Congratulations, you’ve graduated! Now, on to the next chapter! 

Over the years I’ve heard so many parents ask their kids, other parents, and teachers whether they think their kids are ready for the future, whether they’re ready to go off into the world. I know, it’s hard for parents to see their babies leave the nest, but Beijing’s international school kids are more ready than ever to go off on their own. These kids are incredible! The drive, ambition, and creativity that we’ve seen from the international schools are second to none. It’s not a question of whether they’re ready for the future. It should be a question of whether the future is ready for them. 

In this issue, you’ll hear firsthand from a Dulwich College of Beijing alumni who took a different path after graduation. Opting to take a gap year instead of launching straight into college, Helena Zhao shares what she’s accomplished in the past year in part 2 of her gap year story (p 48).

We also spoke with a Beijing City International School alumni who followed his dream and has recently opened his first restaurant (p 45). Whether you’re a foodie or not, his drive and determination are stories that we can all learn from. 

We look at some creative artworks from students at Beijing City International School as they use art as a way to express their thoughts and ideas (p 12) and we learn how to make adorable penguins from the British School of Beijing Sanlitun students (p 22) because hands-on creativity start at a young age with arts and crafts. 

As this year’s graduates go off into the world, we wish them the best of luck and look forward to seeing what changes they bring to the world.

Scan the QR code below to download a copy.

Images: Uni You

This article appeared in the jingkids 2023 Graduation Issue

Do you feel like no one hears your voice? Despite that, do you still think and speak passionately? Worst of all, do you need an activity for college applications but secretly dread it?

If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then welcome to Unit-E. 

Unit-E is a professional, non-profit, student run magazine across all international schools in Beijing. Yes, it is an activity for college applications and character development and CAS – but our true purpose is to amplify the voices of Beijing students. In the spring of 2010, two students from Dulwich College Beijing (DCB) and International School Beijing (ISB) gave birth to Unit E, and grew it to all international schools in Beijing. Students participated as artists, writers, designers, entrepreneurs, and leaders.

Students, teachers, and parents agree on their favorite part of Unit E – its community. We build a community of readers and writers that inspire and empower each other through art and writing, learn from each other’s experiences and mistakes, and network, socialize, or gain new perspectives. Every year a team graduates, and every year a team begins a new journey within and without Unit-E.

In 2022, Unit-E have daily articles on WeChat and Instagram accounts as well as paper print issues every two months. Our funding comes from associated schools in Beijing, for whom we advertise in print. We have student representatives in Beijing City International School (BCIS), ISB, DCB, Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), Harrow, Beanstalk International Bilingual School (BIBS), Pakistan Embassy College Beijing (PECB), and more, webbing a diverse social network of multiple languages, cultures, and aesthetic sensibilities.

We have five columns to cover every bit of creativity, fun, love, talent, niche, and argument possible: Creative, Academics, Chillax, Student Opinion, and Happenings.

The Creative column includes art, music, photography, dance, poetry, short stories, diaries, personal essays, memoirs, and journals. We help you gain inspiration from and learn about adolescent artistic expression.

The Academics column is every student’s handbook. How to excel in school? How to study for IB/AP/A-level exams? How to study for SSAT and SAT? How and where to intern, become leaders, and do charity work? How to choose universities, agents, and counselors? We have valedictorians and progressing students to answer you. 

The Chillax column is fashionable, fabulous, and fun. We provide a reliable firsthand guide for students in Beijing on where to have a girl’s night out, a romantic date, a shopping spree, what to wear, how to relax, where to eat… it goes on. 

The Student Opinion column is of course, opinionated, and therefore encourages students to be bold and confident. We argue for ourselves in respectful and beneficial ways about relevant issues within Beijing and the international community. 

The Happenings column reflects the wider context——how we students fit in a world that’s ever-changing. From law to economy to movies to galas to royal families, we have everything——do you want to know the latest gossip? Yes, but first, tea at Unit-E.

We are also absolutely thrilled to announce our current recruitment!

Anyone in Beijing with passion and curiosity can join. Based on your interest, you can be an editor, designer, marketing representative, writer, artist, or musician!

Submit your applications to Editor In Chief 2015053040@mybcis.cn, and work to be published through the QR code below——we already have many members, so be quick or give the opportunity to someone else.

