Hello and welcome!
Hello, WYIS Community. My name is Christopher Rehm, and I'm pleased to be the Head of School at WYIS.
WYIS is a special place.
I have worked at six schools on three continents in my 20 years in education. But through my career as a teacher, administrator, and educational consultant, I have also visited dozens of additional schools around the world. So when I state that WYIS is a special place and a great school, it is through this perspective of having worked with and visited numerous other schools and having connected with hundreds of other educators over my career.
We are strong academically. We are strong not simply because we admit great students who matriculate to excellent universities but rather because we help each student learn and advance on their individual path. Our curriculum is academically rigorous yet also focuses on character education and social emotional learning which are essential for future success.
If there is one word that I would use to describe the educational magic that happens within our school, it is the word “personal.”
Our community cares deeply for each individual student. Our education is personal because we know our students and help them grow on an individualized path. Our instruction and program is personalized to help each student achieve their best.
We are invested in the development of the whole student, not just academics. Our program creates opportunity for this, and our teachers live out their devotion to the students daily.
I welcome you to visit our special school community, and I hope to see you on campus soon.
With Gratitude,
Christopher J. Rehm, Ph.D.
Head of School
Our Purpose Statement
WYIS is committed to providing a transformative, holistic,
K12 education to develop globally minded individuals who learn, love, and lead.
HISTORY
Now located in Hanyang in the Wuhan Economic and Technology Development Zone and renamed for its host city and the famous river that runs through it, Wuhan Yangtze International School (WYIS) is a fully-accredited kindergarten through 12th grade school that provides expatriate children with a Western-style education taught in the English language. In its brief history, the school has served hundreds of children from 26 nations and regions of the world, and WYIS graduates have gone on to study at universities all over the world.
Campus and Facilities
WYIS is located on a purpose-built campus. The facilities include an academic building, performing arts center, and sports complex. The academic building consists of 28 large classrooms, a spacious library with break-out rooms, two fully-equipped science labs, and two art studios. The self-contained Early Childhood Center (ECC) consists of large rooms with direct access to the outdoor play area and in-room bathroom facilities. Students enjoy a completely climate-controlled, indoor environment. Outdoor spaces include separate ECC and elementary playgrounds, basketball courts, weight room, and a full-size, artificial turf soccer pitch. The sports center includes a full-size, indoor gymnasium.
- Bright, colorful, welcoming classrooms
- Dedicated Early Childhood Center
- Specialist areas for Science, Music, Art and Drama
- Dedicated spacious music suite
- Robotics Field
- Additional technology resources available (iPads, MacBooks, digital cameras)
- Dedicated theater for Music and Drama performances
- Well-resourced Library/Media center
- Freshly prepared hot and cold food service
- Dedicated food seating area
- Astroturf pitch for soccer and outdoor team sports
- Hard court area for basketball and outdoor play
- Range of outdoor play areas with sports and play equipment
- Modern, well-equipped gymnasium
- Additional multi-sport hall
- Dedicated ballet and dance studio
- Large playground area with extensive play equipment
- Quiet outdoor play area
iSC SAFETY AND SECURITY
To ensure the safety of our students, parents and visitors are required to sign-in at the reception desk upon entering the school building. Badges identifying parents and visitors are available at the desk and must be worn at all times while on campus. Before leaving the school, please turn in your badge and sign-out.
SAFETY FEATURES ON CAMPUS
- iSC schools feature security measures that provide a safe learning environment. We have a door that is locked at all times and only accessible through the use of an electronic key card.
- iSC schools have a strict pick-up policy. All new individuals picking up, even those listed on the enrollment forms, are required to show ID regardless of relation.
- When in the care of our staff, all children are accompanied, supervised, and in line of sight at all times without exception.
- The majority of our staff members are CPR and First Aid certified and receive a minimum of 24 hours continuing education classes bi-annually.
- All bus drivers have yearly driver safety training.
- First aid certified staff are present at every school event.
- An AED is provided in the event of an emergency.
FIRE SAFETY
- All schoos obtain fire code certification from their local fire bureau.
- Alarm systems and fire suppression equipment are in place.
