Education Supplement

By Nyima Pratten, 2013-11

What Makes The Perfect International School For You And Your Family?

Deciding to bring your young child or children to live and study in a foreign country is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make for your family. Choosing to expose your child to a country different to their own nationality at such an important developmental stage of their lives will have a long lasting effect on their future and the way they see and interact with the world. These types of children create their own cultural identity from the experiences around them and are collectively known as “Third Culture Kids” or TKDs – children who spend a significant portion of their developmental years in a culture outside their parents’ passport culture(s) – however, you must carefully select the right support system to hone their impressionable young minds. International schools provide a crucial support system and are perfect to take advantage of the new and exciting opportunities they are exposed to and help them build a lifelong network of other likeminded youngsters. Selecting the correct school and being confident in their service can be challenging, but Talk magazine sat down with a group of international school teachers, with over 20 years of international teaching experience between them, to create a list of questions you should keep in mind when in contact with your chosen international school.

What educational system does the school follow?
It is important to check on the nationalities of the teachers and the curriculum they are teaching to ensure that they fit with your long term plans for your child’s education. If you predict that your family will repatriate or move to a different country within your child’s educational career, it is important to ensure that the transition is cohesive and that it is possible for them to continue with, as near as feasible, to their current syllabus, be it the British system, American system, International Primary Curriculum (IPC), International Baccalaureate (IB). It is also important to ask what type of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) programmes teachers experience, in order to keep up- to-date with continuous changes in education.
 
Do they have a School Psychologist on hand who can be accessed by not just your child, but also the family as a whole?
Seeing a trained Educational Psychologist is important for children who might be experiencing problems, such as social and emotional issues or learning difficulties within the educational setting. The psychologist will aim to enhance the child’s learning and can offer consultation and advice to parents in order to support families who are making the adjustment to life in a new country.
 
Is there a strong community spirit within the school?
A strong community spirit in a school is crucial to the success of a child’s education. Schools that offer different activities throughout the year such as residential trips to other parts of the country, or even abroad, can broaden a child’s mind. Furthermore, by understanding different cultures, traditions as well as religions, and celebrating these important events in school, teaches very important life lessons about acceptance, diversity and cultural awareness. Schools with strong links to the local community and charity projects in their host country are also beneficial for the students to integrate with their host community and learn about their surroundings.
 
What does the school view as achievement?
Many people think of ‘achievement’ as high marks in tests and exams only, but there is more to achievement than that. Some children are not as academically gifted as others and success shouldn’t just be based on academic achievement. On the other hand, some children are academically ‘gifted’, but have problems either socially, such as working within a group, or in ‘non academic’ subjects such sports or in the arts. Understanding how the arts and sports are viewed in relationship to your child’s needs could be very important. You should expect to have a very well-rounded child at the end of their education. However, if the school only places importance on ‘academic’ success, without the arts or sports, then they will not have benefitted from a broad education. Find out about the arts and sports programmes offered, as well as extracurricular activities provided. Ask if the school takes part in any league championships involving schools in the host country as well as internationally or in musical or art events and performances.
 
How does the school cater to individuals and how do they differentiate and cope with children who have different abilities?
The school should cater to each child by ensuring that what is expected of them is at the correct level rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Many teachers aim for the middle but this approach does not take into account the more able and less able students. Every child should be stretched at their own level and taken out of their comfort zone to a place where they are challenged but feel secure. An environment where children feel secure to take risks in their learning is of the utmost importance. Giving children the confidence to take on a challenge where they can attain success no matter which level they are at, will instil in them a sense of self-assurance enabling them to feel confident enough to take on more challenges in the future.
 
Finally, which languages does the school teach?
The host country’s language, Mandarin in this case, is naturally at the top of the agenda, but what other languages do they offer? Choosing a school with your preferred language, or languages, can help a child easily assimilate into their next country of residence, repatriate or build a strong platform for a career in the future. As I’m sure we are all aware, the ability to speak multiple languages is a life skill you just can’t put a price on.

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Education is of the utmost importance to international families when making the move to Shanghai. However, it is also essential that children have a good balance between academic excellence and active participation in the arts, local community and sports in order to gain a well-rounded understanding of the world before them. Talk has assembled a selection of our favourite extra curricular activities for children of all ages in the city.

