In September, SHSID Hongkou campus welcomed a group of energetic and lively new first graders. With boundless curiosity and great anticipation for their new school, these young students embarked on an exciting journey into campus life. Let’s take a moment to look back at each shining moment they experienced during their first week!

Welcome to Your New Adventure!

For the first-grade students, September 1st was undoubtedly a day of great significance, marking the grand beginning of a new journey. Accompanied by their parents, they stepped into their new classrooms. Upon entering, their eyes were immediately drawn to the sunflower-shaped balloons smiling at them from their desks—special welcome gifts from the teachers, filled with warm wishes. With curiosity and a sense of exploration, the young students carefully observed their unfamiliar surroundings. With the help of their homeroom teachers and parents, they eventually found their cubbies and seats, placing down their backpacks and daily supplies. Afterward, the first-grade teachers introduced themselves and explained the daily schedule at school, as well as the wide range of exciting campus activities. The children listened with eager anticipation, their hearts filled with excitement and hope for the future.

Getting to Know Each Other

To help first-grade students quickly integrate into the school community and make more friends, the teachers led the children on a wonderful journey of exploring the campus. From the bright and cozy library to the fun-filled playground and the lively drama classroom, each stop excited the children, who eagerly expressed that they couldn't wait to fully dive into this vibrant school life! In addition, the teachers planned a series of fun and engaging icebreaker activities. In the "Find a Friend" game, children excitedly searched for partners who matched the patterns on their bingo cards, fostering connections through mutual introductions. During the "All About Me" sharing session, students shared their interests and unique traits, further deepening their bonds. Through these interactions, friendships quickly formed, and the classroom was filled with a warm and joyful atmosphere.

Learning New Routines

During the first week of school, for the first-grade students, beyond making new friends and getting familiar with their new environment, it was even more important for them to learn to follow new rules and develop good habits. From lining up quickly and orderly to organizing personal belongings, from understanding and following classroom rules to learning proper lunch manner, the children gradually adapted to these new expectations and routines through five days of continuous practice under the patient guidance of their teachers. They learned to listen attentively in class and actively respond to their teachers' questions, as well as to dispose of food waste in designated areas after lunch. These seemingly small changes in detail marked their growth.

Exploring and Learning Together

Every day in the classroom is a new adventure and exploration for the first graders. Whether it's discovering the mysteries of numbers in math, unveiling the secrets of nature in science, immersing themselves in the world of language in English, appreciating the beauty of Chinese characters in Chinese class, or understanding how society functions in social studies, each subject is like a mysterious door waiting to be opened by the children. In addition, there are lively music classes, inspiring art lessons, and energetic P.E. classes, offering a variety of enriching experiences. During the lunch recess time, students played with hula hoops, shot basketballs, tossed frisbees, and played cricket on the playground, with laughter and cheers filling the air. After the activities, the first graders joined their second-grade buddies for a "reading buddy" session. The children delighted in exploring different subjects, whether reading stories, creating colorful crafts, or learning new songs. The first graders embraced these activities with full enthusiasm, learning and exploring together through cooperation and play.

Growing Independence

After a week of learning and practice, the young first graders have progressed from their initial innocence and confusion to gradually adapting to the daily learning routines and becoming familiar with school procedures. They have learned how to properly take care of their belongings and prepare the necessary materials for class according to the schedule. Under the guidance of their teachers, they can now independently complete classroom tasks. The children feel proud and fulfilled in being able to accomplish these tasks on their own, and in the process, they are gradually developing good habits.

Celebrating the First Week

The week flew by, and during this time, the young first graders not only made new friends and learned new things but also acquired new skills. To celebrate their achievements, the school organized a special event—the "First Week of School Achievement Award." On Friday during the lunch break, the first-grade teachers and students gathered together to mark this important moment. The host, Mr. D, warmly praised the children's hard work and progress throughout the week. Each student confidently took the stage to share the new knowledge and skills they had gained, the friends they had made, and the progress they had achieved, making all the teachers and students present feel incredibly proud. Finally, the teachers awarded each child a certificate as a symbol of honor and recognition.

The first week, full of novelty and challenges, has successfully ended, but the exciting journey of these young students in primary school has only just begun. We believe they will continue to carry their enthusiasm and effort forward, achieving even more wonderful things in the future.

(Written by Becky Yang        Pictures/Videos by Elaine Zhu, Sonia Wu        Supervised by Chris Zhu, Chenli Shen, Cong Luo, Judah Kuhn)