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Soccer and Schools for new expats-to-be

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monkeyboyz

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Joined: June 17, 2008
Posts: 35
Location: Charlottesville, Va, USA
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Posted: June 19, 2008 - 08:28 AM
Post subject: Soccer and Schools for new expats-to-be

Hi Shexpats!
I have been enjoying reading the many interesting posts on this forum, and have gotten lots of info for our upcoming move to Shanghai from this website.
Now that we are getting our plans a bit more firm, I have some specific questions that I haven't found answers to in existing posts.

My husband and I will be coming to Shanghai from the US, and have 2 boys, ages 11 and 9. I have been poring over school info, and based on what I've read here and where we are going to be living, we are leaning towards Concordia for schooling. We are also considering SCIS and SMIC, although the locations are perhaps not as ideal.

We are trying to make the transition as easy as possible, and therefore an American-based curriculum is most logical, since that will make the move easier, and make repatriation a bit easier as well. Both of our boys have been placed in the gifted program in their current schools, and I'm not sure how that translates into any of the International Schools, and if there is flexibility in the curricula to accommodate children at different levels in the same grade. I'll ask this of the school, of course, but if anyone has any input about a particular school which does this very well or poorly, I'd appreciate the heads-up. Our older son has ADHD, and although it's now very well controlled with a combination of medication, diet, and therapy, one of our challenges is to always keep him engaged in school. Boredom is really anathema to a kid with ADHD!

I'm realizing that this post is already getting quite unwieldy.....sorry about that!

Our other big issue for the kids is soccer. It may not sound like a big deal to adults, but it is a huge part of their lives, and we want to support it as best we can in Shanghai. Our older son plays for a very competetive travel soccer team now, and it's been a wonderful thing for him. His little brother is hot on his heels and eager to follow in his big brother's footsteps. I haven't been able to find out a lot of info about soccer (sorry, football) clubs, but it seems that Qilin Academy might be the best fit for them. Any info anyone might have about it or any other top-level youth soccer club would be much appreciated, especially if it's in Pudong!

Thanks to anyone who has managed to stay with me for this whole lengthy post!

sbergman

Veejay

Joined: Sep 12, 2007
Posts: 2117

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Posted: June 19, 2008 - 09:03 AM

Concordia will feel just like home as would SAS, although it's a hike. My daughters attend SMIC and while the curriculum is a solid American one it may be a bit too Asian for you if you're trying to make this feel like home. They loved the experience but I guess it's not for everyone.

There are several soccer leagues. Qilin is good. My girls played with AKS (http://www.activekidz.org/aks/index.asp) but their Pudong league is a bit sparse and not very competitive. I have heard that the Dulwich league is a little more intense. I will PM you with a contact for a friend who has a serious soccer playing son. She's done a lot of research into playing options for him here.

Good luck!

hautumncloud
LoopKicker

Joined: Nov 04, 2006
Posts: 827

Posted: June 19, 2008 - 11:12 AM

@ monkeyboyz: Have you applied to any of the schools yet? If not, do so asap online or telehpone them to enquire. If need to, do get your children on the waiting list if you have not done so already. The waiting list is not fun and quite often is a huge hiccup to the move.

monkeyboyz

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Joined: June 17, 2008
Posts: 35
Location: Charlottesville, Va, USA
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Posted: June 19, 2008 - 11:12 AM

Thanks sbergman!
Your comments are very welcome! I love the idea of a bilingual school experience, and if I were coming here as a student I would have loved it. But since we are making the choice to bring the kids to Shanghai from a place they love, having lived here only 2 years coming from another place they had loved....well I just think we have an obligation to make it as smooth as possible for them. At least they will get more of an introduction to the Mandarin language than they they would have at home, and even if they won't be bilingual when we get back they will have a headstart.
I am not a sporty person myself, so i have a bit of a hard time empathizing with wanting to purposely putting oneself in an extremely competetive sporting situation, since I would find it extremely stressful, but if the kids thrive on it and are willing to put in the effort, then I'll do what I can to support them even if I don't understand it myself!
Thanks again, and I'll look for your pm.
-Megan

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monkeyboyz

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Joined: June 17, 2008
Posts: 35
Location: Charlottesville, Va, USA
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Posted: June 19, 2008 - 11:30 AM

hautumncloud wrote:

Thanks for pointing that out! We are at a very awkward time of year for this to be starting, considering the school year. Concordia has space for our 6th grader right now, and a waiting list of only 7 for 4th grade, so it's not too bad. The problem is, we won't even be ready to be there at the beginning of the school year, so we will probably try to get them in at mid-year, or we'll have to complete the school year here and get them on the waiting list nice and early for 2009-2010. Concordia said that I could secure a mid-year position for my 6th grader right now by paying the full tuition for the year, but it doesn't do us any good if there happens to be no space for 4th grade, so I think we'll take a chance on mid-year, and if it doesn't work we'll just be a very long distance family for a while!
I really wish the timing were different, but it is what it is. There are certainly tougher things in life than worrying about a waiting list at a private school!

Michael

Moderator

Joined: Mar 22, 2002
Posts: 5037

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Posted: June 19, 2008 - 11:54 AM

Shanghaiexpat sponsors the Shanghai International Youth Soccer League.. I am sure you can find a team through them for your boys.
http://www.siyslchina.org/

Have also heard good things about Active Kidz

monkeyboyz

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Joined: June 17, 2008
Posts: 35
Location: Charlottesville, Va, USA
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Posted: June 20, 2008 - 01:14 AM

Thanks for the link, Michael. I'll check it out.
I heard from sbergman that her daughters enjoyed Active Kidz, but that it might be more for the recreational players. With so many expats from big footballing countries, I'm sure we can find something, and siysl sounds like a good place to start.

As for schools, am I on target as far as the Jinqiao area or is there some American-based school that I should be looking at that I haven't heard of?

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