From December 3 to 5, Principal Gloria Gong attended the 2025 Basic Education Principals Annual Conference of East China Normal University in Qingdao. The conference focused on the theme Planning for Development, Quality as the Foundation, featuring in-depth discussions and expert lectures.During the event, Principal Gloria Gong listened attentively to multiple presentations and delivered a report on our school’s educational work and practical achievements this year. She also visited Qingdao Laoshan Experimental Junior High School and Qingdao Laoshan Hefei Road Primary School, engaging in on-site exchanges with local educators.This participation provided valuable insights for further clarifying the school’s development plans and enhancing educational quality, while also strengthening interaction and collaboration with other institutions.

The Art Department held the school-wide fashion show Rebirth: From Mountains and Seas to the Sky on December 5. Students from all divisions transformed recycled fabrics through painting, cutting, and stitching into creative garments and presented them on stage.Primary school designs were playful, middle school works emphasized collaboration and redesign, while high school pieces reflected deeper thinking on sustainable fashion. The show was both a creative display and a practical lesson in environmental awareness, highlighting students' artistry and sense of responsibility.

Last Saturday, the 4th International Curriculum Physics Education Forum, themed ‘Transcending Boundaries, Integrating Innovation: Interdisciplinary Teaching andPractice in Physics’, was successfully held at SABS. 15 teachers from across the nation shared and exchanged insights from diverse perspectives on their practical experiences. Zoey Zhu, SGL of the Subject Group 4 at SABS, explored the importance of long-term educational planning based on SABS's practices. Examples included the G8 Transition Programme – the Bridge Project – and the G10 Yanshan Teaching Support Initiative, demonstrating a focus oncultivating scientific literacy and other skills from the lower years onwards. For senior DP students, she illustrated how to identify suitable topics for Extended Essays (EE) by leveraging the International Young Physicists' Tournament (IYPT) framework, tailoring approaches to individual strengths and weaknesses, and employing AI for problem-solving. Physics teacher Murad delivered a comprehensive discussion on a comprehensive guide to writing effective Internal Assessments (IA), covering how to choose a topic; how to craft a focused research question; how to identify and operationalize variables; how to control all relevant parameters; how to conduct the experiment and log data systematically; how to process, present and analyze results with appropriate graphs and error considerations; how to draw evidence-based conclusions and evaluate limitations; and, finally, how to cite sources in proper academic format. The forum built an open, collaborative platform for physics educators to explore the remarkable connections between physics and other disciplines.

On December 4, the Middle School held an Open Day and Principal Meeting for parents of current fifth graders. Parents visited sixth-grade classes and attended a session with school leaders.The event provided insights into the junior high curriculum, campus life, and transition support. It highlighted the school's integrated approach to ensuring a smooth progression from primary to secondary education.

On December 2, Grade 5 Rose Class held a learning exhibition on Cultures Around the World. Students used AI technology to explore different cultural features and gained initial understanding of the concept that national identity is shaped by specific environments and historical processes.Each group created rich and diverse posters to present their findings, sharing them with parents and classmates through live explanations.The exhibition demonstrated the students' interdisciplinary inquiry skills, technological integration, and teamwork. It was a successful practice in fostering global perspectives and critical thinking in elementary education.

Last week, SABK held a curriculum achievement showcase under the theme When the 'Four Great Inventions' Meet 'Future Creations'. Throughout the transdisciplinary inquiry unit, the children not only experienced traditional inventions such as ancient papermaking and movable-type printing firsthand but also designed and presented various creative future inventions in collaborative groups, such as the Interstellar Rescue Rocket and Insect Winter Shelter.The event served not only as a summary of their learning achievements but also reflected the kindergarten's educational practice in fostering creativity and nurturing an exploratory spirit.

Last week, the middle school held a mid-term student forum with the principal. Students affirmed teaching quality, especially recognizing new and improving teachers. They highlighted qualities such as care, strong support, thorough preparation, and fair attention to every student. Interactive, practical, and tech-savvy classes were most appreciated, while constructive feedback was also shared. The forum provided valuable insights for enhancing teaching and fostering teacher-student collaboration.

Artworks by primary, secondary, and high school students participated in the ‘Light ofFuture-Oriented Art Education’ themed exhibition hosted by East China Normal University on 21 November. The exhibited pieces garnered multiple awards, and SABS was honoured with the ‘Outstanding Organisation Award’ for students' active participation. Congratulations to the Art Department!

At the 17th Shanghai Model Festival, Xu Zhengxi from the middle school division won second prize in the middle school category for his Multi-rotor Drone Racing project. Congratulations to him and his advisor, Janey Jiang.

Xu Zichen from the High School has achieved remarkable success in multiple recent flute competitions. He won the first prize in the 6th Guangzhou International Flute Competition (China Preliminary Round) and received the Instrumental Performance Award in the Solo Junior Professional Category as well as the Excellence Award in the Youth Professional Category at the 4th Asia International Flute Competition. Congratulations to Xu Zichen and the Music Department!

On November 24, Principal Gloria Gong and Vice Principal Vincent Xu attended the Yangtze River Delta Private Education Integration Conference.The event gathered key leaders from private education associations and government bodies across Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Anhui.Gloria Gong delivered a keynote speech titled “Returning Education to a Human-Centric Approach: Upholding and Innovating Personalized Cultivation in the AI Era,” joining experts in exploring AI-driven pathways for educational reform.The next day, the delegation visited Hangzhou Yungu School to learn about its student-centered philosophy and its 15-year integrated education model. Yungu’s “Teacher Competency Framework,” emphasizing balanced literacy and individualized growth, offers valuable insights for SABS’s own development.

On November 26, Laureate College from Canada visited our school. Its Director, Mr. James Shen, and Chinese Principal, Ms. Hou Xiaobo, met with Gloria Gong to discuss sister-school collaboration.They explored how to blend technology with the IB holistic education philosophy to develop lifelong learners and leaders. Future cooperation will focus on teacher development, leveraging resources from Laureate College, the North American Basic Education Schools Alliance, and the University of Toronto.

On November 28th, the Primary School Division successfully held the English Drama Show, part of the 6th This Is Me Rose Drama Festival. The event featured five original English plays—from the adorable Six Little Chicks by first graders to the creative Little Red Riding Hood on Strike by fifth graders—along with a cross-disciplinary choir and interactive sessions. Over 400 audience members were immersed in the unique magic of bilingualism + drama.The festival provided every student with a platform to showcase their talents and develop key skills. Beyond enhancing English proficiency and teamwork, the event beautifully embodied the This Is Me spirit through joyful performances, enriching the campus with a vibrant artistic atmosphere.

On November 28, the school invited parents of kindergarten children to a face-to-face meeting with the primary school management team.During the session, the school provided a detailed introduction to the primary curriculum, featured educational activities, and teaching methods. Professional guidance was also offered on how to ease the transition from kindergarten to primary school—a key concern for many parents.The school’s coherent K-12 educational system helps provide a continuous learning pathway, supporting children in smoothly adapting to primary school life. The event served as an effective bridge for home-school communication and helped alleviate parents’ concerns about their children’s transition.

On November 28, Middle School hosted a meeting for eighth graders on academic planning. Gloria Gong outlined academic pathways, highlighting eighth grade as a key stage.She explained the school's dual-track system, offering both local exam prep and international programs. This approach allows personalized development based on student differences.The lively session prompted thoughtful discussions. Afterwards, students inquired about high school programs, showing clear planning.