[Photo provided to Shanghai Star]

BISS Pudong is dedicated to creating the right environment for students to thrive.

"It's when you see young men of 17 or 18 years old confidently belting out one of the hits from the musical Footloose, and know it's these same young men who are excelling at academics and on the sports field, that you know as a school you're getting it right," says BISS Pudong Principal Lesley-Ann Wallace.

Currently in Year 12 and studying for the International Baccalaureate, Emiliano D’Angio is one of those young men. As the star of Footloose, he wowed the audience with his singing and dancing abilities, and the obvious joy he felt being on the stage. Rehearsals took up much of his spare time in the lead up to the production, but didn't stop him from also being selected for the Division 1 Football team for the upcoming SISAC inter-school com- petition. And then there are the academics. D’Angio excelled in the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), achieving the top score for China in IGCSE Spanish.

While D' Angio is an excellent example of a true all-rounder, he wasn't alone on that stage. Year 10 student and passionate debater, Joseph Hildich, who in December was named Best Delegate at the Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA) Model United Nations in Ho Chi Minh City, was part of a very enthusiastic chorus, and talented athlete, Emilia Lindquist, proved she could also sing and dance as one of the female leads.

Wallace continues, "Our aim is to encourage and support students to perform and play to the highest level, whether that is on a stage, at a desk or in a science lab, on the sports field or even in the community making a difference to others in need."