In anticipation of the Beijing International School Expo on January 16-17, we will be highlighting local and international schools around Beijing from the upcoming 2016-2017 beijingkids School Choice Guide, which comes out on January 4.

Located opposite to a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the old Summer Palace, Tsinghua International School (THIS) takes pride in its boutique campus situated in the 100-year-history prestigious Tsinghua High School. THIS has assembled a team of highly qualified teachers from around the world and aims to provide the standard western education merged with the eastern culture. Tsinghua International School fosters creative critical thinkers who are rooted in China and prepared to lead in the global community. THIS is a community of joyful learners – students, families, teachers and staff members. We cultivate this joy through our core values – collaboration, engagement, discovery, Spartan Spirit and Cultural Diversity.

Founding date: 2008
Age range: 6 – 18 years old
Grades offered: Grade 1 – 12
School type: International school
Total area: 99,000 sqm
Curriculum: United States Common Core Standards, Singapore Math, the College Board Advanced Placement
Boarding Program: Yes (Grade 9 and above)
Number of students: 414
Is the school accredited by the Ministry of Education? Yes
Foreign passport holders accepted? Yes
Local Chinese students accepted? No
Tuition fees (2015-2016 academic year):

• Application fee (non-refundable): RMB 1,000
• Primary School: RMB 119,100/year
• Middle School: RMB 129,000/year
• High School: RMB 138,000/year

Lunch offered: Chinese, Western and vegetarian options
Nationality of students: US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong(China)
Primary teaching language(s): English
Other languages taught as electives: Chinese, Spanish
Average class size: 20 (Primary), 16 (Middle and High School)
Average teacher/student ratio: 1:4.5
School hours: 8am – 3:15 pm
After-school activities: Clubs like Model United Nations, Internship Club, Swimming Club, Broadcast Media, and more.
Special needs programs offered? No.
Extra help offered? ESL support program for Grade 1-10
Scholarships offered? No.
School facilities: Library, outdoor playground, Apple Multimedia Lab, PC Lab, iPads in primary school, state-of-the-art science labs in high school, shared full-size stadium, dining hall, multiple auditoriums, access to Tsinghua University Science Labs, all classrooms equipped with Smartboards
School nurse/doctor available on campus? Yes.
Are they part-time, full-time, or on call? Full time.
Contact: Inside the Tsinghua High School campus, Zhongguancun Beilu, Haidian District (6279 7000, 6277 1477, this@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn) www.this.edu.cn 海淀区中关村北大街清华大学西门北侧清华附中校园内

Photo: Courtesy of THIS

In the span of a few years, the Tsinghua International School (THIS) Spartans have risen from a team that can barely score a goal to a championship-winning ISAC member. While this leap was achieved through the hard work of the THIS faculty and student body, some students have taken initiative to make athletics a central part of their lives and inspire others to do so in the process.

Christina Wang, a natural athlete, grew up playing soccer and basketball with her brother. “I’ve been playing almost my entire life,” she says.

Sophia Zhang, on the other hand, credits much of her love for physical activity to the wide range of team sports offered at THIS. “My old school didn’t have sports teams for girls,” she recalls. “Girls didn’t usually play.” 

There’s little doubt that joining the THIS team has brought many changes to the way both girls see and play sports, a sentiment expressed by Mr. Preston, a PE teacher at the school. “They are both excellent examples of how you can balance academics and athletics at the same time,” he says.

“The fact that both individuals have played all three main sports from their freshman to senior year is remarkable. Both girls were able to motivate their teams and build the foundation of the Spartan spirit and culture,” says Mr. Mustonen, the head of the THIS’ Athletics department. “That will continue to grow over the years,” he adds.

It seems what Christina and Sophia bring to the team is something intangible, however, it’s a quality essential to success; inspiration. “Christina has always been aggressive and plays to win,” says Mr. Howard, an experienced Spartans coach.

Discussing Sophia, Mr. Howard laughs and points out her sense of humor, which allows her teammates to be comfortable and to have fun. Furthermore, Sophia’s leadership operates on a “grace under pressure” principle, a  mark of many great team leaders. She credits Coach Howard for helping her develop her calm and collected character. “In the middle of the game, you get so nervous and emotional about things,” Sophia admits. “After joining basketball here, I learned that you have to relax and [that]it’s okay to lose the ball. It’s just not okay to give up.”

