The recently concluded Beijing International School Expo saw over 4,000 visitors come to the two-day weekend event  (January 24-25) at the Kerry Hotel Beijing that was sponsored by HealthPro. Parents had a chance to talk to nearly 50 vendors from schools, education consultants, summer camps, and health service providers.

The kids had the chance to check out the three play zones that were hosted by Ipony International Youth Cavaliers Academy,UCCA Creative Studio, and the Ivy Schools and Daystar Academy. Some of the school booths also had activities to keep the children distracted while the parents spoke to school representatives and administration staff.  

Featured in the Wuhan room of the Kerry Hotel, each day had two lectures taking place; Rachael Beare, admissions director at Keystone Academy, and Andi O’Hearn, director of admissions and university placement at the Beijing City International School led talks on January 24 entitled, "What Chinese Students Should Consider in a US Education" and "Going to International Schools: Are You Ready?" respectively. Then on January 25, there was a parent-lead panel whose topic was "Foreign Kids in Local Schools: A First-Person Parent Panel" and a talk by Caroline Nath, mother-of-two on "The Challenges of Raising Multi-Cultural Kids."

We would like to thank HealthPro as our main title sponsor , Kerry Hotel Beijing for providing the venue, and Westin Blue Bay Resort for being our bag sponsor. We also like to extend our appreciation to all the exhibitors and the attendees. Hopefully, we will see all of you next year. Here are a mini photo gallery:

Photos: Ken, Uni & Ricky Zhang

The Beijing International School Expo 2015 is sponsored by HealthPro.  

With less than two weeks left for parents, parents-to-be, kids, and administrators to come together at the Beijing International School Expo (BISE) 2015 at the Kerry Hotel Beijing on January 24-25 from 10am-4pm, this seems like a good time to share that we have over 50 exhibitors signed up. We have two sponsors this year: HealthPro – our title sponsor and The Westin Blue Bay Resort– our goodie bag sponsor.

As the parents get clarification from the school representatives, the kids can enjoy some "me" time at one of the three designated play zones. Who’s going to host them? Find out here.

Armed with the 2015-2016 School Choice Guide that’s going to be hot off the press next week, here’s the list of exhibitors:

3e International School     
AOJI International School    
Aurora Academy International      
Beanstalk International Bilingual School    
Beijing Changping New Oriental Foreign Language School    
Beijing City International School     
Beijing Collegiate Academy    
Beijing Huijia Private School      
Beijing International Bilingual Academy     
Beijing Limai Foreign Languages School    
Beijing New Talent Academy    
Beijing No.4 High School International Campus    
Beijing SMIC School    
Beijing Haidian International School     
Beijing Royal School     
British School of Beijing     
Canadian International School of Beijing          
Daystar Academy          
Etonkids International Bilingual Kindergartens
Haileybury International School    
Harrow International School Beijing        
House of Knowledge International School & Kindergarten    
International Department of Beijing No.4 High School     
Ivy Schools    
Keystone Academy     
Maple International Academy     
MIK International Kindergarten    
National Institute of Technology     
Peide School 
Springboard International Bilingual School     
Tsing Hua International School      
Yew Chung International School of Beijing    
Yew Wah Infant and Toddler Education Center   (YWITEC)    
Yew Wah International Education School    

Education Centers
Acorn International Camp Education
Capstone Education    
Chuchuguo
Due West Education      
Diligence & Delight Gifted Program Center  
Ipony International Youth Cavaliers Academy       
Stateside Adventures
The Edge Learning Center    
The Learning Center
UCCA Creative Studio

Sponsors
HealthPro
The Westin Blue Bay Resort
 

Information Booths
beijingkids
JingKids
Kerry Hotel Beijing

January is a stressful time for not only students, but also parents. After all, this is when applications for the coming school year need to be finalized, and when parents must choose which of Beijing’s many educational options will be the best fit for their little ones. 

Such a crucial decision can be overwhelming, to say the least. Most families are daunted and exasperated by the process of researching our city’s schools, filling out applications, and finding time to visit the campuses to see if they will suit their children’s needs. 

