Capping and Hair-Pinning Ceremony——2017 American Elite High School Program Graduation Ceremony in the High School Affiliated to Nanjing Normal University Jiangning Campus

On May 26th, the 2017 American Elite High School Program Graduation Ceremony for the High School Affiliated to Nanjing Normal University Jiangning Campus was held in the school hall. The Principal, Mr. ZHANG Shiming, the American Wasatch Academy (WA) Board Member, Mr. Murphy, the WA China Director, MR. Chris and the CEO of Jiangsu Ahead Education Group, Dr. HE Miao attended the ceremony. Program teachers and former student representatives were also present. Students DU Yang and YANG Yifan hosted the ceremony.

The Han Style Adult Ceremony originated in the HAN Dynasty in Ancient China and is the symbol of Chinese traditional Confucius culture.  In Ancient China, the adult ceremony marked a person’s transition to adulthood and was generally referred to as the Capping and Hair-Pinning Ceremony. The ceremony started with the ancient drums, which transported the guests back to the Han and Tang dynasties so that the graduates could experience the ancient traditional ceremony.  To begin with, the Principal gave a brief speech and the graduates moved into the hall, meeting the guests. The principal then washed his hands and placed a Futou (head cap worn by ancient Chinese men) on each student’s head. Finally, after saluting the audience, the graduates officially became adults”.  Participation in this ceremony reminded the graduates of Chinese traditional culture, clearing their responsibilities for the future.

Adult Ceremony

Opening Dance

Offering a Sacrifice to the Ancestors

Princial ZHANG Shiming giving a speech

Washing Hands

Capping and Hair-Pinning

Proposing a Toast

Saluting to Teachers and Parents

Taking an Oath

Graduation Ceremony

Zither Playing

Hosts

Singing the National Anthem

Mr. HUANG Wei, the vice principal of the High School Affiliated to Nanjing Normal University Jiangning Campus, giving a speech. He expressed his warm thanks to all the people supporting the American Elite High School Program.

Mr. Murphy, the representative of the American Program, gave a speech. He hoped that all the graduates would perform well in America and learn how to be grateful, happy and interesting people.  Finally, he wished all the students a promising future!

The foreign Principal also expressed his best wishes to all the graduates by video.

Dr. HE Miao, CEO of Jiangsu Ahead Education Group, gave a speech and wished all the graduates a promising future!

The teacher representatives awarded outstanding students for their excellent performance.

ZHANG Yuxin, the graduates representative, gave a speech.

The parent’s representative gave their thanksgiving speech.

The graduates hugged and thanked their parents.

Ms. ZHANG Yan, the Class Tutor, gave a speech.

The Principals awarded the graduation certificates to students one by one.

Poetry Reading

The graduates in the American Elite High School Program will start their further study in America this September. The gratitude and responsibility from the inner heart will be the source of power which will support their future life and study. It is hoped that all the graduates will have a bright future!

 

American Elite High School Program Achievements

There were twenty two graduates in the American Elite High School Program this year. Twenty one students applied for American Universities, and only one student (Korean Nationality) applied for a Korean University. They received 120 offers from American Universities and won a total of $320,000 dollars in scholarships. All of the graduates were admitted by the top eighty American Universities, and 62% received offers from top 50 universities, including Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy & Health Science, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of California, Davis, Ohio State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Toronto, and the University of British Columbia.