Primary Division 20, Lane 1251 West Wuding Road, Changning District, Shanghai, China 200042 Secondary Division 1800, Lane 900 North Sanxin Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai, China 201620 Tel: (+86) 21 6167 1999 www.ykpaoschool.cn | Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ykpaoschool
PaoPress
Fall 2013
Founder’s Message
Dear Parents and Friends, A new year has arrived! As we welcome our seventh academic year, we can proudly say that we have two campuses of international standard, with over 800 students and 282 staff from more than 20 countries. We have definitely come a long way since founding the school in a rented building. Over the past year, we have achieved several important milestones: December 2012: Shanghai Education Commission recognized Pao School as an “Outstanding Private School.” Pao School was also granted the right to create our own Xueye Kao and Zhisheng Kao (Middle School) examinations. January 2013: Pao School was recommended by the Shanghai Ministry of Education as an outstanding private school. August 2013: Songjiang District granted permission to establish Pao School’s Senior Secondary Division. 1
September 2013: Pao School is applying for IB Diploma Program candidacy and now has an IB curriculum advisor. In recent years, Pao School has already established a recognized model for building an international, innovative Chinese school, and provided a platform for students to take in knowledge of the world and its many cultures. As well, “Delight Education” has spread and developed at Pao School, helping both teachers and students to enjoy life as well as their work and studies. Our very own mentorship system is comprised of the thinkers, the core, and the philosophy of our educational work. Pao School has a culturally-diverse, and mutually-complementing teaching environment, with a ratio of Chinese to foreign teachers at 55 to 45. Our whole-person education, bilingual teaching, and boarding program offer a unique and original experience for both teachers and
students. We are in the initial stages of establishing an integrated nineyear curriculum that combines the best of Chinese and international education practices. It is an exciting future ahead for Pao School! We are grateful to all of our parents for their continuing support. We are also thankful to all of our teachers, administrative staff, and management for their tireless efforts to achieve our school mission. Without you, there would not be Pao School! Tan Fu Yun
Founder and Deputy Chairman
YK Pao School Strategic Plan 2013-2017
Building a Leading School in Shanghai
Philip Sohmen Founder and Deputy Chairman
In August 2012, YK Pao School launched a strategic planning effort to establish goals for the next five years. We solicited feedback from the students, parents, faculty, staff, and board members, identified strategic priorities, launched working groups to conduct research and provide recommendations, and drafted the Strategic Plan. Our work was guided by our vision of creating a world-class school in China by fusing the best from Chinese and International education. The Strategic Plan affirms our mission and values and provides a roadmap for the future. With the Strategic Plan as our guide, we will continue to provide a unique and outstanding educational program and educate students who embody the School’s mission and core values. There is much to celebrate about our achievements over the past six years. Our balanced educational program provides a solid foundation in academic subjects along with opportunities to participate in sports, arts, community service, and other extracurricular activities, fulfilling our mission of helping each child realize his or her full potential. Our teachers have earned recognition for teaching excellence in local teaching competitions and our School has earned recognition from the Shanghai Education Department as an “Outstanding Private School.” Our Mission and Values have been clearly articulated and affirmed by the School community. Our new Strategic Plan provides forward momentum while building upon the School’s considerable strengths. It does not attempt to capture all that we strive to do as a school and 2
only identifies the critical areas for strategic focus over the next five years. These eight strategic focus areas are: 1. Striving for Academic Excellence by establishing an integrated Year 1-12 curriculum that prepares our students for life in the 21st century, inspires greater intellectual flexibility, risk-taking, and creativity, and provides opportunities for students to apply what they’ve learned in real-world settings. 2. Building a Whole Person Education program focused on character education, the development of leadership skills, and service learning. 3. Establishing YK Pao School as the leader in Chinese-English bilingual education in Shanghai by strengthening language learning both inside and outside the classroom. 4. Striving for Faculty Excellence by attracting, developing, and retaining a highly dedicated, skilled, and diverse faculty of lifelong learners. 5. Building a diverse Student Body by identifying, attracting, and enrolling talented students from a wide variety of social, cultural, and economic backgrounds. 6. Establishing a School Culture of mutual respect, trust, tolerance, and high standards in a multicultural environment.