Awesome Day Care
Awesome Day Care is a pre-school which welcomes both children and parents to come and be a part of an active and friendly community in the heart of Shanghai. The centre has programmes that are designed to help each child develop at their own pace by student centred learning in a safe environment. All activities are bi- lingual, in both Mandarin and English, and activities include a mix of crafts, music, physical movement, outdoor play, book reading and visits to the baby swimming pool, giving children a great mix and balance of activities. Classes are open to children of 18 to 30 months old with group sizes of 12 children maximum.
Awesome Day Care. Suite B106, Lane 99 Wulumuqi Zhong Lu, near Anfu Lu. Tel: 5403 9916. Web: www.awesomekidsclub. com.cn
 
Shanghai Redleaf Women And Infants’ Centre
If you are an expectant mother or a new mother in Shanghai and are worried about pre and post-natal care, Redleaf Hospital could provide the support you are looking for. Located in the heart of the city, Redleaf Hospital is designed to meet high-class international hospital and hotel standards while also providing comprehensive and dedicated care for the women and children in Shanghai. Redleaf Hospital aims to provide services to give you and your little one the best start, specialising in obstetrics, gynaecology, newborn care, postpartum recovery and early- child development. Redleaf Hospital prides itself on being the first comprehensive international standard women’s hospital in China.
Redleaf Women And Infants’ Centre. 1209 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Donghu Lu. Tel: 6196 1133 Web: www.redleafhospital.com
 
The Little Gym
The Little Gym offers a wide range of different activities for children of four months through to 12 years of age. All stages of physical development are covered, from crawling across a mat, to mastering a summersault at age three, to trying a handspring at age six before asserting leadership skills in both the gym and throughout the community. The Little Gym has used their 37 years of experience and endless research to design a programme that best benefits children at different stages of childhood. The Little Gym also has different locations across Shanghai to ensure that children have the opportunity to be physically active, learn new skills and constantly improve and build upon each newly acquired skill.
The Little Gym. Multiple locations in Shanghai. Tel: 6481 0608. Web: www. thelittlegym.com.cn
 
 
Els’ Kitchen
Spark your children’s interest in cooking and in food! Els’ Kitchen provides a safe and creative home kitchen for children to learn the fundamentals of cooking such as cooking techniques, vocabulary and how to use different utensils. Even the fussiest of eaters will devour their own creations! Classes are open to children from the age of six upwards and are limited to eight children per class, therefore ensuring that they are constantly supervised whilst allowing them to socialise and build their confidence within the small group.
RMB 400 (per person per class), RMB 1500 (per person for any four themed workshops). Els’ Kitchen. 86 Windsor Place, 2,222 Jianhe Lu, near Pingxi Lu. Tel: 137 9523 2215. Web: www.elskitchen.webs.com
 
Elan Library
Elan Library is the first all English library for children in Shanghai. Elan Library provides over 4,000 books for children aged six to ten years old. It aims to inspire children to read, encourages an interest in storytelling and provides youngsters with a platform that will develop their reading skills. The library offers reading and writing classes for primary school students to help with invaluable life skills such as writing efficiently as well as successfully reading and comprehending a piece of text. Elan Library can also provide a one-on-one coach to help determine the reading level of each individual child and, as a result, personalise a way of learning to benefit their needs.
RMB 1,200 (five day pass). Elan Library. Room 405, Taihao Tower, 3211 Hongmei Lu, near Chengjiaqiao Zhi Lu. Tel: 6053 1190
 
JZ Kids – JZ School
JZ School gives children and teens the chance to get inspired by music and become motivated to learn to play a musical instrument. Music classes start for children as young as 18 months and go all the way through to adolescence. Younger children benefit from classes given by early learning specialists who know how to stimulate and inspire children. The school offers a range of classes from baby ballet and children’s choir to percussion fun. There is a junior music syllabus for children from the age of six that offers a choice of instrument, musicianship and junior ensemble classes. For teenagers, students can choose from the modern music programme where instrument instruction, ensemble and modern music theory options can be taken. They also offer individual classes as well as integrated study packages. Students also get the opportunity to perform live at different events and concerts throughout the year.
JZ Kinds – JZ School. Unit 12, Lane 280, Wukang Road, near Hunan Lu. Tel: 5403 6475. Web: www.jz-school.com
 
