I hope that in the digital age, we go back to nurturing our children with human touch, people-to-people skills, and people-to-people respect，so that they remain humble in the face of knowledge throughout their lifelong learning.
— Professor Anna Pao Sohmen
Chairman of YK Pao School
As the new semester begins, all three campuses of YK Pao School have embraced the start of the academic year with great spirit and vitality. From the comprehensive facility upgrades taking place over the summer to the various well-organised activities before and after the opening, the School is upholding its vision of holistic education as it welcomes its students back.
On the eve of the new term, Professor Anna Pao Sohmen, spoke with new teachers about the cultural foundation of Pao School. Her talk drew upon three Chinese characters: 'Li' (propriety), 'Bao' (inclusiveness), and 'He' (harmony). Starting with 'Li,' she remarked that the school uniform is the first layer of propriety. "The uniform is not to erase individuality, but to establish equality among children from the very beginning of their education," she said. Elaborating on 'Bao,' she noted that "In Chinese landscape painting, human figures are always shown as tiny. From this philosophical perspective, our education must focus on the whole." She encouraged the staff to come with an attitude of embracing different ideas and have their ideals challenged and reshaped. And with reference to 'He,' Professor Anna Sohmen posed the question of how, amid the technological wave of the digital age, the students could be taught with human touch, and remain humble throughout their lifelong learning.
The week before the start of the new school year, all teachers across the three campuses returned early for intensive training and preparation. The High School campus held a staff orientation session covering the Campus Development Plan, Teaching and Learning, and Student Wellbeing. The Middle School campus focused on strategic vision, teaching and learning frameworks, assessment systems, and safeguards. The Primary campus provided comprehensive induction for new teachers, encompassing school culture, curriculum overviews, pastoral care, and IT systems. President Xu Yongchu encouraged students in his new-term message: 'Deep Roots, Broad Horizons.' All staff were brought up to full preparedness to welcome the students.
In a letter to parents, Executive Headmaster Mark Bishop outlined the priorities for the new academic year. He noted that three factors ultimately determine the quality of a school: the quality of teaching, the quality of leadership, and the quality of communication and partnership with parents. He emphasised that students only have one chance at education and deserve outstanding teaching; the most valuable resource of any school is its staff. Educational quality depends upon teachers who are not only passionate and expert in their subjects, but also genuinely care for each student's development as an individual.
The Primary campus held new parent information sessions and PTSC meetings with returning families before and after the opening, helping to effectively inform new parents about the school while allowing returning parents to connect fully with new homeroom teachers. In addition, assemblies, bus student gatherings, and music and sports try-outs were carried out smoothly and efficiently. "We value the unique growth of every student," said Primary School Principal Rosalie Pietsch in her new-term message. "At Wuding, we believe every child can shine in their own way. We adhere to the rigour of the national curriculum while carefully selecting rich learning experiences from a global perspective, gaining a deeper understanding of each student to design and implement meaningful learning journeys for them."
The Middle School campus arranged campus tours and class meetings for new students to help them adjust and integrate quickly. Try-outs were also held for various competitive sports, including volleyball, football, and basketball. These filled the campus with excitement and energy. During the orientation, Middle School Principal Ada Wang spoke to students about the most important skills for this stage of their lives. "Develop self-management, especially time management; take the initiative to communicate with teachers; and build positive peer relationships in the new community," she said. "Be brave enough to try things out, don't fear making mistakes, and most importantly, reflect often and learn from failures."
On the first day back, the High School campus held grade-level parent information sessions to help families understand the curriculum requirements for the new academic year. At the first all-school assembly, Interim High School Principal Zang Na addressed the community from the perspective of educational transformation. "Education is never static," she said. "We aim to cultivate lifelong learners who can confidently face future university life and careers. This year, we will actively explore and introduce project-based learning practices suited to high school students, striving to align our teaching content with the needs of the times and truly contribute to the ongoing evolution of education."
