中文
The true value of education often becomes clear only with the passage of time. Ten years offers an opportunity to look back—not simply to celebrate what has been accomplished, but to reflect on what has endured. A decade is enough time for a school to move beyond the uncertainties of its early years and develop its own identity, rhythm, and sense of purpose. It is also enough time for an educational vision, once expressed in words, to become part of everyday teaching, learning, and school life.
On September 19, 2026, Beijing Haidian Kaiwen Academy celebrated its 10th anniversary with a commemorative event held in the school's auditorium. Educators, community leaders, distinguished guests, families, alumni, faculty, and students gathered on campus to reflect on the school's first decade and consider the opportunities and responsibilities that lie ahead. The anniversary marked both a milestone and a new beginning. For the Haidian Kaiwen Academy community, it was a chance to recognize the work of the past ten years, reaffirm the principles that have guided the school, and engage in a shared conversation about the future of education.
Jia Zhao, Deputy Director of the Haidian District Education Commission in Beijing, attended the celebration and delivered opening remarks. On behalf of the Education Working Committee of the CPC Haidian District Committee and the Haidian District Education Commission, Deputy Director Zhao congratulated the faculty, students, and families of Haidian Kaiwen Academy. In his address, he described education as one of Haidian District's defining strengths and emphasized the important role private education plays within the district's broader educational system, including its responsibility to educate students for the country.
Deputy Director Zhao recognized the school's commitment to its educational mission, its continued development over the past decade, and its efforts to advance teaching quality and personalized student growth. He also acknowledged the school's university admission results, growing reputation, and contributions to educational diversity in Haidian District. Looking ahead, he expressed his hope that Beijing Haidian Kaiwen Academy would continue contributing to the district's educational development and providing families with high-quality, diverse educational opportunities.
What has Haidian Kaiwen Academy remained committed to over the past decade? The world of education has changed considerably since the school opened in 2016. Technology has advanced at an extraordinary pace. International circumstances have shifted. Families' expectations of education—and their understanding of what children need to thrive—have continued to evolve.
Yet education remains a long-term endeavor. Its purpose is human development, and its results cannot always be measured immediately. A school that follows every passing trend risks losing its identity. A school that refuses to change risks becoming disconnected from the world its students will enter. At Haidian Kaiwen Academy, the response has been to hold firmly to the principles that matter while continuing to adapt, improve, and grow.
Those principles are expressed through the school's motto—Adaptability, Courage, and Persistence—and its core values of Kindness and Positivity.
Adaptability means finding ways to grow through uncertainty and setbacks. It is the ability to adjust to changing circumstances without allowing them to define one's future. Courage means approaching new challenges with curiosity and determination. It is the willingness to step beyond familiar boundaries, even when the outcome is uncertain. Persistence means remaining committed to meaningful goals, maintaining resilience through difficulty, and moving forward with a constructive outlook.
Together, these three principles provide a foundation for how students are encouraged to approach learning, challenges, and life beyond school. Equally important are the values that shape how members of the school community treat one another and respond to the world.
Kindness is the most essential foundation. It is a commitment to doing what is right, even when no one is watching. It asks students to treat others with respect, exercise sound judgment, and resist the belief that success must come at someone else's expense.
Positivity is the most important complement. It is an active approach to life: choosing to respond rather than withdraw, looking for possibilities in difficult circumstances, and finding the motivation to move forward even after setbacks.
Over the past ten years, these principles have been revisited, tested, and put into practice throughout school life. They have helped define not only what Beijing Haidian Kaiwen Academy believes, but also how the school approaches education and understands student growth.
In his 10th anniversary address, Principal Yongyuan Li organized his reflections around three Latin words: Respice. Adspice. Prospice. Look back. Consider the present. Look ahead. Together, they framed a reflection on the school's beginnings, the shared beliefs that have sustained its development, and the questions that will shape its future.
In 2016, a new school opened at the foot of Yuquan Mountain in Beijing's Haidian District. With a modern campus, substantial educational resources, and an ambitious vision, Beijing Haidian Kaiwen Academy began with opportunities that many newly established schools could only hope to build over time.
