Preparations for a spectacular Founder’s Day as well as YCIS Beijing’s 25th anniversary are hotting up with only two weeks left until the celebrations on Friday, 9 October. The event follows a sports theme. Activities will include making cakes using recycled materials (kindergarten), performances by our Primary and Secondary students, and a number of sports activities.

Sport and quizzes to exercise limbs and minds

Sports activities will take place on our campus and at Honglingjin Park, say Jane Martuneac Kang and April Peng, our Primary School leaders. Other activities to remind students of the Yew Chung legacy and to build the school network will take place in the learning communities and around our campus, which is celebrating a quarter century of quality endeavour. Participants can watch videos and take part in quizzes that help students understand the history of Yew Chung in Beijing. Poster and logo designs will be on display as well.

The 25th anniversary logo was drawn from a competition run by Head of Art, Allison Cusato. The attractive winning design was by An An Chang.

Happy Birthday YCIS Beijing and more

The biggest event of the day is a live performance (to be streamed as well) of ‘Happy Birthday YCIS Beijing’, a Latin inspired composition of our school’s popular “Hello from Beijing” directed by Gordon Robb, our Head of Arts and the Music Director. He says he feels “honoured” to be back working with students on this special day.

Accompanied by our orchestra, 35 singers from the newly created Senior Choir are also rehearsing adaptations of popular songs such as “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers and “Hey Jude” by The Beatles. In addition, the audience will be treated to piano and guitar duets, a sampling of Beijing opera, and piano, violin and cello solos. We are also hoping to be able to include some of our talented students still scattered around the world.

The ceremony and concert will be watched at network schools as well as by our families and overseas staff. The streaming concert is a showcase of our students’ talents and spirit of community – a key aspect of school culture.

Rehearsals have been a great way to discover fresh talent. As last year, the audition attracted a great many students. Mr Robb believes this indicates both pride in abilities as well as the growing recognition that participation in a quality school production confers. 

Participants like Aicheng Xu (Y7), Siphendulwe Mabanga (Y8), Evangeline Wald (Y7), and Adam Stevens (Y7), are keenly anticipating taking to the stage despite some nerves. For Eva, who had her first major performance in the Elf Jr musical, this is a great way to demonstrate how far she has come. “I love performing. I think it will be fun.”

If there is anything this year has taught us, it is to be flexible. Despite the various restrictions it will be a wonderful celebration thanks to the tireless effort by everyone involved.

Images courtesy of the Secondary Photography Club