元旦伊始，时间换了前缀，NACIS也开启了第七年的新篇章。在充满“不确定性”和挑战的2022年，NACIS的双语教育之轮依然充满智慧地展开风帆，极具韧性地保持着稳定的前行和发展。“传承与改变”不仅是当今双语教育的命题，也是NACIS 七年发展中不断追求和探索的方向。上海英国学校Thomas Hitchings 接任上海闵行区诺达双语学校小学部外方校长，并与小学部的教职员工们见面。在全新的2023年，Thomas Hitchings校长将和小学部中方校长Kris Li一起，用全新的合作，领航小学部的新旅程。今天，让我们一起通过文章，了解Thomas校长的故事。

Thomas Hitchings

NACIS小学部

外方校长 

Thomas校长来自英国莱斯特，毕业于英国兰开斯特大学圣马丁学院，并获得专业小学教学资质。他拥有20多年教育经验，曾在英国的公立学校和诺德安达教育集团（NAE）旗下的英国外籍人员子女学校任教。在职业生涯之初，Manchester Education Partnership授予他教育创新奖，表彰他在开发计算机技术和体育课程及体育规定等方面展现出的领导力。

在加入NACIS之前，Thomas校长在上海英国外籍人员子女学校浦西校区担任助理校长。任职期间，他开发了课外活动项目，监管并提升了整个学校许多领域的学习成果。同时，他也是健康和安全委员会的重要成员。

来自英国教育世家，“教育是我生活的一部分”

Thomas出生于英国莱斯特，著名的莱斯特大学和德蒙福特大学就在这里。作为教育世家的一员，Thomas的父母都是英国公立学校的教师，父亲更是当地知名学校的校长，从小就耳濡目染的他，浸润在教书育人的家庭环境中，这也让他萌生了将来要成为教师的想法。不仅是Thomas，家里的几个兄弟姐妹也对教育事业情有独钟，相继成为了大学教授。而莱斯特这座城市，也是在英国本土，亚洲人和亚洲文化最为繁盛的城市之一，众多宗教的汇集地。每年的六月到八月，那里都有丰富多彩的文化和艺术庆祝活动，活跃着来自世界各地的学生。多元又丰富的文化碰撞所带给他的新奇文化体验，也打开了他对世界和亚洲文化更多的想象。

在大学选择教育，毕业后如愿获得了英国小学专业教学资质，Thomas去父亲所在的学校完成了为期一周的工作体验。“那是一段无比美妙的时光，它让我完成了多年的梦想，也让我更加深刻地体会到父亲帮助孩子们取得成就、茁壮成长的喜悦和成就感。这段时间改变了我的教学的方式和方向，也让我更加坚定地把教学当作我生活重要的一部分。”

在英国的公立学校工作多年以后，怀着对教育的初心和对亚洲的向往，Thomas启程来到中国，在上海开启了他新的教学之旅。在上海英国外籍人员子女学校执教的多年里，Thomas深深意识到，中国的国际化教育发展和学习环境给予了学生全方位的支持、培养与挑战，当学生在学校感到快乐和安全时，或受到老师、父母和同学的鼓励时，这对学生的成长大有裨益。

不论是在NAE集团、BISS Puxi还是NACIS，看到来自世界各地经验丰富的教育工作者，他们把自己的精力和时间都投入在教育事业中，秉承着教育的初心，把孩子们和自己都变成终生学习者。大家对职业所保持的热情和满足，深深打动和鼓舞着我。

从教20多年来，教育真正融入了Thomas的生活，成为必不可少的部分。为引导学生在学习之旅中成为全面发展的学习者，并能够灵活接受挑战，他设计开发了很多课外活动；作为BISS 的健康和安全委员会重要成员，他也一直致力于帮助家长在家校沟通中，建立强大的核心价值观，并培养孩子始终如一的学习方法和积极的学习态度。

在诺德安达教育集团深耕14年，成为种下大树种子的人

Thomas结缘诺德安达教育集团（NAE）14年，并在上海英国外籍人员子女学校（BISS）工作长达12年，BISS可以说是他职业生涯中最为重要的一站。在BISS的经历不仅拓展了他的视野，也让他有机会亲眼见证了中国国际化教育的发展趋势与创新实践，更是加深了他对中国的了解。

