For newcomers getting to know Hailiang International School, the first week brought an unfamiliar task: putting a duvet cover on a bed or learning to use a washing machine. Dormitory staff and student mentors worked through those routines with them. These small, practical lessons were part of a week of new student orientation designed to help students begin finding their feet before classes.

Students arrived from different countries with different languages and experiences. Some had travelled through customs alone for the first time; others were moving into a shared dormitory for the first time. For families considering school abroad, the first questions can be equally practical: Who will meet my child? How will they learn their way around? Where will they find people to ask for help?

The September welcome week addressed those questions through airport pick-ups, dormitory move-ins, shopping trips, campus tours and shared activities. It gave newcomers time to become familiar with people and places that would soon be part of daily life.

Finding the Cafeteria, the Clinic and Someone to Ask

Teachers and senior student mentors guided the newcomers through Hailiang Education Park. Together, they located the cafeteria and clinic and walked the route between the dormitories and teaching buildings.

Those walks connected a new student’s immediate needs with real places. Finding a classroom was one part of the introduction; learning whom to ask when unsure was another. The students explored their surroundings with guides who could answer questions along the way.

Learning the Everyday Routines of Boarding

Moving into a dormitory also meant taking responsibility for unfamiliar household tasks. Students practised making beds, fitting duvet covers, using washing machines and drying clothes, with dormitory staff and student mentors showing them each step.

For a first-time boarder, these routines can occupy as much attention as a new timetable. In this welcome week, they were treated as things to learn with help. Students had an opportunity to move from watching a task being demonstrated to doing it themselves.

For parents, that is a concrete detail worth considering alongside classrooms and courses: how a school introduces the daily habits a child will need when living away from home.

For a student’s perspective on the early adjustment, read Proud’s reflections on arriving at HIS.

New Student Orientation Through Shared Experiences

The week also took students outside the campus. On an outdoor activity day, they walked through mountain streams, splashed in a pool and tried zip lines and slides. Later, they gathered for a barbecue on the lawn and watched a film outdoors.

On a downhill stretch of the stream walk, students reached back to help one another. Such moments gave newcomers something to do together while they were still getting to know one another. By evening, they had shared experiences to recall as they sat side by side on the grass.

A visit to Hangzhou offered another setting for those first conversations. Students explored West Lake and, later, Hefang Street, where traditional shops lined the lanes. The excursion introduced places beyond the school while giving the group more time together.

Meeting the People Behind School Life

The formal orientation gathering brought the school community into focus through opening videos, the school anthem and a principal’s address. Principal Wade spoke about Diversity, Balance, Open-mindedness and Respect.

Department heads introduced curriculum, daily life, university pathways and school policies. Alongside the practical activities earlier in the week, these sessions helped connect students’ questions with the people responsible for different parts of school life.

Each newcomer also received an HIS welcome gift: a branded mug, student card holder, keychain and commemorative stickers. These were small reminders of joining the community, alongside the more practical introductions to routines and responsibilities.

A First Week Built Around Getting Settled

The welcome week brought together several kinds of preparation: finding familiar routes, learning boarding routines, meeting staff and sharing experiences with other newcomers. It gave students a start on the everyday questions that accompany a move to a new country and school.

For a family exploring HIS, the account offers specific examples of what settling in looked like during this intake. The first steps included someone demonstrating a duvet cover, a mentor walking a route and a classmate offering a hand.

If you are considering joining the school, explore HIS answers to prospective families’ questions for further information.

FAQ

What did new student orientation at HIS include?

The reported week included airport pick-ups, dormitory move-ins, shopping trips, campus tours, introductions to school life, outdoor activities and a visit to Hangzhou.

How were students introduced to boarding routines?

Dormitory staff and student mentors showed them how to make beds, fit duvet covers, use washing machines and dry clothes. Teachers and senior student mentors also helped them find key locations around campus.

What opportunities did newcomers have to meet one another?

They took part in campus activities and an outdoor day that included stream walking, a barbecue and a film. The Hangzhou excursion also gave them time to explore together.