Beijing BISS International School Why BISS? BISS Today's educational leader, shaping tomorrow's global leaders "BISS feels like home" Long and Proud History Established in 1994 as the sister school of ISS International School Singapore, founded in 1981 First school in Beijing authorised to offer all three academic programmes offered by the International Baccalaureate (IB) Internationally and domestically accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS), Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and the National Centre for School Curriculum and Textbook Development (NCCT); licensed by the Beijing Education Commission as an International School Today's Educational Leader World-renowned academic programme of studies o Primary Years Programme (PYP) in Kindergarten Grade 5 o Middle Years Programme (MYP) in Grades 6 10 o Diploma Programme (DP) in Grades 11 12 Research-based instructional strategies and technology integration provided in all classrooms Nursery through Grade 12 (BISS is a specialist in 21st century learning methodologies and philosophy) Student-Focused Dedicated, comprehensive and individualized student learning support available to all students through the Optimal Learning Centre (OLC), English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Programme, Mother-Tongue Programme, Guidance and Counselling Services and more Extensive co- and extra-curricular activities designed to promote student creativity and ingenuity Numerous field-education programmes and other opportunities unique to BISS enhance classroom learning and promote the development and long-term success of the whole child Authentic Development of Intercultural Awareness Approximately 25 student nationalities and 15 teacher nationalities contribute to a culturally diverse campus and promote stimulating dialogues to occur both inside and outside of class Students graduate bilingual (minimum) with heightened cultural awareness and respect for diversity o Elementary School: Chinese language and culture class once a day, every day o Secondary School: English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean language and literature courses offered at the native level (Language A); English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Spanish language courses offered at the beginner/intermediate level (Language B); numerous other mother-tongue courses also available as school-assisted DP self-study courses Convenient city-centre campus allows for authentic student interaction with Beijing and China, as well as access to Olympic facilities readily available to BISS for PE classes and sporting activities Small School Advantage Extensive home-school connection and family support provided, including cultural transition and orientation programmes, adult language classes and parenting workshops Every student gets to enjoy individual attention, develop strong leadership and communication skills, participate in meaningful activities, enrol in the academically rigorous IB Diploma Programme and shine while doing so in this supportive, caring environment that feels like home!
More information about our school can be obtained by accessing: www.biss.com.cn 2015 16 School Year Calendar At A Glance New Student Orientation 11 Aug 2015 First day of 1 st Semester 12 Aug 2015 Chinese National Day Holiday 28 Sept - Oct 2 2015 Winter Break 14 Dec 2015 4 Jan 2016 First Day after Winter Break 4 Jan 2016 Last day of 1 st Semester 15 Jan 2016 First Day of 2 nd Semester 18 Jan 2016 Chinese New Year Break 8 Feb - 12 Feb 2016 Spring Break 28 Mar 4 Apr 2016 May Holiday 2 May 2016 Last Day of 2 nd Semester 8 Jun 2016 (half day) Summer Vacation 9 Jun 2016 ~
