Established in 2017 by two seniors at Beijing City International School (BCIS), Avenir is a business competition designed to encourage high school students worldwide to develop pioneering business plans. The competition aims to enhance the participants’ skills in entrepreneurship, social enterprise thinking, positive networking, and receiving critical feedback from business professionals.

Avenir takes secondary school students’ ideas to the next level by fostering an innovative mindset and offering numerous prizes and resources. The experience of competing in Avenir requires participants to be collaborative and do extensive market research in industries, practice and enhance public speaking skills, and build confidence in presenting arguments as a group. Students participate in this program and develop ideas to address demanding challenges. The event aims towards envisioning future businesses that work for the good of all and the sustainable development of the world.

Theme: Pioneer

This year, Avenir is encouraging you to think outside the box and pitch your innovative and unique ideas to the business leaders and win a start-up fund for your own business. Don’t worry – this is not rocket science! Whether starting from scratch or making improvements on existing products, you can be a pioneer by creating novel, positive impacts on others!

You may want to make your project relevant to the near future.

For example, in our the post-pandemic life (this is not a requirement), people will be more cautious with personal hygiene. Thus, the prevailing public drinking fountain might not be as favored as before. Is it possible for the entrepreneurs to improve the drinking fountains so that they will not be wasted?

Timeline:

• • Registration and submission open: December 2021- April 2022
  • Workshop & Advice: Starting from March or April 2022 (TBD)
  • Competition: May 21 and 22, 2022

Cost of entry per person:

• • RMB 279 for Early Bird (before Mar 15^, 2022)
  • RMB 359 for Regular Registration (deadline before Apr 30, 2022)

*6 percent additional charge if you need a fapiao.

Registration is open now for any teams that wish to register for Avenir 2022 and confirmation of your participation in the competition will be sent once we have reviewed your Registration Survey filled out in the link below:

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?i…

Or please scan the QR code:

Rules:

Each Avenir submission and presentation represents an original work that has been created by a team of two-four high school students from Grades 8-12. There is no limit to the number of teams that can enter the competition from the same school.

Two Divisions:

Junior division: Grade 8-9
Senior division: Grade 10-12

Team members have the authority to submit/present their original work by virtue of their ownership of the content (or the expressed permission of any non-participating content owners).

The submission/presentation does not disclose any third-party intellectual property or violate any existing copyright protections.

The Avenir leadership team maintains sole discretion to interpret, modify or eliminate any of the competition’s rules, terms, and conditions at any time and without notice. That said, the primary purpose of the Avenir rules, terms, and conditions is to provide equality of opportunity while also promoting a positive and impactful learning experience for all participants.

If you are interested in participating in Avenir 2022, either as a sponsor, speaker, mentor, or judge, please email us at avenir@bcis.cn & erica.wang@bcis.cn.

Follow Avenir on WeChat @AvenirEducation and @avenirbcis on Instagram for further notices!

Questions? Email us at avenir@bcis.cn.

Images courtesy of Avenir

May 25 will long be remembered as a truly special day for the BCIS Class of 2019 and their families and friends as they celebrated the culmination of years of hard work, perseverance, and great achievements.

Teachers and parents celebrated the graduates’ achievements

The Park Hyatt ballroom was the setting for the awestruck audience to proudly watch the soon-to-be graduates take the stage and enter the next chapter in their lives. When the time came, the students made their entrance to the spacious hall as music played by the BCIS Orchestra beckoned them to take their well-deserved turn in the spotlight. Guests were also treated to various musical performances from the Grade 12 students themselves, including a moving rendition of “You Will Always Find Your Way Back Home” by the Grade 12 student band Tangent 90. Of course, graduation would not be a proper event without the inclusion of moving speeches, and this year, many special guests that took to the podium, from this year’s Valedictorian to a beloved math teacher. Their words and gestures captivated the hearts and attention of the audience.

Mr. Patrick Kitsao, MYP and DP Mathematics Teacher and Mathematics Team Leader

Mr. Patrick Kitsao, MYP and DP Mathematics Teacher and Mathematics Team Leader, celebrated the accomplishments of the Grade 12 students in a speech that moved the young scholars. One of the most interesting parts of his presentation was the following quote:

Just so you know, life does not get easier. Not one bit! Just look at the white hair on my head! Stress will become a close friend! However, with the help of your families and teachers’ guidance, we all know you are ready for what is out there. Without a doubt, you will overcome the obstacles ahead due to the manner in which you have conducted yourselves over the years, as well as the skills and knowledge you have acquired over the years at BCIS. You are ready for the next stage of life.

