It is not every student who finds it an easy task to step onto an unfamiliar campus, encounter new companions, and befriend unfamiliar teachers. Complex emotions of anticipation, expectation, excitement, and nervousness, rise to prominence as the start of the school year approaches. As the semester neared its end, Y9 students transitioning from the Hongqiao campus to the Songjiang campus, along with new students who recently became part of the Pao School, took the opportunity to share their personal narratives.
Every year Y8 students visit the Songjiang campus for a one-day experience
As part of the Pao School tradition, every year, Y8 students transitioning from the Hongqiao Campus to the Songjiang Campus, along with their families, are given the opportunity to visit the new campus in advance. Throughout the school year, Songjiang leadership team also visits Hongqiao Campus on multiple occasions to speak with Y8 students and their families. These programs allow Y8 students to familiarize themselves with the campus facilities, available courses, and the overall atmosphere ahead of their transition.
For transfer students to Songjiang campus, Pao School has designed various introductory activities, including a ‘Peer Mentor Programme’ to help them adapt to the new environment of high school learning and life more quickly. The orientation initiatives held in June every year provide a special opportunity for transfer students to establish some familiarity with the campus, their classmates, and teachers. Everything from study prospects to the preparation of boarding items is introduced in detail during this orientation process. To assist these students into high school life, each is to be assigned a senior peer mentor who is selected from the same boarding house or year group, and already familiar with their ways and workings at Pao School. During the two-month summer vacation, these peer mentors will establish contact with transfer students through various online and offline channels, doing what they can to help them understand all aspects of school life and answer their questions.
With this new system in place, by the time new students arrive on campus for registration, the school campus, teachers, and students will no longer be strangers to them. Through a campus treasure hunt activity held on registration day, they will be acquainted with the location of their classrooms by the first day of class, as well as the optimal route from the academic building to the canteen, and how to return to the boarding house without getting wet on rainy days. New students will have an intimate understanding of the campus where they will live for the next few years.
With this new system in place, by the time new students arrive on campus for registration, the school campus, teachers, and students will no longer be strangers to them. Through a campus treasure hunt activity held on registration day, they will be acquainted with the location of their classrooms by the first day of class, as well as the optimal route from the academic building to the canteen, and how to return to the boarding house without getting wet on rainy days. New students will have an intimate understanding of the campus where they will live for the next few years.
Pao School is well aware that parents also need to adapt to new ways of communication between home and school during this process. With this in mind, the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) at the Songjiang campus has created a comprehensive parent handbook that provides detailed information about the change in school life, as seen from the perspective of parents. It includes experiences and insights of parents from previous years, and introduces various school systems and arrangements in a question-and-answer format. Parent integration also involves various social activities, including WeChat parent groups, regular communication with PTA year group representatives, campus visits and events, to bring parents into the school's extended family as quickly as possible.
Both new students, and those who have transferred from the School’s Hongqiao to its Songjiang Campus, have appreciated a number of thoughtful supportive arrangements. There is a wide range of course options and CCAs to choose from, in a pleasant classroom atmosphere, with friendly and enthusiastic teachers.
In the 2023-24 issue of ‘StuGov Magazine’ students express their responses to change:
"After transitioning from Hongqiao to Songjiang, I suddenly find myself burdened with more responsibilities. As a high school student, one of the significant differences compared to middle school is the need to prepare and plan for your future."
"Transitioning from the Hongqiao campus to Songjiang, I was immediately aware of an increase in pressure. The demand for self-discipline is higher, and we need to make the most of our study hall to complete assignments. Additionally, we face more homework and higher expectations and requirements from teachers."
"After the study hall, I return to the house and engage in activities like playing pool or games with friends. Every night feels like a gathering of classmates, which is an atmosphere that is also conducive to studying."
"I enjoy the aspect of self-management in boarding life. I have control over my own time, whether it's for rest or study, which allows me to develop a better understanding of it, and improve my arrangements."
