Home » Supplement » Education
Concordia thrives on diversity
January 30, 2013, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
CONCORDIA International School Shanghai embraces and celebrates diversity. Students and families come to Concordia from more than 32 nations, weaving a richness of experience and cultural exchange.
The very blessing of diversity also creates challenges such as communication barriers, transitions and perspectives. To address these challenges, we have both formal and parent-led programs in place, addressing transition, curriculum and celebrations. These programs help our community to embrace and celebrate the cultural diversity created by our mobile and diverse community.
The formal approach to celebrating cultural diversity includes special programs, such as the counselor-led Ambassador Program in the middle school, which among other things, partners with neighboring local school, Pinghe Bilingual School. This partnership builds close ties between middle school students on both campuses, and allows for cultural exchange on a regular basis. In addition to this program, curriculum throughout the elementary, middle and high school campuses ensures more in-depth learning about China, including mandatory language studies from Preschool to Grade 12. Mandarin is mandatory through Grade 7 and other world languages are on offer from Grade 8 through Grade 12.
Another component of the school's more formal approach to learning about our host country is annual trips taken each fall. Students in Grade 5 through Grade 12 travel with teacher chaperones to over 15 locations around China on service, adventure and cultural excursions. Students engage in daily reflections and complete an academic component to share lessons learned from these experiences.
Aside from the formal and academic-based approaches to diversity, the whole community looks forward to parent-led events. The Parent Support Organization sponsors International Day on an annual basis. Food, dress, games and activities make this a fun way for students to learn about the rich variety of cultures found here on campus and around the world. Another important annual event celebrated by the Concordia community is the Chinese New Year Assembly. This hour-long celebration gives students the chance to engage in traditional music, dragon and lion dances and performances that celebrate this special time within our host country.
While celebrating diversity and learning more about China are at the heart of Concordia's approach, we understand it is critical to help families settle and leave successfully - we support our families in transition.
Every year, we celebrate the arrival of new members to our community, even while we grieve and say goodbye to others.
In response, Concordia has established practices to help with transitions whether a family is coming or going. Needs are different for families depending on where they call home, but whether from a Western culture or from an Asian culture, there will be a program to help families adapt.
The very blessing of diversity also creates challenges such as communication barriers, transitions and perspectives. To address these challenges, we have both formal and parent-led programs in place, addressing transition, curriculum and celebrations. These programs help our community to embrace and celebrate the cultural diversity created by our mobile and diverse community.
The formal approach to celebrating cultural diversity includes special programs, such as the counselor-led Ambassador Program in the middle school, which among other things, partners with neighboring local school, Pinghe Bilingual School. This partnership builds close ties between middle school students on both campuses, and allows for cultural exchange on a regular basis. In addition to this program, curriculum throughout the elementary, middle and high school campuses ensures more in-depth learning about China, including mandatory language studies from Preschool to Grade 12. Mandarin is mandatory through Grade 7 and other world languages are on offer from Grade 8 through Grade 12.
Another component of the school's more formal approach to learning about our host country is annual trips taken each fall. Students in Grade 5 through Grade 12 travel with teacher chaperones to over 15 locations around China on service, adventure and cultural excursions. Students engage in daily reflections and complete an academic component to share lessons learned from these experiences.
Aside from the formal and academic-based approaches to diversity, the whole community looks forward to parent-led events. The Parent Support Organization sponsors International Day on an annual basis. Food, dress, games and activities make this a fun way for students to learn about the rich variety of cultures found here on campus and around the world. Another important annual event celebrated by the Concordia community is the Chinese New Year Assembly. This hour-long celebration gives students the chance to engage in traditional music, dragon and lion dances and performances that celebrate this special time within our host country.
While celebrating diversity and learning more about China are at the heart of Concordia's approach, we understand it is critical to help families settle and leave successfully - we support our families in transition.
Every year, we celebrate the arrival of new members to our community, even while we grieve and say goodbye to others.
In response, Concordia has established practices to help with transitions whether a family is coming or going. Needs are different for families depending on where they call home, but whether from a Western culture or from an Asian culture, there will be a program to help families adapt.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
