Inside LDi's New Early Childhood Center (ECC) in Tianjin, China

The odor of a fish market floats down the hallway.  At the same time, squeals of delight are heard from the Pre-Kindergarten classroom.  Peeking through the door, the parents of a prospective student see giggling 4 and 5 year olds, clad in their dad’s shirts, applying paint to slimy fish, octopi and eels scattered around the tables.  After painting the smelly creatures, they carefully press white paper on top making the most exquisite “fish prints”.

Challenges often lead to creative solutions.  Having filled their current facility with 400 students with no new facility on the horizon, the leadership of Tianjin International School considered starting a school for three through five year olds in a nearby location. Thus LDi’s new Early Childhood Center (ECC) was born and designed to set the stage for a lifelong love of learning. 

The custom designed facilities create a learning world specifically for little students.  These days you will see 60 pre-schoolers and kindergarteners in bright cheerful classrooms, taught by experienced early childhood specialists from several countries. Mrs. Anji Russell, with thirty years of experience in early childhood education, leads the team. In addition to a core pre-school curriculum and English development, the children are taught music, art, physical education, and computer. Classes are taught in English with support in Korean and Chinese readily available.  Depending on the age of the child and their needs, they can attend either half or whole day programs.

LDi’s marketing director, Dan Kennedy, and his wife, Sara, have two daughters in the ECC.  Sara said, “If you have little ones, you know what it feels like to take them to a place that just ‘feels right’…When we toured the ECC for the first time, I not only wanted my children to attend, I wanted to start my own schooling over!”

Like the rest of the International Schools of China, the children who attend the ECC, must hold foreign passports.  However, just like the rest of the international schools, the ECC is watched by the Chinese who work in neighboring buildings or pass by each day, by the officials who allow us to work in their community, and by delivery people bringing food and supplies.   As the ECC impacts the families from around the world whose children attend the school, those who are watching are impacted by the lives lived out in the care of these little ones.


Opportunities:
The International Schools of China (ISC) continues to grow. This year we need 50+ new ISC staff.  If you or someone you know is interested in finding out more about teaching in China, please go to the International Schools of China tab on this website.