Every year we have the distinct privilege of compiling a School Choice Guide (SCG) for our readers. This special issue of our magazine is not only a comprehensive look at the state of international education in Beijing, it also acts as a compendium to our annual Jing International School Expo (JISE), so that parents and students are equipped to make the most out of their visits with principals and staff at the event, and ultimately find the best school for their family.
Due to COVID-19, we were unfortunately forced to delay JISE, however, our 2020-2021 School Choice Guide is available and jam-packed with information! Now is the perfect time to familiarize yourself with everything from the various curricula followed at different institutions, to the ways in which schools ensure that all their students receive an equitable education, no matter their learning needs.
For now, check out our feature on scholarships and learn how your student can get a leg up in the competition. Then pop over to our School Profiles Index and find out which Beijing international schools offer these valuable awards.
Extracurricular activities (ECAs) are often framed as a means to an end, a way for students to stand out amongst a crowded field of college applicants. More importantly, though, they’re a chance for kids to dig deeper into a field they are passionate about, and which is either glossed over or entirely absent from their regular curriculum. From debate to drama and student magazines to radio, these programs are a vital resource for enthusiastic learners, eager to pick up real-world skills, gain insights into various career choices, and ultimately accelerate their professional development.
While every school within Beijing’s international education community offers a plethora of ECAs, we’ve highlighted four, from early years through high school, to give you an idea of what’s on offer for your child.
StageCats
Canadian International School of Beijing (CISB)
A collaborative theater community of students and teachers, who rehearse and perform a range of productions – including well-known plays and musicals as well as original pieces, which are devised through collaboration with students, a process that involves focused discussions, improv exercises on play themes and workshopping / re-working scenes with student input.
Helion Robotics
Dulwich College Beijing (DCB)
Helion Robotics is the name of Dulwich College Beijing’s FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Extra Curricular Activity club. The student-led team of nearly 40, including students from Year 8-13 and four teacher mentors, meets once a week off-season, and much more frequently during competition time. Member roles cover everything from engineering, construction, design, marketing, and finance, and the team is always looking to expand and improve. Each year, Helion in-vests hundreds of hours to design and build one robot which will be used to compete in team-based competitions requiring them to overcome challenges through skilled programming and engineering. Helion Robotics was awarded the Highest Rookie Seed at the FIRST Robotics Competition Midwest Regionals in 2019.
Project Think (HD Design Thinking Fair)
HD School Beijing
Design Thinking (DT) is one of HD’s specialty curricula that aims to build their students into real-world problem finders and problem solvers with innovative thinking and agency. It’s an in-depth opportunity for Design Thinking immersion, in which DT teachers lead two groups of students through an immersive four-week project. Under the guidance of the DT teachers, each student identified a real-world issue, then designed and built his/her own solution. During the final session, students present their projects to their parents. Past works have included Vacation Pet Feeder, Oil Protection Suit, Marker Machine, Plant Watering Machine, and Turtle Feeder Machine.
Sensory Play Activities (F-1)
AISB School – Hope International
Sensory play uses all five senses (sight, touch, smell, hearing, and taste). This Sensory Play ECA will assist young children in developing fine motor skills and important cognitive skills used for problem-solving.
This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 School Choice Guide
