The 2025 High School Multicultural International Expo (MIX Day) illuminated the campus on June 4 with a vibrant celebration of cultural diversity. From the graceful flow of Hanfu sleeves swaying in harmony with modern dance beats to the lyrical beauty of classical poetry presented alongside the excitement of the Stallions awards ceremony, the entire campus transformed into a vibrant stage for cultural exchange, as teachers and students united as organizers, performers, and enthusiastic participants, collectively weaving a rich tapestry of multicultural experiences.

The Power of Words

Chinese Activity

At SHSID, Chinese is not merely a language but a key that unlocks five thousand years of civilization. As a compulsory course in the school's distinctive curriculum, Chinese classes are always brimming with unique vitality—here, students recite Li Bai's moonlit verses and Su Shi's river odes, sensing the timeless elegance of Tang and Song poetry through rhythmic cadences; they trace the origins of Chinese civilization along the courses of the Yellow River and Yangtze; in the chapters of "To Live" and "The Three-Body Problem," they feel the pulse of contemporary times... It is this commitment to cultural heritage that makes the annual MIX DAY Chinese culture activites particularly moving.

In the calligraphy workshop, the fragrance of ink lingers in the air. Students stand with brushes in hand, carefully tracing characters on rice paper. The teacher patiently guides them in mastering the strength of each stroke, helping them appreciate the vitality of Chinese characters through lifts, presses, and pauses. Next door, bursts of laughter emerge from the ancient poetry competition. Divided into teams, students engage in a "flying flower" verse battle. When the prompt "spring" is given, lines like "Spring sleep, unaware of dawn" and "When river water warms in spring, ducks are the first to know" ring out alternately.In the round fan painting workshop, students gently dip plain white fans into pigment buckets, creating unique gradient effects with each rotation. 

At the paper-cutting tables, red paper transforms into vivid zodiac designs under deft hands. In the Chinese knotting zone, colorful silk threads weave through fingers, gradually forming auspicious, endless knots. In the "cheongsam design" classroom, students sketch cheongsam outlines on cardboard, using watercolors to render traditional blue-and-white porcelain and ink-wash lotus patterns.The Dragon Boat Festival sachet-making area exudes herbal fragrances. Following ancient methods, students fill embroidered pouches with mugwort and patchouli. The teacher explains the traditional cultural significance of these sachets for warding off evil and pestilence, captivating the students' attention. 

In the "charades" classroom, continuous laughter erupts as teams draw slips with idioms or sayings to act out. This playful approach makes traditional culture vividly tangible.These rich experiences not only make traditional culture accessible but also plant seeds of cultural confidence in young hearts. This encapsulates the essence of education at SHSID—bringing culture out of ancient texts into tangible round fans, wearable knots, and engaging games. Chinese culture is not a preserved specimen but a living heritage flowing through young veins.

Chinese Debate

The annual MIX DAY faculty-student debate competition commenced as scheduled. This year, it focused on the contemporary theme of "the portrayal of 'perfect life' on social media." On stage, teachers and students engaged in a war of words, their eloquent arguments blooming like flowers. The affirmative team expounded on the psychological compensation mechanisms behind curated displays of perfection. Meanwhile, the opposition employed incisive logic to analyze collective anxiety in the digital age. Both sides substantiated their arguments with erudite references—from sociological theories to psychological studies, from big data analytics to individual case studies—igniting sparks of intellectual collision throughout the venue.

Genre Journey 

The first floor of the Zhongxing Building was transformed into a literary showcase, with 11 classrooms reimagined as immersive spaces dedicated to different genres of English literature, from the suspense-filled Mystery Room, where participants pieced together clues to solve a fictional case, to the Mythological Realm where the teacher—dressed as Dionysus—brought ancient legends to life. In Romance, the scent of roses and soft lighting set the scene for tales of love. At the same time, the jungle-decorated entrance to Fantasy invited students into an imaginative world unlocked by riddles and wordplay. The chilling atmosphere of Horror sent shivers down spines, while the bleak yet thought-provoking world of Dystopia challenged students to reflect on imagined futures. Meanwhile, the reading room adopted the aesthetic of Dark Academia, complete with a photo corner and an English calligraphy practice area. Together, these genre-themed classrooms offered students a dynamic and engaging journey through the diverse landscapes of literature.

History Bowl & Bee

On the afternoon of June 4, a thrilling exhibition match of the History Bee and Bowl (HBB) took place in the theater of the Zhongxing Building. This showcase event featured a team-based Bowl match, with students from grades 9–10 competing against those from grade 11. The questions covered world history and included a special segment on university-level history during the individual round. In the interactive section, spectators actively participated in the fun through Kahoot. The event not only helped students reinforce their historical knowledge and learn new content but also sparked a broader interest in history across grade levels.

