1. When should I apply?

You are welcome to submit an application at any time during the year; we do not have an application deadline. Due to the potential for waiting lists at many grade levels, we encourage you to apply as soon as you feel comfortable with your school decision. Upon submission of the completed application form and the application fee, the application will be assigned an application date, which we use to manage our waiting lists. This date becomes most important upon receipt of all supporting materials and completion of the evaluation process to determine acceptance to the school.

2. Where are your teachers from?

The majority of our 141 teachers are from the United States. In addition, many teachers are from Canada, Australia and China. All faculty members are certified teachers and 65% hold master’s degrees or higher. Most of our teachers have over ten years of teaching experience. We enjoy a low student:teacher ratio of 18:1 as well as a low annual teacher turnover rate.

3. Where are Concordia’s students from?

Americans comprise 63 percent of Concordia’s student body, while a total of 34 passports are represented across the entire student body. The top five passports represented are – in order – the United States (63%), Korea (11%), Canada (5%), PRC – Hong Kong (4%) and PRC – Taiwan (3%).

4. When does the school year begin and end?

The 2012-13 school year begins August 21, 2012 and concludes June 11, 2013. Concordia’s calendar meets U.S. and European requirements and also accommodates major Chinese and U.S. holidays.

5. What are Concordia’s school hours?

School begins at 8 AM and ends at 3:20 PM for all grade levels.

6. Does Concordia offer English as a Second Language (ESL)?

No. If we are concerned whether an applicant’s level of English will allow them to succeed without language support, we will ask the student to take an English assessment as part of the application process.

7. Does Concordia offer specialized learning support?

Concordia does not offer services for students with special learning needs or specific learning disabilities (i.e. significant limited intellectual ability, severe physical handicaps or pronounced social, emotional or behavioral difficulties) that require an IEP (Individualized Education Program). We ask families whose children have specialized schooling requirements to provide documentation of these needs and the reasons for these requirements. Admission is contingent upon a match between the student’s needs and level of service available.

8. Will my child need to take an entrance exam?

Students applying for Grades 6 to Grade 12 will need to submit SSAT test results as part of the application process. Additionally, we may have admission assessments for students whose English mastery may be of concern (please see No. 6 above). Mathematics assessments may be requested of students entering Grade 5 to Grade 12 to ensure a student’s mathematics skills are at or above grade level.

9. How do you prepare High School students for university entrance?

Our High School counselors focus on university selection and entrance especially during students’ junior and senior years. In the fall of junior year, students and parents meet with their assigned counselor for individual discussion and guidance. In the fall of senior year, the counselors guide students through the university application process. The High School counselors also hold grade level meetings for parents and students during freshman and sophomore years to offer guidance regarding course selection. We offer a full slate of Advanced Placement (AP) courses (please see our High School Profile for a comprehensive list; we do not offer the IB program). As an approved SAT, ACT, and AP testing site, we administer the PSAT, SAT I, SAT II, ACT, and AP exams on campus. In addition, we coordinate on-campus recruiting visits from colleges and universities in search of highly qualified students.

10. Do you administer other standardized achievement tests?

From Grade 4 to Grade 8 we administer two tests developed by the Educational Records Bureau in the United States: the Comprehensive Testing Program IV (CTP4) and the Writing Assessment Program (WrAP). These tests were designed specifically for use in independent and public suburban schools. The tests provide an assessment of writing composition, verbal and quantitative ability, reading comprehension, vocabulary, writing process, writing mechanics, and mathematics. Parents receive a detailed explanation of the child’s results along with comparisons to U.S. school norms.

11. Where do Concordia graduates attend college or university?

Most Concordia graduates enroll at U.S. universities, but our graduates apply to and are accepted at universities and colleges worldwide. (Please see our High School Profile for a comprehensive list.)

12. Please describe the school’s Christian foundation.

Concordia welcomes students and families from all faith traditions. Christianity is an integral part of our identity and students are exposed to the Bible and the basics of the Christian faith through religion classes, regular assemblies and a positive moral environment. As appropriate, students study other world religions and are encouraged to explore and articulate their own personal beliefs.

13. What foreign languages are offered?

Mandarin is compulsory from Preschool through Grade 7 and taught daily. Students in Grade 8 to Grade 12 choose from Spanish, French or Mandarin. All three language programs include tracks for students of differing language abilities. In the Mandarin program, beginning Mandarin learners – depending on their grade level – take Conversational Mandarin (CM) or Mandarin as a Foreign Language (MFL). More advanced or native Mandarin speakers take Heritage Mandarin (HM).

