BULLETIN

Vol 3, Issue 1 In this Edition 2016-17 Mindfulness at ISB TOK and Critical Thinking #1Day Chinese New Year 1 STEAM Genius Hour Olympian Camille Cheng Q&A The Bulletin 4 Real-World Learning with Robots 48 IB Art Students Visit 798

Vol 3, Issue 1 8 Illustrating Inspiration with Bryn Barnard 50 Experts Discuss Mao with IB History Stu- 2016-17 dents 12 Making Time for Mindfulness 54 ISB Alumnus Inspires IB Film Students Joanna Cole 16 Grade 5 Dazzles with Sword Dance Communications& 56 HS Students Pursue Passions at Club and Marketing Manager 18 Behind the Scenes of MS Play Service Fair 'Once Upon a Hutong' Tom Fearon 60 HFH Students Build Hope in Sichuan Bulletin Writer/Editor 22 Self-Driving Cars Excite at MS Science Café 64 Logging off Social Media (and on to sEason Wu Service in Costa Rica) Graphic Designer 24 MS Science Café Explores Cuckoo Migration 68 Chinese New Year Celebrations

26 Futures Academy Space Race Lifts Off 70 Charity Fashion Show

28 Middle School Innovation for #1Day (see 72 Over 200 Attend ISB Alumni Reunions folder for pics) 74 ISB Swimming Coach Awarded NIFISA 30 MS Student Demystifies Physics Scholarship on YouTube 76 Double Dragon Success at Great Wall 32 MS Students Find ‘Inner Warrior’ Shoot-Out at Drama Yoga Festival 80 Tutoring Center Promotes Personalized 34 Genius Hour Powered by STEAM Learning

38 Students Go for Gold at MS Olympics 84 High Spirits for 2016 International Day

40 How TOK Nurtures Critical Thinking 86 ISB Unites for 2016 Terry Fox Run

42 One Act Festival Directors Q&A 90 Alumni Offer College Tips to Seniors

46 Student’s Website Promotes 94 ISB-RIS Diaper Drive Helps Families in ISB Groups, Services Need

96 ISB Students Earn Outstanding IB Results

98 Camille Cheng Q&A

2 3 Real-World Learning with Robots

Grade 4 students explored the fascinating world of artificial intelligence (AI) on Feb- ruary 10 in an educational demonstration featuring seven robots. The robots visited the International School of Beijing (ISB) on behalf of three local companies: Beijing In- terjoy Technology, Beijing Evolver Robotic Company, and CloudMinds.

Among the autonomous androids was Pep- per, a humanoid robot capable of reading people’s emotions; XIaopang (Little Fatty), an air-purifying robot that can respond to questions; and a robotic rabbit that can identify users based on facial character- istics.

Students enjoyed interacting with ro- bots, taking turns to ask questions, shake hands, and even dance with their new friends.

Dr. June Feng, chief scientist at China Mobile, spoke to students ahead of the demonstrations. She noted that creativity and innovation are just as important in ro- botics as more conventional skills, such as math and computer programming.

4 5 “The new technologies of AI are making With more than 30 US and international Asked what she enjoys most about her But will they ever replace teachers? The robots smarter than ever. Their learn- patents to her credit, Dr. Feng has au- work, Dr. Feng pinpointed its collaboration possibilities are limitless, said Dr. Feng. ing capabilities are greatly improving thored more than 50 publications cover- and global-mindedness. year by year. In the past, children grew ing speech recognition, data mining, and “Even today they are being used as faster than the world. Now, technology many other topics. “Working each day in AI, everything teaching assistants. They are not a is growing faster than our children,” is new. You feel you can change the thing of the future, they are an excit- she said. “When our children grow up, they will world in a positive way. Contributing ing current reality,” she said. live alongside robots. It’s great for to a better, smarter world is great, es- Dr. Feng has led research and development them to be exposed to robotics from a pecially when you can apply problem on AI and big data at China Mobile since young age,” she said. solving and math,” she said. September 2013. Previously, she was prin- cipal researcher at AT&T Labs Research for There are many opportunities for students Not long ago, robots were figments of sci- more than a decade. to explore their passion for robotics at fi fantasies. Now, they play an ever-grow- ISB, from kindergarten robot battles to the ing role in daily life of the 21st century. high school Robotics Club.

6 7 Illustrating Inspiration with Bryn Barnard

Which disease causes dizziness, red spots, a black tongue, and a rapid heartbeat? The answer is “Chickaloo,” according to the creative young minds in 4RB.

The inventive diagnosis was inspired by a discussion about the book Outbreak: Plagues that Changed History by Inter- national School of Beijing (ISB) Author in Residence Bryn Barnard.

Leading a class group in the Elementary School Library on October 25, the Ameri- can author and illustrator asked students to suggest a range of symptoms. After they were all written down, he sketched a spotty, balding, dizzy, black-tongued man suffering the unusual ailment.

The only thing missing was the name of the newly created disease. After a vote, “Chickaloo” was decided as most appro- priate.

8 9 Mr. Barnard has illustrated more than 20 “I had no idea how to do it. The only children’s books, but his passion for story- real example I had seen was my art telling goes beyond his vivid artistic crea- teacher,” he recalled. tions. He has also written books that ex- plore natural disasters, innovation in Islam, Inspiration knocked, however, when a and the fate of our oceans. magazine art director visited Mr. Barnard’s high school. In addition to his forays in art and liter- ature, Mr. Barnard is also an experienced “He showed us what he did and told international educator; he is currently an us we could make a living out of be- International Baccalaureate art teacher ing artists. Part of my hope is that I at Busan International Foreign School in can share the same message to stu- South Korea, and has previously studied, dents who are passionate about writ- taught, and spoken at schools and colleg- ing or drawing. Anything is possible, es in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. and you can have a very enjoyable life if you have a job that doesn’t feel like His message to ISB’s elementary school ‘work,’” he explained. students this week has been simple: crea- tivity takes a little bit of sweat. In addition to his presentation to parents on October 26, Mr. Barnard will also teach “Thomas Edison said genius is 99 per- middle school students in early November cent perspiration and 1 percent inspi- as part of his PTA-sponsored visit to ISB. ration, and I believe in that. In this ex- ercise where I get students to come up with a dinosaur or a disease, I en- courage them to go whatever direction they want. I want them to see what happens when you collaboratively com- bine lots of different things into some- thing new,” he said.

It was during his junior year at high school that Mr. Barnard knew he wanted to be an artist. However, navigating that path quickly emerged as a challenge.

10 11 A few chairs squeak as students plant their feet on the ground. Some close their eyes, while others focus on their clasped hands. Making Time It is the beginning of a daily routine for International School of Beijing (ISB) fourth-graders preparing to give their racing minds for Mindfulness a well-earned rest. For the next three minutes, a calm voice lulls the students into a soothing place of mental tranquility.

“Imagine you are holding a warm bowl of soup,” coos the voice from Mind Yeti, a guided audio mindfulness app. “Breathe in slowly through your nose and out through your mouth. Smell the soup as you find your ‘yeti’ body.”

Mind Over Matter

Mindfulness meditation is the practice of quietening the mind to bring awareness and attention to the present moment. It is increasingly being used in schools around the world as a tool to improve student well-being and enhance academic performance.

The benefits of mindfulness in education have been well-doc- umented in research for years. For teachers, these include in- creased responsiveness to students’ needs and better manage- ment of stress. For students, mindfulness is linked to reduced anxiety before testing, increased classroom participation, and improved social-emotional learning.

“Being around peers with your eyes closed can be scary. For our kids to be able to do that now is a great skill. They feel comfortable, safe, and cared for,” said ISB guidance coun- selor Kevin Kooienga.

Together with Catie Spears, Mr. Kooienga facilitates mindfulness activities for elementary school students at ISB. Both counselors also support homeroom teachers by providing training as part of their professional development (PD).

12 13 “It’s nice to give young minds time The latter is especially important for mind- to pause and reflect. There isn’t a lot fulness to flourish. of ‘me time’ for kids. We expect a lot of them and they are surrounded by “Psychological safety and trust among people and things competing for their students, parents, teachers, and ad- attention, so giving them opportuni- ministrators needs to be at the foun- ties to take time out is important,” Mr. dation. A caring, collaborative, and vi- Kooienga said. sion-driven community is built upon psychological safety and trust,” she Investing in Peace of Mind said.

In 2015-16, ISB approved a research and From Mind Yeti exercises in elementa- development proposal to promote mind- ry school classes to guided meditation in fulness among students of all grades. The high school mentoring sessions, ISB coun- grant included faculty training, programs selors have discovered the possibilities facilitated by counselors, and other oppor- (and benefits) of mindfulness are extreme- tunities including parent sessions for the ly promising. wider school community. “In the short term, it’s about helping In July 2016, ISB counselors attended a students de-escalate or decompress. weeklong retreat run by the Greater Good But longer term there are deeper skills Science Center Summer Institute for Ed- that prepare our students for suc- ucators at the University of California, cess in the 21st century,” explained Berkeley. The PD experience explored high school counselor Gina Cuthbert. more than just mindfulness, however, with “Employers are looking for people who counselors learning strategies to foster collaborate, display a growth mindset, empathy and other pro-social behaviors. and think critically to solve problems.”

