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Changsha WES Academy

Feb08
2012 Leave a Comment Written by admin

Changsha WES Academy is a new private, co-educational, day school located in Hunan Province, China. It currently provides educational services for students from Early Years through Grade 5 with plans to expand up through Grade 12 in the future. CWA is managed by China-Singapore SIP International Education Services. This may be an interesting place to work for teachers who want to help build a school in its earliest days.

Mission
The school mission is to develop an active and welcoming school community where students are challenged academically and personally, and where they develop compassion and a spirit of innovation.

image: Shizhao

Facilities
CWA moved to a very attractive new 27,000 square meter campus in Xingsha in February 2011. Facilities include purpose-built classrooms, art rooms, a broadcasting studio, play areas, computer labs, a dining room, library/media centres, music rooms, sports field, sports hall, science labs, a theatre and a teaching kitchen.

Curriculum
CWA’s curriculum follows inquiry-based, transdisciplinary units of study with the core elements of concepts, knowledge, skills, attitudes and action. The curriculum emphasizes connections to real life situation, decision making, problem solving and research. In other words, sounds a lot like the PYP.

Extracurricular Activities
The school is developing their extracurricular program and note that some of the possible activities will be Japanese, French, Chinese Opera appreciation, chess, sports, media club, baking and cooking, arts and crafts, math club, science club, community service and more.

Technology
CWA has computer labs. Interesting that they don’t put any emphasis on their technology program like many of the new schools do these days.

Professional Development
The school has seven to ten professional development days per year.

Employment
This school has only 20 students according to their website, but my guess is that of this writing, there are probably more as the school website says that they are the only English-medium international school in Hunan.

CWA is looking for teachers who are flexible, determined, patient, skilled in using ICT as an educational tool, willing to sponsor after school activities and able to improvise in the unique situation of starting a new school. Teaching candidates must have a minimum of two years experience in an international school, be certified, be computer literate, have PYP or inquiry-based teaching experience, be committed to the school mission, be willing to be ambassadors of the school and have experience with differentiated teaching techniques.

Teachers can expect to put in a lot of work here. CWA has 185 contact days along with 7-10 professional development days and up to 32 teaching periods a week. Plus, supervisory duties, after school activities and meetings.

Job openings are listed online. Teachers who are interested in working at CWA can complete an application that is available online and send it to the school along with a letter of application and a CV.

The salary range is not listed on the school website, but it says that the salaries are competitive and paid in Renminbi. Benefits included visa processing, a re-signing bonus, free tuition for dependents, medical insurance, “position of responsibility” allowances, a furnished apartment with broadband internet, an annual travel allowance, and shipping.

About Changsha
Changsha is the capital of Hunan Province and has a population of around seven million. It is situated on the Xiang River and has a humid subtropical climate with average temperatures running from 17 degrees Celsius in January to 29 degrees Celsius in July. Changsha has four real seasons with hot wet summers and relatively dry winters.

Changsha has a small expat population and in comparison to cities like Shanghai or Beijing, bars, restaurants and social activities that cater to foreigners are limited. However, there are international supermarkets like Carrefour, Metro and Walmart, and the usual Western chains are here like McDonalds, KFC and Starbucks.

Posted in international schools, international teaching positions - Tagged , , ,

Dulwich College Suzhou

Jan19
2012 Leave a Comment Written by admin

Dulwich College Suzhou is a private, co-educational day school for students from Toddler to Year 13. Dulwich College will begin accepting boarding students at the start of the 2012-2013 school year. The school was founded in 2007 and is part of a group of Dulwich College schools found in London, Beijing, Shanghai and Seoul. Dulwich College is an IB World School with authorization to use the IB Diploma Programme. The school is undergoing the accreditation process with the Council of International Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. DCSZ has approximately 800 students that represent 38 nationalities. Class sizes vary according to grade level: the maximums are 14 in Pre-Nursery, 16 in Nursery, 20 in Reception, 22 in Year 1 through Year 11 and 12 in Year 12 and Year 13.

image: Hph

Facilities
Among the facilities are an Arts Centre for the Performing Arts, heated and air-conditioned classrooms, sports fields, music studios, art studios, drama studios, science labs, ICT labs, 2 libraries, a dining room, a sports hall, a 400-meter running track, a 700-seat professional theatre, a nurse’s station,

Curriculum
Dulwich College uses a modified English National Curriculum from Early Years through Year 9. Students in Years 10 and 11 use the IGCSE, and students in Years 12 and 13 use the IB Diploma Programme. The school has an English as an Additional Language program for students who need to develop their English language skills.

