2018-2019 · 2018-08-20 · 2018-2019 key dates key dates event opportunities to participate wed,...
TRANSCRIPT
2018-2019
What is Parent Link?• Parent Link provides a link between the parents and the school.
• Weaimtobuildastrongercommunityforthebenefitofeveryone:ourchildren, families,theschool.
• We also support others who are less fortunate than ourselves through fundraising and charitable work.
Parent Link MissionTomakeadifferencebyconnecting,supportingandenrichingtheWABcommunityinaspirit of shared enthusiasm and positive action.
Parent Link VisionTobeastronglinkwithintheWABcommunity,withthevaluesofbeinginclusive,respectfulandChinafocused,connectingforthecommongood.
How can I join Parent Link?• AllWABparents/guardiansareautomaticallymembersofParentLink.
• ButtoreallygetthemostoutofParentLinkwerecommendyouparticipateat all possible opportunities.
• Check out the range of activities (parents.wab.edu/parent-link) that we coordinate. There’s something for everyone.
• Forgeneralquestions,[email protected].
2018-2019KEYDATES
Key Dates Event Opportunities to Participate
Wed,August22 Parent Link Open Meeting Find out what's planned for the year
Sat,August25 WABCommunityPicnic Meet old friends and make new ones
Wed,August29 Parent Link Welcome Coffee Kickstarting the community
Fri,September7 Chinese Link Welcome Coffee Introduction for Chinese Parents
Fri&Sat,September7-8
WABXtotheMax Cheer on our athletes; help out on the TigerSpiritLinkSnackShack
Mon,September10 Korean Link Welcome Coffee Introduction for Korean Parents
Wed,September19 Parent Link Open Meeting Hear what’s planned; have your say
Wed,October17 Parent Link Open Meeting Planning underway for the upcoming CharityBazaar
Sat,October20 JPACVolleyball Cheer on our athletes; help out on the TigerSpiritLinkSnackShack
Sat,October27 WABShanghaiSwingGala Anightofelegantenjoyment
October ? APACSportsSeason1 Cheer on our athletes; help out on the TigerSpiritLinkSnackShack
Wed,November14 Parent Link Open Meeting Including more planning for the Charity Bazaar
Thurs-Sat,November15-17
APACArtsSeason1 Supportourperformers;helpoutontheTigerSpiritLinkSnackShack
Sat,November24 CharityBazaar Lendahand,buyupastorm,supportcharity
Weds,December5 Parent Link Open Meeting Hear what’s planned; have your say
Wed,January16 Parent Link Open Meeting Find out what's planned for the rest of the year
Fri,January18 FriendsoftheLibraryPyjamaParty
CelebrateourESchildren'sloveofreading
Thurs-Sat,January24-26
APACSportsSeason2 Come support our athletes; help out on theTigerLinkSnackShack
Wed,February13 Parent Link Open Meeting Hear what’s planned; have your say
Wed,February20 Parent Link Welcome Coffee Come along to welcome the newest WABfamilies
Thurs-Sat,February21-23
APACArtsSeason2 Supportourperformers;helpoutontheTigerSpiritLinkSnackShack
Fri,March29 StaffAppreciationDay CookupastormtofeedtheamazingWABstaff
Thurs-Sat,April11-13 APACSportsSeason3 Cheer on our athletes; help out on the TigerSpiritLinkSnackShack
Wed,April17 PL Election Comeandvotefornextyear'sExecutiveTeam
Fri&Sat,May24-25 JazzinthePark/FilmFestival/FunFair/RockinthePark
Lendahand,enjoytheday(andevening)
Fri,June1 Parent Link Open Meeting Hear what’s planned; have your say
parents.wab.edu/calendar
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WELCOMEFROMPARENTLINKCHAIR
Dearnewandreturningfamilies:
AsCo-ChairsofParentLink,wearehonoredanddelightedtowelcomeyoutoWABforthe 2018-19 school year.
Parent Link provides a link between parents and the school and aims to build a stronger communityforthebenefitofeveryone:ourchildren,familiesandtheschool.Wealsosupportothers who are less fortunate than ourselves through fundraising and charitable work.
