On the morning of June 18th, the fifth-grade students of the International Division of Shanghai High School welcomed their graduation ceremony. The ceremony was held grandly in the auditorium, with graduates gathered together with their beloved teachers and parents to celebrate this unforgettable moment.

As the countdown to the graduation ceremony began to chime, the students, dressed in formal attire, entered the auditorium one class at a time from the side of the stage. Under the spotlight, their radiant smiles were illuminated, and with confident and resolute steps, they waved to their parents. The parents also greeted each graduate with applause and cheers, their eyes filling with pride and blessings.

After the students entered, the prelude to the graduation ceremony slowly unfolded. Liam from Class 5-1 of Pudong campus and Kayla from Class 5-3 of Puxi campus, as representatives of the graduates, delivered wonderful speeches. Although their voices were youthful, they were full of strength and emotion, evoking deep empathy among their peers. They looked back on the past five years of life with sincere words, shared their growth experiences and insights, and expressed their gratitude to the school and expectations for the future.

Time flies swiftly, and the children have grown from children into confident, young teenagers. The parents, having witnessed the growth of their children over the past five years, were brimming with emotion and pride. Catherine's mother from Class 5-1 of Puxi campus, the representative of the parents, took the stage to speak. On behalf of all the parents of the fifth-grade graduates, she expressed the most sincere gratitude to the school and teachers, and also conveyed the excitement and pride of witnessing the children's graduation. Her words were filled with beautiful wishes for the children's future.

After her moving sentiments, Mr. Liu Lian, Principal of SHSID Middle and Primary School delivered an enthusiastic speech, extending warm congratulations and earnest expectations to the graduates. Principal Liu reviewed the students' achievements and growth during their time at school, commending their enhanced ability to be independent and their commitment to social responsibility. In addition, Principal Liu offered three pieces of advice: to remain curious, to maintain passion, and to stay brave, wishing the graduates a future as boundless as mountains and seas.

The fifth-grade students captured glimpses of their growth through a video. The camera slowly swept through the corners of the campus, capturing the students chasing and playing on the lawn, flying paper airplanes that symbolize their dreams. Facing the camera, the students shared many of their memories and insights, and their sincere and imaginative answers filled the auditorium with a joyful atmosphere.

The teachers, who have been with the students everyday, also expressed their best and most affectionate blessings to the graduates through a video. The teachers' words were filled with encouragement and expectations for the students, and many warm stories or hilarious memories made the teachers, students, and parents present all burst into laughter.

Following that, the students, holding flowers in their hands, went on stage to pay their deepest respect and gratitude to all the hardworking teachers. Surrounded by flowers, the teachers' smiles and the students' thanks created a warm scene at the ceremony. On behalf of all the teachers who have taught the 2024 fifth-grade graduates, Ms. Lu, Director of Grades 4-5, expressed her thanks to the students and offered sincere blessings.

Five student representatives from the two campuses shared their growth stories from aspects such as their experiences in the ASB, sports, scientific innovation, campus activities, and the influence of Chinese culture within the school. They showcased the diverse interests and broad platforms provided by the school for the graduates' well-rounded development.

Next, the principal of the primary section and other school leaders presented the graduation certificates to each graduate, signifying the successful completion of their primary school education. With hearts full of excitement, the graduates solemnly received their certificates and took commemorative photos with their peers, capturing this precious moment forever.

After watching the warm and loving parent blessing video, Ares' mother, representing the Parent Committee, presented a highly commemorative gift to the school to express her respect for the school's educational achievements and her best wishes for the graduates. This painting, titled "Plum Blossoms," not only vividly depicts the school's iconic buildings, but also cleverly incorporates moments of students' daily learning and activities, fully showcasing the school's educational atmosphere and the students' spirit.

Finally, all of the graduates gathered together to sing the deeply touching song "Auld Lang Syne." At the climax, the graduates turned their gaze towards the audience, waving to their parents, who also took out their glow sticks and waved them in rhythm. The glow sticks, shining brightly, resembled twinkling stars in the night sky, conveying the most beautiful expectations and blessings for the children's future.

As the graduation ceremony came to a successful end, we once again wish all graduates a bright future, like dragons soaring high, in the vast world, not hindered by clouds that obscure their vision, soaring in the sky, and writing their own brilliant chapters!

(Written Wu Yin                   Pictures by parent volunteers             Edited  by Cong Luo, Bianca Noguera)