Academic and Cultural Enrichment (ACE) is designed to provide a forum for ACAMIS member schools Creative Arts directors, academic teachers, and other interested parties to better meet the aims and purposes of ACAMIS regarding academic, cultural, and creative arts education.
The aims and objectives of the ACE shall be to:
- Give students the opportunity to experience new endeavors.
- Allow students to participate in a variety of non-athletic enrichment activities.
- Allow students a safe environment in which to express themselves.
- Encourage collaboration among member schools, students, and teachers. Allow students to experience the thrill of being a part of a collaborative process.
- Give students the opportunity to travel.
- Foster interaction with students from other schools and develop bonds of friendship.
2026-2027 ACE Events
Digital Online Events
| Date 2026-27 | Host School | Event | Grade Level | ACE Rep | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 1 - February 1 | Canadian International School of Hefei | CNY cards | PK-12 | Lucian Stefanescu | Lucian.Stefanescu@cishefei.com |
| September 24 - January 8 | Canadian International School of Guangzhou | Photography | G6-12 | Ana Grkovic | ana.grkovic@cisgz.com |
| TBD | QSI International School of Chengdu | Digital Arts | G1-12 | Clare McDermott | clare-mcdermott@chengdu.qsi.org tamara-arsic@chengdu.qsi.org |
| TBD | Nanjing International School | Digital Film Festival | G6-12 | Anna Yuen | annayuen@nanjing-school.com |
| TBD | Shen Wai International School | Digital Music Composition | Madeleine Du Toit | madeleine.dutoit@swis.cn |
Onsite Events
| Region | Date 2026-27 | Host School | Event | Grade Level | ACE Rep | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North | October 26 | International School of Tianjin | HS Math Olympiad | G9-12 | Victoria Lee | victoria_lee@istianjin.org.cn |
| North | TBD | Qingdao No. 1 International School of Shandong Province | Chess Middle School | G6-12 | Noh and Rebecca | noh@qiss.org.cn |
| North | February 25-26 | TEDA International School | Performing Arts: Band Meet | G8-12 | Olinga Omazlum | omazlum@tedais.org |
| Central | September 1 - May 14 | Shanghai Soong Ching Ling School | Print Making | G6-12 | Susan Gotthelf | susan.gotthelf@scls-sh.org |
| Central | October 31 | Concordia International School | Quiz Bowl | G10-12 | Summer Yu | Summer.Yu@concordiashanghai.org |
| Central | November 6 | Boston International School | Play in a Day | G6-12 | Jenf Waite | jennifer.waite@bostonis.org |
| Central | November 6 | Boston International School | Art Battle | G6-12 | Jenf Waite | jennifer.waite@bostonis.org |
| Central | December 12 | Shanghai Soong Ching Ling School | Creative Writing | G6-12 | Susan Gotthelf | susan.gotthelf@scls-sh.org |
| Central | March 12-13 | Hangzhou International School | Making Music | G6-12 | Aaron Ayers | aaronayers@hisdragons.org.cn |
| Central | March 20 | Shanghai Soong Ching Ling School | Speech and Debate | G6-9 | Susan Gotthelf | susan.gotthelf@scls-sh.org |
| Central | April 10 | Shanghai Singapore International School | E-sports | G6-12 | Daniel Inns | daniel_inns@ssis.asia |
| South | September 23 | Utahloy International School Guangzhou | ACAMIS Poetry Slam | Karen Mead | kmead@uisgz.org | |
| South | November 21 (TBD) | QSI International School of Shenzhen | Chess Secondary | Nicole Carr | nicole-carr@shenzhen.qsi.org | |
| South | November 21 | Stamford American School Hong Kong | Math Olympiad | G9-12 | Chandrani Ray | chandrani.ray@sais.edu.hk marie.lee@sais.edu.hk |
| South | December 12 | Shen Wai International School | Chess Secondary | Madeleine Du Toit | madeleine.dutoit@swis.cn | |
| South | January 16 (TBD) | International school of Dongguan (ISD) | Science Fair | Tanya Mo | tanyamo@i-s-d.org | |
| South | January 23 | The International School of Macao | Play in a day | Doreen Stribbell | doreen.stribbell@tis.edu.mo | |
| South | January 26 | Utahloy International School Guangzhou | Chinese New Year Art Exhibition | Karen Mead | kmead@uisgz.org | |
