Jerry Chan – Beijing Kids

Throwback Thursday: Halloween’s Terrifying Tales – Chilling Chinese Folklore

Nimo_Wanjau — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 05:00:00 +0000

Ghost stories, legends and tales of the supernatural abound in China – here are is a rundown of some of the more interesting ones as All Hallow’s Eve draws near:

The Painted Skin
Part of a collection of supernatural tales from Qing dynasty author Pu Songling’s (1640-1715) book Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio (Liaozhai Zhiyi), this creepy and gruesome tale is one of the the main prototypes for a ghostly meme found throughout Asia – the vengeful female spirit (most recently depicted in the Japanese horror classics The Ring and The Grudge). In this tale a scholar takes in a mysterious young girl in his home and lets her stay in his studio, only to discover a terrible secret about her all too late. Illuminatedlantern.com has an excellent translation of this classic Chinese ghost story here.

Gan Bao: In Search of the Supernatural
Jin Dynasty (265-420 AD) historian Gan Bao is best known for his anthology In Search of the Supernatural: The Written Record (Sou-shen Chi) – a collection of supernatural stories and legends of the era that went onto inspire Pu Songling’s book (see above). Legend has it that "Gan Bao became interested in these matters after a member of his family survived more than ten years sealed inside a tomb with the help of a ghost which brought her food."

Find out more here.

This post first appeared on beijingkids on October 29, 2011.

Terra Forma: Karst Hills, Silver Caves and River Cruises Down in Yangshuo

beijingkids — Tue, 05 Aug 2014 07:00:00 +0000

Yangshuo is dusty, hot and humid this time of year. It’s also teeming with tourists. But this stunningly beautiful region is truly one of China’s must-see destinations – like a massive bonsai miniature come-to-life.

Situated in northeastern Guangxi just an hour’s drive from the provincial capital of Guilin, Yangshuo’s lush, semi-tropical countryside is blanketed by a quilt of rolling tea and rice terraces interspersed with emerald pools, winding waterways and twisting karst peaks as far as the eye can see.

I took my wife, my daughter (6) and son (2) as well as my sister and her son (7) down to Yangshuo last week for a five-day, four-night trip (our tickets for China Southern Airlines, booked via CTrip, cost around RMB 2,000 round-trip per adult, and half-price for the kids). We stayed at a small European-style hotel called Michael’s Inn & Suites, which is about a 25-minute walk from West Street in the town center.

Yangshuo is an adventure traveler’s paradise – biking, rock climbing and white water rafting abound – but we were obliged to choose a more kid-friendly itinerary.

Our first excursion was a short river boat cruise on the Li River, one of the area’s main waterways that flows into the Pearl River (Zhujiang). We booked the cruise via the hotel’s guest services (there are several routes/itineraries, including a longer one taking you from Guilin to Yangshuo) and were picked up at our hotel and taken to one of the many piers lining the river banks.

There we were taken aboard a standard-issue motorized bamboo raft steered by one of the many local boatmen. Although the waterway was already congested (and noisy due to the incessant clatter of sputtering boat motors) when we set off around 10:30am, taking in the karst hills and lush, tree-lined banks on board was an exhilarating experience.

The 4-hour cruise includes numerous stops where visitors can disembark and take photos, go swimming and buy local snacks (i.e. fried fish, cucumbers and corn-on-the-cob) – all pretty standard-issue for a Chinese tourist destination. Be prepared to sweat and bring plenty of water and sunscreen.

That evening we took in the 7:30 show of Zhang Yimou’s "Impression of Liu Sanjie" – a meticulously choreographed outdoor song and dance performance featuring a dazzling light show and the karst hills of the Li River itself serving as the natural backdrop. Getting into the performance is a bit of a nightmare – the traffic-snarled road leading up to the front gate is still half under construction and you have to stand outside for a long time in a chaotic, sweaty mob outside the mosquito-infested entrance before making the long trek to the actual venue.

