We s t e r n A c a d e m y o f B e i j i n g
table of contents
4 From the Director
5 From the Board of Trustees 6 WAB’s Guiding Principles
8 Elementary School
10 Middle School
14 High School
18 Admissions
20 Community Relations & Development
24 Faculty & Staff
26 Finance
Introduction From the Director From the Board of Trustees
W
hat a year! Reflecting on the 2011-12 year is a wonderful opportunity to revel in the brilliance of our students, the engagement of our community, the inspiration of our board and staff, and the dream that was, is, and will be WAB. From the nervous energy of the first day of school to the glorious culminating activities at year’s end – including a high school graduation that was watched live in 22 countries on 6 continents – it was indeed a remarkable year. I can confidently assure our community that the WAB dream is alive and well and thriving, both here in Beijing and around the world. Our Annual Report offers us an opportunity to commemorate WAB’s developments, challenges, and achievements from the 2011-2012 school year, and to highlight how WAB is fulfilling its mission, philosophy and core values. It also serves to inform our community of our dedication to providing careful stewardship of tuition funds and resources. You will see as you read through these pages the reflection of a vibrant and energetic school, which is committed to excellence in holistic and premiere international education. Students always come first at WAB; last year our students continued to distinguish WAB as a preeminent international school through their learning, their service, and their accomplishments across an extraordinary range of artistic and athletic endeavors. The class of 2012 is to be commended for their acceptances to the appropriate and outstanding colleges and universities around the world. Through engagement with the Chinese land, people, language and culture, students deepen their understanding of this amazing host country and give back through their service to the local community in countless ways. WAB students, both those currently enrolled and members of our distinguished alumni continue to be proud ambassadors for, and stellar testimonials to, their educational experience at this school. Our campus is always a hub of activity and last year was no exception. We not only hosted numerous events throughout the year, we shared those events across the globe through our growing capacity to stream events from anywhere on our campus, and even from off campus graduation venues. We welcomed noted brain researcher John Joseph and learning
WAB’s Guiding Principles
expert Gini Rojas, as well as Princess Laurentine from the Netherlands and Ambassador Gary Locke, who keynoted the Global Issues Network (GIN) conference, engaging 800 students from around Asia. We were honored to host APAC boys and girls tennis and girls soccer and as well as ACAMIS basketball. The WAB family came together for many events, including Rock in the Park, Community Picnic, Family Fun Fair, several plays and concerts, and WABX to the Max. Our annual spring gala raised money for our Miao Liang Environmental and Experiential Education Center and for China Engagement initiatives. Thanks to the generosity of Parent Link, our invaluable parent partner, WAB has a beautiful new display of our Primary Years Program in the Elementary School lobby and new air monitoring equipment. And, the community rallied in a most stirring manner around our severely injured colleague, Amy Capstick, who is once again teaching and coaching. While this Annual Report reflects on the past year, it is also firmly focused on WAB’s ongoing commitment to advancing the WAB dream. The Board has been hard at work looking far into the future, while at the same time affirming the fundamental cornerstones upon which WAB was built. The staff also put in long hours last year, documenting the curriculum standards and benchmarks in a new and far more accessible and comprehensive manner than ever before, enabling parents and students and teachers to form more robust partnerships in the learning process. We celebrate all of the successes and the remarkable spirit of the many fine people who have made and will continue to make WAB a truly exceptional school and community. I would like to thank our students, parents, staff and Board of Trustees, as well as the broad community of embassies, companies and organizations, for their ongoing support of our school. I close reiterating my deep admiration for WAB, looking forward to the years ahead and the many exciting experiences and initiatives we will pursue together. Geoffrey G. Andrews Director
Introduction From the Director From the Board of Trustees
WAB’s Guiding Principles
WAB Board of Trustees 2011-12 Standing: Michael Crook, founder, UK; Anne Jacquet, France; Frances Fremont-Smith, USA; Kristin Jonsson, Sweden; Mike Bilan, Staff member; Ian Charles Stewart, UK; Michael Fredskov Christiansen, Board Treasurer, Denmark; Jeffrey Krebs, USA; John Scales, USA; Jun Zheng, Board Secretary. Sitting: Jenny Mondoza, Venezuela; Geoff Andrews, Director; Tina Dige Kjaergaard, Vice Chair, Denmark; Chris Alberti, Board Chair, USA; Cathy Wang, USA.
T
he Western Academy of Beijing is a non-profit, independent international school, governed by its Board of Trustees. There are up to 13 Trustees on the Board at any one time, with up to 9 Trustees appointed because they have skills and/or experience that are useful to the school, and up to 4 Trustees elected, usually two at a time, via elections run by the WAB Parent Link. These parent-elected members become Trustees with the same term, role and responsibilities as appointed Trustees; that is to say they are expected to govern in the interests of the whole school, not any particular interest group. It is also a stipulation of the WAB Constitution that no one Nationality may represent more than 50% of voting Board membership. At the end of the 2011-2012 year Mrs. Anne Jacquet, Mr. Chris Alberti and Mr. John Scales stepped down as Trustees as a result of their relocation away from China and work commitments. The Board wishes to thank Anne, Chris and John for their committed and valued service. In particular The Board would like to extend special thanks to Chris Alberti for his 3-years as Board Chair. We wish all departing Trustees and their families all the best for their respective future endeavours. Two new parent-elected Trustees, Lisina Leung and Jeremy Perks, joined the Board in the fall of 2012. The work of the Trustees is guided by the Constitution of WAB and other fundamental documents, which are in turn guided by principles set down by the Founders in 1994. Trustees are tasked with ensuring the smooth administration of the School within the guidelines of its Constitution. This includes hiring and overseeing the work of the School Director, planning for future development of the School, and ensuring the financial stability of the School. The Board of Trustees is also charged with maintaining and nurturing the collaborative and supportive Culture of WAB, something which has always been a core value of the School. The work of the Board involves providing guidance on policies for hiring, admissions, curriculum, China engagement, extra-curricular activities, and more. As part of the ongoing development and improvement of School facilities, the Board recently approved the budget
for refurbishment and updating of The Founders’ Theatre; as well as a number of other projects around the school, to the benefit of the entire WAB community. The 2012-2013 year already promises to be a year full of excitement and achievement for our students and faculty alike. The Board commits to doing its part to ensure that school governance supports the School’s Mission, and the Director in fulfilling that Mission. If you would like additional information about the Board and Board Committees please see the Board section of the community portal at my.wab. edu. If you have the time and are interested in helping with long term governance of the school, either by joining a Board Committee or by applying to become a Trustee (at the Election in May 2013 run by Parent Link), please contact the Chairman of the Trustees Committee, Ian Stewart, by e-mail: wabboard@wab.edu. We hope you enjoy reading the Western Academy of Beijing Annual Report, and look forward to welcoming many of you to the AGM in October.
