Founders Day | Honouring Sir YK Pao

In honour of Sir YK Pao's remarkable life, patriotism, and enduring legacy, all three campuses of YK Pao School organised a series of events this week to commemorate Founders Day. 

The Hongqiao campus was transformed into a sea of celebration as over 1,900 teachers, students, alumni, parents and friends gathered over the weekend. From high‑energy sports contests and inventive cultural workshops to carefully crafted handicrafts and forward‑looking STEAM experiences, everyone threw themselves into the activities and embodied 'exercise persistently, work diligently, use sparingly.'

"Founders Day is an embodiment of our school's educational philosophy and approach to teaching students," President Xu Yongchu expalined. "On this day we truly bring to life the core values of 'compassion, integrity and balance' — not as words on a wall but as principles put into practice. Seeing so many family members, students and staff gathered together fills me with joy and excitement. Each individual, with their differences, becomes part of the team, and because we at Pao School share a common understanding of education, this shared DNA and heritage makes us a connected, living community."

The success of the event would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of the behind‑the‑scenes team. Middle School Principal, Ada Wang, paid particular tribute to the Hongqiao campus PTA, saying: "We are deeply grateful their wholehearted support and selfless dedication. Working closely with the school team, they meticulously planned every element of the programme and actively mobilised parents to take part, bringing many memorable moments to the day. Their generous commitment not only reflects parents'confidence in and affection for the school, but also allows us to witness, together, the warm, unifying power of community."

Exhibition of Sir YK Pao's Life and Deeds and Former Residence

Sir YK Pao was born in the Zhongbao Village of Ningbo, where his characteristic Jiangnan family home still stands. At its centre is the hall known as Lü'an Tang, part of a residence dating from the Qianlong reign of the Qing dynasty. The compound, which covers roughly 800 square metres, has been restored on several occasions and now serves as a focal point for recounting the remarkable life of Sir YK Pao. Yet it is not the building alone that merits remembrance, above all, the house embodies the spirit of the Pao family and the personal qualities that defined Sir YK Pao.

The Former Residence of Sir YK Pao

To celebrate Founders Day, the school invited Professor Zhu Yuhui, a distinguished scholar of Chinese traditional architecture and gardens from Tongji University's School of Architecture and Urban Planning, to speak to students and teachers at the Songjiang and Hongqiao campuses. He shared the insights on the architecture style of Sir YK Pao's former residence and delivered an in-depth exploration of the intricate connections and mutual influences between Chinese and international historic architecture.

The Songjiang campus library ran a special quiz about Sir YK Pao. Across ten questions, participants revisited his achievements as a global shipping magnate, his motto 'exercise persistently, work diligently, use sparingly,' and his philanthropic donations, including gifts to the libraries of Ningbo University and Shanghai Jiao Tong University. Students joined in with enthusiasm, and the interactive event helped deepen their understanding of the school's enduring spirit.

Pao School's Wuding campus used CCA time to celebrate Founders Day. Nectar Wang, head of the Founders Day organising committee, explained that over the week, students explored the core spirit of Sir YK Pao through different lenses. These explorations included learning about his life and hometown, reflecting on the practical lessons of his motto, and grasping school's vision and mission. Students also analysed how YK Pao's character aligns with the school's values and focused on how to put his spirit into practice by taking responsibility.

The activities for each year are as follows: Y1: handicrafts; Y2: relay race; Y3: poetry recitation and spelling bee; Y4: jump rope contest; and Y5: debate competition.