As Head of School Jeff Bissell shared when first announcing our Core Values in 2020, we are proud and deeply satisfied that we can connect the dots between the Core Values that emerged from our long and inclusive Strategic Vision process and some of the received wisdom from China’s first sage, Confucius. In other words, these are not American values or Chinese values, they are world values. They are our CAIS Core Values.
Firedragons provided by professional illustrator and alumna Katrina Soo Hoo ’99
好 奇
Curiosity
提问：我们想了解我们的世界和开拓新的可能性
Ask More: We wonder about our world and pioneer new possibilities
Confucian Connection:
学而时习之，不亦乐乎？
What a pleasure it is to learn and frequently practice what one has learned
(from the Analects of Confucius《论语》)
包容 Inclusion
欢迎：我们重视归属感，支持和关心社群内外所有的人
Invite In: We champion belongingness and care for others within our community and beyond
Confucian Connection:
君子和而不同。
A person of noble character is in harmony with others even though they may not see eye to eye.
(from the Analects of Confucius《论语》)
善良 Kindness
鼓励：我们用善意的语言和行动来互相支持
Build Up: We use kind words and actions to support each other and ourselves
Confucian Connection:
仁者人也。
To be kind is to be human.
(from “The Mean”《中庸》)
毅力 Perseverance
坚持：遇到困难时，我们会给自己打气并坚持下去
Keep Trying: We push ourselves and stick with it when things get tough
Confucian Connection:
譬如为善，未成一篑，止，吾止也。譬如平地，虽覆一篑，进，吾往也。
In building up a hill, if I stop before adding the last basketful of earth, then I have stopped. In leveling the ground, even if I have only filled one basketful of earth, I am still moving forward and making progress.
(from the Analects of Confucius《论语》)
勇气 Courage
勇敢：即使碰到困难，我们也能勇于尝试，负起责任
Be Brave: We take risks and responsibility, even when it is hard
Confucian Connection:
见义不为无勇也。
Seeing what is right but not doing it shows a lack of courage.
(from the Analects of Confucius《论语》)