The Graduation Season Continues

On June 20th, the Year 5 graduation ceremony concluded, amidst the joyful song of students. Through a retrospective class video, teachers and parents were able to watch the transformation of these students from young first graders into independent young adults, each with their distinct perspectives and goals for life.

In a message to the Year 5 students, Primary School Principal Rosalie Pietsch quoted William Shakespeare's Julius Caeser: "It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves." To this she added: "You are the author of your own story. And what an amazing story you are beginning to write. We are so proud of each one of you. Congratulations, Year 5. Keep using your head, heart, and hands for the betterment of others—and take your values with you wherever you go".

Student representatives fondly reflected on their years at Pao Primary School. Morri from Class 5A noted that beyond imparting knowledge, the school also instills its core values of compassion, integrity, and balance, and through this nurtures the abilities of its students to care for others, uphold justice, and maintain balance in life. Tina from Class 5B expressed gratitude to her parents, classmates, teachers, and the school for their unwavering support along her educational journey to this point. Dora from Class 5C recalled the powerful experiences of learning together, while challenging themselves, drawing special attention to wonderful memories of group activities at Anji and Happy Valley. Eric from Class 5D pointed out how character education activities, thoughtfully organized by teachers and parents, had taught students to care for themselves, for others, and for the planet as a whole. Lastly, Thea from Class 5E expressed her hope that no matter where they found themselves in the future, everyone would cherish the bonds of friendship formed during these joyful times at Pao School.

Year 5 students present a choral performance

The Year 8 Promotion Ceremony, held on June 26th, also marked a significant milestone for students, as they closed the chapter of their time at the Hongqiao campus. The celebration honored student accomplishments before their transition to the Songjiang campus, where new adventures and opportunities await. It thus served as a poignant reminder of experiences passed through together.

The ceremony began with a performance of 'Waltz No. 2' by the Fusion Ensemble, followed by an opening speech by Middle School Principal Ada Wang. "As you stand on the threshold of your next adventure, may you continue to be explorers," she said in encouragement. "Keep your passion, curiosity, and sense of responsibility. Be unafraid of failure, unfazed by the unknown, always grounded in purpose, and guided by the light within".

Try Everything by Year 8 Orchestra

As part of the ceremony, Year 8 student representatives Doris Li and River Lee paid special tribute to their classmates, teachers and parents. Doris expressed sincere gratitude on behalf of her whole class for the patience shown in guiding them from naivety to maturity, and for their constant reminders that had illuminated their paths. River Lee thanked the Pao School teachers for guiding the students, laughing with them, and listening to them. She reminded her fellow classmates to keep exploring as they continue up the roads ahead. Teacher representative Mr. Les Vers then shared some kind words with the students, reminding them to be simple, direct, and true to themselves.

The speeches were followed by a special video presentation of the students' three years at Pao Middle School, replaying their moments of growth and meaningful experiences. A '14-Year Birthday Video' then displayed images of the students as primary children alongside their current selves. AI technology had been used to bring the younger versions of each student to life, allowing them to interact with their present selves in a moving way. The celebration concluded with a performance by the Year 8 Orchestra, who played 'Try Everything', the recurring theme of the entire event.

On June 24th, Year 9 students, teachers, and parents gathered at the Songjiang Campus gym to mark the graduation of students from Middle School. The celebration began with a Dragon Dance, which was followed by a rendition of the national anthem, and then an opening speech by High School Principal James Lyng.

This speech described the Year 9 class as "young adults who have real integrity, who have a healthy balance in their lives and who have an inner confidence in themselves, but also genuine compassion for other people". He lauded this talented class for their achievements in sports, drama, arts, academics, music and service. He encouraged them not to settle for mediocrity, but instead to aim high, in order to realise their full potential.

Piano and Singing-Tree Hole 

by Daniel Chen and Dorothy Yuan

The ceremony continued with a performance of ‘Beautiful Flowers and Full Moon’ by the Chinese Music and Orchestra Ensemble. Student representative Jolie Zhou then gave a heartwarming speech to her fellow classmates, reflecting on their journey through Pao School. They were now deeply rooted, she said, as they prepared to blossom as mighty trees. The students then played a nostalgic video, which they had created themselves, in order to reminisce together about their shared middle school experiences.

Student representatives Venus Lu and Zachary Cao made the closing remarks. Venus urged his classmates to embrace imperfection, confront failure, and cherish their connections, before these moments become memories. Zachary encouraged his classmates to embrace the next chapter in their lives with courage and integrity, while emphasising the importance of each writing their own stories, striving for greatness.