When I was a kid, “young learners” didn’t have their own summer camps. There was preschool and kindergarten that continued over the summer in the service of working parents, and then there were half-day classes for a number of activities for parents who stayed home (but wanted to send their children out). Yet, those existed all year long and were not especially designed for summers.

Today, and especially here in Beijing, schools are out for the summer, but offer a variety of different ways to keep your child busy without being in a “school” environment.  As a new parent, I see this as a chance to allow our children to experience new activities, to try out new schools and campuses, and to discover where my child’s natural interests take him.  Summer is the best time to dapple in activities before making them year-long (or life-long) hobbies!

AEA US Embassy Camp, Jun 16-Aug 15
Ages 4-12. The American Employees Association Summer Camp is an American-style day camp with weekly themes, hosted by AEA (affiliated with the US embassy).  Each year, the themes are changed to incorporate current trends and children’s interests.  The daily program is filled with fun, songs, games, and activities which are related to the weekly themes.

• Early bird discounts till May 31. The camp will be hosted at Beijing City International School from Jun 16-Jul 4 and then from Jul 7-Aug 15 at 3e (info@aeabeijing.net, 8531 3349)

HoK Around the World, Jul 4-15
Ages 3-6. Children joining the camp will first get to make their own passport as they’re going on a trip around the word!  What should they pack in their suitcase? Where are they going? They better explore maps and world objects. Then off they go around the world, at each destination they will explore the culture, songs, language and food in a fun and captivating way using games, music, art, geography and science. There will be a whole host of activities to keep the children’s minds and bodies active this summer.

• RMB 2,200/week (full day). RMB 1,350/week without lunch (half day). RMB 1,720/week with lunch (half day). School bus transportation for an additional RMB 200/week. (contact admissions@hokschool.com, 400 650 7747)

CISB Kindergarten Creative Camp, Jun 27-Jul 15, Jul 18-Aug 5 Ages 1.5-6.
The Canadian International School of Beijing’s Kindergarten Creative Camp allows children to learn and discover phonics/reading, chinese language/culture, music, and enjoy a creative English workshop, arts and crafts, swimming, and physical education.

• RMB 4,550-12,600 (half day), for 2-6 weeks. RMB 6,850-19,850 (full day) for 2-6 weeks.  Application deadline May 27. Discounts for CISB, ISNS, CCSC students. Fee includes tuition, materials, snacks, and lunches. Possible transportation. (contact summeradmissions@cis-beijing.com)

Ivy Academy’s Summer Camps, Jul 4-Aug 12

Ages 2.6-8. Ivy Academy offers eleven (11) camps at five (5) different campuses. The overall camp selection are: Creative Art Camps (East Lake, Central Park, Ocean Express, Orchid Garden); Science Shenanigans (East Lake, Ocean Express) wherein children will delve into the world of hydroponics, botany, recycling and reducing waste; Get Active (East Lake, Ocean Express) wherein campers can play sports such as American flag football, basketball, soccer, and bowling; and Chinese Culture (Central Park and Lijing) wherein the topics include traditional art, traditional folk crafts, Chinese calligraphy, and children will make traditional snacks by themselves. Through hand-painted Beijing opera facial makeup, crafts, calligraphy, painting, cooking classes and other activites, children will have the opportunity to understand the profound traditional Chinese culture, and visit the courtyard and Beijing Hutong.

• RMB 2,480-7,200/session/2 weeks. Early bird discounts available for Ivy students (contact: camp@ivyschools.com)

Atelier Summer Camps, Jun 27-Jul 26
Ages 5-12. Atelier Art School will be running funny, creative, and inspiring artistic summer camps for one thematic week.  The themes include a Cubism Workshop where children will make collages, draw a cubist self-portrait, and a cardboard sculpture of a music instrument; Hokusai and Japan where children will discover Japanese engraving, learn about daily life in the 18th century, and realize a wonderful book inspired by Japanese art; Egyptian Civilization where children will learn about Egypt, build a model pyramid, make their own papyrus and write hieroglyphs on it; Africa where children will discover Africa as a continent, its different cultures and habits while engraving savannah animals, making patterns like the clothes of Zulus folk, and African mask collages; The Little Prince wherein children will discover the novel by Saint Exupery and learn new techniques by building a helix plane, understand the work of the illustrator and how to use water colors, and finally build imaginary planets using papier-mache; Around the World in Eighty Days wherein children will discover various cultures and civilizations by following the story in Jules Verne’s novel and making their own travel book with a map, pictures of the characters, and learn how to make pop-up books, different paper textures, and stamps.

• RMB 1,500/week, session. Morning session for 5-8 year olds. Afternoon session for 9-12 year olds. Note that the Sanlitun campus sessions begin on Jun 27 and end on Aug 26, while the Shunyi campus begins on Jun 13 and ends on Jul 22. See their website for a detailed schedule of when each theme is taught. (contact@atelier.cn.com, 132 4018 490, 6416 1614).

