We are open!
What a week it has been here at Wellington College Bilingual Shanghai. Monday 29th February marked the occasion of the Grand Opening ceremony and it was a wonderful celebration of the collaborative effort that has gone in to bringing the setting to life. The drive and incentive has always been the children; those founding Wellington pupils and their families.
That morning, I welcomed members of the media to the setting, alongside Helen Kavanagh (International Business Director for Wellington College) and Yuki Gong (Deputy Headmaster, Wellington College Bilingual Shanghai). Many interviews were given and the message of what it means to be a Wellingtonian was spread to the wider Shanghai and Chinese communities. We talked about our ethos of education and learning, how we have ensured the setting is ready to meet the needs of the pupils and the importance of health, safety and the wellbeing of each and every child. The afternoon for me was a moment to be treasured as I witnessed the first sets of little feet through the gates of the setting. Cupcakes, cookies, balloons, choral singing, piano playing, photo opportunities, speeches, art work and happiness ensued. Memories were made and the day ended with smiles and many congratulations.
Tuesday 1st March saw the pupils of Wellington College Bilingual Shanghai have their first sessions in the classrooms; the response to the learning environment was astonishing. The teaching teams quickly and actively engaged with the children and established a calm, relaxed and positive atmosphere for the children to settle in to. Parents were on site to ensure that if needed, they were on hand to stay and play for a while. The week continued as such, with each day the children coming through the main gate more and more eager to get to class.
Attending a new setting is a big life event for any child, but especially young children. New people, routines, places, sights and sounds have to be acknowledged, accepted and understood. This takes time and is dependent upon excellence in the teams and the setting itself and strong parent partnerships.
From the very earliest moments in our journey to opening Wellington College Bilingual Shanghai, I have maintained the importance of strong, positive partnerships with our parents. As parents, you have expectations of Wellington College. The same can be said of Wellington College – we have expectations of our parents and families. We expect that you share our values, our vision and ethos of learning; otherwise, why would you be here? The basis of this partnership is communication; communication about the individual child and their journey. From this partnership, I wish as Master, to create a culture – our culture, the culture of Wellington College Bilingual Shanghai. I wish for a culture based on our Wellington values (kindness, courage, respect, responsibility and integrity), a culture of community, belonging, partnership and mutual trust; trust that we are doing the right thing for your child and trust that you are playing your part in the journey. And now, that journey for the founding pupils has begun……………..I wonder what excitement lies ahead?
Vanessa Szucs-Hussain
Master, Wellington College Bilingual Shanghai