Extracurricular Activities
Teachers are required to sponsor after school activities. Dulwich College offers students a wide range of activities including music, drama, clubs and sports.

Technology
Dulwich College Suzhoul is a wireless Apple school. Classrooms have digital projectors and interactive whiteboards. In addition to an ICT suite. Dulwich College has a number of MacBook and Ipad carts. Technology is integrate throughout the curriculum.

Professional Development
The school financially supports professional development activities for the staff.

Employment
Most of the teachers at DCSZ are British, but the school also has teachers from the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea and Japan. The school hires specialist teachers in Design Technology, Mandarin, Music and PE.

Teaching candidates need to have a minimum of two years experience, a university degree and teaching certification. Job openings are listed online. A salary schedule is posted on the school website. Starting pay for teachers at Step 1 is approximately $29,000 net. The highest starting point on the schedule is Step 13, which pays approximately $44,000 net. Benefits include medical insurance, visa assistance, Western-style housing, shipping allowance, free tuition for dependents, annual airfare, annual relocation allowance, a one month gratuity at the end of the first two-year contract and additional pay for positions of responsibility.

About Suzhou
Suzhou is located on the Yangtze River and Lake Taihu in Jiangsu province. The city traces its roots back over 2500 years ago. It is the home of Wu culture.

The city has a humid subtropical climate. The summers are hot and humid, and the winters can be cold with snow, but more often cool with rain.

Suzhou is famous for its ancient architecture such as stone bridges, classical gardens and traditional pagodas. Suzhou is often called the “Oriental Venice.” Among the sites for the new resident to visit are: Xuanmiao Guan, Huqiu Temple, Shantang Canal, Yunyan Pagoda, the Gate of the Orient, and the Suzhou Museum.

The city has a GDP per capita of approximately US$15,000 that makes it one of the wealthiest cities in China. More laptops computers are built in Suzhou than in any other place in the world. Other industries are microchips, telecommunications, automobile parts and pharmaceuticals.

Suzhou has a number of Western bars, pubs and restaurants for the large expat population. The city also hosts several of the hypermarts like Carrefour so it is easy to shop for Western food items although your money will last longer if you shop in the traditional markets and eat local.

Posted in British international schools, expat employment, IB World Schools, international school 1-to-1 laptop programs, international schools, international teaching positions, schools with teacher benefits listed, schools with teacher salary schedules online - Tagged , , , , , ,

Shekou International School

Jan07
2012 Leave a Comment Written by admin

Shekou International School is a private, not-for-profit, co-educational day school for students from Nursery through Grade 12. The school opened in 1988. SIS is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and the Center for School Curriculum and Textbook Development. There are over 700 students that represent more than 40 nationalities studying at SIS. The student/teacher ratio is under 10:1. SIS has a 180 day school year. This is an IB World School with authorization to use the IB Diploma Programme. SIS is governed by the International Schools Services.

Mission
The SIS mission is to provide an outstanding academic program that will allow students to continue their learning by using the knowledge and understanding that they developed during their overseas education.

image: Egil

Facilities
Take a look at the photos on the school website if you want to see a beautiful educational setting. Shekou International School has three campuses: the Jingshan Mountainside Campus houses the Preschool, the state-of-the-art Parkside Campus houses the Elementary School, and the new Bayside Campus houses the Middle School and the High School. School-wide facilities include a fitness center, a swimming pool, a gym, outdoor courts, a 200-meter running track, playgrounds, 2 libraries, science and technology labs and modern classrooms.

