Dear WIS Parents,
At WIS this week everyone is busy preparing for next week’s whole-school assembly for peers and parents; and the Open House for new interested families.
We are also very fortunate and excited to announce our new teaching staff members, who will be joining us in August. They are all experienced international educators with proven track records of student centred inquiry-based learning in reputable schools:
Nathan Stuart – Middle School English
Nathan has nine years of teaching experience, three in the United States and five internationally in Beijing. Most recently he taught middle school English and Social Studies at St. Paul American School as well as coaching boys’ basketball. He earned a Master’s degree in middle childhood education and curriculum with reading endorsement in 2012 and a Bachelor’s degree in journalism with a minor in writing in 2008 from Kent State University. Nathan’s biggest passions are sports and writing. Before he was a teacher, he was a sportswriter in Ohio where he covered all high school sports. He hopes to pass his passion for writing and sports on to his students. Now he enjoys creating interesting lessons and shaping future minds.
Chineka Washington – Grade 5
Chineka is from Chicago, IL USA and has been residing in Hangzhou, China since August 2016. She creates a positive and confident learning environment in the classroom by incorporating a fun supportive team atmosphere. She has had the experience teaching young learners in China and the USA for 5 years. She approaches teaching the whole student by incorporating their individual interests with music, grammar, creative writing, social skills and class projects. In addition to teaching in China, she is a published poet in A Shanghai Poetry Zine and has an excerpt of her poem titled, “Hangzhou”, which illustrates her appreciation for the city and its people in the local newspaper. It can be viewed at http://www.hzxcw.gov.cn/dwxc/content/2017-04/06/content_6159048.htm.
She is happy to be here teaching and feels Hangzhou is her second home away from Chicago.
Jason Groleau – Grade 4
Having begun his teaching career in 2001, Jay has enjoyed teaching young learners in Canada, Taiwan, Chengdu, Zhuhai and most recently, Shenzhen. As a certified Primary-Junior teacher from Ottawa, Ontario Canada, Jay has extensive experience being a homeroom teacher for grades K-5. He strives to empower his students each day and foster an engaging learning environment where they feel comfortable and open to discovering and trying new things. He is committed to developing meaningful relationships with his students as they take part in the inquiry process, including the IB Primary Years Programme,. Jay is very excited to join the Wahaha International School community with his wife, Yang and 4 year old daughter, Ashley.
David Lambert – Grade 3
David was born and raised in the Flemish part of Belgium. After graduating with a Bachelors degree in Primary Education in 2005, he moved to China to work at International Schools in Chengdu, Zhuhai and Shenzhen. He has experience teaching a variety of subjects, including the IB Primary Years Programme, to students ranging from Pre-K to grade 12. Last year, David received his Masters of Arts in International Educational Leadership and Change from the Hong Kong Education University. He will be moving to Hangzhou together with his wife Li Yan and his 9 year old daughter Caroline.
Here are some of our important upcoming dates for activities taking place this term:
On Friday next week we will publish our new monthly WIS NEWSLETTER, with exclusive highlights from the whole school and beyond ☺
Anders Hjelm
Executive Principal
wischina.org