“It was the best PD I’ve ever had. When In March 2017, ISB’s middle school students we left for the airport, I felt like I want- will undertake a mindfulness unit to build ed to change the world. I felt empow- on strategies learned through mentoring ered and I appreciated the opportuni- sessions. The aim is to give students con- ty to sit and reflect among likeminded fidence in managing challenging situations educators,” said ISB high school coun- and transitions, according to counselor selor Cara Tebo. Bertha Knox.

Skills for Success “Sometimes students might not know how to best deal with certain situa- tions. When there are pressures from Fellow high school counselor Sommer Blohm friendships, schoolwork, and family, it has long been a mindfulness advocate. A can feel a bit like one big mess,” she Pilates instructor who leads classes for ISB noted. high school students and staff, she said the retreat was about “cultivating com- “Practicing mindfulness gives them dif- passion, building empathy, and creating ferent pathways to bring themselves safe spaces in schools.” back to feeling centered where they can think rationally and make con- structive choices.” 14 15 Grade 5 Dazzles with Sword Dance

Marching in perfect formation with their wooden swords tapping the gym’s floor in unison, you could be forgiven for thinking the 120 fifth-graders had been practicing for months.

In fact, they had mastered their impressive sword dance in under three weeks.

Their performance in Gym 1 on August 29 set the tone for a year of strong com- munication and collaboration, according to elementary school music teacher Cyndi Campbell.

“I was really impressed by how well the students were able to silently com- municate with each other. The sword dance is a great way to start the school year because it promotes many of our L21 skills and allows kids to get to know each other better,” she said.

Students danced in small circular groups to a lively soundtrack throughout their performance. Swaying their swords high and low, under and over their arms and legs, the show culminated with each group holding aloft a star formed with their swords.

16 17 Behind the Scenes of MS Play 'Once Upon a Hutong'

An imperial prince’s quest for love and a young maiden’s journey of self-discovery lie at the heart of Once Upon a Hutong, a middle school play staged at the Interna- tional School of Beijing (ISB) from Novem- ber 24 to 26.

Set in Beijing during the Qing Dynasty, the play tells the story of Prince Wang Li (Jimmy J, grade 7) and his search for a wife following the death of his emperor fa- ther. A pageant is held attracting maidens from across China who dutifully demon- strate their intelligence, virtues, and tal- ents.

From her humble hutong home to the For- bidden City, Mei Ling (Michelle J-W, grade 8) impresses the prince with her unique talent: telling Aesop-inspired stories that come to life.

18 19 Written and directed by drama teacher Hannah Northcott, the play was a trans- formative experience for many students whose confidence grew throughout the creative process.

“The audience’s validation was very special to me,” she explained.

“I had Chinese parents who came up to me and said, ‘Our ancestors would have been proud of this play.’ To write a play and give it that kind of integrity means so much.”

From a barely audible, nail-biting perform- er a few years ago to one of the stars in Once Upon a Hutong, Molly H credits drama for boosting her self-esteem and confidence.

In last year’s middle school play, The Seus- sification of Romeo and Juliet, she was a chorus singer. In auditions for this year’s play, she tried out for three roles – and won them all.

“When I first started drama, I was so shy. When I saw other people act I thought they were incredible, but for me acting felt embarrassing and weird. It wasn’t until seventh-grade that I re- alized I could do it,” she said.

“As an eighth-grader, to audition and get so many roles was just incredible. I’ve grown so much as a person. I’m no longer afraid to do class presentations. To act in front of so many people, I’m just so proud of myself.”

20 21 Self-Driving Cars Excite at MS Science Café

The International School of Beijing's (ISB) Audi is exploring ways to develop “piloted Middle School Science Café put aspiring driving” systems, which not only aim to engineers in the driver’s seat on November improve road safety but also allow motor- 25 as Audi China Executive Vice President, ists to watch TV, check email, or browse Saad Metz, discussed innovation in devel- social media. oping autonomous cars. A piloted driving system is effectively Mr. Metz, head of research and develop- like a radar cruise control with automatic ment (R&D) at Audi China, began his talk stop-start technology. While Audi has al- by explaining the origin of his love affair ready produced automated cars that can with cars. self-drive in traffic jams, there is still a long way to go before autonomous cars “When I was your age, I loved cars. cruise along our highways. They were my passion and I knew this was a field I wanted to pursue,” he One of the cars Mr. Metz is most proud of said. is the Audi R8, which won ‘World Perfor- mance Car of the Year’ at the 2016 World With more than 20 years’ experience work- Car Awards. During his presentation, he ing the auto industry, Mr. Metz leads a showed students pictures of a self-driv- team of designers redefining the possibil- ing camouflaged R8 prototype in action on ities of driving in the 21st century. the race track.

As the world’s fastest-growing auto mar- Of course, staying ahead of the compe- ket, China is an important hub for Audi’s tition is an important requirement for Mr. R&D. Metz in his job.

The German company has a 2.5-mil- “I can take any car for a spin, which is lion-euro R&D lab in China where nearly an amazing part of my job. Not only do any condition imaginable can be simulated we test all our own cars, but we also to test car parts, said Mr. Metz. test our competitors’ cars. If I want to drive a Bugatti Veyron, I can,” he said. Outside of the lab, vehicles are tested at altitudes of up to 4,600 meters and in temperatures as low as -35 C in Harbin, he added.

22 23 MS Science Café Explores Cuckoo Migration

The International School of Beijing's (ISB) While the winter flight patterns of cuckoos Middle School Science Café series took in Europe and North America are well-doc- flight on November 4 by shedding light on umented, little is known about where a migration mystery that has long bam- cuckoos in North Asia go when the chill boozled birdwatchers: where do Beijing’s sets in. In spring they lay their eggs, be- cuckoos go in winter? fore leaving in search of warmer weather in late autumn. Renowned local birdwatcher and conser- vationist Terry Townshend spoke to more MS Science Café Kicks Off Prior to the than 50 students in the MS/HS Library for study, a poll was taken by participants the first talk in the series. of the project to hypothesize where the cuckoos would go. Held in the first week of each month, the Science Café introduces middle school Southeast Asia was the most favored des- students to the innovative work of local tination with 46 percent of the vote, fol- researchers and scientists from different lowed by Africa at 36 percent, and India at fields. Each talk includes a Q&A session 11 percent. and refreshments. The tagged cuckoos left Beijing at the end Mr. Townshend shared updates of the of July. One of the most impressive jour- Beijing Cuckoo Project, an ongoing study neys has been by Skybomb Bolt, who flew into the migratory flights of five cuckoos: continuously for two weeks without sleep Flappy McFlapperson, Skybomb Bolt, Zigui, or food across the Indian Ocean, making Mengzhijuan, and Hope. landfall in Somalia on October 31.

Named by students from Beijing middle Another miraculous migration has been schools, each cuckoo has been tagged by Flappy. She flew north towards Rus- with a solar-powered GPS tracker that re- sia for the end of summer, before chang- cords their location and temperature. ing course and crossing Myanmar, India, Oman, Yemen, and then Ethiopia, where she touched down on November 6.

24 25 Futures Academy Space Race Lifts Off

It was one small step for students, one gi- “This was really a team project. It’s ant leap for innovation. been really interesting watching stu- dents work together as we all get to Grade 8 students in the Internation- know each other,” Ms. Giroux added. al School of Beijing (ISB) Futures Acade- my capped off a learning experience out Each exhibition included a website that of this world when they held their Space aimed to inform the public and build sup- Race on September 30, 2016. The six-week port for their space program. There were project-based learning unit required stu- also promotional videos and descriptions dents to work in 10 teams, each represent- of different crew roles from astronauts to ing a developing country’s space program. mission chiefs.

Their mission was simple: to explore what However, the real action was on the drives innovation in space exploration. ground where rival space programs squared off in rover races. Each group developed their mission based upon key objectives. While destinations Jeremy Y was a member of the Columbia and launch dates varied among programs, Space Agency team, whose mission was to each project shared high levels of critical explore Mercury. Jeremy said he most en- thinking and inquiry. joyed learning how to use new technology and researching eclipses. “This was a big skill-based unit. Stu- dents learned all about website design, Controlled on an iPad using the Blink app, research, writing, coding, and building his team's rover was fitted with a mini rovers. They needed to learn a lot of camera and LED lights that allowed it to skills to bring their projects together,” shoot in the dark. said Kelsey Giroux, ISB Futures Acade- my Humanities Facilitator. “We used the 3D printer to make the wheels and axis of our rover. Even Collaboration among students skyrocketed though we lost our race against the throughout the unit, providing the perfect Malaysia team, we were satisfied with launch for the school year. how the rover performed,” Jeremy said.

26 27 Middle School Innovation for #1Day

One Day is a day when all middle schoolers get to choose their own learning and creating. This year’s One Day event took place on January 25, with an exhibition for parents the following day.

In the lead up to One Day, students worked all month during homeroom to brainstorm and design their innovative projects. As a dynamic display of project-based learning, One Day is an opportunity for students to pursue their passions. From coding and card tricks to sewing and sports tutorials, our students never cease to amaze when given the opportunity to innovate.

