Middle School
Our middle school students enjoy a variety of new learning experiences, and receive all the support they need to grow and mature well.
A warm welcome from our Principal
Welcome to our Middle School, a collective where learning, loving, and leading are built into all that we do. Because our passionate and caring educators understand that school should be something done for students, not to students, they create student-centered environments that challenge, encourage and equip students to engage this world with their heart and mind.
We educate to inspire curiosity, empathy, and resilience. Through hands-on experiments, team-building activities, encouraging creativity in arts and music, community service involvement, and individualized academic support, we guide our middle school students to grow in self-awareness and responsibility, nurturing them towards lives of meaning and purpose, lived in connection to the people around them.
For more than ten years, I’ve had the opportunity to teach internationally, and I am proud to call the International School of Qingdao my home. I hope someday it will be yours too.
Warmly
Justin Crull
Secondary Principal of Teaching and Learning
Bringing the curriculum to life
Transforming leaders from the inside out
Unique to LifePlus schools, students take Character Development classes to learn and explore worldview, identity and leadership which, in turn, cultivate lifelong skills and the ability to learn, love and lead.
Arts
Visual arts, music and drama are a crucial part of learning here at Qingdao. Student life is enriched through artistic expression and learning collaboration, determination and the joy of high performance. Students will have the opportunity to perform on campus during our Drama events and Fine Art Galas.
Chinese language and culture
China is an amazing stage for learning and experiences and our Chinese program is no different. Chinese classes cater to beginner, novice, advanced or native Chinese learners, with small classes to differentiate instruction and meet students at any stage in their Chinese story.
Teacher-student relationships
Research shows that teacher-student relationships have the most significant impact on student learning. Every middle school student belongs to a small advisory group, with an advisor that guides them, where they discuss and solve issues students are facing, explore activities and set goals.
Technology and digital learning
Here at the International School of Qingdao, we’re an Apple school successfully running digital learning programs throughout Middle School. Students develop their digital literacy and skills when connecting to their learning, teachers and peers through school-supported platforms like Canvas LMS and Microsoft Office’s suite of products.
Student experiences
Athletics
Our dedicated Athletics programs crystalized in 2002 when we came together with other international schools in our company and created our first China-wide tournament. Today our athletes have won 50 championship titles and 70 other trophies. Students in middle school can join basketball, ping pong and soccer teams throughout the year to compete locally in Qingdao—and as well as further afield in Yantai and Chengdu.
Excursions
Our students explore China and their place in our world. From the heights of Lao Shan to the ancient temples of Qufu; from developing a global worldview to selfless acts of service for others; our students deeply connect with China and their community. Excursions and trips in middle school include four or five-day Spring Trips exploring Qingdao, Shandong Province or Beijing, and sports tournaments around the country.
Our Secondary teaching team
Justin Crull
Principal of Teaching and Learning
Colleen Quernemoen
Principal of Student Well-being
Judy Guo
Secondary Philosophy Teacher
Daniel Cassel
Secondary English + Drama Teacher
Mary Wang
Secondary Math Teacher + Teaching Assistant
Seina Kang
Secondary Math Teacher
Betty Zhou
Secondary Math + ELS Teacher
Angel Luan
Librarian
Liza Wang
Chinese Teacher + Chinese HOD
Catherine Sun
Chinese Teacher
Esther Zhang
Chinese Teacher
Hope Yang
Chinese Teacher
Amy Qi
Chinese Teacher
Diana Wu
ELS Teacher
Sarah Hu
ELS Teacher + ELS HOD
Ilia Mazurin
ELS Teacher
Anna Igumnova
Culture and Communications Teacher
Margaret Turauskene
ELS Teacher
Gloria Oh
PE Teacher + PE HOD
Eric Kang
PE Teacher
Adrian Thompson
Athletic Director, Secondary Technology Teacher + Robotics Teacher
Shine Shi
Secondary Math and Science Teacher + Science HOD
Julio Morales
Secondary Science Teacher
Alexa Manascero
Secondary Art Teacher
Kevin Yu
Secondary Visual Arts Teaching Assistant
Davina Miaw
Music Teacher + Fine Arts HOD
Elise Prater
Music Teacher
Mia Liu
Music Teaching Assistant
Yvonne Ng
Secondary Well-being Counselor
Melissa Hosek
Learning Support Coordinator
Megan Lee
University Counselor
Recognized for excellence
International School of Qingdao is accredited by Cognia, the largest education improvement organization in the world—demonstrating our commitment to learners, teachers, leaders and communities.
Grow academically and beyond
Ready to receive the highest quality education in a warm, caring and encouraging community?