BCIS - Beijing City International School

As we bid farewell to another school year, BCISers continued to highlight the compassion, spirit, and leadership that defines our community.

Over the last two weeks, Grade 11s impressed panelists and classmates with engaging, in-depth and holistic Graduate Portfolio Defense presentations, highlighting the strong sense of identity each of our students have. Meanwhile, the Secondary School Summer Concert and Art Exhibitions wowed audiences with their creativity, skill, and passion, yet another marker of the vibrant arts culture at BCIS. At the Grade 10 MYP Celebration of Learning, inventive superlatives were given to students who go the extra mile to show up for their peers. Grade 5s wrapped up a month of milestones as they celebrated the conclusion of their PYP Exhibition and end of Elementary School experience with their Moving Up Ceremony.

This year has been one full of memorable highlights, from large-scale community events to community and service initiatives, however it is the daily, consistent quality of Warriors to treat each other with compassion, kindness, and warmth as they progress through their own BCIS journeys which stands out as a marker of our identity.

To our staff, families, students and friends — your growth, achievement, and togetherness, and contributions to the community have made the 2025-26 school year unforgettable. Have an amazing summer holiday, Warriors, and we'll see you in August!

Recognizing Milestones of Growth at BCIS

Throughout the past two weeks, our Early Years campuses have been recognizing the learning journeys of their eldest cohort, the kindergarten classes.

At the Early Childhood Center, Celebrations of Learning have been taking place, inviting families on to campus to step into the world of their children’s learning journeys throughout the year, while Courtyard Kindergarten’s KG class celebrated their school year at the 300-year-old campus with a graduation ceremony on Friday. They received a standing ovation as they made their way to the historic courtyards, encapsulating the community spirit at CK.

In the Elementary School, the PYP Exhibition Staging Days recently took place, a landmark for each and every Grade 5 student. As they prepare for their Middle School journeys, inquiry-based and self-driven projects like the PYP Exhibition lay strong foundations in developing both the technical and soft skills needed to grow into confident, independent learners in the future.

At BCIS, when we take a step back to celebrate and display the growth of our students as they reach big milestones, we foster an environment where students are unafraid to ask questions, explore, and learn with joy.

Career Exploration Day 2026 💬

The term 'Learning Community' is often used in school settings, but what does it truly mean?

On Monday, eighteen BCIS parents and alumni came to campus to share their stories with our high school students, drawing from the expertise within our own community to create an impactful and engaging learning experience. The diversity of industries and pathways our parents & alumni have taken aligns strongly with our educational philosophy of personalization, as they showcased how to exhibit adaptability and self-drive to pursue one's passions.

This event, whose format was shaped by BCIS high school students, saw topics ranging from Sustainability, Psychiatry and Architecture to Entrepreneurship, Finance, and Public Affairs feature. Students chose which sessions they'd like to attend, engaging with our guest speakers throughout and asking purposeful and valuable questions as they begin to think about not only university, but life beyond that.

At BCIS, we remain committed to building a wide and engaged learning community, one where students, staff, families and alumni embody and live the mission, vision and values of BCIS wherever they go.

Celebrating the Class of 2026 🎓

Saturday saw the BCIS community come together to recognize the growth and achievements of this year's graduating cohort. Our 18th graduating class, this year's graduates celebrated the final phase of their Secondary School journeys with friends and family, teachers and principals, and of course, each other.

Our graduates will be heading far and wide as they prepare for their next steps, however one thing remains with them wherever they go — the BCIS community. Their academic successes are built on a foundation of goodwill, cooperation, and collaboration, supporting each other along every step of the journey.

Alumni speakers Frank and Yuanna linked the past and present, while teacher speaker Mr. Selley talked of embracing uncertainty with open arms. Student speakers reminisced and imparted words of wisdom for the Grade 11s in attendance, before tossing their caps and closing this particular chapter.

At BCIS, we remain committed to fostering empowered learners, principled leaders, and well-being cultivators, qualities that the students of the Class of 2026 have in abundance.

Congratulations to the Class of 2026!

Join Nancy (G10) as she explores the topics that matter most to BCISers — from grades & assignments to friendships & peer pressure, hear this on-the-ground perspective straight from the source.

Here's Episode 1!

https://youtu.be/brjoJ8qn9B8

BCIS Real Talk Podcast — Episode 1: How to Manage Academic Stress Join Nancy (G10) as she explores the topics that matter most to BCISers — from grades & assignments to friendships & peer pressure, hear this on-the-ground p...

Nurturing Growth with Warmth: Strengthening Wellbeing for the 'Anxious Generation'

As global discussions were sparked by Jonathan Haidt's 2024 book 'The Anxious Generation', BCIS took this opportunity to start a community-wide dialogue. In an age with increasing screen time, social media usage and AI development, are our systems, structures and attitudes appropriately attuned to not only help our students cope with, but thrive in this rapidly changing environment?

Tuesday marked the eighth edition of our Shaping Our Future forum series, featuring Dr. Xu Kaiwen and Ms. Zhao Xuekun in conversation with BCIS leadership, counselors, and student representatives. To a packed out theater and 32,000 livestream viewers, they explored how we can better support the 'Anxious Generation' through insights from psychology, education, family, and student experience in an age shaped by AI and social media.

Joseph and Elina, Grade 11, both made incredible ambassadors for the BCIS student population, guiding and adding to the panel discussion with confidence. Their 'on the ground' perspectives helped ensure these conversations were not just academic, but real, told through the lens of their lived experience.

Discussions touched not just on the harms that come with an increasingly online and screen-heavy society, but also on positive, forward-thinking action — how do we identity and nurture meaning and motivation in young people? What mindsets and approaches do different stakeholders need to take — schools, families, individuals, and wider society — in order to create purposeful and positive environments?

At BCIS, we remain committed to fostering an intergenerational learning community, with students, families and staff all invested in our philosophy and direction. We are proud to platform these important conversations and highlight our future-focused approach to education.

Friday marked our annual Bridging Day, a cherished BCIS tradition celebrating growth, continuity, and community. For our Grade 5 students, this symbolic day bridges their Elementary and Secondary journeys as they step confidently into Middle School, spending the day immersed in their future learning environments, experiencing a “day in the life” of a Middle Schooler and learning about new expectations, opportunities, and responsibilities.

This year’s Bridging Day was especially meaningful as we prepare to introduce our new split Middle and High School structure, ensuring even more focused support for each age group.

The event concluded with our beloved tradition of a whole-school sendoff for the graduating Class of 2026. Approaching the end of their High School journeys at BCIS, they accompanied the Grade 5s as they ran through a human tunnel of cheering peers and teachers, perfectly embodying the spirit of transition and belonging that defines our BCIS community.