28 29 International School of Beijing (ISB) Futures Academy student Jeremy N has taken an innovative approach to sharing his pas- MS Student sion for science by launching his own YouTube channel.

In just a few short months, the Grade 8 student has produced Demystifies more than 20 videos for his channel Square Physics. The series demystifies physics in everyday life with engaging experiments Physics followed by easy-to-understand explanations. on YouTube

Personalized Learning Online Creativity and Collaboration

“The universe has a lot of mysteries, Jeremy came up with his idea for the se- and physics helps us answer a lot of ries last year while watching other science questions,” Jeremy says in a trailer for videos on YouTube. his channel. “Join me on an adventure to learn and discover physics. Together “I really like science, particularly phys- we can learn the basic principles of our ics, so I thought I could create my own universe.” channel. After making my first video, I promoted it in the comments section Square Physics is purely a labor of love for of other YouTube science videos. Pret- Jeremy, who has built a following of more ty soon I starting getting subscribers than 150 subscribers. He brainstorms a and people were sharing my videos,” topic early each week before researching he said. it, writing a script, shooting and editing his video, and then finally uploading it. “My main goal is to share my passion. I also want to get more people inter- The channel has all the hallmarks of a ested in science, and share what I’ve sleek YouTube series including eye-catch- learned with other students,” Jeremy ing logo, creative introductions, slick ed- added. iting, and an upbeat soundtrack. One of Jeremy’s recent videos featured Paul Anderson, a renowned US science ed- ucator who spoke to ISB parents on Sep- tember 7. In the video, Mr. Anderson and Jeremy analyze the physics behind the “magnetic cannon” device.

Whether you want to learn more about physics or just see personalized learning in action, check out Jeremy’s videos at Square Physics!

30 31 MS Students Find 'Inner Warrior' at Drama telling as it tracked stages of a warrior's Yoga Fest ival life from infancy to adulthood. MS Students Find What do you get when you combine dra- ma, yoga, and the spirit of a warrior? The Grade 7 student Katie C, currently in her answer is the International School of Bei- third quarter of a yoga enrichment taught 'Inner Warrior' jing's (ISB) inaugural Drama Yoga Festival. by Ms. Northcott, said the festival had been "physically and mentally" stimulating Held at the ISB theater on February 18, as she discovered her own "inner warrior." at Drama Yoga Festival 2017, the festival involved 14 middle school students who participated in workshops "As a seventh-grader, it's common to throughout the morning before delivering experience friendship problems. I've an afternoon performance. also been called 'weak' because I'm skinny. Sometimes it's easy to feel sor- The festival was organized by ISB middle ry for yourself, but it's important to school drama and dance teacher Hannah get up and be strong," she said. Northcott. She teamed up with Evalina Woodward, a teacher at Dulwich College A newcomer to yoga, Molly H stepped out Shanghai, to give students a creative, col- of her comfort zone to learn new skills on laborative platform to discover their "inner stage with the mat. warrior." "I prefer drama, but the opportunity to "I've been a drama educator for more try something new while incorporating than a decade, and I started training my passion turned out to be a great to be a yoga instructor five years ago. experience," said the grade 8 student. While learning about these two disci- plines, I realized how connected both For grade 6 student Deniz G, participating are," said Ms. Northcott, whose per- in the festival was an empowering experi- sonal website is Drama Yogi. ence supported by its solid grounding in mindfulness. MS Students Find 'Inner Warrior' at Drama Yoga Fest ival "We explored our feelings, which helped us produce something very "Drama is about taking you on a jour- special. I've gained an understanding ney into what it means to be human, that I'm a warrior and that I'm stronger while yoga helps you better under- than my challenges, no matter how big stand yourself. In integrating differ- they seem," she said. ent aspects of humanity – your mind, emotions, creativity, body, and voice – you can create a meaningful perfor- mance."

The students followed their weekend festi- val performance with another show at the middle school assembly on February 20. Set to music and colorfully lit, their show incorporated physical theatre and story-

32 33 Genius Hour Powered by STEAM

Collaboration and creativity are at the Creation and Collaboration foundation of Genius Hour, a middle school enrichment at the International School of Inspired by the Latin word genius “to cre- Beijing (ISB) that promotes cross-discipli- ate,” Genius Hour is part of STEAM (Sci- nary personalized learning. ence, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mu- sic), a curricular project supported by ISB’s Currently in its fourth cycle at ISB, the Research and Development fund. 45-minute enrichment held three days per week allows students to pursue their The concept gained worldwide popularity passions under the guidance of faculty in 2013 when it was revealed that Goog- “coaches” who facilitate each step from le used Genius Hour to allow developers planning to presentation. to pursue “passion projects” that had the potential to advance the company. Now, Genius Hour is being embraced by schools to facilitate interest-driven learning.

Lyndsey Cox, coordinator of Genius Hour at ISB, describes it as “like Innovation Day, only spread out over a quarter.” Intro- duced in 2015, Innovation Day challeng- es middle school students to plan, create, and present original projects using a PBL framework – all in one day.

Genius Hour encapsulates the same spir- it of creativity with greater flexibility in terms of time, space, and technology, said Ms. Cox.

34 35 “Genius Hour is all about creation. It “On the exhibition day, they showed integrates authentic learning experi- their prototypes and spoke about their ences with real-world disciplines,” said setbacks. I heard a visitor ask the stu- Ms. Cox, a science teacher. dents if they would take Genius Hour again and they said, ‘Oh yeah, for “It’s inspiring to see the ideas students sure!’ That was really reassuring for develop and how they materialize, but one me because it showed they appreciat- of my favorite aspects (of Genius Hour) is ed the process,” said Ms. Cox. their collaboration with the coaches.” Innovation Camp at NuVu Exhibiting Ingenuity Strategies for improving Genius Hour at The theme for Genius Hour in semester ISB were developed over the summer dur- one of 2016-17 was “learning from the ing a professional development (PD) work- past.” Projects included organic health shop attended by Ms. Cox and seven other juices created by a student who learned to ISB middle school teachers. use a carbonated water machine, fragrant soaps and bath bombs, a personal com- The Innovation Camp at NuVu, an educa- puter built using repurposed parts, and tion training institute in Cambridge, Mas- even a classical music symphony created sachusetts, using composition software. provided ISB teachers with clear pathways Students also used skills and materials for enhancing personalized learning. from other middle school enrichments to create their projects. One girl made her “It was very different from other PD own line of essential oils using rosemary experiences, because it wasn’t strict- and jasmine grown in ISB’s greenhouse, ly based on information dissemination. while another used her sewing skills All of us teachers were thrust into it, learned in an arts and crafts enrichment doing the same types of projects stu- to make plush toys from upcycled materi- dents would normally do. For me, that als. was very powerful,” she said.

However, one of the highlights of Geni- “I’m excited for this year because us Hour for Ms. Cox was a pedal-powered I’m incorporating some of the ideas I hand dryer by a pair of sixth-graders that gained from the NuVu model into Ge- in fact turned out to be “too ambitious.” nius Hour. We’ve also modified stu- Although the project didn’t succeed, the dent-coach interaction to facilitate boys learned a valuable lesson: not all in- more authentic learning experiences.” novations succeed the first time.

36 37 Students Go for Gold at MS Olympics

Beijing might be a long way from Rio, but Olympic fever gripped ISB on August 26 when the middle school held their own version of the Games.

Normally held in May toward the end of the school year, the mid- dle school PE department decided to host the event in August for several reasons.

“We usually have all our PE events, including the Olympics, Swim Challenge, and Track-and-Field Day, in semester two. We wanted to move the Olympics to the start of the school year to give students a chance to earn points for their re- gions in semester one and, more importantly, to coincide with the Rio Olympics,” said Keith Jarman, middle school PE teacher.

Eight regions representing different parts of the world form a house-like system in the middle school. In the Olympics, students earned points for their region by competing in six different sports organized by grade level.

Podium honors at this year’s Olympics went to Southeast Asia (99 points), with West Europe (97 points) claiming second. East Europe and North Asia tied for third with 94 points each.

Several modified sports including bucketball, mini-volleyball, and kickball featured at this year’s Olympics.

Despite Southeast Asia topping the points tally, Mr. Jarman noted fun and teamwork were the real winners on the day.

“Seeing everybody involved was a big highlight. The stu- dents’ enthusiasm on the day, displayed through both their individual performance and their support for each other, was great to see,” he said.

