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北京京西学校创办于1994年，是北京的20几所外籍人员子女学校当中设立较早、采用国际文凭组织教学大纲的学校之一。
北京京西学校的校长梅德巍（Marta Medved Krajnovic）博士表示：“27年前，在京西刚成立的时候，就明确了这将是一个非常多元化以及非常具有包容性的学校。学校希望照顾到所有的学生。27年来，这份初心从未改变。”
Marta Medved Krajnovic博士
北京京西学校总校长
如今，京西学校拥有来自50多个国家和地区的约1300名学生，完备的课程体系让它成为全球7所IB首选培训学校之一以及IB学校的全球典范；完善的基础设施为师生员工开展丰富多彩的寓教于文、寓教于乐的教育活动提供了重要的阵地，使师生员工教有其所、学有其所、乐有其所；重视多元融合与中国文化的融入，让它成为国际教育领域融合中西文化、打造品牌社区形象的先驱。
6月18日是2020-2021学年的最后一天，龙舟赛为整个学年画上了让人难忘的句号。
比赛即将开始，相印桥上、鸭子湖畔站满了前来观战的师生和家长。
龙舟狭长，通身金黄，饰以红色龙鳞，与鸭子湖碧色的湖水相映成趣；龙头昂扬，龙尾上翘，在飞溅的水花中愈发显得栩栩如生。鼓手双腿夹鼓坐阵船头，舵手泰然自若置身船尾，十名桨手双手紧握划桨，左右依次排开。
一声令下，驰骋的龙舟即划破了湖面的平静，一派热闹而紧张的景象尽显京西学校的活力。
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图源：北京京西学校
那么，这所西式现代化学校为何举办如此盛大的龙舟赛呢？
京领作为北京京西学校的战略合作伙伴受邀来到现场，在锣鼓声、划桨声、欢呼声、呐喊声中探寻被誉为“国际教育领域中西文化融合先驱”的京西学校，如何在多元环境中实现中国文化的国际表达？
从冰心先生亲题的“京西学校”牌匾下走入，映入眼帘的是一个中式园林，扑面而来的是浓浓的中国味道。
图源：北京京西学校
在京西，中国文化不但是学生们要进行学习的内容，更渗透到校园的建筑空间中。在虚实相生间，为孩子们提供更为广阔的审美空间，充实他们对中国文化元素的审美趣味。
红墙绿瓦，相映生辉；亭台楼阁，转相连注。移步易景，是走进这所中国园林式学校的一大真切感受。
图源：北京京西学校
月亮门、中国花园是这里的地标名片；被誉为“岁寒四君子”之一的翠竹是这里的常客，其身影在室内外几乎是随处可见，这里还有专门以其命名的建筑——竹庭（Bamboo Court）。
中式园林风格、中式庭院标配植物、中式建筑名称（如平心门、相印桥）等中国元素都为京西学校这座西式现代化校园增添了别样的中国文化韵味。
图源：北京京西学校
01
与中国结缘，由来已久
作为北京最国际化的学校之一，京西学校缘何与中国的联系如此紧密？
首先，它有一位在红旗下长大，扎根中国搞教育的创始人——柯马凯（Michael Crook）。
Michael Crook
与寻常工作、生活在北京的外国人不同，柯马凯家族从一百年前，就与中国结下了不解之缘。
姥爷在清末民初任华西协和大学教育系主任；
姥姥创建了中国第一所蒙台梭利幼儿园；
父母参与创建北京外国语大学，是新中国英语教学事业的拓荒人；
深受父辈祖辈的影响，柯马凯从小学习中国文化，在北京出生、上学，就连名字都带着中国特色意义——“马克思主义凯旋”。如他所言，儿时接触到的中国文化，让他懂得了和谐与包容。于是，为了解决当时在京外籍孩子的教育缺失问题，1994年，柯马凯与朋友一起，开办了北京京西学校。
“办学的时候，我们几个朋友其实都是同一种思想，就是觉得我们不要生搬硬套地把西方某一种学校的办学模式端到中国来。我们要办一个有特色的国际学校，既能和西方的学校接轨，同时又能让学生们领会到文明古国的灿烂文化。无论他们来华一两年也好，还是待上十年八年也好，我希望他们终生都会留恋这一段在中国生活和工作的经历，跟中国交上朋友，跟中国人民交上朋友。”这份中国特色是柯马凯的创校初心，也是他一生经历的缩影。
图源：WAB北京京西学校微信公众号
基于“中国特色和多元融合”的办学理念，柯马凯亲自设计、亲笔题写了京西校徽，采用传统印章的形式，以简化的篆体书写校名。特别之处在于，这枚印章的四角印记并非完全闭合，而是右上角开放并发散出五颜六色的碎片，象征着在京西，文化的多元、开放与包容。
02
入乡随俗的最好方式是身临其境
京西学校的中国特色不只停留在建筑、理念层面，更被内化成了其独特的校园文化，并融入了学生们的校园生活。从其深受中国设计理念影响的专用设施，到课程单元的规划，再到覆盖各水平层次的汉语教学的投入程度，都可以看出中国元素被一针一线地编织进了京西学校的方方面面。
为帮助学生们融入东道国的历史和文化，京西学校成立了中国文化部，所有教师必须将中国元素的融合作为工作焦点，致力于为学生们创造走近中国文化的机会和不同体验。
图源：WAB北京京西学校微信公众号
中国文化部主任王文静说：“中国是一个良好的学习平台，其丰富的文化资源能够很好地充实学校课程。中国文化项目就是要让孩子通过在中国学习了解中国。”
而入乡随俗最好的办法就是身临其境。
每年，京西学校6-12年级的学生都要参加为期一周的在中国的实地考察，考察范围包括全国的不同地区。学生们还要参与当地的社区活动，并从社区合作与互动中获益。每条线路都由中国文化部会同不同课程的老师亲自设计并建立联系。同时，中国文化还与学术科目相结合，将文化之旅与中国历史、语言、地理、建筑、艺术、自然、戏剧、体育、教育、社区和美食结合起来。