But the sheer spectacle of show, which is based on the story of a famous local singer and incorporates a cast made up of performers from the local Zhuang and Yao minorities, is worth it. If you were dazzled by the director’s opening ceremony production for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, you’ll have a good idea of the aesthetics and production values – suffice it to say, they pumped some big bucks into it.

The next morning we reserved a van (RMB 450 a day) and set out into the countryside to check out the tea fields around "Seven Fairy" scenic area (七仙风景区, tel. 0773-8771888, 2366693275@qq.com). Located about an hour’s drive from Yangshuo, this charming spot has a tea house and restaurant and a short hilltop hike where you can take in the surrounding countryside – gazing down at the fertile countryside below (in near solitude) was definitely one of the highlights of our trip.

After lunch we drove to a nearby vista called Xianggong Shan (相公山), which overlooks the Li River Valley. It was 40 degrees Celsius when we made our early afternoon ascent. To get to the top we slowly made our way up a set of steep stone stairs. The climb took about 20 minutes and we were sweating buckets and nearly incapacitated from the heat by the time we reached the top.

The view was astounding. Karst mountains jutted out of the landscape for as far as the eye could see and the Li River wound through the landscape like a flowing emerald brush stroke. Even our driver was impressed. Best of all, there were hardly any other visitors that day, so we had virtually the whole hilltop to ourselves.

Our final stop of the day was at a spot called Yangshuo Taohuayuan (阳朔桃花源, "Yangshuo Paradise") – a well-funded "ethno-tourism" spot consisting of a "Jungle Cruise" type boat ride that takes large local tour groups past reconstructed Zhuang and Yao Minority houses replete with "happy dancing tribesmen" and a massive arts and crafts souvenir complex. As cheesy as it is sprawling, this utterly contrived Potempkin Village was definitely my least favorite part of the trip. The only saving graces were the beautiful surrounding countryside and the fantastic late-afternoon weather. Skip this place.

We were originally slated to take a second river cruise on another portion of the Li River, but given the extreme heat we experienced the previous two days (and the fact we had a 2-year-old in tow) we opted to skip it and go to the Silver Cave (银子岩) instead.

Lying about 18km from Yangshuo, this 2,000-meter long cave runs beneath 12 mountains and is the largest in Guilin. I’ve never been big on caves (due to a deep-rooted fear that somewhere, down there, lurks a whole biosystem of unspeakable H.R. Geiger creatures), but I enjoyed the experience nevertheless.

Aside from a few claustrophobia-inducing catacombs, some of the caverns here look like they are straight out of a Tolkien novel. Everywhere you look, stalactites and stalagmites sparkle and shine in the cave’s extensive lighting system. The entire effect borders on being cheesy, but the sheer size and variety of Silver Cave’s rock formations are truly impressive and (despite the requisite crowds and vendors) it really does feel like you’ve stepped into another world.

The full tour took around two hours and even though the subterranean temperatures were considerably cooler than the scorching weather above-ground, the humidity in the caverns was slightly uncomfortable – people with heart conditions should take note.

We had lunch at one of the many nongjiacai (农家菜, "Farmer’s Cuisine") dives in the area. The food was typically unappealing (every restaurant in Yangshuo seems to serve some variation of "Beer Fish," 啤酒鱼, which is about as bland as it sounds – but the view of the nearby Moon Hill, Yangshuo’s most iconic natural landmark, was outstanding.

After lunch we were supposed to go check out the ancient town of Fuli (福利镇), an 800-year-old river community filled with cobbled alleyways (and tourists), but with the sun blaring down and three fussy kids (and one exhausted wife) to contend with, we opted out.

Instead we decided to take stroll down West Street, a commercial pedestrian street in the heart of Yangshuo. I instantly regretted it. The place is like a poorly done Nanluoguixang-cum-Wangfujing, only with more sewage and cheesier shops. Blech. It was a rather underwhelming end to our trip.

