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International School of Beijing

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International School of Beijing
File:ISB Campus.jpg
Location
Map
Beijing

China
Information
TypePrivate, Day School
Established1980
Head of SchoolTarek Razik
Faculty193 full-time, 9 part-time
Enrollment1,837
CampusShunyi, 32 acres (0.13 km2)
Color(s)Blue and White   
MascotDragons
Websitehttp://www.isb.bj.edu.cn

History

ISB was previously located near Lido Hotel until December, 2001, after which moved to its new and current campus in Shunyi, Beijing. In 30 years, the school has grown from a small elementary school to a full-range elementary, middle, and high school of 1830 students from 54 nations. On October 16, 2010 I.S.B. had a 30th Anniversary Picnic welcoming guests. ISB is considered a 33-acre (130,000 m2), state-of-the-art campus for elementary, middle, and high school studies.[1]

Timeline

  • 1970s a small foreign school was established in Beijing, under the auspices of the United States Liaison Office in Beijing, precursor to the US Embassy. Classes were held in a hallway in a diplomatic apartment compound in Sanlitun, with 8 students and 2 certified teachers
  • 1980 - US Embassy merged its school with those of the British and Australian embassies. The Canadian and New Zealand embassies joined in, and the five nations together formally founded the International School of Beijing. Located on the grounds of the U.S. Embassy, the school provided education for the children of the 5 founding embassies; eventually, as space allowed, children from other embassies were permitted to enroll. 
Bound by the strict requirements imposed on diplomatic schools, the founding embassies worked to meet educational needs of the growing expatriate community in Beijing.
  • 1988 under new regulations, China’s Ministry of Foreign affairs officially registered ISB as a “school for diplomatic children.” The campus moved to the Lido complex of offices and housing units, and the school was permitted to accept applications from all expatriate residents of Beijing.


  • 1991 ISB became the first school in Beijing to offer the full Diploma Programme of the International Baccalaureate Organization.
  • 1997 ISB was accredited by WASC (in the United States),
  • 2002 – January - the Beijing Municipal Education Bureau allowed ISB to be restructured as an “independent school for foreign children."
  • 2003 ISB accredited by the Chinese authority NCCT
  • 2007 ISB won full accreditation from CIS (Europe), NEASC (United States), and again from NCCT (China).
  • 2002 - ISB school moved to a 33-acre, purpose-built facility in the Shunyi, a northeastern suburb of Beijing

Student life

Students can participate in activities such as band, orchestra, jazz band, choir, forensics and drama. The high school also has its own honour choir, named "Impromptune", theatre group "Thespians", and there are two theatre productions per year and a One Act Festival. In terms of the Jazz Band, this little section of the performing arts department has grown over the years and has become quite strong at the school, with great talent in each of the different jazz-related instruments. The AMIS Honor Jazz Festival was held at ISB in October 2010 and 8 ISB students were successful enough to be a part of the festivities.

ISB has a wide variety of student-run charity organizations and events.

The Model United Nations is also another program that is widely participated in (one in four high school students are involved with the program). Students can participate in one of three travelling trips, including THIMUN Singapore and THIMUN in the Hague. The THIMUN organisation is the only Model United Nations program recognized by the United Nations, and the International School of Beijing has been a member of the organisation since its inception. In addition, MUN is a student run program assisted by a teacher advisor, and the ISB MUN team organises and runs the Beijing International Model United Nations (BEIMUN) annually.

Athletics

ISB competes in a variety of sports leagues including APAC (Asian Pacific Activities Conference), China Cup, ACAMIS (Association of Chinese & Mongolian International Schools), and ISAC (International School's Athletic Conference Beijing/Tianjin).[2] ISB's Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman teams participate throughout the year. ISB's varsity sports include baseball, swimming, volleyball, rugby, tennis, basketball, badminton, soccer, softball (girls), ping pong, track & field, and cross country. To end the 2009-2010 season, ISB's girls and boys varsity basketball teams participated in a Super APAC tournament in which both teams finished a respected 3rd out of 12.

Facilities

The School is located on a 32-acre (130,000 m2) campus close to popular residential compounds. Highlights of the school facilities include, 2 libraries with 80,000 volumes, 12 science laboratories, more than 6 elevators, 600-seat professional auditorium/theater, a 25 meter,6-lane competition swimming pool, a 400m running track, 3 gymnasiums, 6 playing fields and tennis courts, a supplies store, 2 cafeterias and an Outdoor Learning Environment (playground). Additionally, the School has 2,500 voice and data ports, 1100 desktop computers, 400 laptops on mobile carts, 150 digital projectors, 70 networked laser printers, and Internet connection throughout.[3][4]

Accreditation

ISB is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and the Council of International Schools (CIS), and is an IB World School. In China, ISB is accredited by the National Center for School Curriculum and Textbook Development (NCCT).[4][5]

ISB is a member of the East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools (EARCOS) and the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC).[6][7]

Notable Alumni

References

  1. ^ http://www.isb.bj.edu.cn/about-history.aspx
  2. ^ http://www.acamis.org/about/members.shtml, ACAMIS
  3. ^ http://www.state.gov/m/a/os/1275.htm, U.S. Department of State, 2009
  4. ^ a b http://members.cois.org/directory/isd_accred.aspx, Council of International Schools
  5. ^ http://caisa.neasc.org/caisa_directory_of_schools, New England Association of Schools
  6. ^ http://www.earcos.org/earcos_schools.php
  7. ^ http://webportal.nacacnet.org/LogIn/login.aspxReturnUrl=%2fMembership%2fMemberDirectorySearch.aspx%3ftoken%3d&token=,

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