Primary School
Service Learning
On September 24, the Primary School once again partnered with Changning Special Education School for a united Special Olympics activity, using sports to promote mutual understanding between young people with and without intellectual disabilities and to advance social inclusion. Young Pioneers from YK Pao School learned more about the Special Olympics during their visit and, through these inclusive activities, deepened their spirit of respect, inclusion, and cooperation.
In October, some Year 4 and Year 5 students returned to Wancun Community together with their parents for the Double Ninth Festival, which they celebrated with elderly residents through music. In the same month, the Primary School held its annual Pinky Kids charity event. Parents actively participated in the workshops, while students made bracelets and handicrafts in their spare time for a campus
iGEM Team Visits
iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) is a prestigious international STEM competition centred on synthetic biology, which also emphasises social responsibility and human practices. Recently, the YK Pao High School iGEM team visited Year 5 classrooms to create purposeful learning experiences connected to the current 'Growing Up' unit, bringing the wonders of genes into the classroom.
Seeing their younger schoolmates' eyes light up as they raised endless questions, the team said: "The seeds of science can sprout quietly through activity after activity. May every sharing moment let curiosity fly further." Their presence offered the Year 5 students a wonderful glimpse of the journey of discovery ahead, from Primary through to High School, and inspired them to learn more about what it means to grow as a Pao learner.
PTA Speaker Series
The first session of the Primary School PTA Speaker Series for the academic year named "What Really Matters" was held on the 23rd Oct. In a roundtable format, several Pao Trailblazers and alumni parents shared in person with the Primary School families. Together, their experience spanned every stage of the Pao journey. Topics ranged from middle and high school academics and course selection to parent–child relationships, screen time and device use, boarding life, and university applications, offering both firsthand experience and reflection, along with an overview of how the school's middle and high school campuses approach these areas.
Hundred Families Banquet
The Hundred Families Banquet is a Pao School tradition. It is an important opportunity to express gratitude to teachers and strengthen home-school connections. Around the national holiday, the Primary and Middle Schools held this event in succession, while the High School will welcome this eagerly anticipated occasion in November.
Primary School parent representatives organised a teacher appreciation luncheon and massage experience. Teachers enjoyed a variety of dishes and watched thank-you videos prepared by students, experiencing the thoughtfulness of students and parents as well as their understanding, recognition, and support for the school.
Middle School parent volunteers prepared abundant food, desserts, and gifts, and the warm words of thanks on site made teachers feel especially appreciated. Ms. Mays Zhang, Chairperson of the Middle School PTA, noted that this year's parent support and fundraising both set new records. The Hundred Families Banquet not only makes teachers feel respected and seen by the community, but also demonstrates the power of communication, cooperation, and mutual trust between home and school.
Middle School
Student Leadership
Student leadership is an indispensable part of YK Pao School’s educational philosophy. At the Middle School campus, the annual Student President Election at the start of each academic year is not merely an exciting competition, but also a public lesson in responsibility, courage, and growth. Candidates take the stage at the assembly to share their understanding of the role of the Student President and their vision for the campus. In the final round, they demonstrate critical thinking, communication skills, and a sense of responsibility. Whether elected or not, this experience of speaking up bravely for their ideals will become one of the most treasured honours of their Middle School years.
The cultivation of student leadership is also reflected in everyday club practices. This academic year, 8 student-led clubs will be officially established, covering areas such as nature conservation, community service, and technological innovation. They are entirely student-initiated, student-run, and student-managed. Club leaders have completed specialised training in club regulations and budget management, and the school provides supervising teachers and venue support, while content planning and daily operations remain student-led, which all demonstrate the creativity of Pao students, as well as their sense of responsibility, and leadership talents.
Counsellor Parent Coffee Morning
September 18 saw the first Counselor-Parent Coffee Morning of the school year at the Middle School campus. The speaker was Dr. Davy Guo, Chair of the Shanghai International Mental Health Association, who has long worked in adolescent psychology and family parenting and has 18 years of clinical and counselling experience.
Under the theme ‘When Your Teen Pushes Back: Turning Conflict into Collaboration,’ Dr. Guo offered parents practical suggestions. They were advised to shift from being a ‘commander’ to a ‘collaborator’; to pay attention to the unmet needs behind electronic device use; and to provide children with a safe space to talk, listening patiently even to everyday trivial matters, so that they are more willing to seek help when they truly face difficulties. As Dr. Guo noted, only by staying steady in the storms of their children’s emotions can parents, with patience and wisdom, become their strongest supporters.
