COVID-19 Vaccine Ready in China?

In case you missed it, on October 12, state-owned China National Pharmaceutical Group (Sinopharm) launched an online vaccine reservation system. Before you get excited, the system currently only accepts appointments for China’s essential workers and students living in Beijing and Wuhan. Students planning to travel abroad from November 2020 to January 2021 will also be eligible for the shot.

70 Schools, Hundreds of Families Attend Jingkids International School Expo

COVID-19 might have seen the Jingkids International School Expo (JISE) postponed, but even it couldn’t stop this annual event from taking place. Over 70 international schools were in attendance, showcasing the best that each of their campuses has to offer to Beijing’s parents and students. There were also engaging panels, where experts, educators, parents, and students alike were able to exchange and learn. This year’s JISE was certainly one for the books!

Beijingkids’ Mina Yan and Husband Welcome Beautiful Baby Daughter

It’s said that each cloud has a silver lining. And for us at beijingkids, as for most of Beijing’s international families, 2020 hasn’t been the easiest of years. But our Chief Manager Mina Yan’s baby bump became a constant source of joy in the office as the entire team waited with great anticipation for the arrival of the baby. And arrive she did, on October 19, after keeping not only we on the beijingkids team on tenterhooks, but also her mommy and daddy waiting days after she was due to arrive. Better late than never we say, and with such a precious reward after a long wait, it makes any stretch of time well worth it. Congratulations again to Mina Yan and her husband, Billy Jin, as they embark on this new adventure of parenthood.

In our October issue, the article “From Art Attack to Nurturing Creativity” included a photo of artwork that was not properly credited. The artwork is titled “Paola” by local Beijing artist Annette Golden. Beijingkids apologizes for this error.

KEEP READING: Beijing Artist Profile: Annette Golden

Photos: Mina Yan, Beijingkids, Unsplash, Annette Golden

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 November issue

We had a fun time at JISE yesterday; booths buzzing with questions, kids enjoying activities while parents chatted with teachers, Raffles Medical Beijing (北京莱佛士诊所) showing children how to properly bandage themselves, and more. You can still join us today for free! Just head over to Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel (directions below) and take the right escalator to the 3rd floor for all the sights you need to make the best school choice for your family!

Don’t miss your chance to meet Beijing’s top international schools, all in one place! JISE is from 10am – 4.30pm today.

BY CAR: Type “Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel parking lot” into your navigation app. Parking is RMB 6/hour during the day. If the hotel parking is full, you can consider R&F Plaza Shopping Center basement (RMB 3/30 minutes during the day). You can scan the QR code to pay the fare when you leave.

BY TRAIN: Metro Line 10 to Shuangjing Station, Exit A. Reach the 1st floor through B1 of R&F Plaza Shopping Center, walk to the conference site within 5 minutes. Don’t forget your cup of coffee at the mall on your way!

REMINDER: Visitors need to scan the QR code at the entrance to register their health code. Then take the right-hand escalator up to the 3rd floor of the conference hall.

This year’s event is sponsored by the Pacific Overseas Group (太平洋出国 ) and our special Medical Supporter is Raffles Medical Beijing (北京莱佛士诊所). Our Official Photo Studio Partner is Dave’s Studio (大卫摄影).

KEEP READING: Why Should Parents Attend JISE? We Have 5 Great Reasons!

Photos: Uni You

There are so many critical factors when choosing the right school for your kids that it’s hard to remember everything. Once you pick up a copy of our School Choice Guide, a few simple elimination rounds based on location, learning philosophies, teacher to student ratios, etc can give you your family’s top choices. Even taking a tour of each campus may simply flood your brain with new questions so that you forget some basics.

That is why we highly suggest that parents looking to enroll or transfer their children attend this year’s Jingkids International School Expo (JISE) 2020 on October 24-25 at Beijing Renaissance Capital Hotel. Although each day there are panels by leading educators in both Mandarin and English, the main event of JISE is the rare chance to meet educators and staff from your top schools to compare, contrast, and ask those questions in person that will help you make the right choice for your family.

Early Childhood Education and Primary are some of the hardest grades to grasp without being in the classroom, so here are ideas to get more in-depth answers while you have the chance. Print this checklist and take it with you. Don’t let anything slip your mind!

ECE

1. Is your program play-based, student-driven, or is there a clear curriculum and outcomes for each year?
2. If my child’s birthday is in the first week of school, are they able to be in the older age grouping or do they need to stay in the younger classroom?
3. Do children nap during the school day? For how long? What if they’ve dropped their naps?
4. Do students have access to the school library?
5. Is there Mandarin instruction or is it immersion?
6. Do they have PE, Art, or Music classes?
7. How much interaction do students have with older students?
8. How are intimate situations like potty use regulated?
9. Do parents have an opportunity to participate in school activities? What are the expectations of hours volunteered and possibilities?
10. How often do parents meet with the teachers?
11. What is the primary method of communication between parents and teachers?

PRIMARY

1. When does homework begin? For how long each day?
2. How long at school do students study Mandarin?
3. What are the levels of language learning? How can a student new to the country catch up?
4. How often are assessments and what is the approach?
5. Have children ever moved forward a grade or been given assistance based on the results of those assessments?
6. What kind of social development is taught: perseverance, sharing, etc?
7. Do you have a digital literacy program and when does that start?
8. How are students encouraged to resolve conflicts?
9. What resources are available if a child struggles in a subject?
10. Are your teachers trained to recognize learning differences?
11. Do parents have an opportunity to participate in school activities? What are the expectations of hours volunteered and possibilities?
12. How often do parents meet with the teachers?
13. What is the primary method of communication between parents and teachers?

You’ll probably have follow-up questions based on the school’s answers, so take a notebook with you as well. You never know what kind of new questions will arise out of an event as exciting as JISE!

Here are the panels that are being conducted in English. They might spark even more questions for you to return to the school tables and ask:

Click here to register in advance to attend this weekend’s JISE.

This year’s event is sponsored by the Pacific Overseas Group (太平洋出国 ) and our special Medical Supporter is Raffles Medical Beijing (北京莱佛士诊所).

KEEP READING: Why Should Parents Attend JISE? We Have 5 Great Reasons!

Photos: Uni You, Panelists