaches to everyday communication. Rather than immediately judging or correcting a child’s behavior, parents were encouraged to begin with listening, understanding, and thoughtful responses. Giving children space to express their feelings and ideas, while maintaining clear and consistent boundaries, can help them develop a stronger sense of security and become more capable of managing their own emotions and choices.

Moving from “correcting behavior” to “understanding the child,” and from simply telling children what to do to helping them develop their own thinking, represents an important shift in family education. Through this session, parents were encouraged to observe their children from new perspectives, recognize the needs behind their behaviors, and consider how everyday interactions can build a more positive, respectful, and emotionally secure parent-child relationship.

The school believes that children’s growth happens not only in classrooms, but also in everyday conversations, emotional responses, and countless moments when they feel truly understood. Through close partnership between families and school, we hope to create an environment with both clear expectations and genuine warmth, supporting every child as they grow into healthier, more confident, and more independent learners.

02 | Growing into Independent Learners, Step by Step

For younger students, independence begins with everyday routines: adapting to a new school environment, establishing positive learning and life habits, and gradually understanding expectations and taking responsibility. As students move through the grades, learning becomes increasingly complex, and the school gradually places greater emphasis on goal-setting, self-management, thinking skills, and self-directed learning.

03 | Becoming Independent: The Growth Journey of Upper-Grade Learners

For Grade 4 and Grade 5 students, becoming an independent learner is not a destination, but an ongoing journey. Students move from simply completing tasks to planning them, from seeking answers to asking meaningful questions, and from relying on reminders to managing themselves proactively. Each step represents their growth into more confident, responsible, and self-driven learners.

Growing Together, Moving Forward

As the Parent Meetings ended, families gained a clearer and more comprehensive understanding of the developmental journey students undertake at different grade levels and the educational philosophy that supports it. From understanding children’s psychological needs, the value of a diverse curriculum, to developing positive learning habits and becoming independent thinkers who can plan, reflect, and take responsibility, every stage brings its own opportunities for growth.

Education is a long-term journey that requires the partnership of school, family, and child. The school provides a rich and challenging environment for learning; families offer stability, encouragement, and warmth; and students gradually discover their own direction through trying, choosing, reflecting, and persevering.

Moving forward, the Pudong Campus of Shanghai High School International Division will continue to work closely with families through shared goals, consistent support, and mutual trust. Together, we hope to accompany every child through each stage of growth, respecting their individual pace while supporting them as they become increasingly independent, confident, responsible, and ready for the future.

(Written by Aura Jin
Pictures by Teachers of Pudong Campus

Reviewed by Xiaodong Wu, Shiyu Wu)