14. What is the technology program at Concordia?

Computers are present in every classroom, beginning in Preschool. Kindergarten through Grade 6 classrooms have a ratio of one computer for every two students, and students in Grade 7 to Grade 12 participate in the one- to-one laptop program supported by Concordia’s wireless environment and on-site Apple service center. (Purchase of the laptop is an additional expense beyond the tuition.) The computer does not replace paper and pencil; rather it is used to enrich and enhance the learning process. Students get personal e-mail addresses in Grade 1, and students are expected to use the computer as an age-appropriate learning tool for research, written work, graphics and presentations.

15. Please explain Concordia’s homeroom “communities” in the elementary school.

From Grade 1 to Grade 4, two grade levels are paired to form a “community” – the Grade 1-2 community and the Grade 3-4 community. Concordia has chosen to organize these grade levels this way based on educational research into the growth and development of children.

• From Grade 1 to Grade 4, each grade-specific classroom of 18 students is paired with another grade-specific classroom of 18 students.
• Students will work together with their partner classroom for Theme (Social Studies and Science) and Religion. In all other subjects – such as Mathematics, Mandarin and Language Arts – students are allowed to progress through stages of maturity and academic skill levels based more on their ability rather than on their grade designation. (Nearly all students at Concordia work at or above grade level in core subjects.)
• During the subjects taught together with their partner classroom, younger students benefit from working with older students. Older students gain leadership skills, and all students enjoy a range of learning situations – from working collaboratively with teachers and other students to working independently.
• Students in Grade 1 and Grade 3 may have the opportunity to “loop” with their teacher, thus staying with the same teacher in Grade 2 and Grade 4.

16. Does Concordia have co-curricular activities?

A wide variety of activities are available after school—including sports, the fine arts and games. These are available to our students from Grade 1 through High School. The choices change seasonally. Activities are covered by school fees unless otherwise stated. Transportation is provided following co-curricular activities for students who have purchased school bus transportation.

17. Does Concordia provide bus transportation?

Optional bus transportation is available for students in most areas of Pudong and Puxi before and after school. Bus transportation is also available to regular bus riders following the co-curricular activity and athletics programs. The bus fee is not included in the tuition.

18. Do you have school uniforms?

All students in Kindergarten through Grade 12 wear a uniform, which consists of a Concordia polo shirt (white or navy blue) and navy or khaki bottoms (depending on grade level). Elementary students (Kindergarten through Grade 4) wear navy blue bottoms; students in Grade 5 to Grade 12 wear either navy blue or tan/khaki bottoms. Students in Grade 5 to Grade 12 also need a Physical Education uniform. All uniform items are purchased through the school. A detailed uniform policy is available on our Web site (www.concordiashanghai.org) and is also included in acceptance e-mails.

19. What kind of footwear should my child wear?

Shoes, sneakers and sandals are students’ choice; only rubber flip-flops, crocs or thongs are not allowed. Shoe color must “blend” with uniform colors. Elementary students must wear socks and their sandals must include a strap that wraps behind the heel. Tennis (sport) shoes with non-marking soles are required for physical education.

20. Do you have a hot lunch program?

Students can choose to purchase a school lunch from our school vendor, Eurest, or bring their own lunch (microwave ovens are available for heating). The school lunch menu is designed to provide a balanced meal with western and Asian choices, as well as a sandwich option, for RMB21.50 to RMB27 (about US$3 to US$4) per day. Students are not permitted to leave campus for lunch.

21. What supplies do I need to bring to school?

Textbooks are included in the tuition. Upon acceptance, families will receive a short list of items to prepare for their children before starting school. Among them:

• Elementary School: Most schools supplies are provided. Students should bring a healthy snack for morning break time and a backpack. Preschool students will need a small sleeping bag and pillow for rest time.
• Middle School: Most school supplies are provided. Students should bring a healthy snack for morning break time and a backpack. Students in Grade 7 and Grade 8 will also need personal laptop computers, which can be purchased through the school.
• High School: High School students supply their own notebooks and writing implements. Large spiral notebooks with and without pockets, three ring binders, and 3-hole punched loose-leaf notebook paper can be difficult to find in Shanghai. Although these are not required, some students prefer these supplies so they should be purchased prior to leaving your home country. In addition to a backpack, students will need a personal laptop computer, which can be purchased through the school. (If you have been using a calculator in your math class, bring this calculator with you. Please do not purchase a new calculator in anticipation of math requirements. Depending on your math placement, we have calculators available for students to use during the school year.)