图源：WAB北京京西学校微信公众号
今年，由于疫情，学校没有组织去外地游学，而是在北京周边活动。
中学的理科学生们参观了中国自然历史博物馆，并在北京奥林匹克森林公园探索生态学；
高中的中国文化之旅则是让学生们有机会参观一个自给式社区农场，从而了解社区、农业和经济；
“食物就是天堂”之旅邀请到了人类学家和主厨Frank Sun为孩子们教授中国历史和美食。
同时，由于长期以来，京西学校与北京周边的许多集团和组织建立的伙伴关系，学生们有机会骑自行车环游北京城、一起爬长城、参观博物馆、向当地农民学习，并参观了中国古老的建筑区……
10年级的学生Nicole T.说：“京西打开了我的双眼，让我看到了许多世界性的问题，并认真思考我能做些什么。中国文化之旅让我有机会了解中国，中国人民改变了我对自己国家文化和中国文化的看法。”
图源：WAB北京京西学校微信公众号
此外，中国文化部还邀请了数十位中国文化和艺术专家到校讲习，以此帮助学生们加深对中国传统文化和当代文化的理解，提高中国文化欣赏水平。
01
工合精神与龙舟精神的“跨界”互动
上世纪中国人民抗日战争期间发起了工合运动，许多外国友人和中国人民一道投入到抗战中去，体现了 “努力干、一起干”的工合精神。
京西学校的核心文化是多元化，这里是一个多元的开放环境，面对不同种族和国家的文化，京西始终保持着和而不同、不偏不倚的态度。正如其所强调的“工合精神”，是团结合作、勇敢开拓的象征。因此，多元融合、包容开放才是京西学校的特色。
柯马凯著
《一起干：国际友人与中国工合运动》
在这一理念的指引下，京西学校积极探索与东道国的联系，让中国元素成为多元环境中的文化纽带。
众所周知，在中国传统文化元素中，龙舟精神与工合精神的特质十分契合。“赛龙舟能很好地彰显工合精神，体现克服障碍，共同朝着目标努力的拼搏精神，是对中国文化的很好的融入。”京西的一位老师在接受采访时讲道。
6月18日，京西学校举办了首届龙舟大赛。比赛在位于京西初高中部校园之间的鸭子湖上进行，场面十分壮观，全校师生齐聚一堂，为参赛师生呐喊助威！
图源：北京京西学校
参赛阵容包括一支由学生组成的“老虎精神队”（Tiger Spirit）、由老师组成的“京西精神队”（WAB Spirit）和 “工合精神队”（Gung Ho Spirit）；还有一支由学校管理层组成的“教育改革精神队”（FLOW Spirit），共计四支队伍，每队10人。
“为了凸显京西学校创始人之一柯马凯先生的创校愿景，特别设立了一年一度的“马凯杯”龙舟赛（Michael Crook Cup）。”
为保证有学生队参加决赛，本次比赛先由“京西精神队”（WAB Spirit）、 “工合精神队”（Gung Ho Spirit）和“教育改革精神队”（FLOW Spirit）三队争雄，再由优胜方与学生队伍“老虎精神队”一决胜负。最终，老师代表“京西精神队”（WAB Spirit）在决赛中胜出，学生队惜败，但孩子们在颁奖环节的发言中表现出了毫不气馁的气概和来年再战的决心，正如其所代表的老虎精神一样。
图源：北京京西学校
一位老师说：“作为一所重视中国文化的学校，举办龙舟赛是许多人的心头所愿。” 不仅如此，6月18日也是京西学校2020-2021学年的最后一天，在这样一个特殊的日子里，这场隆重赛事的意义更在于代表着对过去一学年的总结；同时，龙舟竞渡本身也蕴含着对美好未来的追求，京西学校希望学子们发扬积极拼搏的龙舟精神，像龙舟竞渡一样“争先恐后”地进入到下一学年的征程中。
02
构建多元开放的学习环境
京西重视与东道国的文化联系却并非偏重于中国文化，融合与多元始终是京西强调的重点。“一花独放不是春，百花齐放春满园。”这一点，也恰恰符合了中国文化所讲求的兼容并包，所谓“海纳百川，方成其大。”
京西鼓励海外学生在完成作业的时候融入自己国家的元素，通过海外学生在学习中将自己的本国文化与中国文化的争彩对比，建立联系，从而更加深刻的认识到多元化的意义与价值。
图源：北京京西学校
对此，梅德巍校长解释道：“我们的学生来自世界各地，从不同的教育体系和文化背景进入京西学校。所以对我们来说，建立一个能帮助不同文化背景的孩子们建立联系的学习体系十分重要。这个学习体系可以保持他们和自己的祖国的融合，也可以帮助他们融入到中国的文化中。这些是不同层面的融合：来自不同国家的孩子之间的融合、京西以及中国之间的融合、也是学校和家长之间的融合。”
学在中国，面向世界。京西学校多元开放的学习环境给予了学生们富有中国特色的学习体验，赋予了学生们开放包容的文化思维与国际视野。
北京京西学校梅德巍校长曾说：“目前，京西大概和11所学校就中国的文化项目展开了密切合作。我们的学生会到中国各地去做实地研究，加深和中国的联系，这些项目对学生们有很大的启示。他们离开中国时，我们希望他们对中国有更深的了解和认知。同时通过他们也可以让其他国家的人对中国有更全面的了解。”
京西学校（WAB）强调中国文化的融入，是外籍人员子女学校融入中国文化的典范。以极具中国特色的校园环境、积极策划开展的各类传统文化活动帮助学生了解中国文化，热爱中国文化，传承中国文化；同时，作为一所国际学校，京西更是以开放、包容的姿态欢迎多元文化走入校园，指引学生们理解并尊重文化多样性，让多元文明在这里绽放出时代光彩！
English Version
