Elite Education

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1. Please mention about the school and its mission/vision and various infrastructural facilities.

Qingdao Amerasia International School (Amerasia) serves students from 18 months to 18 years old through a holistic, child-centered, inquiry-based approach. With students and staff from more than 30 different countries, students are engaged in a dynamic, culturally rich environment that fosters global citizenship and international-mindedness.

Amerasia is the first school in Asia to be accredited by The American Montessori Society (AMS) for its Toddler and Early Childhood Programs. Amerasia is the first International Baccalaureate (IB) Continuum School in Shandong province, with IB Authorization for the Primary Years Programme, Middle Years Programme, and Diploma Programme. Amerasia is the 17th school in China, and one of only 37 in the whole of China, to be an authorized IB Continuum School, offering the Primary Years Program (PYP) for students in Early Childhood through Grade 5, the Middle Years Program (MYP) for students in Grades 6-10, and the Diploma Program for students in Grades 11-12.

Unique to Amerasia is the blended Montessori/PYP Program for students in Early Childhood through Grade 3. Amerasia has also earned full-school accreditation by The Middle States Association (MSA) and the Council of International Schools (CIS), and is a member of the Association of Chinese and Mongolian International Schools (ACAMIS).

Amerasia engages students to ‘think global and act local’ by incorporating the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the curriculum to develop internationally minded scholars who take meaningful action to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

OUR MISSION

QAIS aims to inspire a lifelong love of learning through a holistic, child-centered, inquiry-based approach. By embracing each student’s diverse needs, learning styles, and strengths, we strive to develop courageous global citizens who help to create a more peaceful world through community action, intercultural understanding, and respect for all life.

OUR VISION

To cultivate an inclusive and vibrant community that promotes knowledge, creativity, independent thinking, and mutual respect in a nurturing and safe environment.

OUR CORE VALUES

Academic Excellence: We embrace academic excellence, guiding our children’s innate curiosity and encouraging joy in learning.

Independence and Imagination: We foster independent thinking and spark imagination, inspiring our children to become the leaders of tomorrow.

Peace and Respect: We instill respect for self, respect for one another, and respect for our planet, enhancing prospects for peace.

2. Kindly describe about the various courses offered by the school and their salient features.

MONTESSORI TODDLER (18 MONTHS – AGE 3)

The Toddler Classroom is a rich, educational environment filled with hands-on, sensorial activities in language, pre-math, and cultural studies that support the critical first plane of development.  Dr. Maria Montessori discovered that children all over the world when given the choice, were drawn to real, purposeful activities, which form part of the Practical Life Curriculum including Gross Motor Activity, Fine Motor Activity, Grace & Courtesy, Care of the Environment, and Care of Self. Students enjoy freedom within limits to explore various interests in a multi-aged, prepared environment. 

MONTESSORI + IB PYP EARLY CHILDHOOD (AGES 3-6)

Dr. Maria Montessori believed that children absorb knowledge effortlessly and have a natural and intense desire to learn about the world, particularly before age 6. By providing a stimulating, concrete, hands-on curriculum, children’s senses are awakened to the wonders of the world while developing a foundational understanding of abstract concepts in five curricular areas: Language Arts (English and Chinese), Mathematics, Practical Life, Sensorial, and Cultural Studies (Botany, Zoology, Geography, Art, and Music).

The exploratory journey through this rich, profound curriculum is framed by four transdisciplinary IB PYP Units of Inquiry (UOIs): Who We Are, How We Express Ourselves, How the World Works, and How We Organize Ourselves. This unique and intellectually stimulating integrated curriculum develops individuals who are self-directed, confident, and creative, with a positive self-image and academic skills that prepare them for the rest of their lives. 

MONTESSORI + IB PYP LOWER ELEMENTARY GRADES 1-3 (AGES 6-9)

The PYP framework focuses on students’ academic, social, and emotional wellbeing while nurturing the development of international-mindedness through the IB Learner Profile. Informed by research into how students learn, how educators teach, and the principles and practices of effective assessment, the program places a powerful emphasis on inquiry-based learning, while incorporating local and global issues into the curriculum, asking students to look at six related, transdisciplinary themes and to consider the links between them. The themes include: Who We Are, How We Express Ourselves, Where We Are in Place and Time, How the World Works, How We Organize Ourselves and Sharing the Planet. 

IB PYP GRADES 4-5 (AGES 9-11)

Students in Upper Elementary (Grades 4-5) engage fully in the IB PYP, which nurtures and develops young scholars into competent, caring, active agents of change, both at school and beyond. Through its inquiry-led, transdisciplinary framework, the Upper Elementary curriculum challenges students to think for themselves, develop strong personal values, and take responsibility for their learning while investigating local and global issues and seeking opportunities for service, action, and problem-solving in real-world contexts. 

