In 2007, a man from Germany decided it was time to open a kindergarten in Beijing, House of Knowledge School (HoK) was born. When Farshad Danicek, founder of the international kindergarten, began this educational journey 10 years ago, he could not have known how far his relatively unconventional approach to education was going to take him.

IPC Curriculum at HoK

Find out how is HoK using the IPC curriculum to make learning fun

What started out as a budding kindergarten with 36 children in the former Liyuan Campus, has now, a decade later, expanded to include elementary years and moved on to two new campuses, one in Shunyi, the other near Chaoyang Park. Now, HoK is home to over 170 students.

The Victoria Campus near Chaoyang Park is home to 80 students

“Ten years ago, I had no idea how to be an entrepreneur. I became one by entering China. I’m not quite sure how the whole thing started, but more important to me was to stay in the field of education. The most crucial thing to me at that point was not only to create a place for children but to create a place for families,” says Danicek.

10 Years of Hands-On Experience
Nana has been at HoK since day one. Known around campus as one of the school’s founding teachers, Nana recounts well how it all began:

“A funny story was when I went with Farshad [Danicek] and three kids to the playground. One of the old neighbors said, ‘Oh, those are your kids,’ because in the beginning, I had only three students. But now we have so many kids. I am always excited to see House of Knowledge grow.”

Nana has been at HoK since the beginning and is known as a founding teacher

As we stroll down the memory lane, it becomes quite obvious how much the school has progressed. Initially, everyone had to get on board with each task, be it to paint walls or to spread the word about this new teaching concept that had come to Beijing.

Nana recalls dressing up like an office worker and going door-to-door in a German office building to distribute flyers. But even though the school has expanded and the staff increased, this hands-on spirit of getting involved in the task at hand is still very much present in the school culture, even today and on every level of the school’s management.

There is never a day when Danicek is not at school; and when he is, he doesn’t find himself shut away in a secluded office. He much rather prefers being among the students and parents.

Danicek loves to chat and check in with the students

“My biggest success is joining in their daily life, to see with your own eyes what’s actually going on. I’ve been asked very often if I plan on stepping down. But you know what, no. I love to go to school. For me, it’s not a job; it’s a calling.

“I got my first office after almost 10 years. Parents would wait in the piazza (reception area by the entrance) and then call me ‘Farshad, I’m in your office, where are you?’ It was a hilarious story saying ‘Guys, I finally have something other people have from the very first day.’ It’s quite unusual, sitting in the public library and emailing, using a public printer. It’s unusual, but this is… House of Knowledge.”

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Learning in dual or multiple languages especially in math has numerous benefits

Never Standing Still
Danicek counts being able to grow the school to cover elementary as one of his biggest successes. However, for the cheerful and optimistic German, standing still is never an option. There are new accreditations, cooperations, and expansions underway.

It’s not a surprise, considering one of the core values of HoK, according to Danicek, is the idea that learning never stops. “The most important thing in education is you do not leave school and are ready-made. You will explore and learn afterward. School is just one of the many steps.”

It’s a mantra he is not just trying to teach his students, but one he is intent on living himself.

“I still have a very strong vision of what I want to do, and what I think my students deserve. I’m working on that. And you have to combine that vision with patience. But that is my weakness, I’m not so patient. That’s what I have learned in the past years, to take small steps.”

An aerial shot of the Shunyi campus at the Quanfa Gardens

Celebrating the Great Success
Unsurprisingly, given his down-to-earth approach, Danicek hopes to toast the anniversary with friends and family. And he shares there certainly will be tears:

“But more importantly, we will celebrate not the last ten years, but the future path. I want to celebrate with my friends the upcoming ten years.”

This post is paid for by HoK

Photos: HoK & Uni You 

Communities are built on the strength of their relationships. Beijing is known to be a particularly relationship-oriented community, especially among those with global mindsets and long tenure. The ebb and flow of short-term expats adds to Beijing’s flavor, as each year new guanxi is made that starts here but then reaches across a world connected by a digital, rather than urban, landscape.

