On August 25th, Huitong School officially welcomed the start of the new academic year!
In preparation for this day, we had long been thoroughly prepared—from all-faculty training and team-building activities to the grand and vibrant welcome ceremonies and school assemblies. Weeks of meticulous planning reflected the dedication and anticipation of all our staff members. With the utmost enthusiasm, we greeted the arrival of every student! This semester, Huitong's teaching team has expanded further. We welcomed over 20 new teachers who graduated from top global universities such as Harvard University, the University of Leeds, and the University of Bath. These educators from world-renowned institutions will bring fresh energy and an international perspective to Huitong.
We specially organised a teaching demonstration session, where new and experienced teachers jointly explored teaching methods—such as classroom interactions, activities, and assessments—by reviewing actual classroom recordings from various subjects during the previous academic year. This interdisciplinary and cross-experience teaching dialogue allowed teachers to objectively analyse classroom dynamics as evaluators while also drawing inspiration from one another, truly achieving mutual growth in teaching and learning. In addition to systematic subject-specific training, we carefully designed creative workshops—featuring different team tasks and skill cards—to help new and experienced teachers build understanding through collaboration. In these engaging interactive sessions, teachers quickly broke down barriers, leveraged their strengths, and demonstrated powerful team cohesion.
To this end, we specially invited William Yip, the founder of Hong Kong's Theatre Noir, to conduct a drama education workshop for our teachers. During the session, he encouraged educators to reflect on teaching methodologies through the "Imagination of a Blank Paper" activity. In the interactive exercise "Imagining Flowers," teachers began with uniform movements but gradually unleashed their creativity, expressing unique floral interpretations in imaginative ways. We believe that this liberation of creativity will translate into endless possibilities in the classroom.
A Welcoming Day Full of Ceremony at Huitong
Since its establishment, Huitong has symbolically integrated nature into campus culture through four distinct houses, each represented by a mountain, a river, an animal, and a plant: Tai Shan, the Pearl River, the Panda, and the Ginkgo.
On 22 August, over 200 new Huitong families experienced a grand and vibrant House Sorting Ceremony. Witnessed by faculty, students, and parents, the four House Leaders warmly extended invitations to the new students, calling each by name to welcome them into this nurturing community. The students also received their first school gift: a symbolic Huitong tree pot—where they will plant seeds of hope at home and nurture them throughout their growth journey.
Meeting Their Advisors
At Huitong, every student is paired with a dedicated advidor who provides comprehensive support for their academic, social, and personal development. During the warm and welcoming mentor meetings, mentors made a conscious effort to memorise each child's name and learn about their interests and hobbies. From the very first meeting, common ground was discovered, and conversations flowed naturally. In these moments, seeds of trust were quietly sown, and the foundation for a meaningful mentor-student relationship began to take root.
The First Huitong Student Photo
At this special day, a professional photo booth was set up for every new student to have their official portrait taken. Parents carefully adjusted their children’s ties or bows, their eyes filled with anticipation and pride. This photograph captures not only a moment of personal growth, but also formally commemorates the student's entry into the Huitong community.
A Special Start-of-Term Gift
The welcome pack for each new student included custom-designed Huitong bookmarks, a reading stand, Huitong illustration stickers, and a personal letter from the Head of School. We aim to support children in cultivating a lifelong reading habit, encouraging them to explore both knowledge and self-discovery throughout the new academic year—and far beyond.
First Day of School: Embarking on a New Journey!
On 25 August, the Huitong campus buzzed with renewed energy as over 1,000 students returned to the beautiful grounds, their eyes bright with anticipation. Eagerly, they shared summer adventures and achievements with friends and teachers—each story a testament to their growth. In classrooms, teachers thoughtfully designed the inaugural lessons of the term, guiding students to set clear directions for the new semester and transforming goal-setting into an engaging journey of exploration. Meanwhile, heartwarming scenes unfolded across campus: senior students proactively welcomed newcomers, offering campus tours and helping them quickly integrate into this supportive, family-like community.
Celebrating Achievements at the School Assembly
At our school assembly, we recognised students who had excelled in various international competitions during the holidays. Peter, a senior student, also shared his experience of leading the Huitong team to victory against top Shanghai secondary schools in a championship tournament. These outstanding students have not only demonstrated remarkable talent but have also embodied Huitong's educational philosophy through their actions. We hope their accomplishments will inspire more students to pursue excellence and grow together in the new semester. We also presented a comprehensive overview of Huitong's tailored competition support system. This term, we will provide personalised coaching, specialised training workshops, and detailed competition timelines to help every student—regardless of their unique learning needs—find a stage to showcase their talents.
Meanwhile, the newly upgraded Studios Programme will officially launch this week. Featuring 216 personalised and high-quality after-school offerings—including robotics programming, drama, debate, and athletics—the programme is designed to provide students with deeper, more structured learning experiences.
This new term, as students and teachers weave through the vibrant campus, the halls and grounds have once again come alive with energy and purpose. This is education at its most beautiful.
