Léman International School in Chengdu

Chengdu, China

The Léman International School will open in Chengdu, China in fall 2009 to initially serve the pre-kindergarten to 5th grade children of European, American, and Asian expatriates. The school will eventually admit middle and high school students as well. The Léman International School is the latest of 19 distinguished institutions of learning in the global Meritas Family of Schools. Spanning three continents, Meritas schools are educating more than 12,000 children. Leveraging its association with Meritas, the Léman International School will offer a nurturing, child-centered culture informed by decades' worth of classroom-proven best practices.

According to Richard Mast, founding headmaster of the school, "We know parents have high expectations for private school.  We welcome parent involvement and hold ourselves accountable for their child's academic success. The key elements of our program are: a talented, caring faculty; a safe environment; a proven international curriculum; and a "whole child" teaching philosophy that focuses on academic excellence, health and fitness, and emotional development."

Nurturing Environment
The Léman International School emphasizes the core values of respect and responsibility, to which all students and faculty are held. Our "whole child" teaching philosophy engages students' minds, bodies, and spirits. We instill a school culture where students come ready and eager to learn, teachers come qualified and prepared to lead, and all are nurtured to help them reach their full potential.

Talented Teachers
The Léman International School is able to draw from the Meritas global network of 1,300 qualified, certified teachers, as well as experienced local educators. They teach not to the class, but to the child. Our teachers personalize lesson plans to each student based on his or her strengths, needs, and goals. Exceptionally well trained and supported, our teachers work hard to make each student successful.

Proven Curriculum
The Léman International School uses the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) as its core curriculum. Specially designed for use in international schools, it is currently being employed in more than 800 schools in over 50 countries. The IPC blends American and European modalities - accommodating both Advanced Placement (AP) courses and the International Baccalaureate program - with 80 content-rich units that teachers can customize to fit individualized lesson plans. Our rich curriculum is complemented by Chinese language instruction and a broad range of extracurricular activities, including arts, music, and athletics.

Exceptional Facilities
The Léman International School is located in the midst of lush fields and gardens at the foot of Chengdu's hills. The 50-acre/20-hectare campus features structurally sound new construction that meets or exceeds all safety codes. Modern, technology-enhanced classrooms and computer labs are complemented by a media center, libraries, gymnasium, and such generous amenities as performance space, an indoor swimming pool, sports fields, and tennis courts.

The sister school of the Léman International School is the Collège du Léman in Geneva, Switzerland, a prestigious international school established in 1960 that joined the Meritas Family of Schools in 2005.