Frequent Q&A：
Are new students accepted during the school year?
Yes, SAIS adopts a rolling admissions policy. Although we encourage students to begin the school year at SAIS, we do accept applications throughout the year and provided that space is available, students can enroll at any time.
Who is eligible to apply?
In accordance with Chinese Bureau of Educational policy, SAIS accepts applications for students who hold a foreign passport with a valid Chinese visa, as well as students from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, or returnees whose have academic qualifications certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Services, and work in the Qianhai area.
Do all applicants get an interview from the curriculum director?
The applicants who are 1st grade and below will get an entrance interview, but the applicants from 2nd grade and up require attending both NWEA MAP test and entrance interview.
What are the school hours?
8:30 am through 3:30 pm, Monday to Friday.Students of ELE1 and ELE2 (3 and 4 year olds) will take a one hour nap every day. After school activities from 3:30 to 4:30 pm Monday to Friday are optional.
How many students are there in a class?
The student number per class is less than 20.
The student-teacher ratio is 1:7 in ELE and kindergarten classes, 1:10 in first through 4th grade, and between 1:10 and 1:20 in middle and high school, depending on the class.
The advantage of having small classes is that students do not have to compete for teacher’s attention. There is time for each student to get the help and support he/she needs.
What do students need to bring to school?
For ELE (3 and 4 years old) classes: A backpack to carry their items including work, extra clothing for temperature changes and accidental situations, etc;
Bedding includes a blanket, a bed sheet and a pillow for nap (ELE students will bring them to school on Mondays and bring back home for washing on Fridays); A water bottle. Pls label their name on above items.
For kindergarten and up: A backpack and a water bottle labeled with their name.
How big is the Shekou campus? Is there an outdoor field?
There are three floors which can accommodate about 250 students. We are partnering with both the Shekou Youth Center and the Shekou Sports Center to provide the best specialized facilities for our students, such as field track, basketball court, soccer field, badminton court, tennis court etc.
Does the school provide bus service?
Yes. Currently we provide school bus service to students living in Nanshan and Futian districts at an additional cost. There will be a bus monitor on each school bus. School bus fee please check the School Bus Service page at szsais.org.cn.
Does the school provide lunches?
Yes. Optional hot buffet lunches and various lunch boxes such as Chinese, Vegetarian, Korean lunch are available for purchase from the lunch company NomNom. To see the lunch menus and lunch fees please check school lunch program page, or follow school official wechat account by 深美SZSAIS.
Students who bring their own lunch box can use the microwave ovens in the canteen to heat up meals. Teaching assistants will supervise students during lunch time in the canteen and the outdoor playfield. For all students’ safety, we will not permit the delivery of food and drinks during the school day.
What is the language of instruction?
English is the primary language of instruction. Students from Kindergarten and up have one Chinese (simplified Chinese) class every day. All other courses are taught by expat teachers in English.
If my child doesn’t speak English, what does the school provide in terms of support?
SAIS students are mostly English language learners and so all of our teachers are ESL teachers. However, SAIS also provides extra language instruction to those students that are new to SAIS and/or need extra support in English.
What’s student nationality?
Our students are mainly from Hongkong China, and 70% Asian faces. We also have students from United States, Korea, Japanese, UK etc from all over the world.
Where do the teachers come from? Their qualifications?
SAIS has a group of experts’ management team in education field, and over 70% of middle school teachers are certificated with maters and doctorate degree. Global Elites, students’ mentors, masters and doctors from world top universities. Our teachers are fully qualified and are from all over the world including the US, UK, Canada and South Africa.
What’s specialty of SAIS?
American universities want students who can create, innovate, analyze, solve problems and take initiative for their own learning and who can collaborate with others. They do not want students who wait to be told what to do and learn. Teaching independence is a big part of our philosophy.
Teaching characteristics: Singapore mathematics and artificial intelligence.
Does SAIS offer the IB/AP program?
SAIS provides high-quality academic instruction based on American educational standards including the Common Core State Standards. The Project-Based Learning approach, which also started in the US, is the main focus at SAIS, helping students learn key academic content and also cultivate their critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity as they construct high-quality, authentic products & presentations. Starting in Grade 9 we offer Pre-Advanced Placement and Advanced Placement (AP) subjects. Currently we are an IB PYP, IB DP candidate school, which can be fit well with PBL teaching method.
