In the vast galaxy of education, twenty years may seem like only a fleeting moment. But for BCIS, it marks a luminous chapter.

To commemorate the school’s 20th anniversary, BCIS launched a community-wide story collection project under the theme "BCIS Memories." The call resonated deeply with the community, inspiring heartfelt reflections from BCISers far and wide. Over three months, we received hundreds of submissions—from alumni sharing their journeys, parents offering their unique insights, teachers reflecting on classroom memories, to education specialists offering expert observations. Selected pieces were compiled into a book titled "Reflections on an Era of Illumination."

At BCIS, “spirit” and “light” are deeply meaningful metaphors. Spirit represents each passionate, visionary learner—bringing their unique gifts and igniting their inner spark on the journey of discovery. Light stands for the mission of all educators and parents—to illuminate the path ahead with wisdom and guide with professional care.

The book is thoughtfully organized into four parts—students, parents, teachers, and experts—each offering a unique lens into the BCIS story. Due to space constraints, many beautiful pieces couldn’t be included—tender recollections, heartfelt personal stories, video messages sent across time zones. Like ripples in a river, they continue to extend the warmth and richness of the stories left untold.

The book’s translucent dust jacket is a poetic tribute to light—inviting readers to sense the quiet, enduring glow of education at its purest. The steel framework from the school's groundbreaking in 2005 on the front cover is mirrored by the leafy, modern campus of 2025 on the back, folding two decades of time into a single frame. The red spine, tucked between past and present, resembles a corridor through time. And when sunlight filters through the red jacket, the shadows it casts seem to bring history and the present moment into a single, glowing embrace.

Luminous Becoming: When Education Awakens the Glow Within

In this chapter, Luminous Becoming: When Education Awakens the Glow Within, 28 BCIS alumni share their journeys of growth and transformation in their own words—stories of becoming, of searching, and of finding their light.

Our individual stories might seem small alone, but together they paint a complete picture of what makes BCIS special—a place that shapes lives in ways both obvious and subtle, long after the graduation day. What seemed like ordinary moments at the time have become the foundation of who I am today, and I will always be thankful for that.

-Sally Hao | Class of 2020

Attending BCIS was more than just getting a high school diploma; it was a place where I grew into my current self. It armed me up with the skills to navigate university and academic challenges, the emotional support to face life's ups and downs, and the freedom to pursue my passions. BCIS didn't make challenges disappear, but it gave me the tools and confidence to face them.

- Aria Yang | Class of 2019

BCIS's impact on me has never been about a specific fact or skill. It's about cultivating a habit of reflection and compassion, and believing that meaningful action can change the world.

-Jier Yang | Class of 2010

College and adulthood was again something I was not used to. It was, frankly, a chaotic, stressful, and challenging adjustment yet again. But I can face it now, with more independence and trust in the process, because ten years ago, I did the exact same thing at BCIS.

-Helen Wang | Class of 2024

The Lantern Bearers: 

Carrying the Light Between

School and Home

In the The Lantern Bearers: Carrying the Light Between School and Home chapter, 23 BCIS parents share real stories that reflect the power of home–school partnership. From classroom moments to everyday life, from skill-building to character development, they have witnessed their children’s growth and transformation at BCIS.

To me, the best education is not about replicating "success templates" but about awakening inner vitality in every child, allowing them to become their truest and unique selves.

-Ivy Wang 王丽娟 | 

Mother of Sid, BCIS Grade 7

You plant not just knowledge, but the seeds of joy.

-Li Yanyan 李岩岩 | 

Mother of Daniel, BCIS Courtyard Kindergarten

These have been ten extraordinary years: laughter and tears, friendships forged, cultural identities explored, projects undertaken—each moment a brushstroke in her growing masterpiece.

-Xian Ming 仙明 | 

Mother of Betty, BCIS Grade 8

There are no "standard answers" here, only endless "whys." The school doesn't chase "perfect resumes" but cherishes every "impractical" dream. If education is sowing seeds, BCIS is the richest soil—it lets children fall, explore, and even "waste time," because those so-called detours become the stars that light their future.

