On a crisp autumn morning under the soft early sunlight, Wuxi United International School solemnly held its September flag-raising ceremony. The event, centered around the theme of “Caring,” was co-hosted by grade 12 Head Students Kayla and Leo, with the participation of all teachers and students.
Kayla and Leo began by elaborating on the attribute of “Caring” from the IB learner profile. They emphasized that “Caring” not only signifies empathy and respect but is also reflected in taking concrete actions to support others, serve the community, and collectively build a more inclusive and compassionate world.
Following this, the school’s Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award coordinators, Ms. Candy Hu and Mr. Bryan Zhu, delivered a speech titled “Demonstrating Caring: Social Responsibility and Empathy on the DofE Journey.” Through real stories of students’ hiking experiences in Lin’an, Zhejiang, and Tiger Leaping Gorge in Shangri-La, Yunnan, they vividly illustrated touching moments of students supporting each other in adversity, showing care for others, and respecting nature. They emphasized that “Caring is a strength and the most powerful support on our shared journey.”
The ceremony also highlighted the “Accompanying the Stars” charity project initiated by international high school students. The project provides social companionship and financial support for local autistic children in Wuxi through weekend social companionship classes, charity fairs, and New Year charity concerts. Notably, last year’s “Accompanying the Stars New Year Charity Concert,” initiated and organized by Billy Zhang, an IBDP student from the class of 2025, raised a total of 7,000 RMB. The proceeds were fully donated to the Linxi Autism Care and Support Center in Xishan District, Wuxi, to support vocational training programs for special needs youth.
This flag-raising ceremony not only served as a practical interpretation of the IB “Caring” ethos but also showcased the social responsibility and global awareness of United students. The school will continue to uphold its educational philosophy of “Integration, Caring, and Responsibility” to nurture a new generation of youth with international mindedness and social commitment.