For the last week of the academic year Beijing City International School (BCIS) welcomed back our Grades 4 and 5 students. Elementary School was bursting with good noise. At the end of every year BCIS holds a Moving Up Ceremony for our Grade 5s on campus. On Tuesday, 9th June, we went virtual on Zoom and what an online success it was! This rite of passage highlights each students' learning journey from the year they joined BCIS up until this day when they are handed the ticket to their next stop – Secondary School. The ceremony was a collaborative effort between students and faculty, past and present, filled with heartfelt memories and uplifting video messages. Our robust Grade 5s melted hearts across the web with their pre-recorded virtual choir, all donned in their best blacks, powerfully singing "This Is Me" from The Greatest Showman.

Another BCIS annual event is the Grade 5 Exhibition. Last Thursday, 4th June,our Grade 5s displayed even more innovation when they presented their projects in individual Zoom groups, following the morning's musical opening ceremony.

Each student took an immense amount of pride in their presentations, choosing topics close to their hearts – ranging from global issues to everyday ponderings – and inspiring their audience with their research, opinions and actions. Our students demonstrated mature and inventive answers to questions from their guests, truly breathing awareness and understanding of local and global issues. One student even took the opportunity to capitalize on donations to special causes using WeChat Pay. Grade 5 teachers and students immersed us in a truly state-of-the-art exhibition.

We are thrilled that our inspired, curious and empowered Grade 5s will be seeking new challenges in the next year and beyond in this new phase of their learning journeys. Bravo Grade 5s!