-Hei Keke 黑可可 | 

Mother of Bonbon, BCIS Class of 2023

Light Weavers: Educators Crafting the Fabric of Radiance

In the Light Weavers: Educators Crafting the Fabric of Radiance chapter, BCIS teachers share their firsthand experiences of cultivating and growing on the fertile ground of education. Many who were part of this journey carry its impact with them even after leaving the school—still guided and inspired by the spirit of BCIS in their ongoing professional lives.

My time at BCIS was a catalyst into my own journey of exploring progressive education and has influenced both my career and my philosophy on teaching and learning.

-Megan Eddington | 

BCIS Teacher（2008-2020）

I needed to learn how to teach as a mentor rather than a facilitator and listen. For those who embraced that challenge, the learning went way beyond tertiary admission or subject grades.

-Phil Clarke | 

BCIS Teacher（2006-2021）

Here, education isn't grand speeches–it's knees on the floor and hands mending tiny dreams.

-Lydia Zhang | 

BCIS ECC Teacher

My children have grown up in a nurturing environment that values curiosity, creativity, and community. And as a teacher, I've seen countless students discover their passions and develop into confident,

compassionate individuals.

-Hannah Douglas | 

BCIS Teacher

The Optics of Innovation: Bringing BCIS’s Approaches into Focus

Educational progress is driven by both practical exploration and theoretical reflection. In the chapter The Optics of Innovation: Bringing BCIS’s Approaches into Focus, education experts, peers, and partners offer professional insights into the DNA of BCIS—from curriculum innovation to cultural integration, from experimental practice to broader industry observations. These sparks of thought, as the chapter’s title suggests, are like fleeting traces of brilliance scattered across the long river of education—illuminating the path ahead while offering warmth to the heart.

At BCIS, I encountered an inspiring community of school leaders, dedicated teachers, and motivated students, all eager to reimagine education.

-Yong Zhao赵勇

On the journey home, Zheng Lei and I reflected on our visit with one shared conclusion: "This is how education should be." When all stakeholders collaborate on shaping the school culture, and when curricula honor students' natural curiosity as an integral part of life rather than an imposed burden, education becomes meaningful and fulfilling.

-Chen Xiangming 陈向明

BCIS determined that it would be the architect of its own future by integrating its own mission-based programs and practices into the curriculum, rather than adopting wholesale an externally devised program or a textbook-based curriculum. This was not an easy road to follow, and that is what makes it worth achieving.

-Nick Bowley

Forming Constellations: Voices from the Education Community

In the Forming Constellations: Voices from the Education Community chapter, voices from across the global education community come together to shine in harmony with BCIS at this milestone of twenty years. They are renowned educators, leaders of prestigious institutions, and dedicated frontline practitioners. In just a few words, each message carries profound emotion—the quiet strength of walking side by side on the journey of education.

The creation of An Era of Spirit and Light is, in itself, a vivid embodiment of the BCIS educational philosophy. With 76 contributors and 76 heartfelt reflections, this collaborative effort reflects a long-standing tradition of community co-creation deeply embedded in the school’s DNA. Over the past two decades, from shaping our mission and vision to designing our curriculum, every key decision has carried the wisdom and voices of our community.

The languages in the book—some in Chinese, some in English, others blending both—flow naturally from each author’s most comfortable form of expression, mirroring the everyday multilingual and intercultural fluency that defines life at BCIS.

Here, every adult becomes a "Light-Bearer." The torches they carry do more than illuminate the path of knowledge—they ignite in each student a prism of self-reflection. And so, each "Spirit" begins to refract their own spectrum of light—whether in the pigments of the art studio, the data of the lab, or the sweat on the playing field—unfolding infinite bands of possibility. Those once lit by others will one day shine on their own, just like the alumni in this book: once children laughing under the ginkgo trees, now stars shining in all corners of the world.

If this warmth has touched you—if you, too, wish to become a small light in the great galaxy of education—please help us pass it on. Share this post to your Moments, upload a screenshot via the form, and leave your email address. We’ll send a free copy to the first 100 respondents.

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