Wardlaw+Hartridge welcomed Mr. Weiping Li, Secretary-General of the International Education Association Shanghai (IEAS), for a full day campus visit on Monday, Dec. 16. Hua Liu, W+H Director of China Studies, facilitated the visit and hosted Mr. Li, who met with students, faculty and administrators, attended classes and visited the Edison Tower after the school day.
Mr. Li spends much of his time traveling to schools around the globe to promote international connections, partnerships and exchange programs. He is the legal representative and team leader of the IEAS in the partnership between W+H and Shanghai Guangming High School, its sister school in China.
He joined IEAS in 1998 and has served as Director of Shanghai Australia Office, Director of EducationUSA Advising Center and Managing Director of EudShanghai International, all of which he founded. He was the Deputy Director of the Committee on Self-Funded Study Abroad Service of China Educational Association for International Exchange from 2013-2018 and was appointed to his current position in 2016.
After enjoying a tour of the campus, Mr. Li attended the Upper School’s Monday morning meeting in the Berry Performing Arts Center. Dr. Corinna Crafton, Head of School, introduced Mr. Li to Upper School students and Chinese III Honors students followed with a performance of Jingle Bells in Chinese. Dr. Bob Bowman, Upper School Head, and Ms. Liu joined Dr. Crafton for a meeting in her office during which Dr. Crafton and Mr. Li exchanged gifts.
Mr. Li attended four classes – Ms. Liu’s Chinese III Honors in the morning and Ms. Ann Pengue’s Upper School Anatomy, Mr. Tim Burke’s Middle School Band, and Dr. Jonathan Wilson’s Upper School History after lunch.
Mr. Li was clearly impressed by his visit. He shared, “During my visit to The Wardlaw+Hartridge School, I was warmly welcomed by both the teachers and students. Their genuine kindness made me feel warm and cared for in the cold winter. The Head of School formally introduced me to everyone at the weekly Monday morning assembly at the high school. The students from the Confucius Classroom sang "Jingle Bells" in Chinese. Teacher Ms. Liu told me that this performance was specially arranged for me, and I was deeply touched! Later, I visited their classrooms and observed their teaching activities. The students' achievements in learning Chinese were impressive, and I really admire their efforts. Next spring, nine of these students, along with their teachers, will visit Shanghai Guangming High School for an exchange program. I said, "I’ll be waiting for you in Shanghai!" and everyone happily responded, "Yay!" I firmly believe: The world will be better through communication, and humanity will be more loving through understanding!”