Fortunately, you and yours can breathe easier this year, because many of Beijing’s top schools are coming to you. Those scattered around town education institutions will gather at the beijingkids’ Beijing International School Expo (BISE) 2015 at the Kerry Hotel Beijing on January 24-25 from 10am-4pm. Families can peruse the booths, learn more about what these schools have to offer, and pose questions to each campus’ representatives. 

See below for the partial list of the schools that have confirmed their attendance to the expo, and stay tuned for updates as more schools join in the coming weeks. 

Keystone Academy
Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS)
Spring Board International Bilingual School  (SIBS)
Yew Wah International Education School
Yew Wah Infant and Toddler Education Center (YWITEC)
Muffy’s International Kindergarten (MIK) 
Tsing Hua International School  (THIS)
Beijing Limai Foreign Language School
Beanstalk International Bilingual School (BIBS)
Bejing Royal School
Beijing Huijia Private School 
Bejing Haidian International School
Aurora Academy International
House of Knowledge International School & Kindergarten (HoK)
Beijing No 4 High School International campus
International Department of  Beijing No 4 High School
Maple International Academy
Peide School
Aoji International School
New Oriental Foreign Language School
Beijing Collegiate Academy (BCA)
Beijing New Talent Academy
National Institute of Technology
Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB)
3e International School
Daystar Academy
Ivy Schools
Beijing City International School (BCIS)
Harrow International School Beijing
British School of Beijing (BSB)
Beijing SMIC School
Beijing International Bilingual Academy (BIBA)
Tianjin Haileybury International School
Etonkids International Bilingual Kindergartens

Education Centers
The Learning Center
Stateside Summer Camps

 Stay tuned for updates on the list of participating schools, play areas, lectures, and all the other cool things that will be taking  place this January!

Photo: file footage

After schooling, the other major concern for families in the city is health. The second edition of the Health Guide, now available online and print, covers areas of family health, maternity and pregnancy, healthy eating, mental health and counseling, and alternative therapies. These vast topics and sub-topics as well as the limited space in the magazine to cover every angle that addresses the concerns of families had us put together the first ever Family Health Fair.

The beijingkids and jingkids 2014 Family Health Fair aims to bring health-related businesses and organizations for a day of information sharing, networking and fun. There are 70 booths (booth table size is 46cm by 183 cm) open to hospitals and clinics, air filters, pollution masks and water filters, gyms and fitness centers, organic products, and dining. Exhibitors from this businesses or organizations can book a booth now till the deadline of Friday, August 15.

The title sponsor slot is available to non-health related businesses and organizations. The sponsor will be prominently featured in all the ads and marketing materials to come. We will be giving away goodie bags and there are opportunities for sponsorship available to jump in and materials from the organization be part of the goodie bag give away.

Old or young, new or old, the event is opened to all Beijing residents who would like to get a few answers and clarification about the services available from the various industry providers including Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), natural health and beauty products, air purifiers, masks and water filters, and much more. For the exhibitors, it’s a chance to get to mingle with wider community and clarify misconceptions. 

The Family Health Fair takes place on Sunday, September 14 from 9.30am-4.30pm at the Swissotel Beijing Hong Kong Macau Center.

Exhibitors and sponsors can contact out Sales team at sales@truerun.com or 5941 0368 (English and Chinese) to book a booth before the deadline.

Photos: Birmingham Culture (Flickr)

The beijingkids and JingKids 2014 Spring School Choice Fair is sponsored by RGF AIR Purifiers.  

Just one more day left until the 2014 beijingkids and Jingkids Spring School Choice Fair, sponsored by RGF AIR Purifiers! Our two-day fair kicks off tomorrow at Hilton Beijing and runs from 10am-4pm. Read on for the final list of education lectures and exhibitors.

To pre-register, go here: www.beijing-kids.com/scf. (You can still register at the door, but it’s much slower – trust us, you’ll want to save yourself the trouble and just pre-register.)