 We look forward to hearing from you!

Images: Unit-E

Wrizing is not just for Gen Z, but for everyone. Wrizing will cultivate a community of aspiring and current writers. I’m Gen Z and the majority of people in the executive team will be as well, as the target audience for the executive and general team is middle school, high school and university students.

I founded Wrizing as a platform for people to share and voice their thoughts and writing in a safe and accepting community. But the unique thing about Wrizing is that it’s not just a magazine, but an amalgam of opportunities. There will be writing-related events, workshops, competitions, performances, and more!

As applications have recently begun coming in, this article will explain the origin, mission, and visions of Wrizing, as well as the various roles and timeline. For non-applicants, this will allow you to see whether you want to be a part of the Wrizing community!

Why me and why now? My name is Helena 石榴, aged 18, and I’m currently taking a gap year! I’ve always wanted to create a writing community, but never had the chance to due to high school exams and university applications. Therefore, one of the reasons behind my gap year decision is to complete some of my goals and wishes before I enter university and the work field. (By the way, I wrote an article about my gap tear in the jingkids 2022 issue, which will be out soon!)

If you haven’t come across one of my jingkids articles yet, you might be wondering what makes me qualified.

Here are some related qualifications:

• Published Poet: {Nectare} poetry book, June 2021
• Hong Kong Young Writers Awards: 1st place, 2022
• Co-founder of a Youth Charity Org (Art+Charity 艺+益公益基金)
• Unit-E Magazine Head Column Editor
• jingkids Magazine Intern (as teen writer in 2021, as editor in 2022)
• 菁 kids Graduate Summit 2022 speaker
• Inc. China Magazine Issue 09.2021: on the cover + interviewed
• Miss Culture & Tourism of the World 2021
• Numerous public speaking + MC/anchor experiences
• Project Nightingale (migrant kids music + English education) treasurer
• DCB’s Alleyn House Prefect + won House Cup
• Co-founder of DCB’s first Philosophy Club
• Choir President + orchestra principle cellist

Origin:
In high school, I dedicated a lot of blood and sweat to writing, acquiring as many opportunities as possible. Yet, there were many things I looked for but couldn’t find, and thus Wrizing was born!

Mission:
To help aspiring writers
To provide free education
To create a loving community
To boost writers’ confidence
To raise awareness
To provide a platform for all
To let our voices be heard

Vision:
We are a community of rising writers, using our voices to raise awareness and bring attention to prominent matters. At the same time, we also record and share the small beauties of life and the wonders of writing.

Well, how does Wrizing work? Anyone can email their article/writing to Wrizing (email to be released during the official launch), and our teams will review, edit, and beautify (with pics and formatting) the article. Afterwards, it will be published in our weekly posts via the website and official WeChat account. Email subscribers and social media followers will get notified with an update and summary of the articles.

In regards to the email subscription, no fees are required. I strongly believe that everyone should have access to a platform to read and share information, hence I’m making Wrizing a non-profit. All proceeds will either be used to book venues and print the yearly magazine, or be donated to other education-related charities. But please subscribe and follow us to receive updates and be the first to know about our other fun offerings!

Timeline:
Sep 12 – 26: Applications for executive team and general team
Oct 3: Official launch of Wrizing
Oct: Website design, official WeChat account + social media setup, and more.
Nov: website launch, email subscription signups, outreach events, weekly posts begin.
Dec: first writing competition
Jan: first writing workshop, performance, and more!

What’s the difference between the executive and general team? To summarize, the general team is led by the corresponding exec, who will oversee their team. There will be a group chat for each general team, with both me and the exec in it, as well as a bigger group chat for all members. In the exec group chat, I will oversee updates from them, and we will have virtual weekly/biweekly meetings.

Allocations for the exec team will be tight, but for some bigger and slightly more intensive roles — like PRO, Operations, Editing, Translations — there will be co-leaders! On the other hand, for the general team, if you apply, you’re very likely to get in! This is because I want more people to step out of their comfort zones, try new things, and explore their interests. But at the same time, the application will allow me to review where their interests lie and their genuineness.

