Well Done to our Class of 2020! | 2020届毕业生，你们真棒！

Earlier this month we bid farewell to the class of 2020 as they will embark on new journeys of their lives as adults. Although the first half of 2020 has been met with many trials, our cohort had a lot to celebrate nevertheless. From acceptances into Ivy League institutions to reaching this significant milestone, it was intuitive that we celebrate.

Graduation ceremonies are an important part of the YCIS Beijing tradition and with this being the final stage of students’ schooling life, our teachers, students and parents worked together to ensure that our graduating cohort received a well-deserved sendoff despite the very unique circumstances.

Swipe to view more

Swipe to view More

Swipe to View More

According to Prachi Gupta, Y12-13 Learning Community Leader and YCIS Beijing IB Diploma Programme Coordinator the arrangements required careful and thorough planning. Ms Gupta and her colleagues managed to turn the school’s auditorium into a graduation fit venue for the class of 2020. For students, parents and staff members who were not in Beijing, an online platform was used for a live streaming session – this allowed those in other parts of the world to also experience this monumental occasion.

We would also like to congratulate students who were not in Beijing at the time of the graduation ceremony.

Swipe to view more

The YCIS Beijing community truly showed camaraderie with Secondary students in Y10, 11 and 12 taking on the part of being the audience during the graduation – a role they were happy to fill while cheering on their predecessors as. The virtual graduation was in addition a further reinforcement of our school’s prioritization of our students’ health and safety during the time of COVID 19.

Presented by Year 12 students Delphine Quan and Jakob Qin, the programme commenced with the customary walk by the graduating class across our campus to the auditorium while being cheered on by their Primary counterparts - An experience which also serves as inspiration for our younger learners.

During the ceremony, students listened to speeches by their teachers and senior leaders of our school but also received their YCIS Diplomas and awards for excellence in subjects such as the Arts, Chinese, Math and Sports. The Madam Tsang-Chor Hang award was also handed to a student two lived up to the ethos of YCIS in the past year.

In her video, Dr Betty Chan Po-king, CEO & School Supervisor, highlighted the importance of adaptability, as depicted by the class of 2020, by quoting British Historian, Arnold Joseph Toynbee “The key to survival of a civilization lies within its people's capability to adapt to the changing conditions of its surrounding environment". She also emphasized the importance of a collective effort for the betterment of the world, echoing the values of YCIS Beijing.

A teacher who has also worked closely with students preparing them for university is Jonathan Mellen, YCIS Beijing UGO Officer. He shared how proud he was of the students and their achievements thus far.

"I am pleased to announce that every single student who applied to university this year received an offer" he said. "I am also confident that those applying in the summer after graduating will also find the right fit."

Speakers lauded the class of 2020 for their determination and strength, and reaffirmed their confidence in their ability to thrive wherever they go.

YCIS-BJ Chinese Vice Principal, Dr Rae Wang delivered her message to our graduating class and emphasized the importance of striking a balance between academics and personal passions - finding time to explore and finding new interests. By doing so, she assured students that it will broaden their vision and help them see the world with a different lens. 

A view similar to YCIS Principles of promoting Global Citizenship. “Reading and traveling complement each other, and the contents of the books will come to life when you see more museums and art galleries” she said. To read Dr Wang's inspiring speech, click here.

Press play to watch Dr Rae Wang's  full speech.

Mark Adams, Educational Director and YCIS Beijing Acting Western Co-Principal, also congratulated the class of 2020 and highlighted how their time as Scorpions has prepared them for world.

“We have watched you develop your skills and talents, working cooperatively and collaboratively with your peers, solving problems, being creative and innovative, learning from your mistakes, and using critical thinking as you prepare not just for university or college; but also for work, and for life” he said. To read Mr Adam’s encouraging farewell speech to our graduates, click here.

Press play to watch Ms Gupta read Mr Adams’ speech as he is currently in Hong Kong.