Yours Sincerely, WAB Board of Trustees
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Introduction From the Director From the Board of Trustees
Mission
WAB’s Guiding Principles
Philosophy The Western Academy of Beijing offers a challenging and caring community based educational environment in which students are active participants in the learning process. WAB fosters critical thinking and enquiry-based skills to ensure its students achieve to their full potential as individuals and as members of the global community. In this setting, students, staff and parents co-operate in the educational process guided by the following principles.
WAB Educates the Whole Child The Western Academy of Beijing seeks to develop the intellectual, social and emotional, physical and aesthetic potential of each child along with moral sensitivity. WAB students will learn how to analyze, synthesize and evaluate new situations, knowledge and rapidly changing technology with ease, confidence and creativity. WAB’s educational program provides its students with a fundamental respect for the beliefs and values of other peoples, and will take full advantage of the culture of its host country, China.
WAB Champions its Staff The staff teach with an international perspective. They are selected for their professionalism, high qualifications, skills and creativity. Individual professional development is both supported and expected, while WAB creates an atmosphere in which the staff’s expertise and talents enrich the school community as a whole.
WAB Involves the Parents Parents are encouraged to participate as partners in the education of their children and in the continuing development of the school. WAB supports, respects and desires such an active role for parents. WAB, a community of students, staff and parents, is committed to the creation and support of a dynamic model school with high academic, social and ethical standards.
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Introduction From the Director From the Board of Trustees
Core Values
WAB’s Guiding Principles
IB Learner Profile The aim of all IB programmes is to develop internationallyminded people who, recognizing their common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet, help to create a better and more peaceful world. IB learners strive to be:
Inquirers They develop their natural curiosity. They acquire the skills necessary to conduct inquiry and research and show independence in learning. They actively enjoy learning and this love of learning will be sustained throughout their lives.
Learner Centered
Knowledgeable
Where all decisions are made and actions taken to enhance the lifelong learning process so that each member of the WAB family is an inquiring, critical and purposeful learner.
They explore concepts, ideas and issues that have local and global significance. In so doing, they acquire in-depth knowledge and develop understanding across a broad and balanced range of disciplines.
China Global Coherence
Thinkers
Where we strive to nurture socially responsive global citizens bound together by China – the common thread woven throughout our diverse family mosaic.
They exercise initiative in applying thinking skills critically and creatively to recognize and approach complex problems, and make reasoned, ethical decisions.
Mosaic of Diversity
Communicators
Where each makes unique and irreplaceable contributions that, when combined, create the WAB family.
They understand and express ideas and information confidently and creatively in more than one language and in a variety of modes of communication. They work effectively and willingly in collaboration with others.
WAB 工合 Spirit (Gong He) Where with a spirit of commitment, enthusiasm and shared purpose, each member of the WAB family contributes to the whole.
Caring Where by valuing and respecting each other and our environment, we sustain and nurture healthy relationships with and life-long responsibilities to self, family, and the world.
Principled They act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness, justice and respect for the dignity of the individual, groups and communities. They take responsibility for their own actions and the consequences that accompany them.
Open-minded They understand and appreciate their own cultures and personal histories, and are open to the perspectives, values and traditions of other individuals and communities. They are accustomed to seeking and evaluating a range of points of view, and are willing to grow from the experience.
Caring They show empathy, compassion and respect towards the needs and feelings of others. They have a personal commitment to service, and act to make a positive difference to the lives of others and to the environment.
Risk-takers They approach unfamiliar situations and uncertainty with courage and forethought, and have the independence of spirit to explore new roles, ideas and strategies. They are brave and articulate in defending their beliefs.
Balanced They understand the importance of intellectual, physical and emotional balance to achieve personal well-being for themselves and others.
Reflective They give thoughtful consideration to their own learning and experience. They are able to assess and understand their strengths and limitations in order to support their learning and personal development.
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School Section Summary
Elementary School
Middle School
High School
ES I
t is my pleasure to provide you with an overview of the accomplishments in the WAB Elementary School during the 2011-2012 school year. As I reflect on my first year as your Principal, I feel very fortunate, and I am grateful to those that have come before me: the WAB Founders who had a dream and followed their hearts to create a vibrant and exciting child-centered learning community, the Board members that led the institution in developing a well articulated mission, philosophy, and core values that define our work, Karen O’Connell, the principal at WAB for the previous 12 years, who created a caring and compassionate elementary school environment, a very supportive and energetic parent community, and a staff that is dedicated to providing quality engaging experiences to our students on a daily basis. Without these key foundational people, WAB would not be the school it is today.
We are truly blessed to have bright, enthusiastic, and curious students crossing our thresholds daily. A key component of WAB Elementary School is that we give our students the chance to grow through their discoveries and experiences. We have many wonderful activities and events occurring in our classrooms each and every day that engage our students and allow them to develop their potential through a multitude of learning opportunities. From the discoveries that students made through their grade level units of inquiry, to the performances at their arts shows, the sporting activities that students participated in during the Olympic Dream Series, the field trips that allowed our students to engage with our host country China, and many other experiences that shaped their year. These experiences define who our students are and what we hope they will become in the future. Our experiences are also shaped by real-life experiences. This past year, we hosted many distinguished guests who shared their experiences with connecting, inspiring, challenging and making a difference around the world. Princess Laurentine from the Netherlands inspired us with her creative writing and storytelling. Apollo Ohno connected with us as he discussed his rigorous training schedule and dedication to becoming an Olympic athlete and gold medal winner. Authors from all over 8
wab annual report 2011-2012
visited to share the artistic talent of writing through a variety of genres as well as imaginative illustration techniques to keep our minds roaming. Finally, our Grade 5 students were able to take action in their final year of the Primary Years Programme. Expectations are such that students carry out an extended, collaborative inquiry project, known as the exhibition, under the guidance of their teachers. The exhibition represents a significant event in the life of both the school and student, synthesizing the essential elements of the programme and sharing them with the whole school community. It is an opportunity for students to exhibit the attributes of the student profile that have been developing throughout their engagement with the programme. It is a culminating experience marking the transition from the PYP to the Middle Years Programme (MYP). WAB’s staff was also busy developing and growing professionally last year. We engaged in a rigorous curriculum development process that was spearheaded by teams of teachers and administrators across all school sections and was informed by a large array of current research and best practices. This work started last year with a visit from Bambi Betts. Bambi is the Director of the Principal’s Training Center for International School Leadership and is the CEO of the Academy of International School Heads (AISH). As a leading consultant on a wide range of topics in international schools, Bambi conducted on-site training on curriculum development. Our newly defined standards and benchmarks are accessible to the greater WAB community. These standards and benchmarks provide tangible expectations for students at the end of every year. Earlier in the year, Virginia Rojas, a leading international schools researcher and consultant, joined us to examine our student service models. Virginia travels extensively around the world to develop language programs and conduct training and has worked with WAB on several occasions in the past. She is recognized for her educational research, leadership, and her commitment to the development of second language proficiency among school populations, especially within an
School Section Summary
Elementary School
Middle School
High School
each grade level dedicated extra time to study instructional strategies for students displaying characteristics of giftedness and talent. These efforts expanded our pool of resources and broadened our inclusive enrichment services. WAB’s commitment to providing After School Activities (ASAs) remained strong and we continued to offer a wide range of activities catering to the interests and needs of all of our students. After a reorganization of our ES Physical Education Department, additional sporting opportunities in badminton, basketball and bench ball now occur competitively during lunchtime. In addition, our ES PE team began working closely with Athletics Director to ensure vertical alignment of skills and strategies for greater success in competitive athletic activities. Another topic that was on a lot of minds in the elementary school last year was indoor and outdoor air quality. WAB continues to work with experts from various health and engineering organizations to examine our air quality issues and determine potential short term and long-term solutions. While this study is an ongoing process, the elementary section immediately changed our procedure and kept students indoors once the air quality index reading from the US Embassy reaches 250.