Lowlights aside, I found Yangshuo to be a lovely and enjoyable destination. Yes, certain attractions can be tough for families with kids – and I wouldn’t recommend going to visit in late July. But it is fantastically beautiful place with a lot to offer travelers of all types. Someday, when the kids are older, I would definitely love to go back and do all the things (i.e. white water rafting, renting scooters, hiking, climbing and mountain biking) we didn’t get to do this time around.

What Lies Beneath: You Won’t Believe How Dirty Your Sheets Can Get

beijingkids — Sat, 05 Jul 2014 04:00:00 +0000

Beijing is grimy, dusty place, but perhaps the dustiest place of all is right under your nose. A few years ago I posted this blog about about how dust mites living in your bed can cause allergies:

These nasty little eight-legged buggers thrive in humidity and love to munch on the dead skin cells that collect in your bed sheets and furniture. Fortunately there are ways to counter these microscopic menaces through the use of air purifiers, encasements, sprays and special vacuum cleaners …

After writing that blog my intention was to buy a bed vacuum and see if it would make any difference. Being the procrastinator that I am, it took me a while to get around to it. So now, after three years, many allergy attacks and another baby later, I have finally done so and care share some initial results.

At the recommendation of a colleague, I went on Jingdong and bought this LG Model bed vac.

Here is what the filter looked like before I used it for the first time:

And here is what it looked like after I vacuumed by sheets, pillowcases, headboard and bedspread:

And I didn’t even touch the mattress (my next target). Bear in mind that the gunk in the photo above doesn’t even scratch the surface of what’s been wriggling around where I lay my head – according to this article, only 5% of dust mites are on the surface of your bed:

Vacuuming your mattress, however, may not do as much to relieve a dust mite problem as you may hope. As it turns out, mites are hearty — not only can they survive a trip through the wash if the water isn’t hot enough, they can also survive your attempts at vacuuming them up. As many as 95 percent of dust mites continue to lead their lives after you’ve tried to vacuum them from your mattress [source: Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America]. How can this be? Because they don’t live on the surface; rather, they live deep within the stuffing of the mattress.

So unless I tear apart my mattress and go all in, it seems that my vacuuming can only go so far. Nevertheless I’m still impressed – if not merely for the psychological and superficial reassurance that at least my sheets and pillowcases will be ever-so-slightly cleaner.

What are your experiences with bed vacs?

Want to Know Where Beijing’s Major Polluters Are? Find Out With This App

beijingkids — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 05:00:02 +0000

The air outside may have reverted back to its usual levels of opacity, but at least the information about who, exactly, is responsible for emitting all the gunk Beijingers are breathing in is getting more transparent. Last week the Beijing-based Institute of Environmental and Public Affairs released a new pollution-tracking app that gives a more detailed picture of pollution sources in and around the city.

The aptly named Chinese-language ‘Pollution Map‘ app (available for both iOS and Android) provides real time emissions data from around 3,700 enterprises across the country on an hourly basis. The information is displayed on a map and pin-pointed in a color-coded system ranging from the green (‘excellent’) end of the scale to more serious levels of PM 2.5 indicated in red (‘heavily polluted’), maroon (‘seriously polluted’) and black (‘beyond the index’).

We checked out some of the readings for greater Beijing as we were writing this post and noted that there were 11 ‘seriously polluted’ stations, including Sanlitun Soho (with a PM 2.5 reading of 224) and the Wangfujing area (231), within the Fourth Ring alone.

In related news a Xinhua article (via Wantchinatimes) states that the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SAOCH) has appeared on a list of heavy polluters in Beijing, and that the ministry was being uncooperative with Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau inspectors who were sent to investigate.

