Welcome to High School at YHIS! During these years, we hope to develop, challenge, enlighten, and transform students as they continue to discover who they are and aspire towards their future goals. At YHIS, our goal as educators is to meet students where they are, both academically and socially, to aide them in becoming lifelong learners and world-changers. We hope that every student will leave YHIS knowing that they have purpose, that they are loved, that they are cared for, and that they are valued.
High school at YHIS is a rigorous college-preparatory program, with graduates pursuing higher education in countries around the world. We offer 14 different Advanced Placement (AP) courses for students who wish to explore college-level academic subjects. We also welcome students who are interested in athletics, technology, and the arts (both visual and performing), and offer courses to develop their talents and showcase their abilities and creativity. As a team, we want to work with students as they develop 21st century skills that prepare them for advanced study and careers in an ever-changing world. Through their time with the YHIS community, both in and out of the classroom, we challenge our students to become critical thinkers and effective communicators.
To those who already have children in high school at YHIS, thank you for sharing your students with us. To those who are looking at YHIS as a potential school for their child, I hope that you take some time to consider walking down the road of education with us in the near future. We would love you as part of the YHIS family.
Jonathan Van Santen
Secondary Lead Teacher
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YHIS is a place of workmanship. Each child is an individual with strengths, hopes, passions, and dreams. The Secondary curriculum provides focus in the classroom and purposeful interactions that teachers have with students throughout the day. This integrated approach is part of the school culture – teaching students to effectively communicate ideas, to address conflicts in a positive way, and to think beyond the obvious. Teachers and support staff work together to ensure every student’s learning is supported and challenged.
iSC is a nonprofit organization that, since 1986, has offered excellent academic programs to meet the intellectual, physical, and emotional needs of students.
iSC is a multi-school program, enabling students and teachers to participate in system-wide programs where they can interact with others outside of their immediate school.
Since1986, iSC has earned a reputation for academic excellence, placing students into top universities around the world. These include:
- Yale University, US
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US
- Cornell University, US
- John Hopkins University, US
- Carnegie Mellon University, US
- University of Pennsylvania, US
- University of California-Los Angeles, US
- University of British Columbia, Canada
- Seoul National University, Republic of Korea
- Korea University, Republic of Korea
- Yonsei University, Republic of Korea
- Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology, Republic of Korea
- Hanyang University, Republic of Korea
- Waseda University, Japan
- University of Aukland, New Zealand
- University of Melbourne, Australia
- Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
- University of London, UK
- Imperial College London, UK
- Beijing University,China
- Tsing Hua University, China
and many more!
YHIS offers an American-based curriculum based on the AERO standards, with an international focus, providing a solid foundation in both education and character. Our curriculum prepares students to achieve their goals and to impact their communities around the world.
As part of the iSC system of schools, the curriculum undergoes a review every five years. A thorough review process is conducted over a period of time in five stages. Each school year, two to three subject areas are reviewed at the iSC-China level. Selected individuals from all iSC- China schools participate in the curriculum review.
Core courses: English Language Arts, English Language Support, MS Science, Chemistry, Biology, Physics, World History, Economics, Culture, Society & Identity, Pre-Algebra, Algebra, Geometry, Pre-Calculus, Calculus, Foreign Languages
Electives: Computer Science, Design & Technology, Visual Art, Music, and growing.
Activities: YHIS Science Fair, YHIS Career Day, International Day, Student Council, Service Opportunities, Kids Read Competition in Beijing, the iSC activities.
The Advanced Placement (AP)® Program gives students a chance to pursue college-level work in high school and gain valuable study habits. If a student scores a qualifying grade on an AP® Exam, there are thousands of colleges worldwide that will give him credit or advanced placement for his/her efforts. YHIS offers a broad range of certified AP® courses. For more information about the AP® program and college credits, please refer to http://apcentral.collegeboard.com/home.