What amount of homework should my child expect?
Based on research about homework, students in ELE through grade 8 will have an expectation of reading (or being read to) for at least 30 minutes every night. There will also be opportunities for following up on projects at home for those students who are interested. However, formal homework assignments outside of independent reading is not given to students in Kindergarten and below. Primary students are expected to have homework 2-4 times a week depending on which grade. For middle and high school students, they have homework assignments every day.
What is Project Based Learning?
Project Based Learning (PBL) is an instructional approach that requires students to do sustained inquiry in interdisciplinary areas of study that have relevance in the world beyond our classrooms. Research has proven that PBL fosters 21st century skills such as problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration. High quality projects include the following elements:
Does the school give exams and how are students assessed?
Assessments are both written (traditional) but also performance based (what can the student do with the knowledge and skills).
One of the main forms of assessment at SAIS, as a Project-Based Learning school is the “performance assessment.” These include presentations, portfolio defenses, and other high stakes, public assessments that demonstrate students learning in much more meaningful ways than tests can ever provide. However, in order to assess student skill levels in English and math, students will also take the MAP tests twice a year, which are normed against students all over the world and many in the U.S. who also take the tests. Quizzes and tests may be a practice in individual classrooms, depending on the teacher and subject but is not as much of a priority as the performance assessments. Students are also given quarterly report cards and will participate in parent conferences once each semester, during which they present their work and learning to their teacher and parent. Students in 5th grade, 8th grade, and high school will do portfolio presentations about their learning and growth as well.
What’s standard for grade promotion and retention?
Standards for Student’s Promotion or Retention: the teacher will assess the students dynamically on a monthly basis. The overall assessment is made up of four components: academics, assignments, classroom performance, moral education and attendance. If the evaluation is lower than 60% or GPA 3.0 at the end of the school year or more than three times, the school has the right to arrange students to repeat the grade.
Lower than GPA 2.5 or 50%: student withdrawal
GPA 2.6-2.99 or lower than 60%: student retention
GPA 3.0 and up: normal promotion
Do SAIS students wear uniforms?
We have school uniform program. Students should wear uniforms from Mondays to Thursdays, especially the days on school events or sports day. For more information, please see School Uniform Page.
What is the purpose of the capital levy?
One-time Capital levy fee for the new enrolled student is dedicated to capital purchases, building repairs and maintenance costs for school facilities, which can benefit students’ learning environment.
What examinations do SAIS students take?
There will be two parent conferences held during the school year. Report cards will be sent home each quarter.
SAIS gives its students the NWEA Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) test to measure academic growth. First and second grade students need to attend MAP testing such as Reading and Math, while third grade and up students need to attend MAP testing for English Language, Math and Reading. Sixth grade and up students also need to attend science MAP test.
What are the academic requirements for graduation?
This year is the first batch of graduates of SAIS. At present, the main intention of the students is the top 20 universities in the United Kingdom and the United States. The TOEFL scores are mainly around 110 points.
How does the school communicate with parents? Can parents get involved with the school?
SAIS sends regular notices via Wecom, as well as on the school’s official WeChat account and the websites. We also have Parent Teacher Association(PTA) and offer regular parent classes to parents. If you have a concern and need to meet with your child’s teacher outside of parent conferences, please contact the teacher or call the school to schedule a conference. Communication is important, but our school time is for the children. You may request a meeting when classes are not in session by using email, school work wechat to schedule a time when the teacher is free to meet.
What kinds of special programs/afterclass activities are offered at SAIS?
There are various afterschool programs offered to students, such as fencing, rolling skating, frisbee, basketball, Lego, Minecraft, Ping-Pong and language classes etc.
What does the Chinese component of the curriculum include?
Starting from kindergarten to middle school, there is one Chinese class every day. Primary and up students will be divided into mother tongue class and non-native language class. It includes Chinese vocabulary, speaking, reading, writing, as well as Chinese culture.
The teaching materials of the mother tongue class are the PEP textbooks for reference, which are basically the same as public schools. The non-native language classes are school based curriculum.
How many PE/Music/Art classes do students have per week?
Usually once or twice a week, but it depends on grades.
What kind of curriculum does SAIS use? What subjects do students learn?
Please see the curriculum page .