The BCIS Xperience Camp is an annual, meticulously designed transition program aimed at helping new students seamlessly adapt to their new learning environment. Spanning two weeks, the program helps foster initial connections with other students, teachers, and the entire BCIS community, supporting a smooth integration into the BCIS family. With the new academic year fast approaching, this year’s Xperience Camp has successfully come to a close, offering new members of our community a comprehensive introduction to BCIS and setting them on the path to beginning their own unique and exciting journeys.

Throughout the duration of the camp, students engaged in a variety of activities that provided them with a genuine taste of life at BCIS before the school year officially begins. Whether they were creating individual artwork in the IB art classrooms or exploring our facilities through swimming and PE lessons, these experiences were curated to ease their transition and mirror what they should expect over the next two semesters. The camp’s activities were centered around the theme "Who Am I?," helping students take their first steps into inquiry-based learning. From creating mind maps and selecting key points to considering presentation methods and delivering speeches in English, students were guided through the process of conducting a personal inquiry project during the two-week program.

Ms. Weiwei, this year’s camp coordinator, shared that prior to the camp, the Secondary School Principal and teachers drew on past experiences to identify the essential skills new students need to successfully integrate into BCIS. These include the responsible use of technology and equipment, time management, self-directed learning, understanding MYP grades and assessment structure, and developing skills such as independent study, group collaboration, reflection, and teamwork. 

"This year, we placed particular emphasis on helping students of different age groups master these transition skills. For example, we teach younger students how to use computers more effectively, including how to operate common tools, organize materials, check emails, and upload assignments. For lder students, as their workload increases, they also need to learn how to seek help from teachers, find information, gather resources, and manage their time. These soft skills are crucial as they begin their journey at BCIS and will greatly benefit their future learning experiences," explained Ms. Yuanna, one of the camp teachers.

This year’s camp also featured sessions led by our counselors, who provided social and emotional learning courses based off our philosophy to well-being to all new students. Elementary School students participated in age-appropriate sessions, learning to recognize their emotions, manage them effectively, and understand concepts like 'empathy' and 'respect,' while mastering techniques for handling intense emotions. Meanwhile, Secondary School students focused on developing listening and communication skills, mindfulness, and self-dialogue.

Ms. Roxie, the Elementary School Counselor, said, "Students' emotional well-being is closely linked to their academic performance. When students have strong self-awareness and maintain a positive emotional state, they often achieve better academic results." She added, "In the first session, I had the students team up to get to know each other and find commonalities to create a group poster. This activity not only served as an icebreaker but also helped them understand the importance of collaboration in our community learning environment."

As a student-centered community focused on personalized education, BCIS offers a range of student services, including English as an Additional Language (EAL) and Learning Support, particularly for those who need extra assistance during this period of transition. Ms. Roxie also emphasized the importance of Counseling services within the community, explaining how plans are developed in collaboration with students and parents to ensure each member benefits from the recognition of social-emotional health, enabling them to better face the challenges of learning and life.

The camp culminated in a final exhibition where new students proudly showcased their creations and completed an inquiry project based on the theme "Who Am I?" Whether it was a creative collage poster highlighting their personal interests or a self-introduction video they edited themselves, they presented these works with enthusiasm and pride. These personal inquiry and creative projects brought a fresh excitement to the new students and gave them a taste of what learning at BCIS will be like.

BCIS strives to cultivate critical thinkers, creative thinkers, connected learners, and purposeful doers — skills that are not only evaluation criteria for inquiry-based learning but also lifelong attributes which we know our students will carry with them throughout their lives. During the camp, Grade 11 students Ivy and George, along with BCIS alumna Qinglan, now studying at Cambridge University, shared their experiences at BCIS with the newcomers. "The most valuable lesson I learned at BCIS was how to learn — I no longer needed to be spoon-fed information or have someone hold my hand. I knew how to find things on my own and ask questions when needed," Qinglan shared. Inspired by these insights, our new students felt motivated, and their confident presentations during the project exhibition reassured us that these new Warriors are on the path to even greater growth.