Deron Marvin
Head of School
Shu Ren International School is proud to carry the designation as an International Baccalaureate World School in Berkeley, CA. We are the only early childhood and elementary school in the San Francisco Bay Area to offer both a Chinese Mandarin immersion education and also the International Baccalaureate (IB) World School’s IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) for children aged 3 - 12.
Students learn in Mandarin Chinese and English through two-way immersion instruction or the Montreal model (please see below). The curriculum framework for student learning is the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) for ages 3 -12, which is an internationally-recognized curriculum used by the top independent schools in almost 150 countries around the world.
The IB PYP Curriculum requires that teachers engage students in their learning by providing hands-on, engaging, and differentiated learning activities that use inquiry, reflection, and action in every class. Mandarin Chinese, English, Math, Social Studies, and Sciences are integrated into trans disciplinary units that usually last for approximately six weeks. Pre-K3 to Kindergarten students study 4 units per year and Grade 1-6 completes six units of inquiry per year throughout the 36 week long school year.
• Pre-K3 & Pre-K4: 100% Mandarin
• Grades K-1: approximately 20% English – 80% Mandarin
• Grade 2: approximately 40% English – 60% Mandarin
• Grades 3-6: approximately 50% English – 50% Mandarin
We have organised the information available for this school into 10 sections and 42 questions. Click or tap on the name of each section to read more.
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Number of students
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185
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Number of nationalities represented in the school
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20
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Most common nationality
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U.S.A.
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Ratio of local students to international students
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183 Local; 2 International Students
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Native English and Chinese speaking teachers
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Yes
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Language support for students not fluent in English and Chinese
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Yes, in homework club after school and One to One teacher support during the school day.
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Additional language classes offered by the school
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Spanish
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Max. number of students per class
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24 Preschool and Pre-K
22 Kindergarten
22 Elementary (1-5)
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Average number of students per class
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18 Preschool and Pre-K
15 Kindergarten
18 Elementary (1-5)
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Does the school employ teaching assistants?
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Yes
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Use of technology in the classroom
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At Shu Ren International School, we take pride in preparing our students to navigate a complex international world with extensive lessons in communication, academics, and technology. For elementary students, we have a 1 to 1 iPad/Chrome/MacBook program where students learn important coding and computer skills using the IB (International Baccalaureate) curriculum model.
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Is the school ready to use virtual classrooms when needed? (e.g. teaching lessons online if the school is closed, e.g. during COVID-19 closures)
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Yes
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Do students practice religion at the school? What religion?
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No
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How does the school accommodate non-religious students or students of a different religion?
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Not Applicable
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External examinations or assessments available
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Measure of Academic Progress (MAP)
Mandarin Standards-Based Measure of Proficiency (STAMP)
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Results in these examinations
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Please visit our website for current student academic results: https://shurenschool.com/academic-outcomes/
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Do teachers assign homework to their students?
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Yes, grades K-6, receive weekly homework packets.
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Approximate hours of homework given
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Varies by grade level. Approximately 30 minutes per day. Homework Club is available for students.
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Percentage of students who pursue further education post-graduation
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100% of Shu Ren students go on to attend Middle School.
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Dedicated staff/programs for students with special learning needs
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No
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Learning support offered
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At Shu Ren International School, our teachers are well-trained to recognize when their students may need additional assistance in school. We will work with parents and third party agencies to conduct a comprehensive assessment and develop an individualized learning plan for the student.
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The school supports gifted, able and talented students
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As an IB International School with a small teacher to student ratio is, we provide different shades of learning with a focus on advanced curriculum.
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Student access to education psychologist
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Our teachers are well-trained to recognize when their students need additional support and will partner with parents and work with third party agencies to support.
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Entry evaluation for students
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Shu Ren International School Application and Enrollment process includes the following:
Online Application Form: A $100 non-refundable application fee is required.
Two years of previous academic records (as applicable).
Teacher Recommendation (for K-5 applicants only).
