’Tis the season to be jolly. ’Tis the season to shop. And, ’tis the season to overload your kids with as much holiday spirit and tasty snacks as possible.

This past Sunday on December 8, on a brisk Beijing morning, families joined Beijing’s local artisanal vendors and restaurants at the Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB) for their annual Charity Bazaar.

The whole gym was filled with eager vendors showing their latest creations to the Beijing expat community. Liuba Draws’ 2020 calendars and Christmas cards, with her distinct Beijing flair, was a huge hit, and Pinyin Press gave us Christmas gift inspirations for our friends back home with their adorable dim sum salt and pepper shakers.

It was truly a day of holiday fun and gift shopping for all of loved ones no matter how particular their interests. From Beijing’s foodie favorites Hulu, The Bake Shop, and major throwbacks with Palms L.A. Kitchen tacos – there were all sorts of snacks to keep the bazaar goers happy and full.

One of our absolute favorites at the fair was the table filled with homemade sugar cookies raising money for Days for Girls, a CISB student initiative providing girls in need with safe and healthy menstruation management with their DFG USA patented kits. These students volunteer their own time to make kits containing two pairs of panties, two shields, eight liners, soap, a care card, and washcloth. With the help of their experts and faculty advisor, these kits are sent to Nepal to young women without access to sanitation products. Seeing these girls who are so incredibly socially aware at such a young age is what the holiday season should be about.

We hope you had a great time at the CISB Christmas Bazaar and found the perfect Christmas gifts you’ve been looking for. Great job to the CISB Bobcats for creating another successful and charity bazaar! Happy holidays!

Photos: Mina Yan, Jolie Wu

Sponsored by Beijing City International School (BCIS). Located in Beijing’s CBD, BCIS lives by its motto: “Empowering and Inspiring Through Challenge and Compassion.” This not-for-profit, co-educational day school provides a personalized, inclusive international curriculum under the International Baccalaureate (IB) World School system, offering the PYP, MYP and DP to both expatriate and Chinese national students from Toddler to Grade 12. For more information, please email admissions@bcis.cn 

When it comes to building a successful school, the art of “community building” is undoubtedly a cornerstone of that success. There are many ways a school can use to construct a thriving and happy community of students, teachers and parents, and one of the most widely used methods is through large-scale events that invite families and staff of the school, as well as members of the local community. These events might mark particular cultural festivals such as Chinese New Year or Christmas, but also might be part of a school’s own particular culture.

In the course of an academic year, Beijing City International School (BCIS) holds at least three such community events, namely the Mid-Autumn Festival Event (held in late September/early October), the Christmas Bazaar (typically held during the last weekend in November), and “Spring in the City” (usually in mid-May). Each event is free to attend, and open not only to the school’s families, but also to the wider Beijing community.

Each event brings something a little different, and together they act as important platforms for BCIS to not just share its campus and facilities with the community, but also to create a unique family experience that offers lifelong memories for all. The year’s first event is the Mid-Autumn Festival, the most important aim of which is to show Beijing that BCIS is a school that greatly values its Chinese roots, and honors those roots with a grand celebration of Chinese culture. Coming up on November 28, 2015, the school will once again work with the Migrant Children’s Foundation to host the Christmas Bazaar, in which the students and teachers work hard to create an event that is not only enjoyable, but also works towards a noble cause — raising money to provide health checkups for migrant children. Finally, Spring in the City is BCIS’ own showcase of its great variety of student talent, including live stage performances, charity stalls, student-led activities and much more. Together, the events are part of BCIS trying to “live its mission” by fusing altruistic and meaningful activity together with evenings and afternoons of family fun.

Over the years, BCIS has discovered many benefits in opening their gates to Beijing and welcoming up to 3,000 community members for each event. It has to be said that bringing so many people together helps the school not only reinforce its values with existing community members, but also spread that philosophy to a wider audience. A school hosting such an event can showcase all the best things it has to offer, especially the warmth and friendliness within its community — the most valuable commodity of all. Another important benefit is the opportunity for the school’s students to participate, learning the value of contributing positively to their community, and helping try and make the world a better place.

Don’t forget that all are welcome to join in at the MCF/BCIS Christmas Bazaar, on Saturday, November 28, from 11am to 3pm at the school’s Main Campus at 77 Baiziwan Nan Er Lu.

Photo: BCIS

The annual Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) Charity Bazaar takes place this coming Saturday, November 21 from 10.30am-3.30pm. Entrance to the fair is free, but once inside there’s plenty to tempt you. The bazaar includes a wide range of local vendors selling unique gifts, delicious snacks, and drinks. 

Individual vendors and charities keep their profits, however all earnings from the Charity Bazaar, through activities such as the Parent Link bake sale, and a prize-packed raffle, go to Chinese Orphans Assistance Team (COAT). COAT,  established in 2002 by an Australian couple, supports disabled and orphaned children in Henan Province through foster care and the Xi Wang Le Yuan School.

Additionally, the bazaar continues to support Educating Girls of Rural China (EGRC) through the sale of hand-crafted angel ornaments, and Children of Madaifu farming community with apple sales, as well as charitable fundraising through Roundabout book fair.