Quote:

One SAOCH canteen was blamed for refusing checks on its treatment of kitchen fumes, one of the ‘unsavory elements’ said to contribute to the capital’s PM 2.5 pollution …

A five-month-long crackdown on polluters in the capital was launched earlier this month and will focus on "emissions from industrial chimneys, casting factories, printing houses and chemical, furniture, medicine, industrial coating and automobile plants," according to Xinhua.

Unfortunately, it looks like the bureau will have a tough time dealing with many of these polluters, according to a Reuters report citing the fact that many companies "covered by Beijing’s municipal carbon laws" have ignored a "key reporting deadline," with a few "powerful companies" even questioning the Environmental Bureau’s power to regulate them.

And so once again a tangle of well-meaning policies boils down to a matter of enforcement, and how this current crackdown will ultimately pan out remains as murky as the air outside.

This post first appeared on thebeijinger.com on June 17, 2014.

Photo by Jerry Chan

2014 School Choice Guide Focus: The Family Learning House

beijingkids — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 05:00:00 +0000

For the coming weeks, we will be highlighting local and international schools around Beijing from our upcoming 2014-2015 School Choice Guide, which comes out in early February 2014. Scroll down for more information on how to participate in our annual school choice fair in March 2014.

Recognized as a model kindergarten by the Chaoyang Ministry of Education, The Family Learning House is a virtues-based, bilingual pre-school dedicated to acquiring knowledge and good character for the purpose of serving humanity. In addition to its ‘Virtues in Us’ character education program, the school aims to provide an academically stimulating Montessori and Chinese curriculum. The Family Learning House includes a petting farm, organic produce and a child-directed recycling program, additionally the curriculum places strong emphasis on art and music, offering daily piano lessons for all 4.5-6 year old children. Students also participate in monthly educational outings, community service projects, and multicultural celebrations. The school seeks to foster a learning community involving students, teachers, ayis and families.

Founding Date: 2002

School type: Bilingual "Virtues-based" Montessori kindergarten

Registered with the Ministry of Education: Yes

Tuition fees (2014-2015 academic Year):
Full-day session RMB 95,000 per year
Lunch fee: Included in the tuition fee.

Age range: 2-6 years

Number of students: 200

Nationality of students: Mixed nationalities.

Local Chinese students accepted? Yes

Foreign passport holders accepted? Yes

Primary teaching languages: Chinese and English

Languages taught: English and Chinese

Class size: 21-30 (primary); 20 (toddler)

Teacher/student ratio: 1:5

School hours: 8.30am-4pm

School facilities: Montessori classrooms with child-size kitchen, and library. Certified Montessori learning materials. Piano in each classroom. Two outdoor playgrounds with vegetable garden and petting farm. art room and multi-purpose room and parents’ coffee lounge.

Total area of campus: 2,100 sqm

School nurse: Yes

Lunch offered: Yes. Nutritionally balanced Chinese and Western meals are served with many vegetarian options.

Contacts:
Beside Bldg 14, Jianwai SOHO West Area, 39 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District (5869 7540 ext 800 reception/801 office, info@thefamilylearninghouse.com) www.thefamilylearninghouse.com
朝阳区东三环中路39号建外SOHO西区14号楼旁

Word from a Parent:

“The Family Learning House has been a haven for our daughter – a place that integrates virtues based Montessori education with the joy and magic of early childhood. During our three years at the school we have witnessed our daughter and her classmates as well as teachers, staff and diverse families all continue to learn and grow together. We feel blessed to have found in TFLH a welcoming, nurturing and healthful environment where there is genuine concern for the needs of the children.” – Michael Cherney (US), father of Autumn (age 5)

For more information on the 2014-2015 School Choice Guide e-mail editor@beijing-kids.com and click here to view the 2013-2014 School Choice Guide on ISSUU. For more information on our upcoming School Choice Fair on March 1-2, 2014, please e-mail schoolchoicefair@truerun.com