Western Academy of Beijing (WAB), established in 1994, is one of more than 20 schools for children of foreign personnel in Beijing that was established earlier and implemented the International Baccalaureate system.
Just like Head of School Dr. Marta Medved Krajnovic said, “27 years ago, when WAB was founded, it was clear that WAB would show an inherent spirit of diversity and inclusiveness. Our school supports all students. Even till now, the original intention has never changed.”
Currently, there are over 1300 students at WAB from more than 50 countries. WAB is one of the 7 IB training schools worldwide and IB model school, and its accelerated infrastructure provides an important place for students and teachers to carry out a variety of learning activities. Valuing the combination of diverse international cultures and Chinese culture makes WAB a pioneer of Chinese and Western Cultural fusion in the international educational field.
On June 18th, 2021, the first “Michael Crook Cup” Dragon Boat Race created an unforgettable last day of semester at WAB.
Before the competition started, the Xiangyin Bridge and the Duck Lake side were already crowded with students, teachers as well as parents.
The golden bodies of the dragon boats are long and narrow, decorated with red dragon scales, the dragon heads are high up, and the tails are upturned, while moving in the splashing water makes them even more lifelike. Drummers are sitting and drumming in the front of the boat, the helmsmen sit steadily at the stern, the ten oarsmen of each boat pull the oars tightly and row in sequence.
As the competition started, the racing dragon boat broke the tranquility of the lake. The exciting and tense scene showed the energy of Western Academy of Beijing.
But why would this western modern international school hold such a grand Chinese Dragon Boat Competition?
As one of the strategic partners of WAB, KingLead was invited to the event to feel and explore how WAB can truly achieve the international expression of Chinese culture in a diverse environment along with the sound of drums, paddles, cheers, and shouts.
Entering the school under the plaque with the handwritten “Western Academy of Beijing” by Mr. Bingxin, a famous Chinese writer in modern age, a Chinese garden enters our eyesight with a strong Chinese atmosphere.