To keep kids entertained there will also be a program of performances from WAB students, DIY projects to keep them busy, and babysitting services by WAB’s Grade 12 students so you can keep both hands free for shopping.

The raffle will include great prizes, with all proceeds going to COAT. Prizes include a Great Wall getaway at The Brickyard, a Bubbalicious brunch at The Westin Beijing Chaoyang, and a 6 month subscription from Signature Wines, as well as many more prizes donated by vendors. Raffle tickets cost RMB 20 per ticket or RMB 100 for 6 tickets.

Photos: Courtesy of WAB

If you’re looking for pies, to accompany your Thanksgiving turkey feast, why not get some sweet and savory ones delivered straight to your door. With pumpkin and apple pies for dessert, beef and chicken pies for mains, and sausage rolls for the buffet, there’s a flaky pastry for everyone from Two Guys and a Pie. Nothing says Christmas is on its way more than carols being sung by a choir. This weekend you can enjoy some wonderful singing, whilst shopping for Christmas gifts and treats at Beijing Riviera Clubhouse. After the carols, we’ll be heading home to put up our tree, and deck the halls. Whilst Ikea is one of the best places for decorations, wrapping paper, and fairy lights, you need to be in the right mood to face the crowds. Which is why, it’s so great to have Roundabout right on our doorstep, a one-stop-shop for all those Christmas needs. Dreaming of a white Christmas? Shunyi doesn’t get a lot of snow, but if you love to ski and snowboard, or would like to give it a try for the first time, now you can with Imagine.

Thanksgiving Pies
You have until 2pm today (Wednesday) to order your pies ready for Thanksgiving. The pies produced by Two Guys and a Pie are hand-made, using only the freshest ingredients, with no additives or preservatives. Pies are frozen from fresh and can be kept frozen for two months. The pumpkin pie is packed with pumpkin, nutmeg, and warming spices, perfect for Thanksgiving. The Biggs Apple pie is chunks of mixed apples, cooked in cinnamon, sugar, and nutmeg. RMB 150 for the family size 8 inch pies. Savory options include the Slow Loving Aussie with 100% pure beef brisket and onions, the Hunan beef packs a spicy punch, or the Chicken Cream Saga with its chunks of chicken, slow roasted pumpkin and onion, with a sage infused white sauce. You can also order sausage rolls, and spinach feta rolls. To order call 186 1255 7637 or email info@twoguysandapie.com. Free home delivery for orders over RMB 200.

Carols for a Cause
Beijing Riviera Clubhouse is hosting a Winter Gift Bazaar on Sunday, November 30 from 10am-4pm. A range of vendors will be selling festive gifts and treats. To keep the children entertained there will be wood carving, face painting, fun with science, and the chance to meet Santa. Choirs will be performing throughout the day, including school choirs from BSB and MSB, Shout Choir, and the Migrant Children’s Foundation Choir. Vendor tables are RMB 200 for Clubhouse members, RMB 300 for non-members. Money raised will go towards providing health care for migrant children. For more information contact jayne@mcfchina.org

Skiing and Snowboarding
Qiaobo Indoor Ski Centre in Shunyi is now open every evening, until 9pm, and is only a short drive from the Shunyi villas area. You can book an evening lesson with an English-speaking ski and snowboard instructor from Imagine Snowsports. Their instructors are friendly, qualified international instructors, and are available for private lessons. Further out from Shunyi, about an hour drive, are the Huaibei and Jundushan ski resorts. Here you can enjoy outdoor floodlit night-skiing from December 8. For more details email snowsports@imagine-china.com

Roundabout Big Christmas Sale
Roundabout has just about everything you need for Christmas, except the turkey. Visit their store and see the fantastic selection of decorations, wrapping, cards, gifts, and much more. The big Christmas sale is now on, so you can shop till you drop, whilst raising money for many wonderful causes. Once everything’s gone though, it really is gone.

beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent Sally Wilson moved to Beijing in 2010 from the UK with her husband and son. Her daughter was born here in 2011 and both her kids keep her happily busy. In her spare time, Sally loves to stroll through Beijing’s hutongs and parks. She is a (most of the time) keen runner and loves reading: books, magazines, news, and celeb websites – anything really. Sally is also a bit of a foodie and loves trying out new restaurants. 

Photos: Keith Joslin (Flickr), courtesy of Two Guys and Imagine.

• Tue Sep 10 (evening, Teacher’s Day)
• Mon Sep 16 (morning and evening)
• Tue Sep 17 (evening, pre Mid-Autumn Festival)
• Wed Sep 18 (evening, pre Mid-Autumn Festival)
• Sun Sep 22 (morning and evening, no limit on vehicles)
• Fri Sep 27 (evening, pre-October Holiday)
• Sun Sep 29 (morning and evening, no limit on vehicles, pre-holiday)
• Mon Sep 30 (evening, pre-holiday)

Dana is the beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent. Originally from the Philippines, she moved to Beijing in 2011 (via Europe) with her husband, two sons and Rusty the dog. She enjoys writing, photography, theater, visual arts, and trying new food. In her free time, she can be found exploring the city and driving along the mountain roads of Huairou, Miyun and Pinggu.