AT the commencement ceremony for the Class of 2022 in RDF International School (RDFIS), Stephen Pellerine, principal of RDFIS, offered words of wisdom to inspire graduates to be wise, enthusiastic, open doors to the pathways that they want to walk on, and live and lead legendary lives.

With a specially prepared gift for the students — a key ring and two uncut keys, Pellerine dropped five messages in his motivational speech titled “The Keys ‘You’ Cut,” galvanizing the prospective college students to continue pursuing academic success and moral excellence, as well as to carry forward RDFIS’s legacy of responsibility, discipline and fortitude.

“As you leave the doors today, and as you head out to fill this ring with keys of your liking, as you head out to the keysmith and get your keys cut, cut the keys that make your life colorful and well rounded. The colors of your choice. The keys of your choice,” Pellerine said encouragingly in his address.

RDFIS, which aims to be the best American international school in South China, has been serving the international student community’s diverse learning needs since 2015.

The school has been successful in preparing students for a rewarding global future, with 70% of its graduates enrolled by the top 50 universities in the U.S., the top eight universities in Canada, the top eight universities in Hong Kong and the top 10 universities in the U.K.

In the 2022 China International School Competitiveness Ranking released by international education resource and service platform KingLead, RDFIS came in 45th place in terms of enrollment to U.S. universities, and its teacher competitiveness received the highest possible rating of 5A. In the 2022 Forbes China International School Annual Selection, RDIFS ranked 6th in Shenzhen and 26th in China.

The RDFIS campus, located in the scenic Dapeng Peninsula and nestled between multiple beautiful beaches and small, lush mountains, covers about 20,000 square meters with the pristine academic buildings, inviting dormitories and canteen, as well as multiple sporting fields and courts.

Dapeng Peninsula boasts one of China’s eight most beautiful coastlines and maintains the best air quality for areas surrounding Shenzhen, and the school is in close proximity to a state-of-the-art Geological Museum as well as a star-gazing observatory.

RDFIS provides exceptional educational opportunities for students seeking to advance their practical and academic knowledge. It is a top-notch American international school with facilities to accommodate the students with a cutting-edge American curriculum as well as high-quality living quarters.

RDFIS offers a pure American international school education. By bringing the advanced teaching curriculum of American private schools to RDFIS, it supports the educational goals and mission of New York State and collaborates with American Chapel Field School, one of the best Christian schools in the U.S.

As a truly global and multicultural learning hub, RDFIS also draws top-tier foreign teachers and has a seasoned faculty. At present, the school has over 30 experienced, academically rigorous and humorous foreign teachers from the U.S. (accounting for more than 50%), Canada, the U.K., France, New Zealand, Spain and other countries.

It adopts authentic American teaching materials and methodologies, and provides English as the only teaching language to create a strong American academic atmosphere of the best American education possible for students from Shenzhen and across the country.

Students who pass the RDFIS entrance exam and interview, and choose to enroll at RDFIS, are also enrolled in the New York elite private school, Chapel Field School. Students, upon graduation from RDFIS, will be eligible for the diploma from the U.S. as well.

Currently, RDFIS has signed a strategic framework agreement with the University of Massachusetts, which allows RDFIS students to enjoy preferential admission at the university. As the school develops, it will continue to achieve strategic agreements on further studies and international projects with elite schools in the future.

RDFIS provides students with a well-rounded education that balances academics with arts and athletics to hone all of its students’ holistic development. The school has well-equipped laboratories in biology, chemistry and physics, computer rooms, a Maker Space, and a STEAM science and technology innovation center.

The school’s wide range of sporting facilities such as its playground, tennis, basketball, badminton and volleyball courts, provide great opportunities for students to enjoy physical exercise.

The school is also equipped with other facilities such as a professional art, music and dance rooms. Moreover, its cozy library enables them to appreciate various literatures, look up books, newspapers and expand their scope of knowledge beyond scholarly.

RDFIS attaches great importance to cultivating its students’ innovative spirit, logical thinking, hands-on abilities and aesthetics. What RDFIS wants to do and is practicing is to fully support students’ dreams and prepare the ground for their holistic development.

On RDFIS’ annual Academic Kaleidoscope Day, they highlight the academic achievements of every student. With rich and varied projects showcased in each exhibition area, students can throw themselves into feeling the charms of different disciplines and embracing new experiences.

Through the concept of whole person education and diversified American campus culture, RDFIS endeavors to cultivate young leaders who are well-versed in Chinese and Western cultures, fluent in Chinese and English, and are kind and intelligent, as well as talents who will become communicators, influencers and leaders in the fields of international economy, culture, education, science and technology in the future.