- In the event there is an obstacle blocking your escape route, go to the closest exit. Once outside the teacher should proceed to their assigned gathering point.
- In the event that the route to the assigned gathering point is blocked, immediately proceed to the alternate gathering point.
- Teachers and students stand quietly in line until word is given from the administration that it is safe to re-enter the building.
FOOD SAFETY
Healthy, well-balanced food is crucial for each child’s development. This starts with a kitchen that meets health standards. Our kitchen and dining areas are regularly checked by government safety inspectors to assure that all hygiene standards are met and hygiene procedures are followed.
Each day, our students can choose between Western and Asian food. They can of course also bring their own lunch and warm it up in microwaves provided in the cafeteria. We purchase our food and beverage products from trusted vendors only, and each morning carefully select meat, vegetables, and fruit for daily meals.
All students eat their lunch in our clean and spacious cafeteria. The Early Childhood Department has its own cozy lunch area, specially designed and equipped for our smallest students.
Off CAMPUS EVENTS
A Safety Plan is developed for each off-campus event and a copy should be maintained in the school office.
The plan includes:
- Pre-visits to the trip destination to confirm all accommodation, food, activity and service information.
- List of students on the trip, with current emergency phone numbers
- Permission to travel forms signed by parent/guardian
- Medical information pertaining to trip participants who require specific medical assistance
- List of teachers and chaperones, with contact information
- For overnight and out-of-city event, a calling tree in the safety plan ensures full contact.
- To the extent possible, teachers and chaperones have access to cellular phones while on the off-campus events.
AIR QUALITY INDEX
Air quality and the effects of heavily polluted air on children’s health is a serious concern. For that reason, iSC schools’ indoor facilities (classrooms, hallways and areas for indoor sport and play) are closed from outside air and constantly provided with filtered air though our Centralized Air Filtration System. This allows us to continue with classes and sports, even on heavily polluted days. We check the air pollution rate several times each day.
For our outdoor facilities, iSC schools monitor pollution levels on a daily basis. A policy is in place to adjust activities in an attempt to safeguard the health and wellness of our students. This policy applies to outdoor sports as well as outdoor playtime. A summary of our AQI (Air Quality Index) policy:
- AQI 0-150: normal activities
- AQI150-200: reduced-intensity activities
- AQI 200-250: Elementary students indoors; Secondary students have low-intensity activities if outdoors
- AQI > 250: All activities inside
Teachers will immediately pull a student from an activity if he/she shows signs of abnormal respiratory distress, and notify the school nurse for further monitoring.
WHILE ON CAMPUS
The safety and security of our people and the communities in which we operate is critical. We must be vigilant, disciplined, and always looking out for one another. Each of us is a role model for others. Do not enter classrooms unless escorted by a member of staff or by prior arrangement.
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN
If you have any concerns about a child’s behavior or treatment, please contact the main reception as quickly as possible. Report any accident, injury, illness, or unsafe condition immediately. Never assume that someone else has reported or will report a risk or concern. Stop work, your own or others, if you consider it unsafe. Speak up if you observe an unsafe or unhealthy working environment. Listen to others who speak up.
EVACUATION ALARM
Walk to the nearest stairwell and exit the building. Do not use elevators. Proceed to the track area behind the school. Do not re-enter the building until you are told it is safe to do so.
LOCKDOWN
In case of an emergency requiring a lock-down, locate yourself in a room, and lock the door. Go to an area of the room that is away from the door and away from the windows. Stay until an announcement is made.
INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS CONSORTIUM
Wuhan Yangtze International School is a part of the International Schools Consortium (iSC) — a nonprofit organization that, since 1986, has offered excellent academic programs to meet the intellectual, physical, and emotional needs of students. iSC has six schools in China — in Chengdu, Qingdao, Wuhan, Wuxi, Tianjin, and Yantai — one school in the UAE, and helps to support various other educational initiatives globally.
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. Students compete in basketball, volleyball and soccer tournaments, as well as music and choral festivals, and Model United Nations (MUN) conventions.
In addition to student involvement, all teachers attend iSC’s annual professional development conference to share best practices. The opportunity to be a part of this larger, interconnected community is just one of the many ways in which the