beyond. 8. Establishing a solid financial base to provide Resources for Growth and ensure the long-term sustainability of the School by further developing the YK Pao School Foundation. Following on from the Strategic Plan, we are now creating an action plan to guide the implementation. We have also established processes and key metrics to gauge our progress in achieving our goals. However, we recognize that the Strategic Plan is a living document and expect our implementation steps to change as we adapt and respond to future opportunities and challenges in today’s rapidly changing world. We would like to express our gratitude to those who participated in our surveys, focus groups, and retreats, as well as members of the community who served as part of our Strategic Planning Steering Committee and Working Groups. Their time and efforts have made this a truly collaborative process and have allowed us to create shared goals. We would also like to thank in particular Headmaster Wu for his efforts in drafting the Strategic Plan. We look ahead to the next five years with optimism, enthusiasm, and energy. We hope that you will join us in envisioning an exciting future for YK Pao School and help us bring the Strategic Plan to life.
7. Establishing our Senior Secondary Division and providing an outstanding three-year international boarding school program that prepares students for university entrance and life 2
A Very Warm Welcome to our New Staff! Tony Jaccaci, Executive Principal Secondary Division
Transitions An ex-Marine, a former rugby player, a published author, a scuba diver, a keen cook, a former archery teacher, a rock climber, a PhD in Leadership Human Resource Development – what do all of these descriptions have to do with YK Pao School Secondary Division? They are just some of the experiences and interests of our newly-joined staff this year! The Secondary Division is fortunate to add these teachers (and many more) to our growing staff this year. These individuals have a wide variety of experiences but they share the common passion of working with students. New international staff come from many parts of the world including the USA, UK, New Zealand, Canada and Italy. Our Chinese local staff come to us from Shanghai and cities throughout the country. In total, we had over 40 new teachers and Intern Teachers participate in our opening school orientation. We focused on allowing this rich group of people to get to know each other and learn about different cultures and languages. One of the favorite activities was Chinese calligraphy when Chinese staff “named” their international colleagues with a Chinese name and helped them write it using calligraphy. The challenge for the Secondary Division is to assimilate this large group of people into the teaching practice and culture already set in Songjiang and we are happy to report that the new crop of teachers is doing very well fitting in. We hope that all members of the community can meet our new teachers and welcome them to YK Pao School! 3
Mike Spencer, Executive Principal Primary Division Life is full of transitions. We all experience a number of them in our lives. Going to school, entering the world of work, moving to a new country, and getting married are all good examples. Successful transitions are not a given; they require a positive attitude, considerable levels of support and a firm belief that a new situation brings many opportunities. As I reflect on my family’s most recent transition from New Delhi, India to Shanghai, I am grateful for the ‘soft landing’ we have experienced. This is largely due to the care and understanding of a school that knows the importance of transitions. We have welcomed nearly twenty new staff to the Primary Division this year. Our Year 1 students have just joined us from a range of backgrounds and many other students across all year groups have transitioned from a variety of schools. We will also prepare our Year 5 students for transition to our Songjiang Campus and other schools at the end of the year. Change will be a constant for our children. Studies and research tell us that, on average, today’s children can expect to work in up to three different industries in several different capacities. We are educating our children for a world of work that can only be imagined. What are the implications of this for those of us responsible for educating our young people?
A solid academic foundation is arguably the most essential feature of a good education, but it is not enough. Young people need to be flexible, adaptable and able to take initiative to make the most of the new opportunities which await them. The mission of YK Pao School and our new ‘Character Education Program’ addresses these needs directly. Our focus on physical, social, creative and collaborative activities will equip our students to deal successfully with new challenges. Our challenge is to enable our students to partake in a world that is evolving more quickly than our education systems. My own transition to Shanghai has been challenging and rewarding, and I look forward to working with my colleagues over the coming years to ensure we do all that we can to equip our students with the attributes, skills and dispositions that they will need to be successful members of their communities in the future, wherever that may be.
A New Experience
deeply and independently while finding confidence in their use of the language.
Phuong Phan, Primary Division Head of English,
More updated and effective assessment resources are unified to inform instruction and a reduction of streaming levels in years 4-5 also enables continued language support and enriched interactive learning environment for all students.
The English Department has launched a new and exciting approach to education; establishing foundational skills in phonics, spelling and grammar with the purpose of building an integrated, systematic and explicit model to teach, practice and apply new concepts and skills. This involves developing language fluency through literature and a differentiated curriculum that facilitates student’s enthusiasm and expression as they learn to appreciate the various styles and elements of fine literary works. Students will focus on applying productive language to promote transfer of skills to more complex tasks and contexts through collaboration and creative communicative means.
