AISG Seniors Make a Splash on Their First High School China Trip!

Two weeks ago, AISG’s Upper and Lower Secondary school embarked on their China Trips– the first trips held in over three years since the emergence of COVID-19. Differing from past senior class experiences, the class of 2023 was able to join the rest of AISG on their adventures, traveling to Chimelong Amusement Park, spending two days at the Science Park campus to work on IB coursework and practice essential life skills, and enjoying a two-day beach trip to Huidong.  

“We would all like to thank Ms. Partee for putting together such an excellent trip that left us all with smiles on our faces and new memories to carry with us,” said Jasmine L., a senior at AISG. 

Typically, AISG does not assign funding for the twelfth graders to take a China Trip, as the class is usually busy studying for their mock IB exams during this time. The seniors’ China Trip week was originally going to be a work week had it not been for Ms. Partee, Upper Secondary IB economics and social studies teacher, who championed the outings and secured funding from school administration. 

“This group hasn’t had a China Trip since Grade 8 and their entire high school experience has been defined by COVID and all the restrictions that come with it,” said Ms. Partee. “I felt like they not only deserved to go on a China Trip but that they needed it. I didn’t want their time in high school to be defined by all they couldn’t do because of COVID. I want them to leave with good memories and for them to have a chance to just enjoy being normal teenagers.” 

Deciding upon the activities and destinations for the trip was a difficult process, however, so Ms. Partee set up several grade level brainstorming sessions to learn what activities and which destinations were most interesting to them.  

The initial activity recommendations by Mr. Cheung, much to the dismay of the students, involved hiking and cleaning trash off a beach. The senior suggestions, however, were just as implausible, including a Guangzhou city-wide game of hide and seek, and a combined trip to Mr. Kennett’s house to look at his ever-growing shoe collection along with Mr. Huang’s house for a ukulele concert. 

 Despite the less conventional ideas put forward by the seniors, the trip to Huidong was a great success by all accounts; the students even cleaned up the beach for Mr. Cheung! 

“In my opinion, our senior China Trip was one of the best China Trips I’ve attended, especially the Chimelong and Huidong trip, because it gave us an opportunity to relax and hang out with friends,” said Gwynnie G., a senior at AISG. “I really enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere and time to bond as an entire class and with friends.”