Walking Hand-in-Hand on the Road to Growth-Primary School – Middle School Bridging Q&A

On March 20th and 21st, Middle School Student Council members visited Grade 5 in pairs to introduce the middle school. They talked about their daily timetable, the subject courses and the Co-curricular Activities (CCAs). They explained what the differences were between the academia of the middle school verses that in primary school, how to apply to be a boarder, and how to choose CCAs. The middle school representatives shared this information in a relatable and approachable way, recalling stories about their own experiences and growth, while also detailing the importance of the middle school’s rules and requirements. The Grade 5 students listened attentively and asked lots of questions – it was obvious that this presentation had instilled a sense of excitement and eagerness for joining the middle school.

The journey to growth is not one we take alone, but together. Let’s look at what was said.

How many classes per day are there in the middle school? Is it necessary to change classrooms between classes? 

In the middle school, there are eight classes per day plus one differentiated learning class, from 16.15 to 16.55. Each class lasts for 40 minutes. Students who are on school teams or participate in club activities or after-school classes do not need to attend the differentiation class. Students need to move between their different subject classrooms each day according to their timetable (except for the differentiated classes which take place in students’ homerooms), and there is a 10-minute break between each lesson. There is one longer break in the morning and one again in the afternoon, from 9:45 am to 10:05 am and 14:15 pm to 14:30 pm respectively.

Courses are divided into academic courses and arts courses. Academic courses include language and literature courses (e.g. Chinese, English, IGCSE English and French), humanities courses (e.g. geography, Global Perspectives, history), biology, IGCSE Computer Science, English mathematics, general science, physics, physical education, and the arts (visual art and music). The curriculum is diversified, allowing students to take different classes. Chinese and Western teachers work closely to ensure that their courses and activities are linked.

 

Are there any optional courses for exploring other interests? 

7B 王思茹 答：

Yes, we have CCA courses that can be chosen according to your interests and hobbies, and you will be supported by professional teachers. If you are specialized in a certain area, you may even be asked to join a school team. The extra classes for exploring these interests are normally held once per week in the last period.

 

When and how long is the break time in the middle school?

8A 朱庭葶 答：

We have three major breaks: morning break, afternoon break and lunch break.The morning break and the afternoon break are both twenty minutes long. Five minutes of eye exercises are held before periods 3 and 5. The school gives out snacks and milk during these breaks. The lunch break is quite long, a total of one hour and five minutes, from the last class in the morning at 11:40 to the first class in the afternoon at 12:45. This leaves plenty of time for free activities. Students can go to the playground, the gym, the library and so on.

 

How are the final results for the semester calculated?

B8 顾蕊绮 答：

In middle school, the mid-term or final assessment result is not the only part counted in the overall semester grade.  Instead, the semester grades take into account class participation, assignments, projects, tests, and different assessments. Different classes assign different weights to these elements depending on how the course is organized. The final results are stated as a total calculated grade, not individual scores for each element.

 

What are the boarding courses going to be like?

7C 乔依依 答：

18:00-19:00 from Monday to Thursday is reserved for boarding courses.

Monday’s TED Talks are a combination of language and general subjects with a focus on English speech so that students can learn speech writing skills.

On Tuesday, the students have time to play badminton. They can also play basketball or volleyball in groups.

On Wednesday, in art class, you’ll see a movie about food and you can create your own art using your imagination.

On Thursday, in drama class, you will learn acting skills. This course will take students on a journey of learning facial expression management. After this, students will team up to rehearse their own plays.

 

What is the boarding timetable?

8B王增浩 答：

Boarding students have enough time to rest. 7:00am to 7:30am is the time for waking up, and 21:30pm to 21:45pm is the time for students to prepare for sleep. This all means that boarding times are regular to ensure adequate rest time.

 

How are students divided into classes?

7C 武思澄 答：

Each class is divided equally between girls and boys; they are not divided according to grade results. We have 26 to 29 students in each class and 4 to 5 classes in each grade.

For example, Grade 7 is now divided into four classes: 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D. 7A, 7B and 7C are for the returning students and 7D is for the new members who joined our SUIS Qingpu family this year. At the same time, two to three new students have been added to each of the 7A, 7B and 7C classes.

 

What important events are held in the middle school?

7C 王众迎 答：

First of all, Sports Day, the Charity Sale, concerts and assemblies are held each year. Usually Grade 6, 7 and 8 students participate in these events, and sometimes Grade 9 students, too. Assemblies are held once per month. Within each grade, events lectures, concerts, and festivals are held much more often. Each grade will also organize parades or field trips.

Voices From G5 Students

5E 赵小米 Millie Zhao

In my opinion, middle school life is very interesting and more fun than primary school, because the seniors say that there are more activities in middle school. This makes me really look forward to it.

5B殷嘉仪 Kayi Yin

After the introduction, I was very much looking forward to the wonderful life in the middle school. According to what the presenters described, the learning environment is very active and there are various and numerous activities, so I am very much looking forward to the experience.

5A李中天 Andrew Li

I feel that the our senior students are well-mannered, which was the first impression I had from the middle school. It was also the first time I learned that our middle school used a ‘mobile’ timetable model, which made me look forward to middle school life even more.