From preparing for academic competitions and conducting science experiments to producing plays in English and Chinese, rehearsing with music ensembles, and training with school sports teams, learning at Beijing Haidian Kaiwen Academy extends well beyond the regular school day. Students might take on the role of diplomats in Model United Nations, learn French or Spanish, establish service clubs, observe birds on campus, or express their creativity through fashion design. These are just some of the opportunities available through the school’s After-School Activities (ASA) program.

Beyond the regular curriculum, Haidian Kaiwen Academy offers more than 200 ASA courses across Grades K–12, encompassing academics, competitions, athletics, visual and performing arts, music, and student-led clubs. Each division approaches after-school learning with a distinct developmental focus. In elementary school, students discover new interests and begin to recognize their strengths. In middle school, they can explore a broad range of activities while pursuing interests and academic subjects in greater depth. By high school, the program provides more systematic support for advanced academic work, exploration of potential college majors, and leadership development. Designed to connect across grade levels and complement the regular curriculum, these programs create a continuous pathway for growth from kindergarten through Grade 12.

Elementary School: Discovering Interests and Building Academic Foundations

In the elementary division, ASA courses are designed to introduce children to diverse interests, encourage interdisciplinary learning, and help them discover their potential. Alongside their regular classes, students can choose enrichment opportunities in academics, STEAM, technology, art, music, sports, and logic-based activities. Courses typically run for a semester or full academic year, and students select their activities at the beginning of each semester. Variety and flexible teaching approaches are defining features of the elementary ASA program. Just as importantly, courses are designed with attention to both breadth across disciplines and increasing levels of challenge as students grow.

Robotics: From First Builds to Competition Teams

Robotics offers one example of this progression. In kindergarten, students encounter basic construction and programming concepts through introductory robotics activities. In Grades 2 and 3, they may join the VEX GO robotics team and begin competition-oriented training. By Grades 4 and 5, students can advance to the VEX IQ robotics team, taking on more complex robot design and programming challenges. This coherent pathway—from early exposure to competition—also gives students opportunities to apply and demonstrate their skills beyond the classroom.

1.At the 2026 World Robot Contest (WRC) Beijing Qualifier, four elementary students participated. The team featuring two of those students won the championship, while the team featuring the other two placed 19th.

2.At the 2025–2026 Botball International Educational Robotics Conference, Beijing event of the Asia regional competition, three Haidian Kaiwen elementary students received Gold Awards and 11 received First Prizes.

Mathematics: A Gradual Path Toward Advanced Competition

Mathematics enrichment follows a similarly structured progression. In Grades 1 and 2, introductory math competition classes develop logical reasoning and interest in mathematical problem-solving. From Grades 3 through 5, students can move into math competition training and the Crane Math Elite Program, laying the groundwork for more demanding competitions, including the AMC, in later grades. This continuity, established from the elementary years, reflects Haidian Kaiwen Academy’s emphasis on strong academic foundations.

A Wide Range of Opportunities Beyond STEM

The elementary ASA program also offers thoughtfully planned options in other disciplines. Academic enrichment includes readings from classical Chinese texts, such as A New Account of the Tales of the World (Shishuo Xinyu) and The Analects, for Grades 3–5, helping students engage with traditional culture and develop cultural understanding. Athletics includes fencing, baseball, tennis, golf, soccer, basketball, and martial arts. Music includes orchestra, choir, and a competitive piano program. Arts offerings include English-language theater and visual arts. Together, these experiences form a rich and connected after-school learning environment for elementary students.

Middle School: Going Deeper in Academics and Personal Interests

For the 2026–2027 academic year, the middle school ASA program spans six categories: academic support, competitions, sports and school teams, student clubs, music ensembles, and interest-based enrichment. Whether students want to challenge themselves academically or explore a personal interest, they have opportunities to find an appropriate direction and develop it over time.

