Unless you have been living under a rock, you’re probably aware of the recent efforts of countries and organizations to change the state of environmental issues.

If you look at the 17 Sustainable Development Goals advocated by the United Nations, it can be argued that half of the 17 goals are, in some way, associated with environmental issues. Phrases such as regulating emissions and renewable energy probably jump out to you instantly. These phrases are used so often that they have become some of the clichés of the 21st century – in a good way of course. Often the solution to tackling climate change that gets the most publicity is using electric vehicles (or other vehicles utilizing renewable energy) and taking more public transportation. While it’s important to look at climate change on a macro scale, it’s also crucial to remember that micro actions yield macro results.

When someone says the word “recycling,” the first things that probably come to mind are plastic bottles and cardboard boxes. You are right to think this. Plastic, cardboard, and paper are some of the most used and recycled materials. If you look at paper alone, 66 percent of the paper generated in 2017 was recycled. Plastic, on the other hand, is an odd one. Unlike cardboard and paper, plastic is a synthetic material, and all plastics have a different compound structure, which means they require different recycling processes.

The plastic used to make plastic bottles is recyclable, but what about polystyrene, which is used to make Styrofoam boxes?

Though the valiant effort of all countries and organizations to impose regulations and advocate for recycling is to be commended, something seems to be left out. If you or your family have ever had some delicious and fresh fish delivered to your door, you have probably noticed the lightweight white containers used. These are most probably Styrofoam boxes. They are light, cheap, and they do a great job maintaining the internal temperature to keep the food inside fresh.

During the Covid lockdowns in Beijing last year, many people purchased food online, which generated a lot of wasted Styrofoam boxes. As delivery businesses are advancing by leaps and bounds, Styrofoam products are dumped all over the globe. Unlike paper, which biodegrades completely in less than five months, or tin cans in less than 100 years, Styrofoam lasts 500 years physically, but chemically it lasts forever.

So, can Styrofoam be recycled? The answer is yes and no.

The reason plastic bottles are recycled all the time isn’t just because of what is scientifically true about the material, but it is also because of the fact that there is a market for it. People use countless plastic bottles every day, and of course there will be demands for technologies to make recycling bottles more effective.

You may argue that we produce and use countless Styrofoam objects too, so there must be a market for it. The problem with Styrofoam recycling is its “yield” and the profits involved. Styrofoam’s advantage of being lightweight is negative in terms of recycling because the material is 90 percent air. When it’s compressed and broken into smaller pieces, it is very inefficient to do so. Additionally, unlike cardboard boxes that can be folded, Styrofoam boxes are bulky and strong. They take up too much space to transport, and subsequently this becomes a reason for them not being recycled.

I recently interviewed two “waste dealers” close to my residential area to understand more about why recycling middlemen who buy recyclables and sell them to the recycling station don’t even consider this “untouched money-making method.” Both dealers claim that transporting and dealing with Styrofoam is just unprofitable. A mid-sized truck can carry at most 200-300 kilograms of Styrofoam, and the profit is not comparable to the profit from cardboard and plastic bottles. This has resulted in kilotons of Styrofoam being littered around and dumped into landfills. Based on statistics, 30 percent of the current waste in landfills around the globe is Styrofoam!

However, it is impossible to provide any unrealistic solutions to this problem, such as completely abandoning the use of Styrofoam. Reducing the use of the material is currently the most realistic solution. Delivery companies can choose cold boxes that can be dropped off and reused instead of Styrofoam boxes.

Locally, restaurants can choose biodegradable paper plates and utensils, or, even better, reusable ones, instead of Styrofoam ones that can pose health issues. Even though reducing the usage is the better solution currently, recycling Styrofoam is not a complete fairytale. With efforts from all sides, reusing Styrofoam is possible and it can also be transformed into other goods. You can do your part as well, by suppressing your craving to tear open the Styrofoam box and keeping it intact for the deliveryman to pick up and reuse.

About the author:
My name is Ethan Hu, I am an eighth-grader at BWYA (Beijing World Youth Academy). I enjoy playing soccer and clarinet. I am very passionate about learning more about our environment. I attend a club at school called Waste Magician, in which we made a composite from the leftovers from the dining hall.

