A Historic Year for Concordia Activities and Sport

What a historic year 2024-2025 was for Concordia Activities and Sport! The word of the year, Empower, was embodied by our students as they pursued their dreams, and set a legacy for future generations to aspire towards. In addition to hosting a record 700 students for National History Day (NHD) and students from all over the world for CISSMUN, this was also the year in which Concordia qualified for the VEX Robotics World Championship for the first time, and we won a Concordia record six APAC Championships this year!!

Season 1 Sports

Season 1 APAC tournaments were held in Hong Kong (Cross Country), Beijing (Tennis), Shanghai (Girls Volleyball) and in Seoul, South Korea (Boys Volleyball) this year. Performance highlights of season one included:

  • Girls Varsity Cross Country 3rd place at APAC
  • Girls Varsity Volleyball semi finalists in the Super APAC Tournament (out of 12 schools)
  • Girls JV Volleyball 2nd place at JPAC
  • Boys JV Volleyball 3rd place at JPAC

Congratulations to our student athletes on a strong finish to the season as our teams picked up the below accomplishments in the SISAC end of season competition:

  • 1st Place Varsity Girls Cross Country 
  • 3rd Place Varsity Boys Cross Country
  • 1st Place Varsity Girls Volleyball (Regular Season East Division Champions)
  • 1st Place JV Girls Volleyball (Regular Season East Division Champions)
  • Six individual and doubles trophies at SISAC Tennis

 

S1 APAC Arts

APAC Orchestra took place in Beijing at WAB this year and Concordia students performed exceptionally well. The strings program at Concordia is in a great place, as is evident by the students being selected for the AMIS festival at both the MS and HS levels.

APAC Dance took place at UNIS in Vietnam this year, with 12 Concordia students creating a powerful piece combining elements of both contemporary and hip-hop styles.

APAC Choir traveled to South Korea for APAC and were well prepared for the festival and performances. The way Concordia structures the musical program within the school day allows our HS students to pursue their musical passions alongside their participation in sports after school. A record 10 Concordia HS Choir students were selected for AMIS Choir in Singapore this year, with further AMIS selections coming from Orchestra and Band.

Season 2 Sports

The excitement of season 2 sports saw JV Basketball traveling to Hong Kong for JPAC, Varsity Boys and Girls APAC Basketball coming to Concordia, Table Tennis APAC at SAS Pudong, and APAC Swimming outside of China (to the Philippines) for the first time in five years.

With an early Chinese New Year break this year, season 2 APAC consisted of a Sunday and Thursday travel, with games on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. This made for quite the electric atmosphere on campus for APAC Basketball, with the Phoenix Fight Song reverberating around the packed gyms.

A new feature at Concordia this year has been the livestreaming of all center court basketball and volleyball games in both the PC and HS gyms. This has allowed our alumni to stay connected with the programs and tune in to support the Phoenix from anywhere around the world.

The Table Tennis program has continued to grow and become more competitive each year. 2024-2025 marks the school year when Concordia won the APAC Table Tennis Championship for the first time ever!! Not only did we win one, but we won both the Girls and the Boys APAC Table Tennis championships! The boys Table Tennis team also clinched the ACAMIS Championship in Beijing this year.

Other highlights include the first ever Jr. NBA qualification for our Varsity Girls Basketball team, who also went on to make the final of the SISAC league championships. Boys Varsity Basketball won the APAC 3rd place trophy on home court in front of a packed gym.

APAC Season 2 Arts

APAC Theatre took place in Vietnam this year and the Concordia thespians demonstrated the strength of the theater program at Concordia. We also had the pleasure of hosting an APAC Fine Arts event with APAC Band on campus. The guest conductor was impressed by the level of performance and attitude to learn from the musicians across the six participating schools. Enjoy the final concert here.  

Season 3 Sports

In terms of APAC Championships, season 3 marked a historic season and historic year for Concordia sports. A record 4 APACs were won in this season, making a school record of 6 for the school year. Of the 12 APAC schools, only HKIS won more APAC championships than Concordia this year. Both Badminton and Track and field swept a ‘double-double’ with the girls and boys winning APAC, adding to the earlier APAC ‘double’ secured by girls and boys Table Tennis in season 2.

Soccer also brought home plenty hardware this season, with SISAC Girls 3rd place, SISAC Boys 1st place, JPAC Boys 3rd place and JPAC Girls 1st place trophies marking a season of increased interest in the soccer program. The varsity boys soccer team also went the whole season unbeaten in Shanghai in 11-a-side matches.