Another distinguished speaker at this year’s ceremony was Ms. Veronique Cui, Valedictorian from the Class of 2019. Having been through the rigorous and challenging times that all the graduates had faced, she spoke fondly of some of the memories she had made at BCIS and shared some words of truth that resonated with everyone that attended the event:

Time flows like fleeting show. I still remember standing with a crowd of secondary school students on both sides of the aisle, waving our colorful plastic hands at the grade 12s, celebrating their last day of school. We were whispering to each other, “imagine when that will be us!” Before I knew it, the day when I walked down that aisle has passed and I am standing here making this valedictory speech, which truly marks the end of my high school career. I am sure that within the blink of an eye the graduation ceremony itself will become a distant memory.

Valedictorian Veronique Cui giving a speech at the graduation ceremony

Continuing on the theme of time, she also shared:

Remember when we waved goodbye to our EE, last IAs, and last BCIS summatives? Do you feel sad? Do you miss them already? Well don’t be sad, because they will come back in different ways, perhaps as new challenges, perhaps as new experiences.

Two other graduates, Ms. Molly Aiping Lawton Todd and Mr. Wojciech Gillert, had a wonderful exchange regarding a very special part of BCIS that was fitting for the day’s graduation:

I remember the first day of school, when we planted the two Gingko trees. The trees were brought over from Shandong, over 500km away. This was risky, as Gingko trees are never re-planted and the trees were already over 300 years old. After years of waiting, the Gingko tree started to grow and has since become a significant symbol of the school. To this day, the Gingko tree is a major part of BCIS that most students are not aware of. It is a symbol of luck, passion, and commitment, and believing in the growth of the school. How much time has passed since then? Certainly enough to form memories, make friends, and have completed the diploma program.

Secondary School Principle Mark Sullivan giving the closing remarks

The closing remarks for the ceremony were made by Mr. Mark Sullivan, Secondary School Principal. He emphasized how the graduates are well-prepared to tackle whatever the future holds, stating:

I have every confidence that you are destined to do amazing things for our world because in enacting our school mission we have challenged and empowered you to be compassionate and inspired people who will act for the good of all, and the sustainable development of the world.  I am proud of you, and I wish you Godspeed. Congratulations!

We would all like to sincerely congratulate the entire BCIS Class of 2019! May your lives be filled with joy, success, and most importantly, meaning. Although it brings us great sadness to lose you from our tightknit school community, we know that you will take the very best of our vision and philosophy with you as a message of hope for the future and we welcome you as our newest BCIS Alumni. Take care, stay strong, and keep moving forward.

Congratulations to the Class of 2019!

This post is provided by BCIS
Photos courtesy of BCIS

Sponsored by Beijing City International School (BCIS). Located in Beijing’s CBD, BCIS lives by its motto: “Empowering and Inspiring Through Challenge and Compassion.” This not-for-profit, co-educational day school provides a personalized, inclusive international curriculum under the International Baccalaureate (IB) World School system, offering the PYP, MYP and DP to both expatriate and Chinese national students from Toddler to Grade 12. For more information, please email admissions@bcis.cn 

Beijing City International School began with a simple but noble mission: to create a school incorporating international mindedness and offering a cosmopolitan, international education where students will be proud to study, and where teachers will be delighted to teach. Its founder, Ni Haohua, wanted to create a place of longevity, as symbolized by its centuries-old Gingko tree especially planted in the center of the playground. His idea was a school that would contribute to the globalization of Chinese education, becoming a bridge between East and West.

Over its 10 years, BCIS has seen a great amount of progress. When choosing a new slogan to mark the celebration of the school’s 10th anniversary, the community decided that they wanted it to reflect both the achievements of the past decade, but also its continuing work to generate whole lifetimes filled with success.