Meadowbrook Equestrian and Rural Activity Centre
If you are looking for a place outside the bustling city for your children to enjoy some time in the countryside, Meadowbrook Equestrian and Rural Activity Centre is a great option. Located in the countryside of Qingpu District, Meadowbrook offers both one-on-one as well as group horse-riding classes for children of all ages. With two covered arenas for riding, dressage and show jumping, it is the perfect place to develop riding skills and confidence as well as learning how to love and care for horses. They also organise a summer camp in Germany and Poland for students every July. Meadowbrook provide classes in English, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Meadowbrook Equestrian and Rural Activity Centre. 2,780 Shenzhuan Highway. Tel: 6983 0022 or 6983 0055. Web: www. meadowbrookshanghai.com
 
That’s Mandarin
If you and your family have moved to Shanghai, trying to make the change as easy and non-disruptive for your children as possible is of the utmost importance. But, you may also want to give them the opportunity to become immersed in the Chinese culture and benefit from the exciting experience. That’s Mandarin offer Mandarin classes for children that allows them to learn in an easy and fun way. They offer specialised camps and private classes. Students get to take part in excursions and trips and the full camp package provides children with accommodation and evening or weekend trips. That’s Mandarin also offer a homestay option that places children in safe and trusted Chinese families.
That’s Mandarin. 3/F, unit 12, 273 Jiaozhou Lu, near Xinzha Lu. Tel: 6152 0017. Web: www.thatsmandarin.com
 
CRCC Asia
Once the comfort of university is over, looking for a job and deciding on a career move can be a daunting idea. CRCC Asia provides an opportunity for your child to get their first step onto the career ladder whilst also giving them the opportunity to travel and explore other cultures. CRCC Asia offers working visas for one, two or three months for internships in California. This opportunity gives interns work experience in an international setting, enhancing their resume and giving them a better chance of finding employment after. Interns will also receive a recommendation letter upon their successful competition of the work experience programme. CRCC Asia provides their carefully selected interns with accommodation, a work placement, training and networking events. Internships are also available in selected cities around China.
CRCC Asia. Room 1,111, 1 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Xizang Nan Lu. Tel: 3330 0850. Web: www.crccasia.com
 
Tutors In China
Tutors In China is a great resource for children to get help outside the classroom in subjects they may require extra help with. The company offers both one-on-one as well as group classes. Tutors In China aims to support its students and parents in Shanghai by speaking directly to their students’ schools in order to understand where the individual thrives and where they need support. Tutors In China provides young tutors thereby allowing their students to engage more with the tutor and the subject being taught. Each tutor undergoes a continuous professional training programme and has at least two years experience and a degree in the subject they tutor.
Tutors In China. Room 805, 69 Yanping Lu, near Xinzha Lu. Tel: 6267 3993 or 1348 2100 343.
 
Editor’s Pick: MultiSport
 
MultiSport is an organisation that caters for expatriate families living in Shanghai. They strive to develop and deliver physical education to international clients in a safe, supportive and motivational environment. MultiSport can help to make physical exercise and leading a healthy lifestyle fun! As we know, children have an endless supply of energy, and by giving them an outlet to burn this energy in a positive sporting way, it makes for healthy, happy and less demanding children at home!
 
Qualified physical education coaches, all of whom come from international backgrounds and specialise in specific areas of sport, run MultiSport classes. All classes are taught in English and primarily aimed at children aged between three to 12 years. MulitSport also collaborates with leading international schools, clubs and residences to provide a wide selection of in-house programmes.
 
MultiSport’s systematic approach to learning has been endorsed by a number of professional sporting bodies such as the British Gymnastics Association and the Amateur Swimming Association to provide internationally recognised awards. These progressive award schemes offer an excellent opportunity for children to attain an
internationally recognised standard which is a great incentive and motivator for participants.
 
Along with swimming and gymnastic classes, MulitSport also provides coaching in trampolining, basketball, MultiSport (a signature programme combining a wide range of popular games and activities), tennis, soccer and adult fitness.
 
MulitSport. Multiple Locations in Shanghai. Tel: 5465 5715 Web: www.multisport.com.cn

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Two international schools pushing the boundaries of education are Dulwich College Shanghai and YCIS Shanghai.

