Manila Xiamen International School,MXIS

Elementary School

Grow through Inquiry, Accumulate within Diversity

Primary Division: Grow through Inquiry, Accumulate within Diversity

Manila Xiamen International School Primary School serves students aged 6–12 and provides a full Grade 1 to Grade 5 curriculum. It functions as the core implementation stage of the IBO PYP World School programme. Aiming to consolidate academic foundations, nurture inquiry capabilities, foster sound character and deepen cross-cultural understanding, our programme connects seamlessly with the PYP Early Years curriculum. We build a learning bridge from concrete to abstract thinking and from personal interest to systematic learning, empowering students to become lifelong learners equipped with independent thinking, collaborative innovation and cultural confidence.

Head of Section’s Message

Dear Parents and Dear Students,

Greetings! I am [Name], Head of Section for the Primary Division at Manila Xiamen International School (MXIS).

Primary education marks a critical transition for children from sensory discovery to systematic learning. During this period, they begin to develop logical thinking, foster independence, learn to collaborate deeply, and form their initial understanding of the world within a diverse environment. Therefore, we firmly believe that the essence of primary education is to ignite the passion for inquiry through professional guidance, nurture individual growth within an inclusive setting, and lay a solid foundation for lifelong learning via structured cultivation.

At MXIS Primary, the inquiry philosophy of the IB PYP permeates everything we do. Classrooms are not places for one-way knowledge delivery, but spaces for joint exploration of questions. Guided by teachers, children raise their own questions, design plans, conduct investigations and reflect on their learning around the six transdisciplinary themes, such as Who We Are and Where We Are in Place and Time. There are no constraints of “one single correct answer”, only encouragement to question bravely; there are no rigid demands for uniformity, only support for every child to showcase their strengths.

Students from 36 countries and regions study side by side here. Diverse languages, customs and ways of thinking intersect and enrich one another. In class, they work together on cross-cultural inquiry projects. On campus, they take part in international cultural activities. In daily life, they learn respect and inclusion through mutual support. We hope every MXIS primary graduate will progress confidently to secondary school equipped with solid academic grounding, an open global mindset, strong cultural confidence and compassionate humanity. They will grow into young people with both national identity and global competence.

Education is a journey where we patiently await blossoms, and a shared undertaking between school and family. I look forward to partnering with you to accompany our children as they create fulfilling and precious primary school memories on our campus beside mountains and sea!

Sincerely,

[Name]

Head of Section, Primary Division

Manila Xiamen International School (MXIS)

