One of our favourite opportunities to reflect arrives as a new calendar year approaches.  Looking back over the events of the start of the 2021-22 school year, quite a few highlights jump out!  Here are a few of the special moments that defined 2021:  
Island Friendly – Primary Football Organized by the Year 8 Physical Education students who coached, officiated, and led the cheering, the ZIS Primary Football squad took to the pitch with our neighbouring school for the first match between the two campuses since the arrival of COVID.  The ZIS Jaguars battled to a hard fought 1-1 draw.  
  Launch of Updated ICT Curriculum in Primary Every year we want to learn more about our iPads and desktops and the amazing things we can do with them. For Lower Primary, this means looking into typing instruction, file management and familiarity with the Microsoft Office Suite. As students move into Upper Primary, we build on these skills and start accessing coding, photo/video editing, using E-mail to communicate and develop an understanding of digital citizenship and how to be safe online. Online safety also covers evaluating information online, which is a crucial skill to learn.  
  First Aid and CPR Training A grand total of 36 members of the ZIS team participated in certification training with the American Heart Association this semester.  First Aid certification through AHA reinforced and refreshed our knowledge and confidence, better equipping staff for emergency situations.  Thanks to the expert guidance of the six instructors, our capacity for excellent care was greatly expanded!  
Enhancing Well-being: ZIS Counselling Program The counselling program at ZIS was established in the fall of 2021 out of a desire to further support the social and emotional needs of the school community. At ZIS we recognize the value in supporting the well-being of the entire learning community. Dr. Lana Staton heads the counselling program alongside Ms. Vivian Deng.  
World Scholar’s Cup – Shenzhen This was our first World Scholar’s Cup – our team of MYP students weren’t quite sure what to expect, but did their courage and positive attitude pay off! The awards ceremony was extremely exciting with the ZIS teams receiving a total of 69 medals, 3 trophies and 9 Alpaca dolls. What an effort – what a result! Each of the three teams have now qualified for the Global Round to be held July 2022 in Shanghai. Out of a total of 118 teams, two ZIS squads place in the top ten (2nd place and 7th place). Congratulations students!  
  Jason Yu, Class of 2019, Visits
Jason Yu, one of our 2019 graduate, paid us a visit this semester. His presentation for the whole school was unforgettable. Jason’s main message was to inspire the students to believe in themselves and constantly develop new skills. Drawing upon his own experience, he provided many examples of how MYP and DP courses have shaped him as a learner and a successful entrepreneur. The students were amazed to see how crucial collaboration, communication and creative thinking are in running your own business.
 Business Business Business in Guangzhou The ASDAN Business Simulation Competition in Guangzhou was a highlight for many of our Senior student.  It was an opportunity for students with aspirations of leadership and entrepreneurship – the first time ZIS has joined this very popular competition.  Congratulations to the students who won the ASDAN “UK Enterprise Award” which means they’ve been invited to join the All Star competition located in Shanghai in 2022!  
  Welcome to Stella Tang – ZIS College Counselor This year we welcomed Ms. Stella Tang who recently joined ZIS as a full-time College Counselor. With ten years of work experience in the field of overseas university application, she is familiar with various majors in global universities and is committed to working with students and their families. Utilizing future career trends, she is able to offer constructive feedback to students’ and parents’ expectations, such as colleges, majors and also employment potential.  
  Guest Lecture: Dr. Steve Chen It was our great honor to welcome Dr. Steve Chen to speak with our Secondary students just a couple of days before Santa arrived for the Winter Carnival.  Walking the students through a career in computer engineering that spans over five decades, Dr. Chen shared the impact of supercomputing on our modern world and his vision for where these technologies will take us next.  
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