Growth mindset helps students achieve future goals

In March, our Barstow School and Ningbo Haishu Hanvos School jointly held a “growth mindset” public seminar at the Ningbo Marriott Hotel. The seminar featured Shane Foster, the principal of the Barstow School from the U.S.; Qi Kunlun, principal of the Ningbo Haishu Hanvos School; and Katelyn, the head of the English Department of Ningbo Haishu Hanvos School. They introduced the growth mindset in three detailed aspects: “interpretation of the growth thinking,” “how parents and teachers train children to have growth mindset,” and “growth mindset and three-dimensional integrated curriculum construction” (i.e., compulsory education curriculum, English curriculum, excellent international citizenship development curriculum). Parents from grade 1 and grade 2, as well as more than ten local kindergartens, participated in the seminar.
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The Art Teacher of St. Mary’s Pinghu High School

Art, at first glance, seems far away from daily life. However, when we really pay attention, we realize that art manifests in many subtle ways all around us: through our food, our clothing, our interactions with people; and then also through more obvious avenues, like drawing and painting.

Selda Acar is an art teacher from St. Mary’s Pinghu High School, who has a unique story to share. Selda Acar explains why she chose to stay in China and teach at St. Mary’s school, and how she feels about Chinese students learning the arts. She also offers some valuable advice for Chinese students who may study art in the future. (more…)

Experience-sharing session about studying abroad from an upperclassman

On February 27^th, the International Department of Wuhan’s no.2 high school held an experience-sharing session about studying abroad. It invited the outstanding upperclassman, Jason Liu, a graduate student of St. Mary’s school who is currently a third-year student at UCLA in the United States. Jason was specially invited to share his study experience, as well as his successful university application and school choice, with his fellow underclassmen. The school looked forward to this session as it would help students to learn valuable experience and to reduce any difficulties with their own university applications.

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Education & Learning Through Claire’s Eyes

It’s no secret that Yajuan (Claire) Hou is on a mission to reach as many students as possible with educational opportunity. In her role as KL’s Director of Online Learning, she devotes her day to innovative online course design, development, and promotion. But when asked what she hopes to achieve by developing new online courses and curriculum, she speaks from the heart, revealing experiences that truly led her to this field.

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Science Empowers Me to Change the World

When Ruoxi Qi from our Barstow Ningbo school was in the third grade, she came across a children’s book about the history of chemistry. She was attracted by the book’s cover and immediately opened it. The more she read, the more fascinated she became with the world of chemistry. From that day on, she carried the book with her everywhere much like a child treats their favorite toy. When she got to junior high biology class, she felt that very same draw. “I realized that I too could change the world – just like those people with their names written across the science textbooks,” she says. “Science has empowered me with an opportunity, and I must empower myself with knowledge.” It was then that Ruoxi decided to develop and pursue her interest in science.

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Helping Others While Improving Yourself

Weixian (Vancy) Dai’s reasons for enrolling in the Barstow-Ningbo school were not just about her academic future. Yes, she has dreamed about attending college in the US since she was very young. But she wanted to attend a high school that would help shape who she would become not just force a pedagogical model on her. “I’m so happy about the choice I made,” she says. “I feel lucky to have met such wonderful teachers who have given me opportunities to express myself, guided me towards discovering my own answers, and encouraged me to explore my potential.”

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When Failure Leads to Growth

Born to a merchant family and influenced by his father from a young age to pursue a business career, Zhengzhou campus student Yifei Ge has always had the impression that business people have the power to influence customers, competitors, and entire industries with their products and services. “Just look at how the iPhone has changed people’s way of life,” he says. “I hope to have the same kind of influence on others, and change the world as well!”

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Guiyang Students Document the Lost Art of Wax Printing

A myriad of intricate designs and colors, wax printing represents a long-forgotten artistry. Representative of Guizhou’s folk craft culture, the art of wax printing was headed for extinction in the wake of mass factory production. Enter Ya Gao and Yanni Li, classmates on our Guiyang campus, whose love of this artistic culture ignited their protective instincts and prompted them to think, “What can we do to raise more attention to the importance of this traditional culture?”

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