IB MYP GRADES 6-10 (AGES 11-16)

The MYP develops critical, reflective thinking, inquiry, and innovation through the following courses: Language and Literature (English, Chinese, Korean), Language Acquisition (English and Chinese), Individuals and Societies, Experimental Sciences, Mathematics, Arts (Music, Visual Arts, Drama, Film), Design Technology, and Physical Education. The MYP utilizes global contexts to connect what is learned in the classroom to students’ lives and experiences. 

IB DP GRADES 11-12 (AGES 16-18)

As our eldest students prepare to spread their wings and fly into the world after graduation, the IB DP Programme provides rigorous preparation for college life and beyond, allowing them to take their place as internationally-minded global citizens.  An IB Diploma is the most widely recognized qualification for students entering university anywhere in the world.   

QAIS students have gained entrance to the world’s leading universities.  Drawing on the strength of a diverse international community, DP at Qingdao Amerasia International School provides knowledge, skills, and understanding that empower our students to become global leaders and peacemakers. 

3. Please mention what steps are you taking beyond the traditional curriculum to ensure the overall development of the students?

We believe a school is more than just an academic environment, but a community where students, as well as parents, teachers, and other staff, can self-actualize and become the very best versions of themselves. Through blending the Montessori philosophy, which celebrates independence, concentration, and a love of learning, together with the rigorous IB curriculum, Amerasia strives to develop learners who are knowledgeable inquirers, thinkers, communicators, who are principled, balanced, caring, open-minded communicators, and risk-takers, whilst being balanced and reflective so they may go into the world confidently as leaders and agents of change.

4. What steps does the school take to motivate and develop the students’ interest in education?

Amerasia promotes a lifelong love of learning in every student through child-centered holistic learning and engaging students through academics, the arts, robotics, sports and athletics, and service learning.

5. How are you providing financial assistance to the students in need?

The IB Middle Years Programme and the Diploma Programme incorporates service into the curriculum, to develop global citizens who strive to create a more peaceful and inclusive world. Service as Action, the community service component of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB MYP), provides students with the opportunity to take action by applying what they learn in the classroom to real-life situations. IB learners strive to be caring members of the community who demonstrate a commitment to service, by making a positive difference in others’ lives and the environment. 

Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) forms part of the IB Diploma Programme “Core,” which provides opportunities for self-determination, perseverance, problem-solving, decision-making, and collaboration with others, fostering a sense of community whereby students identify needs and serve their community.

Amerasia believes all children should have access to learning and in promoting a lifelong love of learning and a more peaceful world, Amerasia has developed the Education Fund. The Education fund is an initiative that facilitates collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to authentic needs to promote a better society within Shandong Province and the world. Fundraising through events such as International Day, the QAIS Education Fund aims to aid student initiatives that serve the community.

Grade 5 recently visited Yishui Hope School, where they met students who are excited to learn yet have limited facilities. With the support of the entire Grade 5 student body, parents, and greater Amerasia community, students raised over 3,000 RMB themselves,  purchased two sound systems, paid for transportation, and requested support from the Education Fund for chairs. The Education Fund assisted by donating chairs to the value of 12 000 to support this great student initiative.

Furthermore, Amerasia has the Scholars of Promise Award for DP 1 & 2 Students, a scholarship that reviews a candidate holistically and provides scholarships to high-school students, as well as tuition assistance for students who require financial assistance to complete their studies.

6. What are the career opportunities available to the students after completion of their courses?

The benefits of an IB continuum education have provided alumni entry into top universities in the United States, The United Kingdom, South Korea, and other parts of the world. Amerasia students have attended Brigham Young University, University of California: Berkeley, Wake Forest University, University of Washington, University of Bristol, University of Edinburgh, University of Cambridge, University of London: King’s College, University of Manchester, Korea University, Ewha Women’s University, Seoul National University, Yonsei University, University of Groningen, Universidad de Navarra, Hindustan Institute of Technology and many more. Students study a plethora of subjects in the field of Medicine, Global Politics, Robotics, Engineering, Art, and Sports, and beyond.

7. Please enlighten us about the school’s major awards/achievements, its accomplished/renowned alumni, remarkable collaborations, and major accreditations.

Amerasia is American Montessori Society (AMS) accredited, a fully authorized International Baccalaureate Continuum School, has earned full-school accreditation by The Middle States Association (MSA) and the Council of International Schools (CIS), and is a member of the Association of Chinese and Mongolian International Schools (ACAMIS).

Amerasia further has a world-class comprehensive arts program. Expert staff guide students to find ways of expressing themselves through music, visual arts, drama, and film, while producing near Broadway-quality musicals each year for the entire Qingdao community to enjoy, including Seussical (2017), Peter Pan (2018), Once On This Island (2018), SWAMPED! (2018), Honk! (2019), Little Shop of Horrors (2019), Shrek, The Musical, Jr. (2020).