Saturday, March 1 Lecture Schedule:

From Fangcaodi to a Top US Boarding School
Hosted by our Operations Manager Toni Ma, Chinese mom Chang Qing shares why she chose a US boarding school for her child and the steps it took to get there. In Chinese. 10.30am-noon, Level 3, Vision 7

Dulwich Lectures
Dulwich College Beijing leads two lectures in the same room: "Creativity in Schools" and "What’s Needed for Success?" The first is given by Ruth Grant (Head of DCB Junior School) and explores how a creative curriculum impacts a child’s learning. The second is given by Simon Herbert (Head of Senior School) and explains how pastoral care promotes positive educational outcomes. In English. 10.30am (Creativity in Schools) and 11.10am (What’s Needed for Success), Level 3, Vision 8

Harrow Lecture
Educators from Harrow International School Beijing – namely Headmistress Lynne Oldfield, Director of Studies Alasdair MacRae, and Head of Sixth Form Nick Rickford – talk about combining creativity and tradition to create leadership in international education. In English. 1-2.30pm, Level 3, Vision 7

Wellington Lecture
Headmaster Murray Fowler and Head of Well-Being Anna Marrion of Wellington College International Tianjin speaks about the boarding experience and 21st century education. In English. 1-2.30pm, Level 3, Vision 8

Sunday, March 2 Lecture Schedule:

What It’s Like for Local Kids to Study in International Schools
True Run Media Operations Manager Toni Ma moderates a parent panel on the experiences of Chinese children who transferred to an international school. In Chinese. 10.30am-noon, Level 3, Vision 7

Maximizing Your Child’s Language Development
Jessie Zhang and Deborah Gillespie from the International Montessori Teaching Institute (IMTI) discuss language development in kids. The lecture is in Chinese, but there will be both Chinese- and English-speaking teachers available during the Q&A. 1-2.30pm, Level 3, Vision 7

What It’s Like for International Kids Studying in Local Schools
Moderated by True Run Media General Manager Michael Wester, this panel discussion features expat parents who decided to send their kids to a local Chinese school. In English. 1-2.30pm, Level 3, Vision 8

Here’s the most up-to-date list of exhibitors:

1. Schools accepting both local and international students:

• Beanstalk International Bilingual School
• Beijing City International School
• Beijing Collegiate Academy
• Beijing Huijia Private School
• Beijing International Bilingual School
• Beijing No. 4 High School International Campus
• Beijing SMIC Private School
• Beijing World Youth Academy
• Daystar Academy
• The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China
• House of Knowledge International Kindergarten
• International Montessori Teaching Institute
• Jiade Montessori Kindergarten
• Ivy Schools
• Keystone Academy
• Maple International Academy 
• Muffy’s International Kindergarten
• National Institute of Technology
• Saint Paul American School
  
• Yew Wah Infant and Toddler Education Center
• Yew Wah International Education School

2. Schools accepting international students only:

• Beijing BISS International School
• British School of Beijing
• Canadian International School of Beijing
• Dulwich College Beijing
• Harrow International School Beijing
• International Department of  Beijing No 4 High School
• Tsing Hua International School
• Wellington College International Tianjin
• Yew Chung International School of Beijing
  

3. Schools accepting local students only:

• Australian  Haileybury International School (Tianjin Campus)

4. Summer Camps:

• IDEAS Center, Beidaihe
• JTC Camp
• Princeton English and American Culture Camp
• Stateside Adventures

5. Education Consultants and After-School Activities:

• Century Glory International Education
• Foundation Global Education
• Haiyi Education Group
• The Learning Center

6. Health Providers:

• Hong Kong International Medical Clinic
• Horizon Sports Medicine Clinic
• New Century Women’s and Children’s Hospital
• OASIS Health Management Hospital
• OASIS International Hospital

This year, the kids’ play areas will be overseen by Ivy Schools and UCCA Creative Studio. We will also have a help desk, water station, and first aid stations staffed by New Century Women’s and Children’s Hospital and Hong Kong International Medical Clinic.

See you there!