AP courses have been designed to provide an additional challenge for students wishing to learn more about a specific subject area. Courses are taught at the level of a university freshman course. Students will receive a weighted GPA of an additional 0.5 credits for grades of C- or higher. YHIS offers the following AP college-level courses:
- AP Chinese Language & Culture
- AP Psychology
- AP World History: Modern
- AP Calculus AB
- AP Calculus BC
- AP Statistics
- AP Biology
- AP Studio Art
- AP Human Geography
- AP English Literature
- AP Computer Science A
- AP Computer Science Principles
- AP Seminar
- AP Research
- AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism
- AP Physics C: Mechanics
- AP Macroeconomics
- AP Chemistry
High school life at YHIS is enriching and vibrant. Below is a sample schedule of a typical day in high school. Actual schedule will vary across grades.
| TIME | CLASS/ACTIVITY |
|---|---|
| 8:00-9:30 | Block 1,2 |
| 9:34-11:04 | Block 3,4 |
| 11:08-11:51 | Period 5 |
| 11:55-12:10 | Advisory |
| 11:15-12:59 | Lunch |
| 13:03-14:33 | Block 6,7 |
| 14:37-15:20 | Period 8 |
Advisory program is a daily part of the schedule. The program seeks to ensure that every student is cared for and guided as well as to build relationships with a consistent set of peers and an advisor. The advisory group is made up of students in the same grade levels so that students have a consistenty group where they can build relationships. Students are also encouraged to set personal goals for themselves, and the advisor checks in on those goals to ensure that students are on track.
From 2018-2019 school year, all Secondary Students are provided with a Lenovo device both on and off campus and are connected to Schoology, a Learning Management System in which students are assigned work and in which they use to submit their work electronically. We desire for our students to be prepared not only for High School but also for the world. As such, our learning environment is centered around authentic real-world tasks and requires a high degree of critical thinking and collaboration, together with high technological competence.
In the annual YHIS Science Fair, students work on independent research of a science topic using the scientific method. Selecting a problem, making a hypothesis, conducting the experiment, collecting data, and giving the presentation allows students to acquire knowledge and skills necessary to becoming a scientist. This is essentially an opportunity to study any science topic that interests them. Selected high school students will also have the chance to participate in the iSC Science Fair in Chengdu.
The YHIS Student Council traveled to Spring Rock to participate in the iSC Student Council Leadership Retreat. During the retreat, the Student Council composed the following mission statement, “The YHIS Student Council strives to become world-class servant leaders by seeking to unify students, staff, and parents in endeavors to positively influence our community.”
The Student Council gives our students opportunities to grow as student leaders and work towards their purpose of unifying our school together. The Student Council is responsible for the planning and execution of various events throughout the school year, such as the Student Council Carnival, Secondary and Family Game Nights, and Spirit Days. Finally, the Student Council operates the Student Council Store, which exists to provide an opportunity for our students to develop leadership and practical skills in the running of a store, and at the same time, meet the needs of our student body. The proceeds of the store help to fund the Student Council events.
Graduation Requirements
24 units of high school credit are required for graduation. One-half credit is given for each full semester of a course successfully completed in grades 9 through 12. A failing grade does not earn any credit. Courses that meet twice per week (for 45 minutes per week) receive 0.25 credit per semester. The following credits must be earned towards graduation:
| Course | Number of Credits Required |
|---|---|
| English | 4 |
| Social Studies | 3 |
| Science | 3 |
| Math | 3 |
| Foreign Language | 2 |
| Physical Education/Health | 2 |
| Fine Arts | 1 |
| Philosophy and Ethics | 0.5 per semester enrolled |
| Electives | As desired |
Grading Scale
The standard grading scale for academic work in grades 6-12 is as follows:
| A+ | 98-100 | B+ | 88-89 | C+ | 78-79 | D+ | 68-69 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 93-97 | B | 83-87 | C | 73-77 | D | 63-67 |
| A- | 90-92 | B- | 80-82 | C- | 70-72 | D- | 60-62 |
| F | Below 60 |
Grade Point Average & Grading Scales
A grade point average (GPA) is derived for high school students by ascribing a point value to a letter grade as follows:
| A+ | 4.0 | B+ | 3.3 | C+ | 2.3 | D+ | 1.3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 4.0 | B | 3.0 | C | 2.0 | D | 1.0 |
| A- | 3.7 | B- | 2.7 | C- | 1.7 | D- | 0.7 |
| F | Below 60 |
Students enrolled in AP courses will receive a weighted GPA of 0.66 points more.