Both athletes discuss how important determination and grit are in their success in sports. “If you tell yourself you can win, then you actually have a chance to win,” Christina states.

At times of frustration or low-motivation, the girls’ advice is to keep pushing: “You have to know you can still try next time. If you get tired, you have to just force yourself to do it.”

Their mental and physical strength serve as a model to other students, especially young and impressionable girls who may struggle with their image, health, or happiness. “In local school, teachers treat [girls]delicately, letting you sit out during the time of the month,” Sophia notes.

But here at THIS, “girls can play sports and are pretty good at it.  Yes we can!” she declares enthusiastically, throwing her hands in the air.

Indeed, Christina and Sophia continue to inspire athletes and non-athletes alike in the THIS community, exemplifying the fact that through showing passion, commitment, and by taking advantage of the opportunities presented to you, you can succeed at anything.

Rhea Jiang is a junior at Tsinghua International School (THIS), an international campus affiliated with Tsinghua High School. She is the co-editor-in-chief for the school newspaper, the Spartan Times, and Co-president of the Debate Club. Through her blog posts, Rhea hopes to share her unique thoughts and experiences at THIS.

The beijingkids student correspondent program gives high school students with an interest in writing and journalism a resource for guidance, feedback, and real-life training. If you are a student interested in becoming a beijingkids student correspondent, or you know a student who is, please contact yvetteferrari@beijing-kids.com 

Photo: Courtesy of THIS

Utilitarianism is an economic ideal – you spend a minimum to obtain a maximum. Human subject research follows the same principle, as individuals are constantly utilized for advancing knowledge and technology and essentially benefiting millions, if not billions of people. These human subjects, however, are prone to irreversible and fatal consequences throughout the research process. Human subject research poses a great dilemma: should we sacrifice human ethics for potential medical development, or should we protect all individuals and halt scientific advancement?

Although the course of human experimentation has became increasingly more ethical, the act still remains controversial for their methods. Human subject research was most prevalent during World War II, when Nazi-Germany performed inhumane acts in the name of eugenics and Japan operated the covert project Unit 731 for biochemical warfare. Attitudes towards human clinical trials shifted over the decades; today, experiments are more appropriate because we preach morals. Though Nazi-Germany eugenic experiments and current investigations trying to curing cancer are on opposite ends of the morality spectrum, both share one common characteristic: they place human beings in potentially fatal circumstances. Though contemporary human subject research cannot cease, we must still ensure that subjects are well protected. 

Research subjects who participate in such experiments must be offered protection against all negative outcomes. Recently, 800 victims of the infamous Guatemala syphilis experiments filed a lawsuit for $1 billion against John Hopkins University for the school’s involvement in the experiment. This situation exemplifies how the failure to ensure subject safety will eschew responsibility and cause endless complications. Although medical technology back then could have not improved the subjects’ conditions, victims are still fighting for justice, as they should be.

It was recently announced that the world’s first human head transplant would be conducted within the next two years. Russian man Valery Siridonov has volunteered to undergo this surgery, as he suffers from a degenerative muscular disease that confines him to wheelchair. He believes that the experiment “isn’t only an excellent opportunity […], but it will also create a scientific basis for future generations.” Despite the fact that Siridonov is optimistically prepared for the worst outcome, professionals contend that this surgery is impractical and the subject will “experience a fate worse than death”. In situations where human subjects are fully aware and eager, should we respect their decisions despite the possibly inhumane consequences?

Human beings are oftentimes necessary in biomedical experimentation for solutions to and explanations of scientific and psychological enigmas, thus it is nearly impossible to halt current practices. In carrying out experiments with unknown outcomes, agencies and governments must ensure that they can be responsible for the research subjects by contemplating the procedures and consequences without neglecting ethics. The subjects, too, must recognize all possible results and be fully willing to commit themselves in such risky activities. Medicine should not only be based in science, but also in ethics; otherwise, our findings may only come as a result of someone else’s suffering.