IfyouwanttomeetwithotherWABparents,ParentLinkistheplacetostart.ParentLinkworksasahub,providingfamiliesatWABawiderangeofopportunitiestoshareandcelebrateourmanydifferentbackgroundsandexperiences.
ThroughyourinvolvementwithParentLink,you’llgetinsightsandunderstandingintowhatisgoing on in the school. There are various opportunities throughout the year to participate in activities that directly help the school.
Onamorepersonalnote,itfeelsgoodtogive,whetherit’syourtime,yourexpertiseorafinancialdonationtooneofourcarefullyselectedandveryworthycharities.Ourchildrenlearnasmuchfromouractionsastheydofromourwords:BeinginvolvedwithParentLinkdemonstrates to our children the value that we place upon volunteering.
Weguarantee,whateveryouputin,you’llgetbackwaymoreinreturn.
Throughouttheyear,ParentLinkoffersnumerouswaystogetinvolved,onaone-offorregularbasis.DetailedinformationisprovidedontheActivitiespagesofthisbookletandishighlightedintheParentLinkSchoolCalendarthatyourchild(theyoungestone,ifyouhavemorethanoneattheschool)shouldbebringinghome,aswellasonourpagesontheParent Portal website.
ThereareloadsofwaysyoucangetinvolvedwithParentLink.Theyinclude:
• VolunteertobeaRoomParentorGradeRep
• BakeorcookforCelebrationofDiversity/GlobalIssuesConference,StaffAppreciation DayorfortheCharityBazaar
• Work in the Parent Link shop
• HelpoutatWABXeventsthroughTigerSpiritLink
• RunastalloranactivityattheFunFair
• Organizesocialeventswithotherparents
• Come up with another idea. We are always open to suggestions.
Weunderstandthatyourtimeisvaluable,andworkandfamilyconstraintsmeanthatyoumayonlybeabletohelpatcertainlimitedtimes.Thisyear,weareaskingforasmallbutsignificantcontribution:Ifeveryparentintheschoolgavejustonehourperyear,wewouldhave more than enough volunteers to manage the massive range of activities that Parent Linkorganizes.Sothat’swhatwearehopingfor:onehourofyourtime.
Jaclyn Dam Laute Ling SheeParent Link Co-Chair Parent Link Co-Chair [email protected] [email protected]
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VOLUNTEER
One hour a year. That’s all we ask from you. ParentLinkisavolunteerorganization.
It’s entirely dependent upon people giving their time. In order to be able to run the range of activities,weneedyou,theschoolparents,tohelpout.
Ifeveryonegavejustonehourayear,wewouldhaveenoughhelperstobeabletorunallour activities.
The good news is it’s not one-sided. People who participate in Parent Link say they get a lot more back than they put in.
What’s in it for me?The more you are involved, the more you will get out of Parent Link.• Meet other parents
• EnjoyandhelpbuildthediverseWABcommunity
• Understandmoreaboutwhathappensatschool
• Help the school
• Contribute to charity
• Demonstrate to your children the value of volunteering
What’s in it for everyone else?When parents are involved in school, children do better.Researchshowsthatwhenparentsareinvolvedintheirchildren’seducation,thechildrenaremorelikelyto:
• Earn better grades
• Scorehigherontests
• Pass their classes
• Attendschoolregularly
• Have better social skills
• Showimprovedbehavior
• Bemorepositiveintheirattitudetowardschool
• Complete homework assignments
• Graduateandcontinuetheireducation
Schools with involved parents enjoy:
• Bettermoraleamongteachers
• Higher ratings of teachers by parents
• More support from families
• Abetterreputationinthecommunity
Expertsagreethatparentinvolvementintheirchildren’seducationisoneofthebiggestpredictors of student success.
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PARENTLINKACTIVITIESANDGROUPS
WAB’sParentLinkorganizesawiderangeofactivitiesandfacilitatesnumerousgroups,withmanyofthemlistedbelow.Forfurtherinformation,includingideasabouthowyoucangetinvolvedandthebenefitsofparticipation,visittheParentLinkpageontheParentPortalwebsite.