The new chapter is just beginning for our graduates and we wish them all the best in this new and exciting phase of their lives. Goodbye, from Beijing!

就在一周前，我们与2020届毕业生告别，他们将作为成年人开始新的人生旅程。尽管2020年的上半年我们经历了许多考验，但还是有很多值得庆祝的事情。从被常春藤盟校录取的毕业生，到达成这一重要里程碑，我们自然要庆祝一番。

毕业典礼是北京耀中传统的重要组成部分，这是学生学校生活的最后阶段，我们的老师、学生和家长们共同努力，确保在特殊的环境下欢送我们的毕业生。

滑动查看更多图片

滑动查看更多图片

据十二至十三年级学习社区主管兼北京耀中IB文凭课程负责人Prachi Gupta女士说，他们需要仔细和全面的计划来筹备这次毕业典礼。Gupta和她的同事们成功地将学校礼堂改造成了2020届学生毕业典礼场所。至于不在北京的学生、家长和工作人员来说，他们通过一个在线平台观看了现场直播——这让世界其他地方的人们也能体验到这一具有纪念意义的时刻。

北京耀中校区十至十二年级的中学生们参加了毕业典礼，表现他们之间的友谊，他们为前辈们欢呼。在新冠肺炎疫情期间，虚拟毕业典礼进一步展现了学校对学生健康和安全的重视。

活动由十二年级学生Delphine Quan和Jakob Qin主持，毕业班在小学部学生的欢呼声中穿过校园走向礼堂，这一经历也启发了我们的年轻学生。

在毕业典礼上，老师和学校领导发表了演讲，还向学生们颁发了耀中毕业证和艺术、语文、数学和体育等学科的优等奖。此外，还为一名在过去一年中完美诠释耀中精神的学生颁发了曾楚珩女士奖。

我们的行政总裁兼校监陈保琼博士强调了适应力的重要性，正如2020届毕业生所表现出来的那样，她引用了英国历史学家Arnold Joseph Toynbee的话:“文明存续的关键在于人们面对周围环境变化的适应能力。”她还强调了共同努力造福世界的重要性，呼应了北京耀中的价值观。

北京耀中大学升学指导顾问Jonathan Mellen也曾与学生们密切合作，帮助他们为申请大学做准备。他向我们分享了他对这些学生以及他们迄今所取得的成就的自豪感。

“我很高兴地宣布，今年申请大学的每个学生都收到了录取通知书。”他说，“我也相信，那些毕业后即将在夏季申请的学生也会被录取。”

演讲者们称赞了2020届毕业生的决心和力量，并重申了他们对自己能力的信心。

北京耀中华籍副校长汪小瑞博士在毕业典礼上致辞，强调要平衡学业与个人爱好的重要性，即要有时间去探索和发现新的兴趣。她向学生们保证，这将拓宽他们的视野，帮助他们以不同的视角看世界。这是一种与耀中提倡全球公民的原则相似的观点。她说:“阅读和旅行是相辅相成的，当你参观了更多的博物馆和美术馆时，书中的内容就会变得栩栩如生。”如欲阅读了汪博士的励志演讲，请点击此处。

北京耀中教育总监兼署理外籍校长Mark Adams先生也祝贺了2020届毕业生，并强调了他们作为蝎子的时光是如何帮助他们为更广阔的世界做好准备。

“我们看到你们发展了自己的技能和才华，与你的同龄人合作，解决问题，变得有创造力和革新精神，从错误中学习，运用批判性思维，而不仅仅是为上大学;也为工作、为生活做准备。”如欲阅读Adams先生致毕业生告别演讲，请点击此处。

如欲观看Gupta女士代为宣读身处香港的Adams先生的演讲，请按播放键。

对于我们的毕业生来说，新的篇章刚刚开始，我们祝愿他们在这个新的激动人心的人生阶段一切顺利。再见,来自北京!