Qingdao Amerasia International School

Coordinates: 36°05′59″N 120°26′51″E / 36.099594°N 120.447555°E / 36.099594; 120.447555

Qingdao Amerasia International School (QAIS) is a private, non-profit international school located in Qingdao, China, offering Montessori education from ages 1.5-5 and an inquiry-based curriculum up to age 18.^[1] QAIS has over 200 enrolled students representing 25 countries. Qingdao Amerasia International School is an International Baccalaureate World School, offering the full IB Continuum:^[2] the IB Primary Years Programme, IB Middle Years Programme, and IB Diploma Programme. Their Montessori Toddler and Montessori Early Childhood Programs are the only programs in Asia to be accredited by the American Montessori Society.^[3]

The language of instruction is English with Mandarin Chinese as an additional language taught daily.

QAIS History

Qingdao Amerasia International School began its first classes on September 4, 2006 as Qingdao American International School. This new school was the result of the rapidly growing foreign community in Qingdao and the need for a learning environment that provided a solid education comparable to a typical American K-12 school.

In August 2011, the school became licensed by the Chinese Government as an International School #110, and re-opened with a new philosophy of international mindedness, as well as a new name – Qingdao Amerasia International School.

Curriculum

QAIS curriculum follows both IB and Montessori programmes of study.

Montessori Toddler (18 months – 3 years)

Montessori Toddler students practice their sensory skills with a sandbox

The Toddler program, for children 18 months and up, takes advantage of the toddler’s natural drive to act independently. The QAIS Montessori Children’s House is a Montessori Toddler Program, focused on preparimg an environment that supports the physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development of each child. The children are given opportunities to work individually and cooperatively in a group setting. They learn to verbally express themselves as they explore self, family, and the world in which they live. This helps the children move consciously in the world. Toddlers spend the year becoming comfortable in their classroom community, gaining confidence in themselves, developing an awareness of others, and learning to feel secure in the relaxed atmosphere of our school setting.

Toddlers are in a developmental stage that Maria Montessori called a period of unconscious absorbent creation. In the Toddler's process of embodying the world, adults influence attitudes, characteristics, personality traits, speech habits, mannerisms, and how children come to think about themselves and the world at large. Adults prepare the Toddler's environment with enriching aesthetics, materials, and furniture in order to foster independence and nurture curiosity. The members of our Toddler staff are Montessori certified, as well as loving adults who contribute and facilitating the development of our future generations.

The classrooms are a special place for the young child to begin his/her steps towards independence and self-reliance. The safe, loving, gentle atmosphere puts children and parents at ease and makes for a trusting, spontaneous transition to school. Toddlers come to school five days a week, and may choose to stay for mornings only or a full day.

The Toddler Program is where the children begin to cultivate an interest in learning and a desire for exploration. The Toddlers learn concentration, coordination, language skills, responsibility, and respect-all.

Toddler exercises and activities recognize that children learn by doing. Classroom materials are always accessible, attractive, safe, and geared for a child’s success. Activities are changed regularly in response to children’s need for variety and challenge as they grow and learn. The toddler Montessori classroom emphasizes specific skills, but there is dynamic interplay among the areas, enhancing children’s natural learning process.

Montesori Early Childhood (Ages 3–6)

In the Early Childhood classes at Qingdao Amerasia International School, the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme combines with the Montessori educational environment to reinforce connections between students’ personal world and the global community in which they live.

Montessori Early Childhood Student at Qingdao Amerasia International School studies Geography

In QAIS established Montessori/PYP class for 3-6 year olds, there are no timetables to regiment activities or a fixed syllabus to cramp the expansion of the mind. Here, in an orderly atmosphere of freedom, the children work independently at chosen tasks, working at their own pace and rhythm for as long as they wish in order to fulfill their needs. From the foundation of sensorial experiences, the child builds his mind in the world of abstract ideas.

A Montessori Classroom at Qingdao Amerasia International School

The Early Childhood years are filled with a wide range of didactic materials. The whole world of culture-embracing subject areas, such as geography, history, science, music, art, language and mathematics is open to the child. These early experiences will form a foundation for the wide fields of inquiry and research during the 6–12 years.