This issue we decided to celebrate the leaders and unsung heroes of this global community.  We of course see the value in those who are driven by charity and the inspiration they give to others, but we are looking for the friends whose shoulders are wet from tears, the mothers who form community for other pollution-caused-cabin-crazy moms, and the chef who brings sanity to a group of suburban-placed expats.

These are the people who provide a renewable bond to those who ebb and flow in, and who also remain year after year once these short-term expats are long gone. Though these pillars may eventually move on, Beijing certainly experiences a painful loss when they do. They are the people we look up to, the people who are connected to other global influencers, and the people who will make an impact wherever they go. We asked schools, our parenting board, and other well-known charitable leaders for who they wished we would cover. We were touched and moved by the stories, and we expect you to be also.

Though we covered eighteen community leaders together in both Schooled (p28 of the magazine) and the feature (p48), we covered other pillars throughout the magazine, so be on the lookout for faces you know. In view of what these pillars do, we chose to cover a volunteer option for Playing Outside instead of a park or a playground (p24), along with including many other options for volunteering at the end of our feature (p56).

Lastly, we want to point you to our own community pillars here at beijingkids.

More stories by this author here.
Email: vanessajencks@truerun.com
Twitter: @vanessa_jencks
WeChat: vanessajencks

As Farm to Neighbors celebrates their second anniversary this Saturday, July 16, supporters are welcome to vote for their favorite vendors via WeChat.  Farm to Neighbors’ vendors will be awarded in 18 different categories at the event where Beijing elementary students will perform Beijing opera, and separate concerts with flute, string quartet, and Chinese zither.

Over the past year, Farm to Neighbors has been writing and sharing more posts about food, including healthy recipes, on their WeChat channel: farm2neighbors.  They emphasize how grateful for the vendors and customers they’ve met every week, confirming that people do care about what they eat and saving the environment.

Farm to Neighbors founder Erica Huang has since become an ambassador for Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution, hosting a series of events since May 20—Food Revolution Day with many more to come.

Vendor Awards

In commemoration of their anniversary, Farm to Neighbors had invited customers to vote for their favorite vendors in 18 different categories, including:

Best Vegan Vendor

Best Craftsman Spirit

Best Farm

Most Environmentally Conscious

Most Creative Vendor

Best Fermented Food

Visit Farm to Neighbors Anniversary Celebration at the Grand Summit this Saturday, July 16, from 12-6pm to celebrate their anniversary with them and witness the results of the awards!

Photo: courtesy of Farm to Neighbors

This weekend, Savvy and I managed to move heaven and earth within our household and arranged for our kids to be looked after so that the two of us could get away for a night to commemorate our 20th Wedding Anniversary. We opted for an overnight stay at East. We had a quiet corner room in the hotel, a delicious sushi dinner at Hagaki, followed by some tasty drinks at Xian. We even managed to catch a movie at the CGV cinema in Indigo Mall – our first night out to a movie since before the twins were born 2 and half years ago. All of this was followed by a blissful night of uninterrupted sleep.

The following morning, we had plans for brunch at Feast with our kids and one other family. Unbeknownst to us, our friends changed our brunch plans to include six other families that have been a bedrock of support while living here. It was a surprise for us to see so many of our friends, though, as usual, we spent most of the time looking after our own kids. Sigh, just another year or two and twins should be much more independent.

Family friendly hotspot, Lily’s American Diner has been known to be a go to for birthday hosting venues, special holidays lunch and dinner for that homemade meal. The American food purveyor has three locations Sanlitun, Sihui, and Shuangjing that will be offering free/complimentary mianfei cake to those who go to eat as they celebrate their fifth year on May 30.

The food is filling, inexpensive, and very yummy, definitely the best diner in my opinion! The menu offers an assortment of American classics, including pizzas, Tex Mex and all-day breakfast offer plenty of options for kids. Kids could try the grilled cheese (bacon or ham), as this is one true American classic. For the adults (kids can also try this) Joe’s pulled pork sandwich, which features slow-cooked pork and special barbecue sauce (mouthwatering indeed for the meat lovers).

