Chinese American International School

We have all observed with sadness and indignation an uptick in acts of violence and aggression against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders that have been well documented and widely reported. As our nation’s oldest and most mature Mandarin immersion day school, what should our role be? Head of School Jeff Bissell wrestles with this question in an important message to the community, framing his evolving thoughts under three banners: Safety, Self-Respect, and Solidarity. Read more at https://www.cais.org//caiss-role-addressing-anti-asian-agg

Science teacher Genny Elias-Warren shared today's exciting Mars Rovers landing feed with colleagues (https://mars.nasa.gov/mars20/timeline/landing/watch-online/) and Advancement Assistant Tina Cheng noted that the latest Mars Rovers match up 2 for 2 with our core values so far. First "Curiosity," now "Perseverance." If the next one is the "Inclusion" Rover, we'll know for sure that our Firedragons are moonlighting at NASA!

In advance of tomorrow's Mass Greeting to celebrate the Lunar New Year, Head of School Jeff Bissell shares some background on the zodiac, the story behind the Year of the Ox, and the important role Chinese Program Director Kevin Chang has played in stewarding this tradition at CAIS. ! Happy New Year! https://www.cais.org/blog/head-school/2021/02/happy-year-ox

Preschool Orange and Pink cohorts have been learning about the coronavirus and have been talking about the "superheroes"from doctors and nurses to teachers, janitorial workers, and families memberswho help and protect us from getting the virus. Fu Laoshi and Ms. Galdino filmed a short video of our Preschoolers sharing what they've learned and their appreciation for the superheroes who keep us all safe!

Proud on so many levels of Class of 2017 alumna Margaret M., who passed the printed San Francisco poll worker test to be a bilingual Chinese worker and worked a 14 hour shift on Election Day. Way to go, Margaret, for exemplifying the mission in action: Embracing Chinese, Becoming your best self, and Contributing to a better world!

Over the past few weeks, Head of Lower School Kim Kaz has been cheering on returning grades with her sartorial school spirit and Firedragon plushie! In honor of the triumphant return of our Fifth (and final) Grade to campus (and a nod to Halloween), Mrs. Kaz went all out and dressed as the Kindness Firedragon herself! Our halls and hearts are now officially full!

So saddened to share news of Cecilia Chiang's passing. Best known for her legacy in the food world, this legend also left her mark on the CAIS community with the Cecilia Chiang International Learning Fund, which makes the school’s fifth grade exchange trip to Taiwan, seventh grade language study trip to Guilin, and eighth grade service trip to Yunnan accessible to all CAIS students in those grades. Enduring thanks to her for her profound impact on CAIS, San Francisco, and the nation. She will be missed but not forgotten! https://www.cais.org///cecilia-chiangs-100th-birthday-gift

Our very own Head of Lower School Kimberly Kaz (lower left window in the video) sings with International Orange Chorale of San Francisco, which created this humorous and timely take on Zoom. (Mrs. Kaz shares that the performance was even played during the company's annual Zoomtopia Conference.) One more data point that music and mirth can help us through all manner of challenges!

Head of Early Childhood Britta Pells and the Kindness Firedragon stuffy are at their post ready to welcome K-1st graders through their new entrance to campus on the Oak Playground.

The excitement is building! We are sooooo ready to welcome Sixth Graders, First Graders, and Kindergarteners back to our campuses today. We have missed you (and can’t wait to welcome the rest of the grades in the coming weeks)!

In honor of her birthday, enjoy this Throwback Thursday view of our founder Carol Ruth Silver and Head of School Jeff Bissell showing their CAIS pride at the SF Pride Parade a few years back. , Carol Ruth!

Mr. Mickelson’s 8th Grade Design Technology class started this year by identifying important tools in our daily lives and in our home design spaces. These tools became the basis for collecting more items in their spaces that students can use for their creative work this year, beginning with a "Flat Lay Photography" project. Also known as knolling, these compositions reveal how we group, organize and even tell stories with objects. Every piece is celebrated and is a part of a new whole at the same time. Middle school teachers and staff voted on their favorites and the collections/photographs were shared at Community Meeting. https://www.cais.org//mid/best-practices-distance-learning

Sui Laoshi's fourth grade Chinese class gave their Zoom face muscles a workout playing a game asking them to quickly "Show me your big eyes, show me your small eyes, show me how your hair can dance," etc.

We're going to enjoy our time with Chinese Program Director Kevin Chang during his "victory lap" final school year (2020-2021) at CAIS. See Head of School Jeff Bissell's announcement for a look back at what a difference Kevin Chang has made at CAIS and in the field of Mandarin immersion: https://www.cais.org//2020-2021-be-chinese-program-directo

Recalling his own experiences starting fresh at new settingsthough never in a pandemic!Head of Middle School Joe Williamson asked our newest MS faculty members to share how their experiences coming into CAIS during DL have been: https://www.cais.org//middle/new-faculty-distance-learning

For all that is different about this start of the school year, one thing that never changes is the warm welcome families and faculty have for each other, whether in pixels or in-person! Enjoy the smiles from Preschool Open Houses through first day Zooms!

"In the end, the most important thing we have is each other," shares Head of School Jeff Bissell as he releases Reopening CAIS which reflects our best thinking at this point in time. The CAIS leadership team and Scenario Planning Task Force will continue to work through the summer to refine and improve our planning. The information will live at cais.org/covid19response and will be updated regularly.

Jason Reynolds and Gene Luen Yang have visited CAIS previously and are among the authors participating in this critically important discussion for children and adults alike tonight.