Amerasia also offers a world-class Robotics program. The innovative environment encourages students to take risks and develop problem-solving skills while promoting teamwork and leadership. The QAIS Robotics teams are ranked among China’s best, after having placed in several Make-X Championships since 2017. In 2018, QAIS won the Industrial Design Award at the RCC International Robotics Open and was a finalist at the First Robotics Competition in Shanghai. In 2019, QAIS was the overall champion at the Make-X Premier Qingdao Regional Invitational Championship while placing second at the Make-X World Robot Conference in Beijing. These talented and dedicated students use their robotics skills, passion, and creativity to contribute to the development of our increasingly automated future world.

8. Kindly elaborate about the future plans of the school in the same. Amerasia will continue to strive to develop a lifelong love of learning in students, who are compassionate, innovative, principled, knowledgeable global citizens who will be the future leaders who develop a more peaceful world through community action, intercultural understanding, and respect for all life.

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1. Please mention about the school and its mission/vision and various infrastructural facilities.

Mission: Rosebud Primary School enables students to achieve academic excellence while being encouraged to be global citizens who promote global peace through equity, innovation, diversity, integrity, self-respect, and care for the community and environment. 

Vision: Our vision is to become an exemplary comprehensive educational institute at both national and international scales by:

• Implementing the best educational practices.
• Educating our students as global citizens and leaders who will contribute to world peace and respect for diversity.
• Forging strong bonds with the outer as well as the inner community.

2.     Kindly mention about the prominent personality of the school and his/her role in the development of the school.

Philosophy: Rosebud Primary School aims at educating each of its students to be:

• A responsible and principled individual who is respectful and caring towards self and others.
• A successful and independent learner who accepts challenges and uses inquiry and critical thinking to gain knowledge.
• A global citizen and leader who can communicate effectively with an open mind and multilingual skills.

 Rosebud Primary School inspires its students to strive for excellence in all aspects of their development – academic, artistic, social and physical – by providing the best possible learning environment that combines a well-balanced curriculum with extra-curricular activities. Rosebud Primary School also challenges its students to think critically, to explore knowledge, to question facts upon finding them, to make responsible decisions and to approach learning with enthusiasm.

The curriculum at Rosebud Primary School is designed to equip students with lifelong learning skills and a strong knowledge base. We focus on creativity, problem-solving and collaboration skills through making projects in all subjects.

The curriculum we use integrates the Cambridge International Primary Curriculum and Hong Kong Curriculum to achieve the best for our children. We also provide STEM Education, AR, Robotics and Blended learning. We use too many online resources to help our children in their academic excellence.

HIGH QUALITY HAPPY EDUCATION-HAPPY CHILD-BRILLIANT FUTURE!

Our education philosophy is no pressure on a child but raising him/her with discipline. High quality but happy education without pressure.

Rosebud does have “Values Education” like; Respect, Honesty, Kindness, Fairness, Equality, Happiness. Love your family, love your country but respect others unconditionally.

3.     Kindly describe about the various courses offered by the school and their salient features.

Rosebud Primary School has been offering its high-quality education services to primary students since 2004. Currently there are kids around from 20 different countries.

Rosebud is accredited by the Hong Kong SAR government and Cambridge University. Rosebud is a Cambridge International School. The school produces graduates who have no difficulty in being admitted to international as well as local government secondary schools. Moreover, following the local and international curriculum, we provide education with a high emphasis on the exclusively English medium of instruction in the core subjects.

Rosebud offers an intensive (9 lessons per week) Mandarin language learning which is compulsory for all students.

Rosebud provides an international environment, welcoming students from all nationalities. Rosebud Primary School follows –student-centred- with a project-based learning curriculum where every child’s need is addressed with care due to its highly qualified and experienced local and foreign faculty. Along with highly qualified faculty, Rosebud offers Teaching Assistants in classes to support students’ learning. With the help of our school psychologist, we discover the individuality in each child and help them to adapt to the society and understand their inner world as well. In this aspect allow students to build strength, confidence, independence, and happiness within their character. With latest multimedia equipment like smart boards and state of the art iMac, Computer Lab promotes more independent and creative learning. 

Rosebud Primary School has continuously invested in up-to-date classroom technology so that each student is trained to be a future world citizen. Along with the education and facilities, Rosebud ensures a very friendly, supportive and secure environment.

4.     Please mention what steps are you taking beyond the traditional curriculum to ensure overall development of the students?

We focus on values education. Educational research and our school’s many years of experience prove that the values education must be a fundamental education in elementary school. So, we have been educating our students with universal common values ​​education and are academically fully ready for their future education life since the first day of our school.

5. What steps does the school take to motivate and develop the students’ interest towards education?

For many years we have experienced that child can learn much easier, better and they keep knowledge for a long time if the school provides a fully happy environment, teaching life skills, more practice based on projects.

6. How are you providing financial assistance to the students in need?

We provide an equal scholarship program for all grades students, starting from 25% to 100%.

7.     What are the career opportunities available to the students after completion of their courses?

As a result of the high-quality education that we provide, our students have been successfully enrolled in Hong Kong’s “Band 1 schools”, DSS schools and international schools.