The reason why I’m making exec applications 14+ is because certain things (like making calls, booking venues, outreach, etc.) require a certain age. Therefore, the general team will not only gain the skills required for future exec team applications, but also write and work with a team on the whole. But most importantly, members will be a part of a tight-knit community that will aid their growth and exploration, while contributing to the big community one page at a time.

Regardless, there is definitely something for you, especially as both teams can be a part of the editing process. If there’s an article you really want to edit but are not a part of the editing team, then you can reach out to the editing head and join the small group. For each article, there will be a small group of five dedicated to reviewing and editing. But please note that we will be receiving lots of articles so there is a bundle of opportunities!

Executive team roles:
Secretary: take meeting notes, organize docs & paperwork, send/reply to emails, make calls
Financial Officer: budgeting, inventory, expenses, revenue projection, Excel sheet management
Public Relations Officer: press release, promotional material, campaigns, build/maintain positive relationships with other orgs + Wrizing’s overall image, seek opportunities + outreach
Media: manage social media, publish articles onto website + other SM accounts
Design: webpage design, article + magazine layout, logos, merchandise
Operations: production management, events coordination, analyze data, logistics, strategy, research
Sustainability: sustainable production & events
Translations: translate articles into different languages (Chinese, Korean, German, French, etc.)
Editing: oversee the editing aspect, briefly summarize each article, Excel spread sheet

Applications end on Sep 26, which is in two weeks. This is a also a good experience to add to your resume!

Here is the link for the executive team application:

And for the general team.

Lastly, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me via email (Helenaslpom@outlook.com), WeChat (Helenaslpom), Instagram (Helenaslpom), or 小红书 (Helenaslpom).

KEEP READING: Beijing Teens Have Spoken: What Makes a Teacher Great?

Images: Pexels

Students at AISB-Hope International Enjoy Spring Showcase

On Apr 9, AISB-Hope International celebrated student learning at the Spring Showcase. The day began with musical performances followed by Market Day organized by the upper elementary classes. Elementary writing and art were exhibited. Lower elementary and secondary students hosted learning booths throughout the building, including testing physics with an egg drop challenge and exploring chemistry with an ice cream creation station. It was a fun day for all the students and teachers!

Science Week at 3e International School

3e’s “Early Years Science Week” captivated and inspired their young students as they explored the marvels of science through a multitude of hands-on interactive learning opportunities. The campus foyer was transformed into a science museum, where students could interact with four amazing pieces of equipment originally from the Exploratorium science museum in San Francisco.

Daddy-Child Day at House of Knowledge International Kindergarten

On Mar 26, House of Knowledge held a very exciting Daddy-Child Day at our Chaoyang Park Campus. The school invited all students’ dads to join the “Pinewood Train Derby” activity with their children. Everyone enjoyed themselves a lot in this Reggio Emilia-inspired activity by making their own trains, photo frames and racing on the track.

BSB Shunyi Celebrates Earth Week

The British School of Beijing, Shunyi’s Eco-Committee challenged their students during Earth Week to learn about the ways each person can protect the earth and make a difference! Activities included wearing green to raise money for Team Trees, eco crafts, flower planting, no electricity hour, meat-free lunch, reducing food waste and all things eco!

Chinese Culture and Music Concert at CISB

This past month at Canadian International School of Beijing, students from all backgrounds came together to showcase their love of the Chinese language and culture. Music-based acts included dances, piano pieces, violin performances and songs. Other acts included poetry reading and even the famous unique Chinese performance art “crosstalk.” The students worked very hard in preparing for their performances!

Spring in the Courtyard

In April, YueCheng Courtyard Kindergarten shined with splendor and beauty as the spring light passed through branches and leaves, and the fragrant scent of begonia flowers swayed in the spring breeze. Spring in the Courtyard slowly unveiled its secret face in such an ethereal environment. The school held three themed areas: “Spring of Nature,” “Spring of Culture,” and “Spring of Art” for children, parents, and members of the YueCheng community, to present a “Spring Family Banquet.”

NAS Beijing, Shunyi Is Officially Open

NAS Beijing, Shunyi officially opened its brand-new campus for the first time with the school building completion celebration on Mar 12. The school held an explorer-themed campus discovery day, which was the most comprehensive event to mark the opening of the campus.

