The May breeze, carrying the warmth of early summer, gently swept into the hearts of the Grade 2 students at SUIS Qingpu. On 12 and 13 May, the students gathered early at school with their parents, boarded the bus amidst cheerful singing and laughter, and headed straight to the Shanghai Meifan Base. This wasn’t an ordinary spring outing; unusual activities including the Sailing Collaboration Race, the Spartan Little Warriors Challenge, the Frisbee Competition, and the Mini Sailboat Building Contest awaited them. Parents weren’t just spectators; they were the children’s teammates, joining forces to tackle entertaining challenges. It was wonderful to see how these partners, big and small, braved the winds and waves together!
The friendly battles on both land and water began: the Sailing Collaboration Race and the exhilarating Spartan Little Warriors Challenge both tested the partners’ teamwork. In the sailing race, each class formed groups of 4–5 families. The mothers, acting as lookouts, shouted, “To port! Hard to port!” while the children quickly pulled the rudder ropes to steer the boat, racing excitedly across the water. On the grassy field, the little warriors forged ahead bravely as the fathers cheered them on loudly, sometimes even lifting their little warriors over obstacles—their love and parental strength on full display!
The highlight of the sports day was the Mini Sailboat Building Contest. The little engineers kept experimenting to find the best design: some children used rulers to carefully cut materials while parents held down the corners; others tried making floats from plastic bottles but found them unstable, so their fathers suggested tying on two wooden blocks for balance. When glue accidentally stuck to the children’s fingers, the mothers wiped it off with wet tissues while teaching them how to hold things more steadily. The best parent-child education is embodied in these shared moments of working hard towards a common goal!
Finally, everyone gathered for the awards ceremony celebrating courage, teamwork, and bravery. Every class showcased its unique spirit: some won the Best Teamwork Award for their seamless cooperation; others earned the Most Energetic Award for their persistent vitality; some took home the Best Style Award for their creative looks; others received the Friendship and Unity Award for their acts of mutual support; some were honoured with the Perseverance Award for never giving up; and those who kept the laughter going throughout the day earned the Happy Runner Award!
