Are you as curious about who’s shaping the young minds of our kids as we are? We’re sitting down with teachers and staff from Beijing’s vibrant international schools to learn more about their unique stories, experiences, and perspectives. From the challenges of adapting to a new culture to the joys of building connections across borders, these conversations will shine a light on those who make up our education community. Whether you’re part of an international school yourself or simply curious about life in Beijing’s globalized education hubs, join us as we get to know the people behind the classrooms, hallways, and campuses that shape this extraordinary world.

This week’s #BeijingEducators features Ms. Poppy Thompson, the newly appointed Assistant Head of Early Years at British School of Beijing (BSB) Sanlitun.

My name is Poppy Thompson, and I am excited to begin my role as the newly appointed Assistant Head of Early Years for the 2025/2026 academic year. I’m originally from a small town in Shropshire, and I moved to Beijing over six years ago in search of new challenges and to expand my experience of working with children by joining an international school. Since then, I have had the privilege of growing both professionally and personally within the vibrant and diverse community here in Beijing.

Let’s talk a bit about the school.

How do you define high-quality early years education, and how does it align with the mission and values of BSB Sanlitun?

For me, high-quality early years education is centered around creating an enriching and engaging environment where young children feel safe, valued, and inspired to learn. The children should be encouraged to explore, experiment, and express themselves in ways that promote curiosity and a lifelong love for learning.

At BSB Sanlitun, our mission and values are deeply aligned with this vision of early years education. We aim to provide a learning environment where each child is seen to be involved in their own learning journey, where they thrive academically but also emotionally and socially. Our values of respect, responsibility, and community play a role in shaping our approach.

How does BSB Sanlitun create a safe and inclusive environment for early years students?

BSB Sanlitun creates a safe and inclusive environment for our early years students by prioritizing their physical and emotional well-being and making our school a place where every child feels valued and respected. The school supports diversity and celebrates different cultures and backgrounds while adapting teaching strategies to meet individual needs. With a child-centered approach, the curriculum promotes social and emotional learning, encouraging kindness, cooperation, and positive relationships. Through strong partnerships with families and a commitment to safeguarding, BSB Sanlitun ensures that all children, regardless of ability or background, have the opportunity to grow and feel part of the community.

How does BSB Sanlitun support the social and emotional development of early years students, especially those who may be new to Beijing and the international school environment?

We support the social and emotional development of early years students, particularly those new to Beijing and the international school environment, by promoting a supportive and inclusive atmosphere that helps them feel secure and welcomed. Through our orientation, we get to know the children more. They can spend time in the classrooms getting to know other children and seeing a school day in action. The communication with parents is continued throughout their settling-in periods as we know how important it is for the parents to feel reassured as well as the children.

Now let’s get to know you a bit.

What will your new role as Assistant Head of Early Years entail?

As Assistant Head of Early Years, I will work closely with staff to continue to provide a collaborative, positive learning curriculum and environment for children to grow socially, emotionally, and academically. I will continue to build strong relationships with parents and ensure that all children receive the care and attention they need to thrive. I will also track student progress to ensure all children are supported and challenged to develop in all areas of the curriculum.

What inspired you to get into education?

What inspired me to get into education was my deep passion for helping children grow and develop. I’ve always been fascinated by how children learn and how those early experiences shape their future. The opportunity to make a meaningful impact during such an important time in a child’s life, guiding them not just academically but socially and emotionally, really motivated me.

What’s the best part of your day working at BSB Sanlitun?

The best part of a day comes from seeing moments of growth, such as a child achieving something they have been working hard to understand or developing social skills through play and collaboration. Building strong relationships with children, seeing their confidence grow, and listening to their stories – having those special conversations about life, and celebrating their achievements make this job worthwhile.

We’d love to hear your thoughts on these…

For children who show signs of advanced learning in certain areas, what are the best ways to nurture their talents without overloading them?

Differentiating activities and challenging children who show signs of advanced learning has to be done in a fun and engaging way. They need to be able to explore and be creative with their learning, without pushing them too much. Letting children work at their own pace, with room for choice and reflection ,will give them a sense of accomplishment. This keeps the children motivated but also doesn’t overload them so that they are able to enjoy their learning.

In your opinion, what are the emerging trends in early years education that international schools should pay attention to and incorporate into the curriculum?

There is an emphasis on emotional well-being and self-regulation within young children, and ensuring social and emotional skills are integrated into our curriculum such as resilience, communication, and resolving conflict are critical for their development. I also think recognizing that every child learns differently and that having an approach that will cater to all needs and interests is something that needs paying attention to, and having a play-based and children-led curriculum enables children to problem solve and encourages critical and independent thinking.

What role do you think technology should play in early years education? Do you have any advice on integrating technology into daily teaching effectively with young kids?