That’s Mandarin! Chinese Summer Camp, Jun 13-26, Jun 27-Jul 10, Jul 11-24, Jul 25-Aug 7, Aug 8-21
Ages 5-17. That’s Mandarin offers several different camp options to suit any family!  There are morning camps, day camps, and full day camps.  For older children, there are also homestay camps, and if you’d like in on the fun—family camps! Camps can be two week long or four week long. The full-length program includes intensive Chinese classes with cartoon class, reading and writing, and topic based oral lessons.  Each week has three days of cultural activities, including traditional Chinese calligraphy, opera mask painting, cooking classes, Chinese knot making, and mahjong. Fieldtrips and excursions are also available for Beijing, such as the Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Confucius Temple, and Beihai Park.

• For Beijing camps, contact: info@thatsmandarin.com (5218 6432). For the Shanghai camps, contact: info.shanghai@thatsmandarin.com (6452 0017).

ClubFootball Summer Camp, Jul 5-Aug 24
Ages 4.5-16. ClubFootball has been around since 2001, hosting football classes and camps that promote coordination and teamwork. This summer, their coaches will have week long summer classes for players of all skill levels, or minimal three-day intensive workshops, depending on your child’s schedule.

• RMB 800-1,500/week. Camps will be held in Chaoyang Park, Olympic Forest Park, Zhongguancun, Wangjing, Lido and Shunyi (coaching@wanguoqunxing.com, 5130 6893)

The Children’s House Summer Camp, Jul 11-Aug 18

Ages 1.5-6.  The Children’s House Summer Camp will be hosted at the Kempinski and China World campuses. Daily programs include nature arts and crafts, music, story tales and lots more.

•  RMB 1,500 (half-day), RMB 2,000 (half-day + lunch), RMB 3,000 (full day) for a session (one week). 10% discount if you sign up for all five weeks. (contact: info@montessoribeijing.com, 6505 3869 or 6465 1305) 

Photo: Pixabay

Teenagers are difficult to place for the summer outside travel plans since all they probably want to do is spend time with their friends (who are either traveling or visiting home), or remain glued to their computer/game console/mobile device/social media.  What they should be doing is reading to prevent summer brain drain, but that can get boring, so we’ve rounded up a number of Beijing summer camps for you to sign up your teen!

The camps are all for kids between age 13-19, or grades 7-12.  We begin with enhancement (to prevent summer brain drain and perhaps return to school more knowledgeable than before), then move on to enrichment (where the real juice is), and finish up with sports (to get them moving).

Enhancement

CISB Scholastic Assessment Test/SAT, Jul 18-Aug 5
Grades 9-11. The Canadian International School of Beijing’s SAT course trains prospective SAT testers in vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing, and mathematics for an improved result.

• Registration deadline May 27. Discounts for CISB, ISNS, CCSC students. Fee includes tuition, materials, snacks, and lunches (possible transportation). For more details, contact: summeradmissions@cis-beijing.com.

CISB Intensive English Course, Jul 18-Aug 5
Grades 6-8. The Canadian International School of Beijing’s Intensive English Course is meant for SAT applicants to hone their foundational English skills and writing skills. The course will focus on sentence structure, grammar, vocabulary, strategic reading, and creative writing.

• Registration deadline May 27. Discounts for CISB, ISNS, CCSC students. Fee includes tuition, materials, snacks, and lunches (possible transportation). For more details, contact: summeradmissions@cis-beijing.com.

Keystone Summer Archway English Immersion, Jul 11-29
Grades 6-10. The English Immersion programme at Keystone Academy is designed for non-native English speaking students interested or currently enrolled in a local private school, or going abroad. They will learn how to perform at a high level in an international or American-style independent school learning environment. During this three-week programme, students will develop a strong proficiency in their academic English ability, while also honing their study skills and being introduced to many key concepts in the arts, sciences, and humanities. By participating in activity-based learning opportunities both in and outside the classroom, students will be well prepared for Keystone Academy and its peer institutions, and also develop and strengthen a genuine interest in learning as a personal quality.

• Registration deadline May 10. RMB 15,900. Contact: (5825 6008)

Harrow Beijing’s Summer School, Jul 26-Aug 5
Ages 13-15. Harrow Beijing’s inaugural summer program last two weeks at a time, providing outside students an opportunity to experience international school education.  The program is designed to improve students’ language proficiency, understand Harrow Beijing’s expectations and provide project-based learning experiences to students.

• RMB 14,000 (lunch included). Assessment required (RMB 50). Contact: harrowsaturdays@harrowbeijing.cn (6444 8900 6851)

Global P.R.E.P Boarding School Transition, Jul 10-16
Grades 6-9. Global P.R.E.P. is run by Metta Dael, international Admissions Director from Northfield Mount Hermon, and Martha Neubert, a Northfield Mount Hermon humanities teacher. This programme is designed to help new international students prepare for their boarding school experience through cross-cultural understanding and special academy programmes. It is open to students who have already received acceptances to boarding schools and who are focused on preparing as well as possible, socially and academically.

• Registration deadline May 15.  RMB 10,500 with 50% deposit.  Contact registration@hyde-education.com (8046 3886).

Enrichment

Chinese Cultural Summer Camps, Jun 20-24, Jun 27-Jul 1, Jul 4-8
Ages 6-14, China Culture Center hosts a five day bilingual summer camp with both indoor hands-on activities and outdoor tours exploring Beijing and its authentic Chinese culture.

