Pao Highlights

Recently, the Primary and Middle School campuses organised Special Programme Days full of diverse content, allowing Pao School students to deepen their understanding of Chinese culture outside the classroom, strengthen their hands-on skills and broaden their horizons.

The Primary School designed themed Chinese cultural activities for the students. For example, one theme was Chinese virtues. For this, Year 3 students played a board game focused on "compassion" Cards were divided into "advance" and "withdraw" categories, with the former cards describing ten scenarios that reflected benevolence and the latter cards introducing situations that did not.

Each grade focused on different projects, themed on calligraphy and Chinese culture: Year 1 studied Chinese New Year customs; Year 2 practiced their Chinese character handwriting; Year 3 began learning to write characters with brush strokes; Year 4 practiced calligraphy and poetry related to their writing, and finally, Year 5 learned to write environmental protection proposals.

Meanwhile, the Art Department held an activity focused on the school's core values for students in Years 1-5. For this activity, students collaborated together on art projects – which were different for each year - and related writing tasks.

The Middle School organised different courses for all three years. Over a three-day period, Year 6 students learned about seven types of intangible cultural heritage, including paper-cutting, Chinese frog buttons, lantern coloring, rice dough figurines, wickerwork, Tai Chi calligraphy, and paper quilling.

Year 7 students, led by an instructor from Changning District Labor Technology Center, honed their craftsmanship. They learned to make homemade masks, kites and rabbit lanterns.

The Year 8 students participated in a career exploration course led by parent volunteers. The parents shared their insights about careers, which helped provide students with a basic understanding of different industries and occupations. This practical knowledge will enable students to better understand themselves and how society functions, whilst also supporting their plans for the future.

In mid-December, the Middle School held a series of fantastic events, including its second annual school dance, Global Perspectives Week (GPW), and the first ever House Meeting. This school year, one of the Middle School's main aims is to create a warm and inclusive school environment for all.

At the first House Meeting, Spring House students from across all three years gathered in the auditorium to promote house spirit and build a positive school community. Everyone enjoyed the team-building exercises, which included fun teacher vs. student ping-pong matches, while also giving the students the chance win house points.

The Winter Dance organised by the student government transformed the auditorium into a world-class dance club featuring a live DJ, VJ, and lights show. In the cafeteria, students munched on snacks, relaxed and played cards with friends. One Year 6 student described the dance as ‘the most fun I have ever had at school!’

International Vision Week transformed the campus into a vibrant mini United Nations. Each class focused on a different country, including Italy, Egypt, Norway, Brazil and Thailand. Students learned about the history, culture and art of different countries. They then put that knowledge to work as they created themed posters and other decorations that were displayed in the hallways and in classrooms. There was even a fashion show in which students, faculty and staff dressed up as characters from different countries and eras.

On January 13th and 14th, the Middle School held a performance adapted from Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey." The play tells the story of the hero Odysseus and his journey home after the Trojan War. The audience of students, teachers and parents lauded the excellent production, which featured 29 actors and 12 supporting stagehands.

Extension Programmes (EP) at Pao School’s Primary and Middle Schools enrich the curriculum and student life, broadens horizons, and provides opportunities for extracurricular study – allowing students to fully explore their interests and potential. 

From Jan 11th to Jan 15th EP Week arrived at the school, with select works by EP students exhibited on the Primary School and Middle School campuses. The following outstanding works can be seen outside the Primary School library.

Dough Figurines of Christmas topics

Artworks from Automata class

Some artworks from pring-making

Live rock band and musical theatre performances kicked off EP Week in style on the Middle School campus, where the following pieces were also on display at the entrance of the school.

During this past semester, 76 EP courses were offered at the Primary School campus and 26 EP courses were offered at the Middle School. EP is an important part of Pao School’s whole person education and enables students to fully explore their interests and potential, while also making healthy choices.

During the New Year’s Day holiday, the Primary School's four xueyuan groups held a creative drawing competition. The competition aimed to provide students with a fun activity over the four-day holiday that would stimulate their creative thinking and allow them to produce original artwork.

As the Chinese New Year approaches, Swim for Love plans to host a water polo competition with charity sales in the cafeteria on 19th January during dinner. The competition will be teacher vs. teacher while an additional non-compulsory round will feature teachers playing against students. Student spectators will watch the matches from inside the swimming pool. The funds raised through charity sales will be donated to the Xing Ta organization, which offers swimming classes to autistic children.

On December 5, Year 8 students Sally and Ethan won multiple awards in the 2020 Shanghai Middle School Swimming Championships. It was a typically strong showing from Sally and Ethan, who have represented Pao School at high level swimming competitions for several years in a row now. Pao School wishes them the best in future swim meets.

Between them, they won:

• Sally - 1st place 50-meter breaststroke
  

• Sally - 1st place 100-meter breaststroke

• Ethan - 4th place 200-meter individual medley

• Ethan - 8th place 100-meter freestyle

Year 11 student Jonathan delivered a stellar performance in the open division of the National High School Debate League of China (NHSDLC) Shanghai regional tournament.

Three Year 11 students, Jonathan, Yina and Sarah, won first prize in the Australian Biology Olympiads.

Congratulations to Joey (Y11) who won bronze prize in the S.-T. Yau High School Science Award (Computer).

Congratulations to David (Year 11) winner of the first prize in the National Computer Programming Competition. Congratulations also go to the Year 9 Pao School students who recently took part in the USAD SEED competition and qualified for the global finals to be held in Hainan. Daniel, Ailsa, Isabel and Gavin’s team won a gold, as did Noah, Joyce, Vivian and Jerry’s team. Eric, Kitty and Kelly won bronze.