What’s happening in Beijing’s international school community? British explorers, gardening, and more in this month’s Circuit.

Three-Time World Record Holder Ash Dykes at DCB

British explorer Ash Dykes, the first person to walk the length of the Yangtze, talked to DCB students about believing in yourself and the value of meticulous planning to achieve your goals. Having traversed the length of Mongolia and Madagascar, Ash provided tips on breaking down challenges into manageable steps.

Harvest Season at BCIS

Beijing City International School (BCIS) nursery and kindergarten students have been busy harvesting the fruits and vegetables of their labor in recent weeks, picking produce from their downtown campus roof garden. Parents joined students to make delicious dishes, enhancing students’ understanding of the garden-to-plate process and knowledge of sustainable practices.

Mid-Autumn Fun at BWYA

As part of Beijing World Youth Academy’s (BWYA’s) Classroom Without Walls Program, the lower primary school will be enjoying seven trips throughout this academic year. On September 12, K-Class had an exciting time making mooncakes, grain paintings, and tie-dye tea towels. All of this feeds into the school’s motto, Locally Grounded, Globally Aware.

YCIS Beijing 2019 Welcomed BBQ

Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS Beijing) Annual Welcome BBQ was again a great success and the best way for new and returning families to mingle and get acquainted. The information sessions held by the academic staff for parents were also well received.

Harrow Beijing City Campus Mid-Autumn Festival Celebrations

On September 11 and 12, Harrow Beijing City Campus celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival by coloring the traditional “Tuye” and making mooncakes, while sharing traditional legends and stories throughout the community.

ISB High School Club Fair

The International School of Beijing’s (ISB’s) commitment to variety and student learning was on full display at the High School Club Fair on August 28, with over 40 organizations for students to choose from. Many clubs featured were dedicated to charity and engaging with the outside community.

Welcoming Party at Beijing No.55 High School

On September 6, Beijing No.55 High School (BJ55) had a “Welcome Party” giving the students an opportunity to meet new students and rekindle old friendships, expanding students’ circle of friends in a cheerful atmosphere. Teachers and students of all grades participated in this activity.

House of Knowledge Grade 1 Entrance Ceremony

House of Knowledge (HoK) held a solemn entrance ceremony for the G1 students called Schultüte.  Schultüte means “school cone” in German, and the ceremony is a German tradition which dates back to the 17th century. They uphold this tradition to make the first day of elementary school extra sweet for students.

Grade 11 Field Trip to The Hutong with CISB

On September 11, Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) Grade 11 students accompanied by their teachers visited The Hutong to participate in a day of team-building activities. Students came back from this trip as a happy community of learners, each reflecting very positively on the experiences they gained.

Annual Community Picnic Celebrates WAB’s 25th Year

Bigger and better than ever, Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) held its annual Community Picnic on August 31. This year they celebrated WAB’s 25th anniversary with music and a range of happenings for every member of the WAB community to enjoy.

BIBA Mid-Autumn Festival

Beijing International Bilingual Academy (BIBA) Elementary School celebrated Mid-Autumn Festival this month. Teachers worked together with students to create an enriching cultural experience. The parent community also supported and provided a mooncake making session.

First Day of School for German Primary Class 1 at BSB, Shunyi

On their first day of school ceremony, each first grader of The British School of Beijing, Shunyi (BSB Shunyi) German Primary School received a huge colorful “school-bag” (Schultüte) filled with sweets from their parents. Older students also gave them a lot of positive wishes as they started their school life.

This article appeared in the beijingkids October 2019 Family Foodies issue

What defines educational success for our children? Do we know for sure that our current education models, learning environment and institutions are set up for success in the 21st Century? These challenging questions form the framework for discussion about the next iteration of top-notch education around the world. On Tuesday January 17th at 4pm, Beijing International Bilingual Academy will host a screening of the new documentary film Most Likely to Succeed to begin a discussion on what education will look like in the future based on the lessons from our past.

Teachers, Parents and members of the community are invited to join us for the film screening and following discussion presented by Dr. Philip J. Bossert of ORIENTECH and Director of Strategic and International Programs for the Hawaii Association of Independent Schools.

Most Likely to Succeed (MLTS) offers an inspiring look at what students and teachers are capable of — if we have the vision and courage to transform our schools. Directed by acclaimed documentarian Greg Whiteley, the film has been an official selection of two dozen of the world’s top film festivals, including Sundance, Tribeca, AFI, Cleveland, Dallas, Milwaukee, Sarasota, Seattle, Virginia, and Bergen. It’s been featured at leading conferences on education, including ASU/GSV, SxS Wedu, Harvard/Goldman Sachs, and New Schools Venture Fund. Audience members call it the most compelling film ever done on the topic of school.

This film is not yet publicly released or available for individual purchase. In the past year, more than 1,500 communities have booked a screening of Most Likely to Succeed. These screenings create space for meaningful and necessary discussion between educators, administrators, parents and students about how steps towards change can be taken on a school level.

The run time is 89 minutes; the screening will be followed by a discussion on applications for a 21st century education. Light food and soft drinks will be prepared.

About the Presenter

Dr. Philip J. Bossert: In addition to presenting to schools and conferences around the world, Dr. Bossert is also the Director of the Institute for 21st Century Teaching & Learning and Schools of the Future Project at the Hawaii Association for Independent Schools. He is simultaneously the co-founder and a principal consultant of OrienTech, an education technology consulting and resource development company. He has served as Executive Director & CEO of the Hawaii High Technology Development Corporation and as Vice President for Business Development with Ohana Learning.

Prior to that, he was Deputy Director of the Hawaii State Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, President & CEO of Strategic Information Solutions, Assistant Superintendent for Information & Telecommunication Services for the Hawaii State Department of Education, Strategic Information Systems Manager for GTE Hawaiian Tel, and President of Hawaii Loa College. Dr. Bossert has been a Fulbright-Hayes Scholar, Woodrow Wilson Fellow, and National Endowment for the Humanities Grantee; and he holds a B.A. in Economics & Philosophy from Rockhurst College in Kansas City and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy from Washington University in St. Louis. He has published five books and more than thirty articles and reviews in the areas of technology, education and philosophy; and has worked as a consultant for numerous corporations and non-profit organizations in the US and Asia.

Education and Curriculum Reform in 21st Century, Jan 17
Ages 15+ BIBA Middle/High School 4F Meeting Room. Free. 4-7pm. 5 Yumin Road, Houshayu, Shunyi, Beijing