• RMB 3,200 per child (5 days).  For more information, contact info@chinaculturecenter.org (6432 9341).

That’s Mandarin! Chinese Summer Camp, Jun 13-26, Jun 27-Jul 10, Jul 11-24, Jul 25-Aug 7, Aug 8-21
Ages 5-17. That’s Mandarin offers several different camp options to suit any family!  There are morning camps, day camps, and full day camps.  For older children, there are also homestay camps, and if you’d like in on the fun—family camps! Camps can be two week long or four week long. The full-length program includes intensive Chinese classes with cartoon class, reading and writing, and topic based oral lessons.  Each week has three days of cultural activities, including traditional Chinese calligraphy, opera mask painting, cooking classes, Chinese knot making, and mahjong. Fieldtrips and excursions are also available for Beijing, such as the Great Wall, Ming Tombs, Confucius Temple, and Beihai Park.

• For Beijing camps, contact: info@thatsmandarin.com (5218 6432). For the Shanghai camps, contact: info.shanghai@thatsmandarin.com (6452 0017).

Keystone Academy’s Marine Science STEAM Program, Jul 18-29
Grades 3-7. The Marine Science STEAM Program for summer students is a small step that combines the school’s missions of promoting environmental stewardship and thoughtful bilingual immersion education. Students’ learning in the program will be inquiry-based: they will work with our teachers to observe closely, ask good questions, investigate actively, and find answers to their own questions–all in the context of studying ocean life in both Chinese and English. Students will be challenged to examine the connections between human life and millions of lives in the ocean. In doing so, they will achieve an understanding of the importance of environmental conservation.

• Registration deadline May 1. RMB 10,900. Contact: complete application at keystoneacademy.cn

Harrow Beijing’s English and Drama Summer Camp, Jun 26-Aug 5
Ages 13-15. Harrow Beijing’s two week summer camp will give children a taste of the international school experience with the aim of improving students’ language proficiency. The aim of this program is to encourage students to improve their language competency and take part in a drama performance. All teachers in this program are experienced Harrow International School Beijing teachers. They will use the Cambridge University English framework to help improve each student’s English level as they participate in drama activities.

• Registration deadline April 30.  RMB 14,000. Contact: harrowsaturdays@harrowbeijing.cn (6444 8900 6851).

DDC Talented Youth Program – MIT STEM, Jun 27-Aug 5
Grades 4-7. DDC Education Centre offers a tailored educational program dedicated to the development of highly talented children. With award-winning teams of instructors from the United States, it offers systematic STEAM courses to students aged between 7 and 14. Courses include web design, 3D printing and computer programming. They give priority to the development of students’ science spirit and comprehensive ability, and emphasize the mixture of social value, humanities and the arts, Information Technology & STEAM.

• Registration deadline August 1.  RMB 5,800 per week. Contact: contact@dd-learning.com (8049 0079).

DDC Talented Youth Program – US STEAM Summer Camp, Jun 27-Aug 5
Grades 5-8.
DDC Education Centre invites you to have a touch of the prestigious US STEAM summer camp at British School of Beijing Shunyi! Whether you want to know how to become a doctor, how to create water on Mars… you’ll learn how through the various projects in this camp.

• Registration deadline August 1.  RMB 5,800 per week. Contact: contact@dd-learning.com (8049 0079).

DDC Ocean Exploration Camp, Jun 20-Aug 26
Grades 2-7. DDC Ocean Exploration Camp is led by ocean experts from New England Aquarium USA.

• RMB 5,800.  Hosted at the Beijing Aquarium. Contact: dd-learning.com (8049 0079).

DDC Integrated Art Summer Camp, Jun 20-Jul 1, Jul 11-Jul 22
Grades 2-7. A joint effort between DDC and educational experts from the US, Integrated Art summer camp is an organic and evolving approach to teaching by integrating music, language, and visual arts.  It builds communication, problem solving, collaboration, shared experiences, and allows the student to actively ponder and experiment to display comprehension employing a variety of art forms.  Students will awaken their critical eye and develop ownership of thought and creativity with evidential reasoning via hands on and minds on learning.

• RMB 5,800. Contact: contact@dd-learning.com (8049 0079).

Beijing Playhouse Summer Theater Camps, Jun 27-Aug 6
Ages 6-14. At Beijing Playhouse’s two-week long summer camps, children will get to perform Peter Pan, Aladdin, and Rapunzel with acting, song, and dance. Aspiring actors, singers, dancers, and musicians are all welcome. Some English proficiency is required. All who audition will be cast. Parents are invited to the final performance.

• Audition dates May 7, May 21, June 4. RMB 8,000. Contact: broadway@beijingplayhouse.com.

Hyde Education Summer Enrichment Program, Jul 11-Aug 12
Grades 1-9. Hyde Academy has scheduled a series of fun, hands on, academic summer enrichment programs in math, science, language arts, and humanities for students in grades 1- 9. Take a tour of the universe from the inside out with our exciting introductory physics course.  Use math to explore the world around us through a variety of inquiry-based problems and projects. Fancy yourself as the next Sherlock Holmes? Sign up for our Crime Scene Investigation program.  Other course titles include: Public Speaking, Archaeology, Geography: Mapping our World, and Vocabulary and the Art of Writing.

