Asia, “The Land of the Rising Sun”
a vast territory,
with an equally vast history；
a place of plenty and magnificent mountains.
The four great inventions are dazzling,
and Arabic numerals enlighten the world.
The Silk Road spanned thousands of years,
reflecting the civilizations of the East and West.
At this magnificent starting point,
a moment of sunrise and sea,
miracles are all around.
Come, let’s take this journey together and explore the legendary East.
As the autumn deepens, SUIS Qingpu welcomes its 6th Intercontinental Carnival! In our previous carnivals, we have embarked on a multicultural journey across the world’s five continents. From Asia to Europe, to Africa, and from the Americas to Oceania, each exploration has been a tribute to the world’s diverse cultures. Today, once again, we begin our new cultural exploration journey with Asia, a continent rich in history and culture, as our starting point!
As is their custom, all Primary School teachers and Parent Committee members poured great enthusiasm into the preparations for the Opening Ceremony of the Asia Intercontinental Carnival. Led by the art teachers, students created numerous Asia-themed environmental artworks with unique creativity and innovative designs. Upon entering the school, one was greeted by the majestic “Forbidden City” gate, the “Love in Asia” spiritual web, symbolizing the close ties among the peoples of Asia, the “Tree of Surnames”, reflecting the rich heritage of Chinese history and culture, and an airy kite installation filled with stories of the ages. Each piece reflected the art teachers’ respect for Asian culture and their passion for education. The children’s faces were filled with excitement and curiosity as they wore costumes representing various Asian countries, filling every corner of the campus with colour and joy! They were transformed into little cultural ambassadors, conveying messages of friendship and peace with their warm words and sincere smiles.
The Opening Ceremony for this Carnival was a magical journey through time and space. Together, we followed in the footsteps of the four characters from the “Journey to the West,” embarking on a wondrous adventure. However, this time, their goal was not to retrieve scriptures from the Western Heaven but to collect the pieces of the legendary Book of Peace and bring it to our campus.
The first piece of the book: Courage and Justice
The music teachers from the Bilingual Group re-enacted a classic scene from “Journey to the West” through their performance. Dressed as spider demons, they laughed and played on stage. Meanwhile, the mischievous Piggsy decided to join the fun. Unexpectedly, the spider demons rushed forward and captured Piggsy with their webs. Fortunately, the brave and just Monkey King arrived in time to defeat the spider demons, rescuing Piggsy! This exciting scene reminded us that courage and justice shine like a beacon in the face of difficulties and evil, helping us to overcome adversity. We should all strive to be brave and just, like the Monkey King.
The second piece of the book:
Commitment and Integrity
The third piece of the book:
Resilience and Wisdom
The teachers from the STEAM group meticulously adapted the classic story “Borrowing the Palm Leaf Fan Three Times” from “Journey to the West,” portraying the Monkey King’s adventure in borrowing the Banana Leaf Fan from Princess Iron Fan to help the four companions cross the Flaming Mountains. Incorporating a spectacular dance and colourful lighting, the performance was an audio-visual treat!
The Longman English Language teachers delightfully staged the Russian short play, “The Giant Turnip,” using the classic story of pulling up a giant turnip as their inspiration. This fable illustrated how villagers worked together to pull out a huge turnip, conveying a beautiful message of unity and cooperation in overcoming difficulties.
After overcoming four consecutive challenges, our brave companions arrived in the Kingdom of Tianzhu just in time for the princess’s marriage contest. The art teachers transformed into young maidens of Tianzhu and made a stunning entrance. They skillfully depicted this classic scene from “Journey to the West” through dance, allowing the children to better appreciate the beauty of this timeless story through vivid artistic expression.
The fifth piece of the book: Cultural Confidence
As the students followed the journey of the four travellers, they began an immersive experience of the collision between traditional stories and cultural elements.
The ELA teachers brilliantly presented a skit titled “The Monkey King and the Four Blind Men.” This performance vividly illustrated how different perspectives can affect understanding. In the story, the Monkey King learned from the tale of The Blind Men and Alvin the Elephant that one should not view problems purely from one perspective. It serves as a reminder that a comprehensive understanding is necessary to see the whole picture.
The PE team skillfully combined martial arts with the dance, “The King Told Me to Patrol the Mountain,” offering a thrilling display for the audience. Accompanied by rhythmic music, the PE teachers made a dazzling entrance, vividly portraying the scene of “The Little Whirlwind” patrolling the mountain. This performance showcased the elegance of dance, and demonstrated the strength of martial arts, adding a unique touch of Chinese cultural colour to the Carnival stage.
The mathematics teachers used the theme of “The Legend of the White Snake” to vividly present this classic legend through role-play and classical dance. They not only conveyed the inner qualities of the characters but also allowed the students to appreciate the magic of traditional Chinese culture.
In the Parent Committee’s creative performance, fourteen superhero mothers transformed into the White Bone Spirits. They attempted to stop the four travellers by dancing “Peach Blossom Blossoms.” However, the clever Monkey King saw through the deception just in time and successfully protected his master! The participation and effort of the parent representatives not only added much colour to the event but also left us with unforgettable memories. A big round of applause to the Parent Committee!
Grand Reunion: Completing the Book of Peace and Embarking on the Carnival Journey
Concluding the Asia Intercontinental Carnival journey, the four travellers, led by Tang Sanzang, successfully gathered all the fragments of the Book of Peace after overcoming numerous difficulties, and then brought it to the Shanghai United International School Qingpu Campus. At that time, Principals Helen Liu and Adam Neufield, adorned in attire designed by our school’s Fashion Team students, accepted this symbol of peace and harmony. This event signified the school’s commitment to the principles of “Unity in Diversity, Innovation through Collaboration” and highlighted the school’s recognition of the students’ innovative spirit and creativity.
In this era full of growth and opportunities, our school is dedicated to nurturing students to become builders and leaders of future society. Through activities like these, we not only revisit the classics but, more importantly, hope to instill in our children the understanding that everyone’s effort can become a crucial part of building a peaceful and harmonious society. Let us join hands and move forward, continuing to write new chapters for our children’s futures, the school’s tomorrow, and a more peaceful world!
The Opening Ceremony of the 6th Intercontinental Carnival concluded successfully! In the coming month, our children will embark on an in-depth exploration of Asian cultures alongside their teachers. We look forward to seeing them gain knowledge, experience the appeal of diverse cultures, and thoroughly enjoy this incredible cultural exploration journey.
