November Flag-Raising Ceremony

On November 9, WUIS held its November flag-raising ceremony, with Grade 11 students Dong Ziyao and She Maorong serving as bilingual hosts. China’s national flag rose as the national anthem played. This month’s theme, Thinker, invited students and teachers to explore how to ask good questions, understand different perspectives, and make well-reasoned, responsible judgments.

01 When artificial intelligence can give us an answer in seconds, how do we know whether it is reliable? The hosts used this everyday question to introduce “Thinker,” an attribute of the International Baccalaureate (IB) learner profile. When an answer is already at hand, students can go one step further. What evidence supports it? Would we reach the same conclusion from another perspective?

02 Dr. Max delivered an address titled The Power of the Meeting Point.He began with two thinkers who lived far apart. Socrates reminds us to stay humble and ask why, even about things we take for granted. Confucius taught, “When you know something, acknowledge that you know it. When you do not know, acknowledge that you do not know. That is knowledge.” His words invite us to be honest about our own understanding and ask for help when we need it. When we bring the courage to ask questions together with the habits of listening and reflecting, different viewpoints can lead to new insights. Dr. Ma called this meeting point a “Third Space.”Thinking happens in our interactions with others, from a Grade 1 student learning to share to Grade 12 students discussing complex ideas in Theory of Knowledge (TOK). This reflects the school’s Portrait of an 18-Year-Old WUIS Youth. Students learn to exercise judgment through inquiry, understand different cultures through bilingual communication, and take responsibility for their choices as they work with others.

03 The ceremony also recognized students and teachers for their achievements in language arts, visual arts, and sports.

Language and public speaking Joanna received the Star of Special Gold Award at the national showcase of the Aesthetic Education China Speaks International Language Arts Conference. In the Jiangsu Division of the 2026 Outlook Superstars competition, Youmi received the Excellence Award, while Fetty and Anderson won Second Prize.

Calligraphy and painting At the 10th “Ode to Hope” National Youth Calligraphy and Painting Art Exhibition, Megan, Rory, Tammy, Will, and candy won Second Prize. Bella, Suri, Amy, Tiffany, Rena, Lemon, and Jimmy won Third Prize.

Street dance and baseball Alex won gold at the 2026 Jiangsu Provincial Street Dance Championship for Primary and Secondary School Students. Sany, Henry, Louis, Jaden, Kim, Jimmy, and Ivan won the U10 Pitch-and-Hit Division at the Yangzhou stop of the 2026–2027 MLB CUP Youth Baseball Series Fall Open.

Orienteering and swimming At the Wuxi stop of the “Smart Run Jiangsu” Orienteering Club League, Ray placed first in the sprint race. Ivan, Miki, Rachel, and Amy placed fifth through eighth, respectively. Cutey placed sixth in the short-distance race. The primary school team won First Prize, and Chen Min and Zhao Xuejing were named Outstanding Coaches. At the Hosa FAFA Cup swimming meet, Jimmy placed fifth in the men’s Group A 100-meter breaststroke.

Xiehe Cup The ceremony also honored the U15 and U19 football champions and the third-place team in U15 basketball.

Congratulations to all the students and teachers who received awards! We hope students carry the spirit of the ceremony into the classroom and everyday life. When you come across an answer, ask where it came from. When you hear a different point of view, listen to the reasons behind it. Your next discussion might begin with one good question.