Every year we have the distinct privilege of compiling a School Choice Guide (SCG) for our readers. This special issue of our magazine is not only a comprehensive look at the state of international education in Beijing, it also acts as a compendium to our annual Jing International School Expo (JISE), so that parents and students are equipped to make the most out of their visits with principals and staff at the event, and ultimately find the best school for their family.

Due to COVID-19, we were unfortunately forced to delay JISE, however, our 2020-2021 School Choice Guide is available and jam-packed with information! Now is the perfect time to familiarize yourself with everything from the various curricula followed at different institutions, to the ways in which schools ensure that all their students receive an equitable education, no matter their learning needs.

For now, check out our feature on scholarships and learn how your student can get a leg up in the competition. Then pop over to our School Profiles Index and find out which Beijing international schools offer these valuable awards.

Extracurricular activities (ECAs) are often framed as a means to an end, a way for students to stand out amongst a crowded field of college applicants. More importantly, though, they’re a chance for kids to dig deeper into a field they are passionate about, and which is either glossed over or entirely absent from their regular curriculum. From debate to drama and student magazines to radio, these programs are a vital resource for enthusiastic learners, eager to pick up real-world skills, gain insights into various career choices, and ultimately accelerate their professional development.

While every school within Beijing’s international education community offers a plethora of ECAs, we’ve highlighted four, from early years through high school, to give you an idea of what’s on offer for your child.

StageCats

Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB)

A collaborative theater community of students and teachers, who rehearse and perform a range of productions – including well-known plays and musicals as well as original pieces, which are devised through collaboration with students, a process that involves focused discussions, improv exercises on play themes and workshopping / re-working scenes with student input.

Helion Robotics

Dulwich College Beijing (DCB)

Helion Robotics is the name of Dulwich College Beijing’s FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Extra Curricular Activity club. The student-led team of nearly 40, including students from Year 8-13 and four teacher mentors, meets once a week off-season, and much more frequently during competition time. Member roles cover everything from engineering, construction, design, marketing, and finance, and the team is always looking to expand and improve. Each year, Helion in-vests hundreds of hours to design and build one robot which will be used to compete in team-based competitions requiring them to overcome challenges through skilled programming and engineering. Helion Robotics was awarded the Highest Rookie Seed at the FIRST Robotics Competition Midwest Regionals in 2019.

Project Think (HD Design Thinking Fair)

HD School Beijing

Design Thinking (DT) is one of HD’s specialty curricula that aims to build their students into real-world problem finders and problem solvers with innovative thinking and agency. It’s an in-depth opportunity for Design Thinking immersion, in which DT teachers lead two groups of students through an immersive four-week project. Under the guidance of the DT teachers, each student identified a real-world issue, then designed and built his/her own solution. During the final session, students present their projects to their parents. Past works have included Vacation Pet Feeder, Oil Protection Suit, Marker Machine, Plant Watering Machine, and Turtle Feeder Machine.

Sensory Play Activities (F-1)

AISB School – Hope International

Sensory play uses all five senses (sight, touch, smell, hearing, and taste). This Sensory Play ECA will assist young children in developing fine motor skills and important cognitive skills used for problem-solving.

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 School Choice Guide

Whenever life doesn’t seem to go as planned, or we encounter a bump in the road, it’s easy to fixate on those problems and let them consume all of our mental energy. However, when this happens, we run the risk of losing sight of all those things that are going well, which, more often than not, are the things we take for granted in the first place. Generally speaking, it’s pretty safe to say that no matter how bad things get, most of us have those basic necessities that provide for a comfortable and secure life; health, love, shelter, financial stability, and food. Unfortunately, though, there are a lot of people in this world — either clear across it or right in our own backyard — who don’t have basic amenities. Thankfully, students at Beijing’s international schools know not only how to count their blessings, but how to share them as well.

A few took time out of their busy schedules to tell us about the organizations they volunteer with, and what it means to them.

International School of Beijing: Greenkeepers

Founded 2009

Students:

Nadya C., 17 Years Old, Grade 12, Volunteering for 3 Years

Sam Y., 17 Years Old, Grade 12, Volunteering for 3 Years

Vimala M., 16 Years Old, Grade 12, Volunteering for 2 Years

What is Greenkeepers’ mission?

“Our mission statement is to raise awareness of environmental issues in our community to inspire individuals to take action and make our community a ‘greener place’.” – Nadya C.

“The mission statement for Greenkeepers is to inspire environmental awareness through local impacts within communities worldwide. I feel like the trash pickup is a good example of this. Through local impacts (just as picking up trash), we inspire environmental awareness (through interviews and talks with residents).” – Sam Y.

“Greenkeepers believe that every individual makes a difference on the environment and everyone should make our community a ‘greener’ place. Through local impacts and volunteer work, Greenkeepers is committed to raising awareness of the environmental challenges that face us locally and globally, promoting more sustainable practices in everyday life, and raising funds for a variety of environmental causes.” – Vimala M.

Why did you get involved?

“Initially, I was greatly inspired by many environmental organizations around the world that are in action helping various environmental issues. I hoped to take a stand against environmental exploitation and was determined to fight for a better, greener world. Whilez looking for a suitable environment-related student club, my friend introduced me to the perfect answer: Greenkeepers.” – Nadya C.

“I wanted to help increase sustainability in our school and local environment.” – Sam Y.

“When I started at ISB, I was already involved in various environmental clubs in my previous school. Greenkeepers was a club that was interesting for me mainly because of the trash pickups and tree planting activities.” – Vimala M.

What have you learned from your experience volunteering?

“I have participated in several volunteering experiences, one of them being our weekend Trash Pick-up event. Through personal experience in picking up trash by a nearby river, I am fortunate to have obtained more knowledge regarding the causes of the many environmental damages human actions have initiated. Hence, gained a better understanding of how to tackle the problem.” – Nadya C.

“From volunteering, I have learned the true value of personal impact. Even though volunteering and picking up trash may not make a big difference in sustainability, setting a good example for the local residents does make a big impact. Being a small club, we might not always be able to directly make a big influence on the environment, but we can inspire others that, collectively, will build up to make a great impact.” – Sam Y.

“Through volunteering with Greenkeepers, I have learned that volunteering is as important as conducting sustainable projects. It involved directly engaging with the community by going to the trash pickups, I’ve learned that we can make a difference through little steps.” – Vimala M.

What does volunteering and giving back to the community mean to you?

“Volunteering gives me a unique sense of purpose by serving those around me who are in need. Immersing myself in a community not only enriches and broadens my perceptions of the world but also improves my health both physically and mentally. Volunteering allows me to meet new people and have a broad, open-minded perspective of events in life which helps me become an effective and empathetic individual in society.” – Nadya C.

“Volunteering is always a good experience for me, especially in Greenkeepers, because I am not only able to give back to the community by doing something that I enjoy, but I am also able to do so with my close friends. I would say that volunteering has enriched our friendship.” – Vimala M.

Is this your first time volunteering?

“No. I have volunteered in several other events in and out of Greenkeepers, such as raising awareness of the recent climate strike and helping out on one of our ‘trash exchange for food’ fundraising event. ‘Trash exchange for food’ primarily raises awareness regarding recycling and effectively engages students to recycle by receiving ‘trash’ (used paper and recyclable plastic bottles) and exchanging it for a plate of food.” – Nadya C.

“This is not my first time volunteering. Before this, every Sunday I taught 4- to 5-year-old children of our school staff English with another ISB club.” – Sam Y.

Photos: Courtesy of ISB

 

Photos courtesy of Buzzy Melibee and Mj Lynch (Flickr)