BISS School Bus Pick-Up and Drop-Off Points 2015 16 RMB 9,350 (10 km and below) Chateau Glory 荣 尊 堡 Hua Qiao Cun 华 侨 村 Dong Nan Community 东 南 小 区 Hui Gu Jin Se 慧 谷 金 色 East Gate Plaza 东 环 广 场 Hui Gu Yang Guang 慧 谷 阳 光 East Palace 东 苑 公 寓 Ji Jin Qin Yuan 季 景 沁 园 Guang Ming Apt. 光 明 公 寓 Jian Wai Diplomatic Apt. 建 外 公 寓 Guo Ao Cun 国 奥 村 Jin Rong Jie 金 融 街 Indian Embassy 印 度 使 馆 Jing Da Int'l Apt. 京 达 国 际 Jin Qiu Jia Yuan 锦 秋 家 园 Lake Side Garden 清 镜 明 湖 Jin Xing Yuan 金 星 园 Lido Hotel 丽 都 饭 店 Jin Xiu Yuan 锦 绣 园 Palm Spring 棕 榈 泉 Landmark Diplomatic Apt. 亮 马 桥 外 交 公 寓 Qi Jia Yuan Diplomatic Apt 齐 家 园 外 交 公 寓 Landmark Palace 亮 马 名 居 Richmond Park 丽 都 水 岸 Language University 北 京 语 言 大 学 Rong Ke Olive City 融 科 橄 榄 城 Long Bao Bld. 龙 宝 大 厦 Sanlitun DRC 三 里 屯 外 交 公 寓 Malaysia Embassy 马 来 西 亚 使 馆 Sheng Shi Yi Pin 圣 世 一 品 Moma Mega Hall 万 国 城 Shi Ji Cheng 世 纪 城 Qian He Jia Yuan 千 鹤 家 园 Shi Mao Ao Lin 世 贸 奥 临 Roman Garden 罗 马 花 园 Shu Guang Hua Yuan 曙 光 花 园 Rong Hua Shi Jia 融 华 世 家 Upper East Side 陽 光 上 东 Sun Era 太 阳 公 元 Vietnam Embassy 越 南 使 馆 UHN 国 际 村 Wan Ke Dong Di 万 科 东 第 US Apt. 联 邦 公 寓 Wang Jing 望 京 小 区 Wan Ke Xing Yuan 万 科 星 园 Windsor Avenue 温 莎 大 道 Wo Long Apt. 卧 龙 小 区 World Trade Apt. 国 贸 公 寓 Zhong Zhou Int l Apt. 中 轴 国 际 Xanado Apt. 禧 瑞 都 Ya Ao Jin Mao Yue 亚 奥 金 茂 悦 RMB 9,900 (beyond 10 km up to 15km) RMB 10,450 (beyond 15 km but within 25 km) Asia Pacific Bld. 亚 太 大 厦 Atlantic New City 大 西 洋 新 城 Capital Paradise 名 都 园 Bao Xing Yuan 宝 星 园 Da Yue Apt. 大 悦 公 寓 Bo Ya Garden 博 雅 園 Dragon Bay 龙 湾 别 墅 Central Park 新 城 国 际 FESCO Apt. 外 企 公 寓 Class 果 岭 里 Hua Fan Yi Cheng 华 纺 易 城 Dong Hu Wan 东 湖 湾 Lemmon Lake 莱 蒙 湖 Fortune Plaza 财 富 中 心 Mei Li Yuan 美 丽 园 Golf Apt. 高 尔 夫 公 寓 Xing Rong Jia Yuan 兴 隆 家 园 Green Lake Place 观 湖 国 际 Yi Jing Jia Yuan 翌 景 嘉 园 Greenland Garden 嘉 林 花 园 Yu Lin Shang Shui 玉 林 山 水 Hua Ding Shi Jia 華 鼎 世 家 Zhu Jiang Luo Ma 珠 江 罗 马 Beijing BISS International School is situated in the central Beijing, close to many expatriate residential and embassy areas. Please check with us for locations that are not listed above. School bus fees are charged on a yearly basis and the above pick-up/drop-off points may be subject to change throughout the year. Updated on 12 May 2015
e-learning and 1:1 Programmes BISS Digital Learning Environment: e-learning and 1:1 Programmes All teachers and students at BISS are expected to use digital technology, including desktop computers, laptops and handheld devices, school network facilities and associated online tools in an ethical, culturally sensitive and appropriate manner for an educational community. At all times BISS community members are expected to conduct themselves in a manner which is cognizant of the rights, feelings and freedoms of others as well as themselves. Due consideration must be given at all times to the effects one s actions have on other members of the BISS community, the host country and our global community. When using digital technologies at home or at school, digital citizenship in terms of responsible, reliable and respectful use is expected. BISS Digital Learning Environment: Student Laptops The 1:1 laptop implementation at BISS commenced in August 2009, with all students entering Grades 5-12 purchasing their own laptop according to BISS Hardware Requirements (see below). This laptop is a personal device and is not to be shared with another family member. The laptop may be purchased through the school according to arrangements made with local suppliers, or it may be purchased privately according to minimum specifications and recommendations made by BISS. Students are required to observe the Computer, Networked Resources and E-Learning Guidelines at BISS when using mobile and other forms of technology. In order to facilitate easy, efficient purchase of MacBooks from the BISS IT Department, BISS has contracted a relationship with Solution Keys, a local Apple supplier. Parents are invited to review products and order online via this website: http://laptop.biss.com.cn. In addition, students in the Elementary School have access to classroom mobile computing including imacs, MacBooks, Netbooks, ipads and other multimedia equipment. Hardware Requirements for Laptops It is recommended that students purchase Apple MacBook laptops for use at BISS. More