Significant Accomplishments

2007-08 School Year

  • Purchase of Tianjin School with plans to open the Tianjin (TEDA) Maple Leaf International School with BC high school and Chinese elementary and middle school programs in September 2008. The facility will accommodate approximately 1500 students in spacious buildings on a large property located in the heart of Tianjin Economic Development Area (TEDA)
  • Construction of the first phase of Wuhan Maple Leaf International School’s high school complex to accommodate approximately 1500 students
  • Purchase of 100 acres and ground-breaking to commence construction of the Maple Leaf Institute of Technology and second BC high school campus in Dalian (Jinshitan Holiday Resort)
  • Wuhan Maple Leaf International School and Wuhan Maple Leaf Foreign Nationals School earn full British Columbia certification with excellent reports
  • Opened Maple Leaf Office in Seoul, Korea to enhance recruitment and communication with families of Maple Leaf students from Korea
  • Maple Leaf graduated 461 grade 12 students with British Columbia’s high school (Dogwood) diploma, of whom almost 100% were admitted to western universities. Graduates were admitted to 134 different universities/colleges around the world
  • 54 western universities attended this year’s Dalian Maple Leaf University/College Student Recruitment Fair to recruit its grade 12 students
  • Nearly 100% success rate in issuance of Canadian study permits (student visas) to graduates enrolled in Canadian universities
  • Significantly improved English school marks and BC provincial examination scores – click here to review all Maple Leaf student grade 10, 11 and 12 BC exam scores compared to school marks and to average marks and provincial exam scores from all BC students
  • First two grade 11 student exchanges completed with high schools in British Columbia, Canada
  • Maple Leaf students and staff donate 538,205 rmb (approximately $76,000 Cdn) to assist earthquake victims in Sichuan Province
  • $1.1 million (Canadian) technology plan implemented
  • Access to LearnNowBC granted to teachers in BC-certified offshore schools
  • Publishing of Books 2 and 3 of Maple Leaf English – student textbooks and teachers’ guides
  • BC Deputy Premier and Minister of Education, the Honourable Shirley Bond visits Dalian Maple Leaf International School to celebrate 10 years of excellent cooperation and successful BC certification of the School
  • Tie-Care health coverage expanded to include payment for full-time hospital health care attendant and basic dental care
  • More than 20 student teachers from Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia: Okanagan, University of Victoria and Malaspina University-College completed practicum in Maple Leaf Schools
  • 74 new teachers hired for the 2008-09 school year, approximately ½ for replacement and ½ for school expansion. 185 BC certified and ESL teachers employed to teach in Maple Leaf Schools starting September 2008

2006-07 School Year

  • Re-structuring of Maple Leaf Educational Systems
    • June 15: moved from one shareholder (Mr. Jen) to 3
    • Significant step as Maple Leaf grows to meet more international standards in accounting, planning, reporting, etc.
    • New Partners are – Tiger Global Management (New York) and Sequoia Capital China (partner with CIBC) investing in reliable & successful educational ventures in China; coordinated by Balloch Group (Howard Balloch – former Canadian Ambassador to China)
    • Investment funds to be used for – Construction of the Institute of Technology campus and Wuhan Schools, and for school technology/renovation plans
  • Opening an English Pre-School at the Dalian Maple Leaf Foreign Nationals School
  • Wuhan Maple Leaf Foreign Nationals and International High Schools
    • 67 acre property purchased (attractive lake on part of property)
    • MOU with BC Ministry of Education and Wuhan signed
    • Started Foreign Nationals School program (April)
    • Foreign Nationals school construction on schedule for July (office and classroom buildings) and August completion dates (student dormitory and cafeteria buildings)
    • Foreign Nationals school designed for 550 students (will house International High School for first year).
    • Dedication of new school/building planned: September 3/07 with BC MEd and Chinese government representatives in attendance
    • BC MEd Candidate Status inspection – scheduled for September 2007.
  • ESL Program
    • Handbook for Parents and Students published
    • Learning outcomes for the 5 strands (reading, writing, listening, speaking and grammar) for all 4 ESL levels and corresponding tests for each level produced
    • Teacher listing of specific goals for each level and strand completed
    • Maple Leaf English Book 1 – Final edits for re-printing
    • Produced ESL Teacher’s Guide – Book 1
    • Produced ESL Teacher’s Resource Book
    • Exploring adaptation of Camosun’s ESL Teacher Training Program – initial and on-going training for all Maple Leaf’s ESL teachers
  • Maple Leaf English website - www.mapleleafschools.com
    • Dalian Maple Leaf Foreign Nationals School section completed
    • Dalian Maple Leaf International School – Jinshitan High School section completed
  • Brochure published in Chinese and English entitled “Why Maple Leaf?—10 Reasons Why Completing a Maple Leaf High School Education is the Best Choice when Preparing for a Successful Western University Education”
  • All Maple Leaf BC teachers completing their 3rd+ years opened portfolios in Maple Leaf’s Teacher Investment Plan with Canaccord Capital (in Canada)
    • First installment deposited in February and second in August (2 payments per year)
    • Maple Leaf contributes an additional 3% of salary and deposits this into personal portfolios of teachers in third year, 4% for fourth year, etc. increasing up to 10% for 10+ years of service
  • Vancouver Office
    • 36 new teachers hired for next year (152 in total for 07/08 school year – 132 BC-certified and 20 foreign ESL teachers)
  • Dalian Maple Leaf Foreign Nationals School
    • Designing and implementing full school reading assessments
    • Positive BC MEd inspection: November 20-21
    • Student council and interest clubs established and operating
    • Parental response opportunities – All positive regarding principal, teachers, program and school atmosphere
    • Major building renovations planned over summer (flooring, re-painting all interior walls, plus a number of other identified items)
    • New school uniform and food service committees established
  • Shenyang Maple Leaf International School
    • Full British Columbia Program certification: December 12-13
    • Successful dealing with all partner-related construction challenges and moving of School to Black Mountain (Daheishi) Middle School at mid-year
    • Retention of over 95% of students despite all of the facility problems and move to Dalian
    • Student teacher from UBC – Okanagan completed practicum
    • Publishing of 2006-07 School Yearbook
  • Dalian Maple Leaf International School: Jinshitan High School Campus
    • Graduating approximately 500 grade 12 students
    • On-line course selection program implemented
    • 19 SFU student teachers completed practicums on-site
    • Approval of approx $1.1 million (CAD) Technology Plan to implement state-of-art educational technologies
    • 3 Model classrooms – Use this pattern to upgrade the rest of the classrooms in the older classroom building during the next 3 years
    • 2 student exchange students are planned for next school year with MEI in Abbotsford (these two will serve as pilot students to promote more exchange students in following years)
    • New school uniform committee established
  • University/College Relationships
    • Successful Student Recruitment Fair – November 25-26: 41 western universities/colleges attending
    • MOUs with western universities/colleges (these institutions accept Maple Leaf graduates as BC students based on high school transcript marks, including English with no TOEFL, IELTS or other English proficiency testing required)
    • Scholarships: U of A approximately $500,000 (CAD) [over 3 million RMB]
  • Study Permits (Student Visas) to Canada
    • 100% success rate this year
    • Timely issuance (within 30 days)
  • Institute of Technology
    • Learning Vision -
      • Pre-school teacher training (hire graduates for Maple Leaf Pre-Schools)
    • BCIT Programs –
      • Examining new possibilities
    • Camosun College -
      • Home Support Assistant International Diploma Program (finalized and signed)
    • Georgian College -
      • Automotive Manufacturing – Mechanical Engineering Program (working toward with auto manufacturers)
    • Vancouver Community College -
      • Hospitality Management Program (finalizing)
    • 100 acre property purchased (across from gymnasium at Jinshitan Campus) –
      • Starting concept drawings for Phase #1 construction