8. Please enlighten us about the school’s major awards/achievements, its accomplished/renowned alumni, remarkable collaborations, and major accreditations.

Our students have received many awards both in Hong Kong and internationally.

Rosebud’s alumni study in various great schools and universities, particularly in those of Hong Kong. Some of them have already graduated and started working and thus bringing about many positive changes to Hong Kong and its communities

Awards –

Mathematics: Rosebud’s students received 3 silver medals & 1 bronze medal in International Math Challenge VII held in Bangkok on 24th of February 2018. Rosebud Primary School was the only school from Hong Kong SAR

STEM Education –

1.    School Team won the BRONZE medal in International ROBOTICS COMPETITION

2.    School Team won the SILVER medal in International ROBOTICS COMPETITION

Chess Competition Hong Kong:

1.    Borigas, Edrien G.  1st place in Chess competition among primary school students in Hong Kong

Sports:

1.    Zero Chiu (2015 P.1 student) won the Gold Medal in Hong Kong BMX Age Race in 2016.

2.    Marcus Lam (2018 P.3 student) got the 1st Place in swimming competitions (50m freestyle and 50m backstroke) among Tsuen Wan schools organized by the Hong Kong Schools Sports Federation in 2019.

3.    P.1-P.3 students won 3rd Place in Tsuen Wan Primary Schools football competition in May 2017.

4.    Soccer team received a trophy in “Hau Po Woon Cup” Primary School 5-aside Soccer Tournament in November 2018.

5.    Soccer team received 2nd Runner-up in “Hau Po Woon Cup” Primary School 5-aside Soccer Tournament in November 2019.

6.    P.1-P.3 students won Champion in Tsuen Wan Primary Schools football competition in April 2019. 

9. Kindly elaborate about the future plans of the school in the same. We are planning to extend our school, open a Through-Train school with equal educational opportunities for every child in Hong Kong. We will provide local national and international (Cambridge, IB) curricula.

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1. Please mention about the school and its mission/vision and various infrastructural facilities.

ICHK is a school that is student-centered and community-minded. We make children feel welcome, cared for and thoroughly at home.

Our innovative curricula offer students a stimulating and challenging learning journey, and our focus is relentlessly future-orientated. We know that change in the world is constant and accelerating. We know that students need a new and wider set of skills if they are to meet the challenges that await: that, in an information and ideas based economy, it is attitudes and mindsets, no less than qualifications, that will underpin ongoing performance and success. And so we have created – and continually evolve – a school experience that best prepares young people for that future.

Our stunning location provides students with unrivalled opportunities to learn and grow through outdoor experiences. In our uniquely natural environment, students play sport, enjoy after school activities, experience authentic outdoor learning and connect with nature.

2.     Kindly mention about the prominent personality of the school and his/her role in the development of the school.

ICHK is a community of innovation, in which all teachers think of themselves as leaders of learning. The Head of School Toby Newton leads the school, and all teachers are encouraged to seek opportunities and programmes to enhance the learning experience for all students. Our leadership team regularly present at education conferences and summits, host workshops and meet with educators who are keen to learn about our approaches.

3.     Kindly describe about the various courses offered by the school and their salient features.

We have developed a unique and stimulating curriculum. In Years 7-9 learning is centred on emerging best practices, using insights and innovations from around the world, captured in a combination of courses that either reflect existing national curriculums or that we have designed ourselves, from the ground up. In Years 10-11 students follow IGCSEs and then the IB Diploma Programme (DP) in Years 12-13. Students can begin the journey towards the Mastery Transcript from Year 10, which is an additional qualification to the IB.

We work closely with students to identify their passions and provide them with personalised learning opportunities. Our innovative Free Learning and Enrichment & Flow programmes allow students opportunities to deepen their work in subjects or in areas of interest which are not covered by the mainstream school curriculum. The Free Learning programme introduces our younger students to self-direction and allows them to take more control of their learning, through a varied map of challenges and experiences. Enrichment & Flow is an adjunct to the GCSE programme and offers students the chance to consolidate, extend or innovate the curriculum they follow.

Our unique curriculum initiatives include Human Technologies, outdoor based activities, Big History, Free Learning, Flexible Learning and Deep Learning. These have all been developed to enrich our students’ experience of school and their understanding of themselves as people and learners. The curriculum dimension is supported by our unique 5+1  pastoral Model, which fosters a culture of growth, hard work, acceptance and collaboration.

4.     Please mention what steps are you taking beyond the traditional curriculum to ensure overall development of the students?

At ICHK, we believe a dual emphasis on academic qualifications and the personal qualities of character, grit and resilience, are the only way in which to truly prepare students for the accelerating challenges of a changing world.

Our unique 5+1 pastoral model is based on the work of five thinkers in education and beyond, and underpins everything we do at ICHK.

Comprehensive research into what factors lie behind school attainment in the secondary years has prompted this model for fostering and nurturing success in our students. It provides us with guidance how to encourage a growth mindset and how to support students into the “learning zone” through an imaginative, innovative curriculum, experienced in an environment of safety and trust.