“A Decade of Achievement, A Lifetime of Success”

In the Beginning…
The journey of BCIS as we know it began back in late 2004 and early 2005, when a small group of no more than seven teachers and a number of other staff began gathering in offices near the current site of the school’s downtown campus to discuss and plan the curriculum, policy and procedures for their brand-new school that was due to open in August of 2005.General Administration Manager, Miranda Mu, recounts. “Two experiences I remember clearly. One was the GA team working until 12:40 at night to receive all the classical Chinese furniture from Hangzhou…Another thing was at midnight of the day of school opening. Scaffolds were still up, and workers continued putting the final touches to the ES Lobby. It still looked like a construction site!”

Despite their concerns, the school opened as planned to happy faces and the vibrant birth of a whole new community.

Growing up…
The first year saw an initial enrollment of just 84 Elementary School students, growing to 126 by the end of the year.  It was a great way for the school to lay the foundation of its program, with a small and manageable student body that teachers could devote their care and attention to while the program was matured. In the school’s second year, 2006-2007, the Secondary School building was opened, and a new school section was born. Every year the school welcomed more and more students, growing to 562 by the 2008-2009 year when the community came together to congratulate the first BCIS Graduate, Jiang Ruoyi (Ray), who went on to university in New York. University success continued, with one particular highlight being in the 2012-2013 year where Grade 12 student, Christine Bai, was accepted into Harvard University.

As school numbers grew, graduating class sizes increased, and college placements rolled in, other achievements came the school’s way. In the 2006-2007 year, the first IB certification came about, with the school being accredited to offer the IB Diploma Programme. In 2008, BCIS received its full Primary Years Programme accreditation, and in 2013 the set was completed with the MYP certification. From that point, BCIS could proudly speak of its status as a real IB World School, with the inquiry-based, globally minded, and creative IB curriculum framework at the heart of learning at every level.

“My School, My Happiness, My Success” – 2005
“Empowering and Inspiring through Challenge and Compassion” – 2010
“A Decade of Achievement, A Lifetime of Success” – 2015

The words in the motto may change, but the vision, philosophy and heart of BCIS’ community remains a constant and steady compass guiding us through changing times.

Looking to the future…
This year, BCIS looks forward to finishing the year with an enrollment very close to, or even just over 1,000 students. The graduating classes are set to increase in size, and the YueCheng Education Board of Trustees and BCIS Educational Leadership Team will continue working with the community to strategically plan for the future. In the coming 10 years, as former Head of School, Nick Bowley, once put it – “we will see BCIS no longer as a young school, but as a school coming of age, and coming into its own right.”

Photos: BCIS

Sponsored by Beijing City International School (BCIS). Located in Beijing’s CBD, BCIS lives by its motto: “Empowering and Inspiring Through Challenge and Compassion.” This not-for-profit, co-educational day school provides a personalized, inclusive international curriculum under the International Baccalaureate (IB) World School system, offering the PYP, MYP and DP to both expatriate and Chinese national students from Toddler to Grade 12. For more information, please email admissions@bcis.cn 

With enrollment nearly at 1,000 students, it is no longer the case that BCIS should be considered a relatively “small” school. It remains the case, however, that growth in student numbers is not making BCIS any less inclusive when it comes to its growing and thriving Athletics Program. Students from both Elementary and Secondary School levels compete in sports events as part of the International Schools Activities Conference (ISAC) and the Association of Chinese and Mongolian International School (ACAMIS), as well as with all the other major international schools within Beijing.

Athletics have always presented students with unique opportunities. There’s the chance to become a functioning member of a team and to enjoy the success that good teamwork brings — an invaluable life skill and experience. There’s also the chance for them to travel to other cities such as Shanghai, Suzhou and Hong Kong, meet other students and broaden their horizons.

Over the past couple of years, BCIS students have written and reflected on their times taking part in sports activities, both as part of a team and also sometimes as a coach for younger students. Below we have some extracts, firstly from Grade 12 student, Tiger Liu:

“Socializing is a big part of sports. When participating in the sports teams, it’s easy to meet students you don’t know and make new friends. During my time playing for the school sports teams, I have met many students from other grades. Most of my peers have kept their friends mostly to those in their own grade. However, I know the people who participate in sports from Grades 8 to 12. I have also started up my own badminton [extracurricular activity], during which I have tried to help younger badminton lovers improve their skills.”
    — Tiger Liu, writing in 2014, currently in Grade 12 preparing to graduate in 2016

Grade 11 student, Antoni Gillert, also discussed his time as a football coach for the U14 team, and how it has helped him develop at school:

“As with every year, getting involved in the coaching program helped me gain awareness of my own strengths and weaknesses. This season, I worked particularly hard on the clarity of my instructions, making sure that players understood exactly what we asked of them…Many of the skills I have acquired on the pitch are also applicable to the classroom. In particular, I have gained more confidence when speaking in front of a larger group of people and am more willing to assume leadership roles.”
    — Antoni Gillert, writing in 2015, currently in Grade 11

Finally, Grace Wang in Grade 10 discussed her experiences as Captain of the U19 Volleyball Team, and in particular an ISAC Division 2 Tournament they took part in:

“It was a tough tournament. However, as captain, I am extremely proud of how far our team has come this year. I started playing volleyball when I was in Grade 6. Throughout these five years of participating, I accomplished a lot. From playing in the U12 team, to the U14 team and now in the U19 team, I have realized that these years of practice have not only developed my skills in this sport, but have also been a great influence in developing my sportsmanship and my team bonding skills.”
    — Grace Wang, Captain of the U19 Volleyball Girls Team, Grade 10

Training hard and working together has paid off, particularly this year as BCIS Warriors are enjoying great seasons filled with victory. In January, the Boys U19 Basketball team made school history by enjoying a second undefeated season, winning their ISAC Division One Championship one week, and following the next with a stunning win in the ACAMIS Green Division Basketball Tournament final against Kaohsiung American School team from Taiwan. Grade 12 player, Sean Williamson, was awarded MVP of the tournament! A tidal wave of Warrior pride washed over the school, as the third season of the year also kicked off to an amazing start with BCIS winning all three of their first encounters against international schools in Beijing.

The Warrior Spirit prevails, and also educates! As the program grows, our community looks forward to more and more continued success.

 Photos: BCIS

Sponsored by Beijing City International School (BCIS). Located in Beijing’s CBD, BCIS lives by its motto: “Empowering and Inspiring Through Challenge and Compassion.” This not-for-profit, co-educational day school provides a personalized, inclusive international curriculum under the International Baccalaureate (IB) World School system, offering the PYP, MYP and DP to both expatriate and Chinese national students from Toddler to Grade 12. For more information, please email admissions@bcis.cn 

One thing you may not know about Beijing City International School, is that the school is actually one part of a bigger group called YueCheng Education (YCE). Within YCE there are three important bodies, one being BCIS. The other two are the YueCheng Education Research Institute (YERI) and the YueCheng Education Innovation Center (YEIC). While both YERI and YEIC carry out their own functions, they operate under together under the YERI flag of YCE.

YERI’s mission is to challenge and empower educators to be able to show compassion and inspire students so that both parties may act for the good of all. Based in the BCIS Main Campus, the main functions of the group (including YEIC) are as follows:
1) To offer enhancements to the pedagogy of YCE schools and institutions through research, support and program innovations.
2) To share advanced educational methodology and experience with the wider community.
3) To serve as a professional bridge connecting YCE with the best practice of both international and national education systems.

The main thrust of YERI’s work comes in the form of professional developments workshops for K-12 educators. These events are held throughout the year, and cover a wide range of topics, such as:
•    “The Brain-Friendly Classroom: Impact of Brain Research Results on Classroom Teaching”
•    “Becoming an Emotionally Intelligent Teacher”
•    “Differentiation for All Students (Personalized Learning)”
•    “How to Develop Students’ Global Competencies”

Typically, these are whole-day workshops, and take place within the stunning surroundings of either the BCIS Main Campus, or the 4th floor Community Center at the Early Childhood Center. YERI has also organized special symposiums, where local and international experts share their knowledge of the best practices in international education. Ultimately, the goals remain the same – to generate a “Renaissance” in China’s K-12 education field.Sinceits founding in 2010, YEIC has conducted more than 110 workshops and symposiums with over 6,250 participants from around 800 schools and institutions across China.

Such a model may seem somewhat complex to the outside, but the existence of YERI and YEIC within YCE brings numerous advantages to BCIS and its community. First of all, there is a clear advantage to the school’s faculty, who gain access to a strong professional development network giving great opportunities for career advancement. Second, YERI also organizes special workshops for parents, giving advice based on some of the latest educational and psychological research.

