Each year, YCIS bids a fond farewell to the IB graduating classes from both the Century Park and Gubei campuses. The campuses recently held their own graduation ceremonies for the “Class of 2016” to celebrate the students achievements and commemorate the years they spent at the international school in Shanghai. 

At the Century Park Campus, the graduation ceremony was held in the school’s brand new theatre. Emotions ran high as the event began with each graduating student distributing a bouquet of flowers to their parents who had supported them immensely on their journey through the IB Diploma Programme. Several powerful speeches were also given during the ceremony, including remarks from both of the Head Prefects from the Class of 2016, two form room teachers, and Ms Vicki He, Superintendent of YCIS Shanghai.

The graduation ceremony at YCIS’s Gubei Campus was also a joyous and warm occasion. Several speeches were given over the course of the evening event including a moving speech from Head Prefect, Jenna Jung, who reflected back on the students experience using the theme of “backpacks”. The graduating class chose Mr Terry Schaefer, their Theory of Knowledge Teacher, as the staff keynote speaker, and he provided inspiring remarks to the class focused on their role as the future of the planet. The campus Co-Principals, Dr Richard Swann and Ms Isabel Xu, also offered sage advice to the graduates and explained the meaning of the beautiful graduation artwork on the stage backdrop and programmes, created by YCIS’s own Artist-in-Residence. 

This year’s exceptional YCIS “Class of 2016” is a diverse group of individuals, setting the bar high for their younger classmates to follow. With offers from esteemed colleges including Stanford University, University of Oxford, Brown University, Yale-NUS, Hong Kong University, Imperial College London, and many more, the YCIS graduates will travel far and wide and join other distinguished YCIS alumni around the world. Congratulations, Graduates!