38 39 The Internet has given us unprecedent- ability to identify factors that shape our ed access to information by making the information is an important skill. How TOK right answer to almost any question just a Google (or Baidu) search away. "In the past, I used to just listen to what was said in a news report. Now, I Nurtures But have you ever considered how knowl- consider how news is framed. By see- edge is created, communicated, and con- ing how information changes before sumed? it comes to me – such as through a Critical Thinking headline or how a person is depicted – As a core subject of the International Bac- I have a deeper understanding of what calaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, The- has happened," said Sean W, an ISB ory of Knowledge (TOK) asks these exact junior. questions. TOK not only promotes L21 skills in ISB's For students, TOK promotes greater curriculum, such as inquiry and problem awareness of their personal and ideologi- solving, but also connects students to the cal assumptions. It also gives them a solid school's core value of global-mindedness. grounding in the diversity and richness of By fostering diversity of thought, students cultural perspectives. consider their role in an increasingly con- nected world. "The big idea is that knowledge is mal- leable and not something that's fixed," "You need to think with an open mind. said Christian Bryan, a TOK teacher at On the surface, it can seem like a dif- ISB. ficult subject. But once you get into it, you develop valuable critical thinking "Rather than sit and passively receive skills," said Niamh M, another grade 11 knowledge, we're asking kids to ap- student. proach knowledge by giving them a framework. It's like opening their neu- By being aware of themselves as thinkers, ropathways and giving them new ways students are encouraged through TOK to of looking at the world." become more acquainted with the com- plexity of knowledge and how it is culti- TOK spans grades 11 and 12 for IB stu- vated. dents, but its assessment boils down to a 1,600-word essay and an oral presentation "I see knowledge as leaves on a tree – a stressful culmination to 100 hours of – they form and then fall, provid- study. ing 'compost' for further knowledge. Students enjoy new ways of thinking "It's not a lot, which is why my teach- about knowledge. It frees them up and ing aim is to reduce anxiety and raise allows them to see the world in a dif- confidence," said Dr. Bryan, who has ferent way," noted Dr. Bryan. co-authored several textbooks, includ- ing one published last year for TOK.

With terms like "fake news" and "alterna- tive facts" popularized by the media, the

40 41 One Act Festival Directors Q&A

Next week the curtain will raise on the One Act Festival, an annual tradition for thespians at the International School of Beijing (ISB) now in its 12th year. This year’s festival features a lineup of 11 short plays representing a wide range of genres.

Ahead of the festival, ISB spoke to three seniors to learn more about their plays and efforts behind the scenes. Melanie B will direct The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, a musical tale of a troupe of misfit kids competing in a spelling com- petition; Kelsey S is at the helm of Mag- nificent Nightmare, a play written by ISB alumna Suzy Kim ('12) that depicts a man’s gradual descent into madness; and Connie Z directs her original play Work in Pro- gress, which she describes as “a twisted love story for people who don’t like love stories.”

42 43 What inspired you to direct a play What do you want audiences to What has been the most reward- in this year’s festival? gain from your plays? ing part of this experience?

Melanie: I’ve always had a passion for di- Melanie: I want people to laugh and un- Melanie: It has made me appreciate the The One Act Festival will be held on Thurs- recting. I have a distinct vision in my head derstand the pressures adults place on work that goes into creating a piece of day and Friday (January 19 and 20), with that I love seeing realized on stage. When kids during school, especially how some art. Knowing what needs to be done as a plays staged in the theater, Black Box, and the opportunity came up to direct in the expectations are unrealistic. director, I now see plays from a different studio 1726. Please contact the high school One Act Festival, I jumped on it. perspective. I have loved seeing my cast office for a schedule. Kelsey: For a “theater of cruelty” play, you have fun together and come up with their Kelsey: This is my second year directing. want to unsettle the audience and look at own ideas. My sister used to rave about Mr. Rose- things from a different point of view. Be- vear’s theater class and I wrote my college cause this is a whole new genre for me – I Kelsey: It keeps you on your toes. Man- application essay about how theater has hadn’t learned about it until Mr. Rosevear aging so many things – from lighting and made me more outgoing and confident. suggested it to me – I want to develop my sets to actors and script changes – pre- own deeper understanding about it. pares you for organizing events and keep- Connie: I was a bit of a latecomer to ing things in order and on schedule. theater, joining in eleventh grade. After Connie: I just want the audience to dis- one year, I discovered I loved it. I also have cuss the play. There is a lot of overlap in Connie: I am really happy with my cast. I an interest in creative writing, so this year the monologues. If you watch one set, have excellent actors and they have em- I decided to write and direct my own play. there is one clear storyline. It is only by braced their roles just as I had hoped. discussing [the play] with other people Seeing my characters come to life has that you discover there is more than just been very interesting. one story.

44 45 Student's Website Promotes ISB Groups, Services

An International School of Beijing (ISB) Launched in the first semester of 2016-17, senior has created a website that gives the website has already generated posi- parents and students information about tive feedback from its users. curricular activities, charities, and even cafeteria lunch menus. “I feel compensated by people using the website,” said Sung, whose first Sung L, a founding member of high school foray in coding came as a sophomore service club Donate Your Passion, de- when he created MacsApp, an online signed Connect in his spare time using platform with educational and utility web development platform Wix “and a little applications designed specifically for bit of customized HTML.” students.

Featuring a clean yet colorful layout, the “Computer science is a passion of website is easy to navigate and stream- mine. I’m really interested in startups lines information more commonly accessed and entrepreneurship,” he explained. on ISB’s website and parent portal Drag- ons’ Gate. Creativity and collaboration were key ele- ments in the website’s design, with Sung “As an economics student, I think about enlisting the skills of classmate Nicole B supply and demand. I realized there from the Draxonic Design Studio to create was an interest among high school a logo. students for integrated information. Through my website, I want to promote Despite being in his final year at ISB, Sung student groups and help parents con- insisted his website is “definitely not going nect with their children’s interests,” he to graduate with me.” said. “I’m planning to train younger students The website has six categories – Charity so that they can take over it in future,” Organizations, News Reporters, ISB Tutor- he said. ing Center, ISB Student Groups, ISB STU- CO, and Food Services – each of which contains contact information and repre- sentatives’ bios.

46 47 IB Art Students Visit 798

High school art students at the Interna- The tour began with a look of Zeng’s tional School of Beijing (ISB) took a jour- paintings, which spanned a period of more ney into the world of conceptual and sur- than 20 years. The Wuhan-born artist’s realist art during their visit to the 798 Art large, expressive works reflected his in- District in Beijing on November 16. tuitive and psychological sense calibrated with expressionistic techniques. More than 30 students from grades 11 and 12 took part in the experiential learning Students had previously studied Zeng’s opportunity, examining works by several seminal Mask series, which explored ten- artists including Zeng Fanzhi, Sol LeWitt, sions between the artist's existential con- Zhang Xiaogang, Hao Liang, and Wang cerns and his new contemporary urban life Haiyang. “It really shows the progression of Ze- The artists’ masterpieces, which included ng’s style. It gives the students an in- paintings, sculptures, and multimedia in- sight into his development as an artist, stallations, gave students inspiration for in particular how one’s work changes their own creations as part of their Inter- over time,” said Ms. Zvinakis. national Baccalaureate (IB) Art studies. Just like painting a giant masterpiece re- Grade 11 students were tasked with writ- quires time and patience, discovering in- ing a review of works that caught their novation comes one brush stroke at a eye, while for seniors the visit was an op- time, according to IB Art teacher Brian portunity to take time out of their busy Reverman. schedules and enjoy art without any as- sessment. “Creative inspiration isn’t always imme- diate or obvious, and can often crop IB Art teacher Aimee Zvinakis explained up later. Making meaning can take time the process of viewing art can be just as and it can be pretty overwhelming, so important as creating it. we try and let students develop at their own pace,” he said. “It’s easy for kids to be impatient now- adays due to technology. Many just Check out ISB high school art students’ want a video or a screen to scroll. Ex- creative works by following their collabo- amining art gives them an opportunity rative Instagram account @zstudentart to see something real and up close,” she said.

48 49 Experts Discuss Mao with IB History Students

He is the founding father of the People’s Experts Share Insight on Mao with IB His- Republic of China whose leadership paved tory Students the way for the country’s modern eco- nomic ascendency, but Mao Zedong’s leg- From Cultural Bust to Economic acy is characterized as much by triumph Boom as tribulation.

Mao’s vision of China becoming a “com- On November 17, more than 30 Internation- munist utopia” facilitated nation-building al School of Beijing (ISB) students learned during the early years of his rule. During about the chairman’s successes and set- their opening discussion, the experts ex- backs from a panel of experts at a “Mao plained how China had suffered from im- Salon” hosted at The Bookworm in down- perialism, World War II, and a protracted town Beijing. civil war before Mao seized power.

The experiential learning opportunity be- He became a national hero for uniting the gan with a discussion led by three ex- country and imploring the Chinese people perts: Zhang Lijia, a writer and lecturer to “stand up” in the world. However, dis- who grew up in China under Mao’s rule; astrous policies during Mao’s early rule re- Liu Baocheng, an associate professor at sulted in catastrophes that affected tens the University of International Business of millions of people in rural areas - a re- and Economics in Beijing; and Chris Buck- ality unknown to many at the time. ley, a veteran China correspondent who has a PhD in Chinese studies. “People had very limited access to in- formation. Even as Mao was making The event was organized for Internation- mistakes in the 1950s and 60s, such as al Baccalaureate (IB) History students for the famine caused by the Great Leap their units on authoritarianism and Mao’s Forward, those growing up in the city role in the Cold War. didn’t know how much suffering was going on in the countryside,” Dr. Buck- A similar Mao-themed learning experience ley said. was held last year for IB History students that included a visit to the statesman’s Mao’s cult of personality peaked during mausoleum and talks by a Communist Par- the Cultural Revolution, which resulted in ty historian and former revolutionary.