In fact, on March 24 from 09:00 to 16:00, YERI will be hosting its next workshop at the BCIS Early Childhood Center — “How to listen so your child will talk, and how to talk so your child will listen.” The session will be led by Bill and Ochan Powell, who are both noted experts in this field. You can find out more and learn how to register for this workshop by clicking here.

The most important advantage of YERI is its effectiveness in helping BCIS become a thought leader in the world of international education. As more workshops are offered, and more research conducted to be shared with the Beijing community, a greater number of educators and parents begin to see BCIS and YCE as a beacon of light offering guidance in the complex labyrinth that is the ever-expanding world of education.

Photos: BCIS

Sponsored by Beijing City International School (BCIS). Located in Beijing’s CBD, BCIS lives by its motto: “Empowering and Inspiring Through Challenge and Compassion.” This not-for-profit, co-educational day school provides a personalized, inclusive international curriculum under the International Baccalaureate (IB) World School system, offering the PYP, MYP and DP to both expatriate and Chinese national students from Toddler to Grade 12. For more information, please email admissions@bcis.cn 

Academics at BCIS are rigorous in all areas, including the arts, sports and other subjects that exist outside of a so-called “core” that some might perceive to exist in schools. Parents visiting BCIS for the first time are often struck by the sight of students reflecting and writing about their experiences in P.E class. They are surprised to see that works of art also come with carefully prepared statements outlining the inspirations behind the work, and details on what students think they have done well or need to improve on next time. The fact is that academic rigor should never be confined to a small collection of classes, and at BCIS we are proud to say that it is not.

Design Technology:
Students from Grades 6 to 10 take part in four 50-minute sessions of design technology each week. They learn great skills in graphic design, advertising, product design and development and more, even learning about how to use 3-D printers. Grade 8, for example, complete a unit called “The Apprentice Unit” where they spend several months working in groups of five to create their own small company. Together they conduct market research on target markets to which they can sell their new products. All their work culminates with them taking part in the Spring in the City community event in May, after which they donate their profits to charities such as the Migrant Children’s Foundation. Last year they managed to raise RMB 18,000.

The Arts:
At BCIS, the Arts include Music, Drama and Visual Arts. Students in the Early Childhood Center and Elementary School take Visual Arts once or twice a week depending on grade level, unleashing their creativity to create wonderful projects that frequently decorate the hallways of the campus. Music classes are taken twice a week as well, with students often having chances to perform what they learn in assemblies and concerts held during each semester. On reaching Secondary School, arts education expands to include drama, which sees students exploring a new way of expressing their ideas and feelings to the community. Annual productions are staged for both the middle school age students (Grades 6-8) and the high school age students (Grades 9-12). This year’s high school production will be a play based on Shakespeare’s “A Comedy of Errors.” Secondary students also continue their studies in Music and Visual Arts, at first working on a rotating trimester system until Grade 9, and then choosing one to concentrate on during Grade 10. All arts subjects are available to study up the IB Diploma Programme level, giving students interested in pursuing arts at university level a very strong foundation from which to build.

P.E.
The aim of physical education at BCIS is to foster a lifelong love of physical activity. Learners at all grade levels experience a wide range of activities that start with dance/movement and water confidence classes with younger students, and develop into more advanced team games by Elementary and Secondary school. BCIS students take full part in athletic programs such as those organized by ACAMIS and ISAC, playing under the team name “Warriors.” The U19 Boys Basketball Warriors, in January 2016, won their first ISAC Division 1 Tournament.

The children are encouraged to think about their activities, reflecting on their successes and where they need to improve. They examine the essence of teamwork, effective communication within a group, and how a they can work together towards a common goal. For our youngest learners, physical activities like dance will help them develop their gross motor skills, such as running, jumping, and moving to music/rhythm.

The Library
Finally, students up to Grade 6 will have at least one full session in their Library each week. The dedicated Librarian teacher will lead these lessons, working on literacy skills with our youngest learners, and always encouraging and developing a love for reading in the children. As students get older, the sessions also cover important research skills, which are vital for those looking to complete big IB milestones such as the PYP Exhibition, the MYP Personal Project and the DP Extended Essay. The Libraries are stocked with thousands of books in various languages, and also have access to a selection of databases, as well as monthly and daily media publications. Getting to know how to use this amazing learning resource is incredibly important, which is why so much extra time is dedicated to it.

