Maple Leaf International School -

9 Central Street Jinshitan National Holiday Resort Dalian, , PR China 116650

www.mapleleafschools.com

City of Dalian

Maple Leaf International School-Dalian is located in Jinshitan, 60 minutes from Dalian. Jinshitan is a former fishing village designated by the government as a national holiday resort and educational park. The town has seen a lot of growth in recent years. The area is well known for its golden pebbled beach with thousands of tourists visiting in the summer months.

Maple Leaf International School - Dalian

Maple Leaf International School (MLIS-Dalian) is a private senior high school, grades 10 to 12, consisting of separate campuses for boys and girls. This is the only Maple Leaf school which offers segregated boys’ and girls’ campuses. The school teaches the British Columbia curriculum, has high academic standards, and a caring environment.

Students at MLIS - Dalian

With almost 3000 students, ninety percent of the student body is Chinese, and most students speak Mandarin. English is the official language of the BC program, and English is encouraged at all times; nonetheless, the use of a first language is common in the hallways and playing fields.

Staff at MLIS - Dalian

There are over 125 BC certified academic teachers and 15 ESL teachers. Between both campuses, there are two principals, two deputy principals, one vice principal, six educational coordinators and a number of teacher support and academic advisors, as well as Chinese counselors and office administrators among other staff. Housing

Apartments for teachers are available on the boys and girls campuses with costs deducted from your monthly salary. Rent depends on the size of the apartment, and ranges between $250 and $800 CAD per month. There are many private apartments for rent around the school, but please note that you are required to inform the administration who will inform the Chinese government if you choose to live off campus.

Furnishings

Campus apartments are furnished, but not equipped, and include a dining room table, chairs, couch, an older television, hot plate or stove, hot water heater, refrigerator, microwave, bed, and various end tables and cabinets. The school arranges a trip to Ikea and within a few days of your arrival so you can pick up bedding and other necessities. It is, however, recommended that you come with at least a pillow and light blanket to sustain you until then.

Utilities

For campus apartments, you are responsible for the cost of drinking water, electricity, and internet service. Some internet providers will ask payment of one year’s service in advance. There are additional costs if one chooses to live off campus, such as heating and strata fees.

Pets

Pets are not allowed in school apartments. Some teachers have brought cats and dogs from Canada to China. There is a lot of planning and paperwork involved in this process and requires off-campus living. If you are considering this it is a good idea to come without your pet first and make the decision after you are more familiar with the environment.

Cleaners

Several teachers have arranged for a weekly apartment cleaning service. While the cost can vary, expect general fees of between 20-50 RMB per hour of cleaning, depending on what services you require (i.e., dishes, laundry, etc.). Rail

Light rail is an affordable method to travel to and from Jinshitan and Kaifaqu. There is no line transfer needed when travelling directly from Dalian or Kaifaqu (the development zone) to Jinshitan. Light-rail cars are air- conditioned, but they can be crowded during peak hours. Reloadable cards can be purchased at the Tourist Centre in Jinshitan for a small deposit, and can be used both on the and the Dalian metro line.

Bus

Buses stop close to the school and they can take you from Jinshitan to surrounding areas for an affordable price. For trips into the city, the light rail system is faster and more comfortable.

Taxi

Taxis are easy to find and rates start at 10 RMB for the first 3 km’s and 2 RMB for each additional kilometer. Most drivers do not understand English, so it is recommended that you present the cab driver with the business card of your destination.

Bike

Some teachers buy bikes in Jinshitan from local bike shops. It takes 5 minutes to ride a bike from the school to the beach, and there is a scenic road and boardwalk that runs along the beach.

Walking

You can walk to a number of restaurants, beaches, local attractions, markets and shops within ten minutes of the school. When walking it is important to remember that in China vehicles have the right of way. Groceries

Most of your groceries can be purchased in the local markets and stores. Dashang is a larger store by the light rail train station. Many corner stores have grocery items. The Saturday market is also a weekly event where local vendors sell their wares. There are lots of vegetarian food options available in China. If you are looking for gluten-free or dairy-free food, have your dietary concerns written in Chinese on a small slip of paper.

Household Items

Household items such as furniture and small appliances can be purchased at Ikea or Metro, which is similar to Costco. The school offers new employees a 5000 RMB settling-in allowance to offset the costs of setting up an apartment.

Imports

There is a small import store across the street from the campus that stocks some items that you would find in a Canadian grocery store. You can also visit international supermarket chains such as Walmart and Tesco, or Chinese supermarket chains such as Dashang or Trust- Mart which carry many international grocery brands.

Clothing

Clothing shops and tailors are everywhere. Some teachers find that Chinese fashion styles or fabric quality is not what they are looking for, and most teachers purchase clothing in Canada. Other teachers have clothes made, including suits and jackets. Decathlon (sporting goods) stores are located in both Kaifaqu and Dalian and offer good quality items.

Electronics

China uses 220V power, so if electronics are brought from outside of China, be sure you have necessary filters and adaptors. Plug adaptors can easily be purchased here, but it is not recommended to bring that which may not survive the extra jolt of power. Most laptops are built to adapt to the change in voltage, so there is not usually a problem. Sights

People wanting to socialize, play games, and check out the good view from the TV tower can visit Dalian‟s Labour Park. Zhongshan Square, located in Dalian, is a huge roundabout where people play cards, Chinese chess, or hacky sack. In Jinshitan, Golden Pebble Beach is walking distance from the school.

Entertainment

Kaifaqu‟s Five Colour City is popular with foreigners looking for a fun night out. Wanda Plaza, home of Wanda Cinema, also located in Kaifaqu, shows a variety of Chinese and Hollywood blockbuster movies. Jinshitan itself has a museum of Mao badges, a martial-arts exhibition hall, and Discoveryland Theme Park, which is a place where children and adults can enjoy the park and attractions.

Restaurants

Big Fish, a local Jinshitan Chinese food restaurant serves local favourite dishes as well as Johnny’s Restaurant and many more. For those wanting some western food there is Pizza Hut, McDonalds, KFC, Suzan’s Pizza and Toni Kocht’s. Outdoor booths located next to the market’s live fish area, have a number of shacks that deep fry and boil tasty snacks and dishes.

Travel

Many teachers travel around China to see Beijing and Shanghai, as well as other notable locations. At the same time, teachers visit nearby countries during vacation time. Thailand, Bali and Malaysia seems to be favourites in the winter, while short trips can be made to South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan among other places.

Sports

The school has a number of staff sports teams that you are welcome to join, including ice hockey (Go Dragons!), baseball, and volleyball. Cyclists have a lot to see within minutes of Jinshitan, while many teachers enjoy hiking in the local mountains, such as UFO Mountain, or Big Black Mountain in (Kaifaqu) the development zone.