From the Head of Early Years
Dionne Zantua
Do you know someone who has Hypertension? Diabetes? Arthritis? The majority of these illnesses are preventable simply by altering the food that we eat over the course of our life. Genetics also plays a role, but many debilitating illnesses can be kept to a minimum with a healthy diet.
Children in Year 1 have learnt that our food choices can have a lasting impact on our overall health through their topic, ‘We are what we eat’. And as a follow up on our previous article on healthy eating, this week’s article will dig deeper into the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle with practical tips parents can implement at home.
With the year 2019 almost coming to an end, the unfolding of the new year affords a chance to start something new. Many of us make our ‘New Year’s resolution’ in our aspiration to become healthier and what better way to do so than in making healthy choices for ourselves and our families.
From Reception Teacher
Leith Padfield
Having a healthy diet and nutrition improves child well-being and learning ability, leading to better academic performance, with evidence showing positive links between children who are well-nourished and improved learning, attendance, behaviour and consequently child-teacher relationships. Further, good nutrition also fosters mental, social and physical well-being, contributing to increased self-esteem and positive body image.

At Wellington College Tianjin, we believe that having a healthy lifestyle for our children is a crucial part of education at school and in the home life. Nutrition, sleep and physical activity should become an integral part of everyday life habits. We try to create an environment where our children will be surrounded by positive influences and role modelling by teachers, staff and older children in the school.
Educating our children to have a healthy lifestyle is an important area of learning at Wellington Tianjin, and making healthy choices for children’s breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks is central to that ethos.
By simply drinking water each day and being hydrated, studies have shown that children will feel more energised, focused, alert and are much less irritable, tired, moody and stressed. By cutting out drinks such as sugary soft drinks, for example cordial, fizzy drinks, soda and juice, you are enabling your child to become a better learner by being more focused, have better concentration and allowing their brain to work.
To promote healthy habits, children should be encouraged to enjoy a variety of nutritious food from the 5-food groups, this will help growing children up make positive and good food choices as they go through life. As a parent, caregiver or educator we must provide our children with a wholesome breakfast, good lunch and dinner with many healthy snacks.
Some suggestions for making good choices by using the 5 healthy food groups include:
Overall, we all know that it is not always easy to make healthy food choices however good role modelling and through making simple changes, such as stocking the food cupboards with healthy snacks, encouraging your children to drink lots of water and serving milk with dinner or yoghurt with breakfast will not only help teach healthy habits but also improve academic performance.
If you like to learn more about the benefits of healthy eating for your children, some links to useful information can be found below:
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion: Health and Academic Achievement
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/health_and_academics/pdf/health-academic-achievement.pdf
St John Fisher College: Student Nutrition and Academic Achievement
https://fisherpub.sjfc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1095&context=mathcs_etd_masters
Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA): Eat smart - How to improve academic performance
https://ccaeducate.me/news-events/blog/blog-post/17/eat-smart-how-to-improve-academic-performance
SF Gate Healthy Eating: Healthy Vs. Unhealthy Food in Student Performance
https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/healthy-vs-unhealthy-food-student-performance-2405.html
Momentous Institute: The Link Between Healthy Food And Academic Performance
https://momentousinstitute.org/blog/link-healthy-food-academic-performance
Health Promotion Journal of Australia: Nutrition education in the Australian New South Wales primary school curriculum
https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.188
MEET THE MASTER AND BURSAR
Duke of York’s Room
1400hrs-1500hrs, Thursday
12th December
This week’s Meet the Master and Bursar slot is open to parents of pupils in all year groups. If you would like to attend, please confirm via email with Ms Emma Shi
(emma.shi@wellingtoncollege.cn) by Wednesday 11th December.
NEST PARENT BRIEFING: PARENTING YOUNG CHILDREN
Common Room
0900hrs - 1015hrs, Wednesday
11th December
Every other Wednesday morning from 0900hrs-1015hrs, parents will have the chance to engage with the school in sessions that cover all aspects of your child’s education, from the Early Years to A-Levels and university admissions. For this week's meeting, Mrs Melissa Meyers, the Deputy Head of the Junior School, will provide an opportunity for parents of NEST children to gain some further insight as to how they can best support their child/children in their development and learning. The session will cover stages of development, ideas of how to foster independence and why nurturing a growth mindset matters. There will also be time for questions after the session. It starts at 0900hrs in the Common Room.
