Primary School
Pao Primary School was transformed into a space of cultural exploration as its students engaged in a week of colorful learning activities. The festivities began with a poster design contest organized by the language arts team. This offered students an opportunity to creatively express their understanding of the theme for each year group.
Artwork by Y3 Lincoln
Year 1 focused on Chinese Traditional Festivals, immersing themselves in their customs and celebrations through crafts and storytelling.
Year 2 explored ‘The Most Dazzling Ethnic Styles,’ learning about the diverse characteristics of various Chinese ethnic minorities, including their clothing, food, and traditional arts.
Year 3 investigated the ‘Twenty-Four Solar Terms,’ examining how these seasonal markers influence customs and daily life.
Year 4 examined China's Eight Culinary Traditions, gaining hands-on experience by cooking representative dishes.
Year 5 celebrated the beauty of Chinese Characters by studying their origins and practicing calligraphy.
The primary students set up booths as exhibition spaces in which to show their creations to parents and peers from other grades. To attract visitors to their booths, they donned traditional costumes, created introductory videos, designed interactive games, and prepared various prizes. The air was full of laughter and festive music as students celebrated the richness of Chinese culture.
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This year's Chinese Cultural Week introduced a new musical feature. For the first time, it included Chinese New Year concerts, one performed by the lower year groups and another by the middle and upper years. The students put their talent and learning on display through performances using traditional Chinese instruments, including the pipa, erhu, and guzheng. These musical events greatly enhanced the festive atmosphere.
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Middle School
At Pao Middle School, students engaged in a dynamic rotation of activities around Chinese drama, traditional sports, and the integration of Chinese culture into other subjects. This ‘Cultural Theme Show,’ opened with a dragon dance performed by teachers. Then, with all students gathered in the gym, each homeroom expressed its creativity through a two-minute presentation performance on some themes. These included poems, dances, and musical pieces using traditional Chinese instruments.
Y6 presented ethnic minority features
Y7 presented displays from a variety of Chinese dynasties
Y8 presented traditional culture and intangible cultural heritage
After the ‘Cultural Theme Show’ students split into their year groups and gathered in the canteen, on the field, and in the auditorium. The canteen was transformed into a vibrant hub of cultural activities, under the guidance of each subject department at Pao Middle School. The Chinese, Maths, Science, Humanities, Language & Learning Support, and ICT departments had all designed engaging activities that enabled students to study Chinese culture through hands-on learning activities.
The sports segment of the day was particularly exciting, offering students the chance to participate in a variety of traditional Chinese sports. Activities included Kung Fu, Fan Dance, Folk Sports, Rubber Band Skipping, Chinese Devil Sticks, Diabolo/Chinese Yo-Yo, Cuju (Chinese Traditional Soccer), Chopsticks Ping Pong, Yangge (Northeast Traditional Dance), and Dragon Dance. Each sport provided a unique opportunity for students to engage with their cultural heritage while promoting teamwork and physical activity.
In the auditorium, students gather to watch a performance of traditional Chinese drama
After the festivities, students and teachers reconvened in the gym for the closing ceremony.
High School
High School students began their festivities at the Songjiang campus, on the night of January 21, with a lively disco, themed around the Year of the Snake, and celebrating the spirit of the upcoming Chinese New Year. The event included a donation drive to support patients with coronary heart disease, embodying the spirit of generosity during this festive season.
The Student Council organized this year’s Chinese New Year Celebration around three concurrent ‘stations’: a fun fair in the gym; wonton-making in the cafeteria; and a talent show in the auditorium.
The fun fair featured a variety of engaging games, including ‘Guess What I Am Acting,’ ‘Lip Reading,’ and ‘Marble Picking.’ Participants collected stamps based on their game performances to earn points, with the student achieving the highest score winning the chance to spin a wheel and select a teacher to try a special Chinese dish. As with the past years, parent volunteers also participated in Songjiang’s celebration, bringing the students delicious homemade snacks from around around China.
In the cafeteria, students participated in hands-on wonton-making, learning the craft behind this beloved dish. The Tea Culture Club offered a tea culture experience, adding grace to the cultural atmosphere. The day culminated in a spectacular talent show, featuring a three-hour concert by the best performers at Pao High School, involving a lineup of singers, dancers, and bands.
