School's out for Summer
Childhood should seem like an endless summer, and it can sometimes feel just like that for overtaxed parents.
There are a number of options available to families looking to pack in that little bit more education and fun for their children this summer.
A few of Beijing's international schools supply courses to keep the kids entertained and constructively occupied during those long summer months.
Beijing Yew Chung International School
Yew Chung International Summer School, specially tailored to children between the ages of 8 and 17, will run from July 20 until August 9.
For the first 17 days, there will be excursions and visits focusing on Chinese language and culture. The last four days of the program will be spent in Inner Mongolia where the children will be using their acquired language and personal skills as they travel together to the land of Genghis Khan.
Accompanied and supervised by a team of professionally trained staff, the children can look forward to an unforgettable way of learning putonghua and Chinese culture.
Putonghua learning will occur not only through structured daily language lessons to be held, but also through informal activities and excursions. Activities include making Chinese opera masks, learning the art of paper cutting and learning Chinese characters through painting and calligraphy. Daily excursions include visits to Tiananmen Square, a Chinese teahouse and the Great Wall.
In Mongolia, the children will experience life in the grasslands, horse-riding and a typical Mongolian barbecue.
Yew Chung International School was founded in Hong Kong in 1932 by Madam Tsang Chor Hang and is now directed by her daughter Dr. Betty Chan Po-King.
The Beijing Yew Chung International School was established in 1995 and prides itself on its bi-lingual approach to learning, strong academic programs in English and Chinese. The school offers kindergarten through sixth grade classes, with plans to expand one grade per year.
Yew Chung International Schools operate a UK-based curriculum framework for an all-round based-Christian education with an international perspective.
The school is located in Honglingjin Park on the city's east side and will open the first phase of its second campus in the Economics and Technological Development Zone next year.
A bilingual environment is created with native English speaking and native Chinese-speaking teachers working together in each classroom. This allows a 'whole language' approach.
At Yew Chung BIS, all major subjects are taught in English. To let children learn in a truly bilingual environment, 70 percent of teaching time is conducted in English with 30 percent in Chinese. Chinese as a Second Language and English as a Second Language programs are also offered.
Add: Honglingjin Park, No. 5, Houbalizhuang
Tel: 6594-1731
International School of Beijing
Although it opened in June, there may still be the odd place available at Camp Adventure, a full day program for children aged 3-4 and 5-12 through August 6.
Sponsored by the American Employees Association, the International School of Beijing (ISB) and the Beijing American Club is holding a camp on the ISB campus at $150 a week.
The organizers promise field trips, Friday lunches, swimming, songs and crafts.
For more information, call AEA at 6532-3431 ext.5094.
The International School of Beijing was founded as an elementary school for the children of American embassy employees. Today, the ISB is the largest international school in China.
The new campus will be a state-of-the-art educational complex designed to ultimately accommodate 2,600 elementary, middle and high school students. The three schools, each with its own subcampus, will be part of one large campus and will share recreation and extracurricular facilities.
The various shared facilities include a performing arts theater, an indoor swimming pool, gyms, sports fields, tennis courts and a running track, four library media centers, computer labs and a fine arts department complete with graphics studio, photography lab and design technology workshop.
Add: Building 7, Lido Complex
Tel: 6437-6688 ext. 1242
Western Academy of Beijing
The Western Academy is a nursery through grade 8 co-educational day school catering to more than 430 students from 43 countries.
With the backing of multinational corporate sponsors including Motorola, General Electric and Shell, the Western Academy facilities include a gymnasium/auditorium, art and design technology rooms, a drama studio, computer and science labs. There is a large soccer/softball field, an outdoor basketball court and two tennis courts. One of the hard-top playing areas is converted to an ice rink in winter time.
The Western Academy has a policy restricting the number of limited and non-English speakers. Specialist programs are available for students whose first language is not English and also those experiencing mild learning difficulties.
Add: 7A Beisanhuan Donglu
Tel: 6437-7292/94