SUPPORT
At YHIS we understand all too well that living abroad and going to school away from home and old friends can be challenging for children of all ages. The difficulties they struggle with are not always visible or clearly expressed. If not addressed, this can affect their behavior as well as their academic performance. For many students, living in China makes it more difficult to choose the subjects and select the colleges that would fit their passions and skills.
COLLEGE & CAREER COUNSELING
College is an important stage in life, and we recognize that it is a stepping stone towards a bigger world. To best guide and prepare our students, YHIS provides college counseling in a one-on-one setting. Our goal is to help each of them find a major that can best assist them for their future by exploring the different options. Moreover, by providing information on prestigious colleges across the world, we hope to help them narrow down the list of colleges they are aiming for and find the ones that best match their goal. Our high school students’ academic performance and standardized testing grades will also be monitored regularly to encourage their improvement and help them equip with all the necessary criteria to become a stronger candidate. We also recognize the importance of the parent support, so we collaborate with parents to bring out the best outcome. Our goal is to foster students’ growth by providing them with all the options they have and help them bring out their best so they can thrive in life beyond YHIS.
UNIVERSITY ACCEPTANCE
To date, all YHIS graduates have been accepted into a four-year degree program. More information about our university acceptance can be found in our High School Profile.
Click to view iSC University Matriculation
CO-CURRICULAR
The best learning is active and engaged. It can be found in ordinary places. Activities outside the classroom are not merely add-ons to the core curriculum. These activities energize students and help them to see the holistic connections between mind, body, and spirit. They are a continuous enrichment, a way to sustain and deepen learning.
At YHIS we believe that co-curricular activities are an important part of education that extends beyond the classroom. Co-curricular activities motivate learning, character building, physical growth, and creativity while developing confidence and educating the whole child. Students are encouraged to participate and explore all opportunities that interest them. Students who are involved in Co-curricular opportunities become more invested in the school experience, therefore increasing the opportunity for higher academic performance and social well-being.
ATHLETICS
YHIS recognizes many students and parents have an interest in athletics and firmly believes that the athletics program is an essential part of the development of the whole person. Physical activities also play an important role in enhancing students’ school accomplishment. By participating in athletics programs, students have opportunities to develop responsibility, sportsmanship, teamwork, and character, etc. YHIS runs athletics programs by seasons: Spring, Fall with soccer and volleyball, and basketball respectively.
CONCERTS & PERFORMANCES
Public performance is a fantastic way for young learners to develop confidence and is an integral part of our program. Throughout the year, Middle School students showcase what they’re learning for peers and parents at seasonal performances in the winter and spring. When students graduate from Elementary school, the goal is that they have a strong knowledge of the written mechanics of music and a greater sense of the community, character, and creativity that are built by singing, playing, and creating music together.
CLUBS
After-school activities are a great tool in our aim to develop well-rounded students. The school sponsors many after-school activities that give High School students an opportunity to explore and excel in a particular sport, hobby, or area of interest.
- Reading Club
- Model United Nations
- Newspaper/Yearbook
- Engineering
- Science Fair
- Science Journal Reading
- Pep Band
- Robotics
- 3D Printing
- Fashion Magazine Club
- Ceramics
Ready to check us out?
We would love to have you come to our school for a visit.