During the event, NAS Beijing, Shunyi held parent information sessions, themed education salons, student demo classes, extracurricular activity experiences, and campus tours. These activities enabled participants to take a closer look at the school and to understand the school’s educational characteristics.

Harrow Beijing Students Performed Annie

The Harrow Beijing Upper School production of Annie was successfully performed in April. The students and performing arts staff have worked relentlessly to produce the musical. The talent showcased within the production was outstanding. It was a wonderfully collaborative event which brought the whole school community together.

Western Academy of Beijing Alumnus Wins Stanford University Engineering Award

Danny Du joined WAB in Grade 5, graduated in 2018, and went on to study engineering at Stanford University, majoring in computer science. He was recently named a winner of the prestigious Frederick Emmons Terman Engineering Scholastic Award. Du joined WAB high school principal Melanie Vrba for a podcast to discuss his academic accomplishments, plans for the future, and the system that supported him throughout his journey at WAB.

Congratulations to the Beijing International Bilingual School Class of 2022!

With 24 years of experience, BIBS believes in the power of growing! During the admissions season of 2022, BIBS graduates received offers from the world’s top universities, including Brown University and Williams College, as well as UCB, UCLA, UCSD, NYU, and UCL. Congratulations to all the seniors!

Former Executive Vice-President and CEO of IFC Delivered Speech at Daystar

In March, the co-founder of Daystar Academy, Mr. Cai Jinyong, returned to the school to deliver a speech to the high school students. This speech was the first of Daystar’s “Inno-Impact Distinguished Speaker” series. Outstanding individuals are invited to speak on campus to serve as positive examples and encourage students to take action and make a difference.

Dulwich College Beijing’s Drama Production of Romeo and Juliet

Dulwich College Beijing Senior School proudly performed its contemporary rendering of Shakespeare’s famous Romeo and Juliet! The double-cast main characters treated the on- and off-campus audience to two days of vibrant and engaging performances in a beautiful and entirely student-designed set, leading the DCB community through a poignant journey of forbidden love, violent bloodshed, and a few comedic moments!

This article appeared in the jingkids 2022 Graduation issue

“Giving back” is such a loaded term. We say it all the time, yet the phrase itself assumes that you have more than you need, and then it feels like only something the very rich and privileged can do. But the world holds many ways that people can give back to their communities, and in this holiday issue, we cover the most important topics to Beijing families.

First, there is simply the generous philanthropic spirit of our capital city. We have eateries that give back, both with food specials and job training (p. 18), and Feast (Food by East) that offered our student writer Qinglan Du and her mother, fresh out of quarantine, a joyous culture shock after such a difficult year (p. 16). You may have heard of Beijing’s blind massage parlors and wondered if they’re real or legit. Contributing Writer Robynne Tindall looks at their history and also tries one herself, learning how what some see as a disability actually helps the masseuse go deeper in their work to help people relax (p. 26).

Giving goes beyond simply nonprofits and charities, however. Beijing has teachers who use their talents in geography to show kids their place in the world (p. 28), and art educators who help students express their whole selves through artistic expression, as our Harrow Beijing students demonstrate (p. 30).

I know when it comes to my children, it’s hard to reconcile the consumerist messages they get around the holidays with the values of gratitude and generosity we want to instill in them. Resident Early Education expert Julie Wolf shares some excellent ways to counter the societal need for gifts with new holiday traditions that leave everyone satisfied (p. 34), while many local families tell their own stories of giving back together, and how that’s affected the ways their children view the world and their own privilege (p. 22). I tend towards books to open pathways for us to discuss complex subjects and chose some of my favorites for gift giving this year (p. 36).

Finally, Beijing mom Vivienne Rush shares her family’s “foster fail” story when they jumped into fostering for Lost Puppies with all their heart, soul – and perhaps a little too much attachment to the sweet pup Kamina on our cover (p 40).

We hope this issue can be beijngskids’ gift to you: we wish for everyone reading to feel a bit more hope in our world, in the great and generous people who contribute to it, to learn of more places where you can eat, enjoy, and volunteer as a family. We hope you can find a few more ways to instill both the kindness and responsibility needed in our children to make sure that 2021 is better than 2020 and beyond.

