East-West School of International Studies

East-West isn't just a school, but a community as well. The teachers here at East-West are dedicated to what they do and will do anything in their power to help their students succeed. Being a small school, teachers get to know their students on a one-on-one level. By forming bonds with each other, the teachers get a better understanding of the student. What make's East-West so unique is our language program. While many other schools teach their students Spanish, Latin, or Italian the students of East-West get to choose between Japanese, Chinese, or Korean. Because these countries are economically growing and are turning into world leaders, we should focus on these languages so that in the future we are prepared to make long lasting connections. Alongside these classes, every summer East-West offers students the opportunity to travel to China, Korea, and Japan. If you are considering East-West, take it from someone who has been here for six years, it's a great school. There are so many opportunities East-West has to offer, it's only a matter of you taking advantage of it. Looking back at the past five years I've been at East-West, I really cannot complain.

East-West is a small school with caring teachers who challenge you to do your best and support you when you're in doubt.

East-West School is a great school that challenged me academically and prepared me well enough to take the Specialized High School Admission Test and get accepted to Stuyvesant High School!

I think this school is great. I say this because without East-West and its language options, I would have never gone to South Korea and Japan. I took Korean in middle school and other students, myself included, visited South Korea. We all had an amazing time; some of us didn t want to come back to the States. South Korea was a great experience. Now Japan was a life changing experience. The country is beautiful and the people are very respectful. Everybody there has respect for each other. My host family in Japan was very nice and they taught me some words and phrases, taught me how to use chopsticks better, joked with me, and they always had a smile on their face. They made me look at life differently. Japan changed my lifestyle. Because of South Korea, Japan, East-West, the teachers and my parents, I have been able to go to these countries and the fact that I can speak a little Korean and Japanese is even better. I can cherish this in my life. This is why I think this school, East-West School of International Studies, is a unique and great school.

My daughter entered East-West in the 8th grade after she had experienced some difficulties with academics in her zoned middle school. She had struggled with math and English through 6th and 7th grade and fell behind with her grades. Unfortunately her school, which was enormously overcrowded, did not provide her additional support and she continued to flounder. She was fortunate enough to have been given a chance in the 8th grade at East-West. I say fortunate because every student at East-West is treated individually and given the full academic, social, and emotional support from the kind and dedicated staff. With this support she has made a true turn around and is now excited to attend high school at East- West. East-West holds high expectations for every child in the school while providing every child with the necessary support and guidance to help them graduate and get accepted to an accredited university.
—Submitted by a parent

I have been given so many great opportunities and scholarships thanks to those in this school. I have grown a lot since my first year from being a 70 to 80 student in 7thgrade, in my senior year I became Class of 2012 Salutatorian. From not being involved in any clubs, I became a student that spent most of her after school time dedicated to clubs. From being someone whose heart pounded and palms sweated when presenting something to class, I became a student who can confidently speak in front of hundreds of people. From being any other student I became someone who students and teachers positively recognize. After experiencing everything I have and meeting some of the greatest teachers and friends in my life I am proud to say that I was a part of the East-West family for 6 years now. These people have always supported me, when I was at my worst of times, and the best of times. This is a journey I will always cherish and never forget. I couldn t have asked for a better experience. I am very grateful.

East West School of International Studies is an Excellent School to attend. My son graduated from East West class of 2012 in June. Before coming to EWIS he had the hardest time adjusting with Junior High School. He was lost in a system with teachers who had no time or patience to deal with students individual needs. There was also a lot of violence and gang activity going on within the JHS. It was like sending my son to war. My son became very quiet and distant, his grades where horrible, he never wanted to go to school. I truly believe he would have dropped out of High School if he did not go to East West. Once my son began going to EWIS he became a completely different person. It was like a metamorphosis. He was provided with a safe environment to grow academically with social and emotional support that he truly needed to become the young man that he is today. The teachers are amazing! The Principal is the best! The entire staff treated my son as if he was their own. My son is a confident young man with high self esteem, he is now attending College. The graduation rate for this school is 99.% that in itself is a miracle. I Highly recommend EWIS!
—Submitted by a parent

I cannot say enough about East-West. I highly recommend it for so many reasons, and quite frankly I feel that this is the absolute best place for my child to receive her high school education, ensuring that her college preparatory needs are being met. My lovely 15-year-old daughter is quiet and reserved, although brilliant in her own way and witty as can be. At home she shines as our star. Her school experience had not been anything like this until she arrived at your school. My beautiful daughter has made the Honor Roll three marking periods. She strives to do better and enjoys it. She has made the nicest bunch of friends from so many different cultures where no one shuts her out because we are not the same!! Friendships were made quickly here and school makes her happy! She never says, "I don't want to go to school today" anymore. This school has the most caring staff I have ever met, a principal who loves what he does, and students that are just as kind as my on child. I thank all of the staff, from the bottom of my heart, for helping my daughter shine. You are all wonderful at the many jobs that you do, and we are so much more fortunate to have you guiding our children!
—Submitted by a parent

East-West is doing a great job preparing my children for high school. My daughter Priya is on the honor roll. She has grown as a public speaker because there are more opportunities for her to get involved. She was able to join the Student Government cabinet and act in the school play.
—Submitted by a parent

East-West is a great school. They provide opportunities for students to grow beyond academics. In his three years at middle school, my son joined the Model UN and the MOUSE Squad. He was able to visit the UN and watch a debate, as a middle school student!
—Submitted by a parent

I have had a good time in the 4 years I have been at East-West. I was even given a scholarship to attend a free trip to Korea. I was exposed to a completely new culture and observed how others on the other side of the globe live their lives. Our teachers also traveled with us, one of them being Ms. Rhi, a Korean teacher, who helped us travel around Korea and guide us around its amazing cities. The teachers here at East West also made it worthwhile. Most of them offer tutoring and help on the subjects they teach. They really make sure that almost all the students pass each marking period. I graduate tomorrow and I can truly say that I am going to miss East-West. I have a lot of memories here which I cherish, and a lot more to make as I leave with the things I learned onto the road of success. Each step I take puts me closer to success and East-West was one of those important steps. Every step takes me up closer to success and there is no such thing as failure, just temporary failure disguised as success, we just have to have our eyes and mind open when it appears.