50 51 massive upheaval for the intellectual elite. point strategy offered interesting parallels to the leadership and world-system theo- However, it was also a formative period of ries studied in IB History. change. Dr. Buckley noted China’s tran- sition from a Soviet-style economy to a “Number one is to isolate information market-driven one was a “paradoxical leg- to manage the message. Number two acy” of the period. is creating a ‘common enemy’ to unite the people, such as the US or Soviet “Seeing that communism wasn’t go- Union,” said Dr. Liu. ing to provide China with the utopi- an modernization Mao envisioned, that “Number three is to stir up inter- disillusionment created the conditions nal struggles among people, because that made it possible for Deng Xiaoping when people fight a leader’s voice be- and leaders of that generation to take comes stronger. And number four is to China on another course,” he said. promote political ceremony, such as reading the ‘Little Red Book’ or [Red Mao’s Mixed Legacy Guards] wearing uniforms or badges,” he added. Following the panel discussion and a Q&A session, the experts led small groups of Self-Directed Learning around a dozen students. Students used deliberative methods practiced in class to IB History teacher Bill Tolley said the day guide the discussion. was an opportunity for students to per- sonalize learning and exercise their critical In her talk with students, Ms. Zhang ex- thinking. plained how a giant golden statue of Mao had been torn down in central China ear- “This is the self-study unit for the IB. lier this year following criticism about its It’s the part of the course where I ask construction. the students to take charge of their own studies. I don’t directly lecture The example highlighted the leader’s com- them and they have to find their own plex historical legacy and the enduring rift materials,” he said. of opinions today. “Watching them demonstrate how per- “There is still such a deep divide about fectly prepared they are to have en- how to view Mao. There are liberal, gaging conversations is the most re- global-minded people and those who warding part for me as their teacher.” personally suffered under his cam- paigns on one side, then there are left- The “Mao Salon” concluded with a final ists and those nostalgic for the past Q&A session in which students answered on the other side,” said Ms. Zhang. experts’ questions.

Dr. Liu shared insight into the strategy Mao and other Cold War leaders exploit- ed to strengthen their support. The four-

52 53 ISB Alumnus Inspires IB Film Students

Since graduating from the International New York, where he is lead commercial di- Despite his desire to become a filmmak- about a pumpkin carver, begins seemingly School of Beijing (ISB) just over a decade rector at advertising agency BBDO. er, Lawrence didn’t take the “normal” as a horror film before turning into a doc- ago, Lawrence Chen (’05) has achieved path into the industry by studying at film umentary. more than many filmmakers hope to in a During an engaging Q&A session, he school. Instead, he found ways to explore lifetime. This year he won three Golden shared his experience as a filmmaker and his passion while double majoring in bi- Sharing his shot list and storyboard, Law- Lions at the Cannes Film Festival, adding offered tips to those thinking of following omedical engineering and economics at rence took students behind the scenes by to the eight awards he won at the same in his footsteps. Duke University. explaining the logistics of lighting, loca- festival the previous year. tion, and other aspects of production. “My film career started in the same After graduating from university in 2009, His other credits include directing the mu- room you’re all in right now,” said Law- Lawrence moved to New York “with no “Everything he spoke about was just sic video for folk rock band Delta Rae’s rence, who credited ISB’s longtime film money and nowhere to live.” It was there so practical. Many of our film students song “Bottom of the River,” which cur- teacher Breen O’Reilly for sparking his he honed his craft by creating short have the creativity and innovation rently has more than 4 million views on love for cinematography. productions for MoFilm, an online con- needed in filmmaking, but the ability to YouTube, along with directing, editing, tent-sourcing platform. take those great ideas and turn them and producing dozens of documentary, “I learned the basics of film at ISB, and into professional productions is what commercial, and narrative films. I knew immediately that I loved it. From Secrets Behind the Lens will set them apart,” said Mr. O’Reilly. tenth grade onwards, I edited every Lights, Camera, Action! school video and explored my interest During his master class, Lawrence ex- “Lawrence’s words were a real inspi- in film.” plained the creative process behind many ration for our students. It was a per- Lawrence spoke to ISB’s IB Film students of his most successful recent films. One sonalized, student-centered learning via teleconference on September 29 from his analyzed films, a Snickers commercial experience in every sense,” he added.

54 55 HS Students Pursue Passions at Club and Service Fair

Nearly 50 clubs and service groups show- tivities, learn new skills, or organize annual cased what they have to offer high school events that raise funds for worthy causes. students at an annual fair on August 24. HS Students Pursue Passions at Club and ISB Activities director Simon Parker said Service Fair the school’s clubs and service groups allow students to embrace core val- Leadership and Responsibility ues including respect, service, and glob- al-mindedness, while also nurturing their Founded in 2009, Greenkeepers is one of individual growth and learning through the most visible clubs at ISB. Its members active engagement. strive to make the school more environ- mentally friendly by promoting recycling, “Clubs and service groups give stu- energy efficiency, and waste reduction. dents the opportunity to meaningfully contribute to both ISB and the wider ISB senior Debbie F, who joined Green- community,” he explained. “It’s great keepers in 2014, said she was inspired by to see students you see on the bas- the club’s positive changes at school and ketball court sitting behind a desk pro- in the local community. moting Habitat for Humanity. It high- lights the diversity of an ISB education “I was really drawn by the fact it’s stu- and our students’ broad range of in- dent-led and allows us to demonstrate terests and passions.” leadership and responsibility through fundraising and cleaning up local riv- All clubs and service groups are super- ers. We can all make a big difference vised by a teacher or staff member, with through little actions,” she said. most meeting weekly to participate in ac-

56 57 Service and Respect which creates a special bond. We live Creativity and Innovation “Draxonics allowed me to pursue my in a pretty enclosed setting as ISB stu- interest. As someone with a passion Another iconic service group that attract- dents, so it’s important to break out Have you ever seen the unique logos for graphic design, being able to share ed a lot of interest at the fair was the of that ‘bubble’ and develop a deeper on ISB student-athletes’ apparel? The that with friends let me to take it to Nightingale Charity Club (NCC). Its mem- understanding of the real world,” he eye-catching posters on campus no- the next level,” said Karina Z, now in bers meet bimonthly with children from explained. tice boards? Or even trophies decorating her fourth year as a Draxonics mem- the Langfang Orphanage to provide com- school hallways? If so, you’ve seen the tal- ber. panionship and emotional support “It’s easy to feel detached watching ents of graphic designers in the Draxonic kids in need on the news or TV, but Design Studio. Jeffrey W, a senior who joined NCC in his when you can make a real difference freshman year, said helping underprivi- to the lives of those in your city or The club is another time-honored ISB in- leged children had been a life-changing neighborhood, it makes the experience stitution where students, who don’t neces- experience that taught him the value of more impactful,” he added. sarily start out tech-savvy, can learn the global-mindedness. basics of graphic design through weekly HS Students Pursue Passions at Club and tutorials, activities, and competitions. “The kids [from the orphanage] will Service Fair hold your hand and call you ‘brother,’

58 59 HFH Students Build Hope in Sichuan

Situated deep in a valley in Sichuan Prov- Yaojia to construct homes and walkways the trip. They explained that Yaojia is an The first day was ominous for both groups, ince, Yaojia township is nestled between for the village. ancient village, and HFH works with the as heavy rains made the earth difficult to steep cliffs of deciduous trees and flat Chinese government to preserve villages level, while bricks became cumbersome to farmland. On overcast days, fog swirls Team members were delegated tasks, such like it. move in the heavy mud. through the valley, masking the deep as moving bricks, passing roofing tiles, and green foliage and red clay-saturated painting walls. But the crowning achieve- Upon our crew's arrival, seniors Joel C Progress picked up on the second day earth. ment of our labor was an approximately and Jasper H led warmups and assigned with bright skies, but our team was dealt five square-meter brick walkway. students roles for the day. Focusing on another setback when they found that the In November 2016, 14 International School the walkway project, most students were first day's bricks had been improperly laid of Beijing (ISB) high school members of The five-day mission began with a short tasked with leveling ground or carrying and needed to be redone. Significant work Habitat for Humanity (HFH), accompanied presentation by HFH Sichuan team leaders bricks up a gentle slope for use in the would be necessary on the final day to by Mr. Panych and Ms. Kinsella, visited Scotty Li and Kevin Shang on the goals of path. finish the projects on time.

60 61 The final day resulted in completion of the brick pathway, which provided a much saf- er walking surface compared to the previ- ous uneven muddy ground. With the walk- way complete, hundreds of bricks moved into stacks for laying, and the exteriors of several village houses completely painted, the build team completed their work.

Local government representatives also vis- ited the site and were impressed by our progress. They brought us cases of water, took photos, and expressed their deepest gratitude.

We also set up an interview with a local couple, Mr. and Mrs. Xin, who were re- sponsible for all of our delicious and nu- tritious lunches while at the village. The elderly couple, aged 76 and 73, expressed heart-warming gratitude to the volun- teers, who were assembled on the patio of a village house.

As the first group to work in the township, the villagers said they learned more about our organization and were very thankful for the help. They were touched that a group of students had come to help them. The villagers said that with our help, they are able to live in houses with better con- ditions.