inclusionary context. Dr. Rojas documenta through research that inclusionary strategies for assisting English language learners in K–12 settings are beneficial for all learners and that language support teachers and classroom teachers need to work together to provide a seamless language development and educational program. After reflecting upon our current practices, and taking into consideration Dr. Rojas’ recommendations and work with our staff, we developed a more focused, efficient and collaborative student support model. As a result, we continue to have an ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) program, a LSC (Learning Support Center) program, as well as an Enrichment program. However, in order to better meet the specific needs of our students, we decided to shift our staffing so that two expert support staff members will be dedicated to each grade level in Grades 1 – 5. This will enable the efforts of our highly trained experts to be focused on the students in one grade level and will allow our support teachers to be fully integrated into the collaborative planning processes with our homeroom teachers. This more streamlined, effective service model will provide for increased learning opportunities for all of our students in the future. In addition, it was determined that services that were currently being provided to our highly proficient English language learners would be shifted from a pullout model where students attend ELE (English Language Enrichment) during our language instructional times, to one where the services will be provided in the homeroom environment on an ongoing basis and support the instruction of the homeroom class. This inclusionary model has been well researched and has shown the greatest amount of impact for multiple language learners and will engage more students in our host country Chinese language program as defined in our core values. Intensive pullout services remain for our learners who are very new to the English language.
Our lunchtime food offerings continued to be studied throughout the year. Our food committee, comprised of parents, administrators and food service representatives, continued to gather periodically to discuss strategies for continuing to offer tasty and healthy food choices. The group reviewed a variety of new programs and decided to implement a more streamlined food program for all students. Additionally, it was determined that all set menu meal options would include an all you can eat fruit and salad bar for more healthy options. Our facilities department had a very busy time this past summer. They renovated our Founders’ Theatre as well as remodeling many learning spaces. These renovations provide us with state of the art facilities with increased space allowing us to work more effectively and efficiently to meet the needs of all of our students. I am truly grateful for the warm welcome I received this year as your Principal. Your kindness and caring enabled me to become deeply involved with every aspect of our learning community so that I could experience first hand the wonderful opportunities provided for our students on a daily basis. As the Chinese philosopher Lao T said, “Go to the people. Learn from them. Live with them. Start with what they know. Build with what they have. The best of leaders when the job is done, when the task is accomplished, the people will say we have done it ourselves.” Thank you for the wonderful year of learning, living and working together. I look forward to many more.
Casey Cosgray Elementary School Principal
Enrichment services were also examined last year, and four more teachers received supplementary training in the area of gifted education. Additionally, teacher representatives from
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School Section Summary
Elementary School
Middle School
High School
MS T
hanks to the highly collaborative teamwork of teachers, students, parents, board members, all staff and administration, the 2011-12 school year was a dynamic year for WAB Middle School (MS), with many new initiatives and accomplishments.
As a team, we remained focused on continuing improvement of teaching and learning, with students actively and meaningfully engaged with their host country, China, as the platform for instruction. In addition, we remained true to our whole school (WS) mission, core values, and commitments to: life-long learning, the whole child, experiential education and global leadership. Forty-three teachers were exclusively assigned to MS, following WAB’s vision of offering developmentally appropriate, distinct school sections. Our strong Middle Years Programme (MYP) has continued to develop inquiring, knowledgeable, confident, caring and community-minded individuals. MS staff have worked hand-in-hand with staff across all school sections to ensure the framework, as well as standards and benchmarks, have been informed by a wide array of current research and best practices. Specifically, ES/MS/HS collaborated in subject teams to write standards and benchmarks for each subject area to guarantee a smooth vertical articulation. In addition, teachers and administrators engaged in big conversations about what is taught and why. For the 2012-13 school year, teachers will continue the implementation process by identifying gaps or omissions, and ensuring all assessment tasks/unit plans align with the newly created benchmarks. We have maintained our commitment to providing extracurricular programs that provide all MS students the opportunity to participate and excel in the activities of their choice. This past year, MS students participated in a wide range of sports, art, community and service, recreational and leadership activities. 93% of our MS students were involved in at least one, and up to thirteen, WABX activities. The 7% of MS students not involved in WABX activities last year were involved in extracurricular activities within the community. Assessment and reporting is a key pillar of focus supporting our teaching and learning improvements. The MS has continued 10
wab annual report 2011-2012
its focus of actively encouraging MS students to be involved in MS Parent-Student-Teacher Conferences (PSTCs). In addition, MS PSTCs were relocated to the MS building (instead of the HUB Gym). In feedback from parents: 86% of parents felt that it was helpful having their child attend the appointments, and 69% believed the change of conference location offered increased privacy. As part of our school-wide commitment to collecting a wide-variety of quality data on student achievement, our grade 7 students once again completed the International Schools Assessment (ISA). Information collected relates to reading comprehension, narrative and expository writing, and mathematical literacy. This data enables us to compare our students to students in other international schools of a similar size and composition. Our Grade 7 students performed above all mean scores of like schools in all areas tested. Although our Grade 7 students achieved well in all areas, the highest areas of performance were in both narrative and expository writing. As in the past, all Grade 8 students (as well as self-selected Grade 6 and 7 students) participated in the Gauss mathematics competition. In 2011-2012, 24% of our Grade 8 students achieved in the top 25th percentile worldwide. This group included students from both the Extended and Standard Mathematics classes. In an effort to measure the reading levels of MS students and inform instruction based on the results, we investigated and trialed some possible reading assessments. After balancing the ease of administration with the quality of data gathered, the Progressive Achievement Test (PAT) was selected for initial administration in the 2012-2013 school year. The primary purpose of this testing will be to help MS teachers better understand the vocabulary and reading comprehension skills of their students. This information will help teachers better select resources for the diversity of learners in their classrooms. Thus this will be one of the many tools that we use to gather student information to inform instruction. In an effort to use technology to facilitate on-going communication about student participation and achievement, we began our commitment to using Gradebook