Curriculum Framework

IB PYP Core • Bilingual Immersion • Advanced Disciplinary Studies

With IB PYP as our core framework, we deeply integrate China’s National Curriculum Standards into a three-dimensional curriculum system: transdisciplinary inquiry, foundational academics and cultural immersion. Balancing the openness and inquiry spirit of international education with solid subject foundations and cultural heritage, our program spans seven core domains:
1. Language & Literature (Bilingual)
Language learning advances students’ full listening, speaking, reading and writing competencies within an immersive, systematic bilingual environment. Aligned with IB PYP language acquisition standards, our English program is led by international teachers. Through levelled reading, creative writing, drama, debates and public speaking, students develop English thinking, reading strategies and communication skills. The Chinese curriculum balances practical and humanistic dimensions: it consolidates foundational skills including Pinyin, character writing, reading comprehension and composition, while incorporating classic recitation, poetry appreciation and prose writing to nurture Chinese literary literacy. Local and international teachers co-design bilingual thematic activities such as cross-cultural story creation and bilingual book sharing sessions. With a minimum of 8 hours of daily bilingual instruction, students achieve fluent communication and academic proficiency at a near-native bilingual level.
2. Mathematical Inquiry
Moving beyond the traditional model of formula memorization and drill practice, our mathematics curriculum centers on real-life application and logical construction, guiding students from concrete perception to abstract reasoning. Real-world scenarios such as campus shopping, class data collection and measurement activities spark student interest. Through math games, group inquiries and problem-solving tasks, we develop students’ number sense, computational fluency, spatial awareness and logical reasoning. Covering four modules — Number & Algebra, Shape & Geometry, Statistics & Probability, and Integrated Practice — the curriculum meets the requirements of China’s National Curriculum Standards while embracing the inquiry philosophy of IB PYP. Students discover the value of mathematics by solving authentic problems.
3. Science & Nature
Our science curriculum features experimental inquiry and cross-disciplinary connections to foster students’ scientific thinking and innovation. It spans three domains: Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Earth & Space Sciences. Using classroom experiments, outdoor observations and project-based inquiries, students learn to pose questions, design experiments, analyze data and draw conclusions. For example, under the theme of “ecological balance”, students undertake inquiry projects including campus plant diversity surveys and water quality monitoring & conservation. Leveraging Xiamen’s mountain and coastal resources, we organize fieldwork such as marine organism observation and geological exploration. Through hands-on discovery, students grasp scientific principles while building environmental awareness and practical capabilities.
4. Social Studies & Humanities
Guided by the vision of local roots and global perspective, our Social Studies & Humanities curriculum helps students develop an understanding of self, community, nation and the world. Integrating history, geography and sociology, the program explores local themes including Minnan cultural heritage and the development of Xiamen Special Economic Zone, while introducing civilizations, geography and customs across the globe. Activities such as cross-cultural comparisons, historical inquiries and community service nurture students’ humanistic literacy, global awareness and social responsibility. Drawing on our diverse school community, we run projects including international family cultural interviews and global festival studies, enabling students to learn respect and inclusion through understanding differences.
5. Arts & Creativity
Centered on aesthetic cultivation and creative expression, our Arts curriculum offers diverse artistic experiences and performance platforms. It comprises three strands: Music, Visual Arts and Drama. Music covers vocal training, instrumental performance and music appreciation; students may join school choirs, orchestras and other clubs. Visual Arts integrates painting, sculpture, design and new media art to encourage bold creation, with regular campus art exhibitions held. Drama develops students’ communication, collaboration and creative thinking through script writing, role interpretation and stage performance. Incorporating cross-cultural artistic elements, students engage with Eastern and Western masterpieces to broaden their aesthetic horizons. They express individuality and build confidence through creation.
6. Physical Education & Wellbeing
Centered on physical fitness enhancement, habit formation and teamwork, our Physical Education & Wellbeing curriculum supports students’ holistic development. Fitness training targets core attributes including speed, strength, endurance and flexibility through foundational sports such as track & field, ball games and gymnastics. Our signature sports programs feature swimming (in a standard pool), football, basketball, tennis and golf to cater to individual interests. Team sports foster communication, teamwork, sportsmanship and resilience. Health education covers physical wellness, mental health and safety education. Through classroom sessions, scenario simulations and emergency drills, students acquire health knowledge and self-protection skills, and build positive habits of regular rest, balanced diets and a lifelong love of sports.
7. Chinese & Cultural Immersion
Chinese & Cultural Immersion is a flagship core program in our Primary Division, designed to deepen students’ recognition of Chinese culture and national pride. The curriculum includes recitation of Chinese classics such as Three-Character Classic and Standards for Being a Good Student and Child, Tang and Song poetry, progressive calligraphy (hard-tip and brush), traditional folk activities including zongzi-making for Dragon Boat Festival, lantern crafting for Mid-Autumn Festival and riddles for Lantern Festival, as well as Chinese history storytelling. Rooted in local Minnan heritage, it features specialized modules: Minnan language lessons, research on red-brick ancient dwellings and hands-on experiences of Minnan folk arts. Through immersive learning, students appreciate the profound richness of Chinese civilization and the unique charm of regional culture, laying a solid foundation for cross-cultural communication.
Teaching Features

Catering to Primary School Growth Needs

PYP In-depth Inquiry Learning: Centered on the six IB PYP transdisciplinary themes (Who We Are, Where We Are in Place and Time, How We Express Ourselves, How the World Works, How We Organise Ourselves, Sharing the Planet), 2 to 3 major inquiry units are implemented each semester. Students go through the full cycle of questioning, investigation, reflection and action to construct knowledge independently and develop holistic competencies.
Progressive Differentiated Bilingual Instruction: English teaching is streamed according to learners’ proficiency into foundational, intermediate and advanced groups, co-delivered by international and Chinese teachers. This supports beginners while providing academic challenges for advanced learners. Chinese courses are also differentiated for students of varied mother-tongue backgrounds, with Language A and Language B Chinese tracks available.
Differentiated Learning Support: Class sizes are kept between 20–25 students with a 1:6 student-teacher ratio. Through classroom observation, assignment analysis and regular assessments, teachers accurately track each child’s learning pace and developmental needs. Extension tasks are offered for advanced learners and personalised coaching for students requiring extra support, ensuring education tailored to individual learners.
Transdisciplinary Integrated Practice: Subject boundaries are broken down to design cross-disciplinary inquiry projects. For instance, the “Campus Sustainability” project integrates Science (ecological surveys), Mathematics (data analysis), Language Arts (report writing), Arts (promotional design) and Social Studies (community impact), fostering students’ comprehensive application skills.
Smooth Transition across Early Years, Primary and Middle School: Lower grades retain play-based elements from Early Years for a gentle transition. Upper primary grades take bridging courses for middle school, introducing secondary learning methodologies and thinking routines. Activities including Middle School campus tours, taster lessons and buddy programmes ease transition anxiety.
Smart Digital Learning: Each student is provided with a customised tablet for academic use. Cutting-edge international digital learning platforms and resource libraries are adopted to boost learning efficiency and engagement via online collaboration, virtual experiments and interactive exercises. Digital literacy lessons guide students to use the internet and electronic devices safely and responsibly.
Faculty Team

