Pao School celebrates a new graduating class of students

Summer is peaking around the corner, the plum rains ushering in a new season. With this season of change and fruition, the school celebrates a new graduating class of students – who now too move on to the next stage of their journey.

On 27th May, the Songjiang Campus held this year’s graduation ceremony, celebrating the hard work of 133 students from the graduating class. 

As the ceremony began, the audience was welcomed with a performance from the school’s Zhoushan gongs and drums band. For the first time in several years, the school was honoured to welcome founders Chairman Anna Sohmen Pao, Executive Deputy Chairman Philip Sohmen, and Deputy Chairman Tan Fuyun to the event. Also in attendance were leaders of the Songjiang District Education Bureau, trustees of the Pao School Foundation, Governors and Supervisors of the Pao School Board, school leaders, teachers, and parents.

Next, Mark Bishop, Executive Headmaster and High School Principal, shared kind words in his speech to the graduates, “You are bright and talented, so often you demonstrate the core values of our school of compassion, integrity, and balance. You're engaging, creative, and interesting young people. In so many cases, you have a profound inner confidence, but with a delightful outward humility. You're rightly ambitious for yourselves, but so often I've seen that you care deeply about each other.”

In her speech at the ceremony, Chairman Anna Sohmen Pao spoke about the school’s 15-year journey and hopes for the future of the school, taking a moment to thank the government and the school’s supporters. In addition, she praised the contributions of Executive Deputy Chairman Philip Sohmen and school leadership in the development of the school, alongside recognising the teachers and staff for their efforts. As she ended, she shared her hopes with the graduates, “Your education at YK Pao School has been a dress rehearsal for a life that may be smooth, or full of challenges, happy surprises, or disappointments. However, you have all learnt to adapt to reality, how to persevere with your goals, how to find dreams in your disappointment, and how to find light in the darkness.”

Next, President Xu Yongchu started her speech by thanking those in attendance, before sharing the importance of an alma mater and her recent experiences with the Year 12 students. As she spoke, she expressed her admiration for the school’s core values of compassion, integrity, and balance, and went on the encourage the students to continue learning. Finally, , she gave warm blessings, "I hope that no matter how far you go in the future, no matter where you go in the world, you will serve as wonderful representatives for China and Chinese culture."

 Teacher representatives: Mr. Zhao and Mr. Peter took to the stage to share their memories of the students

Student representatives: Jennifer and Anna summed up their time at the school

During the graduation ceremony, the students also shared a bittersweet goodbye to the school through wonderful musical performances – including piano pieces, piano and guzheng duets, and orchestral performances.

Beethoven Trio for four OP.1 No.1

Piano Guzheng Duet < Fish & Begonia >

Student's Band Performance <  I will miss you >

Finally, as the last graduate walked off the stage, the audience gave a round of applause in special recognition of the graduates’ hard work throughout their time at the school.

On 16th June, the Primary School held a graduation ceremony for the Year 5 students. Opening the event, Primary School Principal Siobhain Allum gave a wonderful speech recalling how she joined the school five years ago – at the same time as this year’s graduates. She  expressed her gratitude to the teachers for their amazing work and thanked parents and PTA for their support over the years.

She gave some sage words of advice to the students, “Middle School will present challenges, but we believe you have been given all the tools you need to be successful there. My advice to you is to present your best self from day one, show respect for others, keep the desire to learn, and build strong relationships with your teachers – they will help you with your journey.”

Left：Siobhain Allum   /   Right：Laurie MacNaughton

Philip Sohmen, the Executive Deputy Chairman, also sent some warm words to the students through a video, stating, “I'm sure you will remember the many wonderful moments from your studies – your friendships, your bonds with teachers, time overcoming challenges and the activities you did together. Please remember that both good and less good experiences are equally important. Sometimes we grow through challenging experiences, as we develop the knowledge, resilience, and tenacity to overcome problems.” 

Afterwards, student representatives from each class gave wonderful speeches, which were followed by special videos to mark the occasion.

On 19th June, the Year 8 promotion ceremony took place on Hongqiao campus to mark the students’ upcoming move to Songjiang campus. Themed around plum blossoms, the ceremony was attended by school leaders, teachers, and parents. As they move forward to the next stage of their journey, the school hopes that the students continue to persevere and improve themselves.

In her speech, Ada Wang, Middle School Principal, shared a message of gratitude and hopes for the future to parents and students, saying, "I sincerely thank parents for their support. Shortly, the students will enter high school and begin life as boarders. For both parent and child, this separation can be challenging, but we hope that this is an opportunity for growth for everyone. As children adapt to this change and learn to face difficulties alone, it shows their education has been successful. At the same time, I hope that students will always remember the values of the school – compassion, integrity, and balance – as they bravely face the future and achieve their dreams.”

Welcome by Mr. Kalis, Middle School Deputy Principal 

Teacher representative speech by Marshall Annis

Student Performance

Speeches by student representatives

Speech from President Xu Yongchu

Speech from Mark Bishop, Executive Headmaster 

On 20th June, the Year 9 graduation ceremony was held on Songjiang campus, with the students, teachers and parents all gathering to mark the occasion. During the event, the crowd felt nostalgic as they watched videos from over the past four years made by the students and were moved by both musical and dance performances.