2005-06 School Year

  • Foreign Nationals School (K-9: BC Program).
    • Opening of school in Dalian.
    • Purchase, renovation and moving into new school facility.
    • Successful BC Ministry of Education certification inspection in April 2006.
    • Maple Leaf is the first BC-certified K-12 system in China, and in the world.
  • Construction of Shenyang High School Campus and BC Ministry of Education Candidate Status granted in May 2006.
  • Positive inspection report from BC Ministry of Education’s inspection of Dalian Maple Leaf International School: Jinshitan Senior High Campus in November 2005.
  • Opening of Maple Leaf Institute of Technology – Offering two programs in cooperation with BCIT.
  • Opening of a Maple Leaf Pre-School in Dalian in cooperation with Learning Vision from Singapore.
  • Commenced classes in new Teaching Building on Jinshitan Campus.
  • ESL Program Direction/Goals –4 levels developed, each with their specific learning outcomes in five strands of Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening and Grammar. English Proficiency Tests implemented that assess placement according to these levels.
  • Permission obtained for Maple Leaf students to write its own English test instead of the Municipal Grade 9 English exam. This will enable the Daheishi Middle School to develop and focus its ESL program undividedly on preparing its students for BC high school success .
  • New Teacher Welcoming and Orientation Procedures were implemented, including pre-purchased apartment packages of basic supplies for new teachers.
  • Increased benefits for teachers
    • Maternity benefits.
    • Bereavement leave.
    • School tuition fee reduction for children of teachers.
    • Increased baggage/shipping allowances.
  • Significantly reduced airline ticket prices for teachers, visiting teachers’ family members, and student graduates.
  • New Teacher Investment Plan for teachers teaching 3+ years with Maple Leaf.
  • Maple Leaf Schools selected by SFU as a Student Teaching Practicum Site to start in February 2007.
  • Maple Leaf Educational Systems, Jinshitan High School and Foreign Nationals School Promotional Brochures designed and printed.
  • Foreign Nationals School Parent-Student Handbook produced.
  • School Policy Manuals developed.
  • EBSCO Subscription – Access to 6 on-line databases with access to more than 600,000 books, reference works, magazine articles, newspaper articles, maps, etc.
  • Unitedstreaming Subscription – Teacher access to 4,000 on-line, on-demand educational DVD/video resources.
  • Bridges Program Subscription – Student and teacher on-line access to comprehensive summaries of post-secondary programs and institutions, including pre-requisites, costs, application procedures, contacts, etc.
  • First, successful Maple Leaf University/College Student Recruitment Fair held at the Dalian Jinshitan High School Campus with 17 foreign universities/colleges in attendance.
  • Opening of an Academic Counseling Office at Jinshitan Senior High School.
  • Opening of an International Student Counseling Office at Jinshitan Senior High School.
  • Improved photocopier, printer, fax and office equipment.
  • Upgraded AV equipment purchased.
  • Wireless communication installed in the Foreign Nationals School and Jinshitan Senior High Campus.
  • Designed and activated a new Maple Leaf Teacher Recruitment Website.
  • Hiring of 73 new teachers and 4 new administrators for the 06/07 school year.
  • Expanded contacts with universities/colleges – increased the number of University/College and Maple Leaf MOUs.
  • Increased positive administrator, teacher and student outlooks and attitudes.
  • 97% success rate for Grade 12 graduates who applied for study permits (student visas) to pursue studies at a Canadian university or college.
  • In-service training for staff members.
  • Raised profile of Maple Leaf through presentations and participation at various international conferences/meetings.