Curriculum
The school is organized into four sections: Preschool, Elementary School, Middle School and High School. SIS has a standards-based curriculum drawn from the United States, the UK, Australia, Canada and New Zealand. The Elementary School curriculum offers the usual core courses like Math, Social Studies, Science and Language Arts, as well the specialists classes such as Technology, Art, Music, Chinese and PE. The Preschool uses a project-based approach to learning. Middle School and High School students get to participate in the Week Without Walls. The IB Diploma Programme is available for students in Grade 11 and Grade 12. SIS also has a parallel elementary program for French-speaking students.

Extracurricular Activities
SIS offers a wide range of activities including sports, clubs, puppet making, cooking, drama, art, Model United Nations, community service and more. School teams participate in the All-China and Mongolia International School organization. Sports include aquatics, basketball, volleyball, golf, rugby and soccer.

Technology
Shekou International School offers wireless internet access on all campuses. This is a school with considerable resources dedicated to technology. In addition to over 150 desktop computers, Elementary School students have access to mobile carts with over 50 laptops and the Middle School students have access to one laptop for every two students. High School students have a one-to-one laptop program. Technology is integrated throughout the curriculum.

Professional Development
No information is given on the school website.

Employment
Teachers at Shekou International School come from around the world, including the United States, Australia, the UK, the Philippines, China, Canada, and Guatemala. Salaries and benefits are not listed on the school website, but it says that they are among the best in Asia. Job openings are listed on the school website, as well as on the International Schools Services website. Interested teachers can send a cover letter and CV to Robert Evans, the director, at revans@sis.org.cn. SIS attends the ISS job fairs and the Northern Iowa fair.

About Shekou
Shekou is located in the Shenzen Economic Zone just a ferry ride from Hong Kong. It has a large expatriate population because of the oil industry. Other than this, Shekou may be best known for its unique Shekou Sea World which is built around a luxury yacht that was once owned by the former French President Charles De Gaulle. Shekou has a number of Western-style restaurants, bars and supermarkets. The weather gets hot and humid during the March to August months, but is signficantly cooler from mid-November to March.

Posted in expat employment, IB World Schools, international school 1-to-1 laptop programs, international schools, international teaching positions - Tagged , , , ,

The British School of Guangzhou

Jan03
2012 Leave a Comment Written by admin

The British School of Guangzhou is an independent, co-educational day school for students from Pre-Nursery through Grade 11. BSG was founded in 2005 and is a member of the British Schools Group. The school is accredited by the EdExcel Examination Board of the UK and is an accredited examination centre for the University of Cambridge International Examinations. There are approximately 400 students that represent 35 nationalities studying at BSG.

Mission
The school’s main goal is to ensure that students can reach their academic potentials while having a good time. Not too bad. I especially like the part about having a good time; too many schools leave that out of their educational plans.

Facilities
The school is located in the north of Guangzhou. BSG has two campuses: one for the Lower School and one for the Upper School. Classrooms are well-equipped and have interactive white boards. The new Secondary wing opened in 2010 and has 2 science labs, an ICT suite, an Apple Mac Music Studio, a state-of-the-art Art studio, 8 Secondary classrooms, a golf driving range, lunch facilities, a playground and a football pitch. Facilities for both campuses include 3 ITC rooms, 2 music rooms, a dance studio, 2 libraries, 7 EAL rooms, an auditorium, playgrounds, and over 22,000 square meters of open playground with a gym, basketball courts and football pitches.

Curriculum
The school uses the English National Curriculum with students from Pre-Nursery through Grade 11. This program is modified slightly, when necessary, to fit an international student body. The school is divided into three sections: Early Years, Primary and Secondary. Core subjects for Primary School are English, Math and Science. Secondary students in Years 7 to 9 study English, Math, Science, Geography, History, Drama, Art, ITC, PE and a foreign language, Students in Years 10-11 use the IGCSE.

Extracurricular Activities
BSG offers a range of activities that include music, dance, drama, clubs, community service, trips and sports.

Technology
IT is integrated throughout the curriculum. Classrooms have interactive whiteboards and there are multiple ITC labs, suites and studios around the school.

