Today is my first “official” meeting with faculty and staff at Beijing High School Four International Campus (B4 from now on). The new faculty met together at 8:30. We mostly visit individually with each other while the HR department gets contracts signed, visa papers checked out, etc. The “old” faculty arrives and we have speeches and introductions at 10:00. It’s a small teaching faculty (23). Right now there are more administrators and staff than teachers.
This is the second year of the school. Last year, sixty-seven 10th graders enrolled. Eighty 10th graders are enrolled this year. It’s an AP curriculum. The building was given to “B4” by the government. It is next door to the Central Conservatory of Music. The CCOM website states they are the leading music school in China. Surely I can figure a way to use it as a resource.
We get a tour of the B4 main campus. It was founded in 1907, and there is a ton of history. There is even a large museum, six or seven rooms, with many carefully organized displays. In Beijing, #1 HS was founded for the emperor’s family, #2 HS was founded for the children of nobles, #3 HS was founded for members of the People’s Congress, and #4 was founded for the citizens of Beijing. The administration is quick to tell us their student body and school is the best in China. The current head of the People’s Congress is an alumnus. A member of the ruling committee (9 top politicians) is an alumnus. There are many “perks” that fall to the school through these, and many other connections.
BHSF Campus Tour
Headmaster’s Home, built in 1907.
Our guide joked about the observatory’s lack of usefulness, due to Beijing pollution.
Wall in the Auditorium Foyer
Confucius
Thought provoking campus artwork
BHSF Museum
BHSF Museum
BHSF Museum
Tuned bells. I was prompted to improvise a quick performance. It sounded a little like “Variations on a Korean Folk Song”.
Olympic Torch, carried by the BHSF principal
I can’t believe my luck. I’m going to be teaching at what may be the best HS in China, next door to the top music school. I’m able to determine my own curriculum. Actually, the decision what to teach is tough. There are so many directions to go. I’m still not sure. Bill Huff, retired AISD Fine Arts Coordinator, introduced me to a great resource, online, “The Great Courses”. I bought several series, and have been studying them for ideas.
I’ll be teaching two days a week, four-45 minute classes each day, with 15 to 20 students per class. I don’t have to go back until Aug. 28th when we get started with a 3-day orientation. I’m also supposed to sponsor an after-school activity for instrumental music. I’m anxious to see how that group evolves.
We ate lunch and the afternoon is spent with an introduction to teaching and living in China. Several of the teachers don’t have apartments yet, and are spending every spare moment looking for a place. BISS has a good plan for handling newbies, finding an apartment before you arrive. The language barrier and lack of knowledge about location makes apartment searching really hard. Proximity to a subway station is paramount for most.
After our afternoon session, Dr. Prettyman, the International Campus (IC) Academic Principal, guides a few of us over to the IC building. It’s four subway stops away. It’s still under renovation, so it’s hard to tell much about it, except its 5 floors. At least I know how to find it from a subway station now. It’s one block from a station, which will be great on those frigid winter days we keep hearing about.
Transitioning from one train to another
I head home on the subway, and arrive at the apartment about an hour later. For the first time, Judy has beaten me home. She’s unwinding, and working on lesson plans. I can barely move. Humidity was close to 100%, and I’ve walked several miles. I’m sure I’ve sweated off ten pounds (not). No early morning for me tomorrow.