Psychology Games 

The Psychology Group hosted a special MIX day event titled "A Self-exploration Journey Through Creativity and Connection", inviting students to explore mental well-being through interactive and creative activities. This multifaceted event provided a meaningful pause for students, allowing them to reconnect with themselves and others through play, art, and mindfulness. It served not only as a moment of rest, but also as an invitation to care for their mental well-being.

The Digital Painting space encouraged students to express feelings through color, tapping into the deep relationship between mood and visual expression.

Meanwhile, the Mindfulness Origami and Punch Needle room offered hands-on crafting experiences. Here, students practiced mindful attention through folding and weaving, experiencing stress relief through tactile creativity.

In the Board Games room, students engaged in cooperative and competitive games designed to enhance interpersonal communication and emotional bonding.

Campus Spotlight

SHSID Stallions Awards Ceremony - A Decade of Pride 

On June 4th, 2025, the SHSID Gymnasium was transformed into a celebration hall for the first-ever SHSID Stallions 24'-25 Awards Ceremony, marking a milestone—10 years since the athletic program’s founding in 2015. The cermony honored the dedication and excellence of student-athletes across all sports teams. Coach Lawman opened the event with a heartfelt speech reflecting on the history of the Stallions and what it truly means to be a student-athlete. SHSID High School Principal Ma delivered a message of gratitude, applauding the PE department and all student-athletes for their efforts this school year.Then, each Stallions team was introduced by their coach, who shared highlights and memorable moments from the season. Team captains, MVPs, Sportsmanship Award winners, and Champions were recognized and celebrated.

The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the prestigious Stallions Honor Awards.

Leadership Award

 Sportsmanship Award

Most Improved Player

Male Athlete of the Year

Female Athlete of the Year

The SHSID Stallions 2024–25 Awards Ceremony was more than a celebration—it was a reflection of growth, legacy, and community. From its modest beginnings in 2015, the Stallions program has grown into one of the most respected athletic identities in Shanghai. With pride in the past and excitement for the future, the Stallions spirit rides on—stronger than ever.

Poetry Gala 

Presented by the English and World Languages Group, the 2025 SHSID Poetry Gala brought together students and teachers for a morning of multilingual expression and literary reflection. The event featured student performances across three themed sections: Poetry in Bloom, Poetry Across Borders, and Poetry in Ekphrasis.From classical Chinese verse to original works translated from French, Japanese, and Italian, the gala highlighted the power of poetry to bridge cultures and voices. Winners from Grades 9 to 11 were recognized for their excellence in writing, translation, and interpretation. In addition, four students were named SHSID Youth Poetry Ambassadors for their efforts in promoting poetry within the school community and for demonstrating personal growth as both poets and public advocates for literature and the arts.The celebration concluded with the unveiling of the Evanescence Poetry Corner—a new, student-curated space in the school library dedicated to poetry from around the world.

Business Pitch 

After a semester of preparation, the final round of the Science Entrepreneurship Alliance Project took center stage in the Black Box. Organized jointly by the Social Sciences Department, alongside the Chemistry, Biology, and Physics Departments, this initiative guided 10th-grade students in applying scientific knowledge to real-world problems and developing market-driven products through business thinking. Four outstanding teams advanced to the finals.

These teams presented innovative, problem-solving ventures that span sustainable design and cutting-edge technology: all-natural triple-layer acne patches—demonstrating biotechnology’s innovative application in daily skincare; plant-based meat alternatives—advancing trends in healthy eating; automated plant care devices—using self-regulating systems to optimize growth conditions; AI-powered facial recognition tools—enhancing memory retention and social interaction for dementia patients.

As science teaches us to ask “Why?”, business inspires us to ask “Why not?”Together, let’s look forward to seeing these innovations enter our daily lives!

Getting on the Stages

IB B Drama

Grade 11 IBB Chinese students staged a powerful adaptation of Reginald Rose's 12 Angry Men. Through compelling performances, the cast brought new life to this courtroom drama, exploring justice, prejudice, and the complexity of human nature.Over a month of preparation went into the production, with 22 students collaborating on everything from script adaptation to set design and rehearsals. Their dedication paid off in a gripping performance that captivated the audience and sparked reflection on fairness and civic responsibility. More than just a language exercise, the play became a meaningful exploration of universal values through the lens of Chinese theatrical expression.

Chinese Drama

The Youshan Chinese Drama Club took on the challenge of adapting The Last Night of Miss Jin. Over several months, students devoted themselves to perfecting every detail—from line delivery and costume design to music and lighting. Their performance captured both the glamour of Jin’s youth and the quiet sorrow of her later years. The result was a poignant, polished production that deeply moved the audience.