These are some of the many developments happening at YK Pao School. Experience the difference!
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The program is flexible and allows students to create a targeted path based on their ability and interests. The standardized format of the IGCSE curriculum allows us to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Our exam results allow us to see how we are performing in comparison to other schools and countries adopting the program.
Introducing IGCSE to Pao School Last year, YK Pao School announced the adoption of the twoyear International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) curriculum in conjunction with the Shanghai Plus curriculum. IGCSE has been in place since this past September, and our first cohort will have their examinations in 2014. Daniel Legault, Director of Instruction at our Songjiang campus, discussed the new curriculum and its benefits with Pao Press.
What is IGCSE? Since skillfulness in speaking and writing are essential for future academic and professional success, the primary emphasis is on expressive language with the purpose of developing a student’s capacity to formulate an opinion and rigorously support it. Students are expected to think
What are the advantages of IGCSE for our students?
IGCSE is a popular choice used by schools around the world as a bridge curriculum to connect middle school programs to the IB Diploma Program. It is also an externally-assessed program with a clear syllabus and clear expectations. It has predictability and resources are plentiful.
How has Pao School prepared for the implementation of IGCSE? We have already developed a head count for the amount of teachers needed. The first group of teachers has already been sent to Guangzhou for IGCSE training, and we will begin hiring teachers qualified to teach IGCSE. We have also coordinated several meetings with parents to discuss the program. Their reaction has been positive and generally supportive. It’s important for us to gather feedback and keep improving the program so that it does not become static. Pao School is currently poised to start the IB program in August 2014. More information on IGCSE may be found at the Cambridge (CIE) website: www.cie.org.uk
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Students Break New Ground in Sports An exciting new sports year at YK Pao School’s Primary and Secondary Divisions is already under way. Mike Young, Head of Sports and Activities, tells us about the new developments in our student sports as well as teacher training programs.
Secondary Division Afternoon Sports Program For this year’s Secondary Division Afternoon Sports Program, Pao School has recruited specialist coaches for fencing, martial arts, and football. Each student has one hour of compulsory afternoon sports time. With the help of Sports and Activities Supervisor Christopher Gibbs, each student selects their choice of sport for the season. There are three seasons per year, allowing students three opportunities to enjoy a variety of sports. Mike had nothing but praise for the new program: “The excellence of the coaching program and the response of the students in the Afternoon Sports Program have gone up several notches in the past two years.”
Shanghai Schools Sports Association Since June 2011, Pao School, alongside a number of other schools, has chaired the Shanghai Schools Sports Association (SSSA), which provides students with an opportunity to enter into sports competitions with other schools, and this year it has become even larger. SSSA now includes nine international and Chi5
nese schools across Shanghai. Nearly every Saturday, students from these schools will compete in sports events, including tennis, football, swimming, cross country, basketball, track and field, volleyball, table tennis, and badminton.
PE Geek Autumn Asia Tour Pao School’s recently hosted the Shanghai stop of the PE Geek Autumn Asia Tour. PE teachers from several international schools in Shanghai learned how new age teaching pedagogies can be used to complement their teaching and enhance course delivery. Mike explains how technology is already being used at Pao School: “Our students are now using an app for the iPad called ‘Coach’s Eye,’ in the swimming pool. They take turns using the app to record their classmates’ swimming. Students would then view the recordings together for self evaluation. By actually seeing the results, this brings the learning experience closer to our students, allowing them to take ownership of their learning.”