2014 School Choice Guide Focus: Young Starters Academy (YSA)

beijingkids — Tue, 03 Dec 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Young Starters Academy (YSA) is an international bilingual preschool for children aged 2 to 6 with two campuses centrally located within Chaoyang District. Founded by Singaporean educators Joyce Lim and Kristin Koh, the YSA offers bilingual curriculum, individualized learning program and diverse after-school activities. Based on the tenet that every child develops at her own pace, portions of the curriculum are taught on a one-on-one basis, including music/piano, reading and brain training. In addition, the YSA has a new Bridging Class for 5 years old upwards to prepare them academically for Grade One, and all of the teachers undergo bi-weekly training session as well as the Parent Effectiveness Training Program (P.E.T.) to help them work more closely with parents on the developmental needs of their child.

Founding date: 2010

School type: International Preschool academy

Grades offered: Kindergarten

Is the school registered with the Ministry of Education? No

Tution fees (2014-2015 Academic Year):
Application fee: RMB 1,000
One-year tuition: RMB 53,000 (half day), RMB 75,000 (full day)

Lunch fee: Organic lunch RMB 30/day. Organic produced prepared by Thermomix.

Age range: 2-6

Number of students: 45

Nationality of students: Singapore, Malaysia, USA, Australia and Europe.

Foreign passport holders accepted? Yes

Local Chinese students accepted? Yes

Primary teaching language: English

Languages taught: English and Chinese

Class size: 6-10

Teacher/student ratio: 1:6

School hours: 9.30am-12.30pm (half day), 9.30am-4.30pm (full day)
After school activities: Art, kung fu, reading, cooking, science, paper folding, “happy reading”

School facilities: Music room/dance studio, indoor play area

Total area of campus: 300sqm (Mixion Campus), 150sqm (Upper East Side Campus)

School nurse: The school is staffed with first aid-trained teachers.

Contact:
1) Young Starters@Upper East Side: Rm 101, Unit 5, Block 5, Area 2, Upper East Side Apartments, 6 Dongsihuan Beilu, Chaoyang District (186 0004 9065 Joyce, 135 2256 3767 Kris, theyoungstarters@gmail.com) www.theyoungstarters.com 朝阳区东四环北路6号二区阳光上东5号楼5单元101室;

2) Young Starters@Mixion: Unit 4 Apt 102, Tower 6, Jin Dui Hui Mixion Apartments, 9 Maizidian Xilu (near Nuren Jie), Chaoyang District (186 0004 9065 Joyce, 135 2256 3767 Kris, theyoungstarters@gmail.com) www.theyoungstarters.com 麦子店西街9号华远九都汇6号楼4单元102室邮编100125

Word from a Parent:

“Kristin and Joyce have watched Dylan grow from the time when he couldn’t speak to now – today, he just can’t stop talking in both English and Chinese. They’ve got a pretty neat bilingual program. Dylan has benefited tremendously from his first schooling experience. Everyday when I pick him up from school, I ask him, “What did you learn today?" And he’ll always say “I don’t know…" But at the most opportune times he will display surprising skills and knowledge like writing his own name, doing simple addition, and putting his toys away. One of the best things about being in YSA is that not only does Dylan get a lot of attention, I also feel valued as a parent. Through regular interaction with Kristin, Joyce and his teachers, I understand my child better and as a result I can also become a better parent to him. This level of attention from principals is a rarity.” – Stella Antakusuma (Singapore), Mom of Dylan Ng, age 4

2014 School Choice Guide Focus: Fangcaodi International School

beijingkids — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Enrolling international students since 1973, Fangcaodi (芳草地国际学校) is a well-known local primary school that boasts a long history and some well-known alumni, including the sons of the late Cambodian monarch Prince Sihanouk. With its large faculty and international student body, the school touts its highly experienced teachers, excellent facilities, multi-faceted curriculum and progressive teaching methods – all for a reasonable cost.