KEEP READING: Kids + Arts Camps = Empathy

Photos: Dave’s Studio

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 December issue

Halloween has passed and I am nearly ready to tell the kids that their treats have been consumed in large (garbage-bag-sized) mouthfuls by hungry ghosts. The influx of sugar into the house has meant an ear-splitting spike of hyperactivity and misbehavior.

“He stole my candy!”

“She has more chocolate than me!”

(These are the types of phrases that inspire the imminent arrival of said hungry ghosts.)

“Generosity” or the adjective “generous” have been words I’ve used with the kids since they were babies. I like it better than the typical, urging word “share,” even though we as parents invariably tell our battling kids to “share,” by default, when Halloween candy wars start to invade household peace.

It’s not that sharing isn’t important as a concept; it’s more that generosity, to me, is about having the kindness to give without thinking about oneself. Sharing, on the other hand, is about giving some and keeping some. This may be easier for kids to comprehend and accept, but I’m not one to care about age-appropriateness when it comes to concepts. I tell my kids to “be generous” or “show generosity” because I want them to understand that when we give, we don’t always have to retain something for ourselves. We can just let things go. True giving is without the expectation of getting.

All that sounds nice, but after the overflow of Halloween follows the abundance of Christmas. How can we reinforce this concept of generosity when “getting” is what these two holidays seem to communicate to kids? No matter what, those hungry ghosts better come quick to strike an armistice to the candy wars so my children can narrowly avoid Santa passing judgment on the “naughty or nice.”

Recently, I talked to the kids again about the notion of charities and how there are many children in the world who never get Halloween candy or Christmas presents at all! (And not just because they don’t celebrate these festivals.) For kids, it’s really not easy to imagine the lives of other children who aren’t as lucky as they are.

So, I proposed a deal: with every Christmas gift they’d like to receive, one item from their toy boxes must be removed to be donated to charity. I explained that if some kids weren’t going to be getting presents this year, maybe it was time for my kids to be the givers themselves. They could be like Santa, I said.

This message got through. Already, they have sorted many toys they don’t play with anymore and would like to give away. The arguing about items has been kept to a minimum and they’re keen on making a trip to Roundabout before the holidays. What’s more, both kids are very proud that their stack of giveaway toys are much more numerous than the items on their wish list to Santa. Perhaps this means they’re getting closer to truly understanding the meaning of generosity after all.

Then, my nearly-eight-year-old daughter had a very interesting insight:

“Mommy?” she asked, “You know those hungry ghosts you say are going to come and eat our Halloween candy? Maybe they’re not really hungry. Maybe they just want to give our candy to kids who didn’t get any on Halloween?”

I smiled at her. She continued.

“But then we can’t call them hungry ghosts anymore.”

“Okay,” I answered, curiously. I wasn’t sure where she was going with this as I took in her mischievous smirk. “What should we call them, then?”

“GENEROUS GHOSTS!” she yelled out, laughing.

And so it was that Halloween finally ended. Merry Christmas to me!

KEEP READING: The Pack Off Your Back: Roundabout Announces a Backpack Drive!

Photos: beijingkids

About the Writer

Ember Swift is a Canadian musician and writer who has been living in Beijing since late 2008. She has a daughter called Echo (国如一) and a son called Topaz or “Paz” (国世龙).

This article first appeared in the beijingkids December 2019 Giving Back issue

9th Innovation Talent Forum Successfully Held at Beijing AIDI School

The 9th Innovation Talent Forum was successfully held at Beijing AIDI School on September 26, another step towards AIDI School’s mission of international education. The Innovation Talent Forum is an exchange forum on “International Innovation Talent Training Mechanism and International Comparative Research” jointly initiated by Beijing Leadership, Peking University, Cambridge University, and Harvard University. It has been successfully held eight times. This time, principals and leaders of the most representative international schools from different regions gathered together to discuss the future of international education on the platform of innovation development and learning exchange set up by AIDI School.

Harrow Beijing Announces New Head of Upper School

Harrow Beijing (HBJ) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Thomas Nolan as the new Head of Upper School. Mr. Nolan is a strong advocate for a diverse and student focused approach to learning and has a track record of driving improvement and change in a variety of educational settings.