Striking Chords for a New Year It’s difficult to know who at YK Pao School is more passionate about music, the teachers or the students. At the beginning of the term, 150 students in the Primary Division turned out to audition for the choirs. Rising to meet their enthusiasm, the Music Department has created new opportunities for singing at the school. These include a singing society on Tuesday lunchtimes and a further choir on Saturdays. The response to the launch of the new Saturday morning music program has been equally overwhelming. Dominic Murtagh, the Primary Division’s new Director of Music, is keen not just to increase the number of opportunities students have to play and perform, but also wants to encourage musical variety. In addition to the choir, the Saturday program offers opportunities to play in
Chinese and percussion ensembles. There are also currently individual lessons in drums and it is planned to extend this to other instruments. Earlier this term, the well-known cellist, Trey Lee, visited the students to give them an instrumental master class and to answer questions as to what it is to be a world renowned musician. Inspired, students proved themselves to be impressive performers. This was demonstrated on Teachers’ Day, when parents and staff were treated to a concert by students which was bursting with talent, enthusiasm, and confidence. Giving students the chance to hear music and to perform as often as possible is just one part of Dominic’s vision for the future of music at YK Pao School. He believes that having the opportunity to perform is essential to learning an instrument and that listening is one of the most important skills to develop. A composer himself, he wants to centre the curriculum around fostering musical creativity. The curriculum is being revitalized with a focus on developing the necessary skills within our young talent to both successfully meet the challenges of the IGCSE program offered at our Secondary Division, and to equip students with the tools to translate these sparks of creativity into compositions and performances of their own. Already in lessons he has been very impressed by the flair with which students have responded to the chance to improvise using their voices. Above all, Dominic wants to instill a life-long love and enjoyment of music in all the students.
Heating Up at YK Pao School Summer Camp Since its introduction four years ago, Summer Camp at YK Pao School is heating up and growing increasingly popular among students and parents.
Pao School Summer Camps are designed for Whole Person Education and emphasize character development, aimed at giving students an enjoyable, educational, and healthy summer. Camps are divided into three categories: Putonghua, English, and Activities Camps. Our Putonghua Camp is geared towards foreign students whose mother-tongue is English and all activities are run in Putonghua, while our English Camp run all activities in English, and are designed for those students whose native language is Chinese. Activity Camps are instructed in both English and Putonghua, and are intended for all students. All three Summer Camps consist of an exciting roster of games, activities, and excursions. Each camp’s thoroughly-immersive language environment helps students increase language proficiency and includes students from Pao School and other Chinese as well as foreign schools, 6
creating a diverse, multicultural environment. Pao School Summer Camps are a wonderful platform for students from the world over to interact, exchange, enhance their perspective, discover their potential and strengthen their abilities for hands-on tasks, allowing them to understand other cultures and make friends from all over the world.
the same time ensuring enough time to get to school. Rain or shine, you’d always ride your bike. You’ve also shown dedication – you always share your day with us, and you take such time and care in designing presents and games for the children.” ——Tom Z.
This year, in addition to teachers from Pao School and specialized educational institutions, Pao School’s Y7 and Y8 students were invited to assume roles as assistant teachers for our Activities Camps, both inside and outside of classrooms. These “Junior Counselors” (JC’s) were of similar age to those attending the camp, so they were able to connect with the other children especially well, playing a major role in the success of the summer camp. It was a very memorable learning experience, especially since most of the students were participating in paid work for the first time. These are some of the parents and children’s reflections on their experience.
“Your mother is so happy for you. This is your “first time!” You will find yourself in new surroundings and situations, and learn more about your community – things you can’t get inside a classroom.” ——Steve Z.
From our Parents…
From the Student JC’s…
“Mom is proud of you. You’ve shown such persistence – over the last two weeks, you’ve let nothing stop you in your mission to develop a biking habit and reduce carbon emissions, while at
“This opportunity not only helped the children, but myself too. It helped me to understand more of how children and how adults work. It also boosted my leadership and my communica-
“I believe this is a new challenge for you and your fellow JC’s. You’ve gone from being taken care of to taking care of others. Your teacher emailed to tell me you have the potential to become a great assistant teacher. You’ve all done a great job!” ——Ariel Z.
tion skills. …And now today, sitting in the fourth floor’s office, gathering pictures and putting together iMovie’s and PPT’s, this also helped me to get a tiny glimpse of the adult world, what are deadlines, and why they get so exhausted. I finally know how work is just simply repeating and continuing and barely changing… Finally, my hard work was awarded by 400RMB, but thinking back the most valuable reward was really not the money but the memories, and the experience…” ——Albert Y.