than 90% of the students in the BISS Secondary School carry MacBooks. Apple products are recommended by the school as superior for educational use as they are more effective when using multimedia tools, can be more effectively connected to the school s wireless network (including access to printing), support online and purchased educational software and rarely have virus problems. BISS prides itself on being a Mac school. However, in light of parental needs and emerging technology developments, BISS has adopted a blended 1:1 laptop approach. This means that students who arrive at BISS with a non-macbook laptop already purchased will be permitted to continue to use this device providing it has minimum hardware and software specifications, including operating system requirements. Hardware Specifications for Laptops Any student laptop used at BISS must have the following specifications: Minimum 2Gb RAM (required) Minimum hard drive capacity of 160GB (required) Wireless Network Capability with protocol g or n (required) All software on the laptop must be legal (required) The operating system must be in English or Chinese (required) Audio and video recording capabilities (preferably) The administration password must be given to IT Services in order to connect to the network and install software as needed
Specifically for non-macbook laptops: Windows XP Business or Windows 7 Enterprise or similar operating system, not the Home edition (required) Quality anti-virus software installed and updated as needed (required) o Please note: there may be some problems with the firewall and domain settings that cause problems with non-macbook laptops when students take them home to use IT Services at BISS All laptop users at BISS can access the IT Services office (3 rd floor admin area) from 7:45am 5:00pm, Monday Friday, or by email (ITServices@biss.com.cn). Students can expect to receive help with the following: 1. Software Installation The 1:1 learning environment requires a minimum set of software to be used for educational activities. This set is cross-platform. In addition to a small set of purchased software, BISS will also provide a selected collection of free, open source software applications, for all teachers and students to use. The complete list of required software will be reviewed each year and made available to the school community. 2. Network Access All laptop users (teachers and students) at BISS will have access to the wireless network via password protected device configuration. The network is constantly upgraded, and is robust and stable to accommodate all learning needs at BISS. 3. Internet Access All students at BISS have access to the Internet. Students with laptops will access this through the wireless network. BISS has purchased and implemented Internet filtering software that provides keyword blocking of inappropriate websites. This is monitored at all times by IT Services and educational staff to ensure user safety. At the same time a programme fostering digital citizenship and awareness of what it means to be a reliable and responsible online learner is being implemented as part of the curriculum across both the PYP and MYP programs. Situations of inappropriate use will be addressed as disciplinary issues. BISS maintains its commitment to e-learning and therefore will ensure access to appropriate and efficient network use to support online learning. 4. Hardware and Software Troubleshooting Any issues that prevent laptops from functioning correctly will be investigated by IT Services. Many small problems can be fixed immediately or on the same day. Larger problems may need to be outsourced to local technical workshops. IT Services will help students and parents find solutions for technical issues in Beijing. Security and Monitoring Device Security It is the responsibility of the user to keep their device secure by locking it in an appropriate area. BISS will not be held responsible for lost or stolen laptops.