Math Drama 

The student-written, directed, and performed math-themed plays The Life of Galois and The Math Odyssey were successfully staged in the blackbox, delivering a groundbreaking cross-disciplinary feast for the audience. The Life of Galois, based on the life of the French mathematician Évariste Galois, dramatizing his conflicts with his mentor Cauchy, the collapse of his political ideals, and his fatal duel, showcasing his brief yet brilliant life. The Math Odyssey, adopted a time-traveling fantasy premise, bringing Indian mathematician Ramanujan into dialogue with ancient Greek scholars like Hipparchus and Ptolemy. Incorporating humorous dialogue and original math-themed rap, the play creatively presented concepts such as trigonometric functions and spherical geometry. Through scriptwriting, stage design, and live performances, the student team brought mathematical history to life with both passion and romance!

The Trial against Jay 

A short play about a crime premiered as scheduled at the Zhongxing Building Theater. Members from the Introduction to Law course and the mock trial club first presented the intricate crime scene to the audience. Then, during the courtroom trial phase, both the prosecution and defense engaged in a fierce debate over physical evidence and witness testimonies. In addition to their vivid performances, they also fully demonstrated their understanding and application of the evidence rules and the standard of proof for a criminal case. The audience served as the jury and delivered its verdict through a live voting at the end of the play.

Psychodrama Workshop 

The Social Sciences department designed a psychodrama workshop to guide students in an immersive exploration of their "future selves." Students used sculpting and roleplay to envision their future lives. In the heart of the psychodrama, they engaged in a powerful dialogue with their future selves: Who am I? Who do I want to become? How do I get there? Looking back from the future, their imagined selves expressed gratitude and encouragement. This evoked deep emotional resonance through authentic performance and left each student with a tender yet empowering imprint of growth.

Exhibits and Performances Around Campus

Longyin Club Flash Mob 

During the annual MIX Day festivities, the Longyin Club never fails to captivate the audience with breathtaking performances—flowing Hanfu showcases, powerful yet graceful martial arts, and enchanting classical music, unfolding like a living scroll painting that transports teachers and students across time, inviting them to a cultural rendezvous spanning thousands of years.On June 4th, an innovative "Longyin" flash mob swept through the Zhongxing Building like a whirlwind. Three meticulously arranged performances took place at different times, delivering unexpected artistic surprises in a dynamic and spontaneous format.At 10 a.m., the lobby on the first floor set the stage. The event began with the classical melody "Breaking the Willow," followed by the ancient-style song "Green Jade Table: Lantern Festival," which resonated through the building. Classical dances "No Regret for Time" and "Drunk in Clear Waves" intertwine in a dreamy, poetic atmosphere.An hour later, the second performance took over: the majestic "Together Under Heaven," the lively "Moonlight Letter," and the graceful "Song of Feathered Robes" showcased timeless elegance. The morning sessions concluded with a vibrant Uyghur dance, brimming with ethnic charm.At noon, the artistic wave spread through the B1 atrium. The melodious "Mandarin Ducks’ Play" and "Fleeting Life" touched hearts, while the energetic folk dance "Little Sisters of the Grassland" radiated vitality. The finale, "Echoes," was performed by seven members of the Dance4Purpose club. Against the backdrop of the atrium’s large screen, lights and music intertwined, creating an immersive audiovisual experience that infused the lunch break with dynamic energy.

EKPHRASIS Exhibit 

This MIX Day, EKPHRASIS ’25 carried forward the spirit of last year’s Humanities Fair, transforming the ZXB Atrium into a vibrant, interactive space celebrating student creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration. The morning event featured a showcase of humanities-aligned student clubs —a striking semicircle of student artwork paired with ekphrastic writing that invited viewers to look, pause, and reflect. In the afternoon, the LiveArts Show brought the space to life, highlighting the dynamic presence of performing arts on campus.

Historical Artifacts Exhibit 

The Historical Artifacts Exhibit, hosted by Mr. Nelson from the History Department, was on display throughout MIX Day in Room B113 of the Zhong Xing Building. The exhibits came from Mr. Nelson’s personal collection, gathered during his travels, and included books, albums, coins, stamps, medals, badges, and posters—mainly focused on 20th Century World History. As students paused to observe the artifacts, flip through materials, and ask questions, Mr. Nelson warmly engaged with them, offering thoughtful explanations that brought history to life in a vivid and accessible way.

(Written by the relevant subject groups in MIX Day   Photos by SHSID Media Group  Reviewed by Gu Ying, Shen Chenli)