“What do I think about this work? I will tell you that it is so amazing for me. I met so many different people and it is really a new breakthrough for me. I used to be a shy girl and afraid to talk with strangers, but now I can make friends with people that I had never met before.” ——Jenna Z. “Being a teacher is hard. You need to understand how kids think, learn and do. Even remembering their names is very hard – I took the whole session to learn their names… Although we are always doing the same things every day, I still think it is a very special and interesting experience for the first time, being a true teacher...” ——Liz Y. “My most memorable moment so far was the swimming lesson on 7
Wednesday. It was the first time that I was the one sitting out of the pool and watching everyone swim instead of being the one swimming. It was interesting to watch the students have so much fun, and it reminded me of how much I loved swimming when I was in kindergarten. …It was also very interesting to help the girls get changed. I was very surprised when I found out that most of them couldn’t dress themselves. I felt like a mother, because everyone was asking me to help them get their swimsuits untwisted, or put their caps and goggles on. …It was a very good experience, although it was very tiring. I look forward to another week of this hard but interesting work!” ——Melisa Y. “I think I now have a better experience and idea about how to be with little kids. Rule no. 1: Make them feel respected, and share your enthusiasm. Rule no. 2: Play with them and blend in, but be a teacher when needed. Rule no. 3: Care for the kids and have some fun with them!” ——Trinity W.
YK Pao School Abroad In the summer of 2013, as part of the YK Pao School Abroad: Summer Study in the United States program, our Primary and Sec-
ondary Divisions each organized tours to schools in the United States. The program not only improves students’ mastery of English, but also deepens their understanding of American culture. A group of 22 Year 8 and Year 9 students travelled to St. George’s School and Pennfield School in Rhode Island. Students began the day with physics and humanities classes at St. George’s School to help prepare them for the IGCSE program, and then attended summer camp at the Pennfield School in the afternoon where, together with local students, interacted, made pottery, and participated in various sports activities. Family homestays, combined with tours of Boston and New York City and visits to some American university campuses allowed students to experience American culture first hand. A group of 26 Year 3-6 students also travelled to the Pinewood School in California where they participated in the Pinewood summer program. In the morning, students attended mostly academic courses. English was the main course, but Chemistry, PE, and arts classes were also included. In the afternoon, students participated in a variety of activities, including PE, cooking, computers, drama, public speaking, and tennis. Over the weekend, students toured Stanford University, attended a live baseball game in the city – a staple of American tradition, and participated in family homestays.
School News YK Pao School Enters into Sister School Relationship with Charterhouse Recently, Headmaster the Revd John Witheridge, Deputy Headmaster Andrew Turner and Assistant Headmaster James Kazi of English boarding school Charterhouse signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a new sister school partnership at our Songjiang Campus. During the signing ceremony, Headmaster Witheridge described Charterhouse’s history and how Charterhouse and Pao School share similarities in their philosophy: both schools have a strong focus on academics, while at the same time emphasizing the importance of independent enquiry and developing students’ potential in other areas. The boarding model of both schools allows students more time to take part in activities and events, fostering the development of different skills and education of the whole person.
Co-Founder Philip Sohmen, Headmaster Wu Zijian, and Executive Principal Tony Jaccaci gave enthusiastic speeches, looking ahead to the future collaborations and opportunities for students and teachers that the new relationship will bring to both schools.
Pao School Founder Anna Pao 8
Sohmen receives Honorary Fellowship On October 21st, Chairman and Founder of YK Pao School, Professor Anna Pao Sohmen, was conferred the Honorary Fellowship by Lingnan University in Hong Kong. This is in recognition for her distinguished service to the cause of education in Hong Kong and Mainland China, her commitment to charitable causes, and her contributions to culture and the arts.
“For the Children”
International Conference Deputy Executive Principal Crick Chen recently attended the 9th “For the Children” Conference, giving a brilliant presentation on Pao School’s core values , our mission of whole person education and balanced development, as well as our uniquely bilingual and multicultural education that combines the best of Chinese and international education practices, capturing the interest of many attendees.
Kathleen Dalton visits Pao School Secondary Division
Our Year 6 English class recently had the opportunity to interview biographer Kathleen Dalton. A teacher at Phillips Academy Andover in the USA, Dalton has written one biographical work, Theodore Roosevelt: A Strenuous Life, and is currently working on a book about Franklin Roosevelt. Students asked some very intelligent questions and enjoyed this wonderful conclusion to their biography unit.
Katrice Horsley Captivates Pao School Students
Professional storyteller Katrice Horsley visited Pao School as part of our English Storytelling activity. The Birmingham, UK native has over 25 years of experience as a performance storyteller and was appointed National Storytelling Laureate last year. Horsley entertained our students with her intriguing style of storytelling that combines singing, dancing, and even sign language, turning her performances into a unique educational experience.