With many Badminton, Track & Field and Soccer student athletes returning next year, the challenge is set for our student athletes to aspire towards increased success in the sporting arena.

Swimming

The swimming program is about so much more than what happens in the water. A community of dedicated swimmers, parents, and coaches get together at least twice per year to celebrate the accomplishments and enjoy each other’s company in the end of season parties.

This year saw increased competition opportunities with ACAMIS in Hangzhou and Shanghai, as well as a record number of school swimming records being smashed (every 11-12 year old boy record was broken this year!). The long discussed Swimming pool project has finally led to action with ground to be broken in June 2025 on the start of construction of Concordia’s own swimming pool, expected to open in August 2027. We look forward to seeing our swimming program grow to new heights with the addition of a pool on campus. 

Student Activities

CISSMUN

The 14th annual session of Concordia International School Shanghai Model United Nations (CISSMUN) welcomed 50 schools with 900 student participants all over the world came together from Feb. 14th – 16th. From Gabon to Abu Dhabi, from Shanghai to Tokoy. The goal of CISSMUN is to provide a United Nations simulation in which students of diverse backgrounds can hone their research, public speaking, and negotiation skills while cultivating the virtues of active global citizenship and principle-centered leadership.

During the conference, we have 17 committees, 51 topics, nearly a thousand speeches, and dozens of draft resolutions. It wasn’t just an academic exercise – it became an international stage where everyone could bridge gaps, share cultures, and learn from each other.

This is a signature program of our school which younger students can look forward to participating in the event in the years to come.

National History Day

Concordia hosted the 2025 NHD China student competition, welcoming participants from 27 international schools for a day of historical exploration centered on the theme “Rights and Responsibilities.” Concordia students impressed with award-winning presentations—five individuals and teams claimed top or runner-up honors, with Senior Division winners advancing to the finals in Washington D.C. The event, rooted in a tradition started at Concordia in 2008, featured topics ranging from Cold War politics to women’s rights and wartime ethics. Highlights included contributions from student judges William Q. and Cathy T., engaging activities like Kahoot games, and enriching lectures from guest scholars and educators.   

VEX Robotics

Concordia International School Shanghai’s VEX Robotics program has rapidly risen to prominence since its inception just four years ago, culminating in a historic qualification for the 2025 VEX Robotics World Championship. Team 13212B “Top Gear” led this charge with an extraordinary season, earning two Excellence Awards, multiple tournament victories, and ultimately capturing the national championship title at the ACAMIS competition in Guangzhou. Their success not only secured a coveted spot at the World Championship in Dallas but also earned them a place in the Parade of Nations, celebrating global excellence.

This year, all five of Concordia’s VEX V5 teams reached the elimination rounds, demonstrating exceptional collaboration, innovation, and resilience. Highlights included a thrilling intra-school quarterfinal and standout performances by Team The Egoists (3rd place) and Team Tri-Rico (Judges Award). Supported by dedicated coaches and a student-driven ethos, the program has set a strong foundation for future growth in STEM and robotics education at Concordia. 

iGEM

The Concordia iGEM team participated in the iGEM 2024 Grand Jamboree in Paris, earning a silver medal in their debut and a nomination for Best High School Presentation—placing them in the top 10 out of over 140 high school teams worldwide. As the only Shanghai high school team comprised entirely of their own students working within their own school, they showcased an innovative synthetic biology project that earned acclaim from both academia and industry.

Guided by teacher Mr. David Doyle, the team spent seven months developing a novel method to produce beta-hydroxybutyrate, a ketone ester used in athletic health supplements, via genetically modified bacteria. At the Grand Jamboree, students engaged with global leaders in synthetic biology, attended expert talks, and impressed judges with their scientific rigor and professionalism—making it a defining moment for both the team and their mentor.

National Academic Quiz Tournament (NAQT)

NAQT, or “Quiz Bowl” as it is more commonly known, has a deep history of student involvement and leadership at Concordia. This year, the students have built on that tradition, expanding the program to new opportunities. Our teams have taken part in six in-person and online tournaments this year, placing in almost all of them. Their season culminated with the Asian Championships in Singapore, where our A-team took 4th place despite being the youngest team there. We also hosted the inaugural Concordia Invitational Fall Tournament, which will expand next year into an ACAMIS event. With both our student numbers and competition opportunities expanding, things are looking incredibly positive for next year!