Pui Va Middle School* hosted separate school-year closing ceremonies for its kindergarten, primary and secondary sections earlier this month.
Demonstrating its commitment to student-based learning, the two-campus school in Taipa held individual ceremonies for each of its 15 grade levels, from kindergarten to Form 6.
Addressing the two-day event, Pui Va Principal Lei Chao Lam congratulated the graduating students on successfully completing their studies. He expressed his deep gratitude to the teachers for their dedication and to the students’ parents for their unwavering support. Encouraging the students to carry forward the “indomitable spirit” of the Pui Va community, Lei urged them to grow into “confident, courageous, and responsible” young people. He noted his joy in witnessing the students’ transformation – from shyness to self-assurance, and from dependence to independence – reassuring them that their alma mater would always remain a warm and welcoming home for them.
Grade 4 students Mo Chon Ian, Lei Hei U, and Sin Hoeng Ying shared their reflections on the ceremony with the Post recently.
Mo admitted feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement, noting that the dance performances were his favourite part of the day. Inspired by the occasion, he resolved to pay closer attention in class next year and improve his academic performance.
Lei, who participated in a cowboy dance performance that earned second prize, expressed her hope to achieve even greater success in the future.
Sin served as a student representative, delivering a speech in which she reflected on her personal growth journey – from forgetting her lines during early rehearsals to eventually speaking with confidence and fluency.
All three students voiced their eagerness to promote to Grade 5 and they are looking forward to meeting new classmates, embracing new learning experiences, and setting fresh goals for the upcoming school year.
The director of the kindergarten section, Lei Lai San, told the Post that each ceremony is tailored to the developmental needs of students at different age levels. For younger learners, the focus was on creating a joyful campus environment, while the primary school years shift towards fostering peer relationships and developing core learning skills.
“As Grade 6 students prepare for the next step in their academic journey, this transitional milestone serves to celebrate their accomplishments and look ahead to secondary education,” Director Lei said.
Director Lei also noted that all the teachers worked tirelessly to prepare and organise the ceremonies. In response, the school’s students expressed their appreciation through heartfelt drawings and warm embraces –creating moments of a genuine bond between educators and pupils. Following the events, the students demonstrated a stronger sense of belonging, while home-school trust and communication were significantly strengthened, according to Director Lei.
Parents gave positive feedback to the director and teachers after the event. A parent surnamed Ng observed significant growth in her child’s confidence, communication skills, and sense of responsibility over the past year. Expressing gratitude to the school for allowing parents to witness this progress, Ng said he hoped that Pui Va would continue balancing strong academic standards with personal potential.
Another parent, surnamed Chon, highlighted the importance of respecting her child’s interests by consulting him before enrolling him in extracurricular activities, emphasising that genuine learning must come from within. Chon commended Pui Va’s decision to hold separate ceremonies for each grade level, calling the arrangement a true reflection of a student-centred philosophy. She added that her daughter will also be enrolling in Pui Va, reaffirming her strong endorsement of the school’s educational values.
Vice Principal Mary Sun emphasised that the core philosophy behind the individual ceremonies is to “give the stage back to every child”, ensuring that every student gets the opportunity to shine. By inviting parents to participate, the school reinforces the principle that “education requires companionship” while promoting diverse methods of student assessment. Although organising separate ceremonies presented a considerable logistical challenge for the school’s administrative and teaching teams, Sun noted that seeing every child perform confidently – and watching shy students find the courage to speak up – made the effort deeply rewarding.
She concluded that the 15 separate ceremonies aimed to make every student a protagonist at the school.
* Pui Va Middle School (培華中學 – “Cultivating Excellence”) is a well-established private, non-profit, Chinese-medium school located in Macau. Founded in 1995 under the umbrella of the Macau Chinese Education Association (EDUM), it operates within the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) free education network. – Gemini
Pui Va Middle School Principal Lei Chao Lam (right) and Vice Principal Mary Sun pose with two students during one of the school’s academic-year closing ceremonies on its kindergarten and primary section’s campus on Rua de Viseu in Taipa earlier this month. – Photos: Pui Va Middle School