This article originally appeared in the May/June 2015 issue of UNIT-E. It was written by Stella Huang, a student at Tsinghua International School

About UNIT-E
UNIT-E was founded in the spring of 2010 with the aim of establishing a non-profit, student-run magazine for international students in Beijing. Staffed by current students from a range of international schools, the magazine provides an amalgam of cultural tidbits, fragments of Beijing student life, and a broad spectrum of unique perspectives from a diverse group of young adults.

Photo: Courtesy of Wikimedia

For the coming weeks, we will be highlighting local and international schools around Beijing from our upcoming 2014-2015 School Choice Guide, which comes out in early February 2014. Scroll down for more information on how to participate in our annual school choice fair in March 2014.

A division of the local high school attached to Tsinghua University, Tsinghua International School integrates progressive American educational philosophies with Chinese educational perspectives. The primary school curriculum follows the Bank Street Model of education,in which “lively intellectual curiosities turn the world into an exciting laboratory andkeep one ever a learner.” The secondary school encourages students to explore a wide variety of interests, develop exceptional academic skills and become motivated self-directed learners. The curriculum prepares students for universities in the US, Canada, and other Western countries.

Founding date: 2008

School type: International day and boarding school

Grades offered: Grades 1-12

Is the school registered with the Ministry of Education? Yes

Accreditation: Candidate school for WASC

Tuition fees (2013-2014 Academic Year):
Application fee: RMB 1,000 in cash (non-refundable)
Secondary school: RMB 99,000 per year
Primary School: RMB 89,000 per year
Lunch: RMB 10-20 per meal
School Bus: Varies according to route
Dormitory (boarding students only): RMB 18,000 per year with RMB 1,000 security deposit

Age range: 6-18

Number of students: 360

Nationalities of students: American, Canadian, Korean, Japanese, Hong Kong

Foreign passport holders accepted? Yes

Local Chinese students accepted? No

Primary teaching language: English

Languages taught: English, Chinese and Spanish

Class size: Max 20 (primary); Max 25 (secondary)

Teacher/student ratio: 1:5

School hours: 8am-3.20pm

Extra help offered: ESL supports classes for Grades 1-10

After school activities: Sports, Model UN, Newspaper Club, World Scholars’ Cup and Debate Clubs etc.

School facilities: Library, outdoor playground, Apple Multimedia Lab, PC Lab, iPads in the Primary school, high school science Labs, shared full-size stadium, dining hall,  multiple auditoriums, all classrooms are equipped with SmartBoards.

School nurse: Yes, shared with Tsinghua High School.

Lunch offered: Chinese, Western and vegetarian options.

Contact: Inside Tsinghua High School campus, Zhongguancun Beilu (northwest of Tsinghua University), Haidian District (6279 7000, 6277 1477, this@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn) www.this.edu.cn 海淀区中关村北大街清华大学西北侧清华附中校园内

Word from a Parent:
“The kids could not wait to start school during the first week of arrival. It was good to get assigned into classrooms where we get to meet with the classroom head teachers. It’s obvious that they enjoy working with kids. I appreciate their open communication and willingness to try to accommodate my kids’ needs for challenges. The field trip was an awesome way to start school. The Chinese class provided my kids the needed challenge to be engaged in learning. The teacher assistants took good care of my kids. They let me know that my kids were not eating well through good observations, allowing us to planned packed lunch to keep them from starving. It was good to have the opportunity to talk to the Primary Director and to learn more about the teaching philosophy of the school and the primary classrooms. This allows me to have a full picture and consider all aspects before the final decision. I appreciate that she made time out of her busy schedule to meet with me.”
Value Quraishi (US), mother of Faisal (9) and Yasmeen (7)

For more information on the 2014-2015 School Choice Guide e-mail editor@beijing-kids.com and click here to view the 2013-2014 School Choice Guide on ISSUU. For more information on our upcoming School Choice Fair on March 1-2, 2014, please e-mail  schoolchoicefair@truerun.com.

