Switch! Cafe Opens in Cathay View Plaza
The newest venture in the Switch! restaurants family, Switch! Cafe, opened on August 6. This upbeat, family-friendly cafe seats 38, with additional space on the outdoor terrace and play areas for kids. An extensive kids’ menu features favorites like macaroni and cheese, chicken fingers, grilled cheese sandwiches, and homemade gelato. Adults can enjoy all-day breakfast items, fresh-baked pastries, sandwiches and paninis (presented on artisan breads), salads, pastas, burgers, and dessert. In the evening, a changing selection of seasonal comfort foods such as Chicken Marbella, Seafood Newburg, and Beef Bourguignon are available for eating in or taking out. Switch! Café also offers catering.
Daily 10am-9pm. 1/F, Bldg 1, Cathay View Plaza, 6 Xiangjiang Lu (next to Beijing Riviera), Chaoyang District (137 1878 0944) 朝阳区香江路6号
（观唐广场）1号楼1层
Gerard Clyne Becomes TLC Director
The Learning Center’s Math and Science Coordinator, Gerard Clyne, has taken on a new position as TLC’s director. A native of Ireland, Clyne joined TLC in August 2008 to teach advanced mathematics and physics to middle and high school students. He received his honors degree in experimental physics in 2002 from the National University of Ireland in Galway. Clyne has since worked in Ireland and abroad as a research physicist, tutor, and teacher of mathematics, computer science, and physics at the high school and undergraduate levels. His areas of interest include computational astrophysics, applied mathematics, computational fluid dynamics, and mathematics and science education.
Smile International Kindergarten (Smile IK) Opens in Chaoyang District
Smile International Kindergarten is accepting students aged 3 to 6 at any time during the year. The curriculum and teaching materials focus on practical life issues, sensorial development, and a basic knowledge in maths, geography, science, arts and crafts, music, and dance. All languages (English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Italian) are taught by native speakers. Additional services include extended day care, group trips around Beijing, birthday parties, and an English summer camp. Facilities include two teaching buildings and an outdoor playground.
Units 29-30, King’s Garden Villas, 18 Xiaoyun Lu, Chaoyang District (6468 1227/1012, smilekg@sina.cn) blog.sina.com.cn/u/2695180955 朝阳区霄云路18号京润水上花园29-30号
BSB Welcomes New Vice-Principal
The British School of Beijing welcomes new Vice-Principal Nigel Fossey for the 2012-2013 academic year. Fossey graduated from the University of Oxford in 1992 with an MA in Geography; he also holds a PGCE and a Master’s in Education. He has worked in the UK, Germany, and Greece, and has been teaching for 20 years. Most recently, he was head of St. George’s International School in Luxembourg. Fossey lives in Shunyi with his wife Emma and three young children, all of whom attend BSB. A key aspect of Fossey’s role is to raise the quality of education provided by BSB; his initial focus will be to monitor teaching and learning, as well as working with colleagues to drive progress in learning assessment.
AIAB Opens in Shuangjing
The American International Academy of Beijing (AIAB) is a new bilingual international kindergarten that opened just across from Beijing City International School. Classes will use a Montessori curriculum and are slated to begin in mid-September. AIAB will have a toddler class for children 18 months through 3 years of age, with a maximum of 16 children per class, and a preschool class for children between 3 and 6 years old, with a maximum of 25 children per class. There will also be a pre-elementary class for 5 to 6-year-olds. The bilingual curriculum will alternate language days, with classes in English one day and classes in Chinese the next.
Bldg 5, 78 Baiziwan Nan’erlu, Chaoyang District (8776 0606, 182 0136 9037 Ada Zhang) www.aiab.com.cn 派国际双语幼儿园，朝阳区百字湾南二路78号院5号楼
Dr. Thom Jenkins Joins Doctors Beck and Stone
Doctors Beck and Stone Pet Health Care Center welcomes veterinarian Dr. Thom Jenkins. Dr. Jenkins has two degrees from the University of Cambridge: one in Zoology and one in Veterinary Medicine. He has performed numerous practical veterinary rotations at his alma mater and in private veterinary surgeries in the UK. He also has game experience from South Africa and has performed tiger health checks in Thailand. In the past, Dr. Jenkins has managed website development and online marketing for veterinary clinics, worked as a veterinary teaching staff member, and held volunteer and sports coach positions at the University of Cambridge.
Beijing No. 55 Opens Grade School Division
Beijing No. 55 Middle School and High School has announced the opening of a grade school division for international students. Grades 1 to 6 will eventually be offered, but only Grades 2, 3, and 4 are currently open. Each grade will have one class of 10 students at most. Students will use English textbooks, with the curriculum split between 70 percent English and 30 percent Chinese content. Each classroom will be equipped with computers and projectors. Students will share indoor basketball and badminton courts with the high school students, as well as enjoy pollution-free recess on an indoor playground. Tuition costs RMB 20,800 per semester and RMB 1,500 for the registration fee. Note that applicants must not be Chinese nationals and at least one parent must have a work visa. To find out more, call Admissions Director Ma Xiaoguang (马老师) at 6416 9531 or 139 1067 7863.
Free Checkups for Kids at May Flower Dental
From September 1 to October 31, May Flower Dental is offering free checkups and fluoride treatments for kids – just in time for Teeth Care Day (September 20). The dental clinic’s other services include dental implants, crowns, bridges, root canals, gum surgery, oral surgery, braces, teeth whitening, and cosmetic dentistry. To make an appointment, call 6505 8033 or visit www.mayflowerdental.com.cn.
This article is excerpted from beijingkids September 2012 issue. View it in PDF form here or contact distribution@beijing-kids.com to find out where you can pick up your free copy.