School Section Summary
Elementary School
consistently in the Middle School. Teachers reported on-line throughout the semester in preparation for end-of-term printed reports. This commitment will continue to move forward in 2012-13, with even more regular updates and on-line reporting at the end of the terms. Using results of our Transition Survey to parents (given at the end of the 2010-11 school year), MS Transition Activities continued to grow and expand. Consequently, both Grade 6 and Grade 8 transition activities took place earlier in the school year. Grade 6 Transition Week activities included buddy classes, step-up sessions, a parent evening and Grade 5 and 6 activities. Grade 8 Transition evenings began in February for parents. Grade 8 students had the chance to speak with the High School administration, counselors, teachers and students regarding moving to High School, course selection and differences between High School and Middle School, as well as the High School facilities. The goals of both the Grade 6 and Grade 8 Transition programs are to provide: • Comprehensive information on the transition process to parents. Parents who understand transition are better equipped to talk to their children about the anticipated changes. • Meaningful connections between our students/parents and their new school section. • Transition activities, visits and shared information to clarify expectations, create excitement and increase the confidence of the students about their move to/from Middle School. As a MS, we had student participation in all ISAC events (International Schools Activities Conference – Beijing/Tianjin), and were one of only three schools to do so. Once again WAB MS students participated in the following sports: volleyball, soccer, basketball, touch rugby, contact rugby, tennis, table tennis, badminton, baseball/softball, golf and swimming, rock climbing, cross country, and track and field. WAB sports teams displayed excellent individual and team skill development, and figured prominently in every sport represented. Our MS Tigershark swimmers participated in swim meets in both Hong Kong and Shanghai. Our MS golfers competed in the ACAMIS
Middle School
High School
tournament in Shenzen. In addition, MS MAD talent was proudly displayed in such events as “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, WAB Idol, WAB Rocks, Rock in the Park, MSHS Music Showcases... to name only a few of our arts events! The MS Student Council provided outstanding student leadership. They were thoughtful, contributing members of the MS Food Committee, assisted with assemblies, dances and special events and served as strong voices of advocacy for the MS student body. They also contributed to positive MS morale by implementing spirit days, Tasty Tuesday and other creative initiatives. A number of new events were introduced into the Middle School, while other events were expanded or improved. Highlights of new initiatives included: • A Bridge Walk was instituted to celebrate our Grade 8 students transitioning to HS. • The sports house league system was developed and embraced whole-heartedly by the students. This house system provided an opportunity for lunchtime grade-level team sports, with house-points awarded for success, sportsmanship and team spirit. • The Beautiful Campaign was initiated as part of the MS PSE program. The campaign focused on enhancing student self esteem and has helped students to identify and share some of their admirable qualities. • Jing Zhi Student Magazine was introduced. Grade 6 Chinese A and the Grade 6 ALP Chinese A classes formed a publishing team and have published a Chinese magazine, Jing Zhi. Their main objective was to share a variety of their written Chinese work with parents, students, teachers and community at WAB. 100 copies were published (sponsored by a WAB parent) and distributed. • A Grade 7 Chinese Poetry Reading Session was held. Grade 7 Chinese A students wrote and recited their own poems. Parents also received a bound copy of the poetry presented.
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School Section Summary
Elementary School
Middle School
High School
• Once again, MADFEST was an exciting opportunity for 6s, 7s and 8s to work in cross-grade groups on an arts-related project for the final term. This year’s organizing theme was “Time and Space.” This trans-disciplinary link was extended further by having selected students connect the theme to science as well. • We hosted a famous reverse graffiti artist, Moose Curtis. Moose is an environmentally friendly urban artist whose work creates images through by the use of stencils and the washing away of pollution. His work with students is still visible on the pavement surrounding the MS. • The Jump Leadership Program was offered to all Grade 8 students, as opposed to small groups. Not only did it provide an opportunity for all Grade 8 students to develop their community leadership skills, it helped build a stronger sense of community among the grade-level. • The Stop-Walk-Talk Anti-bullying campaign was launched to increase levels of awareness and provide a common set of tools for students and teachers. • Student teams traveled to Tianjin to participate in the Kids Read competition, an annual booklovers competition that sets international MS teams against one another. • Six Grade 8 students traveled to Gansu province and completed service projects with the students of Jiashan Primary School. It was a great opportunity for students to plan activities and to hone their teaching skills, while being mentored by WAB HS students. • With their wit, originality, assiduous knowledge of the materials and topics, critical thinking and excellent conduct, our MS students won: gold and silver medals at the Global Finals of the World Scholars Cup in Thailand in June. • Junior Master Chef, Swap Shop and ‘Buy Nothing’ Day - ideas stemming from a Grade 7 sustainability unit - were organized by Grade 7 students. These were excellent examples of student knowledge being applied to the real world. • In our continued effort to provide meaningful learning experiences and use China as our platform, we began investigating two possible Grade 8 trips: one, a culminating experience to the units on Ecosystems and Astronomy at the Miao Liang Center; and two, a trip to the Beijing Aquarium for an extraordinary chance to swim with dolphins and learn more about marine ecosystems. This year, all Grade 8 classes have been scheduled to go to the Miao Liang Center in May and the option of going to the Aquarium will be open late October. • Integrating students’ interests and skills as well as new software to aide student understanding of concepts, a group of teachers piloted incorporating Minecraft to illustrate story settings. • The Grade 7 students started to work with cutting edge technology involving the use of augmented reality software. • HPE classes have also incorporated iPad technology in assisting students with reflection and analysis by facilitating recording and viewing themselves performing learned skills. Highlights of refined and improved initiatives consisted of: • Offering the 11th annual MS Temple Fair, with a new and revised schedule that proved more engaging for both MS students and their visiting ES buddies as well as greater parental involvement. • Our 6th year of offering ALP classes to support additional language acquisition.
