I will be embarking on the Olympic Spirit – An inside look at SUIS Qingpu’s 2024 Grade 1 Experience Camp!

While the world is still basking in the afterglow of the Paris Olympics, Shanghai United International School Qingpu Campus (SUIS Qingpu) carefully prepared a unique “SUIS Olympic Challenge” for soon-to-be primary school students. This event allowed our young freshmen to learn about Olympic culture, experience sportsmanship, and explore the essence of the Olympics across various disciplines, letting the Olympic spirit blossom in every dream-filled heart.

First Steps on Campus, Endless Joy

With sunshine leading the way and blue skies all around, the children, accompanied by their parents, entered the campus with great anticipation. Smiling teachers awaited in the hall, placing name tags of respective classes on each child, symbolizing their new identity and marking the beginning of a brand-new journey.

From the heartwarming “Getting to Know Your New Class” sessions to the “Olympic Icon Scavenger Hunt” across the campus, every step was fastidiously planned to help the children quickly fall in love with the place that will become their second home. How should they arrange their schoolbags? Where should they place their water bottles? How should they engage with teachers and classmates in class? What activities are allowed during recess? All these small details were meticulously and lovingly covered by the teachers, ensuring that everything will run smoothly and orderly.

Teachers Introductions, Sweet Atmosphere

Singing, dancing, stage plays, magic shows – the friendly teachers introduced themselves in a fun and enthusiastic fashion to the excited children. Listen to the enthusiastic applause! It’s the children’s way of expressing their fondness for the teachers.

At the introductory meeting, one of our outstanding Grade 6 students, Yu Zhengqing, emotionally recalled his primary school journey, akin to that of an Olympic athlete, forged with sweat and dedication. He encouraged his younger peers to cherish every moment, embrace challenges, and embody the Olympic spirit of perseverance and effort, just as he did during his time at SUIS Qingpu.

Sweet Moments and Joyful Reading

Look, it’s time for some culinary delights! During mealtimes, our SUIS Grade 1 students dined quietly and in an orderly manner, savouring each bite as if tasting a work of art. From a variety of snacks to fragrant lunches, every dish perfectly hits the spot, making these moments cherished snippets of happiness for the children.

Please be quiet, dear students – It’s reading time! The school’s library is spacious, bright, and rich in books. Rows of neatly arranged bookshelves are filled with colourful stories, waiting to be explored by the children. The sound of turning pages, like a beautiful melody, echoed through the library.

A Feast of Courses, Collision of Wisdom

“Twinkle, twinkle, gleaming high, the time machine spins and flies!” Imagine the children in their Chinese language arts class, riding a time machine to the Olympic games, transforming into little reporters to cover the various events; travelling back to the ancient world to join a sports banquet using an oracle bone script where they learn to read and write.

From the number of athletes on the Olympic stage to the colours of medals on the podium, every detail carried mathematical secrets. During the “Mathematical Adventure,” children used their mathematical lenses to view the Olympics, solved problems, and deeply understood the close connection between mathematics and life.

In English class, the children ‘took a flight’ to Paris, cheered for Pan Zhanle’s record-breaking performance, celebrated Quan Hongchan’s perfect dive, and took pride in Zheng Xiuwen’s victory. In these scenarios, they learned vocabulary and practiced sentence structures.

In art class, the children became little artists, designing unique Olympic gold medals. In music class, they transformed into little singing elves, exploring the mysteries of sound. In STEAM class, they discovered the secrets of water surface tension and understood the principle behind the ‘disappearing water flower’. In physical education (PE) lessons, the children ran freely on the playground, challenging themselves athletically to go the extra mile.

The children also experienced a number of non-academic courses such as comics, golf, martial arts, table tennis, mechanical dynamics, and drone operation.

Each class emphasized experiential and inquiry-based learning, allowing the students to learn through play, practice, and exploration.

Parent-School Collaboration

On the final day of the freshman summer camp, we invited all Grade 1 parents to witness the growth and transformation of their children.

At the Closing Ceremony, Principal Liu insightfully explained to the parents the core essence of SUIS Qingpu – “SUIS Qingpu: The future of education, in service to the world”. She earnestly hoped that, as with every year at SUIS Qingpu, a bridge of trust can be established between parents and the school, allowing us to be mutual partners in education. Together, we should adhere to the natural laws of educational development, striving to explore and provide an essential balance and resilience in every child’s journey of growth for their comprehensive and sustainable development.

Following Ms. Liu’s speech, Ms. Tang, a Grade Coordinator, shared with parents a day in the life of a primary school student at SUIS Qingpu. She also outlined the correct pathways for home-school communication, aiming to establish a solid platform for collaboration to jointly safeguard and support student growth.

Each subject teacher then explained the features of their respective subjects, giving parents a clearer understanding of the future subject learning paths for their children.

The children’s smiles, the parents’ support, and the teachers’ dedication collectively wove warm and harmonious through the scene, leaving the most beautiful memories of this summer. Let us join hands and move forward together, witnessing the children in the embrace of SUIS Qingpu bravely pursue their dreams and shine their own light!

Congratulations to the little ones who will officially become Grade 1 students on 2 September. Exciting and fun nautical-themed opening activities await your exploration!