诺德安达教育集团一直都在运用教育最前沿的研究资源来引领各学校教学团队进行最佳的教学实践和课程设计。“无论是在BISS Puxi，还是NACIS，都采用沉浸式和以学生为中心的教学方式。在双语的教学实践中，沉浸式的语言学习环境，让孩子们有机会从很小的时候就发展双语能力，同时还能深耕母语文化。在决定前往NACIS之前，我与许多教育专家和教师之间有过非常多的交流，我们都对双语小学课程的前景感到很期待。NACIS作为首先尝试双语教育的几个学校之一，无疑是充满勇气和智慧的，加入NACIS，对我来说也意义非凡。”

正如NACIS将“深耕母语文化，通晓世界语言，培育全球视野，融通生命成长”的主线作为双语教育的基石，拥抱中、西文化，联结中、西传统，培养孩子的文化自豪感，也是NACIS社区的精神传承。除了持续创新，在日常的教学中帮助学生做好文化的传承，也让这位在中国组建了家庭的“上海女婿“和“混血”爸爸深有感触和体会。“我的两个孩子就是双语学习者，作为家长，也作为老师，不管在学校还是在家里，培养孩子对语言学习和使用的积极性，鼓励他们敢于试错，不吝惜表达，都是很重要的环节。”

学习可以通过多种方式发生，我相信双语的教学是更具个性化的，因为对两种语言的掌握和对多元文化的理解，需要为孩子们设立更有节奏的学习目标，与每个学生的需求相匹配，相呼应。在双语环境中，因材施教和学习变得更具流动性，并从传统的教育环境进一步延伸，因为每次与个别学生接触都是他们以自己的方式学习的机会。学习的内容、时间、地点和方式都是根据每个学生的优势、技能、需求和兴趣量身定制的。无论是学生，还是我们教师，都会收获更多的能量。

为双语新生代肩负起更多的责任感

在铁人三项的比赛中，完成游泳、自行车和跑步三项赛事后的最后冲线，是最充满速度与激情的时刻。参加铁人三项的“铁人”们，似乎可以突破速度与身体的极限，游刃有余地越过重重障碍的路，这一切看起来都是那么自然和轻松。

然而，铁人三项的三项赛事里，没有一项会有坦途。毋庸置疑的是，所有的游刃有余，背后都离不开持之以恒的自律和永不放弃的精神。从小就广泛涉猎各种运动，尤其擅长于耐力运动项目，在英国时就参加了很多山地车的比赛和登山活动并获得奖项，在抵达中国后，Thomas校长加入了上海铁人三项精英俱乐部，并对铁人三项项目深深着迷的他对此更深有体会：

2014年我完成了英国铁人三项，包括3.8公里游泳、180公里自行车和马拉松，我用了大约13个小时完成了比赛。在打铁之初，它或许只是一个兴趣和爱好，但随着激情褪去，铁三慢慢成为了我的习惯和生活方式。8年如一日，刻苦的打磨不在话下，自律、责任和突破自我，勇于承担风险但也保持周全的计划，是我从铁三中迁移到工作和生活中的信念和精神。

经过多轮严格且审慎的人才甄选，Thomas校长在集团的众多候选人中脱颖而出。铁人三项、山地车、登山等极限运动给予了他面对挑战的宝贵品质：坚韧不拔、自律、不断挑战自我的极限。而这些，同样也是优秀领导者所需要的特质。

马斯洛曾经说过：“教育，是让一个人成为最好版本的自己”，已经在中国生活了14年的Thomas，带着“担负起对双语新生代的责任感”的理想和追求；带着在运动中获得的领导者特质；也带着来自英伦传统文化的精神力量，他有信心以同理心、正直和始终如一的态度行事，并以积极的视角和Kris校长一起，引领小学部员工，帮助学生收获最佳的学习成果。

“我知道，在NACIS，每个班级都是以树木的名称进行命名。我很荣幸，可以成为播种下大树种子的人，我更相信，在这片用爱和责任深耕的沃土，每一棵从NACIS小学部走出的小树苗，无论何时何地，都会以高远的志向和通达的精神，不断追求自己的‘高度’！”