There are vegetarian options on the menu such as the hummus and the Veggie Hero sandwich features eggplant, hummus, mint, and feta.

Photo: Sui & Lova Li

Last Friday, we had the chance to attend Harrow International School to celebrate the school’s 10^th Anniversary in Beijing. His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, Duke of York attended and spoke at the event. Kicking off the ceremony, Harrow’s choir entertains the crowd while Prince Andrew visits classrooms. The choir begins with a humorous melody about a “bachelor hippo trying to find love”  followed by the school’s anthem Follow Up, a song about life at school and what it will be like in forty years when students return to their former school.

After much anticipation from the audience, attendees are instructed to stand as Prince Andrew enters the auditorium and Headmaster David Shinkfield welcomes him to the stage. Prince Andrew gives for a short speech about the value of education. “Learning is a gift. A gift is something given freely but the person giving it has no idea how the recipient will use that gift. You never know when you’ll call upon it but you’re always recognizing how important that gift was,” Prince Andrew says.

Prince Andrew also spoke on leadership and called upon students, staff, and teachers to understand his and her own contribution to the success of each student. “In order to lead, you’re going to need to apply the challenges this school lays out for you. I wish you all success, students, but remember to take the challenges this school offers you. Staff and teachers, I wish you success to get the most out of your students. Education is no longer about route learning, but about encouragement.”

Finally Prince Andrew wraps up his speech with a message to parents. He says: “No school can work without its parents because students, teachers, staff, and parents work in harmony. Students, say thank you to your parents for having you because without them, you wouldn’t have had the opportunity to come to a great school like this.”

After his speech,  Prince Andrew helps to unveil the 10 year plaque with Chairman Daniel Chiu of Harrow International Management Services Limited. Chiu is also the founder of the Harrow International Schools in Beijing, Bangkok, and Hong Kong. As a part of the Harrow International School Foundation Limited, Harrow Beijing has a governing board with members from the UK who are responsible for the philosophy, culture, and strategic direction of the school as well as providing oversight to ensure appropriate policy and procedures are in place for day-to-day operations. Governing members were also in attendance for the 10 year ceremony.

After the ceremony, media and members of the extended Harrow community were invited for a tour of campus.

 “I’m so envious. I wish I had this when I was growing up, says Shinkfield. “Harrow Beijing is the result of the Harrow UK Governors’ decision over 20 years ago to perpetuate the legacy and tradition of Harrow. We will ‘follow up’ and try to live up to the tradition of our school.”

Photos: Courtesy of Harrow

Founded nearly 90 years ago in the US by Walt and Roy E. Disney, the Walt Disney Company is celebrating it anniversary in style. The animation company teams up with Indigo Mall for a month long exhibition, September 9 – October 7. The launch saw long queues of happy kids and patient parents wanting to be taken photos at the several exhibition points spread out throughout the mall.

One of the exhibition spots features all the animations ever released by the company and room to take photos near the descriptions in both English and Chinese. The setting is like a maze making the area seem less crowded. There exhibition is situated on the level one of the mall and is free of charge. Check it out before the October holidays when there number of visitors is sure to increase.

Photo: China Daily

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), we speak with two long-term veterans to find out what the school was like back in the day. We talk to 20-year employee Greg MacIsaac, or as the kids like to call him, Mr. Mac and Rob Korfage, a 15-year WAB veteran and learning support teacher.

How has WAB changed over the years? What has stayed the same?

MacIsaac: We started as a small school only offering kindergarten through Grade 6 with only 146 students and now have an enrollment of over 1,400 students from nursery to Grade 12. We also started with the International Schools Curriculum Project (ISCP) as our base curriculum, which was bought out by the International Baccalaureate (IB). WAB’s community school spirit and family atmosphere has stayed the same. The pioneering spirit is still here, it just has to be dusted off from time to time!

Korfage: The “old” WAB had a very cozy yet experimental feel. Every teacher knew every student and vice versa. Problems were solved as a team. We took care of each other. I think we all realized we were on a journey, one of which we could not see the end, but we set a strict course, and developed a common understanding. It was an adventure discovering and exploring Primary Year’s Programme (PYP), dreaming about the best possible education, challenging each other and finding each others’ qualities. We spent many nights and weekends having fun and at the same time talking school.