I think it is important that technology is included within early years, but we have to be mindful that technology is not a replacement for important interactions with adults. The use of whiteboards allows the children to work collaboratively with others, express themselves creatively, and for information to be presented. Devices for listening to stories, where a child can sit with headphones and get lost in a book or listen to music, [enable]them to dance, sing, and represent their own thoughts. We ensure a range of opportunities such as early coding strategies through programming a simple robot toy to develop these skills.

Can you tell us a bit about what to expect at the upcoming Open Morning on Mar 26?

At the Open Morning, parents will have the chance to meet our senior leadership team, learn more about our early years department, see a lesson in action, and have a tour around the early years building. I love to meet and make connections with our families, so I would be delighted to meet any new families who wish to visit.

Images: British School of Beijing, Sanlitun

“Bleat, bleat, bleat!” Here comes the adorable penguins made by Carmel Watson’s Pre-Nursery, Seahorses Class. All you need are some basic craft supplies and, voila, the kids are in for an afternoon of crafting that lets them explore their own creativity. British School of Beijing, Sanlitun students Evelin Hlusickova, Gemma Zhu, Nihit Singh, Austin Su, and Mia Marangone show you how it’s done.  

Materials:

•  Craft paper (white and colored)
•   Black felt
•   Scissors
•   Cotton wool
•   Glue
•   Googly eyes

1.  Cut 1 large oval shape (black). This step can be done with craft paper or felt.

2. Cut 5 pink medium size hearts of the color of your choosing.

3. Cut 1 large-size heart.

4. Cut 2 small white circles and 2 small black circles.

5. Cut 1 small triangle of the color of your choosing.

6. Glue the large heart at the bottom of the oval to make a penguin’s tummy, glue the cotton wool onto the white heart to add texture and to make the penguin’s tummy cute and fluffy.

7. Add the triangle for the beak.

8. Glue the two white circles for the eyes and the small black circles on top of the white circles to complete the eyes.

9. Glue 2 hearts on the sides of the penguin’s body to make the wines and 2 hearts on the bottom to make the feet. 

This article appeared in the jingkids 2023 Graduation Issue

Statistics tell us that childhood obesity has immediate and long-term impacts on not only physical health but also social and emotional health. These are areas of the utmost importance for all children navigating their way through the primary areas of education and even into middle and high school. This is why for this edition of “Tough Topics” we decided to contact Zoe Hubbard, the Deputy Head of Primary at British School of Beijing, Sanlitun (BSB, Sanlitun), and ask about ways that schools can collaborate with parents to prevent this unnecessary life challenge before it begins and to facilitate a healthy development.

Should schools, in general, be more responsible for childhood obesity prevention?
Working in partnership with parents, schools help to educate children on the benefits of exercise and healthy diet and how this will lead to healthy adults.

What are some ways that your school educates about nutrition and the importance of physical activity in the curricula?
School is an ideal opportunity to introduce children to a variety of physical activities. At BSB, Sanlitun we offer a range of different physical activities through our rich curriculum and specifically our PE program. Children also have the opportunity to engage in physical activities through our After School Activities. As part of our PSHE program and Science curriculum, children are introduced to the importance of a healthy balanced diet. This is reflected in our health snacks policy and our school lunches.

How early should this sort of learning about food and exercise begin?
From Early Years through to Year 6, children at BSB, Sanlitun are being made aware of healthy food choices and the benefit of exercise, in fun and creative ways.

How are children’s attitudes and habits towards maintaining a healthy diet and exercise influenced by the lifestyle of their parents?
Many parents take their children with them when they go food shopping. It’s an opportunity to discuss healthy options and how to make good choices when selecting ingredients for a meal. It’s great if parents can engage their children in the preparation and cooking of food and have fun together in the kitchen. Parents who exercise with their children, whether going for a cycle or a walk, are also reinforcing a positive message about exercise as a key part of their lifestyle. Promoting exercise as a fun and enjoyable activity will foster a positive attitude towards diet and exercise.

Should prevention of childhood obesity be a collaborative effort between schools, parents, and children?
Yes, definitely. Everyone who is involved in a child’s development has a role to play in educating the child about making healthy choices.

In the future how do you think technology will play a larger role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle?
Currently, devices and apps are available to help people consider what they are eating and the impact that has on their body; while other apps will calculate the amount of physical activity. Let’s see what the future brings us!

Zoe Hubbard
Hubbard is the Deputy Head of Primary at British School of Beijing, Sanlitun. Since qualifying as a teacher in 2003, she has taught in schools in London and Brighton before moving to Beijing in 2014 where she now leads the way for the teaching and learning across the primary phase of the school.

This article originally appeared on pg 44 of beijingkids October 2017 issue.
Download the digital copy here.

When I lived in Texas and went to culinary school, I accumulated around 40 cookbooks. It was my pride till I had to move back to Europe. I could not take all my cookbooks. After taking only three books back, I started my collection growing again since then, but I am very selective of what cookbooks I buy. We are travelers and cookbooks need to move with us from country to country.