In addition, the villagers said that the brick walkway for their courtyard area will bring "great convenience for them and other vil- lagers."

62 63 Logging off Social Media (and on to Service in Costa Rica)

Editor’s Note: By Daniel C, Grade 11

The following article is by ISB junior Daniel As a wise man once said, "Time is what C based on his experience last summer in we want the most, but what we use the Costa Rica for a leadership development worst." We all know that social media and service program. Daniel is a develop- provides society with innumerable bene- ment ambassador for the Rustic Pathways fits including worldwide connectivity and Foundation (RPF), an organization that real-time information sharing. However, promotes locally-driven, sustainable solu- alongside these benefits there are also tions for education, infrastructure, com- disadvantages including uncensored ex- munity health, social services, and eco- plicit content, cyber bullying, scams and nomic development. identity thefts, invasions of privacy, and other unwanted drama. Yet, despite these Daniel visited Costa Rica to help launch a cons to social media, I've realized a more drinking water project for which he raised pressing issue social media users face. a staggering $US17,000 from a fundraising campaign that involved more than 220 do- Before summer of 2016, I was just anoth- nors, over 60 percent of whom were from er social media-obsessed adolescent. It the ISB community. For exemplifying ISB's wasn't until I lost my access to technol- core values of respect and global-mind- ogy that I gained something much more edness, Daniel was awarded High School meaningful: a deeper appreciation of the Student of the Month in October 2016 and world and those dear to me. During that RPF's Top Fundraiser Award last year. He summer, I enrolled in a three-week pro- was also appointed to RPF's Alumni Advi- gram in Costa Rica. It was in this tropical sory Board in February 2017. Central American country that I developed new attributes and skills including lead- ership, responsibility, communication, and collaboration.

64 65 However, most importantly I recognized The more we use it, the easier it becomes well?" As I continued down the hill and may end up in the hospital and by then my obsessions with social media and thus to withdraw from or have any tangible into the street, I saw countless smiles on it could be too late to say, "I could have learned a valuable life lesson. connection to the real world. We are ob- my peers' faces, the never-ending moun- spent more time with them." sessed with our number of "followers," the tains, and the rising sun. Shortly into the program, WiFi (and there- "likes" our posts get, and the places our My biggest lesson from my experience was fore social media) was no longer acces- name is "tagged." Our inability to recog- From the personal insights that came from to avoid becoming too attached to "smart" sible. In the beginning, I felt a constant nize we are under this social media "spell" this trip, I learned to look beyond the sur- devices. Life is too short, and more time sense of dissatisfaction and hopelessness, burdens us. face of my life and what I want it to stand should be spent cherishing moments with like a part me had been torn away. It was for. To see more than the metaphoric tip those around us. After all, social me- a pivotal first week as I learned to adept Standing atop a hill, I gazed over the vast of the iceberg conveyed in social media. dia doesn't age – mankind does. The real and accept the change; it was as if I was lands of Costa Rica: its nature, scenery, To see and experience the world around question is: what do you value more? experiencing addiction withdrawal. and people. I reflected on my life and re- me. alized how much time I've wasted in my As the first week came ended, I gradually obsession to keep up with social media – Time flies and some experiences may only recognized the toll that social media had and how I could never recover that time. come once in a lifetime. Each second you taken upon my life; my world before Costa spend away from your family and friends Rica had constantly revolved around the I asked myself, "What about the people is a second lost forever. We need to rec- Internet. Moreover, I realized my social me- around me? What about spending that ognize how much of our time is consumed dia addiction was not only affecting me, it time with family and friends? What about by social media, because we never know was consuming society. living in the moment? How could I do that what may come to pass. Someone we love

66 67 Chinese New Year Celebrations

ISB welcomed the Year of the Rooster with a fantastic day of cultural celebrations and learning opportunities on January 26, 2017. This year’s festivities included an acrobat show, school-wide parade, calligraphy, dumpling making, and Tai Chi.

68 69 ISB hosted its annual Charity Fashion Show at the theater on February 11. This year’s event featured 12 student designers, six Charity Fashion student performances, and nearly 100 models. The show raised funds for charity organizations Roundabout and The Starfish Show Project.

70 71 Over 200 Attend ISB Alumni Reunions

The International School of Beijing (ISB) Los Angeles on January 15, with 40 alum- held six alumni reunions across China and ni; Toronto on January 18, with 24 alumni; North America over winter, bringing to- New York on January 20, with 50 alumni; gether more than 200 former students, and Boston on January 25, with 25 alumni. teachers, and friends. The combined at- tendance at the reunions marked the larg- Our next alumni event will be the an- est in ISB's history. nual ISB Alumni Weekend on May 25-27, 2017. The weekend includes a campus day, ISB Head of School Tarek Razik and Depu- alumni dinner, and the graduation cere- ty Head of School Mark Hardeman shared mony for our Class of 2017. updates about the school with alumni at each event. They also showed videos that Of course, you don't need to attend an included greetings from current faculty alumni reunion to stay connected with members, an ISB Alumni Association pro- former classmates. Since the launch of the motional video, and another that high- ISB Alumni Network last year, more than lighted personalized learning at the school. 800 current and former students, faculty, and parents have joined the social media The first gathering was held in Shanghai platform. on November 17, with former elementary school assistant principal Greg Smith and The website is a hub for ISB memories former high school principal Paul Wood with its photos from yesteryear as well as among special guests at the 25-alum- a forum to share personal milestones, such ni-strong event. as weddings and births. Users can even post jobs to connect fellow alumni with Hong Kong was the next destination on professional opportunities. December 1, with ISB's incoming Head of School Patrick Hurworth, currently high With more than 25,000 page views to date school principal at Hong Kong International and web and app versions, the ISB Alumni School, introducing himself to 35 alumni. Network is your go-to source for the lat- est in our dynamic global community. In North America, reunions were held in

72 73 ISB Swimming Coach Awarded NIFISA Scholarship

As a dual Olympian, International School and technique, including biomechanics of Beijing (ISB) swimming coach Conrad and training methodology. This course Francis competed at the elite level in the will give me the latest knowledge of pool. Now, he is preparing to dive into sport science and improve my coaching a new challenge after being awarded a ability," he said. scholarship from the elite National Insti- tute of Fitness and Sports International Coach Francis is no stranger to balanc- Sports Academy (NIFISA) in Japan. ing sport with study, having earned his bachelor's degree in sports development, Coach Francis, who represented Sri Lanka management, and recreation in Melbourne at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games, will on the side of his career as an elite inter- attend the institution's fifth seminar next national swimmer. month in Kanoya, Japan. The weeklong program will cover sport science, physiol- Although he will be heading to Japan on ogy, nutrition, and new technology. his own, Coach Francis said he was grate- ful for the support shown by ISB's Activ- The former butterfly and breaststroke spe- ities Director Simon Parker and Aquatics cialist is one of just 10 scholarship recipi- Director Nic Wilson. ents worldwide for the program. "Both have been fantastic. When I told Coach Francis was thrilled when he found them about this opportunity, there out he had been accepted after a series were no hesitations and they backed of interviews with academy leaders, saying my application 100 percent. I'm very the seminar would help him take ISB swim- grateful to be part of such a support- ming to greater heights. ive team where professional develop- ment is highly valued," he said. "Sport is a field of unlimited science

74 75 Double Dragon Success at Great Wall Shoot-Out

The International School of Beijing’s (ISB) match with two key players sidelined with varsity boys’ and girls’ basketball teams injuries. Two minutes into the game, mat- were crowned champions of the 2016 Tim ters went from bad to worse when star Callahan Great Wall Shoot-Out after dom- Daniel E sprained his ankle and hobbled inating their finals on November 26. off court.

Named in honor of former ISB physical CISS edged out their injury-ravaged oppo- education teacher and varsity basketball nents 49-41, building anticipation for both coach Tim Callahan, the Great Wall Shoot- teams’ repeat showdown in the final later Out is a round-robin tournament played that day. over three days. This year was the 13th edition of the annual tournament. Despite some players still nursing injuries, ISB coach Bruce Weir said all his players In addition to hosts ISB, six other schools were motivated to perform strongly in competed in this year's tournament: Stam- front of their vocal home crowd. ford American International School Sin- gapore (SAIS); Shanghai American School “Fortunately, we had all three players Pudong (SASPD), Sha Tin College Hong back for the final. Daniel was still hurt- Kong (STC); Concordia International School ing, but once he got into his rhythm Shanghai (CISS); International School of he was unstoppable,” said Coach Weir. the Sacred Heart Tokyo (ISSH); and West- ern Academy of Beijing (WAB). Experience was one of ISB’s main strengths for the boys’ team, which boast- Saturday’s action tipped off with ISB's ed a lineup of eight returning players. Four varsity boys playing CISS in their fi- of the team’s six seniors – Daniel E, Thom- nal round-robin game. ISB went into the as C, Tommy S, and Ho Sun C – had been coached by Mr. Weir since seventh-grade.

76 77 “All of them have become well-rounded players. They were always good ath- letes, but now they have a complete game which has really strengthened us as team,” he said.

ISB proved too strong for CISS in the fi- nal, running out 79-55 winners. Daniel E and Thomas C were both chosen for the All-Wall team, an inter-school squad rep- resenting the competition’s best players.

