Religious affiliation(s) Nonsectarian Deputy Director John D'Arcy Mascot Tigers Number of students 1,500 Color Red, Black and Yellow | Director Dr. J. Courtney Lowe Grades Nursery–12 Founded 1994 | |
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Type International IB World School, Non-profit, Independent, Private Division Principals Casey Cosgray (ES), Marina Frias-Gavidia (MS), Melanie Vrba (HS) Profiles | ||
A look inside western academy of beijing high school
The Western Academy of Beijing (WAB, simplified Chinese: 北京京西国际学校; traditional Chinese: 北京京西國際學校; pinyin: Běijīng Jīngxī Guójì Xuéxiào) is a school located in Beijing that was founded in 1994. The school provides education from Nursery to Grade 12. WAB uses the IB PYP (IB Primary Years Program) until Grade 5, IB MYP (IB Middle Years Programme) up to and including Grade 10, and the IB DP (IB Diploma Program) for Grades 11 and 12. WAB is recognized by the IBO as one of seven IB Preferred Training Schools worldwide.
Contents
- A look inside western academy of beijing high school
- A look inside western academy of beijing
- Facilities
- Technology
- WABX
- The Arts
- Student Life
- Accreditation
- References
WAB was an Olympic Educational Model School for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. Out of the 500 schools across China who were awarded by Beijing Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games as an Olympic Educational Model School, WAB was one of the 120 schools awarded as an Excellent Example.
In 2013 Mike Embley, the headmaster of the British School of Beijing (BSB), stated that WAB was, along with BSB and the International School of Beijing (ISB), one of the top three English-language international schools in Beijing, all having long waiting lists. Citing Embley's definition of two lower tiers of Beijing Anglophone international schools which have vacant student spaces, Tristan Bunnell, the author of The Changing Landscape of International Schooling: Implications for Theory and Practice, stated that this was an instance of the idea of "'superior' and 'inferior' schools" shared by teachers and parents.
A look inside western academy of beijing
Facilities
WAB has an Early Childhood Center, Elementary School, Middle School and High School. Each school section has a dedicated building, and the HUB Sports, Arts & Technology Center is a shared facility in the center of the campus. The school has three libraries: the Sabina Brady Library (ES), the Red Scroll Library (MS), and the Green Sky Studio (HS). Other facilities include:
WAB sports a FIFA approved field with a track. It is also said to be one of the best rugby fields in mainland China.
Technology
WAB offers a 1:1 laptop environment (for Grade 3 - 12) with wireless access across the school. Students in grade 6 and up are required by the school to own their own Apple Macbook. The school utilizes a number of IT systems for education, including but not limited to Moodle, PowerSchool, and WordPress. Drupal-powered public news sites and community portals are also integrated into regular school life.
The high school's Tiger Sports Network also provides a livestream to watch most sporting matches, performances, parent meetings and assemblies.
WABX
WABX is WAB's extra-curricular program, offer more than 400 athletic, art, service, academic and social options to students school-wide. WAB participates in multiple interscholastic sporting competitions, including the ACAMIS (Association of Chinese And Mongolian International Schools,) ISAC (International Schools Association in China), EARCOS and APAC (Asian Pacific Athletic Conference). Sports consists of: Rugby, Football (Soccer), Tennis, Badminton, Cross Country, Track and Field, Volleyball, Basketball, Swimming, Baseball, and Softball.
The Arts
WAB has an extensive arts program that engages students of all grade levels and levels of experience. WAB offers several options for chorus, band and orchestra, drama options including original and classic musicals and plays; as well as visual arts. All are available as part of the IB curriculum, electives, or as after-school activities.
Student Life
The school has many global citizenship projects, which are actively involved in the local, national and the international community. Each division (Elementary School, Middle School and High School) has its own student government, known as the "Student Council" or "StuCo" for short. The school is also involved in the world competition, "World Scholars Cup" or "WSC" for short, which both middle school and high school students have been actively involved in for many years.
WAB also has many extra-curricular clubs such as:
WAB is also one of the first international schools in Beijing that has a half paper and half electronic yearbook starting from the Middle School in the 2012 - 2013 school year.
Accreditation
WAB is accredited by many associations, such as International Schools Athletic Conference (ISAC), The International Baccalaureate (IBO), National Center for Curriculum and Textbook Development (NCCT), New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS) and the Council of International Schools (CIS), East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS), Asia Pacific Activities Conference (APAC). The Middle School Student Council was a part of the accreditation process that has taken place November 2013.