Book Week
The theme for the Book Week in Primary School was "Embracing our Bilingual Education, Celebrating our Multicultural Community," aiming to encourage students to explore their identities as global citizens through bilingual reading. Around this theme, various activities were organized on campus, such as read-a-thon, book fair, cross-year group reading activity, good readers lucky draw, ‘Drop everything and read!’, costume day. Bilingual author CA Scully from the United States held a writer's workshop with a focus on how to use both Chinese and English in writing to showcase fantasy creativity. During the workshop, he shared two magical words, "WHAT IF," sparking the students' boundless creativity and leaving them wanting more!
In April, Middle School library hosted the traditional World Book Day event. During this time, the library introduced almost 800 new books. The library's teachers thoughtfully curated recommended reading lists covering a range of genres like literature and non-fiction for both students and staff. Moreover, at lunchtime, an engaging treasure hunt knowledge quiz was held, drawing in numerous students eagerly searching for the answers they sought within the pages of books.
The High School Book Week theme, 'Honor-Knights and Musketeers,' featured traditional activities like author talks, book fairs, and character dress-ups. Additionally, students delivered three talks and engaged in a 'Drop Everything and Read' session, promoting the joy for reading across campus. The students also included reading resources recommended by parents, providing students with a critical perspective on the crusades to the East.
Sports Day
The Primary School Sports Day is an active event that has evolved over the last few years. Moving away from individual competitions, this year's event is focused on the enjoyment of physical activity as students participate in developmentally appropriate, collaborative challenges and games while using the school's core values (Compassion, Integrity, and Balance). Some examples of year-level Sports Day activities include but are not limited to: Year 1- Team Tag, Year 2- River Crossing Challenge, Year 3- Color Tag, Year 4- Dance Battle, and Year 5- Capture the Flag. This event is held with the intent of providing students with a holistic physical education experience. It is in pursuit of the program's goal of fostering the skills, knowledge, and desire of Pao School students and the community to be active, healthy, and happy for life.
On March 29th, Middle School students visited the Songjiang Campus for the 'House Sports Day,' participating in various activities like Badminton, Tchoukball, bridge, stand jump, floorball, and shape competitions. The afternoon showcased the young athletes’ skills and teamwork in tug-of-war and cross-campus contests, with Spring House emerging victorious.
Primary School
Spring Fair
On April 27th, the Spring Fair organized by the Primary School PTA was successfully held. The event was divided into indoor and outdoor sections. The indoor section's theme was "Environmental Protection." Students and parents worked together to decorate classrooms, plan activities, raise funds, and donate to the charity selected by the Eco Warrior team, fostering not only a sense of shared effort towards a common goal between parents and children but also cultivating students' environmental conservation ideals. The outdoor section featured a continuous talent show where students, parents, and teachers showcased their talents and creativity on stage. All proceeds from this event will be donated to the "Treasure Home" project to support the healthy and happy growth of children.
Story Team Performance
After over two months of preparation, the Year 2 Story Team brought a stage play titled "Spooking Under the Eaves" to the first and second-grade students, teachers, and parents. The play tells the story of the Spooking family living in a traditional Shanghai shikumen lane, who attempt to scare children using ancestral methods but repeatedly fail. Inspired by a primary school student Zhang Xiaomu, the young spooks decide to use innovative approaches to make the children remember them. In the end, they work together to create magical scenes that delight the children, and they all enjoy a wonderful birthday celebration. Through the magical journey of the Spooking family, the play teaches students that innovation is not immediate; it requires curiosity about new things, the courage to try them confidently, and the perseverance to work hard for them. Additionally, the stage play visually showcases traditional Shanghai culture to the students. The performance was met with continuous cheers throughout, as the students were deeply captivated by the fantastic performance of the Year 2 Story Team.
Middle School
The 4th Poetry Competition
On March 13th to 15th , Middle School hosted its 4th annual Poetry Competition—a lively celebration of poetry and Chinese culture. Students from years 6, 7, and 8 engaged in creative activities like designing posters, producing videos, and crafting magazine covers with innovative ideas. Twelve exceptional contestants excelled in the preliminary matches and following rounds, displaying their talents through dazzling performances. Musical performances and student-led Chinese cultural programs added to the event's charm, creating a scene of shining stars. The competition aims to serve as a poetic treasure map, guiding students to explore a splendid era and embrace a confident cultural mindset, with poetry as their companion in appreciating the beauty of the times.
Logo design for the Poetry Slam was done by Year 8 students Maxine and Alice.
UNESCO Teacher Research Center
In late March, the UNESCO Teacher Research Centre and the Consulate General of Finland in Shanghai undertook a collaborative project at Pao School, delving into "Finnish Phenomenon-based Teaching" through demonstration classes. Representatives from the Finnish National Education Agency, Finnish subject teachers, and researchers from the UNESCO Teacher Research Centre participated in a distinctive demonstration class session alongside the students.