Images: Ethan Hu, Pexels

Many of us would agree that our Senior year of High School was one of the most memorable years of our life. Between graduation, college acceptance letters, Prom, and the knowledge that it’s the last year spent in your hometown (and parents’ house no less), it’s a time that we both never want to end, and can’t get past soon enough. Unfortunately, for the class of 2020, most of these traditions were devastated by COVID-19. In this series, we chat with Seniors to find out the extent of the impact to their final year of High School and what they’ve done to salvage those memories.

Meet George G., an 18-year-old student from Sichuan who’s finishing up his senior year at Beijing World Youth Academy (BWYA).

Can you briefly walk us through how COVID-19 has evolved for you, personally? What were your initial thoughts? At what point did you realize the devastation and disruption it was causing? How do you currently feel?

My parents used to talk about a fair amount of the devastation the old SARS virus caused. So naturally, I was quite alarmed when I started seeing articles comparing COVID-19 to SARS. Initially, I started taking a fair amount of precautions from starting to wear masks in school to buying more masks online. Yet, I never expected the virus to develop from a local crisis into a global pandemic. Now going into my third month of quarantine, the length of this epidemic was also something I did not anticipate in the beginning. I realized the severity of COVID-19 when I saw the hospital in front of my house packed with masked people, and when countries started reporting infections one after the other. Right now, as China gradually takes a turn for the better, I’ve pretty much passed the period of panic, and moved on to looking forward to getting back to normal life.

Senior year of High School is supposed to be one of the most memorable years of your life. Unfortunately, however, you and your peers aren’t getting to enjoy all that it has to offer. Can you tell us a bit about that? What are the conversations that are happening amongst your friends right now?

Well unfortunately because of the virus, my senior year will remain as the most memorable year of my high school life, just not in the positive way as I’ve hoped it to be. I did enjoy how I can figure out how to properly spend time with myself a bit more, and get better lifestyle-wise when staying at home. The conversation amongst me and my peers ranges all the way from whether our school will ever get to open again before we completely finish high school, to all the daily trivia – food, jokes, homework, and talking about our plans after all of this settles.

What activities were you most looking forward to this year that have either been postponed or canceled? Prom, graduation ceremony, etc.

There were a few school events that I was really looking forward to taking part in that have been canceled, such as our yearly talent show where our a-cappella club was scheduled to perform. Also, it seems right now, our graduation is not going to take place offline as planned, and the same for proms and other celebratory events that would involve mass congregation. I was really looking forward to some of these celebrations, especially the graduation.

Has COVID-19 affected your ability to graduate at all?

I wouldn’t say that the virus has affected my ability to graduate, but it definitely has affected a lot of the procedures preceding the completion of our high school that was previously there. Our IB May exam was canceled, and we will also not be assessed internally in our school, leaving us with technically no high school exit exams to be taken. Now it is really up to us to remain on course for the final bits of our senior year studies.

Has COVID-19 affected your plans for after graduation? If so, how? Were you planning on going abroad for college? Doing a bit of traveling during the Summer? Etc.

A few friends of mine and I have been planning graduation trips to places like Japan or Singapore, but now it looks like those plans will either have to be forfeited or have a location switch to somewhere more local. Also, my plans for traveling to the US for college are getting complicated, as the procedure to obtain a visa is getting more difficult, and so are the actual traveling logistics to the US, as it gets more and more severely impacted by the crisis.

Despite all that has happened this year, have you done anything to try and salvage these last few months of your High School experience? Have you and your friends been able to “hang out” on Zoom or FaceTime? Have you made backup plans for a Prom in case it gets officially canceled?

Well for me, the time that I’ve spent online chatting with my friends has drastically increased as I very much miss them. I’ve also regularly voice- and video-chatted with some of my closest friends to stay in touch as much as I can.

And, I have in fact been talking with a lot of my friends about organizing an unofficial graduation with prom for our grade at a later date when everything settles a bit more. Any events in replacement will be good enough for me honestly.

Is there anything else you’d like to include that hasn’t been asked?

