As a time-honored tradition of SHSID, the Senior Project serves as the final and most comprehensive academic and practical undertaking of senior high school education. It enables Grade 12 students to apply knowledge acquired over their high school years to real-world practice, marking a fulfilling conclusion to their high school journey and laying a positive foundation for their future studies and life. From May 21 to 27, 2026, all Grade 12 students participated in on-campus research and off-campus internship activities in groups of 5 to 10. Each group opted for either on-campus academic research or off-campus institutional internship through voluntary selection or random draw. After a week of in-depth exploration and practical experience, all students showcased their fruitful outcomes at the Senior Project Gala Exhibition held on campus on May 29.

Featuring rich and diverse practice orientations covering public welfare, livelihood industries, cutting-edge academics and humanities research, the Senior Project builds a vital bridge connecting campus learning with social practice, centered on engaging with society, fostering personal growth and giving back to the community. Many internship groups devoted themselves to various social practices and public welfare services across different industries. Some took part in an autism care program at  a children's rehabilitation garden, assisting instructors with classroom teaching and after-class care for children with special needs. Another group served at bookstore, where they sorted books, took inventory of bibliographic resources, and provided on-site guidance for customers. Furthermore, students expanded their exploration into modern agriculture and elderly care industries. Several students visited a farm to observe modern planting technologies and smart agricultural operation modes, and gain an in-depth understanding of the development and industrial system of modern agriculture. Other students conducted field studies at hospital, systematically learning about standardized modern elderly care service procedures and the development trend of the health and elderly care industry. Stepping out of the campus comfort zone, students delivered tangible help to various social fields and fulfilled their youthful social responsibilities.

Beyond social practice, the Senior Project also offered students precious opportunities for in-depth academic and professional practice. Several students visited Shanghai Jiao Tong University to experience micro-nano electronic processing technologies firsthand and gain deeper insights into the cutting-edge applications of condensed matter physics. Another team paid a visit to a pharmaceutical technology enterprise, exploring the entire process of drug research and development as well as industry marketing mechanisms, which inspired their future career planning. Furthermore, some students independently launched distinctive research projects. Taking the popular TV drama Blossoms Shanghai as a unique research medium, they conducted in-depth analysis of the architectural characteristics of Shanghai in the 1990s and the artistic expression of cinematic visuals, demonstrating their diverse research perspectives and innovative thinking.

On May 28, upon completing their off-campus internships and on-campus research, all Grade 12 students returned to school to design and produce display boards, polishing their research achievements and preparing fully for the upcoming Senior Project Gala Exhibition. At the assembly on May 29, the school presented Outstanding Individual Awards to students who delivered outstanding performance and made active contributions during the project. The honors not only recognized the students’ diligent efforts over the week but also encouraged them to explore diverse fields and career possibilities for future personal development.

On the pleasant and clear afternoon of May 29, rows of well-organized display boards were set up under the lush green trees in front of Xianmian Building. Each board systematically presented every group’s practical work, research findings, as well as the personal experiences and growth insights gained from the project. Teachers visited the exhibition, communicated closely with students, learned about the details of each team’s exploration and practical challenges, and voted for outstanding groups. The venue was filled with joy and lively interactions, with both teachers and students gaining abundant insights from the sharing session. Ultimately, all student groups completed a full cycle of practice, reflection, summary and sharing, bringing the 2026 Senior Project to a successful and fulfilling close.

The wonderful displays fully demonstrated SHSID seniors’ passion for social practice and academic research, as well as their profound thinking and rigorous inquiry spirit. Diverse off-campus internships allowed students to experience real workplace environments, familiarize themselves with operational workflows across modern agriculture, elderly care, public welfare and other industries, and step out of the campus to engage with society, accumulating valuable experience for their future careers. On-campus academic research effectively polished students’ comprehensive academic capabilities, allowing them to conduct in-depth exploration in their interested professional fields and build a solid foundation for upcoming university studies. As a remarkable finale to their high school life, the Senior Project has empowered students to apply theoretical knowledge to practical scenarios, leaving a precious lifelong memory and inspiring them to embrace future challenges with confidence.

(Written by Janie 12(8)   Pictures by Grade 12 teachers    Supervised by Sijia He  Reviewed by Ying Gu, Chenli Shen)