In addition an ‘epistemic apprenticeship’ is built into the fabric of our school. The term, coined by the Professor of Psychology and Education Guy Claxton, underscores the ways in which school provides guidance and role modelling for every aspect of students’ performance.

This includes not just academic work but the social, emotional and values-driven dimensions of students’ lives.

Essentially it is about creating an environment and opportunities to serve an apprenticeship in being the best you can be.

All learning and teaching is framed through the Human Technologies lens, offering students a toolkit for becoming better human beings in an ever-changing world.

Our goal is to create and sustain a mental and physical environment in which it makes sense and is possible for students to want to be and to build towards being the best people they can be.

5. What steps does the school take to motivate and develop the students’ interest towards education?

At the heart of ICHK is a fundamental commitment: to provide our students with the very best education we can offer, day in, day out, year on year.

ICHK is a school where all students feel cared for and can flourish in a nurturing environment. Our key aim is to provide a secure, caring environment for students, where they can develop as learners and happy individuals. 

Curriculum X encompasses everything that ICHK Secondary offers beyond the traditional curriculum. This framework has been developed and refined for a number of years, through our innovations to timetable, curriculum and pedagogy.   

It includes Human Technologies, Free Learning, Deep Learning, Enrichment and Flow and Outdoor Learning, all of which serve to offer our students more choice, more flexibility, different work practices and more opportunities to develop skills and attributes which are not addressed by examinations.

Through the initiatives, we introduce new passions and open students’ eyes to something new. 

Through a combination of Curriculum X and traditional school subjects, we are able to value and recognise our students for all their attributes, capabilities, passions, achievements, and interests, not just for their academic abilities. 

6. How are you providing financial assistance to the students in need?

ICHK offers a range of scholarships, all closely aligned to the values which underpin our school.

A total of 10% of our annual school fees is awarded in scholarships of one form or another every year, and we seek to exceed that wherever possible, as we strive to make our school’s curricula available to as many students as possible.

With all our awards, we aim to encourage, inspire and reward students for their efforts and contribution to the community,

Our policy has been carefully crafted to align with our core philosophy that all children are worthy and deserving of the best possible education, and young people should be supported in developing their all-round characters.

7.     What are the career opportunities available to the students after completion of their courses?

ICHK students achieve outstanding IBDP and IGCSE results, and all secure their first choice university destinations.

We are very proud of our graduates who have secured places at prestigious universities around the world. Many have secured coveted university scholarships and been elected into student leadership roles by their peers.

8. Please enlighten us about the school’s major awards/achievements, its accomplished/renowned alumni, remarkable collaborations, and major accreditations.

ICHK Secondary has been recognised by Cambridge Strategies as one of the top 100 schools in the world for innovation. Profiles of featured schools formed part of the publication ‘Innovation 800’, created to celebrate 800 years of excellence at Cambridge. ICHK was the only school in Hong Kong to be featured, with our innovative curriculum and cutting edge approach to learning winning us a place in the list of pioneering schools.

In 2020 ICHK became the first school in Hong Kong, and one of only five worldwide to graduate students with a Mastery Transcript.

This was a major development, placing ICHK in a global group of progressive, pioneering schools, dedicated to transforming what educational assessment can capture and express, thereby revolutionizing how universities and employers conceive of the secondary phase.

ICHK’s Human Technologies programme is forming the centre of a PhD research project University College London, and our groundbreaking Free Learning programme has been rolled out to a group of trainee teachers at the Education University of Hong Kong.

World renowned educationist Yong Zhao has endorsed ICHK’s innovative Free Learning programme. 

Yong Zhao is a Foundation Distinguished Professor in the School of Education at the University of Kansas and a professor in Educational Leadership at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education in Australia. 

He has written the foreword for a new book being published this summer on the Free Learning programme and its extension to other education providers. 

Free Learning: A Student-Directed Pedagogy in Asia & Beyond will be published by Routledge and has been co-authored by ICHK’s Ross Parker.

9. Kindly elaborate about the future plans of the school in the same. At ICHK, we believe we have developed impactful solutions to some of the most pressing challenges educators face, and are pushing the boundaries and expectations with regards to what secondary education could and should offer young people. Our approach has been to develop and refine for a number of years, through our innovations to timetable, curriculum and pedagogy. These include Free Learning, Human Technologies, Deep Learning and outdoor learning, all of which serve to offer our students more choice, more flexibility, different work practices and more opportunities to develop skills and attributes which are not addressed by examinations. We will continue to consolidate these innovations and build on the Mastery Transcript.

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1. Please mention about the school and its mission/vision and various infrastructural facilities.

Brief Overview: DSHK is a child-centered and inquiry-based school that uses a dual language model for developing Chinese and English in a fully immersive way. Chinese culture and values help anchor our learning culture while students seek to understand a global perspective.