Founding date: 1956

School type: Primary school

Tuition fees (2014-2015 Academic Year):

Registration fee: RMB 500

Annual tuition: RMB 48,000

Registered with the Ministry of Education? Yes

Lunch fee: Included in the price of tuition. Fangcaodi offers Chinese lunch options, with
some organic produce.

Transportation fee: Varies according to distance. RMB 2,600/semester (within Third
Ring Road); RMB 2,700/semester (within Fourth Ring Road); RMB 2,800/semester (within Fifth Ring Road).

Age range: 6-12

Number of students: 4,400

Nationality of students: US, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Russia

Foreign passport holders accepted? Yes

Chinese students accepted? Yes

Primary teaching language: Chinese

Languages taught: English

Class size: 25-40

Teacher/student ratio: 1:20

School hours: 8am-3.15pm
After school activities: Developed according to student interest.

School facilities: 200m racetrack, basketball courts and a library.

Total area of campus: 280,000 sqm

School nurse: Yes

Contact: 1 Ritan Beilu, Chaoyang District. (8563 9140, fcdyy@hotmail.com) www.fcd.com.cn 朝阳区日坛北路1号

Word from a Parent:
Coming to Beijing from Canada, one of our main goals for our sons was they would both would learn and become fluent in Chinese. After trying out several different schools, we have been the happiest with the international department at Fangcaodi (FCD) even though it took a while for us to understand the Chinese education system. The school teaches the Chinese curriculum, which is very focused on exams, but in a way that is catered towards foreign students. For example, they allowed my eldest son, who started there in grade 3, to take Chinese classes at a lower grade level, but also skip grades for the English classes (his native language). The school is truly multinational with kids from a very broad range of countries. While this can create additional challenges, the benefit for us was that my sons could get exposure to different cultures, but also make friends with other native English speakers so their English skills continued to improve. Also, we have generally had very good teachers who really cared about their students, and were open to regular communication with us. And of course, a big plus is how affordable the tuition is. Overall, I think that attending FCD definitely enriched their experience in China.
– Victor Wong (father of Ethan, grade 4, and Victor Jr, graduated 2 years ago)

Photo by Sui

2014 School Choice Guide Focus: Beanstalk International Bilingual School (BIBS)

beijingkids — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Over the past 20 years, BIBS (青苗国际双语学校) has grown from one campus to seven and from a Kindergarten-only curriculum to a full-fledged K-12 school. BIBS boasts a unique program that combines the best of Eastern and Western educational philosophies and seeks to empower its learners to become bilingual, multi-cultural and global-minded citizens who are equipped with the knowledge and integrity to function successfully, responsibly and effectively in an ever-evolving global environment.

Founding date: International Kindergarten: 1993; Primary School: 2003; Senior school: 2009; Wanda Bilingual kindergarten: 2011; Chang Qing Teng Kindergarten: 2013; Wanghu Kindergarten:2014; Yangshan Kindergarten:2014

School type: Kindergarten, primary school, senior school

Is the school registered with the Ministry of Education? Yes

Accreditations: IB, WASC

Tuition fees (2014-2015 Academic Year):

a. Application fee: Reception–Grade 12
International Kindergarten: RMB 1,600
Wanda Bilingual Kindergarten: RMB 1,200
Primary and Senior School (Reception to Grade 12): RMB 1,600

b. One-year tuition:
International Kindergarten: RMB 78,000 (Half Day); RMB 100,000 (Full Day)
Wanda Bilingual Kindergarten: RMB 55,000 (Full Day)
Chang Qing Teng Kindergarten: RMB 20,400 (Full Day)
Primary and Senior School (Reception to Grade 12): RMB 168,000.

c. Other fees:
Lunch fee: RMB 25/day (Optional), Transportation fee: RMB 10,000/year (Optional), Uniform: RMB 2,500/year (Primary and Senior School)
, Capital levy fee: RMB 8,000 (International Kindergarten).

Scholarships Offered: Yes

Age range: 2-18

Number of students: 1,000 plus

Nationality of students: US, China, Canada, South Korea, Japan, Spain and other over 30 countries.

