When the beginning of summer is greeted by warm sunshine, when the beautiful flowers blossom in the gentle breeze, a group of radiant and confident youngsters can easily be found in the SUIS Qingpu Campus. They are our 2023 Primary School graduates. In the graduation season of June, this group of buoyant students harvested their dreams and co-created the future through a series of activities such as graduation art exhibitions, graduation ceremonies, and graduation study tours.
Graduation Art Exhibitions
On June 8, just after the “Corn Rain”, a graduation art exhibition with the theme of ‘thriving’ was officially staged. At the Opening Ceremony, school leaders, teachers and parent representatives all attended to cheer for this talented group of young Grade 5 artists.
From printmaking to landscape painting, collage art to mixed-media sculpture, students expressed themselves in a variety of art forms. Each artwork was planned, experimented upon and polished over a lengthy period of time. Each piece of work was embodied with creativity, imagination and concentration, accumulated by the students throughout their primary school years. During the process, students learned to inquire, expand their thinking, and experience the joy of artistic creation.
‘Prosperity’ is the joy that comes from harvesting in our primary school, and it is also the wish for their upcoming middle school life!
Graduation Ceremonies
On June 21, Summer Solstice arrived. In the school’s Theatre, an empty seat was not to be found, as all the fifth-grade graduates, along with their teachers and parents, participated in the grand Graduation Ceremony.
This cohort of graduates was the first group of primary school students to graduate after the pandemic. “In the very beginning, the Tao stood as one. Then it created the heaven and the earth, and later transformed into all things”, Co-Principal Sunny expressed her sincere congratulations and expectations to the graduates from the extraordinary significance of the word ‘one’ in Chinese culture. She encouraged the students to bravely face setbacks on the road of growth, and be the wild lilies that rise to the Sun on the edge of the cliff and bloom in the wind! She appreciated the creative design of insetting seeds into the invitation cards, representing a prosperous life. She also emphasized that graduation is the same for all: it is not the end, but a new beginning! Co-Principal Adam then led all graduates to stand and pay tribute to their parents, who nurtured them, and to their teachers, who have worked so hard for them! Finally, on behalf of the school, Co-Principal Adam officially announced that all the Grade 5 students have officially graduated!
When the 150 graduates solemnly received their diplomas, excitement and joy filled everyone’s face. The greatest happiness for teachers is to witness the progress and growth in their students. Those students who were once so very young and dependent children have become confident, independent pre-teens today, completing the first transformation on the road of education in life. Student representative Kitty Luo from Class 5D delivered a graduation speech. She relived the initial nervousness and curiosity together with her seated schoolmates when they first entered the campus as Grade 2 students. She reviewed the unforgettable moments in lessons, on sports days and during spring outings. She called on all the schoolmates to keep their teachers’ ardent expectations in mind and make another wonderful chapter in their middle school life ahead!
Next, each class brought an exciting performance to the stage to show their appreciation and love for the school. The Primary School teachers also recited a heartfelt poem to express their love and encouragement to the students. Parent representatives brightened the scene as well, showing-off an enthusiastic and energetic cheerleading dance. Students, teachers and parents worked together to make the day’s graduation ceremony an unforgettable occasion and to show the graduates our pride. At the end of the ceremony, all the students sang the classic chorus “Farewell” together. It is a long journey, and it is the time for the students to resume their walk forward; the friendship between teachers and students, though, was surely remembered and cherished on this day.
Graduation Study Tours
On June 24, before the “Dragon Boat Festival” holiday ended, this group of self-assured youngsters had already set off for Singapore, the renowned ‘garden city’ country. Here, students were about to carry out a week-long graduation study tour with the theme of “Witnessing growth, getting ready for middle school”.
The study tour was not just a simple tour or study experience – it was a process of self-discovery and identity, facing oneself while looking at the world, and exploring the direction of life. This study tour closely followed the objectives of SUIS Qingpu literacy lessons, focusing on the themes of the local ecological environment, the high-tech industry and multiculturalism, and aiming to extend learning throughout the whole ‘new’ journey.
Singapore brings together the best of Eastern and Western cultures, and it has a world-class educational environment. Therefore, students arrived at Nanyang Technological University to interact with local teachers and students, learn their fine traditions and academic methods, and experience advanced educational concepts. Seeds called the ‘Ideal University’ were planted for the future .
Next, students visited thew Xinsheng Water Factory to understand the water purification process of urban sewage, improve awareness of water conservation and environmental protection, and stimulate innovative thinking. The children also visited Asia’s No. 1 Science Museum where they participated in various experiments and experienced the wonder of discovery in science. Following this, they went to Bollywood Farms and the Singapore Botanical Gardens, meeting unique tropical plants and experiencing exotic life in nature. Students also explored the Night Zoo and gained insights into the habits of more than 120 animals up close at night. They also listened to the legend of the Merlion, watched a fantastic light show at Marina Bay, and enjoyed themselves at Universal Studios.
With the colorful itinerary, the students not only experienced the charm of Singapore, but also further broadened their international vision and improved their cross-cultural communication skills.
Confident youngsters, co-creating the future! With the completion of our series of graduation activities, the 2023 graduates were ready to embrace the next challenge! Even if the road ahead is long, we believe they will overcome any difficulties and move forward smoothly!