Ivy Education Group Adds New Pre-School Campus

With the start of the 2020-2021 school year, Ivy Education Group has added a new campus. The former House of Knowledge Quangfa Campus located in Maquanying, Chaoyang District, now joins Ivy Education Group, as Daystar Academy Early Learning Center, focusing on providing multiple early childhood education programs to children 2 to 6 years old. So far, the total number of Ivy Education Group’s campuses has increased to 15, covering five cities across the country, providing high-quality education services of international standards to more families.

AISB-Hope International’s new campus is open!

Located in the east Chaoyang District, AISB-Hope International‘s 4,500 sqm building includes a state-of-the-art library/media center, science labs, and arts, music, and dance rooms. Their new sports complex includes a soccer pitch, badminton, volleyball, basketball, and tennis courts.

Beijing International Bilingual Academy (BIBA) Welcomes New MS Principal

Tracy Lloyd has held several positions as Principal throughout his 18-year education career in New Zealand, Vienna, and China. He values creating a school culture of collaboration, empowerment, ownership, and diversity. In addition to his achievements in educational leadership, Lloyd enjoys pursuing personal challenges, such as climbing to the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, trekking to Anapurna Base Camp in Nepal, and climbing to the Everest Base Camp in China.

Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) Winter Bazaar To Happen This November

WAB’s Winter Charity Bazaar is Saturday, November 21, from 10.30am to 3.30pm. It will have a new location this year, Beijing Riviera Country Club, 1 XiangJiang North Road Beijing. But it will retain all of the holiday festivities, international spirit, family fun, great shopping, and global tastes of previous years! This is one of Beijing’s biggest and best holiday bazaars, and features dozens of charity organizations, professional vendors, and custom handicrafts, as well as WAB student and parents. This year the Charity Bazaar will support various charity initiatives suggested by WAB students.

YCIS Beijing Early Childhood Education Open Day

Yew Chung International School of Beijing (YCIS Beijing) has recently opened a new early education class and is inviting parents to join the open day to be held on campus on November 21. The session will include presentations by the school’s academic team and coordinators who will shed light on the foundational values of a YCIS ECE Approach and a day in the life of our preschoolers.

Hooray for Reading at BWYA

On a rainy Wednesday at Beijing World Youth Academy (BWYA), the primary school was filled with lively literature and everyone’s favorite storybook characters, as students celebrated Hooray for Reading day, all part of bringing books to life for the young learners. Not even the damp weather could bring down their spirits.

Happy Birthday to YueCheng Courtyard Kindergarten!

The YueCheng Courtyard Kindergarten is one year old! Since the opening of the kindergarten, the “floating” rooftop has witnessed children’s joy and growth, and the experience of living and learning in this blended environment of ancient and modern has become an important memory for the children. As a non-profit member institution of YueCheng Education, the YueCheng Courtyard Kindergarten opened on October 8 in 2019 and provides high-quality, internationalized education for children aged 1.5-6 years.

Come to Grow with Your Child

In September, the Learning Frontier specialists provided a series of two-day parent workshops called “Grow With Your Child” on the topic of early childhood developmental milestones to over 100 parents of kindergarten age children. The workshop was well received and parents showed great interest in the services and programs provided by the Learning Frontier. Founded in 2017, The Learning Frontier is dedicated to providing personalized support services for children and families in Beijing.

The Halls are alive with the sound of music!

Students at the The British School of Beijing (BSB), Shunyi are thrilled to be making music together, developing techniques on their instruments and exploring composition skills. Their performing arts curriculum was developed in collaboration with the Juilliard School of Music.

Journey Academy (JA) Launches House System

On September 25, Journey Academy of Beijing launched their House System. Spring Yuan Green, Summer Heng Red, Autumn Li Yellow, and Winter Zheng Blue are the four colors of JA Houses. The Western House System in JA is a new concept that also integrates Chinese cultures and values, will cultivate students’ wellbeing, and help them to become unique global citizens and lifelong learners.

3e Upper Elementary Sit the ISA Exams

On October 8, 3e International School’s Grade 3, 4, and 5 students sat the International School Assessment’s (ISA) English reading comprehension and mathematical literacy examinations. Following the examinations, ISA results provide parents, teachers and the school descriptive information about what students know and can do, and areas for improvement.

