Beijing City International School
Beijing City International School | |
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Location | |
77 Baiziwan Nan Er Lu Chaoyang District, Beijing 100022 People's Republic of China | |
Information | |
Type | IB International school, Private school |
Motto | Empowering and Inspiring through Challenge and Compassion |
Founded | 2005 |
Principal | Sara Shadravan (ECC), Julie Lawton (ES), Colleen Drisner (SS) |
Head of school | Bill O'Hearn, Deputy: Julie Lawton |
Grades | Nursery –12 |
Enrollment | 770 (2014-2015 Academic Year) |
Campus type | Large Private Campus in CBD |
Color(s) | Black and Red |
Mascot | Warriors |
Coordinators | Kate Mancarella (PYP) , Jock Macgillivray (MYP), Colleen Drisner (DP) |
Website | www.bcis.cn |
Beijing City International School, abbreviated BCIS, (北京 乐成 国际 学校 Běi-jīng yuè-chéng guó-jì xué-xiào) is an independent co-educational not-for-profit day school offering an international curriculum for nursery to twelfth grade students. It has gained a spot as a prospective member of the European Council of International Schools (ECIS) and is a regular member of the Council of International Schools (CIS), being accredited by The Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). BCIS is also an IB World school, as well as a member of the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS). BCIS is fully authorized for the Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and the Diploma Programme (DP) with the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). As of August 2014, BCIS is spread across two purpose-built campuses, the first being its 51,000 square meter main campus on Baiziwan Nan Er Lu, which is the base for all students from Grades 1 to 12. The main campus is home to two of the school's three divisions, namely the Elementary School (Grades 1 to 5) and the Secondary School (Grades 6 to 12). The second campus, the purpose-built Early Childhood Center (ECC), is located just 1 kilometer away at No. 11 Dongbai Jie (adjacent to Shuangjing Bridge), and is used by students from Toddler to Kindergarten (age 2 to 6 years). BCIS can offer enrollment not only to foreign students but also to Chinese national students, as the school is registered with the Education Committee of Chaoyang District.
Academics
BCIS offers all three programmes of the International Baccalaureate Organisation (IBO) - International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP), International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IBMYP), IB Diploma Programme (IBDP). Courses at BCIS are taught in English while offering three first language courses: English, Chinese or Korean. Second Language includes English, Chinese and Spanish, while Spanish may also be chosen as a 3rd Language.
Technology
BCIS has a 1:1 Macbook program for students in its Secondary School, with wireless access throughout both campuses. Students in the ECC and Elementary School also have regular access to Apple technology such as iPads and Apple TV, which are both used as part of classroom learning. BCIS is also working closely with Apple to keep servers at the newest standard, having become a modeling site for other Apple-based International schools in China. Several teachers at BCIS are accredited as Apple distinguished educators.
Accreditation
BCIS is an IB World school authorized by the International Baccalaureate to develop and deliver courses within the framework of the IB Primary Years Programme, the IB Middle Years Programme and the IB Diploma Programme. BCIS is also accredited by the Council of International Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). BCIS can offer enrollment not only to foreign students but also to Chinese national students, as the school is registered with the Education Committee of Chaoyang District.
Facilities
BCIS Main Campus (opened 2005) The main campus has the Elementary School and Secondary School buildings, which house more than 50 spacious classrooms (each on average is 108 square meters). The two buildings are connected by an enclosed bridge on the 2nd and 3rd floor. The campus has two libraries, one for each main building. The sports complex includes a gym as well as a 25-meter-long, heated, six-lane swimming pool. Also an amphitheatre designed to lead to the theatre and underground classrooms. Other facilities at the main campus include:
- Fitness center
- 300-seat theater
- Astroturf 11-a-side soccer field
- 3 outdoor tennis/basketball courts
- Outdoor amphitheater
- Several science laboratories
- Music and drama studios
- Visual arts studios
- Soundproof recording studio
- Greenscreening photography/filming studio
- 2 cafeterias and one cafe/lounge
Early Childhood Center Campus (opened 2014) The ECC campus houses around 20 large classrooms, and is a high-rated eco-friendly facility. It is currently in the application process for LEED Certification to the Gold Standard. Other facilities include:
- Library
- Spacious specialist classrooms, including music, movement/dance and art
- Common dining areas
- Indoor and outdoor play areas
- Child-friendly learning kitchens
- Gymnasium
- Storytelling area and puppet theater
- Theater
- Rooftop gardens
- Special magnetic interactive wall displays
History
The school opened in 2005 with less than 60 students ranging from Kindergarten to Grade 6. The Secondary school building opened the following year, and the class of 2008 was the first graduating class. BCIS was also an Olympic Model Education School for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. To date, BCIS graduates have been accepted into more than 200 universities in 10 different countries. In August 2014, BCIS opened a second campus; the purpose-built Early Childhood Center (ECC), located just 1 km to the west of the main campus.
The ECC (Early Childhood Center) provides education for younger children, from Nursery to Kindergarten.