Questions | Yantai Huasheng International School

What qualifications do your teachers have?

Teachers at YHIS hold degrees in higher education from their country of origin and are licensed to teach. They are hired by Leadership Development International (LDi) based in the USA after a long application and preparation process.

Where are your teachers from?

Except for native Chinese teachers teaching Chinese, 100% of our teachers are foreigners; most are from the United States. YHIS partners with Leadership Development International (LDi) in the training of Chinese teachers who work as Teacher Assistants (TA) in all our elementary classrooms and some secondary classes. This is a 3-year training program.

Does the school provide busing?

Yes! YHIS is the only private school in Yantai with legal Yellow Bus Service. These buses are specially equipped for safety, with wide seats and comfortable heating and air conditioning. Parents have the option to purchase bus service. The bus stops at predetermined locations around the city. The bus does not make individual stops. Bus service includes transportation to and from school during the regular school day, as well as, transportation after practices and after school activities.

Will my child be able to transition well to an international school?

It’s good to be aware of the time it takes to transition to a new school anywhere, but even more so an international school. Transition of each individual student is related to many factors such as personality type, time of year they join the school, previous new school experiences, etc. If your student finds it difficult, we encourage you to let their teacher/s know quickly so we can offer additional support and assistance.

Are parents encouraged to be involved at the school?

Yes, parents are a vital part of our school community. We encourage parents to lead and participate in our Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) and attend sports and special activities held by the school throughout the school year.

When can I visit the school?

You are welcome to visit YHIS admissions anytime, but an appointment is encouraged to assure we are prepared for you and there are no special activities that day that might make your visit difficult to enjoy.

Are you a boarding school?

No, YHIS is not a boarding school.

How does the school communicate with parents?

YHIS communicates with parents via email, the official WeChat account, and group chat. For urgent matters, our liaisons will make a phone call to parents.

What activities can parents get involved in?

YHIS values the partnership with parents in child’s education. You can find more information in the PTO section under COMMUNITY on the menu. Here are just some of the ways a parent can help: act as a classroom helper help with bulletin boards or laminating mentor or tutor students help children with special needs organize or assist with a specific club or interest group (if you have an interest in an activity that isn’t currently available to students, offer to help get a group started — for example, a chess club or cycling team) assist coaches and gym teachers with sports and fitness programs help as a library assistant or offer to help with story time or reading assistance in the school library help out with visual and performing arts, crafts, and design courses and projects hold a workshop for students in trade or technical programs speak in the classroom or at a career day, if you have a field of expertise that you’d like to share

Can you offer busing service to any location?

YHIS provides transportation to students who live along the current bus routes. Locations with fewer than five students will not be considered a bus stop unless these locations are already on a route. If students come to school after the beginning of a semester, they can only choose among the current bus stops. If they want a different bus stop, they have to apply at least 3 months in advance. YHIS transportation department will make decisions on whether their application for a new stop is allowed or not. YHIS and our contracted bus company are working closely with the Education Bureau, PSB, and Vehicle Bureau to organize and prioritize safety. All the bus routes need to be checked by them.

Do you have a swimming pool?

Yes, YHIS has a swimming pool in the gym. We currently do not use it, but we hope to use the swimming pool in the near future.

How can I be involved in the PTO?

Once your student is enrolled and starts attending YHIS, you will have opportunities to connect with the PTO and see how you would like to be involved. Some opportunities are ‘room mom’ and food sales during sporting events, etc.

How can I apply?

The application process begins when you apply online.

When should I apply?

YHIS accepts applications year-round.

Is there a deadline for submitting my application?

YHIS does not have an application deadline, but a student cannot start school until the full admission process is completed.

What documents should I prepare for my child’s enrollment?

The following are the documents you need to submit: Most recent 2 years of school records in English Copy of the student’s and parents’ passport Immunization Record Physical Exam Form (as required by the Chinese Government) Transportation form when applicable

Should all the application documents be prepared with an English notarization?

We do not require a notary, but we prefer school records to be notarized.

How long does it normally take before I know if my child has been accepted to the school?

Once our Admissions Office receives your pre-admission documents (see Step 2), you normally will receive correspondence regarding grade placement options and an admission offer within one week.

Does my child have to join the school on a specific date - the beginning of the school year, for example?

YHIS accepts ‘rolling admissions’ which means your student(s) are able to join when they are ready. Our school year begins in early August. The first semester will end the latter part of December. The second semester begins early January and ends early June.

Do we need to come to the school for an assessment?

Any assessments will be scheduled with you in advance.

Does my child need to be fluent in English to attend?

A student does not have to be fluent in English to attend YHIS, but they will need English Language Support (ELS) Services which is offered by the school.

What is the minimum age we can start sending our child to school?

YHIS’ minimum age for enrollment is 3 years old. This is based on passport age.

Do you admit students with disabilities?

It depends on the nature of the disability.

Do you accept students with special learning needs?