One cookbook I have had my eyes on, even before it got written is A Little Taste of Home, a cookbook created by the parent association of the British School of Beijing Sanlitun (BSB Sanlitun). One of the parents of the association informed me about the book. It was still in the planning stages at the time, but she got me excited. Her chef husband would be helping with the cookbook, so naturally I knew it would be something amazing that I would want to have in my bookcase.

A Little Taste of Home is a cookbook created with recipes from parents and students of the school; showcasing home cooking, bringing us back to our roots, and showing off culinary delights. The parent association is not doing things by half measures – they got a photographer and chef to help create the beautiful book, and the pages look good enough to eat. The preview pages shown in this blog post are work in progress and are draft layouts, but give a image of what the cookbook will feel like.

“The cookbook is a great way for the BSB Sanlitun community to share their tried and true family recipes, showcasing them in a beautiful publication,” according to Grace Walter, a member of the very creative and passionate volunteer parents of the school. The cookbook will raise money for the charity Migrant Children Foundation (MCF), and will be launched at the school charity picnic on Sunday, June 11 from 3 to 6.30 pm, which will be open to the BSB community and friends. The book will cost RMB 150 and will be available at the reception of BSB Sanlitun. I for one, am excited at the prospect of adding this book to my collection, and supporting MCF by cooking some delicious culinary delights.

Picture credits: Elva Wu and Rodney Looi Keng Mun

Graphic designer credits: Diana Guzijan

As the first month of 2013 draws to a close, there’s still plenty going on and already planned for February. Coming up is Chinese New Year, Valentine’s Day, and by the end of the month hopefully a glimmer of spring. Here are some things to mark in the calendar:

*Tomorrow (January 31) enjoy a pre-CNY and pre-Valentine bazaar from 11am-3pm at Green T. House Living in Shunyi. Vendors will showcase all of their beautiful items, from jewelry to cashmere, gifts and more. There will be a drop off for Roundabout charity donations, and all table fees will be donated to Roundabout as well. While there, enjoy a fabulous buffet lunch, too!

*The annual Dulwich College Temple Fair provides fun activities and great entertainment, and it’s open for all to enjoy! Come to the Beijing Riviera clubhouse on Saturday, February 2 from 10am-2pm to enjoy lion dance performances (10:30am, 11:30am and 12:30pm) as well as opera mask changing performances (11am, noon).

*Also on Saturday with Dulwich is the annual event, The Red Ball! From 6:30pm-11:30pm at the Hilton Beijing Capital Airport, this wonderful evening supports Educating Girls of Rural China (www.egrc.ca). All are invited to attend the cocktail reception, four-course dinner, live music, fabulous auction prizes and much more. The goal is to raise RMB 200,000 to support 15 girls in their quest for a high school or university education. Tickets are RMB 900 per person; contact Veena Rao at 136 8355 4744 or raomittal@yahoo.com for details.

*Fitness is usually on the list of new year’s resolutions, so here are some great classes to consider by Stella Chan Marinaro.

• Fit and FAB (Females Achieving Balance): Get group nutritional counseling, cooking/tasting demonstrations, and learn about losing weight and keeping it off. Classes are Friday mornings from 10-11am at Boulangerie Nanda in Cathay View Plaza; RMB 80 per class.
• GAB (Girls Achieving Balance): Designed for pre-teen girls to promote healthy choices and self-respect, the girls exercise, talk, and make friends while learning healthy life-long habits. Classes are Fridays 4-5pm and have already begun; RMB 750 for six weeks.
• Spin +:  high intensity indoor cycling classes set to great music, held at the Human in Motion Fitness Studio in Cathay View Plaza; RMB 150 per class or RMB 1,350 for 10 classes.
• Contact Stella directly at stella@achievingbalance.asia or 1860 127 4767 for specifics.

*Another fitness option is a new class in Dragon Bay – Body Balance, a low intensity exercise inspired by yoga, tai chi and Pilates. It improves joint flexibility and strength, and helps you feel centered and calm. Held on Fridays from 10-11am at the Dragon Bay clubhouse; contact antjepfeiffer@ymail.com for details.

*Shunyi crafters, take note! Stella at the woodcarver’s shop is selling her collection of craft supplies. From decorative hole punches and craft scissors, to candle-making or soap-making kits and much more, contact Stella directly if you are interested (136 9334 0571).

*The Roundabout book fair continues at The British School of Beijing in Shunyi until the CNY break. You can visit the campus during school hours (Monday – Friday from 9:30am-4pm) to purchase books, puzzles, games and kids DVDs. 

*New year, new prices. The car wash over on Tianbei Lu (near Tom’s DVDs, Stella’s Woodcarver Zhang, and others) has increased its price for a regular car wash to RMB 25. While inflation has seen the price increase about 66% over the past five years, we can hardly complain about a $4 car wash.