The first few years, however, were not without challenges. Like any new institution, the school had to establish its foundations, find its footing, and make difficult decisions about its long-term direction. At a time when it had yet to graduate its first class, Haidian Kaiwen Academy committed to developing its own students from enrollment through graduation, rather than relying on results achieved elsewhere.
A significant turning point came in 2019, when the school began a series of organizational reforms focused on efficiency, vitality, and empowerment. These changes marked the beginning of a period of sustained development. The school strengthened its curriculum, invested in faculty development, cultivated its community culture, and gradually achieved stronger university admission outcomes. Reflecting on those demanding early years, Principal Li shared:
“There were many things we pursued not because we could already see hope, but because we believed they were worth doing. We committed ourselves, kept working, and only gradually began to see what was possible.”
It was a lesson in patience, conviction, and the importance of continuing to do meaningful work even when the results are not yet visible.
“Shared understanding is one of the most valuable things in the world,” Principal Li told the audience. Looking back over ten years, he identified several convictions that have helped Haidian Kaiwen Academy navigate change and build a cohesive educational community.
The first is a shared commitment to the school's motto and values. Adaptability, Courage, and Persistence, together with Kindness and Positivity, have become more than statements of intent. They are reflected in everyday decisions, expectations, relationships, and the ways members of the community respond to challenges. Another essential commitment is the partnership between families and the school.
At Haidian Kaiwen Academy, the relationship between home and school is understood as a partnership grounded in a shared responsibility for each child's development. For ten years, the Parent Committee has served as an important bridge between families and the school. Parent representatives have contributed ideas, provided feedback, supported student activities, and helped bring additional resources into the educational community.
In 2021, the school established the Haidian Kaiwen Parent Academy, further expanding opportunities for parents to learn, connect, and grow alongside their children. The initiative reflects a belief that education should not end with childhood and that parents, too, benefit from a community committed to lifelong learning.
Over time, families have established a variety of interest groups and clubs, including a parent book club, choir, calligraphy club, and running club. These activities have made the relationship between families and the school more personal and meaningful. Parents are not simply observers of school life. They are active participants in the community and partners in shaping the environment in which their children grow.
Principal Li also reflected on a mindset that has shaped the school's development: moving from a quick-fix mentality to a builder's mindset. A quick-fix mentality focuses on removing an immediate problem, resolving an inconvenience, or getting through a difficult situation. A builder's mindset asks a different question: What can we create or improve because this challenge exists?
From this perspective, every difficulty presents an opportunity to put the school's stated values into practice, improve the surrounding environment, and build something that will last. The goal is not to avoid problems, but to approach them with the willingness to take responsibility, think constructively, and create solutions. This shift may sound straightforward, but it requires patience, discipline, and the ability to look beyond immediate circumstances. Principal Li emphasized that such a mindset has helped Haidian Kaiwen Academy remain open to new ideas and continue moving forward throughout its development.
Over time, these shared beliefs have contributed to a character that is distinctly Kaiwen. Principal Li described it as:
“Sincere and unassuming—writing poetry among the clouds while planting seeds in the soil.”
The image captures an important quality of the school: the willingness to dream, paired with the discipline to do the work. It is about holding ambitious ideals while remaining grounded in everyday responsibilities. For ten years, Haidian Kaiwen Academy has sought to build its identity not through grand declarations, but through the steady work of teaching, learning, and caring for students.
In the final part of his address, Principal Li turned to the future. The rapid development of artificial intelligence is changing how people work, communicate, access information, and understand knowledge itself. He referred to a provocative idea from a book on technological change: perhaps technology should no longer be understood merely as a tool, but as something with a life and trajectory of its own.
Whether or not one agrees with that view, it raises an important question for K–12 education: What must change in education, and what must remain unchanged? When knowledge is no longer transmitted primarily through classroom instruction, and students have access to information through countless channels, schools must reconsider the role of teachers, the structure of learning, and the purpose of education itself. These are questions facing schools around the world.
Yet Principal Li emphasized that certain commitments should remain constant, regardless of how technology develops. They include respect for human life and dignity, nurturing children's curiosity and creativity, and cultivating logical reasoning, critical thinking, and effective communication. These are not temporary educational priorities. They are central to helping young people develop as human beings.