The Montessori/PYP Early Childhood course of study includes: Practical Life, Sensorial, Language, Mathematics, Cultural Studies. In addition, music, art, physical education, and library will round out the Early Childhood curriculum.

A Montessori Early Childhood Student at QAIS works on his Sensorial Skills.

IB Primary Years Program (Grades 1 through 6)

QAIS believes that by the age of 6 or 7, children's emerging powers of reason and imagination enable them to explore and discover on an abstract level. Therefore, children are encouraged to research the answers to their own questions. Their research is not limited to the classroom, but also includes opportunities for “going out” on field trips to the library, bank, stores, beach, offices, etc. They develop a better understanding of human life through this direct experience and begin to better appreciate the community in which they live.

The IB Primary Years Program is divided into six transdisciplinary themes: Who we are, How we organize ourselves, Where we are in place and time, Sharing the planet, How we express ourselves, How the world works.

Through these six themes, students will explore the following subject areas: geography, history, biology, English language and literature, Mandarin Chinese language and culture, mathematics (including elements of algebra and geometry), science (including principles of physics and chemistry), and library science. The entire curriculum is integrated, meaning that all subjects are viewed as related. For example, when students study Africa in world history, they might also read African folk tales in world literature, create African masks in art, sing Swahili songs in music, make hieroglyphic calendars in math, and study African animals in zoology.

The Primary Years Programme grades 1-6 course of study includes: Reading, Writing, Word Study, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Chinese, Music, Art, Drama, Violin/Band (Grades 3-6), and Physical Education.

At QAIS, homework is viewed as an extension of their work at school. Typically homework involves some reading, math, research, and writing. The elementary program also includes physical education, computer technology, Mandarin, music, fine arts, practical life and social skills, community service and drama.

IB Middle Years Programme/ IB Diploma Years Programme (Grades 7-12)

Between ages 12–18, children enter their adolescence and begin to construct their “Social Self.” Students place a great emphasis on relationships and strive to find their place in society. This period of development is characterized by self-concern and self-assessment, as well as critical thinking and re-evaluation. Children experience both profound physical changes and complex mental changes.

Qingdao amerasia international school diploma student doing a science experiment

An academic program that allows students to construct their social and moral values through the core subject areas is viewed to be the most engaging for students of this age group.

Cultural development, which has been ongoing since birth, is solidified in this plane.

Cooperative learning, inquiry-based group projects, and portfolio and performance-based assessments yield the most positive results with this age group while they navigate through a deeper understanding of math, science, technology, language, history, PE, art, and music.

Community and service projects help students of this age group to develop compassion and to see the world as interconnected.

The Middle Years Programme grades 7-10 includes the following 8 curricular areas:

• Group #1: Language and Literature (English and Mandarin)
• Group #2: Acquired Language (English and Mandarin)
• Group #3: Humanities (Individuals & Societies, History, Economics, Politics etc.)
• Group #4: Integrated Science (Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics)
• Group #5: Mathematics
• Group #6: Music, Art, Drama, Film
• Group #7: Design Technology
• Group #8: Physical and Health Education

The Diploma Programme grades 11-12 includes three ‘core’ components (Extended Essay,

Theory of Knowledge, and Creativity/Action/Service) in addition to the following 6 curricular areas:

• Group #1: Language and Literature (English and Mandarin)
• Group #2: Acquired Language (English and Mandarin)
• Group #3: Individuals and Societies
• Group #4: Biology
• Group #5: Mathematics
• Group #6: Music or Film

The arts

Art and Drama are taught at Qingdao Amerasia International School as well as Music including Band, Violin, and Orchestra.

Outdoor Activities

Qingdao is widely considered to be one of the most livable cities in Asia for foreign expatriates.^[4] Qingdao Amerasia International School is located less than 1 km from the beach, about 5 km from downtown, and 30 minutes drive from Laoshan Natural Reserve. Guoxin Stadium, with two Olympic-sized swimming pools, a diving pool, gym, a spinning room, fitness classes, and basketball and volleyball courts is in walking distance from the school, while biking and hiking trails of Fu Shan Mountains are just across the road. QAIS students learn to sail at Qingdao International Sailing Center, hike and camp in Asia's highest coastal mountains at Laoshan, and go skiing in the Winter.