最后，让我们一同欢迎Thomas校长加入NACIS大家庭，与教学团队携手，提供鼓舞人心的领导力。

本周六，Thomas校长将与Kris校长一起，为您带来NACIS小学部课程深度解析，扫描下方二维码，即可报名参加NACIS开放日。

At the beginning of the new year, NACIS has opened a new chapter in the 7th year since its establishment. Although we faced lots of "uncertainties" and challenges in 2022, we still carried out our bilingual education with wisdom and resilience. "Inheritance and change" are not only the proposition of bilingual education today, but also the direction that NACIS has been pursuing and exploring during the past 7 years.

In early December 2022, Mr. Thomas Hitchings joined NACIS from the British International School, Shanghai Puxi campus (BISS Puxi). He took over the handover from Ms. Samantha Bagshaw, the former International Head of Primary and met the primary staff. In the new year of 2023, Mr. Thomas Hitchings will lead the new journey of NACIS Primary together with Mr. Kris Li, National Head of Primary. Today, let us learn about the story of Mr. Thomas Hitchings.

Thomas Hitchings

NACIS Primary

International Head 

Mr Hitchings is originally from Leicester in the United Kingdom and is a Graduate of Lancaster University’s St Martins College with a specialist primary teaching degree. He has over twenty years of experience in education, both in UK state schools and Nord Anglia Education International schools in China. At the start of his career he was awarded the prestigious, Innovations in Education award from Manchester Education Partnership for his leadership in developing Computer technologies curriculums and PE and sports provisions for student in his region.

Mr Hitchngs joins us from the British International School, Shanghai Puxi campus (BISS) where he held the role of Assistant Head Teacher (Whole school). During his time at BISS, he has developed the extra-curricular programme, monitored and increased learning outcomes across many areas of the whole school and been a key member of the health and safety committee. 

AS A MEMBER OF A FAMILY EDUCATORS, TEACHING HAS ALWAYS BEEN PART OF MY LIFE

Mr. Thomas Hitchings was born in Leicester, England, where the famous University of Leicester and De Montfort University are located. His parents are teachers in British public schools, and his father is the principal of a well-known local school. As a member of a family educators, Mr. Thomas Hitchings has been immersed in the nurturing environment since he was a child. He wants to become a teacher. His brothers and sisters are also interested in education and has become professors in universities. Leicester is also one of the most prosperous cities of Asian cultures in the UK, and a gathering place for many religions. From June to August every year, there are colorful cultural and artistic celebrations and students from all over the world. The novel cultural experience brought by Leicester's diverse and rich cultural collisions also opened up his imagination for the world and Asian culture.

After graduating from the university with a specialist primary teaching degree, he completed a weeklong work experience at his father’s school. “I had such an amazing time to realize my dream. I knew the joy and sense of accomplishment that my father feels in helping his students achieve and thrive.  It changed my direction towards teaching and inspired me to consider teaching as part of my life.  

After working in public schools in the UK for many years, Mr. Thomas Hitchings set out to China with his original aspiration for education and yearning for Asia. He started his new teaching journey in Shanghai. During his years of teaching at BISS, he has realized that China’s international education development and learning environment provide students with all-round support, training and challenges. He believes that students learn best when they are happy and feel safe, when they feel inspired by their teachers, parents and peers. 

Whether in NAE, BISS Puxi or NACIS, I have seen experienced educators from all over the world devote their energy and time to education. With the original intention, they have changed students and themselves as life-long learners. I am deeply moved and inspired by their enthusiasm and satisfaction in their careers.

During the past 20 years, teaching has become an essential part of his life. In order to guide students through their school career as well-rounded learners who can take on challenges with resilience. He has developed the extra-curricular programme. As member of the health and safety committee, he believes that schools and parents should help children follow a strong set of core values which help to achieve a consistent approach to learning and positive attitudes to all elements of school life. 