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wab annual report 2011-2012
• The Poetry Café, originally initiated a few years ago by the English Department, was presented by visiting poets Michael Salinger and Sara Holbrook. Students (and teachers) read original and published poems and the spirit of the spoken word came alive. • Math Olympiad was again attended as a culminating activity for students who participated in Math Club. • WAB sponsored ACAMIS MS speech and debate (Grades 6-10). • Several MS students also participated in ACAMIS Model United Nations (MUN). We have been very fortunate to have a very involved, active and supportive parent community. Parent Community Workshops were successfully run by the MS counselors, IBMYP Coordinator and Administration on a wide variety of topics, including: Transition to Middle School, Parenting in Beijing, Homework Help, MAC101, Raising Third Culture Kids, Cyber Safety, Selecting and Evaluating Sources and several workshops on IB MYP. Parents themselves chose topics for these workshops through a parent survey. The highlights listed above serve as just a small glimpse into the broad WAB MS program of 2011-12. Our MS program has resulted from the incredible dedication, vision and teamwork of staff, parents, Board and community members working together with students at the center. From these collective efforts we have been able to continue to strengthen our MS programs, while adding thoughtful and well-planned initiatives that further support and expand student learning, within a warm and caring environment based on our mission and values. It has been a very exciting privilege and opportunity to be part of such a truly incredible team! Donna Connolly Middle School Principal
School Section Summary
Elementary School
Middle School
High School
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School Section Summary
Elementary School
Middle School
High School
HS W
AB High School is a dynamic, vibrant secondary school, grades 9-12, providing unique opportunities for all students. At WAB, children become adults, developing their talents, nurturing their passions, creating their philosophical foundations. When students graduate from WAB, they are confident, knowledgeable individuals, prepared to contribute to their own communities and to the interconnected global world with critical minds and compassionate hearts. In the Class of 2013 of 130 students, 95% are taking the full Diploma Programme, 5% a combination of diploma and high school courses. All students are taking at least one IBDP course. In the Class of 2014; 100 students are taking the full Diploma Programme, 17 are taking a combination of DP and high school courses; all students are taking at least two DP courses.
All students are encouraged to enroll in the Theory of Knowledge course, a centerpiece of the Diploma Programme. 105 of the 118 graduates in the class of 2012 completed TOK. Every one reflected that it had broadened their perspective, changed their way of thinking about the world and about themselves. At WAB, all students are encouraged to take the full Diploma course, if appropriate. There are no grade or other requirements to limit entrance to the Programme. This is an excellent refection of the commitment to diversity in our admissions process, the strength of the WAB academic program, and the goals of our students. It is an authentic result of our philosophy, deeply imbedded in students, teachers, and community. The graduating class of 2012 applied to universities in more than fifteen different countries around the world. The greatest number of applications were to the U.S., U.K. Canada, Korea, and Hong Kong. The actual university matriculation destinations for the Class of 2012 is: 9% to the U.K., 10% Europe, 9% Asia, 8% Canada, 50% U.S.A, 3% Australia. (Applications to Australian universities are processed during late fall, after WAB graduation; full results will not be available until January 2013.) 11% of graduates are either studying Chinese full time, taking
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wab annual report 2011-2012
a Gap year studying art, opera, engaged in global service projects, or completing national service. WAB has now graduated six classes. Our alumni are currently matriculating at or have graduated from outstanding universities around the world including; Oxford, Cambridge, London School of Economics, KAIST, (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology), Monash, Harvard, Brown, Princeton, Stanford, Yale, and a host of others. Virtually every student graduating from WAB has options at his or her first or second choice school, when appropriate choices are made. The most important priority in selecting universities must always be, “What is the best school for me, for my child.� Students and their families work closely with their guidance counselor to make sound and appropriate choices, based on student interest, talent, and ability, as well as family priorities of geography and finances. Universities that make visits to overseas schools, traditionally from Canada and the U.S., although some from Europe and Asia, are keen to come to WAB. As our alumni base grows, universities appreciate how well WAB students do and want to have more of them on their college campuses. Our graduates are excellent ambassadors for our current students. WAB graduates continue to do well across the globe. For example, J.S. Tan, 2010 graduate now in his third year at Brown University-Rhode Island School of Design combined program, had a one-man art show at the Atkins and AI Gallery in Beijing. The gallery also produced a brilliant hard cover catalogue (The Culture of Entitlement) of his paintings which are highly sought after by sophisticated art collectors. J.S. continues to donate work to WAB. One of his paintings was auctioned at the annual Gala for a stunning sum. In another example, Bar Shabtai, also class of 2010 and president of the student council, a junior year engineering student at Princeton, was approved to take a graduate level course in structural design. WAB graduates have unswerving loyalty and devotion to WAB as evidenced by our reunions in London and Boston. Not only WAB graduates, but also students who may have been at WAB for only one or two years, come with great excitement. Often,
School Section Summary
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these students note that WAB is their school, no matter how many other schools they have attended. During holidays, the high school joyfully welcomes our alumni who return to their alma mater with unbridled enthusiasm. This deep devotion reflects the ethos of WAB, authentically incorporated by our students and their families.
the Philippines, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, Hong Kong and greater China. While the athletes compete, they also forge strong bonds, staying at one another’s homes and building bridges across nations. Often, when they meet at university as members of the same time, they build on the strong foundation established at APAC.
The Class of 2012 accomplished a two-pronged goal for their Legacy Gift. In an effort to leave a lasting mark at WAB, they choose to create mosaics around the concrete walls of the Duck Lake plant beds. Each group of students prepared their own designs, reflecting both their identity and that of WAB. They inlaid their own tiles and ultimately created a unique and lasting tribute.
WAB students, under the leadership of Janelle Meyer, Tanya Farrol, and Amy Capstick, began a “Fast Friends” group where high school students worked with students from Care for Children and Shunyi Special School. Our high school students invited children from these schools to have lunch with them at WAB, to go on field trips, to share events. When Olympian speed skating champion Apolo Ohno visited WAB, he met with our very special group of Fast Friends. It was a brilliant moment of connection for everyone. Fast Friends is now affiliating with the international “Best Buddies” group to continue their work.
The humanitarian service component, actually the key piece, of their legacy gift was a commitment to raise funds for babies in a Chinese orphanage to have cleft palate surgery. Through diligent focus and creative fund raising, they provided funding for fourteen children to have corrective surgery. Every child with a cleft palate was able to have surgery because of our WAB students and community. One boy was adopted by a family in the U.S. immediately following his reconstructive procedure. It is interesting that while doctors donate their expertise for the actual surgery, the monies are actually needed for ayis to attend to the children around the clock after the operations. Not only did our students raise the funds, but also they spent time visiting and connecting with the children. Even after graduation, several students continued to visit the orphanage until they went to university in the fall. While their parents gave these children life, our WAB students truly gave them an opportunity for a full and healthy life. This is our WAB mission, writ large. WAB is a leading member of APAC, Asia Pacific Activities Conference, ACAMIS, (Association of China and Mongolia International Schools) and ISAC, (International Schools Athletic Conference) providing opportunities for every student to participate in athletics and the arts at different levels of challenge. Students compete and perform at schools in Beijing, throughout China, and for APAC, with schools in
WAB hosted Women’s Soccer in the spring, with a most unique and moving opening ceremony. Athletes from every one of the six competing teams walked onto the field with a “Fast Friend’ partner. The excitement, enthusiasm, and sense of pride was shared by everyone on the field. It was a moment that we shall all remember, the best of what we can all be. The arts festivals were spread throughout Asia last year. Our string orchestra performed in Japan, choir in Shanghai, drama in Korea, and band in Beijing. The level of learning, the ability to create together, the actual performances are brilliant. Again, students build bridges of cooperation and understanding that transcend nationalities and schools. They are international ambassadors sharing their artistic understanding around the world. The introduction of “WABX to the Max” was most enthusiastically received. It was a two day extravaganza of sports and arts, involving our WAB students and students from other international schools in Asia. There were sports contests and a grand finale performance highlighting jazz band and dancers. The community was very excited with this new initiative, which is now a WAB tradition.