Foreign passport holders accepted? Yes

Local Chinese students accepted? Yes

Primary teaching language: English

Other languages taught: Chinese

Class size: Maximum 22 students

Teacher/student ratio: 1:5 (Kindergarten); 1:8 (Primary School); 1:4 (Senior School)

School hours: 8.30am-4pm (Kindergarten and Primary); 8.20am-4pm (Senior School).

After school activities: Activities vary depending on campus and students’ grades. They include ballet, gymnastics, tennis, basketball, soccer, dance, drama, French, Spanish, music, Model UN and more.

School nurse: Yes, full-time qualified nurse on each campus.

Special needs programs offered: No

Extra help offered: ESL, CAL

Lunch offered: Organic fruit and vegetables, high-quality meat. The nutritionist-approved menu includes vegetarian, Muslim, Chinese and Western options.

Contacts:

Beanstalk International Kindergarten
青苗国际幼儿园
1/F, Bldg B, 40 Liangmaqiao Lu Chaoyang District. 朝阳区亮马桥路40号B座一层 (6466 9255) bikoffice@bibs.com.cn

Beanstalk Bilingual Kindergarten (Wanda Kindergarten)青苗双语幼儿园（万达园）
Bldg 7, Wanda Plaza, 93 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District.朝阳区建国路93号万达广场7号楼 (5960 3887) bbkoffice@bibs.com.cn

Beanstalk Chang Qing Teng Kindergarten
青苗幼儿园常青藤园
4 Dongba Nanyijie, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区东坝南一街4号 (8537 9659)

Beanstalk International Bilingual School (Primary School)青苗国际双语学校（小学部）
6 Dongsihuan Beilu, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区东四环北路6号阳光上东二区 (5130 7951) office@bibs.com.cn

Beanstalk International Bilingual School (Senior High School) 青苗国际双语学校（初高中部）
38 Nanshiliju, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区南十里居38号 (8456 6019) bssoffice@bibs.com.cn

Opening Soon 开园在即：

Beanstalk Wanghu Kindergarten青苗幼儿园望湖园
51 Wangjing Beilu (beside Wanghu Park), Chaoyang District. 朝阳区望京北路51号(望湖公园旁） (5130 7951/185 1169 3537)

Beanstalk Yangshan Kindergarten 青苗幼儿园（仰山园）
Bldg 7, East Gate A, Yangshan Park, 30 Anli Lu, Chaoyang District. 朝阳区仰山公园东1门安立路30号7号楼 (5130 7951/ 185 1169 6337)

Word from a parent: “Since his first day at BIBS, Simon has enjoyed each day at school. To help him familiarize himself in new environment, Simon’s homeroom teacher paired him up with his classmates to explore and learn about the BIBS campus. From then on each day after school, he would bring home various ‘good news’ like: ‘There are so many books I can borrow from the library!,’ ‘I made another friend today!,’ and ‘Lunch was yummy!’…. Simon has made vast improvements in his English skills and teachers often encourage him. Lesson plans are catered according to his level of achievement to allow him to learn to the best of his abilities. In BIBS, not only does Simon gain knowledge, he is happy and able to build confidence.” – Ms. Liu (Chinese), mother of Simon Meng (Grade 4)

For more information on the guide e-mail editor@beijing-kids.com and click here to view the 2013-2014 School Choice Guide on ISSUU. For more information on our upcoming School Choice Fair on March 1-2, 2014, please e-mail schoolchoicefair@truerun.com.

