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Looking forward to welcoming you back to school!
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HIGH SCHOOL BACK TO SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

2019–2020

Welcome from the High School Principal

Greetings High School Families,
We would like to welcome back our returning families and welcome our new families. I value the opportunity to serve the YISS community. This will be an amazing year where we watch our high school students take the next step to becoming the global citizens and leaders we expect them to be.

Our school theme this year is, “Impacting the World and Our Community by Valuing Others,” which is inspired by Romans 12:10. In the high school, we will focus on this theme in the classroom and in our extracurricular activities. We will inspire students to value others while upholding the values of Truth, Excellence, and Diversity that makes YISS such an outstanding academic institution. While valuing others, we expect our high school students to follow The Guardian Way and model the expectations of a YISS global citizen.

We will continue to encourage our students to achieve academic distinction while maintaining spiritual, social, and emotional balance so they can become well-rounded 21st-century learners and leaders. This expectation of valuing others and achieving excellence will also be echoed through our extracurricular sports teams, student clubs, chapels, Ossemblies, and service learning opportunities. We look forward to partnering with the YISS community to have an excellent school year. 

With grace and respect,

Dr. Aquil Bayyan
High School Principal

Class Schedules

Returning students will receive class schedules by email before the start of school.
New students will be contacted by their counselor prior to New Student Orientation to help create their schedule. Schedules will be finalized after the completion of a math placement assessment given during New Student Orientation on Monday, August 5.

If you would like to meet with a counselor about your schedule, please contact the appropriate counselor after July 29 to schedule a meeting. New students should bring a final, official transcript and school profile to the meeting.

Ms. Bethany Dawson
High School Counselor
bethany.dawson@yisseoul.org
Ms. Rachel Dooley
High School Counselor
rachel.dooley@yisseoul.org

First Day of School - Wednesday, August 7

10th-12th grade students will have an early release day (11:30 a.m. dismissal).
All 9th grade students will remain at school for High School Orientation and will be dismissed around 1:30 p.m.

Upon arrival, all high school students should go directly to the auditorium for an opening assembly.

Please review our drop-off and pick-up procedures.

Upcoming Events

For more details about these and other events throughout the 2019-20 school year, view the following calendars: Academic Calendar • School Events Calendar

New HS Student & Parent Orientation

Monday, August 5 (Main Lobby)
8:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. for new YISS students 
12:30–3:00 p.m. for new YISS parents

Orientation is an opportunity to learn more about YISS, receive tech training, take placement tests, get lockers, charge lunch cards, purchase school supplies, tour the campus, etc. The principal, faculty, and select students will give an overview of “school life” and provide suggestions for having a successful experience at YISS.

All students and parents who are new to YISS are highly encouraged to attend. This orientation will make your transition to a new school smoother, reduce anxiety, and allow us to welcome you properly.

Guardian Fellowship Night


Friday, August 9 (Courtyard/Field)
5:00–7:00 p.m.

To celebrate the start of school, the HS Student Council and administration will be hosting Guardian Fellowship Night for both parents and students. All HS families are invited to join us for an evening of food, fellowship, and fun to kick off the year and give us a chance to get to know each other better as we build a healthy and vibrant school community.

The festivities will begin at 5:00 p.m. with a picnic-style meal featuring hamburgers, hot dogs, and Hala chicken sandwiches. Parents will have the opportunity to meet other parents, as well as faculty. Students will be able to participate in games and sports. We look forward to getting to know you!

PTO Newcomers' Coffee

Thursday, August 22 for MS/HS Parents
9:30–11:00 a.m. (MPR 2)

Parents who are new to YISS are invited to attend the Newcomers’ Coffee hosted by the YISS PTO (Parent Teacher Organization). This is an opportunity to meet the PTO Board, principals, and other parents, as well as to learn more about how to get involved.

Please complete the RSVP Form or contact PTO Hospitality Chair Susie Song at yisspto.hospitality@gmail.com.

Senior Retreat

Saturday–Monday, August 24–26
(Camp Mount-O-Pines in northern Seoul)

The Senior Retreat provides an opportunity for seniors to gather for a long weekend in a relaxing environment. Activities include team building exercises, purposeful dialogues, hiking, campfires, etc. The weekend helps seniors to bond and establish a solid sense of class identity as they enter their final year of high school. They also learn about the college application process and how to successfully complete it.