As a first year science teacher, the support I received from the administration and fellow teachers was more than I hoped for. The administration provided a support group called the First Year Teacher Circle , in which we met to discuss various topics and concerns we had as new teachers. I was also a member of TEAM ELL, a professional learning group comprised of teachers from different fields. We met weekly with an ESL Coach to discuss how we can better support our English Language Learners and develop better practices. I received great mentoring support from the head of the science department inside and outside of the classroom and encouragement and advice from other helpful teachers which helped me accommodate to this school. I was able to go above and beyond by offering physics tutoring on weekends and supervising a student fitness club. To work with such a great group of people is a rarity. As a first year teacher, it is a privilege to work beside them in this unique school.
—Submitted by a teacher

None of the 800 or so days of my own high school career were as absorbing or revelatory as a single day observing what goes on at East-West, where the future is quite literally being invented in one of the most exciting and diverse neighborhoods in New York City. Although East-West is a relatively new institution, the school has already developed a distinctive, cooperative culture in which the ubiquitous anti bullying posters of the public school system seem decidedly out of place. When Principal Sherman raised his arm to quiet the auditorium for morning assembly, the air was instantly filled with the upraised hands of teachers and students alike, and the normal morning hubbub quickly subsided in a triumph not so much of discipline as of dedication to a common purpose. I came away from my day at East West convinced that its graduates will form part of a new generation of bright, well-informed, internationally minded New Yorkers from whom the city, the nation and the world can expect great things.

I came to East-West, freshmen year, as a shy, not very out-spoken, antisocial individual. This all changed as I became more engaged with school activities and befriended many people. I graduated this year as the valedictorian. Through studying Asian language and culture, I became more aware of the world around me in terms of the global community. I m proud to say that, when saying hello in Japanese or Korean, one must bow. My experiences in East-West have taught how to be a leader in various clubs, mature as an individual, perform hours of community service as a humanitarian, become independent as a young adult and a better person in general. The East-West experience is unforgettable and will open many opportunities in the future with the all the skills and tools gained over four years. I left East-West as a completely different person, for the better. I was accepted into the Chinese Flagship Center Program at Hunter College, where I will be able to fluently speak Chinese after four years. I will be studying to pursue a career as an ambassador or diplomat to China in the future. If it wasn't for East-West, I wouldn't be where I am today.

I am Rayon Wright from the first graduating class of East-West. To have that title is an honor. Upon graduating from junior high in Brooklyn, I wanted to go to a high school where I would be happy and genuinely loved. I have also always been fascinated about Asian culture and wanted to know more. I have been to both China and Korea through East-West and they have been the best educational trips I have ever been on. During my years at East-West, I produced a radio documentary for Radio Rookies, a show on National Public Radio, which showed my love for the Korean music industry. I wanted to share that it is okay for a non-Korean person to have dreams and goals in the Asian entertainment Industry. One of my English teachers encouraged me to apply. I stayed involved with NPR until I eventually became an intern as a college student. I am working on producing another show with them. I am currently studying recording and production at college while continuing my language studies. Recently, I have been offered an internship at a production studio in Korea. I hope to work and live abroad. East-West opened the door for me.

My name is Gregg Landsman. I was a substitute teacher who worked at your school about 3 or 4 years ago. While I was there, Mr. Sherman recommended to me that I follow up on a few job offers I got to teach in Korea. I would like to pass on to him that I took his advice, and it has changed my life. Over the past two years, I have taught at an elementary school in Namyangju-si, and am currently teaching at Suncheon National University as an instructor in ESL. I plan to teach in Korea for at least 10 years. I've fallen in love with this country and I have more or less found my calling, and this is thanks to the few days I was at EWSIS. Again, I wanted to thank Mr. Sherman for giving me the right advice, at the right place, at the right time. It changed my life.

There are some good aspects to East West. My son has been in the school from since the beginning and I have found that the school has seriously gone down hill. There needs to be a lot more discipline. Some of the students are violent and get involved in the wrong things and little is done to help or support parents whose children are the victim. Mr. Sherman makes it seem like he cares but when it comes down to it, he is all show and no follow through.
—Submitted by a parent

Teachers are really nice here. They really care about you and don't let you fall through the cracks. Most teachers put their homework up on their web pages so that you always know what it is and when it is due. You can make up missing homework and retake tests to get better grades. We have to wear uniforms, but they are stylish, don't cost a lot and are fun to wear. I feel safe in the halls and there are never any fights. Everyone knows everyone else's name. I love my Chinese teacher and Mrs. Mandel and Mrs. Lebowitz make learning fun! I learn Korean drumming in my Music class, and Chinese calligraphy. The location is great and very convenient to Main Street and Kissena Blvd. Discipline is good and I highly recommend this school. I can't wait to go on the China trip this summer!
—Submitted by a student

The school has potential, but is run poorly. The principal lacks leadership and the good teachers keep leaving.
—Submitted by a parent

This school is one of the top 10 in Queens and for good reason. The staff and faculty is extremely nurturing and very hands on. As with all schools, there are 1 or 2 students that can be disruptive but the overall mannerism of the students are exceptional. I have never seen in any other school the maturity and respect that these students show each other.
—Submitted by a parent