Talented Youth At Dulwich College Shanghai

The Center for Talented Youth (CTY) is an institute within Johns Hopkins University whose mission is to identify students with high academic talent and provide them with rigorous and engaging academic programs and services. Some of the most advanced young learners worldwide are identified through its annual Talent Search. Since 1979, over 1.5 million U.S. and international students have participated in the search.
 
Between 1 March 2012 and 28 February 2013, more than 34,000 students worldwide enrolled in the CTY Talent Search. Of that group, fewer than 450 students in Asia were awarded with High Honours, a level reached by only 25% of all test takers. The top 3% of all test takers are recognised as Grand Award recipients and are invited from around the world to Johns Hopkins University in October for the Grand Award Ceremony where they received a medal honoring their outstanding academic achievements.
 
Twenty-two Dulwich College Shanghai students were awarded High Honours in Mathematics during the 2013 academic year. In addition, four students also earned the coveted Grand Award.

 

“Our students continue to demonstrate a huge appetite for learning, a number of them attending CTY summer schools in the US and, despite extremely busy schedules, under-taking additional online courses. Long may their thirst continue.” Mr. Nicholas Botting, Deputy Headmaster.
 
Beyond The Classroom: The Many Benefits Of BFeing Part Of An International School "Family"
For families living abroad, one of the many “graduate” to become part of an benefits is the sense of community that expansive, global alumni network. is developed, often originating from the children’s school. Beyond the obvious friendships that are established between students and families, there are a host of other benefits in the form of support from the school itself. At Yew Chung International School of Shanghai (YCIS Shanghai), students and parents find that the school offers their family advantages across a wide spectrum, ranging from educational to social.
 
Developing Friendships That Carry On Post Graduation
While immersed in the international curriculum at YCIS Shanghai, students build strong friendships that, upon graduating, alumni discover are as portable and as globally applicable as their IB diploma. As YCIS Shanghai graduate, Mabel Chan (class of 2012), discovered in her first year of studying business at university in London, the connections she built at YCIS continue to have benefit. When tasked with creating a short film advertisement project, Mabel enlisted her YCIS Alma Mater to help. ”When I was determining which background music to use, I reached out to some of my fellow alumni who have very strong music skills. Two of my good friends helped
me compose and record a song on piano, and another friend, separated by a considerable time difference, woke up at 3am to help me mix the music with special effects. At the end, my university group received the ‘Best Marketing Award,’ and I was so grateful to have such good friends that I could reach out to when needed and they know the same would hold true on my end as well.” With students graduating to top universities around the world, the lasting friendships "graduate" to become part of an expansive, global alumni network.
 
Ensuring Students Are Positioned For Success
The success of YCIS alumni is assisted by the University Guidance Team, which mentors each student to ensure they are well prepared for life after graduation. YCIS Shanghai customises the university guidance process to understand what each individual student is interested in, says John Yi Liu, University Guidance Counsellor. “We learn about each individual student’s learning styles and natural intelligences and we have individual meetings with the students to discuss the vision they have in mind for university. Then, we help them compile a list of potential schools based on very specific criteria: programmes that support their desired career, where they feel they would want to live, the size of the school they would prefer, and more.” Based on this information, majors and universities are selected, followed by one-on-one discussions with students and their parents about the specific details of preparing for university, from the finer points of personal statement writing, to how to prepare a competitive application, to transitioning to university life beyond Shanghai. With this type of individualised attention from the schools’ guidance counsellors, students are able to clearly define a sense of direction for their future plans and develop confidence for this giant next step.
 
Building Social Connections Through The Parent’s Organisation
The school’s Parent’s Organisation (POP) is another branch of the extended international school family, offering community and support to students and parents and helping families forge long-lasting bonds. POP activities are designed to engage both new families and old with fun events on campus, activities, classes, volunteer opportunities and trips. “We help parents adjust and settle in with activities designed to empower them to help their children, with recommendations on where to buy necessities, health and safety workshops, with language corners and by building friendships through our trips and classes,” says Ms Luciene Hang, Parent Relations Officer. “Parents are grateful for the friends they’ve made at the school and appreciate how much their own cultural borders develop,” she adds. Parents benefit from the introduction to not only a new city, but also new friends, activities and interests, which last well beyond their time in Shanghai.
 
Finally, on top of all of the benefits that come from being part of the community of an international school, the icing on the cake: students at YCIS Shanghai graduate having studied in one of the most progressive programmes of international education in China, transforming them into global-minded citizens.