Year 1-3 Swimming Gala
On October 11th, Pao School Primary Division held our Year 1-3 Swimming Gala. Cheers and laughter echoed throughout the arena as students took this opportunity to show the tremendous progress they have made in their swimming technique. Our teachers were proud to see the great sportsmanship displayed by our students. Thank you to all of our PE teachers for bringing us such an unforgettable event!
Shanghai Daily Art Competition
Shanghai Daily recently held a painting competition with the theme of ‘ideal city, ideal life.’ Year 9’s Lucas C., Year 8’s Rachel L., and Year 6’s Ann Z. received the gold, silver, and bronze awards, respectively, giving Pao School a great start to a new academic year in arts.
Secondary Division Open House October 11th was our Secondary 1
Division’s first Open House of the year. As a special twist to the regular Open Houses, students brought their parents along to “shadow” them throughout the day, attending classes, joining the Friday assembly, and having lunch in the cafeteria. This gave parents the opportunity not only to understand the daily life of a Pao School student, but also to show support for their children and their studies.
Race Around the World Our Year 5 students recently took part in a “Race Around the World.” Students researched and created eye-catching travel brochures for the world’s most wellknown countries and placed them around the school. They then embarked on a riveting scavenger hunt around the school, searching for specific details on different countries. The event was a fun and educational way to help our students become global citizens by nurturing an understanding of the world around them.
CNN Films Educational Report at Pao School
As Pao School continues to grow and flourish, our uniquely bilingual education and whole person education is gathering international attention. Last Friday, American Cable News Network (CNN) filmed our Primary Division students for their “Education in China” episode of their “On China” program. Several of our students and parents attended the filming and answered questions from anchor Kristie Lu Stout. Headmaster Wu Zijian, also took part in an interview by CNN.
Macau Delegates Visit Pao School On September 25th, a delegation of young people from Macau toured our Primary Division campus as part of an applied studies activity to further understand Shanghai’s education system. Our guests were impressed with Pao School’s whole person education philosophy as well as our uniquely bilingual and multicultural program.
A New Look for a New Year
The World at Your Fingertips Always a hit with both staff and students, the popularity of the iPad has only grown since the school bought its first batch two years ago. Generously supported by the Parents’ Association, the school now has over 100 iPads, but teachers still have to scramble to get their hands on a set for class. Y5 English teacher Jon Banks knows why: for him, the iPads are “a fantastic extra resource” that offers “so many opportunities for students to learn new and exciting things.” His students are equally enthusiastic. Asked why his class still jump at the chance to use iPads, Y5’s Kevin L. goes beyond the usual burst of exuberance: “It’s fun!” and “exciting!” to explain that the iPad is “easier to use than computers,” and as Y5’s James C. chips in, it’s “not very big and heavy” - something that really matters to Y1 users. This warm reception from students vindicates IT coordinator Alanna Yee’s view that iPads are a wonderful way “to bring 2
technology into the classroom.” By putting the web at students’ fingertips, iPads give them a chance to do independent, indepth research, but at the same time, using the iPads in class is hands-on education in cuttingedge technology. And wow are Pao School students becoming tech-savvy! Armed with only iPads and iMovie, they have won three awards at the Shanghai Student Film Festival in the last two years. In fact, there’s no better advert for the iPad’s versatility than the commercial for their invented planet that students beamed back to earthlings this year (and to the judges of the Shanghai Film Festival). Alanna also has sci-fi dreams of a paperless Pao School. And that may not be so far off, if the pilot scheme of putting an iPad into the hands of every pupil is a success at the Secondary Division. In any case, Pao School students are well-prepared for the i-world of the future.
This summer, Pao School’s Primary and Secondary Division campuses underwent construction maintenance and upgrading to welcome the new academic year. At our Primary Division, students may notice that the amount of echo in our canteen has been reduced, and that our east building has more classrooms. At our Secondary Division, the newly-constructed library garden amphitheatre as well as the Shanghai Expo’s India Pavilion veranda are a welcome surprise for our students. The Yang Chen Ning Learning Centre now has a new laboratory and arts classroom, while our Huang Sue Ing Memorial Library has gained a new collection as well as new carpeting. There is also a greater selection of food at our dining hall, while noise and echo has been reduced. Our dormitory gate system has been reinforced, and the hot water supply system has been optimized.