• RMB 2,250 (half day), RMB 4,275 (full day) per week. Contact registration@hyde-education.com (8046-3886).

Sports

BSC Sailing Camps, Jun 12-Aug 26
Ages 8-16. Beijing Sailing Center will be hosting single and double week sailing classes.  The program provides an adventurous, intellectual and educational experience, while honing your child’s leadership and communication skills.  Last summer they hosted over 500 children and their parents coming. The center is both convenient to Beijing (a 2 hour train ride trip) and all the accommodation, transportation, a meal, activities, chaperones, and entertainments are covered.

• RMB 13,400 (2 weeks), RMB 6,700 (1 week). Contact: sailing@beijingsailing.com (400 180 0107).

DCB Sports and Fun Summer Camps, Jun 20-Aug 5
Ages 4-15 Dulwich Community Programs (DCP) will host football, tennis, swimming and non-sports camps throughout the summer in collaboration with Rising Stars Tennis Academy, Firepower Swimming Club, and Beijing Kickers.

• Registration deadline June 15. RMB 1,500-3,000 per week. Contact DCP: dcp@dulwich-beijing.cn (6454 9150, 6454 9019).

O’le Climbing Summer Camp, Jun 20-24, Jul 4-8, Aug 1-5, 8-12, 15-18
Ages 15-19. O’le Climbing will be offering indoor and outdoor adventure summer camps for students during the summer holiday. Various activities are ready for this summer from indoor rock climbing to outdoor camping trip, all activities lead by professional and qualified instructors.

• RMB 4,500 (includes equipment and admission, transportation, food for two camp days). Contact: oleclimbing@gmail.com (150 0137 1016).

Sports Beijing ISB Dome Summer Camp, Jun 13-Jul 22Ages 5-16. Sports Beijing will be offering a wide variety of full-day activities and half-day activities both in the morning and afternoon!  The morning sports will include basketball, soccer, gymnastics, and tennis, and the afternoon activities will include a multi-sport program and tennis. The multisport afternoon will offer many fun activities for the kids, like kickball, dodge ball, juggling, and much more. This is a time to let loose, compete, and learn new things.

• RMB 2,600 half day per week (includes lunch for full day and t-shirt for half day). Discounts for siblings and additional weeks.

CK Martial Hearts Shaolin Temple Experience, Jul 10-24, Aug 7-Aug 21 Ages 14+ (14-17 when training together with a parent). CK Martial Hearts, in association with Shaolin Temple International Liaisons Office, offers 7 and 14-day programs at Henan’s Shaolin Temple to learn martial arts with genuine Shaolin warrior monks.  The program includes daily taichi and qigong classes, kung fu classes inside the temple, a guided tour of the temple, as well as an optional sightseeing excursion.

• RMB 5,188 (7 days), RMB 8,888 (14 days). Includes transportation to the Shaolin Temple from Beijing, three Chinese meals per day, hostel accommodation, total of 7 hrs of instruction per day, Chinese speaking expat guide, optional sightseeing tour, and a complimentary training outfit.  Contact: train@theshaolintemple.cn

ClubFootball, Jul 5-Aug 24Ages 4.5-16. ClubFootball has been around since 2001, hosting football classes and camps that promote coordination and teamwork. This summer, their coaches will have week long summer classes for players of all skill levels, or minimal three-day intensive workshops, depending on your child’s schedule.

• RMB 800-1,500/week. Camps will be held in Chaoyang Park, Olympic Forest Park, Zhongguancun, Wangjing, Lido and Shunyi (contact coaching@wanguoqunxing.com, 5130 6893)

Photo: Pixabay, and courtesy of Beijing Playhouse, BSC Sailing Camps, CISB, China Culture Center, DCB, DDC, Harrow Beijing, Hyde Education, ISB, Keystone, O’le Climbing Summer Camp, CK Martial Hearts, and That’s Mandarin!

Canadian mom Bonnie Brewer-Elsayed is school librarian at Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB), and so the family lives in a faculty apartment on campus. Brewer-Elsayed has been here a long time: she moved here in 2004 to teach at Beijing Concord College in Tongzhou then on to CISB when it opened a year later. Her Egyptian husband Jamie Elsayed is a consultant who works with Chinese families, preparing them for immigration. Their daughter Maira Elsayed (age 4) attends Pre-K at CISB, and is one of five little girls born in the same year to CISB staff members, which means her best-friends all live in the building.

Brewer-Elsayed doesn’t cook as much in China as she would in Canada, since Ayi and ordering in make for easy mealtimes, but she makes home cooked meals most weekends. Maira loves making pancakes and baking treats, but as we visit the Brewer-Elsayed family on a perfect, golden, summer afternoon, it’s ideal weather for the delicious, icy treat they’re about to demonstrate. “I found an orange creamsicle recipe online and decided to play around with it,” says Brewer-Elsayed, “I added pineapple and banana to give it a more tropical flavor.” Maira is an accomplished assistant and hostess: she chops, pours, blends, and insists on us trying the fruits of her labors. Delicious!

