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YCIS Shanghai nurtures future leaders
October 27, 2010, Wednesday
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STUDENT leaders at the Yew Chung International School of Shanghai, from primary through secondary grades, focus their efforts on helping fellow students as well as organizing charity activities. These efforts align with YCIS Shanghai's motto of "love and charity," while giving the students an opportunity to practice leadership skills in a multi-cultural environment.
The Student Council at the primary school level emphasizes teamwork and fun, according to Emma Luck, curriculum coordinator at YCIS Shanghai's Pudong campus. Students are encouraged to raise fund for organizations such as Heart to Heart, where kids their own age receive money for life-saving heart operations.
"On Spirit Day students dressed in bright spring colors, including crazy wigs and hats. Random acts of kindness were encouraged and so throughout the day messages of encouragement, small gifts or kind words in a card were delivered to students by fellow students. Students also donated money to Heart to Heart and community games were held at recess times," said Luck.
Teamwork skills are developed further in secondary school, where the Student Council becomes the "voice of the campus." Recent student-led initiatives include work on an environmental green roof, introduction of a coffee bar and working with the administration on student matters.
"The school really lets us voice our concerns and be active in the process," said Year 13 student Gabriella Rader, one of three co-presidents of the Student Council at the Gubei campus. Rader sees herself as a link between students and the school administration. She has already made a positive impact this year by identifying problems and presenting proposals and recommendations for improvement to school staff.
Rader is using this year to concentrate on student concerns, while continuing the past focus on social activities to generate revenue for charity projects. Some of the student concerns she brings up may seem minor: more microwaves to heat up lunches, a way to print something quickly before class. But Mark Sylte, Western co-principal of the Secondary School Puxi, thinks otherwise.
"The value is that they hear everyday what I may only hear on occasion. What is of particular interest to the students, what makes it most enjoyable to come everyday and what are their frustrations," he said.
Co-principal Sylte and the administration were able to quickly remedy the microwave and printing situations once the Student Council communicated the problems. Students feel both empowered and encouraged to help improve their experiences on campus.
The Gubei campus' Student Council is made up of 20 students, representing different nationalities, which keeps with the school commitment to developing global citizens.
Federico Li, a Year 12 student and co-president of the Student Council at the YCIS Shanghai Century Park campus, feels that the administration has entrusted new challenges and responsibilities to the Student Council where cultural events are concerned.
"In the past, the Student Council has been in charge of coordinating the entire Chinese New Year celebration. Now we are adding Christmas concert preparations to the council's calendar," Li said.
"We field all students' concerns, and prioritize them in the Student Council before bringing them up in a meeting with administration."
The Student Council at YCIS Shanghai reflects the school's core values of an East-meets-West education and gives students a chance to practice these ideals before pursuing their higher education at destinations worldwide.
Co-principal Sylte sees the process as a chance for students to learn how to work with people regardless of age, background, or interest. "What are the ramifications of change, who will be affected by this, who do we need to consider? Everything is a learning experience, a microcosm of what they will do for the rest of their lives," he said.
The Student Council at the primary school level emphasizes teamwork and fun, according to Emma Luck, curriculum coordinator at YCIS Shanghai's Pudong campus. Students are encouraged to raise fund for organizations such as Heart to Heart, where kids their own age receive money for life-saving heart operations.
"On Spirit Day students dressed in bright spring colors, including crazy wigs and hats. Random acts of kindness were encouraged and so throughout the day messages of encouragement, small gifts or kind words in a card were delivered to students by fellow students. Students also donated money to Heart to Heart and community games were held at recess times," said Luck.
Teamwork skills are developed further in secondary school, where the Student Council becomes the "voice of the campus." Recent student-led initiatives include work on an environmental green roof, introduction of a coffee bar and working with the administration on student matters.
"The school really lets us voice our concerns and be active in the process," said Year 13 student Gabriella Rader, one of three co-presidents of the Student Council at the Gubei campus. Rader sees herself as a link between students and the school administration. She has already made a positive impact this year by identifying problems and presenting proposals and recommendations for improvement to school staff.
Rader is using this year to concentrate on student concerns, while continuing the past focus on social activities to generate revenue for charity projects. Some of the student concerns she brings up may seem minor: more microwaves to heat up lunches, a way to print something quickly before class. But Mark Sylte, Western co-principal of the Secondary School Puxi, thinks otherwise.
"The value is that they hear everyday what I may only hear on occasion. What is of particular interest to the students, what makes it most enjoyable to come everyday and what are their frustrations," he said.
Co-principal Sylte and the administration were able to quickly remedy the microwave and printing situations once the Student Council communicated the problems. Students feel both empowered and encouraged to help improve their experiences on campus.
The Gubei campus' Student Council is made up of 20 students, representing different nationalities, which keeps with the school commitment to developing global citizens.
Federico Li, a Year 12 student and co-president of the Student Council at the YCIS Shanghai Century Park campus, feels that the administration has entrusted new challenges and responsibilities to the Student Council where cultural events are concerned.
"In the past, the Student Council has been in charge of coordinating the entire Chinese New Year celebration. Now we are adding Christmas concert preparations to the council's calendar," Li said.
"We field all students' concerns, and prioritize them in the Student Council before bringing them up in a meeting with administration."
The Student Council at YCIS Shanghai reflects the school's core values of an East-meets-West education and gives students a chance to practice these ideals before pursuing their higher education at destinations worldwide.
Co-principal Sylte sees the process as a chance for students to learn how to work with people regardless of age, background, or interest. "What are the ramifications of change, who will be affected by this, who do we need to consider? Everything is a learning experience, a microcosm of what they will do for the rest of their lives," he said.
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