Message from David Randall, Interim Director
Grade 10 Work Experience Week
Next week, Grade 10 students will trade in their notebooks and backpacks for the exciting opportunity to experience life as a fulltime employee in a career of their choosing. Students will be expected to work a ‘normal working’ day/week, and, as much as possible, complete tasks similar to other employees.
PTA Fun Fair & Rock in the Park
On Saturday May 24, WAB families are invited to participate in the annual PTA Fun Fair, for an afternoon of fun (and wet!) Olympic-themed games and activities. Also on Saturday, the WAB Peace Park will set the stage for Rock in the Park, a community-wide celebration of the arts. Families are invited to drop by for a few songs, or linger into the evening, while some of WAB's most talented acoustic guitarists, MS and HS bands and original songwriters perform live from two stages. Participants can also engage in creative hands-on activities, ranging from a sidewalk chalk drawing competition to a T-shirt design booth. Also on Saturday May 24, all departing students, parents and staff members are invited to the Elementary School Chinese Garden to participate in our Annual WAB Alumni Leaving Ceremony.
ES Parents Inspired by Diane Frankenstein's Book Talks
Over 270 parents, teachers and friends of the WAB community and other International Schools attended this week's ES Library workshops with Diane Frankenstein, ES Children's Literature expert. One parent admitted, "I'd forgotten how much fun it is being read to!" Another inspired parent beamed, "My husband came home from one workshop with four biographies of famous scientists. I picked up loads of other books for the boys the next day, including '100 Dresses.' After hearing the way Diane described the friendships of the female characters in the book, I thought it was a perfect story for helping my boys understand the ways girls interact with one another."
Archive:
The Class of 2008: A Message from HS Principal Rena Mirkin
It is May and our Grade 12 students are in the midst of taking their final exams and preparing for graduation, as well as their lives after WAB. Our 72 graduating students have a broad range of plans for next year. Some are taking a gap year to study Chinese in Beijing, while others are traveling or volunteering with NGO’s. Whether they are going directly to tertiary education or taking a gap year, the majority of students from the Class of 2008 submitted college applications.
Incoming Director Focused on WAB's Mission, Core Values
WAB's incoming Director, Robert Landau, was on campus this week on a preparatory visit for his arrival in July. He met with parents, staff, the Board, and, perhaps most importantly for Robert, students. Throughout his visit, Robert expressed how much he enjoyed spending time with students. "One of the things I can take back with me to Prague, when I’m reflecting, is that the highlights of my visit have included playing guitar at the ECC Sing-a-Long, having lunch with the student councils and taking a student-led tour," he said. "I love that I didn't see much of campus during that tour. That's how much the kids were talking, telling me how much they love this school."
Chinese Film Industry Forum/ 中国电影业论坛
The WAB community is invited to join three Chinese film industry experts (and WAB parents!) for a panel discussion with WAB's Next Distinguished Speaker Series, Thursday April 17, 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Blu Theatre (HUB).北京京西学校的“杰出人物演讲系列”下一期活动将邀请中国电影行业的杰出人物与京西社区分享他们在电影业的经历和人生。本次活动将于4月17日举行，时间为晚上6点到8点，请注意活动地点从原来的高中露天剧场改为HUB Blu Theatre。
WAB Welcomes Incoming Director, Robert Landau, Week of April 14
All WAB families are invited to take the opportunity to welcome Robert Landau, WAB's Incoming Director, during a coffee morning on Wednesday April 16, 10:00am, Founders' Theatre. Robert will be on campus next week to meet with the WAB community as part of his preparations to assume his new role as WAB Director in July 2008. In addition, parents interested in joining a transition committee to help ease Robert's transition are invited to a meeting on Thursday April 17, 3:30pm, Lotus Lounge. Robert has sent a message to the WAB community and has also sent an outline of his ideas on the Transition Team. Parents who haven't already read these communications can do so by visiting the following link: http://www.wab.edu/news/news_robertlandau.shtml.
IBO Introduces new Community Theme: "Shared Humanity"
Following the recent launch of the IBO's new Community Theme of "Shared Humanity," WAB is delighted to welcome Boyd Roberts, IB Community Theme Project Director, to WAB this week to lead a Thursday workshop for IB DP Coordinators from Beijing international schools, and again to an international group of IB teachers at the GIN conference this weekend.
PTA Spring Book Fair, Friday May 16
Stock up on summer reading, foreign language books and bookworm classics at the PTA Spring Book Fair, Friday May 16, 8:00am - 5:00pm, ES Library. This spring sale is open to the entire WAB community, with a wide selection of books for readers of all ages. A portion of all proceeds will benefit the PTA's Visiting Author Series.
WAB Hosts ACAMIS Division 1 Soccer Tournament, Through Saturday
The WAB community is invited to come out and cheer for the 144 student athletes participating in the 2008 ACAMIS Division I Soccer Championships, which WAB is hosting April 17 - 19. Many thanks to those WAB families who have opened their homes to the 120 athletes visiting from out of town.
WAB Hosts ACAMIS Division I Soccer Championships
Over 120 student athletes from international schools across China will converge on the WAB sports fields from April 17 - 19 to compete in the 2008 ACAMIS Division I Soccer Championships. In addition, these ACAMIS Championships will include a celebration of sport and friendship with a Friendship Match of Soccer with Special Olympics athletes, some of which were members of the Gold Medal winning China National Team from the 2007 Special Olympics. The WABX Department still seeks WAB families to host around 50 young athletes who'll be competing in the ACAMIS competition. If your family can host a student (or two!), please contact Martin Halpin, WABX Coordinator, at mhalpin@wab.edu or 13910062454.
Earth's Hope
Last weekend, WAB hosted over 300 students and teachers from over 40 schools in 10 different countries for the EARCOS Global Issues Network (GIN) Conference. WAB Interim Director, David Randall, commented on the success of the conference, “It was an exciting weekend. In fact, it was one of the most stimulating events in my 39 years of overseas education...One day, I hope we learn of significant projects that were developed by someone inspired from attending this first Asian GIN conference held at WAB. My guess is that we will.”
ISA Results Indicate WAB's Exceptional Performance in Mathematics
Recently, WAB shared the extraordinary results from this year's International School Assessment (ISA) tests, which are taken by students in Grades 3, 5, 7 and 10 in the areas of reading, comprehension and mathematics. Following on this success, WAB has received further confirmation that WAB students are performing above the international average in Mathematics when compared with other leading international schools.