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School Section Summary
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HS Major awards 2011-2012 • Sportsmanship Girls Track and Field • Sportsmanship Boys Track and Field • Sportsmanship Girls Rugby • Sportsmanship Girls Volleyball • Sportsmanship Boys Swimming • APAC Boys Soccer champions • APAC Boys Badminton Champions • ACAMIS Maths Champions • ACAMIS Badminton Champions It is most significant that five teams of WAB athletes earned the Sportsmanship Award in their tournament. This speaks to character, to a level of commitment and behavior acknowledged by coaches throughout the league. We are most proud of our students for this achievement, which speaks to who they are as people.
Major Hosts 2011-2012 • APAC Super 12 Tennis Tournament (First time this event has been held) • APAC Girls Soccer • ACAMIS Basketball • ACAMIS Maths • ACAMIS Speech and Debate • WABX to the Max - Dance, Jazz, Tennis, Volleyball and Rugby. Over 500 HS hundred students participating representing 17 schools Rock in the Park expanded last year to include jazz on Friday night as well as the many rock bands, students and now teachers as well, on Saturday. The culminating performance of our many talented musicians in the Class of 2012, along with their teachers, was a moving and unique experience which touched all of us. It was a once in a lifetime moment, not to be replicated. 16
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WABX also coordinates the many co and extra-curricular groups, from MUN to World Scholars Cup, Inkblot student newspaper to Photography Club, Pro-Farmer to Math Team, Forensics to Global Issues Network. Our school offers opportunities for all students to pursue their interests, develop their talents, and find their own particular niche. While all IB Diploma schools have a CAS program, WAB has a broader and deeper Global Citizenship program. All students complete service with the major focus on commitment, not hours. Students have contributed their time and talent to make a remarkable difference, from the Jiangshun School project to the Amy Pu Orphanage, TuYuan Migrant School to teaching English to ayis and guards. It is a cutting edge program, deliberately designed for students to incorporate an understanding of what it means to give, to share, to be a true citizen of the world. At WAB, we do not dictate projects, but instead support and encourage student initiative in Global Citizenship/CAS. The Legacy Gift of the Class of 2011 was to bring electricity and running water to Kuthor School, which is in a small, remote village above 4000m, with a very long and cold winter. WAB students chose to continue the Kuthor initiative, meeting with the monk who runs the school to determine other needs. One was a water filtration system. Our students worked with students from Peking University to perfect a do-it-yourself system created from rocks and other available materials. The information was transported to Kuthor. On a smaller scale, the children and also the villagers who are yak herders and must spend hours out in the mountains with the cold Tibetan winds needed scarves to keep their faces warm as they move in the freezing temperatures. Nicole Ligthart, Grade 11 student, committed to sending 100 scarves to Kuthor. She galvanized the whole school community. Knitters were everywhere! Girls and boys, male and female teachers were having knitting lessons. Knitting became the common denominator throughout the school. Support staff, parents and grandparents, aunts and cousins were all knitting. Student’s drivers and ayis were also knitting – Nicole involved virtually everyone in our entire community. In less than three months, 155 hand knitted scarves were delivered to Kuthor School. This was a unique effort, lead solely by Nicole. This was a remarkable project for the Kuthor School community and the community of Western Academy of Beijing. The warmth came from the scarves… and from our hearts. Our China Studies trips continue to engage students in our host country, to deepen their understandings, and to enrich their curriculum experiences. Last year for the first time, students in Grade 11 had their choice of eight different curriculum-based China Studies trips including: • Jiashan School to continue our relationship with the school we have supported for five years. • Inner Mongolia to explore China’s energy sources. The Photojournalism group paired with the energy trip to document the experience.
Middle School
High School
• Harbin Honeymoon, examining the effects of both foreign influences and major conflict on one city area. These teacher-designed trips were most successful in the pilot year and were repeated again with some changes in the 2012 school year. The China Studies department was outstanding in working with teachers to develop the details for each different trip. Their expertise and commitment were invaluable in making this new model an immediate success. Our intent is to continue this model, refining and expanding choices. Last year also signified a year of change. People who had made a significant impact on WAB moved on to other places and new challenges. We have redesigned High School leadership to include Principal, Assistant Principal, and the Curriculum Coordinator responsible for MYP, grades 9 & 10, DP and high school courses in 11 & 12. It is a focused model which will ensure positive transition and preparation from grade 10 MYP to 11 DP and high school courses, and from grade 12 to university and beyond. WAB has been chosen by several U.S. universities to give a book award to an outstanding 11th grader meeting specifically designed criteria. One of only ten schools in China to give the Harvard Book Award, our students represent WAB in many different arenas. Upon giving the Yale Book Award, the representative said that she has rarely, if ever, seen a student with such depth of character, and total commitment, combined with outstanding academic achievement. Our students speak eloquently of the role WAB has played in their lives. Last December, one student said, “I still remember that conversation we had in Grade 8 about leaving WAB. Well, I am so glad that you convinced me to stay, because it was only with the warm, loving support of everyone here at WAB that I am who I am today.” Another reported, “I feel proud to be a graduate, to be a alumni of WAB. It has changed me so much after leaving and today, I feel like a different person! I still am the same person, definitely, but WAB gave me something (like a charm!) that is making me move forward today. I would like to thank the whole of WAB and all the teachers and staff and all my friends for making me who I am today.” At our inspiring graduation ceremony at the Confucius Temple, I noted, “Our WAB mission is perhaps the most brilliant of any school, stating with crystal clarity what it is that we all must do – Connect, Inspire, Challenge, and ultimately – Make a Difference. The difference that we offer the world is our students. Based on their understanding of our WAB mission, and their foundation of learning and caring, their contributions will be legion.