Academic Support That Strengthens Everyday Learning

Academic ASA courses help students consolidate subject knowledge and strengthen their learning habits. English support classes provide additional instruction for students who need to develop their language skills. Supervised study periods allow students to complete assignments, prepare for upcoming lessons, and review what they have learned. Subject support sessions are arranged through teacher invitations, based on individual learning needs, and can include completing outstanding assignments or taking make-up assessments. These activities may not be designed around competitions or major examinations, but they are an essential part of the school’s academic support system.

Competition Pathways Across Multiple Disciplines

Academic competitions are a major component of the middle school ASA program. Opportunities include:

1.Mathematics: AMC 8, BmMT, and Math Kangaroo.

2.Science: Science Bee and Brain Bee Junior.

3.Programming and robotics: VEX VRC, the World Robot Contest (WRC), and AI innovation challenges.

4.Informatics: Structured preparation for CSP-J/S and NOI.

5.Language, debate, and diplomacy: Model United Nations and YPSC.

6.Interdisciplinary and applied competitions: CNAP academic pentathlon, the NSL racing competition, CTB Junior, youth science and invention challenges, business competitions through the Mercuri Business Club, and arts competitions.

These opportunities also establish pathways into high school. Middle school VEX VRC training connects to the high school FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) robotics program. Informatics courses provide a foundation for competitions such as USACO and NOI. The Mercuri Business Club, available in both middle and high school, gives students an ongoing platform to form teams, develop projects, and participate in business competitions.

Athletics, Music, Student Leadership, and Enrichment

Sports and school teams include racket sports such as tennis, badminton, and table tennis; team sports such as volleyball, soccer, basketball, and baseball; and swimming, track and field, and golf. Students selected for school teams can represent Haidian Kaiwen Academy in interschool or regional competitions. Music ensembles include the secondary wind and percussion ensemble, string orchestra, competitive piano program, and choir, providing rehearsal and performance opportunities for students with musical interests and abilities.

Student-led organizations, including the Middle School Student Council and the Speech and Debate Club, give students direct experience in leadership, organization, and communication. Interest-based activities extend across literature; visual arts; music and performance; traditional Chinese culture; board games and logic puzzles; coding and game design; hands-on science; and foreign languages. Built on a strong academic foundation, middle school ASA allows students to explore interests in depth while gaining experience in practical problem-solving and teamwork. Just as importantly, it helps students discover their strengths, build confidence at their own pace, and develop knowledge, skills, and character through varied experiences.

High School: Academic Competitions, College Major Exploration, and Leadership

In high school, ASA becomes more closely connected to advanced academics, while also offering opportunities to explore potential college majors and develop leadership skills.

Structured Support for Advanced Academic Competitions

Haidian Kaiwen Academy provides systematic competition support for students with academic strengths in mathematics; biology, chemistry, and physics; computer science and informatics; robotics and engineering; Chinese writing and debate; economics and business; social science research and writing; and interdisciplinary innovation. Competition pathways include:

1.Mathematics: AMC 10/12, AIME, HiMCM, PUMaC, and HMMT.

2.Robotics: FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) and humanoid robotics competitions.

3.Computer science: USA Computing Olympiad (USACO).

4.Informatics and artificial intelligence: National Olympiad in Informatics (NOI) and National Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (NOAI).

5.Economics: National Economics Challenge (NEC) and International Economics Olympiad (IEO).

6.Business: BPC business case competitions associated with Harvard Business School and the World Youth Economic Forum (WYEF).

7.Chemistry: Canadian Chemistry Contest (CCC), Canadian Chemistry Olympiad (CCO), UK Chemistry Olympiad (UKChO), and Cambridge Chemistry Challenge (C3L6).

8.Biology and neuroscience: USA Biology Olympiad (USABO), British Biology Olympiad (BBO), and Brain Bee.

9.Physics: Physics Bowl and British Physics Olympiad (BPhO).

10.Social sciences and communication: John Locke essay competitions, National Model United Nations (NMUN), and the World Scholar’s Cup (WSC).

