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 how two international schools in Beijing go the extra mile to ensure that their students flourish, both now and well into the future.
It’s the job of every educational institution to prepare their students for anything that the future has in store for them. What’s the point of achieving academic excellence if students aren’t equipped with the social awareness to put their education to use? We had a chat with two of Beijing’s international schools about their strategy for helping their students succeed both academically and emotionally.
Like with relationships, not every student finds their ideal match the first time. There are so many different types of curricula offered at international schools that it’s almost impossible to not find one that’s the perfect fit for your child. But, for the students who didn’t find their match the first time around, transferring to a new school is no easy task. There’s the academic aspect that the student will need to catch up on along with the social aspect, where they’ll need to integrate themselves into a completely new circle of friends.
Adjusting to a brand new education environment is no small feat. Canadian International School of Beijing’s (CISB) Vice Principal, Matthew Doige, explains his school’s methods in helping transfer students adjust to life at CISB.
“First, we put together an orientation package that’s headed up by our school counselors who become the point person for that orientation program. So, in addition to receiving a schedule, the student will also have a tour arranged by the counselor, and more. We feel that connection with the school counselor is important, because any transition issues that come up, that we might need to deal with in a more individualized manner, will most often involve the school counselors. Since they already have built up a little bit of a relationship, they know the school counselor is someone they can go to if problems pop up,” Doige tells beijingkids.
It’s like welcoming someone into your home. The CISB community doesn’t just stop at the door when it comes to new students. Taking the time and effort to make a new student feel welcomed and at home in a new school plays a vital role in a student’s successful academic career.
Matthew Doige
The system of a trusted counselor gives transfer students the sense of safety, that no matter what, there’s an adult who’s looking out for them. “We’re pretty familiar with some of the issues that can occur with transitions,” says Doige. “For instance, a student that is coming from an entirely different school system could have some academic concerns. In that case, the Grade Level Lead (GLL) is an important part of assisting that student to transition.”
But it’s not all about academics. As Doige explains, “Especially in Middle/High School, those are very difficult years in terms of personal development, and understanding yourself in relation to other people, and sometimes being in that environment can require some extra support to make sure that a student is socially integrated in that new setting. Our GLLs as well as our school counselors assist with that, along with our Response to Intervention System which allows teachers to monitor and see what’s happening in class with new students, and then bring any issues forward so that we can deal with them in a timely, proactive manner.”
With the groundwork in place, transfer students can get accustomed to the new school environment both socially and academically much quicker. “In the second part of the orientation, we buddy transfer students up with students who might have similar backgrounds or interests that we identify during the admission process or in talking with school counselors,” says Doige. “The buddy’s role is to help the transfer student adjust to life at CISB, ensuring that they get to their new classes on time, load up their meal cards, and find After School Activities (ASAs) which interest them, where they can start making new friends and settling in.”
After settling into a new school environment, it’s the duty of each school to help shape the student to become contributing global citizens. Schools like Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) actively encourage their students to think outside of the campus and the city, and step into a global mindset. WAB’s annual Global Issue Conference (GIC), headed by teacher Lorraine McMullen, is an event that was created specifically for students to help them think globally.
The goal of GIC is to explore and raise awareness about real-world global challenges today. “This is a student-led initiative which creates a platform to inspire action on a local level,” McMullen tells beijingkids. “This year over 170 students planned, created, and hosted a full day of workshops around the theme of ‘Act for Impact’.”
WAB extended an invitation to leaders in the local community to come in and share their knowledge and expertise with the students, guiding and inspiring them to think on a larger scale. “Under the guidance of the school’s CAS [Creativity, Activity, Service] coordinator, this entire event was put together and managed by a student planning committee,” McMullen proudly tells us. “Everything from the yearly theme and logo design, to the logistics of the day are student-driven!”
Initiatives like GIC at WAB are among the hundreds that international schools around Beijing are developing to go above and beyond books and classrooms, and better prepare their students for the world. Students at Beijing’s international schools are able to test out their leadership skills and ideas in a safe and encouraging environment.
This article appeared in the beijingkids 2020 School Choice Guide
Photos: Canadian International School of Beijing, Western Academy of Beijing