At WAB, Chinese culture is not only a subject that students need to learn, but more importantly, it exists in every corner of the campus.
Red walls and green tiles complement each other, pavilions and towers connect with each other… It makes people feel like every step is a unique scene while walking in the campus.
The Moon Gate and Chinese Garden are the landmarks here; bamboo is a welcomed guest here, which is one of The Four Gentlemen in Chinese painting symbolizing tolerance and open-mindedness. It can be seen almost everywhere indoors and outdoors. Besides, there is also a building named after it at WAB -- the Bamboo Court.
Chinese gardens, Chinese garden plants and Chinese classifications for architectures, such as “Pingxin Gate and Xiangyin Bridge”, all of these Chinese elements have enriched Chinese cultural deposits for the Western Academy of Beijing, the modern international school.
01
It was fate
that brought WAB to China
As one of the most typically international schools in Beijing, why is the Western Academy of Beijing so deeply connected with China?
First of all, its founder, Michael Crook, has grown up under the Five-Starred Red Flag and has committed himself to international education in Beijing.
Different from other expatriate families who work and live in Beijing, Crook family has formed an indissoluble bond with China for one hundred years.
At the end of the Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China, his grandfather was the director of the Education Department in West China Union University;
In 1915, his grandmother founded the first Montessori kindergarten in Chengdu city, the capital of Sichuan Province, China;
His parents participated in the establishment of Beijing Foreign Studies University and were the pioneers of English Teaching in the early years of the People's Republic of China;
Deeply influenced by his parents and grandparents, Michael Crook has learned Chinese culture from childhood. Born and attending school in Beijing, even his name “Makai” has special Chinese meaning - "triumph of Marxism".
As he said, learning Chinese culture from an early age made him understand harmony and inclusiveness. In order to solve the lack of international education for foreign children in Beijing at that time, Michael and his friends established WAB in 1994.
“We share the same idea that we should not rigidly apply the western school running mode to China. We want to build an international school with its own characteristics. It can not only have connection with Western schools, but also make students understand the splendid culture of ancient civilization in our host country. Whether he or she comes to China for one or two years, or stays in China for eight or ten years, I hope they will yearn for this experience and make friends with China and the Chinese.”
“Chinese characteristics” is the original intention of establishing the school and also the epitome of Michael's life experience.
Based on "Chinese characteristics and multi-integration", Michael Crook has designed and inscribed the school emblem of WAB in person. It is written in simplified seal characters in the form of traditional seal. In particular, the four corners of the seal are not completely closed, the upper right corner opens and emits colorful fragments, which symbolizes the diversity, openness and inclusiveness of culture in WAB.
02
The best way to
“do in Rome as the Romans do”
is to be personally on the scene
The Chinese characteristics of the Western Academy of Beijing not only stay in the architectural and conceptual level, but are internalized into its unique campus culture and integrated into the students' campus life. From its purpose-built facilities inspired by Chinese design philosophy, to the planning of work units in our curriculum, to the commitment to Chinese language taught at all levels, China is woven through the tapestry of WAB.
In order to help students integrate into the history and culture of the host country, WAB has set up the China Studies Department. And all teachers at WAB incorporate China as a focal point in units of work throughout the curriculum and are devoted to creating different experiences of approaching Chinese culture for students.
“It is about learning in China, learning through China and learning about China and using China as a learning platform and rich resource to enrich the school curriculum.” Wenjing Wang, WAB's Head of China Studies said.
The best way to “do in Rome as the Romans do” is to be personally on the scene.
Each year, students in grades 6-12 at WAB will participate in a week-long field trip which covers different regions of China. Students are also expected to be involved in local community activities and benefit from community collaboration and interaction. In the China Studies Trips, each itinerary is designed and communicated by the China Studies department in conjunction with teachers from different courses. China Studies is also integrated into academic subjects to create more opportunities to connect the curriculum with Chinese history, language, geography, architecture, art, nature, theater, athletics, education, community, and cuisine.
Due to the epidemic, this year the trips have been organized within Beijing.
In the Middle School, science students visited China's Natural History Museum and explored ecology in Beijing's Olympic Forest Park.
A trip in the High School this year gave students the opportunity to visit a self-sustaining community farm and learn about community, agriculture, and economics.
The trip “Food is Heaven” introduced students to Frank Sun, an anthropologist and chef who taught them Chinese history and cuisine.
Also, thanks to WAB's long-term relationships as well as newly established partnerships with many groups and organizations around Beijing, students took city-wide bike tours, climbed the Great Wall, visited museums, learned from community farmers, and visited China's ancient architectural areas, among many other experiences.