Student life

Qingdao Amerasia International School has many extracurricular activities throughout the year and are offered to students from 3:40 to 4:40 on designated days. The list of activities changes throughout the year, but there is a range of activities offered by internal staff and external companies, such as:

· Cooking & Baking

· Ballet

· Soccer

· Basketball

· Chess Club

· Math Club

· 3D printing

· Minecraft

· Calligraphy

· Trampoline and Aerobics

· Lego Club

· Art Club

· Drum Club

· Guitar

· Band

Secondary also has its own student government, known as Student Council, and many of its members also join our Model United Nations (MMUN) student group. The school also has a Youth Club.

Regional and International Trips

Every year, QAIS Secondary students also take a trip to major regional and international destinations. In 2012, students spent a week in Beijing, working in groups to produce travel documentaries about the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, Great Wall of China, and Tian'anmen Square.^[5] In April, 2014, QAIS secondary students spent 6 days in London, England, and in 2015 went to Paris, France, Chengdu, China, and Seoul, South Korea.

In the beginning of 2016, Secondary Students went to Changchun in China. In 2016, Fourteen students from grades 9 to 12 enjoyed a school trip to the Global Issues Conference at the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB). At the same time, 10 QAIS students from grades 6, 7, and 8 students attended the International Schools Theatre Association (ISTA) festival in Shanghai, Pudong. In February 2017, students went skiing in Jimo and in May 2017 grade 7-10 students will participate in a Rome Model United Nations General Assembly event in Rome, Italy.

Facility

QAIS is located in the Shilaoren area of Qingdao. The campus features classrooms and gross motor facilities for toddler and early childhood programs. Throughout the school, classrooms designed to maximize natural light. There are fully equipped science laboratories, cafeteria, library, technology lab, basketball court, and small soccer pitch.

The bottom floor features a music, drama and violin room as well as performance facilities including a stage for student performances. The cafeteria, ping pong court and lower playground with basketball court and small soccer pitch are placed on this level as well. The second floor contains a library which has a tiered story-time area for teachers to read to their classes and printers for teacher and student use as well as a community room and a design teaching space with 3-D printers. Administration offices, a Gross Motor play area for the Early Childhood program as well as Montessori and toddler classrooms are on the fourth floor. These spaces have been newly renovated and all contain complete sets of Montessori materials and manipulative for the programs. Outside of the main entrance on the fourth floor is our upper level playground, which primarily serves our younger students. The Fifth floor has classrooms for grades one through six and the nurse’s office. The learning support office, a fully equipped science lab, and a large art room are also on this floor.

The newly acquired eleventh floor serves MYP and DP students (7-12). On this floor there are high ceilings and large, cleanly furnished classrooms to capitalize on the natural light streaming in from our picture windows, which spans the whole level from floor to ceiling.

Matriculation

QAIS provides an American diploma, recognized by universities around the world.

In June 2012, YoungChul (Kevin) Park became the first student to graduate from QAIS. Having completed four years of study at QAIS, including five Advanced Placement courses, he was accepted to Ohio State University, Miami University of Ohio, and SUNY Albany. Other graduates have been accepted to research and liberal arts institutions in the United States including Brigham Young University, Centre College, and College of Wooster.

In 2014, a QAIS graduate was accepted to all three of Korea's top universities: Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University.

Licensing and Affiliations

QAIS is accredited by many associations. QAIS is an IB world school which means that they are accredited for their IB Primary Years Programme, IB Middle Years Programme and IB Diploma Programme. Their Montessori Toddler and Early Childhood programs are accredited by the American Montessori Society. The school is also accredited by the Middle States Association and is currently a candidate for accreditation with CIS (Council of International Schools).

QAIS is authorized by the National Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, as China No. 110 International School.

Faculty and Staff

Students, teachers and staff of Qingdao Amerasia International School in June, 2012.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Qingdao Amerasia International School.

• QAIS Official Website
• American Montessori Society