Mission: Dalton School Hong Kong is a child-centered, dual-language community of global-minded learners and thinkers. We are confident, creative and adaptable, embrace differences, change and challenges. We are happily engaged, self-motivated, resilient and independent. We have a deep sense of responsibility and seek to contribute to the world with dedication, respect and compassion. Everyone in our community including our students, alumni, staff, families, and board will live our motto and take the lead in our life-long learning: “I am not led, I lead.”

Vision: Dalton School Hong Kong will be a leader in education and fulfil our mission by:

• Putting the whole child at the center of learning, tailoring the experience to each child’s talents, interests and needs, equipping each to fulfil his or her unique potential through the Dalton Plan;
• Offering an academically rigorous, balanced and engaging intercultural Putonghua/English curriculum, strengthened by collaboration with global leaders；
• Valuing and respecting, developing and supporting our staff, parents and alumni as our students’ partners in learning; and
• Adopting and contributing to innovation and educational research in Hong Kong and internationally.

Key Beliefs: At Dalton School Hong Kong, we believe:

• The child should be the center of education;
• In educating our students for tomorrow, not for yesterday;
• Bilingual and bi-literate Putonghua and English capabilities are of critical importance;
• In Chinese virtues and values, combined with a multi-cultural perspective;
• In collaborating with and serving our staff, families, alumni, the Hong Kong community and the global community.

Key Infrastructure

• Nearly 100,000 square foot campus that includes STEAM lab, art studio, dance studio, music and performance space, and multi-purpose PE and sport spaces. In addition to the campus located at Imperial Culinan, DSHK also makes use of the outdoor golf, tennis, and soccer facilities at the nearby Waterfall Club.

2. Kindly mention about the prominent personality of the school and his/her role in the development of the school.

Our Foundation Board is led by a board of renowned educators, top business leaders and its own founding directors, all of whom aspire to develop a new school that will further elevate Hong Kong as a leading city in quality education. Together they have almost 100 years of education and school administration experience plus over a century of business, financial, and legal experience.

DSHK was founded by Eva To, Peggy Yeoh, Emily Chan, and Kris Tong. These four women set out to create a school that met the demands of the 21^st century through a progressive, child-led approach to education, while staying true to core Chinese values and principles.

3. Kindly describe about the various courses offered by the school and their salient features.

DSHK structures its courses according to the Dalton Plan, the goal of which is to individualize learning to each child. The Dalton Plan incorporates the House, Lab, and Assignment throughout the day. House is the homeroom community that is led by a House English and House Chinese Teacher. Lab is the part of the day where students are given choice over their learning. These choices are related to the inquiry topic and content standards the class is studying. During that time, teachers work with individual and small groups of students based on their specific learning needs. The Assignment is the long term project or task that students help plan and design. This could be anything from a published story to a collaborative inquiry project.

The class subjects include core subjects such as Chinese and English Literacy, Integrated Social Studies, and S.T.E.A.M. Students have specialists classes in Art, Music, PE, and Performing Arts (eg. Dance and Theatre). Finally, students experience a special “X-Time” that is entirely designed by them. These classes include everything from cooking, coding, WuShu, and Magic.

4. Please mention what steps are you taking beyond the traditional curriculum to ensure overall development of the students?

At DSHK, we believe that the core curriculum is only the floor. For many students, it is the specialist courses and/or X-Time that really sparks their interests and curiosity and helps build their confidence across subject areas. As mentioned above, some of these courses include: specialists classes in Art, Music, PE, and Performing Arts (eg. Dance and Theatre). Finally, students experience a special “X-Time” that is entirely designed by them. These classes include everything from cooking, coding, WuShu, and Magic.

We also offer a wide range of extracurricular activities in the areas of: 1) Chinese Culture; 2) Creative Arts; 3) Sports; and 4) STEAM. Chinese culture classes include Calligraphy, Wushu, Guzheng, and Paper Cutting. Creative Arts include painting, sculpting, choir, and ensemble.

Sports include team sports like basketball and soccer, as well as individual sports such as golf, tennis, and gymnastics. STEAM classes include Chess, coding, Digital Music, and Wood Work.

Furthermore, DSHK believes that developing students’ emotional intelligence is critically important. Therefore, we use a Chinese Values and Habits of Mind Framework to connect each subject area. Our values help anchor our beliefs, and our habits help us practice these values. Values include things like benevolence and trustworthiness, while habits include persistence, managing impulsivity, and listening with understanding and empathy.

5. What steps does the school take to motivate and develop the students’ interest towards education?

 As a child-centered and student-led school, students’ interests are at the heart of everything we do. An excellent example of this is our approach to inquiry. Each unit, students, not teachers, select the topic of inquiry. Topics have included everything from Titanic to Bio-diversity. Inquiry topics can vary from class to class and year to year based on the interests of the students. Once the topic is selected, then teachers across subject areas work to integrate the topic into their content area.

In addition to the class inquiry topics, students are also given a great deal of individual voice and choice in their learning. For example, when students may have choice in the genre and/or topic they write.