Outside of lessons altogether, every Tuesday and Thursday (and sometimes other days), students will take part in Enrichment Activities (EA); extra-curricular activities arranged into three annual sessions, each lasting about eight weeks. This means that each student can take part in around three to six EAs every year. In the end it adds up to a rich volume of experience when creating a college application.

Photos: BCIS

Sponsored by Beijing City International School (BCIS). Located in Beijing’s CBD, BCIS lives by its motto: “Empowering and Inspiring Through Challenge and Compassion.” This not-for-profit, co-educational day school provides a personalized, inclusive international curriculum under the International Baccalaureate (IB) World School system, offering the PYP, MYP and DP to both expatriate and Chinese national students from Toddler to Grade 12. For more information, please email admissions@bcis.cn 

Every year, the BCIS Calendar is jam packed with amazing events, student-led activities, workshops and information sessions for parents, sports matches — the list goes on and on. There is one entry into the calendar, however, that sparks very special excitement from both faculty and students — the Week Without Walls (WWW).

In the past, WWW was known as “ECW” (Experience China Week). The name may have changed but the fun learning experiences have remained constant and strong. The Week Without Walls is about providing a platform from which BCIS students can strengthen and deepen their connection with China, as well as their bonds with classmates and teachers. The Secondary School students depart for their WWW trips during the fall, and the Early Childhood and Elementary students in the spring. Each grade level engages in different activities, some held on campus, others held either locally in Beijing, or in other cities and regions such as Xi’an,Tianjin, Inner Mongolia, Pingyao and others. It’s certainly an exciting week to be part of the BCIS community.

While the students obviously have a great amount of fun during WWW, the week is actually designed to be a serious and meaningful learning experience. In an article about ECW written in the fall 2015 edition of the school’s bi-annual magazine “Xue Xi”, MYP Coordinator, Jock Macgillivray wrote:

“ECW is more than just a class trip. As part of our curriculum, we believe it is important for student to be given the opportunity to experience learning out of the classroom as well as in the classroom. The goal of ECW is to give students an opportunity to take learning out of the school and into the real world, develop greater cultural sensitivity and provide authentic, direct exposure to China in order to nurture a better understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture.”

Beginning in the Early Childhood Center and Elementary School, WWW sees students taking part in fan dances, cookery, lunches in local restaurants, hutong visits, martial arts classes and more. By Grade 4 and 5 they embark on trips away from Beijing (Tianjin and Pingyao respectively). During Secondary School, the trips continue to grow in variety, with every grade visiting a different region of China. By Grade 11, however, the focus shifts slightly to show students the importance of being able to pass the IB Diploma Programme CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) requirements for successful completion and graduation. Opportunities are given to them during the week to be creative through skateboarding and making videos; to take action by hiking and other sports; and to serve by working with a local orphanage.

WWW is an important program designed to allow students to gain a better understanding of China and themselves. The school hopes that they are challenged to grow in those areas that the community feels is valuable. In short, it is an opportunity for theory and ideas to become reality.

Photos and videos: BCIS

Sponsored by Beijing City International School (BCIS). Located in Beijing’s CBD, BCIS lives by its motto: “Empowering and Inspiring Through Challenge and Compassion.” This not-for-profit, co-educational day school provides a personalized, inclusive international curriculum under the International Baccalaureate (IB) World School system, offering the PYP, MYP and DP to both expatriate and Chinese national students from Toddler to Grade 12. For more information, please email admissions@bcis.cn 

Beijing City International School is a school offering a rigorous, cosmopolitan education to both Chinese and international students. It is also a school that is proud of its roots, and works hard to celebrate Chinese culture and heritage in as many ways as possible. To that end, Chinese language classes are compulsory for all students from the Toddler group through Grade 8, with each class receiving at least one period of Chinese daily (40 minutes for ECC/Elementary, 50 minutes for Secondary).

When students reach Grade 9, they can take up Spanish if they wish, but stopping formal Chinese class does not mean there will be no opportunity to engage in Chinese cultural activities. As part of the Enrichment Activity program, students have been able to take part in such activities as traditional Chinese drumming, folk dancing, singing, martial arts, storytelling, calligraphy, cooking and others. What’s more, the faculty takes full advantage of their downtown location, often taking students on field trips to local museums and other places of cultural interest, such as the Confucius Temple, the National Art Museum and local theaters. The fact is that a student at BCIS will always have chances to experience Chinese traditions, and make use of their Chinese language skills.

