AY 2023-2024 - Newsletter Vol. 4

Making Holistic Education More Accessible

Dear Community,

February brought with it success for our campus in many realms from athletics to admissions; stories of the month’s adventures lie below. Progress was made in discussions to enhance our brand with CATS Global School, our network, and our American brand partners, CATS Academy Boston. You may have already heard about the details of our collaboration, and further communication on our brand upgrade will be shared in the coming months.

Our school is dedicated to providing a more accessible pathway to a high-quality holistic education for all of our students. One key aspect of accessibility is the availability of exceptional educational services to assist students in making informed decisions about their academic futures. In February, we strengthened our guidance resources to offer students valuable advice from the Country Garden School guidance team, enabling them to utilize their time more effectively. Additionally, we are excited to announce the arrival of a new guidance counselor from Harvard University in August; more details about him will be provided in the near future. This year, we have seen an increase in university offers and our students and alumni continue to excel in various endeavors, thanks to the dedication of our outstanding parents and teachers who ensure progress in all areas of student development.

Our new Academic Office, led by the new Dean of Academics Dr. Fred Li, is collaborating on strategies to enhance student learning and teacher effectiveness. One key component for non-native English speakers is our exceptional EAL program. We will be presenting a detailed overview of our research-based approach at an upcoming Parents' University lecture. Additionally, we are implementing a more rigorous monitoring system to track student progress in the upcoming semesters, including MAP testing. These assessments are designed to provide valuable insights for teachers and the school to better support our students, rather than assigning grades.

Next month, we will continue to strengthen our school community through various activities, including welcoming new families. It was a pleasure to see some of you at our STEM activities on March 9th, and we are excited to see even more of you on Arts Day - April 20th; feel free to bring a friend. Meanwhile, have a great month and hopefully talk to you along the way.

Best Wishes,

School Leadership Team

Dorm Activities in February

We hope this newsletter finds you well and thriving in your studies and social activities. Here's a glimpse of the exciting events that unfolded last month:

🏮 Chinese New Year Celebrations at Forest City Market Street with Mrs. Tanner: Our dormitory family ushered in the Year of the Dragon with vibrant festivities at Forest City Market Street. Mrs. Tanner led the charge in immersing us in traditional customs, from lion dances to delectable cuisine. It was a memorable cultural exchange that enriched our understanding of Chinese traditions. 🍦 Ice Cream Tasting with Mrs. Sielina: Sweet delights awaited as we indulged in an ice cream tasting session hosted by Mrs. Sielina. From classic flavors to inventive concoctions, our taste buds were treated to a delightful array of frozen delights. It was a scrumptious escapade that left us craving more! 🍕 Pizza Night: We savored the cheesy goodness of pizza night, a delicious evening filled with various toppings and laughter shared among friends. It was a perfect opportunity to unwind and bond over everyone's favorite comfort food.

🌸 Perfume Making Activity: In a fragrant exploration of creativity, we delved into the art of perfume making. Under the guidance of expert perfumers, we concocted unique scents that reflected our individuality. It was a sensory journey that left us feeling inspired and empowered.

🎲 Board Games with Mrs. Conley: Laughter echoed through the dormitory as we gathered for an evening of friendly competition with Mrs. Conley. Board games brought us together, fostering camaraderie and strategic thinking. It was a joyous occasion filled with wholesome fun and bonding.

🚌 Big Trip to Malacca: Our much-anticipated excursion to Malacca was nothing short of spectacular! From exploring historical landmarks to savoring local delicacies, every moment was an adventure. We returned with cherished memories and newfound appreciation for Malaysia's rich heritage. Stay tuned for upcoming events and activities as we continue to foster a vibrant and inclusive dormitory community. Here's to a month filled with learning, laughter, and shared experiences!

College Counseling Workshop February 22

On February 22nd, we invited the Country Garden Schools (CGS) college counseling team to hold a workshop for the SSMFC community. CGS has established a comprehensive system for college counseling and has consistently achieved outstanding academic performance in the past 8 years. 

Kris Zhu, the head of CGS college counseling, introduced visiting families how CGS supports students in applying to their ideal universities and how it will help SSMFC improve ours.

In the afternoon of that day, Kris and the team members provided one-on-one counseling for 7 current families, and they will continue to support SSMFC thereafter.

Delischool menu for March 2024

Starting in March, Delischool’s monthly menu will be shared with the community.

Lower School Parent University

Dr. Morrin hosted a Parent University focusing on the CAT4 assessment for parents of grade 3-5 students. During this session, parents learned the areas assessed, benefits of administering the CAT4, and how CAT4 feedback is used.

CAT4 assesses how well a student can think about tasks and solve problems using a range of different questions. CAT4 assesses non-verbal reasoning, verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and spatial abilities.

CAT4 offers various benefits, aiding both students and teachers in effective planning and goal-setting. Teachers and parents each receive an individualized report providing a summary and instructional strategies based on each child’s CAT4 profile. The results can also be included in more elaborate discussions with your child and the school guidance team. 

Book Week

The SSM-FC community observed Book Week during the week of March 4th. The aim of Book Week was to cultivate reflective readers. The activities organized by the Book Week committee fostered this goal.

Book Week Kick-Off, DEAR Time

We were thrilled to welcome guest author Violet Lemay, an accomplished author with nearly 50 books to her name. She shared her book, Alithia Ramirez Was an Artist. This book was written to honor Alithia and all the lives affected by the Uvalde school tragedy, Alithia Ramirez Was an Artist will help preserve the memory of this talented young girl through her story and her artwork

We also had the priviledge of having author Kayce Smith join us via zoom. She and her son Hayes shared her latest book, Hayes and the Big Game.  Her biggest hope is that the Hayes series creates conversations about our differences and continues to highlight the amazing work of Shriners Children’s Hospital. 

Other highlights of the week include a drama workshop by Forest of the Stars, Mystery Readers, Author's Tea, and our Book Character Parade.

Grade 4 Personal Narratives

Written by G4 students Bonita and Manha

On Fri 15 Mar, the G4 class shared their Personal Narratives Stories to their parents and other guests. First, Dr. Mcleod explained how we learned what personal narratives were, and how we wrote our stories from start to finish. Next, we read stories written by other people. We gave feedback to the writers using Two Stars and a Wish. After 20 minutes of reading, we read our own stories to our guests and assessed them using the rubric. Finally, we celebrated with drinks and snacks. We enjoyed sharing how we improved as writers. We hope to share our nonfiction reports next!

International Mother Language Day

"Multilingual education is a pillar of intergenerational learning" was the theme this year. On this meaningful day, the students took part in a range of captivating activities, encompassing artwork illustrating various languages, students interviewing teachers about their linguistic backgrounds, and having interactive sessions learning greetings and basic counting in different languages.

Welcome to our new Students