11.Interdisciplinary research and innovation: China Thinks Big (CTB), the International Genetically Engineered Machine (iGEM) Competition, and HiWorld.

12.Art: Da Vinci international art competitions, Andersen international illustration competitions, Louvre contemporary art competitions, and World Cup painting competitions.

Behind these opportunities is Haidian Kaiwen Academy’s sustained investment in advanced and innovative talent development. In July 2024, the school introduced its Elite Program to provide high-achieving high school students with additional access to international research opportunities, advanced academic competitions, and other resources. Beginning in the 2025–2026 academic year, the high school also established a preparatory program for advanced and innovative students beginning in Grade 10. Through challenging content in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology, students can broaden their knowledge across curricular systems and develop deeper subject expertise. The school continues to expand its competition offerings and refine a progressive competition training system spanning multiple grade levels.

Exploring Future College Majors Through ASA

High school ASA is not only a platform for competition preparation. It is also an important way for students to investigate possible areas of university study. The goal of participating in competitions is not simply to earn awards. Students are encouraged to experience the intellectual satisfaction and sense of accomplishment that come from sustained inquiry.

Students interested in computer science can test and develop that interest through USACO and FTC robotics. Those drawn to economics or business can deepen their understanding through NEC, BPC, and the Mercuri Business Club. Students considering biology or medicine can pursue further exploration through Brain Bee, USABO, and iGEM. By participating in demanding projects and subject-specific activities, students can clarify their academic interests through firsthand experience rather than assumptions about a major.

Leadership: From Participant to Organizer

Student clubs are an important setting for leadership development in the high school ASA program. Organizations initiated by Haidian Kaiwen students—including the Nature Club, Leijian Valley, Chinese Drama Club, and Xinhuo Community Service Club supporting individuals with intellectual disabilities—are planned and managed by students themselves. From proposing a club and recruiting members to designing activities and overseeing implementation, students take responsibility for the process. They learn how to bring people together around a common interest, navigate disagreements, respond to challenges, and turn an idea into action. Through these experiences, students build leadership, organizational, collaborative, and problem-solving skills that have lasting value beyond any résumé.

How ASA and the Core Curriculum Work Together

At Haidian Kaiwen Academy, ASA is not a disconnected collection of activities added after the school day. It is a structured, progressive system designed to complement classroom learning and support growth over time.

1.Breadth of opportunities: The program spans Grades K–12 and includes more than 200 offerings in academics, competitions, athletics, visual and performing arts, music, student clubs, languages, traditional culture, and hands-on science. Students can explore according to their interests and needs.

2.Continuity across grade levels: Related courses build on one another from elementary through high school. This allows students to deepen developing interests and abilities as they advance, building confidence and expertise through sustained engagement.

3.Connection to the regular curriculum: English support, supervised study, and subject support sessions address everyday academic needs. Competition preparation creates additional challenge for students with particular strengths. Athletic teams, arts programs, and interest-based activities provide opportunities to engage with disciplines, cultures, and skills beyond the regular timetable.

Supporting this system requires long-term investment in staffing, curriculum development, competition resources, and ongoing professional learning for teachers. The school also works with external specialist organizations to bring additional expertise and activities to students. Together, these resources help students find their own direction, build on each experience, and pursue their interests with increasing depth and confidence. With academics as the foundation, curiosity as the starting point, and a coherent system of support, the purpose of ASA at Haidian Kaiwen Academy remains consistent from elementary through high school: to help every student discover a direction that matters to them and continue growing within it.

A comprehensive ASA system takes time and thoughtful work to build. Course objectives, content, age-appropriate progression, and instructor expertise all require ongoing review. The aim is to offer enough breadth for students to discover new interests and enough depth for them to pursue those interests seriously. Looking ahead, Beijing Haidian Kaiwen Academy, a bilingual international school in Beijing, will continue listening to students’ needs, developing new activities and resources, and enriching opportunities across academics, athletics, the arts, and personal interests—so that each new experience can help students understand themselves, discover what they love, and explore it further.