2014 School Choice Guide Focus: St Paul’s American School (S.P.A.S.)

beijingkids — Sat, 30 Nov 2013 04:00:00 +0000

Saint Paul American School (S.P.A.S) (北京师范大学第二附属中学) is a private, residential school program dedicated to meeting the educational needs of international students at the middle and high school level. S.P.A.S is guided by the standards, policies, and procedures of the Nacel International School System, which manages international programs all over the world. Located near the Olympic Village Park, and partnered with Number Two High School Attached to Beijing Normal University, S.P.A.S offers both an American curriculum, as well as intensive study in Chinese language and culture. This arrangement provides a unique dual diploma system that is fully accredited by the NCA (North Central Association on Accreditation and School Improvement). Saint Paul American School’s intercultural program currently serves students from 20 countries around the world.

Founding date: 2007

School type: International boarding school, grades 7-12

Is the school registered with the Ministry of Education? Yes

Accreditations: NCA

Tuition fees (2014-2015 Academic Year):

Application fee: USD 100 (around RMB 609)

Enrollment fee: USD 850 (around RMB 5,176)

One-year tuition:
USD 16,500 (around RMB 100,485) (Middle School), USD 17,500 (around RMB 106,575) (High School)

Room and Board: USD 2,000-3,000 (around RMB 12,180-18,270)

Food offered: Day students are offered a wide variety of Chinese, Korean and Western cuisines, as well as other international dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Types of scholarships offered: Merit-based scholarships available.

Age range: 13-18

Number of students: 305

Nationality of students: China, South Korea, United States, Russia, Thailand

Foreign passport holders accepted? Yes

Local Chinese students accepted? Yes

Primary teaching language: English

Languages taught: English, Chinese

Class size: Max 25, min 5, average 15

Teacher/student ratio: 1:10

School hours: 8.35am-5.35pm

After school activities offered: Art club, basketball, book club, debate, drama, games, fitness club, jazz band, knitting, ping pong, soccer, study session, student council, student newsletter, volleyball, volunteering, yearbook. Following the regular school day, each student participates in a club or activity of their choosing from 3.10-4pm. Students have the opportunity to choose a different club or activity every nine weeks, or remain with the same one. Saint Paul American School also provides a wide range of out-of-school activities for students. These programs include Drama, Music, Volunteering, and Sports. All students are encouraged and welcome to take part in these recreational pursuits, allowing them to showcase their talents and show pride in their school.

Extra help offered: Pull-out ELL program, Bridging ELL program (co-teaching environment with specialist), Student Help Center (daily tutoring), Nightly study hall 6.30-8.30pm with two instructors as well as peer tutors.

School facilities: Saint Paul American School’s college-preparatory campus has one main teaching building, two dormitory buildings, a newly-renovated library, laboratory, computer and technology center, full sized gymnasium, Olympic-sized (50 meter) swimming pool, cafeteria, and outdoor multi-purpose court with a running track, basketball courts and a soccer field.

Total area of campus: 33,350 square meters.

School nurse: Yes, two; 24-hr in office and on call for emergencies.

Contact: 18 Guan Ao Yuan Longgang Lu, Qinghe, Haidian District (188 1039 2083, Admissions Director David Krieger, david.krieger@saintpaulamerican.org) stpaulamerican.org 海淀区清河观澳园18号

Word from a Parent: “For my son Johnny’s 15th birthday party I travelled from Colorado to SPAS in Beijing and saw firsthand how his life was going. I was able to meet some of his teachers, the staff, the principal, his classmates and his roommates. I ate lunch with the students in the cafeteria, hung out in his dorm room, saw where he played sports, and even took the bus with some of the students. Everyone was so friendly and accommodating that I felt like I was part of the SPAS family. Back home in the USA, Johnny’s family was missing him terribly … but Johnny was doing fine. Not just fine, but extremely fine. He had good friends, supportive teachers and staff and good facilities. As parents, we chose to send Johnny to China for high school so that he could learn Chinese language, appreciate other cultures, and at the same time not compromise his academics. While we had concerns both regarding our objectives being met and Johnny’s ability to adjust from being away from home, I now knew we didn’t have to worry.” – Bob Barron (American), father of John Barron (Grade 9)

Photo courtesy of SPAS