Ultimate Frisbee
YK Pao School’s Middle School U13 team won their opening match in the first round of the 2026–2027 SSSA Ultimate Frisbee League. Both new and returning players gave their all on the field, demonstrating tenacious fighting spirit and teamwork.
Shanghai Youth Creative Woodworking Competition
Three Year 8 students from YK Pao School—Molly, Jessie and Shina—won Second Prize at the 9th Shanghai Youth Creative Woodworking Competition on October 17, the only junior high team to place. Teams had one day to produce two pieces: a morning Luban lock incorporating school elements that passed a load-bearing test, and an afternoon mortise-and-tenon nine-grid box, "Life in the Future," which they presented on-site. Judges Yu Jihong and Miao Xiaodong praised the students for blending traditional joinery with imaginative, cross-disciplinary ideas.
Educational Exchange
On the afternoon of October 22, a delegation from Raffles Institution, Singapore, together with representatives from the National Centre on Education and the Economy (NCEE), USA, visited YK Pao Middle School. Guided by Year 8 student representatives Amily Ju and Leo Xu, the guests toured the STEM Centre and listened to teachers and students share their practical experiences of AI in teaching and learning.
Ms. Ada Wang, Middle School Principal and Head of Hongqiao Campus, offered an insightful and accessible discussion of AI's impact on education today, while Raffles Institution shared its perspectives on educational technology. The two sides engaged in an in-depth discussion of classroom transformation and educational goals in the AI era, followed by a group photo and gift exchange. The visit deepened the mutual understanding between the two schools and opened new possibilities for collaboration in AI education and future exchange programmes.
High School
Pao Vision Programme
In the PaoVision Programme, Dr. Zhai Wentao's lecture 'The Trojan War and Heroic Epics — Introduction to Classical Western Literature' traced classical studies from the collation of Alexandrian manuscripts and their medieval preservation to the Renaissance humanist return to sources. Focusing on 'Who exactly was Homer?' he examined theories using evidence such as oral-formulaic features, fixed epithets, Hittite records, the epic cycle, and hospitality codes, and contrasted Christopher Nolan's film The Odyssey with the original to show how adaptations reflect their eras.
Connecting YK Pao School with World's Leading Universities
This fall season, the University Counseling Office welcomed more than 30 institutions to the high school campus—including top liberal arts colleges such as Amherst College and leading universities as the University of Chicago. Through campus presentations and in-person conversations, admissions officers shared in-depth insights into academic programs, campus culture, and admissions philosophy—helping students broaden their understanding of higher education, clarify their college exploration direction, and gather first-hand information for their college planning.
Gecko Drama Workshop
On Thursday October 15, Maddy Fairminer from Gecko Theatre was welcomed to YK Pao School for two three-hour physical theatre workshops with Drama and Theatre students.
In the morning, Year 10 Drama students explored Gecko's approach to movement, rhythm, ensemble work, and physical storytelling. The afternoon session continued with Year 11 and Year 12 Theatre students. This was a valuable opportunity for students to work with a professional theatre practitioner in the room, rather than encountering such work only through videos, lessons, or rehearsal exercises.
A lot of what is discussed in class, such as using the body, space, rhythm, and ensemble to create meaning, became much more immediate when practically explored. The next step is for students to take what they have discovered in the workshop and see what genuinely helps their own theatre-making.
Youth Session of the Shanghai International Arts Festival
The Youth Session of the 25th China Shanghai International Arts Festival opened at the Hongqiao Art Centre on October 17. Twenty-five students from YK Pao High School's Zhoushan Gong and Drum and Dragon and Lion Dance teams performed Youth Drums, Dragon and Lion Spirit, the opening programme of the ceremony. Zhoushan Gong and Drum, a piece of intangible cultural heritage from Mr. YK Pao's hometown, shared the stage with a dragon and lion dance. As the drums rose and fell, the dragon stirred with the sound and the lions leaped to the beat. Together with performances from other schools, the programme fired up the audience in a way that was lively, rooted, and jubilant, carrying heritage forward into new times.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
William Zhou, a Year 12 student at YK Pao School, was named a finalist in the Global High Schools category of the 2027 Zayed Sustainability Prize and received a US$25,000 finalist grant. Chosen from a record 10,233 submissions across 177 countries, YK Pao School was one of 18 shortlisted high schools and the only school from China. William's compact, low-cost off-grid system combines solar PV with MOF nanomaterials to provide electricity, passive cooling and clean water for arid, underserved communities.