Principal Li also raised a broader question about the role schools can play in society: how might education help ease some of the pressures and anxieties people carry? A school is, in many ways, a reflection of the society around it. The uncertainty, competition, and stress experienced by families inevitably find their way into students' lives. One school may have limited influence in the wider world. But by making a meaningful difference in the life of a child or family, it may contribute to changes that extend far beyond its campus. Haidian Kaiwen Academy hopes to continue this work alongside other educators and institutions that share its commitment to human development.
Over ten years, Haidian Kaiwen Academy has steadily developed the academic and co-curricular programs that support student growth. Its curriculum, academic competition programs, performing arts ensembles, and athletic teams were not built overnight. Each has evolved through years of planning, experimentation, investment, and refinement.
Since its founding, the school has worked to develop a curriculum that balances academic rigor, student choice, and continuity across grade levels. Programs such as Advanced Placement (AP) and A Levels have been introduced and expanded, alongside initiatives such as the Elite Program, which provides additional academic opportunities and individualized support for high-achieving students. Together, these offerings give students access to different academic pathways and opportunities to pursue their interests at increasingly advanced levels.
The school's academic competition program has followed a similar course of development. What began with opportunities for a relatively small number of students has grown into a structured competition system spanning elementary, middle, and high school. Students can now explore a wide range of disciplines through progressively challenging programs and receive support for participation in high-level academic competitions.
Beyond academics, the school has invested in the performing arts and athletics. The Demoiselle Crane Musical Theatre Company, school orchestra, and choirs have matured into established parts of campus life. Athletic teams have expanded from a handful of programs into a comprehensive system covering more than ten sports. Students have earned recognition in international arts and athletic competitions, demonstrating both creative expression and the resilience that comes from sustained practice and competition.
Despite their different purposes, these programs share one goal: To help every student find a path that fits their interests, strengths, and aspirations—and become the best version of themselves.
For Beijing Haidian Kaiwen Academy, developing students throughout their educational journeys and preparing them for life beyond graduation has always been an important commitment. Over its first decade, the school has graduated seven classes of students. The graduating class has grown from just eight students in 2020 to 86 students in 2026. During that time, the school's university admission record has expanded considerably. From its first offer from New York University, students have gone on to receive offers from institutions including the California Institute of Technology, Duke University, Northwestern University, the University of Oxford, and the University of Cambridge.
According to the school's anniversary review, over the past three years, more than 95% of students applying to U.S. universities through academic pathways received offers from U.S. Top 50 universities each year. The school also reported that UK G5 university admission rates exceeded 60% for three consecutive years, while acceptance rates to Australia's Group of Eight universities remained at 100% over the same period.
Graduates have pursued majors across mathematics, chemistry, physics, biology, computer science, data science, electronic engineering, economics, psychology, sociology, communications, business, and art and design. Today, Haidian Kaiwen alumni are studying at universities across multiple countries and regions.
These outcomes are more than a record of university offers. They reflect the gradual development of the school's academic systems, individualized support, and university counseling over the past decade. Each improvement, each new opportunity, and each student supported along the way has contributed to a stronger foundation for the graduating classes that follow.
A school's development cannot be separated from the people who teach within it. Over the past decade, many faculty members have grown professionally alongside Haidian Kaiwen Academy. They have been more than subject teachers. They have served as mentors, colleagues, community members, and stewards of the school's educational values. Through every stage of the school's development, teachers have helped build its curriculum, strengthen its programs, support students through challenges, and establish a culture of sustained improvement. The relationship has been reciprocal: the school has provided opportunities for teachers to develop, while their commitment and expertise have shaped the institution itself.
During the anniversary celebration, Haidian Kaiwen Academy presented the “Suoyu He Gonglei Award” to faculty and staff members who have made significant contributions through their years of service. The recognition expressed the school's gratitude to those whose dedication and care have helped sustain its first decade.
Among those who shared their experiences was Mr. Stephen Pattenden, a mathematics teacher who joined the school when it first opened. Drawing on his perspective as a math teacher, Mr. Pattenden reflected on the changes he has witnessed through numbers and milestones. He also spoke as a parent, describing the sense of belonging his son has found within the school community. His remarks were personal and understated—a reminder that ten years of institutional growth are ultimately made up of individual relationships, experiences, and memories.