Tropical Creamsicle Smoothie
Approximately 4 servings 约4人份

Ingredients 成分

1 cup pineapple 1杯菠萝
1 medium mango 1个中等大小的芒果
1 banana 1根香蕉
1 cup plain unsweetened yogurt 1杯无糖纯酸奶
1 teaspoon vanilla essence 1茶匙香草精
1 cup orange juice 1杯橙汁

Instructions 做法

1. Peel and chop fruit. 将水果去皮、切碎。

2. Mix the vanilla essence into the yogurt. 在酸奶中加入香草精。
3. Combine fruit, yogurt mix and orange juice. 将水果、酸奶与橙汁混合。
4. For a cold, slushy smoothie freeze for 2 hours.将混合好的材料冷冻2小时。

5. Blend until smooth. 从冰箱中取出混合材料，用搅拌机打碎直至顺滑。

This article originally appeared on page 30 – 31 of the beijingkids July 2015 issue. Click here (http://issuu.com/beijingkids/docs/2015.07_beijingkids) to read the issue for free on Issuu.com. To find out how you can get your own copy, email distribution@truerun.com.

Photos by Adrian Xuan at Neverland Studio

Do you think there’s been more cyberbullying in the last few years?

Matthew: Yes, because of the development of the Internet. People are less shy online, so they will say anything. The sad thing about cyberbullying is that no one can stop it. Even if it’s deleted, it’ll stay in that person’s memory.
Anna: There are websites for teens and kids that warn you before you open a message with bad words. As technology advances, we could develop something similar for bullying; it could detect if a message is insulting and just delete it automatically.
John: But people have the right to express what they want to say and it’s not right to control them. In a way, that’s kind of bullying too; it’s abusing others’ rights.
Rebecca: Without specific rules and consequences outlined on social media sites, people think it’s OK to post someone’s picture with insulting words online. There should be more information sessions in school so students know what the negative consequences are.

Do schools have the right to get involved with incidents of cyberbullying?
Matthew: No, because if the school isn’t aware when it starts, there isn’t much they can do. The later the school gets involved, the worse the situation can become.
Rebecca: It’s a school’s responsibility to get involved and their duty to educate students. We have guest speakers who come each year, but we don’t get education on how to treat and communicate with others. If a student behaves badly outside of school, the school should reflect on that and think about what it can do differently.

How should schools deal with children who bully?
Anna: One thing our student council does during Bully Awareness Week is send out pink papers to every homeroom so people can write to someone they once bullied and apologize.
Rebecca: We also have a school counselor who can offer ways to solve the problem and talk to the people involved.

How can bullying be stopped?
Rebecca: Schools need to protect their students. They can put up more posters, and give us weekly speeches and lessons. Everyone should take [bullying]very seriously.
Anna: We can’t really put it on the teachers; we have to make sure the students actually feel for themselves that bullying is wrong.
Matthew: More rules won’t help if teachers don’t see [bullying]happen. Education should start young, because younger kids can learn more effectively than middle and high school-aged kids.
John: Posters and presentations only work if people actually connect with them. It’s important to educate everyone about how bullying starts so we can prevent it, including the bully.

Is it OK to “fight back” if you are bullied?
Anna: If the person being bullied wants to be the better person, they shouldn’t fight back. If you do, you’re basically bullying too.
Matthew: People should get help from someone else to fight against bullying.
John: Kids who are bullied should first let the other person know what’s happening. You shouldn’t literally fight back, but stand up for yourself and let that person know that what is happening is cruel.
Rebecca: It’s OK to ask for help, but the problem is that some kids are scared to ask for help.

Are bullies bad people?
Matthew: If they do it on purpose, they’re bad people. People who bully others don’t usually feel guilty because they think they have the power to rule over someone, and that’s kind of evil.
Rebecca: Bullies don’t always know that what they are doing is bad. Their intention is to make fun of someone because they think it’s funny, but maybe they’re hurting others in a way they aren’t aware of.
John: It’s based on the intention. If it starts off as a joke, then they just made the wrong choice. In the end, bullies are humans too.

What would you do if someone you know is being bullied?
Matthew: If someone is being bullied, they should go to a teacher or to a parent for support.
Rebecca: I would tell him or her that it isn’t their fault and they don’t need to be scared.

What causes children to bully?
Anna: Kids are very easily influenced by media like movies and TV shows; they tell us what is cool and what isn’t, so things and people that fall outside of the box are not really considered “cool.”
Matthew: If the punishment isn’t harsh enough, the bully won’t care and will keep doing it. Other kids are scared to get involved because they’re afraid the bully will turn on them next.
John: Perhaps bullies don’t always know they’re wrong; you can’t really judge the difference between right and wrong if you weren’t taught.

Who is responsible for preventing bullying?
Anna: Parents. They should teach their children starting from a really young age that people are different. If kids should know they’re loved, they won’t have thoughts of hurting others in any way.
John: Everyone. We’re just talking about bullying in school but as we inevitably grow up, it’s important that everyone try to help out each other in moments of crisis.

How can children learn to resolve differences peacefully?
John: Talking to the bully directly and telling them how you feel. Educating people so they understand that everyone is different and those differences don’t make a person some kind of outlier.
Rebecca: If someone sees someone else being bullied, they should stand up for that person, because then the bully will know that they’re not doing the right thing.

