On the morning of February 17, under the glow of spring sunshine, SHSID Hongkou Campus held energizing and encouraging opening ceremonies for both grades 1 and 2, each ceremony centered on the theme "Wisdom & Growth: Soaring into the Year of the Snake." Faculty and students gathered together to embark on a new semester brimming with intellectual exploration and personal development.

At the beginning of each ceremony, the hosts embraced the zodiac animal for this year, the "snake," as a metaphor. They explained that the Year of the Snake symbolizes wisdom, persistence, and embracing challenges. This was followed by a video showing key memories and moments of growth from first semester. Each moment shown reinforced the concepts of growth and transformation, each of which students will continue pursuing in second semester.

Additionally, a student representative from each class gave a presentation, sharing stories of wisdom and growth for their peers to learn and apply lessons from throughout this new semester. Phoenix from Class 1-1 shared his journey from an initial nervousness and period of adjustment upon entering first grade to gradually integrating into campus life. He emphasized the importance of the core values of "HERO" for personal development. Yii Jenn from Class 1-2 recalled wonderful memories of exploring the Egyptian exhibition during last semester's field trip and expressed anticipation for Chinese studies in the new semester. Jasper from Class 2-1 summarized the exciting activities of the previous semester, including the Arts Festival, PBA project, and Sports Week, and set new goals for independent learning and facing challenges. Celine from Class 2-2 shared her experiences in achieving math and artistic swimming goals through time management and self-reflection skills, as well as an independent study plan she has formulated for the new semester, encouraging everyone to progress together. The sincere sharing from these four students ignited aspirations for the new semester like sparks.

Students from Hongkou Campus showcased their colorful winter vacation life through a video: some immersed themselves in the melodies of concerts; others glided across the ice rink; some, too, explored the mysteries of science through STEAM experiments. Students also adhered to daily acts of kindness, from helping family members cook and participating in charity sales to feeding pigeons and experiencing the role of a young shopkeeper. Their good deeds were like the warm winter sun, touching hearts. In sports, students demonstrated extraordinary courage and perseverance, whether through their spirited presence on the basketball court, speeding down ski slopes, or sweating on the field, all showcasing their love and dedication to sports. Additionally, students used the holiday to significantly enhance life skills, from baking, frying eggs, and learning to cook to tidying rooms and cleaning the house, leaving clear footprints of growth. During the Lunar New Year, students actively participated in traditional customs, writing Spring Festival couplets, crafting the character "福" (fortune), pasting couplets, decorating their homes, and celebrating the festival under the dazzling fireworks. These precious moments not only recorded the joy and growth of the students' holiday but also infused the start of the new semester with boundless energy and anticipation.

Ms. Zhu Dan, Director of SHSID Hongkou Campus, then took the stage, encouraging first and second-grade students to grow wisely and bravely like a snake in the Year of the Snake, to dare to try and continuously improve in the new semester, and to become better versions of themselves. Following this, each teacher came on stage to offer New Year blessings to the students, creating a warm and lively atmosphere. Parents also carefully recorded a heartfelt New Year blessing video, surprising the children with love and encouragement, every word filled with wishes for their health, happiness, and academic success, adding a touch of warmth and emotion to the opening ceremony.

The ceremony concluded with an exciting awards segment, where eight awards, including "Most Incredible Achievement" and "Most Independent Learner," were announced one by one. The award-winning students took the stage to receive their accolades, and their efforts and achievements were recognized and applauded by the entire school community. This was not only a celebration of achievements from the first semester, but also an opportunity to set new targets for achievement as students journey on through their second semester.

To celebrate the arrival of the New Year, Hongkou Campus prepared blessed New Year "red" pockets for each student, carrying the teachers' wishes for a bright future for every student. This special gift added a strong festive atmosphere to the campus and heralded a prosperous and hopeful new semester.

With the successful conclusion of the opening ceremony, the teachers and students of Hongkou Campus will embrace the new semester with enthusiasm, moving forward with wisdom and growth!

Written by Nina Kang

Pictures by Elaine Zhu

Proofread by Cong Luo, Judah Kuhn