Within the IB Primary Years and Middle Years Programmes (PYP and MYP respectively), teachers at BCIS work closely with other departments to try and find connections that can be made in learning. This is known as transdisciplinary (PYP) or interdisciplinary (MYP) learning, and is one of the cornerstones of how the IB curriculum is implemented. For instance, if Children are learning about surveys and data collection in math, then the Chinese teachers might see an opportunity to integrate their Chinese by having them use their math skills to conduct another survey, but this time in Chinese. This happens across many subjects in school, sometimes throwing up connections that you might not expect!

Another great example of how the school celebrates and integrates Chinese culture into learning is its “Week Without Walls” (WWW). This event was previously called “Experience China Week” and sees every year group engage in a week-long activity list designed to get them more connected and appreciative of the traditions, values and heritage of our host nation. The Secondary School have their WWW in the autumn, while the Early Childhood Center (ECC) and Elementary School sections have theirs in spring. Take Grade 5, for example, who each year head off to the ancient walled city of Pingyao for several days to discover a side of China they might not get to see among Beijing’s glittering sky scrapers and wide ring roads. Grade 8 head north to Inner Mongolia for a special trip where they learn archery, ride camels and spend time together bonding. The younger learners in the ECC and lower Elementary will stay in Beijing, but make special visits to Chinese restaurants and Beijing’s hutongs. Each grade level has its own special set of activities. According to Secondary School Chinese teacher, Gong Qin:

“Integrating Chinese in the ways we do makes the learning real! Integration of language and culture can make students automatically connect their learning across different subjects and apply them into real life and develop their lifelong learning skills.”

Photo: BCIS

Sponsored by Beijing City International School (BCIS). Located in Beijing’s CBD, BCIS lives by its motto: “Empowering and Inspiring Through Challenge and Compassion.” This not-for-profit, co-educational day school provides a personalized, inclusive international curriculum under the International Baccalaureate (IB) World School system, offering the PYP, MYP and DP to both expatriate and Chinese national students from Toddler to Grade 12. For more information, please email admissions@bcis.cn 

Lights, Camera, Action! Once again, Beijing City International School is accepting entries for its 2016 Flux Film Festival, an annual event that has become something of a school tradition since beginning back in 2011. The festival is open to student and teacher filmmakers from all over the world, and in the past has enjoyed participation from all over China and much further beyond. Last year, for example, saw entries from the US, Germany and Italy.

Over the years, the Flux has evolved from an “Awards Show” format to a more open and public show as was employed in Flux 2015. It is a much-celebrated event, chiefly because it is student-led, and is a wonderful opportunity to open up the school community and share artistic talent. Entries are divided into age groups and categories, with the youngest entrants usually of elementary school age, and the oldest being high school seniors, and teachers (as of 2014). Categories have included animated films, public service announcements (PSA), music videos, special effects and many others.

Judging is carried out by industry professionals, including critics, filmmakers and others involved in the arts. Flux 2015, for example, saw noted Chinese filmmakers, Moxie Peng and Fan Popo join the panel. The judges represent one of the strongest elements of the Flux, which is that participants can have their work scrutinized by a professional of the film world. This adds a lot of meaning to an award, and helps the organizing students attract entries of the highest possible quality.

Logistically, the competition would be a lot simpler if kept within BCIS, but the students have always felt that opening the event up to the whole world is what makes is truly unique among events in the international school community. Last year’s event presented unique challenges, because it was integrated into one of BCIS’ largest community events, “Spring in the City.” The Flux group established a viewing area where the 3000 or so visitors could come and see the more-than 150 film entries, and even take part in choosing a “People’s Choice Award” winner. A well-understood problem with the global nature of the competition is that award winners would not be able to be at BCIS to receive their awards. The students creatively solved this by asking all award winners to prepare an acceptance video, so that when winners were announced, we were able to hear from all award winners. In fact, some of the acceptance videos were thoroughly Flux-worthy themselves!

The Flux will be happening again in 2016, with the deadline for entries set at March 19, 2016. If you are interested in taking part, get filming now! The Flux Website is down temporarily, but a new Flux page will be announced at www.bcis.cn in the coming weeks.

Photo: Sui