“WAB has opened my eyes to many world issues and helped me think about what I can do about them,” Grade 10 student Nicole T. said. “Having the opportunity to know about China and Chinese people has changed my perspective on my own culture and on Chinese culture.”
In addition, the Chinese Studies Department invited Chinese culture experts and artists to deepen students’ understanding of traditional and contemporary Chinese culture and to improve their appreciation of it.
01
The “Cross” Interaction
between“Gung Ho” Spirit
and“Dragon Boat” Spirit
During the War of Resistance in the last century, many foreigners devoted themselves to the war with the Chinese people, embodying the spirit of "working hard, working together".
The core value of WAB is pluralism, a diverse and open environment in which people of different races and nationalities are always treated with harmony and impartiality. As WAB emphasized, the "Gung Ho" Spirit is a symbol of overcoming obstacles and working together towards common goals, and thus the integration of diversity and inclusiveness are really the characteristics of WAB.
Guided by this philosophy, WAB explores their tie with the host country actively, and makes Chinese elements a cultural link in diversity.
It is well known that in traditional Chinese culture, the Dragon Boat spirit fits greatly well with Gung Ho spirit. "Dragon boat racing could demonstrate the Gung Ho spirit well, reflecting the spirit of hard work and the feeling of working as a team in unison towards a common goal, it is a very good integration of Chinese culture." A teacher from WAB said in the interview.
On June 18th, Western Academy of Beijing held its first WAB Dragon Boat Festival--Michael Crook Cup. The event was held on the Duck Lake which sits between the WAB campuses. It was a spectacular scene, all the teachers and students gathered together to cheer for the participating teachers and students.
Participating teams include a student team called “Tiger Spirit”, two teacher teams called “WAB Spirit” and "Gung Ho Spirit”. There is also a senior leadership team called “FLOW Spirit”, each team consists of 10 people.
"In recognition of school co-founder Michael Crooks vision and support in gaining the first dragon boats, the event was named the Michael Crook Cup.”
In order to ensure that student teams could participate in the final, this competition will be held first by “WAB Spirit" "Gung Ho Spirit" and "FLOW Spirit", and then the winner will compete with the student team "Tiger Spirit ". In the end, “WAB Spirit” won the final, while the students lost. However, the students showed their indomitable spirit and determination to fight again next year in their speech during the awarding ceremony, just like the Tiger Spirit they represented.
"As a school that celebrates Chinese culture, holding this event had been the long-time vision of many people." a teacher said. In addition, June 18th is also the last day of the 2020-2021 school year of WAB. On such a special day, the significance of this event lies in representing the summary of the past school year. At the same time, the dragon boat race itself also contains the pursuit of a better future. WAB hopes that students will carry forward the dragon boat spirit and "compete" to enter the journey of the next school year just like the dragon boat race.
02
Building a diversified
and open learning environment
WAB attaches great importance to the cultural connection with their host country, but not about preferring Chinese culture. Integration and diversity are always the key points that WAB emphasizes. "A single flower does not make a spring”. This is exactly in line with the Chinese culture's emphasis on inclusiveness, which says, "All rivers run into sea, tolerance is a virtue."
WAB encourages overseas students to integrate the elements of their own countries into their homework. Through the comparison between their own culture and Chinese culture, overseas students can establish a relationship, so as to have a deeper understanding of the significance and value of diversity.
"Our students come from all over the world, from different educational systems and cultural backgrounds," Dr. Krajnovic explained, “So it's important for us to establish a learning system that helps students from different cultures to connect with each other. This learning system can maintain their integration with their homeland and help them to integrate into the Chinese culture. These are different levels of integration: between children from different countries, between WAB and China, and also between the school and the parents."
Learning in China, facing the world. The diverse and open learning environment of WAB gives students a learning experience full of Chinese characteristics and gives students an open and inclusive cultural thinking and international perspective.
"At present, WAB has close cooperation with about 11 schools on Chinese cultural projects," said Dr. Krajnovic, Head of School. “Our students go to different parts of China to do field research to deepen the connection with China, these projects are very enlightening for the students. When they leave China, we hope they have a deeper understanding of China. Meanwhile, they can also help people from other countries to have a more comprehensive understanding of China."
WAB emphasizes the integration of Chinese culture and is a pioneer of Chinese and Western Cultural fusion in the international educational field. The campus environment with Chinese characteristics and various traditional cultural activities are actively planned and carried out to help students understand, love and inherit Chinese culture. At the same time, as an international school, WAB welcomes diverse cultures to develop in the campus with an open and inclusive attitude, and guides students to understand and respect cultural diversity. Therefore, diverse civilizations can shine here!