Wish everyone stays safe and sound!

Photos: Courtesy of George G.

Many of us would agree that our Senior year of High School was one of the most memorable years of our life. Between graduation, college acceptance letters, Prom, and the knowledge that it’s the last year spent in your hometown (and parents’ house no less), it’s a time that we both never want to end, and can’t get past soon enough. Unfortunately, for the class of 2020, most of these traditions were devastated by COVID-19. In this series, we chat with Seniors to find out the extent of the impact to their final year of High School and what they’ve done to salvage those memories.

Meet Penelope Z., an 18-year-old student from Beijing who’s finishing her senior year at Beijing World Youth Academy (BWYA) and will be an incoming freshman at Northwestern University.

Can you briefly walk us through how COVID-19 has evolved for you, personally? What were your initial thoughts? At what point did you realize the devastation and disruption it was causing? How do you currently feel?

I care a lot about my own health and my family’s health, so I never really underestimated the seriousness of this virus. Actually, my parents and I planned to travel to Sanya in January to visit my grandparents, but we canceled our flight because of the bad situation in China at the time. I currently feel that there is no need to stress about the virus, and there is no need to panic about it, if you are already taking precautionary measures.

Senior year of High School is supposed to be one of the most memorable years of your life. Unfortunately however, you and your peers aren’t getting to enjoy all that it has to offer. Can you tell us a bit about that? What are the conversations that are happening amongst your friends right now?

Yes, senior year should have been the highlight of our life. Unfortunately, my friends and I cannot meet up frequently and we had to communicate via WeChat and communicate with our teachers via Teams. My friends and I mainly just chat about what we are up to lately, what fun things we are doing and how we are enriching our lives during this time. Some of my friends are planning to learn a new language during this time and I also plan on improving my French, so that is pretty exciting.

What activities were you most looking forward to this year that have either been postponed or canceled?

So far our school has informed us an online graduation ceremony will be held instead, though we all really genuinely hoped that these events would not be canceled, as the graduation ceremony and the final prom are like the “finale” of high school that I was looking forward to.

Has COVID-19 affected your ability to graduate at all?

Our school is a very organized and experienced community, and the administration has provided students and parents with very clear information as to how COVID-19 will affect our graduation. The short answer is that it has not affected my ability to graduate. Even though the IB has canceled the final exams, our school has made arrangements and plans that will ensure we graduate successfully.

Has COVID-19 affected your plans for after graduation? If so, how? Were you planning on going abroad for college? Doing a bit of traveling during the Summer? Etc.

It has definitely affected my plans for after graduation. My friends and I were planning to travel together to Japan or Germany in July to celebrate our graduation from high school, but now it does not seem possible anymore, which is certainly a disappointment. I was planning on going abroad for college, but whether or not we can attend colleges abroad without any postponement or delay in August or September really depends on how the international situation evolves with regards to COVID-19.

Despite all that has happened this year, have you done anything to try and salvage these last few months of your High School experience? Have you and your friends been able to “hang out” on Zoom or FaceTime? Have you made backup plans for a Prom in case it gets officially canceled?

Yes! I chatted with a lot of my friends via WeChat call. Quarantine is really boring, especially when it stretches on for weeks now, so I have been trying out new things such as cooking, and I have also been reading a lot of great novels to make each day more interesting.

Stay safe everyone!!!

Photos: Penelope Z

House of Knowledge Held a Storytelling Event

House of Knowledge (HoK) recently invited Dream On to share with the students their storytelling skills and passion with a strong New Zealand cultural influence. Students learned about the history of Māori people and Polynesian culture.

Annual Pink Week at DCB

Pink merch, pink treats, pink lemonade, pink photoshoot, pink dress day, and the best part, sponge the teachers with pink, all for a good cause. For a whole week in October, Dulwich College Beijing (DCB) put the spotlight on Breast Cancer Awareness across the entire school.

Beijing TV Station’s Recording from Beijing No. 55 High School

30 students from Beijing No. 55 High School (BJ55) participated in the recording of the Beijing TV station’s “I grew up with the motherland – celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of New China”. They showed the school’s achievements of traditional Chinese cultural education with a unique artistic style.

