The gentle May morning light streamed into the campus of Tsinghua International School (THIS). Early in the morning of May 13, the purple backdrops for "2026 Appreciation Day" stood ready outside the school date and before the teaching building.
Across campus, inside the Shuimu Lecture Hall, a hand-painted poster hung quietly, featuring the school's mascot, THIS Bear, surrounded by the words "Thank You" in more than a dozen languages – languages spoken by our THIS teachers who are from across the world.
9th Year of a Warm Tradition
This marked the ninth year of Appreciation Day at THIS. The tradition began with a proposal from members of Parent Committee. Over nearly a decade, it has grown into an annual event eagerly anticipated by students, faculty, and parents alike. Its core remains unchanged: replacing material gifts with sincere words and actions, and building a culture of gratitude through deep community engagement.
This year's celebration carried extra significance. THIS had just received high praise from the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) for being a "most connected community." Meanwhile, the Class of 2024 achieved historic college admissions results, including acceptances to many top institutes. At the intersection of achievement and recognition, gratitude shone especially bright.
Note: WASC is one of six official regional accrediting agencies recognized by the US Department of Education. Its accreditation signifies that a school meets high standards in educational quality, faculty, and management, which is crucial for student transfers and college applications.
Parents Join a Heartfelt Collaboration
After an April Parent Committee meeting, a call for participation went out. Within three days, nearly fifty parents had volunteered, quickly organizing themselves according to their strengths. The Parent Committee Store provided logistical support, helping with venue setup and preparing small gifts for a lucky draw. The parents from the "Art of Living Club" of the Committee volunteered to make healthy, homemade refreshments. The Parent Dance Club pre-recorded a performance video.
Individual classes and student clubs also took action, recording heart-shaped gestures and messages of thanks. The multilingual poster that became the event's visual centerpiece was created one afternoon after school, when several parents and children gathered in the art classroom to draw and write together.
A parent representative explained that parents had learned all the languages (Chinese, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Greek, Korean, Serbian etc.) spoken by THIS teachers, believing that saying "thank you" in each teacher's native language would convey sincerity and joy more genuinely.
A Heart-to-Heart Dialogue
At 7:30 a.m., the main building lobby came alive as children arrived. They paused before an array of heart-shaped sticky notes and wrote with earnest, slightly unpolished handwriting:
"Ms. Maureen, thank you for teaching us and being so nice to us."
"Thank you Miss Laura for always talking to me."
"You are the best principal, Ms. Zhu."
"To all teachers! Thank you for your hard work and patience."
After finishing, the children gently stuck each note onto a display board, gradually creating a colorful "sea of hearts." As teachers arrived, they paused to read the notes, then signed their names on the gratitude board with knowing smiles.
Deeply moved, fifth-grade teacher Ms. Anna Court picked up a pink heart-shaped note, wrote in bold letters "THIS PARENTS ROCK," and placed it in the center of the wall.
Sweet Surprise Boxes & Joyful Moments
During lunch break, a "Sweet Surprise Box" lucky draw designed specifically for teachers took place in a relaxed and cheerful atmosphere. The gesture aimed to honor teachers for their daily dedication. Amid laughter, the emotional bonds between parents and teachers grew stronger.
Appreciation Party: a Gathering Called Home
At 2 p.m., the Shuimu Lecture Hall was filled with the warmth and the fragrance of flowers. The teacher entrance ceremony was warm and grand: student representatives presented flowers, while parent volunteers lined the aisle with thank-you signs and balloons, creating a warm, family-like gathering filled with applause and laughter.
The appreciation party was co-hosted by parent representative Ms. Sanders Ho and THIS Associate Head of Secondary Mr. Bernard Geoxavier.
Executive Principal Ms. Renee Zhu and Academic Principal Mr. Scott Pare each delivered speeches, expressing respect for all teachers and administrative staff and thanking parents and students for their support. Both principals emphasized that every person present helps build the THIS family. Following them, MS Humanities teacher Ms. Deborah Kapraun expressed deep gratitude to the support staff members who often work behind the scene. Her heartfelt remarks moved everyone in attendance.
An interactive activity brought great joy to the teachers, who eagerly participated and filled the room with laughter and applause.
Afterward, the two principals jointly cut a gratitude cake prepared by parents. Following a brief tea break, the audience watched a gratitude video and talent montage recorded and edited by students themselves. Seeing the children's sincere smiling faces and blessings on the screen, many teachers' eyes glistened. Several expressed a wish to cherish the memory forever.
Echoes: Gratitude Becomes Community's Breath
Though Appreciation Day lasts only one day, its warm ripples continue to spread across campus. The "Heart Wall" in the main building lobby has been permanently preserved, becoming a standing "Gratitude Wall" where heartfelt dialogue can continue anytime.
At THIS, showing gratitude has never been an isolated, ritualized event. It is an ongoing, shared practice—an authentic expression from the heart, a two-way flow of emotion, and a natural extension of everyday relationships.
One parent who participated from start to finish reflected: "What we prepared was never just an event. What we wanted to build was a bridge for our children—a bridge showing how to express love. Today, together with our teachers, we became the guardians of both ends of that bridge."
Another parent smiled while sorting through materials: "We always want our children to learn gratitude. Today, we ourselves became the best lesson plan."
Children witnessed firsthand how their parents meticulously prepared every detail. When they wrote their own thank-you notes with their own hands, and when they saw the moved responses from teachers receiving those heartfelt expressions, they learned something far deeper than any empty preaching could teach. They learned that gratitude is a capacity practiced repeatedly through action, and that a community is a home constantly grown through co-creation.
At THIS, education is not merely the transmission of knowledge. It is the mutual illumination of lives and the shared belonging of hearts. The warmth kindled by Appreciation Day will continue to grow quietly and bloom gently in every ordinary day to come. The warmth of the THIS family belongs to every one of us.
Appendix: Thank You to those who made THIS 2026 Appreciation Day a reality
（Names are not in particular orders）
Parent Volunteers
Cai Nannan, Guo Haotian, He Han, Huang Songfan, Kong Wei, Liu Jingyang, Liu Peipei, Si Xiaolong, Song Jingjing, Sun Dongmei, Wang Dan, Wu Shuang, Xu Nan, Yang Hailing, Yang Runhua, Yang Shuang, Yuan Juan, Zhang Dan, Zhang Yuzhu, Zhou Yi, Carol Liu, Catriona Yue, Claire Li, Clare Zhang, Danning Huang, Eileen Feng, Jenny Wang, Jessie, Jolie Yao, Li Duan, May Lu, Nan Xu, Polly Zhang, Renee Zhao, Sabrina Xu, Sanders Ho, Shirley Liu, Snail Luo, Sonia Ma, Theresa Tie, Yinghui Diao, Kate Li, Fumika Yagi, Hu Na, Lin Xiaorong, Holly Ma.
Student Volunteers
Alice, Billy Pao, Zack Li, Callie, Ethan Zhu, Evelyn, James Wang, Jerry Zhou, Mina, Scarlett, Wendy, Sunney Shi, Blair Yao, Angelina Li, Eveleen Feng, Emmie Yang, Ridley R Hsu, Yan Yu Chen, Ryan Barnes, Erica Tian, Shirley Lu, Lucas Ma
In addition, we extend special and sincere thanks to all parents, students, and teachers whose hard work contributed but who could not be named individually.
Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts. THIS is made whole by every family member, and warmth becomes real through every act of working together.
