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China, Shenzhen
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The school delivers the IB Primary Years Programme in Primary and the IB Diploma Programme in High School. In the PYP, a weekly class newsletter, a biweekly divisional newsletter, and a Unit of Inquiry overview are provided, and families have ongoing access to their child's digital portfolio on Seesaw. Grades 6–10 currently participate in the Common Ground Collaborative (CGC) as the school plans to transition to the MYP. The Diploma Programme is delivered to grades 11 and 12, and the high school uses a 1:1 laptop program to support learning.
The Fine Arts Programs include Drama, Music, and Visual Arts. The Music program provides Kindergarten through Grade 12 education, emphasizes music literacy, and offers band, strings, or choir from Grade 6 with IB Music available in Grades 11 and 12. The Visual Arts program is discipline-based and covers drawing, painting, ceramics, digital media and related fields, with IB Visual Arts or IB Film Studies available in Grades 11 and 12. The Drama program is offered to Grades 6–10 with opportunities to write, perform, direct, and design.
All SIS students begin studying Chinese for CSOL in Kindergarten and continue through the IB Diploma Programme in Grade 12. The French International Programme runs from pre-school to Grade 5 and continues through the IB Diploma Programme in Grade 12, taught by French government certified teachers. French as an Additional Language (FAL) is available for Kindergarten through Grade 5 in the International Programme. In the International Programme, the language of instruction is English; Mandarin is introduced early, with secondary students able to continue Mandarin or study French in later grades.
The Athletics & Activities program engages students in physical and social development, and SIS is a member of ACAMIS, PRC, SDRC, and SISAC, offering sports such as volleyball, basketball, soccer, and other activities. The After-School Activities and Athletics Program provides a wide range of ASAs, typically on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with some activities run by the community and sign-ups via the Schools Buddy platform. Secondary ASAs include Service & Leadership, Creativity, Recreational Sports & Activities, and Academics, plus events like Model United Nations and other contests. Class excursions and experiential learning are integral, with Grade 4 traveling within China to extend classroom research.
Community Outreach programs involve learning opportunities with longer-term reciprocal relationships with local business groups and education communities, and projects are developed through collaboration with the SIS parent community and the Shenzhen business community. Service learning forms an essential part of shaping character values and dispositions and is embedded within the school curriculum. These connections provide SIS students with varied authentic, real-world experiences beyond the campuses and foster social responsibility, leadership and empathy.
Staff come from more than a dozen nations, and many teachers serve as IB examiners or workshop leaders, reflecting a diverse, experienced faculty. The school supports professional growth through a development allowance for staff and ongoing professional development across all departments. Secondary After-School Activities include Service & Leadership, among other pathways, and students participate in activities such as MUN and other regional competitions.
The Athletics & Activities program promotes physical and social well-being, and SIS participates in multiple inter-school leagues and organizes a range of tournaments. Primary ASAs include activities from pottery to chess, while secondary ASAs cover sports, drama, arts, and leadership opportunities, with a structured schedule and transportation for regular bus riders. Class excursions, referred to as 'Classroom without Walls,' extend learning beyond the classroom to outdoor and cultural experiences. School hours run 8:00–15:00 for younger students and 8:30–15:30 for older students, with a Shenzhen-wide bus service that can be tracked in real time.
Shekou International School (SIS) was established in January 1988 and operates across three Shekou campuses (Jingshan, The Bay, and Net Valley). The school serves Nursery to Grade 12, with more than 1,100 students from over 40 countries, and the Bay campus houses the upper-primary grades and the main office. SIS is an authorized IB World School delivering the IB Diploma Programme and has implemented the PYP; the school is also progressing through MYP authorization. SIS runs language-specialist pathways including a long‑running French International Programme and recent Chinese bilingual offerings. The school publishes a bus service for Shenzhen families (daily two-way routes with licensed, air‑conditioned buses). The facts above are taken from the SIS website (History; About Us; Our Future; Map & Directions; Bus Info).