Professional Certifications & Rich Experience

The Primary faculty team requires IB PYP certification as a core qualification. Our educators also possess solid subject knowledge, extensive international teaching experience and genuine passion for education.
International Teachers: All hold IB PYP teaching certificates and home-country teaching licences. With over 5 years of international primary teaching experience and native English proficiency, they are well-versed in cross-cultural pedagogy and excel at facilitating student-led inquiry.
Local Chinese Teachers: All hold bachelor’s degrees or higher (over 40% hold master’s degrees), primary teaching certificates and relevant IB PYP credentials. They demonstrate strong subject expertise, master bilingual instruction, and understand the learning characteristics of Chinese learners and approaches for Chinese cultural immersion.
Specialist Teachers: Full-time teachers are assigned for Arts, PE, Science and other specialist subjects with relevant professional backgrounds and qualifications. For example, music teachers hold instrumental grading certificates, PE teachers have specialist coaching certifications, and science teachers are qualified for laboratory instruction.
Support Team: Each class is supported by one teaching assistant to facilitate differentiated instruction. A Learning Support Centre delivers specialised coaching for students with additional learning needs. Full-time counsellors attend to students’ mental health and emotional wellbeing, while librarians provide reading guidance and resource support.
Continuous Professional Development: Teachers regularly join IB global workshops, PYP curriculum training and inter-school exchange programmes. Weekly in-house research and collaborative lesson planning enable constant updates to educational philosophies and teaching practices, keeping instruction aligned with international standards.
Campus Life

Enriching, Diverse, Safe and Orderly

Dedicated Learning Spaces: The Primary Section occupies a standalone teaching building with 24 standard classrooms (all equipped with interactive smart boards, group discussion zones and lockers), 4 science laboratories and 3 art rooms for music, visual arts and drama. There is also a digital library with over 50,000 books including Chinese, English and multilingual collections plus digital resources, and one multi-function lecture hall. Sports facilities consist of a standard football pitch, basketball courts, tennis courts, indoor gymnasium and heated swimming pool for PE lessons and events.
Daily Schedule
07:40-08:10 Arrival Check-in + Morning Reading
08:10-08:30 Morning Reading (alternating bilingual sessions)
08:40-10:10 Period 1 & 2 (Subject Inquiry / Language Learning)
10:10-10:40 Morning Exercises & Snack Break
10:40-12:10 Period 3 & 4 (Mathematics / Science / Social Studies)
12:10-13:30 Lunch & Rest (Lower grades have nap time)
13:30-15:00 Period 5 & 6 (Arts / PE / Chinese Culture)
15:00-15:30 Afternoon Tea & Free Play
15:30-16:30 Club Activities / Inquiry Projects / After-school Support
16:30-17:00 Class Wrap-up & Dismissal
Signature Growth Activities
PYP Exhibition: Held at the end of each semester. Students independently present their inquiry journeys and outcomes to build presentation and communication skills.
International Culture Week: Students work in groups to showcase culture, cuisine and arts from different countries and deepen cross-cultural understanding.
School Reading Festival: Activities include reading challenges, story-telling contests, bookmark design and author talks to foster a reading culture.
Science Festival: Featuring experimental competitions, invention fairs, popular science lectures and science challenges to ignite interest in science.
Sports Day: Track, ball games and team events cultivate teamwork and sportsmanship.
Community Service: Visits to nursing homes, community parks and environmental organisations for hands-on service and to nurture social responsibility.
Study Tours: Curriculum-linked local Xiamen excursions such as Gulangyu heritage exploration and aquarium ecology studies, plus short domestic trips to broaden horizons.