22. How does the school community help my child in the transition to Concordia?

We understand the expatriate experience and living outside one’s home country. At Concordia, our teachers, counselors, administrators, and families work to ensure new students and families adjust quickly to living in Shanghai. From Grade 7 to Grade 12, the Student Ambassador program plays a key role in welcoming new students and helping them feel at home. We also have access to other community resources that offer programs, activities and extra curricular classes to help meet the needs of the expatriate family. When a family prepares to leave, the school staff facilitates repatriation and university admissions through counseling programs.

23. To what extent are parents involved in the school?

Concordia is committed to fostering a strong partnership between school and home, and the Parent Support Organization (PSO) offers many ways to strengthen that partnership. The PSO hosts monthly on-campus parent meetings, and parents are welcome to become involved in a variety of classroom and school activities. Regular PSO and parent-driven activities include book fairs, classroom parties, teacher appreciation events, Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops, the Phoenix Shop “spirit store,” and fundraising.

24. How do you communicate information to school families?

Concordia Website www.concordiashanghai.org

• Concordia’s new website is an information resource accessible from around the world. For questions contact Director of MarCom kellyjo.larson@concordiashanghai.org
  • Student/Family Handbook-accessed via the Parent page of the website within the division specific information
    • Policies and Procedures as applied to students in a specific division

Aspen

• Online resource to keep parents informed of their children’s classroom activities and academic performance
• One login to access the information for all of your children.
• Student in Grades 5 through 12 have individual accounts.
• Provides access to the
  • Family Directory-also available on Parent page of Concordia Website
    • By student
    • By mother
    • Class lists—contact information for families at Concordia is also available here.
  • Staff Directory-also available on Concordia website.
  • Guardianship, Parent Pledge, HS Pre-arranged Absence forms
• Direct questions about Aspen to Director of Technology tom.reed@concordiashanghai.org

E News

• Community Bulletin
  • Primary communication tool to the Concordia Community and includes notices which impact the entire community.
  • Sent out weekly on Thursday afternoon.
  • Marketing@concordiashanghai.org by noon on Wednesday for inclusion in that week’s bulletin.
• Division Newsletter
  • Notices that are division specific .
    • ES-every week
    • MS-every two weeks
    • HS-The Week Ahead, currently available on Aspen, and emails as needed
  • Posted on the Parent page of the website with email notices
• Teacher Newsletter/Homework Blog
  • Notices which impact that specific class.
• Head of School Newsletter
  • Quarterly opportunity to review topics of strategic or community interest.

Email

• Used to communicate information that applies to individual or small groups of parents
• Office of the HOS emails-
  • Limit use, information is grouped when possible
  • Translations are made in Mandarin and Korea when parents are being asked to act upon a request that impacts the child’s ability to be in school.
  • Time sensitive/Health/Safety-to help inform/work as a community to address concerns
• Staff email addresses are available on our website and follow the format of first name.lastname@concordiashanghai.org
• Emails received from school should arrive to parents using a consistent subject line format.
  • Division or Dept. (i.e. HOS=Head of School, HS=High School, PSO=Parent Support Organization, MarCom=Marketing and Communication)
  • Summary of the content of the email
  • Time requirement (i.e. RSVP, respond by, deadline)

Parent Feedback

• Parent Coffees
  • Used to inform, to instruct, to listen and to respond.
  • Personal connection developed with the division leadership team of Administration, Counselors and Directors.
  • Summaries of all Parent Coffees are accessible from the Community Bulletin.
• Annual Survey:
  • Parents provide feedback anonymously in a climate survey.
• Three-Way Conferences
  • Parents, with their child, meet their child’s teacher.

Procedures for Handling Questions or Concerns

Parents are invited to make an appointment with their child’s teacher at any time by contacting the teacher directly. Similarly, meetings can be booked with the counseling staff or the administration in the same manner. Drop-in discussions are discouraged but may be possible. Please understand if the person you wish to talk to is already engaged or busy.

E-mail is the primary means through which the school communicates with its parent body. Students in Grade 5 to Grade 12 also have individual Aspen accounts, an on-line resource to keep parents informed of their children’s classroom activities as well as their children’s academic performance. Additionally, we have a well-established Web site, www.concordiashanghai.org, as well as newsletters from each of the three schools (Elementary, Middle and High School), a weekly Community Bulletin for the entire school, a quarterly newsletter from the Head of School, and many teachers maintain homework blogs and email classroom newsletters throughout the year.