It is impossible to nurture a person with holistic character development for schools without education from his/her family and for families without education from the schools, which is a detailed-oriented and tedious process. ——Sukhomlinsky

Education is a systematic project which cannot survive without parental education, school education, effects from the natural environment and culture. Hence education needs supports from the school, families and the society.

As the very first educator of the children, parental guidance and education from family is the cornerstone of the education which has great influence on the growth of children. As we have great expectations towards the children's future, we also wonder what kind of family-school relationship would benefit the children the most. 

Since its founding, VBS has been innovating the family-school cooperation in education. On 3rd November, VBS held PTA meeting to discuss with parents on how to nurture students by joint effort.

To make VBS a common ground for parents and teachers grow with students, to set up a bridge between families and school so that we create the community of shared future.——Principal Yang

Joint effort to educate students

The key to the family-school cooperation in education is coordination. VBS aims to gather the effort from school, family and society to establish the community of shared future for all, setting the grounds for family-school cooperation in education. 

Over the years since this establishment, VBS has set up Parents Academy to hold regular PTA meetings for the decision-making, exchange of ideas and cooperations. 

PTA的成立，标志着VBS进入一场新的学习革命

A hierarchical structure for the multi-dimensional growth

PTA has a hierarchical and departmental management - each class has its own parents committee and an intra-school PTA is formed under the VBS Parents Academy. Five departments are formed - Learning, Caring, External, Recreation and Sports. Parents apply projects based on their characteristics of work, interests, strengths and time. This meets the needs of parents to take part in their children's education, also achieves resources sharing to educate students by utilising the resources offered by parents.

Parents Academy organised lectures, family visiting and recreational activities to allow parents to learn knowledge on parental education, overcome difficulties and find their joys in education. 

“故事爸妈”进课堂，阅读分享共成长

许艾雯妈妈为学生上插花课

家长为学生上职业体验课

曾慧梅：怎样培养孩子独立人格.

陈彦：开心聊天教出好孩子——亲子沟通的秘诀.

胡一帆：一手好字要这样练

External Department actively seeks educational resources from society to expand students' horizons for their growth. 

外联部：联系发电厂、水厂等，组织学生参观学习

外联部特邀中国赴黎巴嫩维和部队医疗队护士长李桂兰做讲座：维护和平，远离战争

Caring Department collaborates with school to organise volunteering activities which benefit the public society, indoctrinating students with the correct values. 

李思睿妈妈指导学生制作唇膏，赠给贫困学子.

熊墨琳妈妈带领学生进行环保宣传活动.

 3D班全体师生和家长们在为福利院生活的孤残青年动情歌唱.

Sports Department offers joyful activities for parents to spend quality time with their children.

体育部：家长为学生足球联赛助威.

元旦晚会上，家长们深情献唱.

A longstanding family-school co-existence model

VBS has gradually formed series of lessons on establishing the community of shared future for families and school based on several principles - transition from kindergarten to primary school, coordinating education, promotion of school culture, education to psychology and For the past one year, the establishment is effective as changes are observed.

Parents have many thoughts.

'My kid anticipates the start of school term as he loves the food from the school canteen more than the home-cooked food, now his younger sister wants to study in VBS.'

'My child used to struggle getting up and does not love going to school. But now he wakes up all by himself.'

'My child told me that how VBS teachers interacted with students was different from the teachers from the past, they were very kind and friendly.'

'I find my child's knowledge has been broadened as he could talk about history for long hours after studying at VBS for just two months.'

Chen Yifei had her personal dilemma as she missed both her parents and the school. 

Touching moment:

During the competition, one student's parent from other school admired the hugs between VBS student and his teacher as this could never happen in the school her child was attending. Asked what made this possible, she was given the answer by the teacher, 'This was common in our school, students can also hug their beloved Principal.' 

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Principal's message：

Liaising with parents, VBS allows parents to know more about the needs of their children and focus on their growth. It also strengthens intimate relationships by organising various activities and offers platforms to students who have more social practice opportunities and broaden their horizons. 

VBS garners opinions from parents to coordinate students' education and facilitates parents to improve their skills in parental education. During the education process, it also builds mutual trust with parents by introducing the school philosophy, revised teaching measures. Thus the mutally agreed education philosophy and the community of shared future for families and school is formed, VBS eventually becomes a common ground for parents and teachers grow with students.

In the way to implement our education model, VBS stays aside with parents to watch students grow. 

Author: Glora

Photographer: Linda

Formatting: Judy

Translated by DC Lai