BWYA Sports Day in the Autumn Sun

Earlier in October, Beijing World Youth Academy (BWYA) students stepped out of the classroom and into the sporting arena to show off their athletic prowess. With activities designed not only to highlight physical abilities, but also teamwork, a great time was had by all involved.

Harrow Beijing Leadership Service Week

Harrow Beijing Upper School students embarked on a series of expeditions all over China and beyond. As part of their Leadership and Service Week, students learned new skills, developed friendships, and challenged themselves in real-world scenarios.

CISB in the Beijing International Pop Music Week

Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) Middle/High students were invited to take part in the Beijing International Pop Music Festival this year, and this unique experience was invaluable and one they will treasure and remember for the rest of their lives.

Hope International School Swings Into Fall

Hundreds of students, staff, parents, and friends played carnival-style games and devoured homemade food at Hope Internationals School’s annual Fall Fair. Students performed songs from the jazz and swing era. Ten percent of proceeds benefited the New Hope Foundation, to bless orphan children needing medical support.

One Book’s Adventure at Daystar Academy

The Book Exchange Fair was a great collaboration between the school and StarParents. Altogether, 2,921 books were collected prior to the event. Around 250 families attended the fair, exchanging close to 1,600 books. For the remaining books, they will donate 1,225 children’s books to elementary schools in remote areas.

Beijing Huijia Private School Autumn Sports Meeting

On this special day of sports at Beijing Huijia Private School, the soccer field was filled with interesting games, encouraging cheers, and joyful laughter. Everyone had a good time. They hope that every child can love and enjoy sports.

Keystone Academy Students Explore Learning Outside of the Classroom

Keystone Academy students ventured outdoorsz as part of the school’s Outdoor Education Program (OEP), allowing students to experience the world while applying concepts they have learned in the classroom. September’s OEP brought students to different environments in Beijing, Hebei, and Inner Mongolia.

BISS Held First Open Day Session for the New Semester

Last Friday, Beijing BISS International School (BISS) held its first Open Day in the new school year. With the theme of “How to Get Admitted to Your Dream University”, the Open Day provided all guests with information about useful application strategies.

October Holiday Workshop at Atelier

From October 2 to 6, a holiday workshop “A Journey into Abstract Art” was held by Atelier art school at both their Sanlitun and Shunyi campuses. The students learned about several artists of constructivism from different fields, and made their own quality artworks.

Photos: provided by schools

This article appeared in the beijingkids November 2019 Beijing baba issue

ISB Holds Second Annual Teacher Recruitment Fair

183 applicants attended International School of Beijing’s (ISB’s) second annual Teacher Recruitment Fair on Saturday, September 21. The fair was hosted on the ISB campus, giving applicants the chance to be interviewed for positions and learn valuable information about the school community.

3e’s Tea Talk – Positive Parenting Strategies

At 3e International School’s Tea Talk, Learning Support Specialist Dr. Ira Canada provided parents with Positive Parenting Strategies which covered key areas of principles of behavior, reinforcement theories, and compliance support, giving parents a well-rounded introduction to implement strategies for successful results.

BSB Shunyi Scoops Awards at World Scholar’s Cup Durban Mini-Global Round

The British School of Beijing, Shunyi (BSB Shunyi) won multiple awards at the World Scholar’s Cup Durban Mini-Global Round. All students qualified to advance to the WSC Tournament of Champions at Yale University. Three BSB students were selected to be flag bearers for the closing ceremony.

TEDx at BWYA

On September 20, Beijing World Youth Academy (BWYA) hosted an inter-school TEDx event, organised and run by BWYA students. With the theme of “Identity”, staff and student speakers from BWYA and the wider Beijing international school community gave a number of engaging presentations. BWYA looks forward to running more TEDx events in the future.

This article appeared in the beijingkids November 2019 Beijing Baba issue

What’s new in international schools this month? Competing with Future Business Leaders, learning campus safety, and more!