This article originally appeared on p39 of the September 2014 issue of beijingkids. To view it online for free, click here. To find out how you can obtain your own copy, email distribution@truerun.com.

Photo: Ken

The first wave of influenza has hit Beijing schools, and parents’ thoughts are naturally turning to prevention and nutrition. Nutritious school meals are a key component of children’s health. If you have ever wondered what kids are eating at the city’s various campuses, here is your chance to find out. In this issue, our editors visited four schools ranging from kindergartens to high schools, and took an in-depth look at what kids are eating every day. (A version of this article originally appeared in the March 2013 issue of our Chinese-language sister magazine, jingkids.)

Beijing City International School

Overview of the Lunch Program
The Educational Dining Program at BCIS is run by Aramark, and with over 50 different nationalities represented at the school, Centre of Excellence Director Geoff Kennedy’s first priority is to ensure the food on offer is equally as diverse.

“We have a team of chefs [around the world]who teach our chefs how to cook authentic cuisine,” he says. In addition to making tasty food, Aramark pays close attention to nutritional value. “Everything we do is underscored by our health and well-being campaign,” continues Kennedy. “We try to process and work with our fruits and vegetables as little as possible because they lose so much of their nutritional value when you chop, slice and dice. It’s all about keeping food simple and delicious.”

Kennedy is pragmatic about treats and emphasizes moderation rather than prohibition. Aramark’s snack bars offer pastries alongside healthier items like fresh fruit salads and yogurt pots. That being said, “less nutritious items are always less visible.”

Food safety is critical. “From the selection of our vendors and suppliers to the food production, we have very stringent food safety policies and procedures,” says Kennedy.

Staff Reviews
“I had the Chinese lunch today. I had chicken, vegetables, rice, spring rolls, and a salad. I enjoyed the chicken most, it was really lean and healthy, but it was still moist and I really enjoyed the sauce. Overall, I find the food here good. I like coming downstairs and seeing so many options. I think it looks appetizing and I definitely eat with my eyes first. I also love that they highlight different cultures and different foods with special events. [Recently], we had Mexican food; it’s nice to have a change.”
– Kendal Reilly (Australian)

Student Reviews
“Today I got a toasted wrap with bell peppers and chicken. Usually I get a sandwich. I don’t like the hot dishes; they’re sometimes too watery or too salty. I like this sandwich because it’s simple, fresh and healthy.  I think the food is better now than it was.”
-Yasmine Rayyis (Grade 8, Georgian/American)

“I think the food is all right. Some days are better than others, but most of the time it’s OK. This pasta is all right; it has bacon and ham and stuff. There’s too much food for me. For snack break, I normally have a muffin or chicken; they took a lot of the unhealthy snacks away.”
– Ellen Oscar (Grade 8, American)

Parent Reviews
“We had another company before that was good in the beginning, but the last year with them (2012) was horrible. They were unable to accommodate the growth of the school, and they wouldn’t change anything if we complained.

I was a parent rep on the food committee which [looked for]a new company last year. We tried food from six different companies. Aramark was the best. Their prices and food quality were good, and they were very eager to please. At no extra cost, they renovated [the facilities, making eveything]more child-friendly and better-looking. The kids now have a choice between a salad bar, seafood, or even something for vegetarians, Muslims or Hindus.

It’s difficult to please everybody. What I like most is that if someone complains they have a meeting and change it the next day.”
– Khatuna Rayyis (Georgian, has one child attending BCIS)

“Before we came to Beijing, we lived in California and my daughter really didn’t like the cafeteria food. Lunch was always a struggle. If I didn’t pack a lunch, she’d go through the day without eating. Here, for the first time, she’s coming to me and saying: ‘Mom, my lunch card’s out of money’. She says the food is very good and I couldn’t be happier. She also loves the cafe; the kids can grab healthy sandwiches or salad there. I think high school kids see the cafe as a place where they can be grown up and have that coffee shop experience.”
– Patty Ryan (American, has one child attending BCIS)

Editor Review
“BCIS operates a pre-paid card system. The set menu costs RMB 19 from K-1 and RMB 26 from Grades 2-12. The set lunch includes soup, choice of three main courses, two vegetables, two starch dishes, unlimited salad and fruit, and a drink.

For lunch, I had salad, spring rolls, vegetable stir-fry, pizza, pancake with fruit, roast potatoes, and rice. My favorite dish was the stir-fry. The vegetables were well-seasoned and had bite, crunch and flavor.”
– Aisling O’Brien (beijingkids school editor)

Daystar Academy

Overview of the Lunch Program
The Daystar school lunch program was conceived in 2010 by Director of Marketing and Admissions Kristin Lack and organic lifestyle practitioner and advocate, Yinghui Zhang. They set out to create a program that would support local producers, use organic ingredients and offer safe, healthy and delicious food to their students. The program takes advantage of produce from local farms using natural farming practices that Zhang personally visited and vetted.

