2025 Highlights | CIS Annual Moments of Inspiration: A Look Back at the Shining Moments

In 2025, CIS embarked on a journey of growth and renewal. 

Guided by the mission “Innovate Today, Lead Tomorrow” and the vision of “Academic Excellence with Caring Community,” the school hosted over 100 events, welcoming more than 5,000 participants from 30+ countries. CIS also built partnerships with nearly 50 chambers, associations, and enterprises to connect students with real‑world learning. Over 400,000 peopleacross the Greater Bay Area followed our educational stories online.This year, CIS students excelled in various competitions, and the school earned multiple international accreditations and honors—marking a new milestone of excellence.

Let’s take a look back at 2025 and revisit the moments and achievements that defined CIS.

Together, they come together in four key themes—Academic Excellence, Caring Community , Innovation Today, and Lead Tomorrow —each representing moments worth remembering and celebrating.

In 2025, CIS demonstrated academic excellence through both structured standards and tangible achievements.   

Our students achieved remarkable results across multiple competitions, with the CIS team earning top honors at the Global Youth Leadership Model United Nations (YLMUN).

This year, CIS welcomed new principals for both the secondary and elementary  schools, as well as a new Chinese principal. They brought fresh strategic vision and educational concepts, infusing the school with more innovation and vitality.

CIS successfully passed the annual review conducted by the Alberta Education Authority of Canada and officially received accreditation from Cambridge International Education.

These dual accreditations affirm the strength of our academic framework and teaching quality, marking an important step forward in CIS’s journey in international education.

CIS was honored with the “Model United Nations Curriculum Center” plaque by the Global Youth Leadership Model United Nations (YLMUN), recognizing the school as a leading institution in MUN education.

CIS was officially recognized as both a Spanish Football Education Demonstration School and an Ivy International Sports Demonstration School.

These dual recognitions mark an important milestone in the development of our sports programs, while opening up higher-level athletic pathways and opportunities for our students.

During the preliminary rounds, CIS students demonstrated strong academic preparation and confident English communication, winning multiple gold, silver, and bronze awards, as well as the Overall Best Performance of the Day, showcasing exceptional critical thinking skills and a global perspective.

CIS students achieved remarkable success in the ASDAN Business Simulation Competition, winning five awards, with two teams advancing directly to the national finals.

At the same time, students participating in the Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) delivered strong performances, earning multiple distinctions.

At the CIEO “Sing to the World” Choir Competition, the CIS Choir earned the Gold Award through an outstanding performance.

From musical precision to emotional expression, students conveyed teamwork, dedication, and the power of music through their voices.

Representatives from 25 renowned universities worldwide gathered at CIS, engaging directly with students to support informed and forward-looking academic planning.

This week-long, school-wide reading initiative featured character role-play, creative workshops, and campus book fairs—transforming reading into an imaginative and dynamic exploration.

CIS believes that meaningful care begins with understanding each student’s unique needs.

Through semester-wide student–parent–teacher conferences and strong home–school collaboration, CIS provides consistent support for students’ learning and well-being.

In 2025, over 30 home–school initiatives ensured steady guidance for every student.

As a key CIS initiative each semester, Parent–Teacher–Student Conference provide a platform for meaningful dialogue among students, teachers, and families.

Together, personalized development goals are established, ensuring that every effort and milestone is recognized.

With the successful transition to a new PTA, parent representatives began a new journey of collaboration with renewed enthusiasm and responsibility, working closely with the school to support student development.

CIS hosted its first parent-exclusive engagement event, welcoming families from both within and beyond the school community.

Through relaxed and creative hands-on activities, parents connected, exchanged ideas, and experienced the warmth and sense of belonging within the CIS community.

Innovation at CIS is not a slogan—it is a series of meaningful, real-world practices.

In 2025, CIS hosted four major signature events spanning multicultural exchange, STEAM innovation, arts-based philanthropy, and community engagement, attracting nearly 1,000 families and featuring student-led showcases and performances.

From planning to execution, students took center stage, transforming the campus into a true space where innovation comes to life.

Future Beats, a CIS brand film narrated by students themselves, tells authentic CIS stories and showcases the school’s educational vision and unique spirit.

Planned and led by students and teachers, International Day featured cultural booths representing 13 countries and over 30 performances.

Through food, music, and art, CIS became a vibrant platform celebrating global diversity.

Driven by student creativity, the conference combined innovation talks, VEX Robotics challenges, and interdisciplinary exhibitions, highlighting students’ imagination and creativity in STEAM education.

Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the CIEO Group, students raised funds through art auctions to support digital education initiatives in rural areas—demonstrating how creativity and compassion can go hand in hand.

With over 400 families in attendance, this annual highlight brought together creative markets, live performances, charity activities, and student showcases, filling the winter campus with warmth and music.

The cultivation of future leaders begins with real-world connections and continuous action.

In 2025, CIS empowered student growth through diverse learning experiences—from the artistic expression of the Northern Lights Orchestra to enterprise visits in project-based learning, from the international stage of TED‑Ed to the collaborative spirit of the House system. Students developed holistically through academic, artistic, and social experiences.

Rooted in academic excellence and guided by purposeful action, CIS continues to nurture responsible, creative, and forward-looking young leaders through authentic practice.

Within one year, the Northern Lights Orchestra presented two major performances.

Under the guidance of professional instructors from Xinghai Conservatory of Music, Zhujiang Film Orchestra, and Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra, alongside CIS music teachers, students told stories of growth through music.

CIS is committed to ensuring that every student masters at least one orchestral instrument, giving each child a unique musical voice.

CIS organized project-based learning experiences for secondary school students, guiding them beyond campus into industrial production settings, robotics companies, and jewelry cultural centers.

By connecting classroom learning with real-world contexts, students expanded their global perspectives while deepening their understanding of local industries and culture.

CIS was officially authorized by TED Global Education to conduct the TED‑Ed Student Talks program, becoming a recognized TED‑Ed school. 

Through this international platform, CIS students delivered English speeches exploring themes of truth, growth, and perspective, demonstrating critical thinking and cultural awareness in public expression.  

CIS has four Houses—Hawks, Bears, Orcas, and Wolves—that extend across students’ academic and campus life, fostering teamwork and leadership potential. 

Through collaboration and healthy competition among the Houses, students learn responsibility and cooperation, cultivate creativity and a sense of belonging, and grow together as future leaders.

Invited as a key participating school, CIS joined the Foshan China-Europe 

Culture Week.

Students collaborated with international artists, broadening their global outlook through cultural and artistic exchange.

CIS Foshan celebrated its first anniversary with the participation of Filipino artist Marvic Gile, who worked with students to create four large-scale paintings—artfully capturing the school’s growth and spirit.

Through the symbol of orange, CIS advocated inclusion, respect, and care, standing firmly against bullying and reinforcing the belief that every child matters.

Looking back on 2025, CIS brought the vision of “Innovate Today, Lead Tomorrow” to life through meaningful action—growing in both academic depth and educational warmth.

As we look ahead to 2026, we will continue to advance innovation while strengthening our commitment to Academic Excellence & Caring Community, supporting every student as they step into a wider world.

Every CIS student is a light shaping the future.

Happy New Year!