Photo courtesy of Tsinghua International School

On Friday, June 15, 14 seniors from Tsinghua International School marked the end of an era and the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. As the second graduating class in THIS history, the students upheld a tradition that began only last year.                                                                                                                       

Around 200 parents, friends, and fellow students gathered in THIS’ auditorium, which was bedecked in red lanterns, Chinese infinity knots, and Tsinghua’s school colors of purple and white.

The graduates – who hailed from five countries (the US, China, Canada, Japan, and Indonesia) – wore black gowns and caps accessorized with purple stoles and tassels. They’ve been accepted to the following universities: New York University (NYU), University of Toronto, University of Southern California, Barnard College, Keio University, University of British Columbia, École Hôtelière de Lausanne, University of Waterloo, University of Miami, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

The ceremony was presided over by Masters of Ceremonies Tyler Shelden (THIS mathematics teacher), Toni Dong (assistant director of administration) and student MCs Jeffery Yu and Shannon Zhao (both juniors).

After some opening remarks from Executive Principal Shi Ping and High School Principal Wang Dianjun, THIS’ eighth grade students received certificates from Secondary Director Martha Ortiz. The students spontaneously started clapping during the Grade 8 montage video that followed.

This year’s keynote speaker was local personality Kaiser Kuo, director of international communications for Baidu. He is also a writer, rock musician, media commentator, and former columnist for beijingkids’ sister publication, the Beijinger. “A commencement speech is one of the hardest things a writer can write,” he noted.

“We go into college as children, and some of us come out as adults,” he said, reminiscing about his own university days. “College is where you first fall in love with ideas, fight about them, and challenge them.” Kuo recalled staying up late to have deep conversations with his college roommate (“what we called our ‘awe of the universe’ talks”), who remains one of his closest friends.

He stressed the advantages that THIS graduates would have, as bicultural and bilingual world citizens: “You will be in a unique position and be able to see things from both sides. Build bridges! Resist the urge to be offended by some people’s attitudes about China.”

After Kuo’s speech, a video montage of the seniors’ baby pictures, activities, and universities was shown. Then, elected student speaker Cameron Sun (Sun Jiahong) took the stage. Originally from China, Sun plans to attend Brown University in the fall. He’s undecided on his major, as students only have to pick in sophomore year. Scroll down to reach Sun’s speech in its entirety.

The speech was followed by the sealing of the “wish box,” in which each graduating student inserted their wishes for the future. The contents will be revisited at the Class of 2012’s 20-year high school reunion.

Then, THIS’ choir filed onstage to perform a jaunty song called “The Rhythm of Life” from the Broadway musical Sweet Charity. The catchy chorus goes:

Yes, the Rhythm of Life is a powerful beat,
To feel the Rhythm of Life,
To feel the powerful beat,
To feel the tingle in your fingers,
To feel the tingle in your feet

Right before the seniors received their diplomas, a rather unlikely father-daughter comedic duo took to the podium. THIS parent Li Gang offered his best wishes to the graduating class, with his daughter (and senior) Jennifer Li translating in English. As the audience roared to his deadpanned jokes, he ended with a personal entreaty to a teacher: “Get married and have kids soon! Your parents have been waiting for a while!”

Indeed, the rhythm of life is a powerful beat.

For more pictures from THIS’ graduation ceremony, check out our online gallery. All photos by The Bloom Family Photography

Student Speaker Cameron Sun’s Full Speech:

Thank you, Mr. Shelden and Ms. Dong.

Dear parents, faculty, students, and friends of the THIS Community.

It is a great honor to be speaking on behalf of the Tsinghua International School Class of 2012 today.

Two weeks ago, the seniors decided to put me up to a tough challenge: writing and delivering the graduation speech. At the same time, Principal Shi came up to me and said that if the audience doesn’t like my speech, the school’s not going to give me my diploma, I’m not going to graduate, and I will be a miserable person for the rest of my life. With that said, in the next five minutes or so, please take my speech seriously because I don’t want to stay in high school for another year.

Thank you.

OK. So I realized that this is one of my final moments at THIS as a student, therefore theoretically I could say anything I possibly want to because two hours from now, I will be out of this place, and none of you will ever find me again. However, I know Mr. Rathbun is videotaping this entire ceremony, as usual, so I’d better behave well so next year when people watch this video, they are going to say “Oh, that guy is smart, and Brown University made the right choice.”