Finally, learning is relevant to students’ lives. Teachers strive to connect the real world to students. This is done through excursions outside of school and creating common contexts that relate to students’ lives outside of school.

6. How are you providing financial assistance to the students in need?

DSHK has a Dalton Cares Initiative that supports families with financial assistance based on 3 areas: 1) Bridging Program; 2) Helen Scott Resilience Scholarship; and 3) Financial Need. The Bridging Program is designed to provide financial assistance to families who may be bridging from a local school environment toward an international school setting. The size of the financial award is based on the family’s demonstrated need. Second, in remembrance of one of DSHK’s first parent supporters, the Helen Scott Resilience Scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate extraordinary strength and resilience in the face of challenging obstacles. Third, DSHK provides financial assistance to enrolled families who experience a sudden change in family income and/or hardship that impacts the families’ finances.

7. What are the career opportunities available to the students after completion of their courses?

DSHK is a primary school so students do not immediately enter the workforce or university. However, a DSHK graduate is well-suited toward a career path that is aligned with each child’s passions and interests. DSHK graduates will share many characteristics of those who lead entrepreneurial ventures.

8. Other than traditional occupations, what other career field options are available for them?

DSHK places a major emphasis on STEAM, while also emphasizing human skills and social-emotional intelligence. This makes them well suited for jobs within the technology industry, as well as for jobs that do not yet exist.

9. Please enlighten us about the school’s major awards/achievements, its accomplished/renowned alumni, remarkable collaborations, and major accreditations.

 DSHK partners with the prestigious Tsinghua University Primary School, which is a leader in education in Mainland China. DSHK is a new partner with école42, which is a leading computer programming school that offers a secondary alternative that is equivalent to a Software Engineering Degree at Stanford. DSHK is CIS membership school and on the path toward full accreditation, which is a considerable accomplishment for a school so new. DSHK is a leader in Dual Language education in Asia, serving as 1 of 2 schools in Asia recognized by the Center for Applied Linguistics and Dr. José Medina for Dual Language education. Lastly, DSHK follows the Dalton Plan, developed by Helen Parkhurst and Dalton New York, which is renowned for its progressive approach to education and success rate with sending graduates to the most prestigious universities in the world.

10. Kindly elaborate about the future plans of the school in the same.

 DSHK plans to expand to middle school, which includes grades 6,7, and 8 in 2022. After that, the school will seek to expand to high school, serving grades 9-12. The high school will have a special focus on STEAM education in collaboration with école42.

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1. Please mention about your organization, its mission/vision and various facilities.

Blue Ocean Academy is one of the most reputed organizations in the field of professional training in the Middle East that boasts a long history of more than 20 years. It has mentored thousands of professionals in varied fields, helped them reach their goals and provided outstanding career support. From its humble beginnings in 1998, Blue Ocean has come a long way. Today, it has a strong presence in the UAE and other GCC Countries, with more than 80,000 alumni worldwide, a global network of certified trainers, international affiliations and multinational partners. The main goal of Blue Ocean is to help professionals grow in the corporate world and to navigate organizations through tough times to be profitable.

Vision

To become the world’s most trusted knowledge empowerment enterprise.

To put Blue Ocean on the global map for training, knowledge development and consultancy.

Mission

Provide world-class, cost-effective employment-linked training courses in a relaxed, friendly and accessible environment.

Forge and strengthen affiliations with some of the best international professional training institutions.

Offer students an instantly rewarding experience and a passport to gaining recognition in a multi-cultural work environment.

Ensure optimal value for students’ time and money.

FACILITIES – Blue Ocean Academy has two offices- one is at Latifa Towers and our corporate office is at Burjuman. The classes are conducted at both offices and also at third-party venues for corporate clients. All the classrooms are well-equipped with audio, video and internet facilities. Inhouse training is also provided for the organizations as per request. Currently, we provide online training that allows the students to learn from the comfort of their homes. We have well-qualified, experienced and internationally qualified faculty.

2. Kindly mention about the prominent personality of the organization and his/her role in the development of the organization.

Dr Sathya Menon and Abdul Azeez are the two individuals behind the remarkable growth and expansion of Blue Ocean Academy. Dr Sathya Menon, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Blue Ocean is the mastermind behind the expansion of the company. He is also the Program Director who oversees the design and implementation of training programs conforming to international standards, marketing strategies for business development, leads the team in alignment with the organization’s vision and values and delivers excellent training, consultation and other forms of technical assistance. His out-of-the-box ideas and leadership helped the organization to overcome the crisis in an exemplary way.

Abdul Azeez, the Chairman of the organization, has been a driving force in leading the company to greater heights. With his expertise and vast knowledge in strategic planning, he has expanded the organization’s operations in India, UAE and other GCC countries. He implements company policies to ensure world-class practices, organizes international conferences and workshops, comes up with efficient initiatives to improve the quality of services, and maintains enduring relationships with the customers.