Harrow Beijing Appoints New Deputy Head

Harrow Beijing has announced the appointment of Mr. John Barker as Deputy Head. He joins Harrow Beijing from Bavarian International School in Germany where he spent five years as Principal and Deputy Director. Originally from the UK, Mr. Barker is thrilled to be joining the Harrow Beijing community.

3e New Elementary Principal Announcement

3e International School are welcoming a new Elementary Principal, Mr. Jim Fidler. Mr. Fidler has worked as Principal and Assistant Principal in a number of schools in Australia, and spent 17 years at the International School of Beijing (ISB) as a teacher and Assistant Principal.

ISB Showcases Campus Improvements

At the International School of Beijing (ISB), construction over the summer holiday gave rise to new facilities and updates including a bright new façade, and a redeveloped, enlarged elementary school library. The ISB community also looks forward to unveiling its ongoing Facilities Master Plan project, including new arts and theater centers, plus remodels of the Early Years Learning Center and MS/HS Design center. These innovative learning spaces are set to open in 2019 and 2020.

BSB Sanlitun Welcomes New Head of Primary

Ms. Anne Marie Nield is the new Head of Primary and Assessment and Reporting Leader at The British School of Beijing, Sanlitun (BSB Sanlitun). She brings with her 19 years of teaching experience, having taught in two schools in the Middle East as well as for many years in the UK.

BWYA Receives WASC Accreditation

Following an in-depth investigation and visit from the accreditation committee, Beijing World Youth Academy (BWYA) received full K-12 accreditation from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), effective until 2025. BWYA now joins the list of 48 schools in mainland China to have received WASC’s approval. WASC was established in 1962 with the mission of assuring the quality of educational institutions.

First Day of WAB’s 25th Anniversary Year

Celebrating its 25th anniversary year, Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) welcomed its students and families for the first day of school on August 14. Innovative new learning spaces throughout campus enhance WAB’s world renowned educational programs.

This article appeared in the beijingkids September 2019 Family Foodies issue

PHOTO CREDITS: Courtesy of Harrow Beijing, 3e International School, Hope International School, BSB Sanlitun, BWYA, WAB

Bon Voyage Class of 2019 at YCIS

Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS Beijing) bid their seniors “bon voyage” during the Year 13 Graduation. This year’s graduation was quite eventful, with a graduation ceremony, followed by a graduate luncheon, and then capped off by a senior prom in the evening. It was a day filled with pride, joy, and a few tears from teachers, alumni, parents, friends, and fellow students.

Future Business Leaders of America

Earlier this term, three Beijing World Youth Academy (BWYA) students went to Shanghai for the Future Business Leaders of America China Final. After placing second out of the 600 Chinese teams who entered the competition, they were invited to go to the World Finals in San Antonio at the end of June.

New Head of Senior School at Dulwich College Beijing

Dulwich College Beijing (DCB) is pleased to introduce Ms. Rachel Edwards as the new Head of Senior School. Originally from the UK, Ms. Edwards brings a wealth of academic and leadership experience in British international schools, most recently as Deputy Principal in Penang, Malaysia, and prior to that, Head of Senior School in the British School  Jakarta, Indonesia.

Representatives of Alenah’s Home Visit Harrow Beijing

On 27 June, Director Zhang and Ms. Jenny, representatives of Alenah’s Home, visited Harrow Beijing to express their gratitude to parents, teachers, and students of Harrow for their long-term service and support for the disabled orphans.

This article appeared in the beijingkids July-August 2019 Teen Takeover issue

What’s happening in Beijing’s international school community? Experience cultural heritage, sports matches, and more in this month’s Circuit.

BCIS PYP Exhibition 2019

This year’s Beijing City International School (BCIS) Primary Years Program (PYP) exhibition took place on June 5 and 6. The young scholars and creatives tackled a wide range of subjects including video game addiction, animal welfare, sports, and a future for humans in outer space.

Let Your Dreams Fly at Ivy Schools

At the graduation ceremony held by Ivy Bilingual School Orchid Garden Campus, children delivered a drum performance, choral singing, and role-play dance. The children worked hard in practice, and tried their best despite challenges. This grit will pave the way ahead for their future growth.