Rena P. Mirkin High School Principal
• A Trip through Time: Foreign Devils in China, taking a deep look at outside influences in the Dalian and Dandong areas. • A Trip to Another China, looking at the geographic and economic forces affecting groups in Er Dao Bai County near Chang Bai Shan and Yanli. • Going WAB Wild, using WAB’s Miao Liang center to understand both fitness and environmental forces in a changing and emerging China. • Food Is Heaven – a Beijing based trip where students learned in a direct, “hands-on” way that role food, from planting to cooking, plays in Chinese Culture. wab annual report 2011-2012
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Admissions Admissions at WAB is about helping new students and their families make a smooth and positive transition to our school community. WAB has an inclusive admissions policy and we seek to enroll a diverse student population representing a range of nationalities, language, economic and cultural backgrounds and abilities. In the 2011-2012 school year, we not only continued to meet our budget and capacity through enrollment, but in fact reached our highest enrollment numbers to date.
Student Profile In 2011-2012, WAB’s students represented 54 nationalities and 31 languages.
8%
3% 30%
27%
31%
Transition High levels of attrition among students are a recognized feature of international schools. This is explained either by families relocating to other countries or returning home. WAB experienced a slight increase in attrition in the 2011-2012 school year, which is part of the normal cycle that we experience every 2 to 3 years.
16%
16%
16% 15%
15%
14.5%
12%
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Top 20 Organizations at WAB The top 20 organizations whose families were represented in the student body at WAB were as follows:
NAME OF ORGANIZATION
NUMBER OF STUDENTS
Nokia
37
Embassy of USA
30
P&G
26
Embassy of Canada
22
IBM
19
Microsoft
19
Ericsson
18
LG Group
18
SK Telecom
16
Shell
15
World Bank
15
Baker Hugues
14
Samsung
14
Embassy of Royal Netherlands
14
Siemens
13
Schlumberger
11
Statoil
11
Hyundai
10
Volvo
10
Danfoss
9
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Community Relations and Development (CRD) The Community Relations and Development (CRD) office focuses on the core areas of fundraising/sponsorship, Worldwide Alumni Network, and external relations. The major goal is to expand the academic and co-curricular opportunities for our students and the broader community by securing private support from individuals, alumni, corporations, and organizations. In addition, the CRD staff members are the main organizers of WAB’s large-scale special events, major school-wide functions and international conferences on campus. The CRD team and the WAB Director are members of several organizations such as EU Chamber, American Chamber and Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) and represent WAB at these high-level meetings, conferences and special events. In addition, the Development Director works closely with the school’s Communications Department on promotion, marketing and media relations.
Giving At WAB During the 2011-12 academic year, WAB and its charity partners received over one million RMB in private support. The WAB community continued the annual tradition of the Beijing In Bloom fundraising Gala, which supported the school’s funding priorities -- China Engagement Programs and the Miao Liang Environmental Education Center. The CRD team would like to give special thanks to the hard-working Gala Committee along with the many individual donors and corporate supporters of 2012 gala. We would like to recognize two generous students who are sisters, Xueqing and Yuqing, who personally donated a hongbao of 26,800 RMB to the Gala! In addition, our Corporate Community Partners program continued to sponsor a variety of school events and programs. Through this annual Beijing business campaign, we raised funds to support WAB’s hosting of major activities such as APAC Girl’s Soccer, WABX to the MAX, as well as our outstanding music offerings and the community Distinguished Speaker Series. In particular, we would like to thank our major corporate donors – Nokia and Bayer China for their generous support. Nokia helped to enhance the school’s state-of-the-art broadcast center, which helped to launch a formal program of live streaming WAB events, purchase sophisticated equipment, and train students and volunteers as film crew, producers and commentators. Bayer continued its fourth year of support for our joint environmental partnership with the Jane Goodall Institute. Finally, we would like to reiterate our great appreciation to the 2011-12 Parent Link for its ongoing strong support of WAB’s Distinguished Speaker Series, 5th Beijing In Bloom Gala, and advanced air quality monitors for our campus as well as many other activities that benefited numerous charities in China during the school year.
Gift Amount Breakdown by Funding Resources
Corporate/Organization VIK Donations
Individual Donations
WAB Capital Projects & Programs
Special Projects
Corporate/Organization Donations
Individual VIK Donations
Community Events
Charity
Gala Fundraiser *
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Gift Amount Breakdown by Funding Targets
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We are proud of the culture of giving at WAB and delighted to share the long list of generous supporters in WAB’s 2011-2012 Honor Roll of Donors. Individual donors:
Corporations and Organizations:
Anonymous
Bayer China
Microsoft
The Honorable Ms. Frances Adamson and Mr. Bunten
Capri-Sun / Lotte
NBA China
Caterpillar (China) Investment Co., Ltd.
Nokia China
Cynthia and Geoffrey Aews
Fanghua Pearls
Oberlin College
The Chua Family
Beijing KL Ad Co. Ltd.
2011-12 Parent Link
The Du Family
G2 Studio
Renaissance Beijing Capital Hotel
Weili Fan and Jerry Zhang
GE Aviation
Santa Fe
Hans Fehlmann
Grace Beijing
Solidworks
Ray Kelly
HSBC
The Plan
Markus and Sandra Kistler
Inoxcva
The Wine Republic
Joan and Francois Michel
International Medical Center
Tsing Capital
The Morrison-Wilbur Family
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
TUI China
Donne Ray Radford
Lanxum
United Airlines
Song Xiuwen and Soong Weimin
LehmanBrown
United Family Hospital
Yang Lan
Metro Park Lido Hotel
Vista Medical Center Walton Smart Solutions
While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the 2011-12 Honor Roll of Donors, please contact ecai@wab.edu, if you have any questions.
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High Profile Guests and Special Events During the 2011-12 Academic Year, the WAB community welcomed colleagues from international schools, college representatives, teachers and students from local schools, corporate executives, sports celebrities to name a few. As part of the Distinguished Speaker Series, we were delighted to have presentations by Dr. John Joseph, known as the “Brain Man” and Carl Wilkins, who was the only American who chose to remain in the Rwanda after the genocide began. We were thrilled to host Apolo Ohno, the most decorated Winter Olympics athlete and global ambassador for Special Olympics International and several NBA Legends—including Jamal Mashburn and “The Iceman,” George Gervin as well.
