On a recent balmy Spring afternoon, Year 6 Primary Students travelled from the Hongqiao Campus to the nearby YCIS Gubei Secondary Campus to enjoy a day of sports and activities with their classmates in Year 7.

Throughout the semester, the Year 6 students have participated in a range of creative mixer activities designed to provide them with a taste of student life at their future campus, as well as to aid in their easy transition to the Secondary programme. One such activity was the Year 6 and 7 Sports Day. According to Andrew McNeice, Lower Secondary Coordinator at the Gubei Campus, “The ‘Year 6- Year 7’ transition activities throughout the year are a great opportunity for students and teachers to connect through active, creative, and collaborative challenges with the aim of supporting students as they prepare to move from Primary to Secondary school.” The day’s event was eagerly anticipated by both Year 6 and Year 7 students as it provided for a fun and energetic day of merrymaking. McNeice adds “The recent addition of two cross-campus sports afternoons has added a nice informal feel, in addition to our long-standing performing arts exchanges, assembly visits, and half-day visits to prepared classes.” As the Year 6 Teachers also joined the festivities on campus, this made for pleasant reunions between Year 7 students and their former Primary teachers.

Among the basketball and soccer games, the Year 7 and Year 6students mingled together, chatting about the experiences and opportunities at the Gubei Campus.

Earlier in the semester, there was also a reverse event, during which the Year 7 students visited the Hongqiao Campus to engage in a range of collaborative activities with the Year 6 students and teachers.

At YCIS, transition events like these help students by offering opportunities to be introduced to life at their new campus in a way that is both fun and engaging, and by allowing older students to act as ambassadorial bridges so that the campus change goes smoothly. With ample introductions to Secondary life, the Year 6 students are well-prepared for a smooth adjustment to Secondary school. To learn more about our award-winning Secondary programme, please click here.