YHIS does not offer services for students with severe learning needs. Parents should inform the school if their child has known learning limitations. YHIS will makes every effort to meet the learning needs of every student.

What curriculum does the school offer?

YHIS follows a North American college-preparatory curriculum designed specifically for international students to apply to universities around the world.

What should we prepare for the class?

Each grade has different supplies that are required and we will inform you after the child(ren) is(are) accepted. All of the school supplies can be bought at a local market.

Should I buy textbooks and materials?

YHIS provides the textbooks and curricular materials for classes. Students will be fined for damaged or lost books. Additionally, students may be asked to bring their open supplemental materials, such as writing utensils and notebooks. The supplemental materials needed will vary according to grade level and classes.

Do you offer Advanced Placement (AP) courses?

YHIS offers the following Advanced Placement college-level courses: *AP Physics C *AP Statistics *AP Calculus AB *AP Chinese Language and Culture *AP Comparative Government *AP English Language and Composition

My child isn't strong in their English abilities, will they be able to learn well in class?

The English Language Support staff offer an opportunity for all students to increase in their English language ability. The ELS program helps each student improve in their English proficiency and interest in studying English. The ELS program is designed to enable each student to pursue and achieve their personal, academic, and career goals. Varying levels of instruction are available for students in grade 1 through high school. Highly-qualified staff walk beside each student as they progress through YHIS. The goal is for each student to become proficient in English in order to excel in each of their classes without needing support. Yantai Huasheng International School is committed to excellence and believes all students can reach their highest potential through a quality education program. Our staff works diligently to ensure that all students are given the proper support to succeed. We celebrate that many of our students are doing something that few of us ever attempted to do: receiving an education in a language not spoken at home. Students come to us at various places along their journey toward fluency in English. Our goal is to tailor the support we offer to meet the needs of every student so that they will thrive at YHIS.

What world languages are offered?

YHIS offers Chinese classes to students. The YHIS Chinese department provides beginning, intermediate, and advanced Chinese classes for each grade level based on students’ language levels. High school students will have the opportunity to take AP Chinese Language and Culture. Our students are engaged in learning, and our teachers delight in teaching. The students are challenged to speak, understand, read, and write in Chinese, as well as understand and appreciate the many different aspects of Chinese culture and history. The Chinese program aims to help students gain their academic achievement as well as achieve real life language skills. We hope the Chinese language will benefit our students throughout their lives.

How do you prepare my child for college?

College is an important stage in life, and we recognize that it is a stepping stone towards a bigger world. In order to best guide and prepare our students, YHIS provides college counseling in a one-on-one setting. Our goal is to help each of them find a major that can best assist them for their future by exploring the different options. Moreover, through providing information on prestigious colleges across the world, we hope to help them narrow down the list of colleges they are aiming for and find the ones that best matches their goal. Our high school students’ academic performance and standardized testing grades will also be monitored regularly to encourage their improvement and help them to be equipped with all the necessary criteria to become a stronger candidate. We also recognize the importance of the supports from parents, so we collaborate with parents to bring out the best outcome. Our goal is to foster students’ growth by providing them with all the options they have and help them bring out their best so they can thrive in life beyond YHIS.

Will graduates be accepted to universities outside of China?

Yes, graduates will be accepted to universities outside of China. Graduates will receive a high school diploma and an official transcript required for acceptance into universities.

What activities are available outside the classroom?

YHIS is a member of the International Schools Consortium (iSC). The iSC schools collaborate to organize and host extracurricular events throughout the school year. These events provide students not only the opportunity to demonstrate their gifts and abilities but to meet and build relationships with students from other international schools. The iSC events include: iSC Student Council Leadership Retreat VIDA (Student-led spiritual emphasis retreats) iSC High School Volleyball Tournament iSC Middle School Soccer Tournament iSC Senior Departure Seminar iSC Science Fair iSC High School Basketball Tournament MUNiSC (Model United Nations Competition) iSC Fine Arts Festival iSC Middle School Basketball Tournament iSC High School Soccer Tournament

Do students have to take part in all of the after-school activities?

After-school activities offer opportunities for students to explore different areas more than academics, find talents that they have, and develop new skills. Not only that, students can also build relationships with other friends, having an intimate relationship with an instructor. While after-school activities are not mandatory, encouraging your child to participate in an after-school activity will be beneficial for your child.

Where do students go after graduation?

To date, all YHIS graduates have been accepted into a four-year degree program.

Please tell me more about your clubs and extracurricular activities.

YHIS offers a variety of after-school activities. They vary each quarter with at least ten different ones. YHIS recognizes many students and parents have an interest in athletics and firmly believes that the athletics program is an essential part of the development of the whole person. Physical activities also play an important role in enhancing students’ school accomplishment. By participating in athletics programs, students have opportunities to develop responsibility, sportsmanship, teamwork, and character. YHIS athletic offerings vary by season and are as follows: Fall: Middle School Soccer High School Volleyball Winter: Middle School Basketball High School Basketball Spring: Middle School Basketball High School Soccer