Nanjing International School

Nanjing International School (南京国际学校)
Location
Xue Heng Lu 8 Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
Information
Type	International School (non-profit)
Established	1992
Head of school	Laurie McLellan[1]
Faculty	76
Grades	Pre School - Grade 12
Enrolment	540
Colour(s)	Yellow, Grey
Mascot	Pixiu
Website	Nanjing International School

Nanjing International School
Simplified Chinese	南京国际学校
Transcriptions Mandarin - Hanyu Pinyin Nánjīng Guójì Xuéxiào

Nanjing International School is a non-profit International School serving the expatriate community of Nanjing, enrolling children age 3 to 18, PreK to Grade 12.

History

Officially opened by a small group of expatriate parents on October 14th 1992, with 5 students, NIS was a school for very young children only. It was the product of parents who were concerned that being in China should not present an obstacle to the family being together, nor to the children receiving a good education.

After several years in rented rooms in a local school, NIS moved with a handful of students to the Dingshan (now Shangri-La) hotel. With the help of local businesses, six rooms were renovated for use as a school. Between 1997 and 2004, NIS renovated more and more rented facilities at the Shangri-La. The school grew from 35 to 300 students in this time.

In 2004, NIS moved to its own purpose-built premises in Xianlin College and University Town, on the outskirts of Nanjing. Realising this dream was the culmination of a sustained team effort, lasting several years.

The closeness of the NIS community, so prevalent in the 1990s, is something we still valued today. The school is a friendly and open place for families.^[2]

Curriculum

It is the first school in China which is fully authorised by International Baccalaureate Organisationto offer the Primary Years (PYP), Middle Years (MYP) and Diploma Programmes (DP).

IB Programmes are transferable internationally and require participating schools to offer high educational standards. When students graduate from the school with IB Diploma, they may choose to study in most universities worldwide without extra examination.

Location and facilities

Nanjing International School is located at Xianlin College and University Town, northeast of the city of Nanjing, Jiangsu, China. The total area of the purpose-built campus is 70,000m².

While our belief is that the quality of teachers and strength of the curriculum which have the biggest impact on student learning, we also believe that our students should have the best facilities in which to learn. We also value the importance of space both inside and outside the main school buildings, hence the wide corridors inside and the expansive green areas outside.

Our campus was designed to use traditional Chinese themes on the exterior meshed with modern, state of the art interiors. Our classrooms were designed with teacher input to optimise student centred instruction based around inquiry. In addition to each purpose built classroom we have four science laboratories, specialist art studio, design technology workshop, music room and practice rooms, drama studio, large PYP and MYP group rooms and a spectacular library.

Technology is based around our glass Apple Shop & MacQuarium, with multiple computer labs and mobile trolleys to be used anywhere in school. Adding full time tech support and classroom integration specialists, the tech content in the curriculum has steadily grown. Our 1:1 Mac laptop programme is supported by lots of space for students to ‘hang out’ in comfort with sofas spread throughout the school. IB Diploma students in Grades 11 & 12 have their own private area in which to either study or spend down time with friends. Smart Boards in every classroom.

Our Sports facilities are also excellent. We have a double gym, full astro turf soccer pitch, 400m tartan running track, and olympic sized swimming pool.

Our large cafeteria has a dual design with a large stage. This means that as well as serving lunches we can have community assemblies, our choir and orchestra performing and school plays and musicals staged. Our next building project includes an expansive theatre to further enhance student life at NIS.

As a school with 599 students we enjoy the facilities of a school twice our size. Not for profit schools are able to put all the fees into quality education for our students. ^[3]

Enrolment

There are around 540 students from 44 countries, with about 44% South Korean, 19% Europe (excluding Germany), 11% Germany, 11% North America, 8% Asia (excluding Korea), 3% South America, 3% Australia, 1% Other

References

1. ^ "Director's Welcome". web. http://www.nanjing-school.com/class.php?as=3. 
2. ^ "Nanjing School webpage History". web. http://www.nanjing-school.com/class.php?as=48. 
3. ^ "Nanjing School webpage Facilities". web. http://www.nanjing-school.com/class.php?as=36.