3e Head of School Mr Gary Bradshaw facilitated the tests and observed, “The Grades 3, 4, and 5 did a great job on their ISA testing. A few were a little nervous having not completed something like this before, but they did very well. We sat a Math Test in two parts and also a Reading Test. When we receive the results, we will reach out to families to go through the reports and explore how we can use the information to improve learning for each student.”

KEEP READING: What on Earth Can Kids Do About Climate Change? Ask the Keystone Academy!

Photos: Courtesy of schools

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 November issue

We’re all dependent on technology. Long gone are the days when datebooks, floppy disks, and landlines could be found in every house. Everything is up in the cloud now and we’ve all got a smartphone tethering us to our social circles. So, instead of being a Luddite, embrace the benefits of the digital age and teach your kids how to grow up responsibly with technology.

In this latest issue of beijingkids, we sent one of our colleagues Cindy Marie Jenkins on a no-phone retreat (p. 12) with her family. We had no doubt that she’d survive it, but it wasn’t an easy journey. We spoke with two families from different cultural backgrounds for their views on technology (p. 28). How young is too young for kids to have a smartphone and just how much time is too much for them to spend online?

As kids get older, the lure of social media becomes even more mesmerizing, with many teens now including “Social Media KOL” on their list of career aspirations. One Beijing student shares some insight on the digital life of this city’s teens (p. 40). But a social media footprint doesn’t start when our children create their first profile. For some, it starts the day they’re born. One mom shares her insights on the widely discussed topic of whether parents should be posting their kids’ photos on social media, especially when they’re babies and without their consent (p. 34). And of course, on our cover is our very own cover photographer Dave Hansen of Dave’s Studio, showing with his sons how family life and technology collide. 

But this issue isn’t all about technology. As 2020 (finally) nears its end, we gear up for some traditional end-of-year celebrations with our friends and family — all while following the latest social distancing regulations, of course. Check out some potluck favorites from Beijing’s expat community that are easy to make, fancy to look at, and delicious to eat (p. 18). And I don’t know about you, but I’m going to be ready to ring in 2021 in style. No, not with a night out on the town. I’m a firm believer that a new hairstyle can completely change your whole mood. This year, it’s going to be with a fresh haircut and some much needed relaxing time at home with my family. Mom Candy Perez gets a head start on her new look at Laurent Falcon (p.8) and I can’t wait to do the same. On a personal note, as my husband and I welcome the birth of our daughter Aria, I’m delighted to leave you in the capable hands of our beijingkids Deputy Manager Cindy Marie Jenkins. Happy holidays and see you all in a few months!

Welcome to the latest beijingkid, Aria!

Photos; Dave’s Studio, Mina Yan

KEEP READING: Photo Flash: An Art Afternoon at 798

This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 November issue

This past month has given us a glimpse of hope at a normal life in Beijing. Compounds are allowing delivery guys to enter again, restaurants are starting to see a regular flow of customers, and some students in Beijing are finally back in school. If there’s one thing that’s on everyone’s mind lately, it’s the matter of health: whether it’s COVID-19 related, seasonal allergies exasperated by Beijing’s dreaded catkins, or cultivating a healthier lifestyle in general.

In this Health issue of beijingkids we take a look at the difference between Western and Traditional Chinese Medicine philosophies, both of which play an important role in health in China. Whether one is better than the other is for you to decide. But one thing that they can both agree on is that prevention is key. It’s important to start with a healthy foundation at an early age. One Beijing yoga-guru-mom shares her secrets to teaching yoga to her sons as she shares its physical and mental benefits with us.

For expecting parents, Dr. Vanessa Rosado shares a few key points to look for when seeking out the right pediatrician for your child, and take a few moments to smile and say “aww” as you meet some of Beijing’s newest bundles of joy. And health isn’t just about physical wellbeing, it’s about mental wellbeing too. Our student correspondent Sharanya Trivedi shares her thoughts on body image and the modern teenager.

Finally, we’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all the healthcare workers who are still fighting COVID-19, and take a moment to remember those who have lost their lives so that we can be one day closer to a vaccine. Thank you for risking your lives to fight for ours.

KEEP READING:  Cute Recycling App Helps Kids (And Adults) Learn How to Sort Trash

Photo: Uni You