Professional Development
The school has a PD programme that includes in-house activities and funding for taking courses in the UK and Asia. BSG also brings in speakers from the UK to complement its programme.

Employment
BSG hires teachers with university degrees, teaching diplomas, experience with UK education and preferably some international experience as well. Teachers are expected to follow the school’s educational philosophy and policies. Expectations for teachers include being knowledgeable about current UK educational theory, believing in a child-centered approach to education, setting high academic expectation for students, being competent with technology, having a fundamental understanding of assessment and learning strategies, being able to work in a mixed ability classroom, contributing to the development of the school and taking part in extracurricular activities.

The teacher handbook makes it clear that teachers will need to be flexible and culturally sensitive, and if prospective candidates doubt their abilities in these areas, they should not apply to the school. Refreshing to see this all laid out up front so that there are no misunderstandings on arrival.

Benefits include a furnished, air-conditioned apartment, medical insurance, annual flight allowance, a highly competitive salary, a relocation allowance, professional development opportunities, free tuition for two children, opportunities for promotion within the British Schools Group and the possibility of saving up to 50% of the annual salary due to the low cost of living.

Job opportunities are listed online. Interested teachers can send a CV and email contact information for two referees to jojo@bsg.org.cn.

About Guangzhou
The city has many restaurants, theatres, cinemas, parks, art galleries, pubs and bars for teachers to enjoy on their free time. Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Macau and Guilin are close enough for teachers to visit over a weekend. Guangzhou has a warm, tropical climate with a wet, humid sumer.

Posted in asia, British international schools - Tagged , , , , ,

Australian International School Hong Kong

Dec23
2011 Leave a Comment Written by admin

The Australian International School Hong Kong is an independent, co-educational, non-denominational school for students from Reception through Year 12. The school was established in 1995. It is an IB World School with authorization to offer the IB Diploma Programme. AISHK has over 1,100 students with about 70% of the students holding Australian or New Zealand passports. Class sizes are rather large for an international school: about 20 students in reception classes and up to 25 in the higher grades.

Mission
The school mission is to give students an education that will allow them to fulfill their potential and become skilled, responsible global citizens.

Facilities
The school moved into new facilities in 2001 in Kowloon Tong. The school building is eight stories high with a translucent cover. Among the facilities are a 25 meter heated swimming pool, science labs, an auditorium, a 2,100 square meter sports field, a library, a multi-purpose hall, visual art studios, an IT learning centre, a technology center, music rooms, a food and technology lab, a cafeteria and facilities for the disabled.

Curriculum
AISHK uses the New South Wales Board of Studies curriculum. The curriculum for Primary students has seven key learning areas: English, Math, Chinese, Science and Technology, Human Society and Its Environment, Creative Arts and Personal Development, Health and Physical Education. The Secondary School has two divisions: Middle (Year 7-10) and Senior (Year 11-12). Courses for senior students have similar requirements to those found in the New South Wales Board of Studies or the IB Diploma. At the end of Year 10 students receive the New South Wales School Certificate. Students in Years 11 and 12 can either study for the New South Wales Higher School Certificate or the IB Diploma.

Extracurricular Activities
AISHK has a wide variety of activities for students from Preparatory Year and up. Activities include art workshop, soccer, yoga, volleyball, Mini United Nations, netball, rugby, dance, cooking, computer club, gymnastics, orchestra and many more. The school offers basketball, badminton, netball, rugby, soccer, swimming, touch, tag and volleyball as school sports teams.

Technology
The school has a laptop program for all students from Year 3 through Year 12. Students have to purchase their own machines. Younger students leave their laptops at the school, older students take their laptops home every day. Technology is integrated throughout the curriculum. Classrooms have electronic whiteboards. AISHK also has several technology labs.

Professional Development
No information is available on the school PD program.

Employment
Most teachers are Australian. The school offers two-year initial contracts. No information is available on the salary schedule. Benefits include an end of contract gratuity and medical insurance. Interested teachers can send their CV to employment@aishk.edu.hk. Job openings are listed online.

Posted in asia, australian international schools, IB World Schools, international school 1-to-1 laptop programs - Tagged , , , , , , ,
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