On June 24, 2026, Grade 9 students of Shanghai Starriver Bilingual School gathered with faculty and families to celebrate their middle school graduation ceremony. Clad in caps and gowns, graduates celebrated this pivotal m ilestone together, reflecting on four years of growth, friendship, and discovery.

 

The ceremony, hosted by Ms. Shen Tong and Mr. Sam, began with a highlights video that captured unforgettable moments shared by the students throughout their four years of middle school. As the graduates filed into the venue, they were met with the warm gaze from their teachers and families, the atmosphere brimming with pride and anticipation.

School leaders, including Mr. Tang Shengchang, Superintendent of SSBS; Ms. Li Ying, Deputy Superintendent of SSBS; Ms. Hu Qingtian, School Party Committee Secretary; Ms. Ma Danye, Principal of Primary and Junior High Division; Ms. Zheng Shengjie, Vice Principal of Primary and Junior High Division, took their seats to witness this significant moment.

Student representative Sui Wanning then delivered a heartfelt speech centered on “vitality.” Reflecting on her four-year middle school journey, she shared three core experiences that had defined her time at Starriver. She emphasized that middle school had given students far more than academic knowledge; it had taught them how to love, how to laugh, and how to persevere together.

Secretary Hu then presented the Student Development Scholarship to students who demonstrated exceptional potential and achievements. The award recognized their hard work and encouraged them to continue developing their strengths in high school and beyond, contributing positively to society in the future.

Parent representative Ms. Guan Yi then spoke on behalf of the Grade 9 parents. She recalled how the students had gradually grown into confident young individuals. Reflecting on her four years of service on the Parent Committee, she expressed sincere appreciation for the school’s educational philosophy. She highlighted that the school does not focus solely on grades, but also provides tailored support for each student, empowering them to grow through diverse clubs and practical activities that help them explore their interests and talents. She congratulated the students and extended sincere gratitude to the faculty.

Teaching Director Ms. Wu Lele representing all the teachers concluded the speeches with an inspiring address. Citing Lei Feng’s words – True youth belongs only to those who are always striving upward – she encouraged the graduates to pursue excellence while embracing leadership and exploration. Looking back on the growth of the Class of 2026, Ms. Wu praised the students for their energy, resilience, and youthful spirit. She urged them to uphold the school’s philosophy of “Chinese Core, Global Excellence” moving forward confidently into a broader world.

One of the most anticipated moments of the ceremony was the tassel-turning ritual. School leaders presented certificates and turned the tassels. With this symbolic gesture, the students officially completed their middle school journey, a moment symbolizing not only the efforts they had made over the past four years, but also the hopes and blessings that accompany them into the future.   

The ceremony concluded with the graduates performing their original graduation song, Crossroads. Through music, they celebrated the end of one chapter and expressed their warmest wishes to themselves and to their friends. Before the echoes of the graduation song faded, the stage lights shifted dramatically, and a carefully prepared surprise segment instantly electrified the audience: Chinese and foreign teachers and students took the stage side by side to perform the dynamic hit "What Makes You Beautiful" and lift the ceremony’s energy to its peak, featuring powerful martial arts routines, melodic instrumental pieces, lively Latin youth dances, and a standout futuristic show where students danced seamlessly with robots to the crowd’s gasps and laughter; this blend of tradition and modernity, art and technology, and Chinese-Western performances with teachers and students onstage stands as a vivid embodiment of Starriver’s educational ethos: “Chinese Core, Global Excellence.”    

Although graduation may bring farewells, it also carries the promise of new journeys and lasting memories.

Graduation is not an end, but a beginning. May all graduates continue to chase their dreams with courage and determination, as they step into a bright and boundless future.