The anniversary celebration also brought messages of encouragement from friends and supporters around the world. Educators, community partners, alumni, parents, and former Parent Committee representatives sent video greetings reflecting on their connections with Haidian Kaiwen Academy.
Two messages held particular significance. Children from Dashiqiao Township Central Primary School in Xichuan County, Henan Province, and an orphanage in Angola—two communities with longstanding connections to Haidian Kaiwen—shared their greetings and good wishes. Their messages offered a reminder that, over the past ten years, the relationships formed through the school have extended well beyond the boundaries of its campus. They have connected people across generations, communities, and countries.
Artificial intelligence is changing how society operates and raising new questions about the knowledge, skills, and qualities young people will need in the future. As Beijing Haidian Kaiwen Academy begins its next decade, one question has become increasingly important: How should K–12 education evolve to prepare students for a world shaped by AI? To explore this question, the school hosted a roundtable discussion during its 10th anniversary celebration. The forum, titled “Talent Development and Educational Innovation in the Age of AI,” brought together guests from higher education, emerging technology, and industry to exchange perspectives on the future of teaching and learning.
Participants discussed how artificial intelligence is reshaping university education and the workplace, as well as the growing gap between traditional talent development and the skills demanded by emerging industries. The conversation addressed several important questions:
How should K–12 schools adapt their educational models in the AI era?
How might AI change the ways students are evaluated and selected for future opportunities?
What role should AI play in schools and classrooms?
How do students who learn with AI differ from those following more traditional learning approaches?
How will teachers' responsibilities and professional skills need to evolve?
Which human capabilities will matter most as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life?
Throughout the discussion, guests returned to a common theme: what should change in education, and what should remain constant? Drawing on their experiences in universities, technology development, and industry, the speakers reflected on the disruption brought by AI, the changing demands placed on graduates, and the evolving role of teachers.
While their perspectives differed, the discussion repeatedly returned to the importance of human development. As technology becomes more capable, education must remain attentive to the people it serves—their capacity to reason, create, communicate, make judgments, and take responsibility for their decisions. For Haidian Kaiwen Academy, this is not a new concern. It is a continuation of the questions the school has explored throughout its first decade, and one that will remain central to its work in the years ahead.
Beyond the main anniversary ceremony and academic forum, Haidian Kaiwen Academy hosted a 10th anniversary campus fair, bringing the celebration into the school's outdoor spaces. Throughout campus, cultural booths and interactive activities gave students, parents, faculty, and visitors opportunities to celebrate together. Performers portraying figures from traditional Chinese culture moved among the crowds, interacting with families and posing for photographs. At the school history booth, visitors explored memories and milestones from the past decade, reflecting on their own connections with the school.
Charity booths continued Haidian Kaiwen's tradition of community service, offering another opportunity for students and families to put the school's value of kindness into practice. The campus fair extended the anniversary celebration beyond the auditorium, making it an occasion shared by the wider school community. It was a day to revisit familiar memories, reconnect with friends, recognize collective achievements, and enjoy the sense of belonging that has grown over ten years.
Ten years. Time has witnessed the steady work that has shaped Beijing Haidian Kaiwen Academy. Looking back, the significance of that work ultimately comes down to people. Over the past decade, graduating classes have moved from this campus into universities and communities around the world. Teachers have grown alongside the school, developing their practice and supporting generations of students. Families have worked in partnership with educators, contributing their time, ideas, and trust. Together, these people have shaped the school into what it is today.
Now, another decade begins. An ancient Chinese saying offers a fitting reminder:
“If you are planning for a year, plant grain. If you are planning for ten years, plant trees. If you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.”
Education demands patience. Its most meaningful results often become visible only over time. Technology will continue to advance. The world will keep changing, bringing new challenges and possibilities. Yet Haidian Kaiwen Academy's commitment to understanding the purpose of education, supporting human growth, and remaining true to its core values will endure.
To everyone who has been part of this journey, thank you. The trust of families, the dedication of faculty and staff, the energy and achievements of students, and the encouragement of friends and partners have given the past ten years their meaning. They also give us much to look forward to.
Time moves forward, and so does the story of Haidian Kaiwen Academy. The first ten years have laid the foundation. With that experience behind us, we look ahead to the next chapter—together.
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