Welcome Graduates

On the morning of June 6, 2024, Shanghai High School International Division held a grand Graduation Ceremony for the Class of 2024. During this momentous occasion, Principal Ma Feng, holding the blue SHSID flag, led the 12th-grade students from the Xianmian Building along their familiar paths. Just as they did when they first arrived on campus, the students walked the red carpet into the Grand Auditorium. They paused for photos at the colorful floral arch, capturing the start of their journey into the future.

As the two Grade 12 teacher-hosts welcomed everyone, the students took their seats. School administrators, teachers, and the graduates' parents gathered, their faces filled with joy and pride as they celebrated this important milestone.

In the Grand Auditorium, the school wind orchestra began playing a melodious tune. As the music filled the room, the graduating members left their seats to join their younger peers on stage for one final performance, marking a perfect end to their four-year musical journey in high school.

Principal's Address

Principal Feng Zhigang delivered an inspiring speech titled "Maintain the Light Within You" to the graduates embarking on their new journey. He thanked them for their continuous exploration and brilliance throughout their school life at SHSID. With their unique talents and efforts, they have achieved great success and illuminated the SHSID campus. Principal Feng encouraged them to keep their unique light and passion alive while also remembering their alma mater and visiting often.

Valedictorian Speech

In her heartfelt address, the student representative, Alyna, painted a nostalgic portrait of her journey at SHSID. She reminisced about the early days of adventures as she entered elementary school, evolving into a confident and resolute high school graduate. Alyna treasured the years spent with teachers and classmates, celebrating the profound bonds. Like every graduate present, she delved into personal interests through academic and extracurricular pursuits, etching these experiences deeply into her memory. As they prepare to part ways, she believes their friendships will endure and the future shines brightly ahead. Alyna called upon her classmates to cherish their connections and courageously embrace the challenges that await.

Parent's Speech

Ms. Sun, speaking on behalf of the graduates' parents, offered heartfelt blessings to the students. She praised their resilience in overcoming challenges and achieving success, expressing immense pride in their accomplishments. She extended special thanks to the teachers for their unwavering support and encouragement and to the parents for their companionship and dedication. She encouraged the graduates to face imperfections with courage, believing that every effort counts, and urged them to continue exploring and advancing in their future paths. Finally, she reminded them to prioritize safety and health as they step into the world independently and to cultivate the ability to find happiness. She wished all the graduates a bright and promising future.

Award Announcement

Commencement

The graduates took to the stage one by one to receive their diplomas from their teachers, symbolizing the completion of their academic journey. As the principals adjusted each graduate's tassel, the ceremony officially marked their transition from high school to the next chapter of their lives. Thunderous applause filled the room, with parents and teachers beaming with pride and offering heartfelt blessings. This moment celebrated their past efforts and looked forward to their future endeavors. Each graduate felt the profound honor and responsibility, ready to face the unknown challenges and opportunities ahead.

Special Gifts

After the tassel-turning ceremony, three groups of students took the stage, all having spent twelve years at SHSID. Each student received a special, customized gift from their teachers – the "Twelve-Year Growth Record." This gift documented their journey through the school and carried the school's best wishes and hopes for their future.

Gift Presentation

Jessie and Ethan, twins from the Class of 2024, presented their alma mater with a heartfelt gift. The gift, a painting created by 12th-grade student Laki, vividly portraing the joyful scene of students running on the campus lawn of SHSID. It symbolizes the warm memories and vibrant youth experienced by alumni at the school. Additionally, the gift signifies the strong emotional bond between alumni and their alma mater. It will serve as a medium to further strengthen the connection between alumni and the school.

Graduation Song

As the uplifting melody of the graduation song, co-authored by graduates Emily, Lianna, and Annie, echoed through the venue, the curtains gracefully parted, and the lead vocalists began their heartfelt performance. Their lyrics recounted cherished moments shared, from strolling along campus pathways blanketed with ginkgo leaves, to their boundless anticipation for the new school grounds. One poignant line, "But nothing matters in the light we shine so bright. Here with you that’s all I need," encapsulated the graduates' confidence and hopes for the future.

In a delightful twist, as the melodies soared, rows of graduates rose in unison, over 200 students gracefully joining them on stage, aligning in perfect rows. Moments later, the music seamlessly shifted to a composition by Catie from the Class of 2023. The familiar chime of the school bell, signaling the end of the day, echoed throughout the hall, complemented by nostalgic video clips from bygone days, casting a spell of reminiscence. Waves of memories washed over their hearts, reaching a crescendo of emotion that lifted the ambiance of the Graduation Ceremony to its zenith.

The Graduation Ceremony seemed frozen in time as each graduate shone like the brightest star in the night sky, echoing the graduation song's lyrics: "To the world. Touch the sky. Carry heart and hopeful memories. It was us and it will still be us." Their futures are vast and boundless, illuminated by brilliant stars and unending dreams. This youthful era promises to be as vibrant and colorful as poetry and prose, as enduring and beautiful as a painting and a song.