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5 years strong: Memories of founding members of WCCH community

04 Feb 2024
 
 

 

 

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, WCCH has journeyed through five remarkable years. Founded in the Xiaoshan district, this vibrant campus has evolved into important cradle for nurturing future international talents, providing high-quality education to numerous families in Hangzhou.   

 

Five years, sixty months, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five days. From 2018 to 2023, from initial establishment to nearly two thousand staff and pupils, Wellington College Hangzhou has faced many challenges and transformations. Yet, through the collective efforts and relentless pursuit of excellence by the entire school community including teachers, pupils and parents, the school has achieved significant accomplishments and gained an outstanding reputation in the field of education. 

 

Throughout these past five years, we have consistently adhered to a progressive educational philosophy encapsulated in our new motto 'Be You. Be More.' We are committed to integrating innovation, drawing on the essence of both Chinese and British educational principles. With a global perspective, we create a world-class educational environment, where every detail accentuates our passion and dedication to education. With an international vision, we shape an outstanding educational model, allowing pupils to embrace both the rich Chinese culture and the diverse cultures of the world, while also instilling in them the Wellington core values of kindness, responsibility, respect, courage and integrity.

 

 

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Kathryn Richardson

Master of

Wellington College Hangzhou

 

As we celebrate the fifth anniversary of Wellington College Hangzhou, it is essential to reflect on our commitment to a culture of lifelong learning, collaboration, and innovation embodied in our visionary statement, "We Are Learners, Connectors, and Changemakers."  We aim to empower our pupils to become confident, responsible and engaged global citizens capable of bridging worlds and contributing to the betterment of society. 

 

Our steadfast vision, since the inception of the school, has been to provide a world-class education that combines the best of British and Chinese educational traditions, fostering academic excellence, personal growth, and holistic development.  

 

The past five years have been remarkable with our pupils embodying the spirit of our motto, "Be You. Be More." This ethos encourages our pupils to embrace their unique strengths and talents while striving for continuous improvement. We believe that authenticity leads to greatness and a positive impact on the world, demonstrated by the talent and dedication displayed in academic pursuits, arts, sports, music and personal growth.  

 

Gratitude is extended to the invaluable support of our parents, Friends of Wellington (FoW) and the wider community, pivotal in shaping the success of our school.  As we move forward, we remain committed to ensuring that Wellington College Hangzhou continues to innovate and improve, providing a world-class education that prepares our pupils for the challenges and opportunities of the modern world. We are excited to see what the next five years hold for our school and our pupils, and we are confident that with the support of our community, we will continue to thrive and make a positive impact on the lives of our pupils because each and every day inspires at Wellington College Hangzhou. 

 

 

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Ivey Wang

Principal of

Wellington College Hangzhou

 

Over the past five years, we have successfully shaped the image of our Hiba  pupils: they are learners, connectors, and changemakers. They are upright, confident, respectful of others, compassionate, have a global perspective, and the courage to act responsibly. We take pride in each pupil’s progress, every academic achievement, every victory in sports competitions and every successful artistic performance.  

 

A proud tradition, educating for the future. Over the past five years, the school’s facilities have greatly improved, the quality of education has continuously risen, and the academic achievements have been remarkable. We express our gratitude to all those who care for and support the development of WCCH. We extend special thanks to the teaching and non-teaching staff for their hard work and to the parents for their trust and generous support. Our joint efforts and relentless pursuit have resulted in WCCH achieving an extraordinary reputation in the field of education.  

 

Be You. Be More. The fifth anniversary is just the beginning of our beautiful memories, always upholding the original mission of a Wellington College education, working together, we believe that WCCH will achieve even more excellent growth in the future. 

 

 

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The fifth anniversary marks a crucial moment of taking over the baton and racing forward. Looking back at this fifth anniversary, we have invited some founding teachers, pupils and parent representatives from WCCH to share with us their emotional journey over the past five years. 

 

 

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Hongyun Zheng

Finance Manager

 

For me, it all began six years ago before we opened the doors to our first pupils at WCCH. I have had the privilege of witnessing the annual growth of the school, marked with increased funding for school buildings, teaching facilities and books. Today, we have a beautiful campus with even more comprehensive facilities. During this time, we’ve collectively overcome the challenges of three years of COVID-19 pandemic and confronted financial pressures. Undoubtedly, the process of growing the school has had its mix of challenges as well as joy. Within our community, we have dedicated staff who embody the Wellington core values, and I’m delighted to be their colleague and contribute my part to the Wellington family.

 

 

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West Chen

Senior Government 

Affairs Manager

 

Since joining WCCH in 2016, before even the first foundation stone was laid, I have gradually come to a profound understanding of employee happiness. One of the most intriguing terms I've learned at our school is "open-mindedness." Here, expressing different opinions is encouraged, we are free to do so, and the management is exceptionally accommodating. During the pandemic, the school showed responsibility, providing a sense of protection for its employees. As a non-teaching staff member, I see our role as serving the teaching team to allow them to focus better on teaching. Personally, the school has taught me a sense of belonging. What started as eight years has become unexpectedly fulfilling, and Wellington has made me feel a true sense of belonging. 