Obviously we have grown in numbers and buildings since then. However, we seem to have maintained the original feeling of the school as best as we could. Nowhere do you feel you are in a massive school, there are places to relax and withdraw. Most importantly, we try our best to keep that small-scale feeling from 20 years ago in our teaching.

What made you stay all this time?

MacIsaac: I began as a grade level teacher, however, I’ve held many posts of responsibilities through out my tenure. When a skill set was recognized as being beneficial, I changed directions professionally and eventually became the video coordinator. WAB entertains teachers’ initiatives, so I’ve been able to grow personally and professionally.

Korfage: I came in 1998, four years after the school opened and left in 2005, after restarting the Dutch language program. I returned in 2007, first as a substitute teacher. It was fantastic – I taught many classes, from the early childhood unit to the high school, and it was like walking into a kitchen and discovering new recipes. I learned so much from my (absent) co-teachers, just by how they had organized their classrooms. Two years flew by. I was then offered another contract in learning support.

Highlight the moment you fell in love with the school.

MacIsaac: After the first year, I showed a highlight video of the academic year 1994-1995 to the students and staff. While they were watching the video, I was watching them laughing, pointing, and thoroughly enjoying the reminiscing. I knew then that I love this school. When I signed on for my first year in 1994, I never thought that I would be looking back at 20 years. But one thing is for sure, I’m glad I did! 

Korfage: John McBryde, the visionary director who built the current WAB, is an extraordinary man. I walked into his office one day, as head of the languages department, asking for five minutes. When I explained my issue, he said, “Do you have a solution?” When I told him my solution. He said,  “Give me 24 hours.” He came back within 24 hours, sanctioning my idea. That was when I knew I loved this school. Not because he liked my solution, but that he asked for it, and took time to think it through. John is the best chief I’ve ever worked for. And I learn every single day, and I am 54. This will sound corny, but it is true, it’s great to be part of an ongoing journey.

Photo: Courtesy of WAB

One year ago today, a sad incident at Joy City Chaoyang left a Chinese citizen and an American woman dead, and, when followed by an explosion at Beijing Capital International Airport three days later, left the Beijing community nervous about safety and security.

The Beijinger followed up with a local Public Security officer, Officer Sun, who offered suggestions that included, "Try not to go to places that are too crowded. If you happen to be in a crowded place, pay attention to the environment, especially people’s facial expressions. Try to go out in groups of at least two or more," and, if a violent incident or accident occurs, "Don’t stand around and watch, get to safety first. If there is an incident such a robbery or a violent act, do not try to catch or fight with the perpetrator. Your personal safety must take first priority," Officer Sun said. Read more of those suggestions here.

Here is our original report from July 17, 2013.

A Chinese citizen and a foreign national were stabbed to death around 5pm Wednesday outside the Joy City Chaoyang shopping mall Qingnian Lu by a 27-year-old man identifying himself as mentally ill, China Daily and Beijing Cream reported. [Warning: Beijing Cream’s report has graphic photos of the crime scene.]

The victims were not identified, nor was the nationality of the foreigner released, although the foreign national was identified as female. Joy City (Da Yue Cheng) complex is popular entertainment and shopping destination for east Fourth Ring Road residents. The Line 6 Qingnian Lu Station is also directly across the street from the mall.

The alleged perpetrator gave his surname as Xiao, indicated that he is from Yishui County in Shandong province, and claimed that he is mentally ill.

The incident occurs a year to the week after American Howard Thomas Mills was stabbed to death at Qianmen, on July 12, 2012, continuing a string of attacks directed at foreigners last summer. The early days of the 2008 Olympic Games were marred when Todd Bachman, father-in-law of the US men’s volleyball coach, was stabbed to death at the Drum Tower on August 9, 2008. His wife, Barbara, survived the attack.

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

Photo: The Beijinger TripAdvisor