3. Please mention about your services.

Blue Ocean provides international certification programs to help individuals advance their careers. We also enable organizations to improve employee performance and overall profitability through customized corporate training programs. The training is provided online and also in face-to-face sessions while adhering to the COVID-19 protocols. All the trainers of Blue Ocean are industry experts and strive to provide the best learning experience to the students. The pragmatic and personalized approach to learning has enabled the academy to exceed the expectations of the students.

Blue Ocean also leverages its experience by providing top-notch consulting services to Corporate Clients bringing a quantum leap in their performance and profitability, almost instantaneously. Many clients get a return several times of their investment in our consulting services

4. How are you helping students to get financial assistance?

As a responsible corporate citizen, Blue Ocean has always been conducted several CSR activities for the customers. Several non-profit initiatives like free workshops, seminars/webinars and events are conducted every year. Even in 2020 when most organizations were reeling in the pandemic, Blue Ocean continued the initiatives which were a great relief for the people who had to halt their training plans due to the unexpected situation. On March 8, 2020, we conducted the Blue Ocean Women Leadership (BOWLD) conference exclusively for women which was attended by around 200 top women professionals in the Middle East. It had thought-provoking sessions by renowned speakers and eminent women leaders like Dr Zulekha Daud, the founder and chairperson of Zulekha Healthcare Group, were honoured in the non-profit event.

During the crisis, free training was offered to our students and in particular to the citizens of the UAE, Oman, Azerbaijan and Nigeria and also for the hardworking healthcare professionals in the UAE who have done remarkable service in the country for containing the virus. The course fee was reduced to encourage students to continue learning and in some deserving cases, free scholarships were also given. Free webinars are also conducted to educate individuals on relevant topics in varied industries. All webinars are facilitated by popular international speakers like Michael Proffitt, Gurjit Gill and Dr. LeRoy H Graw.

5. Please enlighten us about the organization’s major awards/achievements, its accomplished/renowned alumni, remarkable collaborations, and major accreditations.

Blue Ocean Academy has built an enviable reputation in the Middle East through several success stories. Over the years, the Academy has won several accolades and awards in recognition of its skills to impart sound knowledge to the students. Following are some of the awards that we received:

6. Excellence in Training and Development Award at Middle East Training and Development Leadership Awards 2019

CEO of the Year award at the prestigious Middle East Training and Development Leadership conference- Dr Sathya Menon- CEO of Blue Ocean Academy 2019

Outstanding contribution to Global Learning at the Middle East Training and Development Leadership Awards

Global Training and Development Leadership Award 2017

10 Best Six Sigma Training Institutes Worldwide

Golden Globe Tigers award for the ”Best Training Initiative in Logistics and Supply Chain 2017

2020 IATA Regional Top Performing ATC (Accredited Training Center)

GFEL Top 100 Leaders in Education- Dr Sathya Menon- CEO of Blue Ocean Academy 2019

GFEL Top 50 Organizations in Education 2019

Pride of Aviation Awards Finalist in Business Aviation Awards 2020

7. The International Affiliations

Blue Ocean’s training programs are certified by the esteemed international certification bodies like the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS), International Purchase and Supply Chain Management Institute (IPSCMI), the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport (CILT), the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), International Air Transport Association (IATA), American Certification Institute (ACI), Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS), and American Purchasing Society (APS).

8. Kindly elaborate about the future plans of the organization in the same.

Blue Ocean has many plans for 2021 and beyond. We will continue online training as it allows us to cater to the training needs of the people irrespective of geographical boundaries. We have launched the Arabic training division to provide all our successful training programs in the Arabic language. This is a new step to encourage Arabic-speaking individuals to learn in their native language. We have also launched a separate Corporate Division to service the Corporate Customers. We have also added a branch in Abu Dhabi to cater to the growing demands from that segment of the market.

9. Have you seen any significant change as an organization after Covid-19, please mention some pros and cons if any?

Yes. It was a tough year for businesses around the world. The pandemic imposed several changes on organizations and the only option left was to embrace them without reluctance. We have faced several challenges including travel bans, lockdowns, strict protocols and overwhelming anxiety among the customers. However, we accepted the realities with a positive mind and acted proactively. Digitization was a positive aspect of the pandemic that created a great impact on our business. Even when we had to stop the classroom training for a long time, online training allowed us to appeal to a global audience. The online training and webinars helped us to connect with people across the globe and receive thousands of Google Reviews for the exceptional quality of virtual training. In fact, except the month of March 2020, when lockdown hit our business badly, we registered month-on-month growth in our business, through the hard work of our staff and faculty guided by the vision and involvement of the management. As far as the downside of Covid was concerned, the inability to have face to face interaction with our Student Community was a drawback that we overcame through online sessions.

10. What are the destination and courses you support?

After starting the online training, we are catering to a global audience. However, our operations are mostly based in the locations like UAE, other GCC countries, India, Nigeria and Azerbaijan. Please find all courses in this link: https://www.blueoceanacademy.com/