 

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Carina Ma

Head of Primary Pastoral

HSH

 

As one of the founding staff members of WCCH, I have had the privilege of witnessing the vigorous development of the school and the continuous expansion of the teaching team. It has been a truly wonderful experience to work in this inclusive, culturally diverse bilingual community with a group of teachers full of educational aspirations. It is incredibly inspiring when both the international and local teaching teams work closely together, dedicating themselves to providing comprehensive care for the wellbeing of the pupils while also supporting their academic and holistic development. I am honoured to be part of such an efficient team that holds itself to high standards, and I look forward to continuing to achieve and break new ground in my future work with WCCH. 

 

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Fiona Qiu

Head of Primary Mathematics

HSH

 

Five years have flashed by in an instant, and looking back, I am overwhelmed by many emotions. Here, I have learned a great deal, such as the essence of British education, the art of communicating with parents and how to build positive interactions with children. In this place, I have also come to understand the importance of building school systems and creating a cultural atmosphere. In the five years since the school was founded, we have faced numerous difficulties and challenges, but with our dedication to and perseverance in education, we have withstood all pressures and obstacles. The development and progress of Wellington cannot be separated from the concerted efforts of every teacher and pupil, nor from the trust and attention of supportive parents and all sectors of society. In the future, we will continue to be committed to improving the quality of education, striving for the growth and development of every pupil. 

 

 

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Candice Wang

Mathematics Teacher/Grade Leader

HSH

 

Over these five years, the school has undergone many wonderful changes. The school's teaching facilities have continuously improved, and the quality of teaching has been constantly enhanced. The school has provided more opportunities and platforms for teachers and pupils, enabling them to fully develop their potential and talents. The school's culture and atmosphere have also gradually formed, becoming a vibrant and creative learning community. Each teacher has their own teaching style and philosophy, they influence pupils in their own way, ensuring they reap rewards in both their academic and moral education. 

 

Over these five years, I have been growing and innovating with Hiba School, transitioning from a teaching teacher to a form tutor, then to a head of year. I have left my own footprints and sweat in the school, and I am thankful for the development platform and opportunities the school has provided me. These memories are precious wealth and also serve as my motivation to keep marching forward. 

 

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Suzy Shi

Early Years

Class teacher

 

I still remember the month of my induction training; initially, I was very nervous as this school environment was quite unlike anywhere I had experienced before. Yet, in this unfamiliar setting, I discovered I could hear many "voices" at any given moment—on the school bus, someone would share their experiences of joining; in the canteen, someone would patiently explain the meal offerings; during training sessions, the headteacher might suddenly appear behind you to join in the discussions; and the IT staff were always on hand to quickly resolve any computer issues that arose. Wherever I went, people would demonstrate with their concerned voices and actions, telling me: "You belong here; we are together."

 

 

You belong here

 

Fifth

anniversary

We are together

 

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The five years I have spent at WCCH were unforgettable and fulfilling times in my life. Amid an ever competitive educational environment, I feel profoundly grateful that WCCH has always given me ample freedom and time to explore and cultivate personal interests and hobbies, allowing me the opportunity to pursue a broad range of academic and non-academic interests. I can showcase myself on stage, participate in a variety of sports activities and most importantly, persist in pursuing my own interests. 

 

At WCCH, I was encouraged to try and learned to gain experience from failures. I understand and firmly believe that there will be more opportunities waiting for me and believe in my continuous progress towards success. Looking back on these five years, I not only felt my independence growing but also learned how to study autonomously and think deeply about issues, cultivating critical thinking.  

 

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I believe for the majority of WCCH pupils, the memories of WCCH are colourful, adventurous, and joyful. Wellington has inspired me to become a curious adventurer, full of passion for life and eager for knowledge. Holding an open-minded attitude towards infinite possibilities is the belief I utilise to drive myself forward. 

 

——Hanni, Founding Pupil 

 

 

 

 

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Over the past five years, I have felt a very inclusive culture at this school. Within reasonable limits, anything is possible. Thanks to this accepting environment, all events I have organised have gone very smoothly and have significantly improved my leadership skills. Every new idea that that have brought forth has been accepted by everyone. I believe this is what makes the WCCH very appealing to me and unique. 

 

——Jerry, Founding Pupil

 

 

 

 

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Over the past five years, I have seen the rapid development of the school, from its initial state as a barren plot to the beautiful campus it is today, growing from just a handful of teachers and pupils to so many hundreds of faculty members and pupils. As a parent of a pupil from the founding cohort, I am honoured and comforted to have observed the growth and progression of the school. The educational philosophy and values of the school have profoundly influenced my children, encouraging them to utilise their unique talents and interests, to develop their independent thinking and problem-solving abilities, and to make progress in various aspects. I am especially grateful to Wellington College International Hangzhou for offering my child these learning opportunities and platforms. 

 

——Parent of founding pupil Isabella

 

 

 

 

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The reason we have chosen the WCCH is due to the excellent reputation Wellington possesses in both Shanghai and Tianjin, boasting a strong faculty with a high proportion of foreign teachers, which lays a solid foundation for our child's future education and life abroad. After visiting the school, we discovered that WCCH could be counted as one of the best-equipped schools in Hangzhou. The most important aspect is the school's focus on wellbeing and safeguarding minors. Wellington College was the first in the UK to incorporate wellbeing into its core curriculum, and the system at the school for ensuring the happiness and security of its pupils is extremely comprehensive, assuring the healthy development of every pupil in both body and mind.  

 

——Parent of founding pupil Jayden

 

 

 

 

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