Excerpted from the High School "StuGov Magazine" September 2023-24 issue
Brenda Su, currently in Year 10, is a student who transferred to Pao School this year. She sees the Pao School concept of ‘whole-person education’ as an extension of education beyond the academic level, to include the cultivation of confidence and self-improvement. She admits that she was initially worried about losing her cultural identity in an internationalized education system. However, the educational philosophy of Pao School won her over, and persuaded her of its sincere commitment to the transmission of Chinese culture, which is a matter of great importance to her.
At first, Brenda found the Pao School environment almost overwhelming, with all its novelties of curriculum design, learning atmosphere, extracurricular activities, social interactions, and boarding life. In particular, being unfamiliar with international curriculum, she found the different assessment formats for each subject very confusing. So she was especially grateful for the proactive assistance and clarification of doubts offered by senior students. They not only helped her adapt more quickly to high school academic life, but also expanded her social circle in the process.
It is not only the campus and classmates who are new to Brenda. Boarding life is also a new experience for her. “Because the current students have already established friendships with each other, the school thoughtfully placed me together in a room with two other new students,” she guesses. “This has allowed me to make new friends more quickly. We can explore the campus together, helping and supporting each other."
During the feedback session for new students, several mentioned that the inclusive and friendly boarding atmosphere both helps them in their interactions with teachers and classmates, and also accelerates their adaptation to the new school life. They can learn from each other and draw on each other's good study and living habits, which serves as a preparation for university life.
For transfer students, the school's academic department has produced a reading packet, with a collection of teaching materials classified by subject, so new students can easily check for gaps in their understanding before the start of the school year. Once the school year starts, the school academic leaders and teachers make great effort to provide all-round academic and pastoral care to help to ease the transition to a new school. As Zang Na, High School Deputy Principal, explained: "The Campus Leadership Team will hold discussions with the new students after a month into the new school year in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of their transition, and to further improve their integration."
Global Perspectives is a specially selected course offered to all students who transferred to Pao School in Year 10. According to Rachel Zhang, the teacher in charge, this course aims to deepen the understanding of global topics among new students. Students choose a theme and undertake relevant research, developing both investigative and English essay writing skills. "The course serves as a preparation for Year 10 newcomers in adapting to the IB curriculum," says Ms. Zhang.
"I definitely feel that Pao School classrooms incorporate more activities that involve discussion and divergent thinking,” added Brenda Su. “The classroom atmosphere is livelier, but also more relaxed. For example, in English class, when practicing narrative writing, the teacher asks each group to discuss the storylines and make notes on them. The groups then exchange their storylines with each other, and use them to complete the paragraphs of the story. These group discussions enabled me to understand the imaginative ideas of other classmates, and to exchange thoughts with them. This was both fascinating and enjoyable.”
The topic Brenda's group chose was ‘The Truth Behind Sugar-Free Products.’ They observe that sugar-free foods are becoming increasingly common in daily life, including those provided at the school tea bar. Yet people are often unclear about why sugar-free foods can still taste sweet. Throughout the investigation process, they employed both primary and secondary research methods. These involved conducting surveys, interviewing friends from other countries, conducting experiments, and researching academic papers to delve into the ‘truth behind sugar-free products.’
Brenda was surprised at the difference between this learning process and those found in traditional classrooms. She sums up her experience saying, "For me, the biggest challenge of the course was the final presentation, since I wasn't accustomed to standing in front of a group of people and narrating my research process and conclusions. The happiest part was experiencing the power and potential of teamwork during our month-long collaboration. It gave me a truly wonderful experience of group cooperation."
"Sugar-free Group" Members: Brenda Su, Fiona Wang, Cindy Chen, Aaron Wang, Jimmy Zhang
Brenda’s mother also noticed the changes in her daughter after joining Pao School. She says Brenda is less tightly focused on study and grades than before. Her perspective has broadened, and she pays more attention to events in the world around her. She even spends her free time during weekends discussing interesting topics with her parents. Moreover, influenced by the friendly atmosphere at Pao School, she has become better at discovering and appreciating the strengths of others.
"This can be attributed to the diverse student community at Pao School,” Brenda says. “It is no longer that everyone is just narrowly focused on academic achievements. They also have their own areas of expertise and passion, such as sports and arts. "