I want to begin my speech with a salute for the unrivaled and invincible graduating class of 2012. Without any opposition, we are crowned the best senior class in the history of THIS. All three student council presidents this school has had so far are or were members of this class; we have the fastest cyclist; the most elegant dancer and singer; a computer engineer; an eighteen-time world champion in laughing; a budding photographer; a swim team captain; a healthy diet advocate; and the one and only Indian in this school.

Juniors, I know you all are very jealous right now. But suck it up!

I love THIS, and THIS has been so far one of my most unforgettable experiences. It has helped me to improve in many ways as a person as I leave my teenage years behind and become an adult.

The most amazing thing about THIS to me personally is its diversity and the many hidden talents of the students. For the first time in real life, I got to know two brilliant Indonesians; a Finnish person who can speak Chinese; a smiley and coffee-holic Greek; a 2m-tall giant from Lithuania; a man who speaks six languages; and many nice and funny dudes from Japan, Korea, and Hong Kong. We also have many talented dancers, singers, and musicians who constantly lure us to their performances and leave us mesmerized by their talents.

Thank you THIS, for giving me some of the best teachers I could ever have. I would not have ever achieved so much without my dedicated teachers, who are also my mentors.

Mr. Cheng: You have been in many ways more than merely a teacher to your students. I know this sounds like a nightmare, but Lily Zhu will come back to check on your dietary habits. By then, she will only be harsher because her degree in nutrition from NYU will qualify her to do so. So be prepared to become a vegetarian.

Ms. Xia: Your natural sense of humor has made the supposedly boring AP statistics class full of fun. Every joke you’ve made has helped Rainy to set a new laughing record. You are also always the person I can talk to when I have life issues. Thank you for always being there for me.

Ms. Bian: 在这个学校能遇到一个老乡实真的太不容易了，尤其是一个真正关心我生活和未来的人。谢谢您。

Mr. Pryor: You have been very helpful in helping us understand American history and culture. This class is much needed because most of us are heading to the States this fall. Thanks to you, now I wouldn’t freak out when people ask me who Abraham Lincoln is.

Dr. Daisy: C’est difficile à trouver un autre professeur qui est meilleur que vous. Votre cours de chimie est le meilleur cours de ma vie scolaire. Je penserai à vous!

Coach Webb: Thank you for waking up at 4 o’clock in the morning in the past year for the swim team. You are staying at THIS because it needs you. I’m going to visit in the future and by then if the swim team sucks, you will suffer.

Mr. K: Thank you for not failing me in Spanish, and I apologize for not saying this in Spanish. Hopefully one day I will be able to speak six languages as well. And I will always remember the advice you gave me yesterday while I was looking at my graduation photo in the hall way.

Mr. Hammond: You’ve helped all the seniors to get into great colleges! Thank you so much for what you have done so that we don’t have to stay in high school for another year.

And lastly, Ms. Li: Thank you for being our homeroom teacher for the past two years. I hope us seniors have made you a proud homeroom teacher, and we will come visit you in the near future.

Thank you again THIS, for the great friendships I’ve forged here. I know that in the future wherever I go I am going to feel just like home, because I have friends across the globe. I have to say goodbye to you all at this moment, but it’s only temporary. We will always just be an email, a phone call, or a plane ride away from each other.

Before I finish my speech today, I have but three suggestions for you people down there.

First of all, can we please get something other than cheese and Hawaiian pizza for parties in this school? I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many pizzas in my life before this school year started.

Second, y’all have to stop buying instant noodles for lunch! Seriously. It has been proven scientifically that eating instant noodles is the prime cause for worse class performance and worse grades.

Third, please respect your fellow classmates and teachers and take your trash with you, and stop sticking chewing gums onto desks and chairs.

The THIS Class of 2013, I apologize for mocking you earlier in this speech, but the truth is, you are the more diverse and versatile class. I have so much faith and confidence that you guys will excel in your senior year and rock everybody’s world. Please carry on our legacy and make the THIS Community proud.

Congratulations again to the middle school graduating class and the Tsinghua International School Class of 2012. We made it!