Room Parents and Grade RepsAttheheartofWAB’sParentLinkactivitiesarethevolunteersthatserveasElementarySchoolRoomParentsandMiddleandHighSchoolGradeReps.ESRoomParentstypicallyorganizeactivitiesincludingclasspartiesandsocialeventsforparentstomeet,whileMS/HSGradeRepshelpfacilitatecommunicationbetweentheparentsandschoolandalsoorganizesocialevents.
YourRoomParent/GradeReppassesoninformation,mostlikelythroughWeChat.AllRooms/GradesshouldhaveaWeChatgroup,wherevitalinformation,upcomingdatesandParentLink-relatedinformationisshared.Westronglyrecommendyoujointhegroup.
TovolunteerorformoreinformationaboutRoomParentsandGradeReps,gototheParentLink page on the Parent Portal website or contact the representative for your respective schoolsection,whowillbeabletolinkyouwithyourRoomParent/GradeRep.
Early Years/Elementary School:[email protected]
Middle School:[email protected]
High School:[email protected]
Career Fair CommitteeCareerFairisahalf-dayeventforGrades10and11studentsorganizedbyParentLinkincollaborationwiththeHighSchoolcounselors.TypicallyheldinlateJanuaryorearlyFebruary,itaimstobroadenstudents’horizonsandgivetheminsightsintoawidevarietyofprofessions.ParentLinkhelpstoorganizetheprofessionals,manyofthemparentsattheschool,whoattendontheday.
Contact:[email protected]
Charity LinkCharity Link coordinates a wide range of programs aimed at assisting the vast population of impoverishedpeoplelivinginChina,includingraisingmoneytosponsoreducationofruralchildren and other groups in need.
Contact:[email protected]
Charity BazaarTheAnnualParentLinkCharityBazaarisahighlightoftheWABcalendar.Oneofthebiggest–andmanywouldarguethebest–ofBeijing’swinterfairs,theCharityBazaarseestheElementarySchoolfilledtothebrimwithfestivefareandhappyshoppers.Amassiverangeofgoodsareofferedforsale,andtherearesomelegendaryfoodstalls,includingParentLink’s very own bake sale and the ever popular Finnish table.
TheCharityBazaarisscheduledtotakeplaceeveryyearattheendofNovemberorstartofDecember.
Contact:[email protected]
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PARENTLINKACTIVITIESANDGROUPS
Community LinkCommunityLinkaimstobringtogethertheWABcommunity.ItwelcomesandassistsnewWABparentsduringOrientationDayandWelcomeCoffees,organizescultural/languageandcompoundliaisonssonewcomerscanconnectwitheachother,andarrangesculturaloutingsprovidinganopportunityforparentstomeetanddiscovermoreofBeijinganddifferent cultures.
Contact: [email protected]
Friends of the LibraryFriendsoftheLibraryaimstopromotereadingamongstudents,forexamplebyorganizingbookswaps,bookfairsandonlinebookorders,runningtheannualPJpartyfortheyoungeststudents and sponsoring residencies by authors and illustrators.
Contact:[email protected]
Fun Fair LinkEveryMay,ParentLinksponsorsacarnival-likedayoffunfortheWABcommunity,organizinggames,sportschallenges,entertainmentandgoodfood.It’soneofthehighlightsoftheschool calendar.
Contact:[email protected]
Celebration of Diversity/Global Issues Conference Lunch Anotherone(actuallytwo)ofthemust-attendeventsontheWABcalendar,CelebrationofDiversityintheElementarySchoolandtheGlobalIssuesConferenceintheMiddle/HighSchoolsoffertheopportunitytosharetheculinarydelightsofourowncountries.
Every family is asked to bring in a plate of food from their home country to share with the restoftheschool.It’samassiveeventthatfillstheschoolgymsandseesstudentsproudlycelebratingtheirhomecountry(orcountries,formanyofthem).