WORK IN NAE FOR 14 YEARS AND BECOME A SOWER

Mr. Thomas Hitchings has worked in NAE for 14 years. BISS Puxi can be said to be the most important part in his career, where he has worked for 12 years. The experience at BISS Puxi not only broadened his horizon, but also gave him the opportunity to witness the development trend and innovative practice of China's international education and deepened his understanding of China.

NAE has led the teaching teams of various schools to carry out the best teaching practice and curriculum design based on the most cutting-edge research resources in education. "Both BISS Puxi and NACIS have adopted the immersive and student-led teaching method. It provides an immersive English learning environment and allows opportunities for children to develop bilingualism from an early age whilst also staying very much in touch with their Chinese cultural heritage. Before I decided to join NACIS, I had a lot of exchanges with many education experts and teachers. We all looked forward to the prospect of bilingual primary curriculums. As one of the first group of schools to carry out bilingual education, NACIS is undoubtedly full of courage and wisdom. Therefore, it means a lot for me to join NACIS."

Based on the bilingual education concepts of “Learning mother tongue culture, mastering world languages, cultivating global vision and integrating life growth", NACIS is committed to embracing Chinese and Western cultures, connecting Chinese and Western traditions, and cultivating cultural pride of students. In addition to continuous innovation, Mr. Thomas Hitchings, a son-in-law of Shanghai and a father of mixed-race children, has a deep understanding of helping students to inherit their culture in daily teaching. “My two children are bilingual learners. As a parent and teacher, it is very important to cultivate children's enthusiasm for language learning and give them the freedom to make mistakes and express themselves.”

I believe learning can happen in many ways and bilingual teaching is personalised. It means that learning goals are paced and matched to individual students’ needs. In a bilingual setting, individualized teaching and learning becomes more mobile and extends further from just a traditional educational setting, as every engagement with an individual student becomes an opportunity for them to learn in their own personal way. The what, when, where and how of the learning is tailored to meet each students strengths, skills, needs and interests. Both teachers and students can gain more energy from it. 

SHOULDER MORE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE NEW GENERATION

In the triathlon competition, the final crossing line after swimming, cycling and running is the most fast and passionate moment. The "ironmen" participating in the triathlon seem to be able to break through their limits and overcome obstacles, which seems natural and easy.

However, none of the three events is easy. There is no doubt that it is inseparable from the persistent self-discipline and the spirit of never giving up. From a young age,  Mr. Thomas Hitchings has been in love with endurance sports. When he was growing up in the UK, he loved racing mountain bikes and running up mountians. When he came to China, he joined the Shanghai Elite Triathlon Club who helped him compete in many different triathlon and bike races accross the country. He is deeply fascinated by the triathlon with a deeper understanding.

In 2014 I completed Ironman UK which consisted of a 3.8KM Swim, a 180KM Bike ride and a Marathon to finish, I managed it in around 13 hours. At the beginning, it may be just an interest and hobby, but now it has gradually become my habit and way of life. I have learned about hard work, self-discipline, responsibility, self-improvement and the courage to take risks based on a comprehensive plan.

After several rounds of strict and prudent talent selection, Mr. Thomas Hitchings stood out among many candidates. He has developed the valubable qualities to face challenges from sports such as triathlon, mountain biking, and mountaineering, which also makes a good leader.”

As Maslow said, “Education is to make a person into the best version of himself.” Mr. Thomas Hitchings, who has lived in China for 14 years, has the ideal and pursuit of "taking responsibility for the bilingual generation". With the leadership qualities acquired in sports and the spiritual power from the traditional British culture, he will work together with Mr. Kris and act with empathy, integrity and consistency and always through the lens of positivity to help the staff achieve the best possible outcome for the students.

"I know that every class is named after a tree at NACIS. I am very honored to be the one who sows the seeds of the big tree. I believe that every student from the NACIS Primary will continue to pursue their own dream with ambitious and mastery spirit!"

Welcome Mr. Thomas Hitchings to join the NACIS community and provide inspirational leadership with the teaching team.

This Saturday, Mr. Thomas Hitchings and Mr. Kris will give you an in-depth analysis of the NACIS primary curriculum. Please scan the QR code below to sign up for the NACIS Open Day.

文章转载自：【上海闵行区诺达双语学校】