Location – Baishan Campus, Dongjiang, Shazikou, Laoshan District, Qingdao, China 266061
Website – QingdaoAmerasia.org
Contact – (+86 532) 8388-9900
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.