Contact: Room Parents/Grade Reps
Forfurtherinformation,seetheParentLinkpageontheParentPortalwebsite.
Parent Link ShopParentLinkoperatestheTiger’sDenintheES.TheshopsellWABmerchandise,PEuniforms,WABXitemsandmuchmore.Entirelyrunbyparentvolunteers,profitsareusedtosupportmany activities throughout the school and beyond.
Contact:[email protected]
Furtherinformation,includingshoptimes,isavailableontheParentLinkpageontheParentPortal website.
Social EventsEachyear,ParentLinkorganizesseveralsocialeventstohelpbringparentstogetherandbuildtheWABcommunity.Previousexampleshaveincludedcookingclasses,iceskating,andtripstointerestinglocations.Someeventscombinechildrenandparents.Others–suchastheQuizNight–areforadultsonly.Newsuggestionsarealwayswelcome.
Contact: [email protected]
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PARENTLINKACTIVITIESANDGROUPS
Staff Appreciation DayWABfamiliesgettoshowtheirappreciationforthemarvelousworkdonebytheentireWABstaff.UsuallyheldinMarch,parentscookupastormandprovideaveritablefeast.
Contact:InformationwillbeprovidedthroughRoomParentsandGradeReps.
Tiger Spirit LinkTigerSpiritLinkaimstopromoteschoolspirit,providingsupportforWABXActivities(includingsports,artsandotheractivities)andrunningtheSnackShacksduringWABXevents.
Contact: [email protected].
Chinese LinkChinese Link aims to provide an important communication bridge between the school andChineseparents,byunderstandingChineseparentsneeds,listeningtotheirconcerns,conveyingaccurateschoolinformationandorganizingtheparticipationofChineseparentsin school and Parent Link events. Chinese Link usually meets once a month.
Contact:[email protected]
Korean LinkKorean Link aims to facilitate smooth and clear communication between the school and Koreanparents,fosteringaclose-knitsenseofcommunityandaspiritofteamworkandvolunteerism and promoting the unique culture and food delicacies of the country.
Contact:[email protected]
ASEAN Link (Association of Southeast Asian Nations)ASEANLinkisthegroupforparentsfromASEANcountries,orthosewithalinkorinteresttothoseareas.Primarilyasocialgroup,ASEANlinkmembersgoonculturalvisits,picnicsandpotluck dinners.
Contact: [email protected]
WAB Alumni Network ParentLinkhasrecentlybroadenedourreachtoincludeParentsofAlumniLink.YourchildmaynolongerbeatWAB,butyou’llforeverbepartoftheWABCommunity.
Contact:[email protected].
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USEFULINFORMATION
WAB Telephone Numbers and email addresses
Elementary Reception (including ECC) Phone:59865588ext.1000
email:[email protected]
Middle School Reception Phone:59865588ext.1002
email:[email protected]
High School Reception Phone:59865588ext.1004
email:[email protected]
How do I inform school if my child is sick?Ifyourchildisunabletoattendschoolduetosicknessorforanyotherreason,youshouldemail the respective school section at the email address above.
Where do I go to find out what is happening in school?WABWeeklyisthebestplacetofindoutwhatiscomingup.ItispublishedeveryFridayat11am on the Parent Portal (parents.wab.edu/wab-weekly)andWAB’sWeChatwebsite.Wesend you an email every week to remind you.
Further InformationTheCommunicationsandAdvancementOfficehasproducedaninvaluableguidetoallWAB’sonlineresources.Ifyoudon’thaveacopy,[email protected] and they can send it to you via email.
Key Website addressesWAB: www.wab.edu
WAB Parent Portal: parents.wab.edu
WAB Photos: parents.wab.edu/wab-photos
WAB News: www.wab.edu/news
WABX: wabx.wab.edu
Registration for Parent Ambassador Team: www.wab.edu/experience/community/volunteer
PowerSchool: ps.wab.edu
WESTERN ACADEMY OF BEIJING10LaiGuangYingDongLu•ChaoyangDistrict
Beijing•100102•PRC•+861059865588
www.wab.edu | parents.wab.edu
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