Head of School Meeting
Student in Classroom Observation
Families interested in details about financial aid, please visit our Financial Aid Page. The Financial Aid application must be submitted at the same time as the Admissions Application.
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Brief description of entry evaluation required
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After the student application and supporting documents are received, a parent interview and student "meet and greet" is scheduled with the Shu Ren leadership team. The purpose of this time is to communicate Shu Ren's values and framework of learning to ensure that it aligns with the family's educational goals and values.
For the student "meet and greet," our leadership team would like to meet each child and engage them in conversation or a small activity.
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Waiting list
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Yes. Enrollment is based on the completion of the admissions process.
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Deadline for registration (new academic year)
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Applications are accepted year-round on a rolling admission basis.
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Students can join after academic year begins
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Yes, based on space available in the grade or program.
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School start time
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8:30
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School finish time
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Kindergarten: 15:00
Elementary school: 16:00 (includes optional homework club)
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Supervised care before/after school
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Yes
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School bus service available
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No
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School provided lunches
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Lunch service is optional and available to order online through our official lunch service provider.
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Food alternatives for special dietary needs (ie. vegan, kosher, halal etc)
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Yes
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Uniform required
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No
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Facilities at the school
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A beautifully appointed Library with both Mandarin and English age appropriate books for students. Performing arts, including music lessons.
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Sports facilities at the school
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Two play grounds for children aged 2-5 and aged 5-12 respectively, soccer pitch, and natural play area.
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Qualities and characteristics best defining the school
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Shu Ren International School is a Mandarin immersion, International Baccalaureate PYP school, with locations in Berkeley and San Jose, CA.
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Teaching approach of the school
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Students are guided by teachers to actively discover their strengths, explore new concepts, develop strong practical and academic skills, and experience their lessons within and outside of the traditional classroom environment. Shu Ren's highly experienced teachers bring a wealth of knowledge, passion, traditions, and practices that inspire children to take part in their own learning. Students are not just high academic achievers, they are active participants in a complex and rich world of international culture and communication; they do not simply copy words, sentences, or memorize passages from books; they ask important questions, perform research, and present their findings in Chinese and English. Finally, a Shu Ren International Student is treasured for who they are and is nurtured by teachers who work to help students reach their full potential as a student, an individual, and a citizen of the world.
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Early Childhood
Our early childhood program enrolls students ages 2-5. Students in the early childhood program enjoy a 100% Mandarin language immersion environment where all instruction is carried out in Mandarin by native speakers. The curriculum framework for student learning is the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) for ages 3-12, which is an internationally-recognized curriculum used by the top independent schools in almost 150 countries around the world.
Our Program of Inquiry, includes 4 units that each class studies from Pre-K3 to Pre-K4 grade.Our Pre-K2 class uses play based inquiry to develop their skills within the six domains of development to prepare for entry into the IB program for Pre-K3.
Elementary School
The elementary school program includes students from KG to 5th grade. Students learn in Mandarin Chinese and English through two-way immersion instruction or the Montreal model. The curriculum framework for student learning is the IB Primary Years Programme for ages 3 -12, which is an internationally-recognized curriculum used by the top independent schools in almost 150 countries around the world.
The IB PYP Curriculum requires that teachers engage students in their learning by providing hands-on, engaging, and differentiated learning activities that use inquiry, reflection, and action in every class. Mandarin Chinese, English, Math, Social Studies, and Sciences are integrated into transdisciplinary units that usually last for approximately six weeks. Each grade completes six units of inquiry per year throughout the 36 week long school year.
Facillities
Looking for a Mandarin Immersion School near you? We offer Preschool through 5th at our Shu Ren International School Berkeley campus and now offer Preschool for ages 2 - 5 at our new Shu Ren International School San Jose campus!
With two locations conveniently located in the San Francisco Bay Area, Shu Ren is proud to be one of very few schools in the U.S that combines the rigor of the International Baccalaureate program with a Mandarin immersion language program.
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