FROM THE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND ADMISSIONS
Charity Christmas Bazaar
Dining Hall
1500hrs-1700hrs, Friday
13th December
Christmas is fast approaching, and I am delighted that once again we are hosting an annual charity Christmas Bazaar. The bazaar will be on Friday, December 13th (1500hrs-1700hrs). The theme is the ‘Season of Giving’, to tie in with the broader messages of the Christmas season. Proceeds from the Bazaar will go to those charity organizations we have been supporting across the school.
FROM MR FORSTER, MP 1 COORDINATOR
Year 1 Exit Point
Classrooms
0930hrs - 1030hrs, Friday 13th December
We have been learning all about ‘Buildings’ and ‘Healthy Eating’. We have prepared an exhibition of our work that we would like to share with you. We would like to invite you to bring a traditional dish of food to share during our Exit Point that you have prepared together at home. Please be advised that the dishes cannot contain any nuts or nut traces. A polite reminder that the dish needs to be healthy. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.
French
Every Monday
8:45-10:00
MB125
Mrs Audrey Barthelemy
audrey.barthelemy18@gmail.com
Art
Every Friday
8:30-11:00
MB125
Mrs Markovic
ksenija.jakic@wellingtoncollege.cn
Mandarin
Every Tuesday
10:15-11:15
MB125
Mrs Yuan and Mrs Zhang
yizhang001@foxmail.com
EAL (Beginner level)
Every Tuesday of Week A
8:30-9:30
MB125
Mr Furse
David.Furse@wellingtoncollege.cn
EAL (Advanced level)
Every Thursday of Week B
8:30-9:30
MB125
Mr Furse
David.Furse@wellingtoncollege.cn
Pilates
Every Tuesday
8:45-10:00
Black Box
Mrs Stofkova
dstofkova@yahoo.com
How to use Chinese daily life Apps
Every Tuesday
13:00-14:00
MB113
Mrs Kim
donghong0904@naver.com
Pilates
Every Friday
8:45-10:00
Black Box
Mrs Stofkova
dstofkova@yahoo.com
Yoga
Every Wednesday
8:45-10:00
Black Box
Mrs Havlíková
havlikann@gmail.com
Yoga
Every Thursday
10:45-12:00
Black Box
Mrs Havlíková
havlikann@gmail.com
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Every Thursday
9:00-10:30
MB113
Mrs Markovic
ksenija.jakic@gmail.com
Notice: Any changes of time/date/venue please follow the notice according to the course organiser.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Monday 09 December 2019
All Day
Week 16 (B)
9:30AM - 10:30AM
Year 2 Exit Point (MF) (Black Box)
8:45AM - 10:00AM
FOW: French class (LL) (MB 125)
11:00AM - 12:00PM
Senior School assembly (JMS) (Theatre)
4:00PM
ISCOT League HS Boys and Girls Basketball vs TEDA (a) (RG)
Tuesday 10 December 2019
8:45AM - 10:00AM
FOW: Pilates (LL) (Black Box)
10:15AM - 11:15AM
FOW: Mandarin class (LL) (MB 113)
1:00PM - 2:00PM
FOW: How to use Chinese daily life apps (LL) (MB 113)
Wednesday 11 December 2019
8:45AM - 10:00AM
FOW: Yoga class (LL) (Black Box)
1:15PM - 2:45PM
Milepost 3 Exit Point (NC) (Seldon Theatre)
2:30PM - 3:30PM
Nest parent briefing: Parenting young children (MM) (Main Building)
3:05PM - 3:45PM
Junior School assembly (RA) (Theatre)
4:00PM
ISCOT League HS Basketball vs TIS; Boys (h), Girls @ TIS (RG) (Sports Centre)
Thursday 12 December 2019
8:30AM - 9:30AM
FOW: English class (advanced level) (LL) (MB 234)
9:00AM - 10:30AM
FOW: TCM class (LL)
10:45AM - 12:00PM
FOW: Yoga class (LL) (Black Box)
2:00PM - 3:00PM
Meet the Master and Bursar: all year groups (ES) (Main Building)
4:00PM
ISCOT League MS Volleyball Boys and Girls vs TEDA (a) (RG)
Friday 13 December 2019
8:30AM - 11:00AM
FOW: Art class (LL)
8:45AM - 10:00AM
FOW: Pilates (LL) (Black Box)
9:30AM - 12:30PM
Open Day: Nest (PR) (The Nest)
9:30AM - 10:30PM
Year 1 Exit Point (MF) (Classrooms)
1:00PM
Junior School Christmas show (AD) (Theatre)
3:00PM - 5:00PM
Christmas market (PR) (Dining Hall)
Saturday 14 December 2019
9:00AM
Saturday Activity Programme (SAP) (EvK)