Graduation Ceremony at Beijing No.55 High School

Beijing No.55 High School International Students Section held a graduation ceremony for grade 9 and grade 12 students. Leaders, honored guests, and parents gathered together to witness this joyful and festive occasion.

Just Another Brush on the Wall

One of the main highlights of the Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS Beijing) campus are its murals. Year 8 and 9 Secondary Arts students joined the Arts Co-Curricular Activity (CCA) in January with the goal of designing and producing a mural.

2019 Harrow Beijing Speech Day

On 28 June, Harrow Beijing held the annual Speech Day, an important occasion in the school calendar, when teachers, students, and parents gather together and celebrate the academic pursuits of the students. Mr. Shinkfield, the Head Master, delivered speeches and gave awards to the students for their achievements.

House of Knowledge Summer Parties

To mark the end of the 2018-2019 school year, House of Knowledge’s Chaoyang Park, Shunyi, and Xinglong Campuses each hosted an annual water-themed Summer Party. They had a great turnout, and everyone had fun.

CISB 2019 Summer Camp

Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) students have successfully completed the first three weeks of summer camp, spending the time engaged in a series of activities. Both parents and students are very pleased with their camp experiences.

Celebrate And Share the Arts (CASTA) at ISB

International School of Beijing’s (ISB’s) annual CASTA (Celebrate And Share The Arts) festival was a colorful, all-singing, all-dancing example of how art features in a healthy, whole-child education. In art and performing art classes, elementary school students explore their creativity along with their academic pursuits.

BSB Shunyi’s Got Talent

The Primary school students at British School of Beijing, Shunyi (BSB Shunyi) showcased an impressive range of talents which included singing, dancing, instrumental performances, magic, acting, and reciting poetry at the BSB’s Got Talent Show. Congratulations to all performers who showed a high level of performance skills, risk-taking, self-confidence, and resilience on stage.

3e Charity Community Day

3e International School held their annual 3e Charity Community Day, raising over RMB 3,000 revenue for Living Water Children’s Home. Children were entertained with recycle-and-reuse-themed arts, crafts, and games organized by 3e teachers and the Parent Council.

BWYA Travels the World

Beijing World Youth Academy (BWYA) embarked on their annual trip week. The trip week is part of the Classroom Without Walls Program, aimed at taking the learning experience out of the classroom, and into new and exciting settings, covering five major areas: Culture, History, Community Service, Language Practice, and Subject Learning.

Jingxi Ancient Road Research Tour with Beijing Haidian Kaiwen Academy

Sixth grade students of Beijing Haidian Kaiwen Academy started a research and study activity on Jingxi Ancient Road in Mentougou. From Shuiyuzui Village to Niujiao Ridge, and then to the former residence of Ma Zhiyuan, students learned the history of Jingxi Ancient Road and how to identify various plants during their walk.

This article appeared in the beijingkids July-August 2019 Teen Takeover issue

What’s new in international schools this month? Competing with Future Business Leaders, learning campus safety, and more!

Future Business Leaders of America

Earlier this term, three Beijing World Youth Academy (BWYA) students went to Shanghai for the Future Business Leaders of America China Final. After placing second out of the 600 Chinese teams who entered the competition, they will be heading to the World Finals in San Antonio at the end of June.

YCIS Beijing Introduces CEM Assessments

Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS Beijing) are introducing CEM assessments. CEM stands for the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring at Durham University. It is one of the largest and most established research groups offering academic learning assessments for children. These assessments will be in place from the start of their 2019-2020 school year and used as the schools’ new summative assessment in tandem with the schools’ existing formative assessment methods.

House of Knowledge Welcomes Mr. Russell O’Neill as Elementary Principal

House of Knowledge (HoK) proudly welcomes Mr. Russell O’Neill as the new Principal of the Elementary program at their Shunyi campus. He will be fully in charge of academics, teacher training, and the daily management of their elementary school department.

Attention to Safety at Beijing No. 55 High School 

Beijing No. 55 High School International Students Section organized for Grades 7 – 11 to participate in the Red Star Happy Camp’s interactive safety experience, further implementing the central and Beijing municipal ideas about campus safety and instructing students on safety guidelines.

Photos: Courtesy of featured schools