On 31 May, our entire school community of teachers and students came together in a joyous celebration for our school’s Fourth Technology and Arts Festival. This festival showcased the artistic talents of our students in a truly spectacular display of creativity, illuminating a bright future for all! A major highlight of this year’s festival was the addition of a “Science” activity venue for the first time. On 1 June, we held the closing ceremony of the Art Festival, which included a special celebration of Children’s Day!
The students were fortunate to have had the opportunity to attend several lectures and engage in various activities that opened new worlds for them. The performances and explanations of Pingtan and Jiangnan silk and bamboo instruments by Ding Yijun and Jin Naxin not only showcased the charm of traditional arts but also enhanced the students’ understanding of music through the playing of the pipa and the three-stringed lute. The introduction from the Maritime Museum provided students with an opportunity to gain insight into the evolution of maritime technology and the art of knotting, which may have encouraged them to embrace a spirit of exploration in the unknown.
Overall, this month’s activities have not only enhanced the students’ knowledge base but also enriched their artistic experiences, inspiring their creativity and curiosity. These activities have laid a solid foundation for their future learning and life.
Next, let’s enter the closing ceremony and appreciate their learning achievements.
Following a process of careful selection and planning, ten performances were chosen to present their talents at the closing ceremony of the Arts Festival, demonstrating an extraordinary show for the teachers and students. Among them were five fashion shows, with each grade’s design centered around the theme ‘Shanghai Style · New Chinese Style’. The young designers dedicated four weeks to the creative process, which included sketching, creating inspiration boards, and clothing made with a variety of techniques. They worked hard to complete clothing pieces that aligned with their respective grade’s theme. After several rehearsals, they finally had the opportunity to show their design concepts of ‘New Chinese Style’ at the fashion show. We were impressed by their creativity, and each model of clothing was truly delightful.
In addition to the fashion show, there were also talent shows from each grade. The children went through several rounds of selection and stood out in their grade-level auditions. Under the meticulous arrangement of the music teachers, they formed teams and presented a series of spectacular performances that left everyone wanting more. The Han and Tang dance “Little Tang Warrior,” the Tai Chi dance “Compendium of Materia Medica,” the umbrella dance “Town Ballad,” the Chinese drum performance “Power of China,” and the guzheng ensemble “Harvest Drums” — each performance received rave reviews from the audience.
This year’s surprise highlight is our loving team of teachers. In this performance, our usually solemn and steady teachers and principals have completely transformed their personas. They became representatives of various Chinese dynasties from the Qin and Han periods to the present. Dressed in historically accurate costumes and performing period-appropriate rituals, they vividly brought the glorious eras of those dynasties back to life for us.
Additionally, there was a special surprise gift from the parent — a spectacular “Mask-Changing” performance, a traditional Chinese art form. The face-changing artist swiftly changed masks on stage, showcasing the unique charm of Chinese traditional culture. The children watched in awe, frequently expressing their amazement and applauding enthusiastically.
The camera then shifted to the simultaneously started sub-venue — the first Science Fair, which was planned by the STEAM team and supported by all bilingual teachers for a large-scale event encompassing the entire elementary school. We had 15 “Science Energy Stations” covering scientific principles such as sound, light, electricity, magnetism, air, and programming. Through engaging, interactive, and hands-on scientific practices, we inspired students’ interest and curiosity in science.
There were so many activities that the camera couldn’t capture every wonderful moment. Furthermore, the Technology Festival included interactive Q&A sessions where children could combine the knowledge they had learned in class with practical operations. Through live questioning and answering, they further consolidated and deepened their understanding of the material. Each answered question gathered the students’ understanding of scientific phenomena and sparked their curiosity. The entire Science Fair was filled with happiness and joy. The children learned and practiced new skills.
This year’s “SUISQP Art Competition” was all about the ‘Haipai’ style. Students learned about Shanghai culture and were inspired by the city. The students used colored markers to show what the new culture of Shanghai looks like. This year’s main prize, the Principal’s Award, was selected by the Principal’s Office team. Two winners were chosen: one from Grades 1-2 and the other from Grades 3-5. We congratulate them and hope that they will continue to develop their artistic skills.
Other category winners were:
Congratulations to all the amazing students who won awards! We can’t wait to keep working hard and make another success story!
Finally, the 4th Annual Art Festival and Science Fair at SUIS Qingpu came to an end. May our students’ joy and artistic brilliance continue to shine brightly. We wish all our friends at SUIS Qingpu a wonderful Children’s Day!