High School
ISCMS 2024
From Wednesday, 21st February to Sunday, 25th February, 12 students took part in the annual International School Choral Music Society festival in Beijing. The group included six orchestra students and six singers who rehearsed under the guidance of internationally renowned conductors. They performed for a full audience at the Forbidden City Concert Hall on Saturday night. This event provided a valuable opportunity for the students to interact with peers from Seoul and various cities in China, receive instruction from top-level professionals, and experience the thrill of performing in a large ensemble. The orchestra comprised 65 musicians, while the choir consisted of 150 members. Pao School hosted the previous festival in 2019 and looks forward to continued collaboration with ISCMS in the years to come.
Pi Day
Pi Day, celebrated annually on March 14th, commemorates the renowned mathematical constant π. The mathematics department organises engaging activities to enrich students' understanding and appreciation of mathematics. In Year 9, students utilise Desmos, an online graphing calculator, to blend mathematics and art by creating customised designs using functions, shapes, colours, and parameters. Furthermore, during lunchtime, teachers coordinate π-related activities near the cafeteria entrance, such as Buffon's needle problems, number lotteries, and identifying birthdays within the digits of π, encouraging a deeper understanding of the significance and relevance of π.
“Four Seasons of Jiangnan” Art Exhibition
In late March, the two-week activity "Four Seasons of Jiangnan" inaugurated on the High School Campus. Through art exhibitions, cultural lectures, and on-site paintings, the event facilitated a dialogue for the students with history spanning time and space. It aimed to provide a profound insight into the beauty of Jiangnan culture and to evoke an appreciation for the distinctive allure of traditional Chinese aesthetics.
The “Four Seasons of Jiangnan" art exhibition captivated teachers and students at the library with 24 paintings showcasing the region's seasonal colours. Displaying works from both ancient masters and contemporary artists, the pieces not only capture Jiangnan's natural landscapes but also mirror the lifestyle and aesthetic preferences of its inhabitants. Illustrator Chen Hanyu guided Y9 art students on March 20th in replicating "Flower Basket" by Li Song, providing a glimpse into Jiangnan's spring a millennium ago. Subsequently, on March 26th, Ms. Li Xinze from Shanghai University's College of Fine Arts delivered an enlightening lecture titled "The Poetic Colours of Jiangnan," delving into the traditional colours and poetry of Jiangnan throughout the seasons, presenting vivid interpretations of the region's essence through poetic and colourful portrayals.
Holy Crab! - Chinese Drama Club
On April 29th and May 2nd, the Chinese Drama Club enthralled audiences with their rendition of “Holy Crab!” at the Black Box Theatre. Nineteen talented students from the Chinese Drama Club, under the guidance of teachers Monica Chen, Rena Yue and Isabelle Xia, breathed life into this play on stage. Brimming with humour, irony, creativity, and unbridled enthusiasm, the performance received resounding applause from the audience.
Congratulations
Awards for Academics
Tico Liu (Y11) won 3rd place in the National High School Mathematics Olympiad.
In the National Economics Challenge (NEC), Maddox Guo (Y11) was awarded the Critical Thinking Top Team in Economic Analysis; Evan Su (Y11) was awarded the Macroeconomics Hall of Fame; also Maddox Guo (Y11) and Evan Sun (Y10) received the Regional Overall Team Gold Award; Cindy Ji (Y11), Evan Su (Y11), Tyler Zhang (Y11), Maddox Guo (Y11), Evan Sun (Y10), Austin Yuan (Y10), Alex Huang (Y10), and Rocky Wang (Y10) were awarded the Qualifying Test Individual Distinction Award while Cindy, Evan and Tyler advanced to NEC Global Final 2024.
Hebe Ji (Y8) won 3rd place in the 39th Shanghai Adolescents’ Science and Technology Innovation Contest
Awards for Sports
In the SSSA Swimming, Elaine Mi, Kelly Zhu, Susie Huang from Songjiang Campus, along with July Wu from Hongqiao Campus, achieved double gold medals in the 13-14 year old girls medley and freestyle relays; Peter She, Simon Chen, Michael Zhang, Ethan Zhao won 1st Place in 4*50m freestyle relay. Additionally, in individual events, Marus Xiao (Y9) placed 1st place in 50 Breastsroke & 100 Breaststroke; Elaine Mi (Y9) placed 1st place in 50 Breastsroke & 100 Breaststroke; Ethan Zhao (Y11) placed 1st place in 50 Freestyle & 50 Butterfly; Simon Chen (Y9) placed 1st place in 100 Backstroke & 100 Freestyle; Jocelyn Zheng (Y10) placed 1st place in 50 Breaststroke & 100 Breastsroke & 200 IM; Feifei He (Y11) placed 1st place in 50 Butterfly.
In the Huili Cup, SSSA Fencing Invitational U18, Sophia Xia won 1st Place in the Girl’s Foil; Sissi Zou won 1st Place in the Girl’s Epee, Melaine Wu won 2nd Place in the Girl’s Epee; Victor Lyu won 2nd Place in the Boy’s Foil; Richard Dong won 3rd place in the Boy’s Foil; Winnie Wang won 3rd Place in the Girl’s Epee.
Bella Xu (Y3) won 1st place in SSSA Golf International School League Champion.
Muti He (Y3) won 1st place in U8 category and the Best Defender award in U10 category in the 2023-2024 Jiangsu Community Sports Youth Ice Hockey Championship.