In the girls’ final, ISB was again matched with CISS. Both teams worked hard on of- fense and defense, but it was the Dragons who would eventually clinch a hard-fought 41-35 win.

Girls' team coach Darren Smyth said the final was "always going to be an interest- ing affair" after his side had lost by just two points to CISS in the final game of round-robin play.

"We knew that CISS would come out full of confidence for the final, so we just tried to weather the storm and not make too many silly mistakes. It wasn't until the third quarter that we pulled away to a 10-point lead, which we were able to keep for most of the rest of the game," he said.

In the games for third place, SASPD de- feated WAB in the boys and STC overcame WAB in the girls.

The Tim Callahan Great Wall Shoot-Out is more than just a basketball tournament, combining sportsmanship with a mean- ingful cultural connection. Students from visiting schools also tour the Great Wall and Forbidden City during their time off the court.

78 79 Tutoring Center Promotes Personalized Learning

Since it was founded four years ago, the Top-Level Training International School of Beijing's (ISB) tu- toring center has gone from strength to ISB tutors must complete a minimum 12- strength as a vibrant learning community hour basic online training course that where students help each other. This year gives them skills in nonverbal communi- the center has 21 tutors who provide one- cation, cultural awareness, and critical on-one help to students across a range of thinking. Those interested in learning more subjects. about tutoring can also take intermediate or advanced courses. Amei S became a tutor as a ninth-grader when the center was created by former Cynthia L, an ISB senior who tutors chem- students Jennifer Chung and Angela Chen, istry, biology, and Spanish, is currently both of whom graduated from ISB in 2015. taking the advanced course. Now a senior, Amei said she was attract- ed to tutoring for its academic and social “The courses instill a sense of profes- benefits. sionalism. You develop a deeper under- standing of students’ needs, includ- “I felt that it would be a good way to ing how you can talk to parents and meet students I wouldn’t necessari- teachers to help each student reach ly get to know. As a high school stu- their potential,” said Cynthia, who be- dent, I’ve actually become really good came a tutor in tenth-grade. friends with some seventh-graders,” said Amei, who tutors science and eco- nomics.

“Tutoring also solidifies what you learn in class. Teaching others reinforces what you already know,” she added.

80 81 Multi-Tiered Support Meaningful Milestones

ISB high school teacher Daniel Russell For many seniors, staying on top of their describes the tutoring center as a “mul- own studies can be stressful enough with- ti-tiered support system” for students that out dedicating time helping others. How- individualizes instruction. ever, Amei describes tutoring as a passion that has enriched her high school experi- “Strategically, the tutoring center not ence. only supports struggling students but also offers another way for students “Since I began tutoring, it’s just be- to have a more personalized learning come part of my routine. It’s also really path. For example, a number of tutors enjoyable. When students succeed in are spending 15 to 30 hours beyond their learning and you see their frus- their initial tutoring training to reach tration disappear, it’s very rewarding,” the intermediate and advanced levels,” she explained. he said. “Many students feel comfortable shar- “This makes them better tutors, as ing their feelings, and they are often well as better students. These types more willing to fail in front of us. This of learning opportunities truly pro- contributes to a positive learning en- vide students with enriching, authen- vironment.” tic, community experiences that they wouldn’t normally receive in a tradi- This school year the center has 16 return- tional classroom.” ing tutors, reflecting a retention rate of more than 90 percent. Collectively they have nearly 200 hours of training, an achievement that makes Mr. Russell ex- tremely proud.

“As the teacher-sponsor, I’m honored to be part of such a dedicated, tal- ented group of students. The tutoring center is a wonderful, beneficial pro- gram,” he said.

The tutoring center is located in room 2333 and is open Monday through Thurs- day from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Tutoring is primarily for middle and high school stu- dents, with elementary school students accepted on a case-by-case basis. Inter- ested parents can view tutors’ profiles on the noticeboard outside the center or visit during its operating hours.

82 83 From flowing Korean hanbok dresses to students don clothing representing their elaborate African kitenge fabrics, the In- homelands. High Spirits ternational School of Beijing's (ISB) cultur- al diversity was on full display on October Organized by ISB’s Parent-Teacher As- 14 as the school united to celebrate the sociation, International Day promotes the for 2016 2016 International Day. school’s rich cultural diversity and allows everyone to celebrate what makes them Cheered on by parents, teachers, and unique. International Day older students, elementary students pa- raded through the school’s hallways to “Our students are growing up in an in- a soundtrack of music from around the creasingly connected world where di- world. Students were grouped in seven versity of thought and cross-cultural regions in accordance with their herit- literacy are extremely important,” said age: North America, South/Latin America, Tarek Razik, ISB’s Head of School. “We Europe, Oceania, Africa, South Asia, and promote these understandings at ISB North Asia. by upholding global-mindedness as a core school value. International Day is Now in its 24th year, International Day a fun way for our community to cele- provides a fun-filled way for students and brate this value by coming together.” parents to share their culture and learn about others through entertainment, food, This year’s entertainment included a Chi- crafts, and games. nese drum ensemble, a bamboo-splitting katana show, an Ethiopian tea ceremony, “Our kids are always very excited for and Indian henna hand painting. International Day,” said PreK-3 teacher Karen Fidler. “Riding their tricycles with “International Day is a celebration of everyone cheering them on gives them the continents, countries, and cul- an enormous sense of pride and deep- tures represented by our families,” said er appreciation about what it means to Cherry Wu, PTA president. “We have grow and learn in our caring commu- more than 50 nationalities at ISB, each nity.” of which enriches our school communi- ty and makes this such a special place The last stop of the parade is the cafeteria for parents, teachers, and students.” where food vendors tempt the taste buds, serving delicacies from dozens of coun- tries. Ice cream was a big hit last year, with one sold every 15 seconds over a two-hour period.

Approximately 1,650 students represent- ing more than 50 nationalities joined ad- ministrators, faculty, staff, and parents browsing the parent-run showcases set up around the school. Each showcase of- fers food tastings, games, and information about a specific country or region. Many

84 85 ISB Unites for 2016 Terry Fox Run

Hundreds of International School of Bei- Terry Fox, a national hero in Canada and jing (ISB) students, teachers, and parents recognized worldwide, was diagnosed with laced up their runners for the Terry Fox bone cancer in 1977, resulting in the am- Run on September 30, 2016. putation of his right leg. Three years later, Fox embarked on a cross-country Mara- Decked out in bright Terry Fox Run thon of Hope to raise money and aware- T-shirts and even brighter spirits, runners ness for cancer research. celebrated the proud 23-year history of the event at ISB. Fox didn’t make it across Canada, but he covered 5,373 kilometres—the equivalent “Terry Fox is an inspiring reminder to of a marathon a day for 143 days—before our students about the monumen- succumbing to his cancer at the age of 22 tal difference one person can make in June 1981. He remains a symbol of hope to the world,” said Grade 12 student for many. Stephanie D. “Some of our elementary school students even run with a hobble ISB hosted its first run in 1993, and was to experience what it must have been one of the first sites to do so in China. like for Terry Fox.” Seven were held in the country last year.

86 87 Students, teachers, and parents purchased Terry Fox Run T-shirts for 80 RMB, with half of all proceeds going to the Terry Fox Foundation. In 2015, ISB raised 35,351 RMB ($CA7,150) for the Terry Fox Foundation.

“It is a chance for our school commu- nity to unite for a common cause and show our collective support to people affected by cancer all over the world,” said Jon Hill, ISB middle school prin- cipal. “It’s also a powerful reminder about the importance of perseverance and endurance.”

Armed with Fox’s inspiring tale, the day becomes a celebration bringing grades together to run around the track, play games, and enjoy the outdoors.

“Terry Fox embodies many of ISB’s core values, including respect, glob- al-mindedness, and integrity,” said Da- vid Munro, the high school principal.

Through fundraising, organizing, and par- ticipating, the run allows students to also demonstrate leadership, responsibility, and inclusiveness.

88 89 Alumni Offer College Tips to Seniors

Six ISB alumni went back to school to de- The ISB alumni panel comprised Warona mystify the college application process George (‘14), University College London; at the Seniors Retreat on August 25. The Amanda Chou (‘15), Syracuse Universi- panel also shared useful advice with stu- ty; Woody Laui (‘15), University of Mas- dents about making the most of their col- sachusetts-Amherst; Vanessa Meng (‘15), lege experience and adjusting to life after Swarthmore College; Esther Tu (‘14), Bos- ISB. ton University; and Philipa Yu (‘15), Babson College. The retreat is an annual event organized by high school counselors that helps sen- Journey of Self-Discovery iors navigate the next step of their educa- tional journey with confidence. Warona, a psychology and languages sci- ence major, shared her experience of tak- “The purpose of today is to introduce ing a gap year after graduating from ISB. seniors to the application systems for Seeking to deepen her connection to Chi- colleges and universities, and share na, Warona put mastery of Mandarin on strategies on how parents can support her radar by studying at Beijing Language their children through this stressful yet and Culture University. exciting time,” said counselor Sommer Blohm. After completing her course, she spent two months backpacking around South China The alumni Q&A session was preceded by which allowed her to “find” herself. a mindfulness exercise involving an ISB mother. Sitting on stage, she was asked “Taking a gap year can be very useful, by counselors to complete a test as eight because it allows you to learn things students, representing the roles of a par- about yourself you can’t necessari- ent, teacher, coach, and the self, repeated ly learn at college due to the pace of questions aloud. study. For me, I had clear purpose: to improve my Chinese. Along the way, I The activity highlighted the many ex- also learned to be independent, which pectations students face and the impor- helped me adjust more easily when I tance of having a strong support network did eventually go to university,” she throughout the year. explained.

