Dear teachers and students,
In the past summer holiday, we were still in the constant battle against Covid-19. The epidemics in Nanjing and Yangzhou concerns people across the province and across the country. Thanks to everyone's efforts, the epidemic has been brought under control and everyone has returned to campus safely. We welcome everyone to return to the CBS campus on time, and new students and teachers are also welcome to join the CBS family and start a new journey in life.
Also because of the epidemic, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics was finally held on July 23, 2021. Since this Olympics, the Olympic motto "faster, higher, stronger” is complemented by after a hyphen, “-Together”. International Olympic Committee President Bach explained: “We need more solidarity within societies and among societies and this became obvious at the very beginning of the coronavirus when you could see that the social gap was widening. The world is so interdependent that nobody can solve the real big challenges alone anymore. I made this proposal to express this need of solidarity to become faster, to be able to aim higher, to become stronger, for this we need to be together, it means we need solidarity. "
Mankind is a community with a shared future. There is a Chinese proverb called “Everyone collects firewood and flames are high”. IB’s mission is to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect, which is just an interpretation of the word, "Together". In a school like ours who provides 15-year continuous education from kindergarten to high school, the sources of teachers and students are very diverse, and solidarity and cooperation are particularly important. In the past school year, our teachers and students cultivated the ability of cooperation and the quality of mutual respect through school activities, department activities, and class activities. Therefore, our ability of running a school and our students’ ability of entering a higher school have been improved to a certain extent. A few days ago, our school was listed among the “Top 10 Language Schools” in the 2020 China International School Characteristics Ranking. From the teacher report day to today, I have fully felt the power of this kind of solidarity and cooperation from the teacher's teaching and research activities and preparations for school opening. I believe that this kind of unity will also enable our school and our students to create greater brilliance.
In this Olympics, Chinese athletes achieved a record of 38 gold, 32 silver, and 18 bronze. The number of gold medals is equal to the best record we have ever achieved in overseas Olympics, and the total number of 88 medals was ranked second in the world medal list. In addition to traditional advantageous events, our athletes have also achieved impressive results in many other events. Chinese athletes strived to be the first and to make breakthroughs.
Among these athletes, the generation born in the 21st century have begun to stand on the stage of history and have created impressive results. Guan Chenchen, the gold medalist of the gymnastic women’s balance beam, astounded the world with 3 full marks of 5 moves. Born in 2007, 14-year-old Quan Hongchan is admirable. Yang Qian, born in 2000, won the first gold medal of Olympics during the summer vacation of Tsinghua University.
Sitting here are all generations born in the 21st century, while the 21st century has entered its second 20 years. This year celebrates the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, who has also embarked on a new century journey. Chairman Mao Zedong gave a famous speech to Chinese students studying in the Soviet Union in the auditorium of Moscow University: "The world is yours and ours, but in the end, it is yours. Young people like you are full of vigor and prosperity, like the sun at eight or nine o'clock in the morning. All our hope rests on you." Revolutionary pioneer Li Dazhao called out to young people in his article Youth: "To encourage civilization for the world and to create happiness for mankind, I, with youth, should create a youthful family, a youthful country, a youthful nation, youthful humanity, a youthful earth, and a youthful universe, and enjoy the boundless life of forever youth.” I believe all the students here can shoulder the responsibility of rejuvenating the nation and strive to realize the value of their lives.
A new school year, a new beginning; a new century, a new journey. I hope that the students and teachers will forge ahead, unite and cooperate, and make new progress for themselves, for the school and for the society.
