This milestone year not only marks the 20th anniversary of BCIS but also ushers in a new beginning for the graduating Class of 2025. Held under the theme Growth, Adulthood, Achievement, this year’s graduation ceremony—blending celebration and reflection—was a heartfelt tribute to a year destined to be remembered.

On June 7, BCIS welcomed alumni from around the world, students and their families, educational leaders, and diplomatic representatives to gather at 77 Baiziwan Nan’er Road. Every moment of the day was filled with warmth, joy, and brilliance—etched into the hearts of all who were present.

The ceremony opened with a drum ensemble performed by faculty members, a long-standing BCIS tradition: farewells are sent off with resounding drumbeats, each one a blessing in sound. To this powerful rhythm, the Class of 2025 entered the ceremony side by side with their teachers—symbolizing the years of shared growth, learning, and discovery.

This year’s 55 graduates are now setting off to pursue their dreams across more than ten countries and regions, having received offers from over 760 universities worldwide. Their chosen fields span 36 disciplines, including STEM, the natural and social sciences, art and design, law, business, languages, and health sciences. Collectively, they have been awarded over $20 million in scholarships.

Two distinguished alumni—Thilo Braun (Class of 2012) and Sunny Xu (Class of 2014)—returned to share their journeys and reflections. Thilo, once a curious boy from a small town in Germany, now holds dual master’s degrees from Imperial College London and Stanford University, and is pioneering clean energy solutions for the aviation industry in Silicon Valley. Sunny, who once stood at the crossroads of medicine and finance, is now the youngest board member of a Nasdaq-listed biotech company. Their stories—rooted in the nurturing soil of BCIS—have blossomed into lives driven by passion, purpose, and impact.

Their words reminded the graduates: you are not alone. You are now part of a global alumni community of more than 600 members across 30+ countries and regions—shining in top universities, global enterprises, research institutes, international organizations, the arts, education, and public service. With confidence, creativity, drive, and heart, they represent the brilliance of Chinese international education on the world stage. And now, the Class of 2025 carries that torch forward.

“It was you, my vibrant cohort, who taught me all of this. I always felt small beside the glow of your diverse excellence—whether singing and dancing in assemblies, debating and developing business proposals in competitions, or scoring the final point in a match. We are the fire. Wild, chaotic, and crazily creative: you can tell from our epic creations of teacher memes, teacher cards, and even art creations. We shine because the campfire is a constellation of flames, each burning in their own language. And here’s the best part: a single spark can light up the whole sky. ”

- Catherine Liu, Valedictorian

Class of 2025

The ceremony was rich with heartfelt tributes—from a moving performance by the Parent Choir to video messages carefully prepared by parents and teachers. At BCIS, every student stands on a foundation of unwavering support and trust—an enduring presence that gives them the courage to soar and the strength to persevere.

Chosen by the graduates, teacher representative Gisou Ravan and Secondary School Principal Natalie Harvey delivered speeches filled with warmth, wisdom, and vision. This was more than a graduation—it was a reflection of the educational ideals that have shaped BCIS for two decades.

In a powerful symbolic moment, current Head of School Tom Egerton and former Head of School Nick Bowley took the stage together for a heartfelt dialogue. Their conversation went beyond celebrating the graduating class—it was a reaffirmation of BCIS’s enduring commitment to personalized learning, collaboration, and leadership. From the ginkgo tree standing tall on campus to the cherished traditions and forward-thinking innovations nurtured by the community, BCIS continues to lead in cosmopolitan, rigorous, and progressive education. At its heart lies one constant: student agency. This guiding light—ignited through a deeply personalized approach to learning—continues to illuminate each student’s path.

Guest speaker Fiona Zinn, a respected figure in early childhood education and a long-time curriculum advisor to BCIS, offered her inspiring reflections. She spoke to the school’s unwavering belief in children and its commitment to co-creating meaningful, inquiry-based learning from the earliest years:

“And this is a school that listens to children. It trusts children. It works with children, designing meaningful, relevant and enlivening inquiries that emerge from real questions. Here there's a rhythm, a unique pedagogical heartbeat, one that respects the pace of authentic learning and honors the dignity of each and every learning journey. Here we see what's possible when educators work with heart and mind in equal measure, when they take children seriously, not by rushing them towards outcomes, but by making space for them to be, to ask, to build, to connect and to grow. ”
— Fiona Zinn

Professor Yong Zhao, a leading scholar in personalized education, also addressed the audience. Reflecting on his visit to BCIS three years ago, he commended the school’s mission of nurturing individuality and innovation:

“True personalized education helps every student discover and develop their unique strengths and passions, leading them toward excellence. In the era of AI, we must go beyond teaching knowledge and skills—we must nurture students’ ability to identify and solve problems, and instill in them a sense of responsibility to improve the world. That is the essence of BCIS: to ignite self-agency, unleash potential, and empower students to co-create a shared future.”
— Yong Zhao

At BCIS, every soul deserves to be lit by the light. Student agency—that inner spark—nurtures a child’s passion and perseverance. It illuminates the road ahead, guiding them to stay true to themselves, dream bravely, and become the version of themselves they have yet to meet.

After the ceremony, more than a hundred alumni returned from around the world to join current students, faculty, parents, and friends of BCIS for a vibrant community gathering themed Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter—a celebration full of warmth and ritual.

The campus came alive with seasonal colors, music, dance, light shows, and joyful performances by students from all divisions. More than just a continuation of graduation, it was a reunion across generations—a tribute to two decades of shared memories, and a joyful welcome to all the seasons yet to come.

As BCIS stands at the 20-year mark, we reflect on where we’ve come from—and look forward to the journey ahead.

This celebration honored not only the Class of 2025 but also BCIS’s enduring love for education and its unwavering commitment to its mission: to nurture passionate, creative, and confident individuals ready to shape a better world.