Shanghai American School Students Swap Transition Gifts For The Gift Of Giving

This year's Grade 8 class at the Shanghai American School (SAS) recently congregated for the school's annual Transition Ceremony; and this time they did it in a very different way. Traditionally, as part of the ceremony, the school's PTA will purchase a gift for each student, to mark the occasion of their graduation from Middle School and entrance to High School. This year, however, the students decided to forgo their gift and instead use the money to sponsor a Shanghai Sunrise student for the full three years of their High School education. This generous gesture will now ensure that as they take their first step into High School, so too will a disadvantaged young student who might not otherwise have had the chance.

The team of nine students who were elected to select the charity on behalf of Grade 8 announced the news during the Transition Ceremony and each of the 150 students was gifted a Sponsor Certificate. During the announcement, students also viewed a surprise video message from one of the school's teachers, Mr Xiao Jian, who was once himself a student sponsored by Shanghai Sunrise. You can read more about Xiao Jian's story here.

We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to all the Grade 8 students at the Shanghai American School as well as their Parent Teacher Association for their kindness and generosity. Their selfless gesture is an inspiration to us all.