HS Class Retreats

Monday, August 26
For all 9th, 10th, and 11th Grade Students

This event gives all our high school students some of the same opportunities that seniors experience on their weekend retreat. This retreat day will provide an opportunity for each class to gather in a relaxing environment to enjoy team building exercises, engage in purposeful dialogue about one another and their class, and establish a class identity, vision, and goals as they begin a new school year.

HS Club Fair

Friday, August 30
Opportunity Block

All students will have an opportunity to learn about and register for high school clubs at the High School Club Fair.

HS Open House

Tuesday, September 3 
6:00–8:30 p.m. (Auditorium)

Open House gives parents the opportunity to meet teachers and learn about curriculum, grading policies, and class expectations.

Ways to Stay Informed

Schoology is an online learning management system that YISS uses to extend learning beyond the classroom.

Please be sure to check Schoology regularly or have notifications sent to you via email.

Parents who are new to YISS will be given a unique Parent Access Code to create a parent account that automatically associates you with your child. Then you will be able to join the HS Parents group (ZTDSS-TFQVZ). Learn more about Schoology at the New HS Student & Parent Orientation on Monday, August 5.

You may also follow us on the following platforms to view photos, videos, and information about exciting YISS school events and programs.

Guardian Athletics

Parent meetings will be scheduled by season (fall/winter/spring) after tryouts to connect parents with coaches and to learn how to get involved in the YISS athletics program as a parent through the Booster Club and in other ways. Dates are forthcoming.

Keep up with Guardian Athletics via YISSPN.com, where you can view photos, videos, schedules, athlete features, articles, and more! You can also follow @YISSPN on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Dress Code

The purpose of the YISS dress code is to enhance the positive learning environment of the school by minimizing distractions and ensuring modesty and comfort for all students. Students must be in proper dress code from their arrival at school until the school day ends.

Please note that only the new PE uniform (navy/red shirt and navy shorts with crest) may be worn beginning this school year. View the MS/HS dress code

Guardian Store

10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. (July 8 – 26)
8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. (July 29-August 14)
11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (beginning August 16)

Visit the Guardian Store to purchase school supplies, uniform shirts, and more.

Returning families, if possible, please come before August 5 & 6 to avoid the crowd on our New Student & Parent Orientation Days.  

Students will receive a list of needed supplies on the first day of school.
Those in Algebra II or higher will need a graphing calculator comparable to the TI 84+.

Laptops must be protected by a laptop case and/or laptop sleeve, available in the Guardian Store and elsewhere, to minimize damage. Laptop bags are also strongly recommended.

Cafeteria

9:00–11:00 a.m. and 2:00–4:00 p.m. (July 29 – August 2)
8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. in the Main Lobby (August 5 & 6 - Orientation Days)
7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (beginning August 7)

Students are strongly encouraged to recharge their cafeteria cards before August 7 to avoid having to stand in line during the first week of school.

The cafeteria offers a choice of fresh nutritious meals that are prepared on-site daily by J&J Catering.

Lunch sets are available to HS students for ₩5,300 and include access to the salad bar and additional portions at no charge.

The menu is posted on Schoology and at yisseoul.org. Boneless and halal options are available each day. Students are also welcome to bring a lunch from home.

Health Forms & Policies

Students who have not yet returned their health forms must do so as quickly as possible. Please upload your forms to OpenApply. If you have any questions, email apply@yisseoul.org.

Please be sure to review our health & medication policies.

Vehicle Access Decal

Vehicles must display a Vehicle Access Decal to enter the YISS campus.

If you submitted your vehicle details while applying/re-enrolling, visit the reception desk to pick up your 2019–20 vehicle decal in August. Please display the 2019–20 decal no later than August 30. Beginning in September, drivers without a Vehicle Access Decal may be asked to leave a photo ID at the gate. Please visit the reception desk or email enroll@yisseoul.org, if you have any questions.

Building Access

All parents and visitors who enter YISS between 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (excluding after school pick-up) must sign in at the reception desk to receive a visitor badge.

Please leave a few extra minutes on your first visit to enter your data into our visitor registration system. Once enrolled, returning parents and visitors can sign in with just a few clicks.

School Hours and Contacts

High School

Hours: 7:50 a.m.–3:10 p.m.
Phone: 02-797-5104 x229
Email: hsoffice@yisseoul.org

Attendance

Hours: 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Phone: 02-797-5104 x100
Email: hs.attendance@yisseoul.org

Copyright © Yongsan International School of Seoul. All rights reserved.

Yongsan International School of Seoul
285 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu
Seoul, Korea 04347

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