90 91 Choosing the ‘Right’ School Vanessa also spoke about being inter- viewed for all but a few of her 10 shortlist- For many seniors and their parents, find- ed colleges. ing the best-fit college can be challeng- ing for countless reasons including loca- “Some of the questions were weird. tion, campus culture, and extracurricular Are you a dog person? What kind of ice opportunities. Woody, who is studying cream flavor would you be? The impor- natural resources conservation, wanted a tant thing is to know what you want to school that fit his active, outdoors-orient- say and stay focused,” she said. ed lifestyle. Keeping an Open Mind “Facilities are another important con- sideration. When I saw the three-floor Researching colleges in the digital age can gym (at UMass Amherst) I thought, be overwhelming due to the abundance ‘Awesome, I’m in,’” he recalled. “My of online discussions, ratings, and forums. school is also ranked second in the However, Philipa shared her wisdom for nation for food, so that was anoth- cutting through the clutter. er bonus. The thing to remember is that college will be your home for four “Keep away from College Confidential years. You want to make sure you’re It’s full of stressed parents and sen- happy and not just there for your de- iors,” she joked. gree.” “Just remember to take things one at Making a Statement a time. After senior retreat, I remember counselors telling us to relax, which One of the first questions asked by stu- seemed impossible at the time. Those dents was about the fine art of “modest hellish weeks will pass. Just stay ahead bragging” when writing a personal state- of your deadlines and don’t dwell on ment and undergoing interviews with ad- them all at once.” missions officers. The key is to not feel overwhelmed and develop a strong mes- Ultimately, each student’s path is unique. sage you can effectively communicate. Esther said the secret to having an en- riching college experience is to embrace “I had a very hard time writing my change and remember you only get out personal statement. It really isn’t what you put in. everything, though, because you can never capture everything about you in “Your experience is what you make of 700 words. My advice is to focus on it. You tailor it through your friend- one part of you that makes you who ships, where you live, the activities you are, rather than a certain skill,” you take on, and so on. Always keep said Vanessa, a public relations major. an open mind and don’t forget to have fun,” she said.

92 93 The International School of Beijing (ISB) huge financial boost from its main corpo- and Ruamrudee International School (RIS) rate sponsor, Bimbo Bread. ISB-RIS Diaper in Bangkok have capped off a successful diaper drive through fun runs that raised “We really can’t thank them enough,” a staggering $US16,000. Mr. Hillmann said of the company. Drive Helps Families in “Bimbo’s support reflected service, a The amount will provide diapers to under- core value at ISB, that we seek to in- privileged newborns at a public hospital in still in our students. Our students are Need the northern Thai city of Udon Thani over global citizens, and it’s empowering for the next three years, far exceeding both them to see the meaningful difference schools’ original one-year target. their actions have in the world.”

ISB high school math teacher and RIS also hosted its “Miles for the King” run cross-country coach Ed Hillmann was in- on November 5 in honor of the country’s spired to help the hospital after the birth late monarch and to raise funds for the of his twin daughters, Amelia and Carol, in diaper drive. April 2014. The twins were born six weeks premature at the hospital, the only one The $US16,000 raised by both schools will equipped in the region to handle such provide 132 diapers per day until 2020, an births. achievement Mr. Hillmann said was “be- yond everyone’s expectations.” Following the experience, which includ- ed an anxious few weeks in the intensive “The ISB community is fortunate to care unit, Mr. Hillmann and his wife of- have been born on the ‘haves’ side. It fered gifts to the hospital’s staff that were is wonderful that our community strives graciously declined and met with another to make every effort to help the ‘have- request: disposable diapers. not’ side, be it through blood drives, homes with Habitat for Humanity, and “Many of the villagers who go to the now diapers. ISB is always looking for hospital struggle to pay for diapers ways to help,” Mr. Hillmann added. while their babies receive prenatal care, which in some cases can last months. Success of the campaign was due to the The government hospital covers all efforts of many students and supporters costs except diapers,” he explained. of the ISB and RIS cross-country teams. Special thanks go to ISB students Vivian ISB teamed up with Mr. Hillmann’s for- L, Christina R, Amanda Z, and Sophia C; mer school, RIS, last semester to launch Natalia Hollander, who guided the kids in their fundraising campaign. The partner- every possible way; Ivan Chiu, who helped ship came about in September when ISB’s secure Bimbo Breads as lead sponsor. cross country team participated in a fun ISB is also grateful to the Sharon Houmi- run with their RIS peers. er Foundation, which matched every RMB and Baht raised! Finally, the ISB communi- On November 5, ISB held a “Lemonade ty and PTA were beyond generous. Thank Mile” run in the school’s stadium in aid of you for helping us make a difference. the diaper drive. In addition to contribu- tions from runners, the event received a

94 95 ISB Students Earn Outstanding IB Results

ISB’s Class of 2016 secured their place One of the strongest subjects for ISB was among the best students in the world in Film: our students’ average score was 6.13 the International Baccalaureate (IB) Di- compared to the world average of 4.32. ploma. Seventeen ISB students scored 40 or higher out of a maximum of 45 points, “We’re fortunate to have a vibrant nearly double the figure from last year. Film program at ISB, and I’m thrilled so ISB’s average score as a school was 36 many of our students performed bril- points, well above the global average of liantly in the IB Diploma,” said IB Film 30 points. teacher Breen O’Reilly, who has taught at ISB for more than a decade. “Our ISB Head of School Tarek Razik said the students’ passion for learning was ev- impressive results were a credit to stu- ident throughout the year. In addition dents’ hard work throughout the year and to their excellent IB Diploma results, the caring support of parents and teach- we also had several seniors who won ers. “As a school community, we are ex- national awards for their short films.” tremely proud of our students’ outstand- ing results. We congratulate them on their Students from the Class of 2016 are now IB Diploma success, which sets the tone preparing for the next step in their educa- for further excellence in their personal and tional journey. We are delighted that many professional lives,” said Dr. Razik. were accepted into some of the world’s top colleges and universities. At ISB, we A total of 91 students from ISB’s Class pride ourselves on placing students with of 2016 completed the IB Diploma, 26 of their best-fit institution based on their whom took the bilingual diploma. Eng- interests and passions. Congratulations lish was one of the standout subjects for to the Class of 2016 on your wonderful ISB’s IB Diploma students, with our sen- achievements and remember: once a Drag- iors topping the world average in all five on, always a Dragon! categories for language and literature. It was a similar story for other languages, with ISB’s average scores for French and Spanish in the higher and standard levels, far exceeding global means.

96 97 In the Fast Lane with Camille Cheng

When Beijing hosted the 2008 Olympics, then 15-year-old ISB student Camille Cheng (’11) tried to see every swimming session from the bleachers of the Water Cube. Eight years later, she made her own mark at the Rio Olympics representing Hong Kong in the 200-meter freestyle and 400-meter medley. She spoke to The Bulletin about her expe- rience competing at the pinnacle of her sport. 1) Was becoming an Olympian ming. I was in PE class and the swimming always an ambition for you as a coach at the time, Coach George, saw me swim and told me to try out for the competitive swimmer? team and I've been swimming ever since. I When I first started swimming, the Olym- would say my idol growing up was Natalie pics was always a dream but never some- Coughlin - also a Cal bear! Since then thing I ever believed possible. Not until I however, I've had many more. went to college and improved did I think to myself, "I want this and I think I can actu- 4) What were your personal goals ally do it" and it became a realistic dream. for Rio? 2) What was your reaction when In terms of swimming, I wanted to swim best times, aiming to make the semi-finals you found out you had made the in the 200m freestyle but unfortunately Hong Kong team? didn't quite perform like I had expected and hoped for. However, I didn't want how My first reaction after seeing my time was I performed to ruin my overall Olympic ex- relief, I got the time that I needed to qual- perience so I didn't let myself get too dis- ify. Afterwards, I was very grateful and appointed - participating in 4 events was happy. I have a great support system that already a huge accomplishment for me, has pushed me, challenged me and sup- more than I could've ever imagined. ported me to get to that point. Looking back now it took a while for it to all sink in 5) What are some of your fondest because I had qualified in December and memories of your time with ISB’s still had 8 months till the actual Olympics. swim team? I would have to say all the competitions 3) How were you introduced to like China Cup and APAC with my team- swimming and who were your mates. For me, getting to race is the fun idols in the sport? part of swimming and to share that with I spent my afternoons at the pool when I my teammates that became some of my was growing up in Hong Kong, I loved be- best friends were memories that I will al- ing in the water but it wasn't until I moved ways cherish. to Beijing did I start competitively swim-

98 99 International School of Beijing

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