| South | February 27 | The International School of Macao | Art Battle | Doreen Stribbell | doreen.stribbell@tis.edu.mo | |
| South | March 13-14 | Shen Wai International School | Music Event | Madeleine Du Toit | madeleine.dutoit@swis.cn | |
| South | April 3-April 4 | Shen Wai International School | The Big Gig | Madeleine Du Toit | madeleine.dutoit@swis.cn | |
| South | April 15 (TBD) | QSI International School of Shenzhen | Indiginous Games | Nicole Carr | nicole-carr@shenzhen.qsi.org | |
| South | April 23-April 25 | Stamford American School Hong Kong | Student Leadership | Chris Llewellyn | chris.llewellyn@sais.edu.hk |
TBD = To Be Determined
If you are interested in browsing our past ACE events please click below:
1. What is ACE?
ACE stands for Academic and Cultural Enrichment. It is a program under the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS) that provides opportunities for students to participate in non-athletic enrichment activities, such as cultural conventions, robotics, music, film festivals, and math competitions.
2. What is the mission of ACE?
ACE’s mission is to give students safe and enriching opportunities to:
- Express themselves creatively and academically.
- Collaborate with peers and teachers across different schools.
- Build friendships through shared cultural and academic experiences.
- Travel and engage in new learning environments.
- Its philosophy emphasizes participation, learning, fair play, respect, and personal growth above competition.
3. Who can participate in ACE?
Only schools that are comprehensive members of ACAMIS are eligible to participate in ACE events. These schools are encouraged to send student groups, host events, and appoint an ACE representative.
4. What are the roles and responsibilities of a school ACE Representative?
The ACE Representative acts as the link between ACAMIS/ACE and their school. Their main responsibilities include:
- Communicating ACE opportunities and responsibilities to school staff.
- Sharing information and deadlines for ACE events.
- Advocating for ACE by gaining school, staff, and parent support.
- Coordinating with Regional ACE Representatives and the ACE Chair.
- Supporting event hosts by providing information and documents (but not running the events themselves).
- Encouraging collaboration across schools.
- Attending the annual ACE General Meeting at the ACAMIS Spring Leadership Conference.
5. What types of events does ACE organize?
ACE offers a wide variety of academic and cultural activities for primary, middle, and high school students, such as:
- Cultural Conventions (visual and performing arts)
- Chinese New Year Cards Challenge
- Robotics
- Chess
- Math Olympiad (Middle & High School)
- Student Film Festival / Virtual Film Festival
- Literature Quiz
- Model United Nations
- Primary Arts Day
6. What are the expectations for member schools?
ACAMIS schools participating in ACE are expected to:
- Appoint a volunteer ACE Representative.
- Support that representative’s attendance at the annual general meeting.
- Host at least one ACE event every three years.
- Ensure student safety, insurance, and proper conduct during participation.
- Send students to participate in ACE activities.
7. What values guide ACE events?
ACE promotes:
- Learning and personal growth through participation.
- Respect for all—teammates, opponents, staff, and spectators.
- Collaboration rather than competition as the primary focus.
- Fair play and integrity in following rules.
- Viewing opponents not as enemies but as partners in learning.
8. How are ACE events hosted?
Host schools are responsible for providing safe environments, transport, meals, accommodations (or guidance for hotels), medical support, and information packages for students and staff. They also design the program and showcase their arts or academic strengths during opening events.
Check out this video podcast hosted by our three ACE Regional Representatives. You can learn more about ACE directly from them, and if you have any questions about attending or hosting an ACE event, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Their profiles and contact information are listed below.