“Not all farmers had an organic certification, so I had to examine their farming methods in detail over a long period,” she says. Zhang has since left China, placing the organic lunch program in the hands of former TimeOut Beijing Dining Editor Lillian Chou. Chou is a foodie by birthright. The daughter of a chef, she has been involved in the culinary industry since the tender age of 14, working in top-notch restaurants and hotels for over 20 years. Chou is continuing Zhang’s mission to source ingredients from local farmers and use organic products. Currently, only about 6-8 percent of the school’s ingredients come from conventional sources.

The seasonal menu at Daystar encompasses a variety of ethnic cuisines. Daystar also provides a wide selection of healthy snacks such as fruits, homemade granola and Greenyard yogurt. Lunch costs RMB 25 per day at the kindergarten and RMB 30 per day for Grades 1 to 6.

Student Reviews
“I’ve been here since second grade. For lunch at school, I like lasagna, a sandwich, or rice best.”
– Anna Ding (Grade 5, Chinese)

“I’ve been here since Grade 1. I’m happy with the school lunch. Some of my schoolmates aren’t into organic food, but I am. I like vegetables the most, because too much meat is unhealthy. The best part is that we eat like a family here.”
– William (Grade 5, British/Chinese)

“Red bean baozi, spinach, and pizza are my favorite. I don’t like the taste of eggplant; I think it’s weird. Otherwise, I also like Japanese, Indian, Chinese, and Italian food.”
– Devon (Grade 2, American)

Staff Reviews
“I eat lunch with the kids every day. Daystar has a lot to offer, from Mexican to Japanese and Korean. In the past, the dishes were sometimes a little cold, but now it’s much improved.”
– Chad Bryant (American)

“I love the soup, sandwiches, vegetable salads, and fruit. I like my food a little saltier; Daystar tends to prepare it a bit mild for my taste.”
– Xuesong Zhao (Chinese)

Parent Reviews
“The organic lunch program was set up to ensure that kids would eat safe and healthy food. Parents have endorsed the changes, but some kids resisted a little while they had to try new things. We encourage our staff and parents to help us with educating our children about the importance of healthy and organic food.”
– Kristin Lack (has three children at Daystar)

“I used to be head of the PTA, so I understand what goes on behind the scenes. It’s because of this that I really trust in the safety of the food. During the first year, when Daystar changed to an organic lunch, a lot of children struggled to adapt. Less oil and less salt than they were used to made the food less tasty to them. However, Lillian [Chou] tried out many methods to maximize the flavor. Since then, the children have begun to eat just like before.”
– Jennifer (has one child at Daystar)

Editor Review
“I had the menu of the day: braised Chinese cabbage with vinegar, chicken soup, Korean vegetables with vermicelli, beef, broccoli, beans, celery, rice, and apples. In general, the dishes were appetizing, even without much oil or salt. The ingredients were fresh and colorful, and the flavors were well-combined. I ate a lot! The most impressive part was the “family” system set in place. When a child joins the school, they are assigned a unique “family” of eight to ten students that sits and eats every meal together from Grades 1 to 6. It’s so sweet!”
– Grace Gui (deputy managing editor of jingkids)

Canadian International School of Beijing

Overview of the Lunch Program
The Canadian International School of Beijing outsources its food preparation to Sodexo. The company’s Unit Manager at CISB, Lily Wei, has been at the school for seven years. “We try to provide the kids with healthy, nutritious and appealing food. We use less oil, less salt and we never use MSG,” Wei says.

Lunch includes Chinese and Western set menus. Middle and high school students also have an Italian set menu and daily special set menu. Like lunch options, snacks on offer vary every day. “Sometimes it’s dim sum, sometimes it’s cookies, juice or yogurt, and we serve fresh fruit every day,” says Wei. Sodexo also runs periodic food festivals featuring different international cuisines.

In cooperation with teachers, Sodexo educates kids on the importance of eating a balanced diet and not wasting food through a program called Sodexo Star. Children who set a good example by eating healthily and responsibly have their photo displayed in the dining room.

The school employs a pre-paid card system. Every day, kindergarten students pay RMB 25 for a meal package which includes lunch and two snacks. Elementary, middle and high school students pay RMB 27.

Staff Reviews
“I like the lunch here and normally choose the Asian set menu, mostly because I’m a big fan of rice.”
– Cory Dickson (Canadian)

“I love their sandwiches!”
– Julie MacKay (Canadian)

Student Reviews
“I like everything here, especially Chinese cuisine! But ayi always gives me a lot of rice. I can’t finish all of it.”
– Laszlo Czinege (16, Bulgarian)

“I love all of it and I can eat a lot. I love rice and pizza! Oh, and I love sushi best!”
– Fabio Stefana (12, Italian)

Parent Reviews
“I’m very curious about what the kids eat at school for lunch. My daughter eats a lot. I don’t make a lot of food at home; on vacation, they sometimes tell me they miss the food at school!”
– Mou Ruihan (has two children at CISB)

“My kids have been at CISB for two years. They love the meals here, especially Fabio. When he gets home, he still wants to eat the school’s sushi. Poor Filippo is very thin because he doesn’t eat as much as his big brother, but he likes rice and pasta – pizza best of all.”
– Daniela Uberti (has two children at CISB)

Editor Review
“We interviewed the junior grade students first; their udon noodles with drumsticks looked really tasty. Later, we ate with the senior grade students; their set menu of the day was pasta or rice. I chose pasta but most of the kids chose rice. The pasta was really good; it was served with mushrooms, onions, and ham in a rich tomato sauce. The dish was a little oily but the portion was big enough to satisfy the hungriest of 18-year-olds. I managed to finish all of it. The fruit of the day was watermelon, and Fabio scoffed a whole plate! Sodexo also provided pastries, which were beautifully textured and perfectly sweetened.”
– Grace Gui (deputy managing editor of jingkids)
Photos by Mitchell Pe Masilun, ELF Kids Photography

This article originally appeared on p42-47 of the beijingkids November 2013 issue.