School and Community Events In addition to Distinguished Speaker Series and Beijing In Bloom Gala, the CRD team continued to play a vital role in organizing and supporting large-scale school and community programs and events during the 2011-12 school year including: • Annual General Meeting and Donor Appreciation Reception • New Student Orientation • WAB Alumnus J. S. Tan Solo Art Exhibit & Reception • WAB Community Picnic • WABX Tournaments and activities - APAC Soccer/ ACAMIS Basketball • Parent Link Charity Bazaar • WAB Leavers Ceremony, Parent Link Fun Fair and Rock in the Park • WAB Rocks, WAB Idol and Teatime Concert Series • ISAC Track and Field Meet • JGI/Roots & Shoots wetlands activities • WAB World Run Day • Miao Liang Sustainability Sponsor Strategic Retreat • Hoops for Hope • WABX HS Awards Dinner • HS Career Fair and World of Work internships • HS Prom • Global Issues Conference and International Day • Class of 2011 Legacy Gift and Grade 12 activities
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WAB Alumni Network During the 2011-2012 year, the CRD office has made major steps towards Alumni Relations and strategy at WAB. The WAB Alumni Network (WAN) continued to grow, as we strengthened alumni connections through our social media platforms, like Facebook and Twitter, as well as the official WAN website, with enhanced tracking & search capabilities. We continued development of the student alumni, alumni parents and staff database, and initiated the “Lost Alumni” search for 1500 lost alumni students and reconnect them with WAB. For four successive years, the alumni office has hosted international alumni gatherings with school leaders or representatives in cities such as Bangkok, London, Seoul, Vancouver, and Boston. Four reunions worldwide were organized in 2012 with more than 80 alumni in attendance. The CRD office was also pleased to welcome alumni back to campus this year, with over 150 alumni attending the annual BBQ Reunion, a great reflection of the enduring WAB Tiger Spirit! With the school’s sixth high school graduation, we inaugurated 116 new Alumni from the Class of 2012 to our WAN, and by the end of the school year there were over 1,300 registered Alumni members on the WAN website. All of the alumni were thrilled to see their old friends and the growth of the campus. We’ve also seen alumni interning at the IT Department or the Jiashan School, or speaking to our current high school students on their university or gap year experiences. Whether the gatherings are formal or informal, the most striking comment is that all the alumni miss WAB tremendously. Mr. Ashkon Mahmoudi, a WAB alumni graduate from the Class of 2007, who graduated from UC Davis, said, “WAB was amazing. It was a perfect transition into freedom and responsibility.” The purpose of these events or engagement opportunities is to ensure that their affinity with WAB remains strong, wherever they are in the world. The CRD team continued the tradition of hosting the Leavers Ceremony during the 2011-12 school year in May which was attended by more than 200 departing students, families and staff members. Our official website continues to be an active destination for our WAB Alumni community. We are pleased with the continued results, and during the year, http://alumni.wab.edu received: * 1,331 Signed up members
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External Relations - Global Media Coverage Over the 2011-2012 school year, WAB experienced a significant increase in media coverage among the regional, national and international press. In fact, WAB received well over 200 media entries among leading print and online newspapers and magazines, as well as television broadcasting companies from China and around the world. This comprehensive coverage raises the school’s profile on an international level, helps with recruiting and enrollment and further establishes WAB as a globally leading international school. The recent rise in media exposure is due, in part, to the exceptional quality of programming, special events and community activities that WAB hosted throughout the year. For example, WAB’s collaboration with Bayer China and Roots & Shoots on the Green Generation project garnered high profile coverage by: • CTV (Canadian Television) • Global TV • China Daily • CCTV & BTV • Netherlands Press Association • As well as dozens of Chinese language newspapers and magazines A number of student-led groups and activities, including the Global Issues Network (GIN), Model United Nations (MUN), earned spotlights in the national and international media, including: • China Daily • National Geographic (Germany) • Daily Telegraph (UK) • IB World, the magazine of the International Baccalaureate Locally, WAB received more than 500,000 impressions among the following English language magazines and newspapers: • Agenda • Beijing Tatler • BeijingKids • City Weekend • City Weekend Parents & Kids • LittleStar • The Beijinger • Time Out Beijing
Our own websites, WAB.edu and my.wab.edu and wabx.wab. edu for example, drew large numbers themselves – with over 106,000 visits to wab.edu alone, over 48,000 of those visits * 24,498 Pageviews coming from outside China. These numbers were consistent with the previous year. wab annual report 2011-2012 23 * 5,265 Unique Visitors
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Faculty and Staff WAB’s impressive reputation within the international school community, paired with our commitment to champion our staff helps us to recruit and retain highly-qualified and dedicated faculty and staff. The majority of our teachers come from the USA, Canada, the UK, and Australia. A large number of our teachers are educational leaders, IB trainers, examiners, moderators or curriculum writers.
1:8 School-wide teacher student ratio at WAB The faculty at WAB is a diverse one; each member brings with them perspectives and expertise that enrich the learning of our students each and every day. In 2011-12, WAB faculty was made up of 21 nationalities as shown below.
Faculty nationalities graph
Support staff nationalities graph
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WAB’s continued low rate of transition among our faculty, as compared with other international schools, provides a stable teaching environment as well as continuation of institutional history, knowledge and culture. It reflects a high level of personal and professional satisfaction amongst our teachers.
Faculty transition graph
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Finance In 2011/2012, WAB maintained its position as a leading international school in Asia. The end of the year enrollment of 1558 slightly exceeded the budgeted figure, and full budgeted enrollment was maintained throughout the year. The school operating costs increased 9.0% with 4.3% of this increase attributed to the bus rental costs as bus operations became part of the school fees, and 2.4% of the increase is related to the mid-year implementation of the new China regulation requiring foreign hires to participate in the Chinese Social Insurance system. All other operating costs were held at or below the inflationary rates experienced in China during the 2011-12 year.
School Funding WAB derives its funding from tuition fees, capital levy fees, application fees, turnover, interest income and donations. Tuition fees, capital levy fees, turnover and application fees are a function of enrollment. Remaining income is a function of bank balances (interest income) and community support (gifts and grants). This year ¥1.1 RMB was received in cash contributions and value-in-kind donations in support of WAB programs and capital expenditures.
School Expenditures For budgeting and reporting purposes, WAB’s operating expenses are categorized into Human Resources, Educational Resources, Management and Administration, Resources Management, and Other Expenses. Capital expenditures are historically categorized into Educational Capital, Information Technology and Building & Facilities expenditures.
Cash Balance / Debt During the entire 2011-2012 school year, the WAB cash balance remained above the Board-mandated minimum emergency cash requirement. As of the end of June 2012, WAB does not have any outstanding bank or third party loan commitments.
Capital Spending This year we invested in capital improvements, including an amazing overhaul of the Founder’s Theater, a long-sought lift in the HS, a complete switchover to LED lighting in the ES, roofing replacement on areas of the ES, new climate controls in the pool building, and improved exhaust in the Design Technology labs, along with many other projects. We also invested in some technical infrastructure to standardize technical capacity in each classroom and video screens to improve digital signage and communication.
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P.O. Box 8547 • 10 Lai Guang Ying Dong Lu Chaoyang District • 100102 • Beijing • PRC Tel (86 10) 5986 5588 • Fax (86 10) 6432 2440 • wabinfo@wab.edu
www.wab.edu