Choosing the right international school for your child

Choosing the right International School for your child There are 34 I recognised international schools in China alone! Choosing the right international school can be difficult, especially with the variety of options available. Below are 8 considerations that should be highlighted when contemplating where to further your child's education: 8 Hours 12 11 5 Days I at school 10 A.M. P.M. SUN. MON. TUE. WED. THUR. FRI. SAT. Your child will be at the school you chose for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week, for many years to come (depending on their entry stage). Find a place that: • Appreciates and accepts who they are. • Feeds their passion. • Meet their needs. • Provides a setting where they can work, play and make friends. Your Family Educational values are moulded by many factors, make sure your school suits your family's educational values; this can be affected by Your family's education Your culture Your ethnicity Where you grew up Get a picture of what you classify as a "good education" for your child. Think of the school's amenities you would want your child to have. A garden? Music rooms? Sports facilities? Your school culture and climate? Your experiences that you would like your child to have? Nowhere can be 100% Perfect. Curriculum YCıs is an international school that fuses culture and education into a solid curriculum to ensure optimal learning. By building a multi-faceted programme with aspects of international engagement, languages and character development, YCIS is building globally minded students that can thrive in modern society. Ycıs also incorporates International Baccalaureate (IB), which is becoming increasingly popular. Some questions to consider with a programme that incorporates IB: CIS What is the school's academic record? What are the school's university acceptance rates? Where do their students graduate to? What certifications do the teachers hold? What percentage of teachers have earned advanced degrees? Is the curriculum child-centred and challenging enough? Bi-Lingualism. A bi-lingual international school programme is an invaluable opportunity for yo to learn a new language and prepare his- or herself for an increasingly globalised world. child Bilingual education, specifically through an education abroad in an international school, can help students to become global-thinking individuals through language-focused and cultural education. Being Bi-lingual has also been linked with improved academic ability in regards to cognitive skills, literacy, memory, creativity and even increased grey matter in the brain. For more information on how being bilingual makes you smarter, visit: http://www.ycis-bj.com/bilingual-benefits For example the YCIS schools in China focus on providing a balanced education that uses bilingual education, English and Chinese at the core of its curriculum. Location Is the school close in relation to: School Your work? Home? What is the area like? Low/high income? Is it SAFE? What security precautions does the school take to ensure safety? What time does school start? How busy are the roads? For example, when living in any major city, working in the city centre, and your children being schooled can lead to major time constraints, such as being stuck in traffic for hours. What transportation does the school offer? – None? Shuttle bus? Taxi service? Do you need to be near public transport links? School Activities and Experience Visit the school if you can. Remember that school is not only a place of learning but also a social environment. Ask important questions: Are there any after school care facilities? External field trips? How big are the classes? And what is their structure? Does this vary with the subject? Does the school have sports teams? Various Arts options? Language courses? A leadership and professional development class? Important! Do the students seem happy at the school? Support Student support services can help students with any issues or concerns, Support from universities and careers concerns to personal issues they may have. This is very important in any child's development. Careers A Parent's Organisation can help parents to become more aware of what is happening at the school, as well as help parents find ways to Personal Family become more involved in activities. Friends How often will parents receive information concerning their child? Love How does the school deal with the special learning needs? What systems are in place for drug and alcohol prevention? Cultural Immersion It is increasingly important for a child to learn about not only their home and host cultures, but those around the world, as a result of Beljing the global community and multi-cultural world in which we live. Shanghal Ycıs Beijing and YCIS Shanghai offer multi-cultural learning as part of their curriculum, including field trips into regional China to meet local students. Students are also offered the opportunity to travel abroad and visit schools, meet students and travel within the YCIS World Classroom Programme. Sponsored By YCIS (China USA Qingdao Beijing Shanghai Hong Kong A leading International YCIS School with campuses in Silicon China, Hong Kong and the USA. YCIS Valley Chongging focuses on providing a balanced education that uses bilingual education in English and Chinese at the core of its curriculum. Beijing Shanghai www.ycis-bj.com www.ycis-sh.com E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] Phone: (8610) 8583 3731 Phone: (8621) 6219 5910 ext 222