Check out the PDF version online at Issuu.com

The Where Are They Now blog series looks at the lives of Beijing International School alumni after the last school bell has tolled. 18 year old Chinese/South African Sherry Jiang, was valedictorian of her graduating class at CISB. (You can read her graduation address here). She tells us all about her life post-high school.

Timeline since High School
What have you done since leaving high school? 
I moved to New York City, Greenwich Village just around a month ago. Even though my journey just began, it has been amazing so far. I moved in to my residence hall and classes started in the beginning of September.

What are you doing now? What does your day to day routine look like?
I go to New York University now and I’m studying Liberal Studies. I plan to transition into the College of Arts and Sciences to major in Economics and minor in Chemistry and Psychology. My Monday’s are the busiest. I start with a Chemistry lecture at 8:00am and end with a Chemistry Laboratory session from 2:30pm to 6:45pm. I am much more relaxed after Mondays. On Tuesday and Thursday I only have one class, so the rest of the time is dedicated to sleep, food, homework and reading in Washington Square Park.

What led you choose your current path? 
People always say how the best four years of your life are spent in university and I thought, “Why not do that in New York? The center of art and culture?” Lately I have been assigned to go to the Metropolitan Museum to examine the Egyptian and Greek section to gain some perspective in order to write a paper. NYU provides me with extraordinary opportunities, not only academically but in other aspects of my life as well.

Looking Back
What do you miss most about high school?
I think what I miss most is how lenient teachers are. If I was sick in high school, all I would need to do is shoot my teacher an email. If I were to get sick in university, I would need to print off a cover sheet from my professor’s website, get a doctor’s signature and deliver it to my professor’s office.

What do you wish you knew then that you know now?
I wish I knew how hard it would get. I wish I knew how to appreciate all the free time I had in high school. I wish I had a more thorough plan. It did not occur to me that I would be leaving high school behind until I set foot in my first lecture.

Advice for Students
What general advice would you give to current high school students? 
Enjoy your time and do the best you can. Because when you get to university, the best just isn’t going to be enough.

How can students make the most of their time in high school?
I would say join as many clubs as you can, do volunteer work to connect with your community, explore your interests through different subjects, and play sports! I think students should aim to be well rounded in order to keep their options open. Try to do your best in high school because when you start university, it really feels like a race. If it is a race, then it’s always good to start one step ahead.

What insight would you give to students and parents who are researching career paths and university choices?
The best advice I could give is to make sure you know everything about a certain career path or university or at least try to. Speak to counselors, read newspaper articles, talk to family friends, take tests by distinguished organizations, read online forums, and look at websites. Figure out all the ways you can do something because I can guarantee you may find a quicker or easier path compared to what you originally expected.

Benefits of Your Beijing Roots
How has being an international student in Beijing helped you in your professional and personal life?
Being an international student in Beijing really opens your eyes to a bigger world, a larger community. Each student is an ambassador for his or her home country or the country they grew up in. The responsibility of passing on their knowledge of those countries rests on their shoulders. When you come into contact with all these different types of people, you learn to keep an open mind and to compromise. I think international students can more easily adapt to certain situations.

What influence, if any, has your experience as an international student in Beijing had on your choices and experiences?
When I make my decisions or comments, I tend to have a broader perspective on things. I believe international students have more experiences on a global scale. For example, I’ve had multiple Jewish friends and they have explained to me the different holidays they have and where they originate. Instead of reading all this information from a book, a friend of mine is actually standing in front of me and talking to me. I did not feel the burden of having to learn something but rather I expressed interest in my friend’s lifestyle.

The Future
What does the future hold for you? 
I see the next four years of my life being spent in New York City. After graduating from New York University, I will most likely work for one to two years and then go to graduate school to complete an MBA. Depending on any decisions I make in the next four years, my future might change. There are just so many opportunities out there. The other day I was walking to one of NYU’s residence hall’s to have the special Sunday Brunch and I walked past a doggy day-care. I love dogs. So I copied down their contact information and thought about what it would feel like to be that man sitting on the floor in the middle of 12 dogs.  

Where would you like to see yourself in 5 years?
I see myself in a little New York apartment. I’ve just finished my day at work and my best friend is already rushing me out the door with a text to meet at Yogurt City for frozen yogurt. Think Friends!

Photos courtesy of Sherry Jiang and CISB

The Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) graduation on June 19, 2012 was a very special event. The ceremony began with graduates descending to the stage in their red caps and gowns with white sashes; the stage was decorated with white halo ribbons.

Principal Douglas K. Prescott was Master of Ceremonies and presented the audience with “O Canada” and the Chinese National Anthem.