All three campuses held summer concerts, putting the musical talents, dedication, and teamwork of their students on public display through ambitious performances. These ranged across genres from traditional Chinese music to Western orchestral pieces, modern Jazz, and Rock, involving impressively capable and spirited explorations of each.
Primary School
Young Pioneer Enrollment Ceremony A Young Pioneer enrollment ceremony was held at the primary school on May 21. Surrounded by parents, teachers, and classmates, Year 2 students proudly donned their bright red scarves, officially becoming Young Pioneer members. Teachers and the team leaders ceremoniously fastened the red scarves, which symbolize dutiful enthusiasm for the future. President Xu Yongchu delivered an inspiring speech, urging the new members to study hard, embrace their responsibilities, and strive to be exemplary youth in this new era. Team leader Bao Hanshu led everyone in a solemn pledge, with the ardent collective vows echoing across campus.
Book Week This year's Book Week, themed ‘Unique Minds, Shared Adventure,' celebrated reading, storytelling, and inclusion. It included guest appearances by Chinese authors Zhang Ning, who engaged Lower Primary students with her textile art-inspired stories, and Yin Jianling, who spoke to Upper Primary students about storytelling and empathy. American storyteller Karen Golden participated virtually, sharing tales that promoted neurodiversity and kindness. Students put their creativity on display in a 'Dress as Your Favourite Character Day,' which culminated in a livestreamed catwalk, featuring the top costume winners from each class.
House Day Pao Primary School enjoyed a fantastic House Day celebration. Students engaged in a wide variety of entertaining activities, including STEM-related exercises, obstacle courses, and drama performances. Participants were especially encouraged to work together and support each other, in order to foster a sense of unity across the school.
Drama CCA - Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone Students from the Theatre CCA put on a greatly-appreciated show based on J.K. Rowlings' 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.' Rehearsals explored every aspect of drama, from acting and directing, to costume design, props, and lighting. The dedication and enthusiasm of the students were evident in every detail of the performance, resulting in a truly magical experience for the entire audience.
Middle School
WIS Visit to Shanghai On June 16, students from the Washington International School (WIS) visited Pao Middle School for an engaging day of cultural exchange and collaboration. The visit began with a warm welcome from Executive Headmaster Iain Kilpatrick. Each WIS student was partnered with a YKPS student for the day. Together, the students participated in a bilingual 'Give One, Get One' session, exchanging questions and insights to foster connections between peers. After a shared lunch, the students embarked on a campus tour, exploring the facilities and exchanging experiences. They then participated in a 'Comparing Our Cultures' activity, where the student partners created visual representations of their similarities and differences. The event concluded with team games in the gym.
'Beyond: The New Horizon in Art" The 'Beyond: The New Horizon in Art' exhibition held from June 4-6 put student creativity on display across various media, including glasswork, printmaking, photography, and fashion. This student-led, project-based learning experience emphasized imagination, planning, and collaboration. Curatorial CCA students managed the entire process, from theme development to promotion.
"Share for Fun, Share for Love" The Hongqiao Campus held a successful charity event on May 30. Called 'Share for Fun, Share for Love,' it featured a Charity Sale; Philanthropic Auction; Games; and an Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Experience. Students and teachers donated items for sale, such as handmade craft items and nostalgic toys. The ICH Experience involved live demonstrations by artists, designed to engage the audience with cultural heritage. The auction featured numerous unique items, and saw enthusiastic bidding for lots ranging from swim caps to autographed footballs. All proceeds from the event will fund the acquisition of sports shoes for under-privileged students at Banli Village Primary School in Yunnan Province.
Unified Special Olympics Event Seventeen students from the Community Service CCA visited Shanghai Changning Special Education School to host a Unified Special Olympics event on May 21. After touring the school and learning about its mission, these visitors paired up with students from the special school as 'unified partners.' Guided by experienced coaches, they then practiced for and competed in a 'Beanbag Toss' event, which concluded with gift exchanges as tokens of friendship.
HQ vs SJ Football Match The High School football team paid a visit to the Hongqiao Campus to engage in a friendly match against the Middle School team. The primary goal of the event was community-building, by providing younger athletes the opportunity to train with and be inspired by their older peers. After the matches, the players from both campuses exchanged tips, shared laughs, and discussed plans for future meetups.
High School
Humanities and Social Science Lectures Two lectures in humanities and social sciences were held at the Songjiang Campus. On May 15, Professor Xu Mofan from East China Normal University gave a talk entitled 'Can Language Decide Logical Thinking?,' in which he examined the link between language and logical reasoning. The next day, on June 16, Ms. Zhao Shijian from Tongji University's College of Design and Innovation discussed the culture of Song brocade, a kind of brocade developed during the Song Dynasty, discussing its evolution and ties to Chinese aesthetics. An accompanying exhibition in the library allowed students to directly engage with beautiful Song brocade fabrics.
Arts Day High School arts departments hosted the second YK Pao Songjiang Arts Day on May 15. The Visual Arts Department presented an interactive gallery walk in the IB Arts Centre, featuring works in progress from students across all grade levels. Year 11 drama students performed an original play entitled 'A Dance with Fate' in the BlackBox. The music department contributed with a concert in the Auditorium, featuring the school's jazz bands and the Pao Singers. Special guest performances held in the Oxygen Bar included students from ELG, which offers programs for children with various support needs, as well as piano and string ensemble pieces by Year 9 students.
"Five centimeters per second" Exhibition A 'Five Centimeters Per Second' exhibition by the 101Lives club in May transformed conventional modes of art displays by presenting works beside wooded paths, corridors, and in the library entrance, seamlessly integrating it into daily life. This immersive experience encouraged everyone on campus to discover beauty everywhere. The 'Postcard Exchange Station' set-up near the cafeteria became a popular spot, featuring postcards with images submitted from students and staff, each reflecting a unique campus memory.
Photos by Cassie Wang Y11 and Richard Ru Y9
TOK Exhibitions All Year 11 students put their TOK Exhibitions on show, June 5, sharing the insights they have gained throughout the course. This event allowed them to explore questions of knowledge through real-world objects and personal reflections. As a core part of the IBDP, TOK encourages critical thinking about how knowledge is constructed across different disciplines. The Exhibition serves as one of TOK's key assessment methods, challenging students to connect abstract concepts to meaningful concrete examples.
Swim for Love On June 7, Pao School hosted the 13th annual 'Swim for Love' event at the Songjiang Campus. All proceeds from this event are donated to the Xingta Youth Sports Club, providing care and support for individuals with autism.
Service Learning Day On the High School's third Service Learning Day, Year 9 students were divided into groups to participate in a variety of engaging activities. One group visited BrainCo to learn about the use of AI to help people with disabilities and mental health problems, another entertained seniors at the Songjiang District Social Welfare Institute, and a third explored the challenges of special education at Changning Special Education School. Yet other students took part in teaching activities at the Tangwan and Chenta Primary Schools, or visited the Huakang Nursing Home.
