Prize-giving Assembly – ending the 2012/2013 school year at Wellington

The academic year at Wellington College International Tianjin was brought to a rousing close in a final full school assembly on Wednesday 3rd July. Mixing musical performance, prize awards and valedictory speeches for leaving staff, it was a fitting way to end what has been another excellent year.

Prizes in the Junior School were awarded for Outstanding Progress, Outstanding Achievement and Outstanding Citizen, in addition to various subject prizes for Key Stages 1 and 2. In the Senior School, prizes were mainly subject-based, with the addition of special awards for contribution in each of the four Houses, as well as Master’s Prizes.

Musical entertainment was provided by the Wind Band and the String Group, both under the direction of Mr Peter Becko, by Mimi Zou, and by the College Choir, led by Mr Steve Griffiths. The choir comprised pupils, teachers and members of the non-academic staff, and among the pieces they sang was an electrifying rendition of “O Fortuna” from Carmina Burana, by Carl Orff, to close the assembly.

The Master, Mr David Cook, in his last address to the school before leaving to become Master of Wellington’s new branch in Shanghai, spoke warmly of the leaving staff and their contribution to the school’s founding two years. He was followed by Mrs Joy Qiao, the Chair of the Governing Board, who paid tribute to Mr Cook’s three year endeavour in helping to set up Wellington in Tianjin, and unveiled with him a specially commissioned portrait which will hand in a prominent position in the school.