In the golden days of October, with the grass still lush and green, the annual Middle School Division Sports Meet kicked off amid great anticipation, carrying the theme of “Higher, Faster, Stronger” and a spirit of joy, culture and vitality. Teachers and students of the Middle School Division gathered together to witness this exciting moment. Mr. Feng Zhigang, Principal of S HS; Mr. Liu Lian, Principal of SHSID Middle and Primary School , Mr. Shen Tianyuan, Vice Principal of SHSID Middle and Primary School and Principal of SHSID Fengxian Campus attended the opening ceremony together with the directors of each division and all Middle School teachers, cheering the students on alongside the visiting guests.

On the field, students in Grades 6, 7 and 8 lined up neatly under their three Houses—Azure Dragon, White Tiger and Phoenix—holding pom-poms in their corresponding House colors, with the first student of each class raising the class placard high, standing tall and full of spirit. After the arrival of the guests and the introduction of the honored guests, Ms. Shen Ying, Director of the Middle School Division, delivered an opening address, offering sincere words of encouragement to all athletes. All members of each House then shouted their House cheers at the top of their voices, their pom-poms rising and falling with the waves of cheers, showcasing youthful energy and team spirit. As the cheers faded, the opening performances officially began.

First to take the stage was the Azure Dragon House, presenting a magnificent flag dance. Under the stirring rhythm of the song “Victory,” rows of Azure Dragon flags unfurled and fluttered with crisp, clean moves, as if the dragon were surging upward and breaking through the clouds—echoing the spirit of “Faster,” conveying unwavering conviction and strength, and showcasing the students' soaring spirit and determination to strive for excellence.

Next, the White Tiger House dazzled the audience with an ingenious combination performance—agile bicycle weaving paired with the steady, graceful movements of Tai Chi. The cyclists moved through formations with effortless ease, brimming with youthful vitality, while the Tai Chi routines flowed like drifting clouds and running water, exuding the composed elegance of Eastern culture. Between motion and stillness, the performance captured the White Tiger's blend of agility and strength, embodied the pursuit of “Stronger,” and brought modern energy and traditional heritage into a dynamic fusion.

Last but not least came the Phoenix House! Spreading its wings toward the sky and rising with the sun, the Phoenix embodies the spirit of “Higher.” At this moment, 20 young dancers took the stage to present “The Dance of the Phoenix.” With soaring phoenix silhouettes and leaping figures, the dance ascended step by step toward the summit, interpreting the power of rising against the wind and setting off boldly toward ever-higher goals.

Before the excitement of the performances had even faded, the House Fun Relay—featuring teachers, students and parents—followed right on its heels, pushing the atmosphere to a new high. Each House fielded an eight-member team made up of teachers, students and parents, who crossed obstacle cones along a 50-meter track while completing a series of challenges: two-hand basketball dribbling, shuttlecock kicking, table-tennis ball balancing, football dribbling, rope skipping, volleyball volleying and a two-person lion dance. Teachers, students and parents worked in perfect sync and sprinted with all their might, while cheers and laughter rippled across the field—a heartwarming display of home-school unity. After the fierce contest, the winning team took the stage to receive honors, with the guests presenting awards to the eight competitors. Following the athletes' oath sworn by their representative, Principal Liu Lian officially declared the Middle School Division Sports Meet open.

Throughout the thrilling competitions, the young athletes displayed an inspiring spirit. On the track, at the sound of the starting gun, runners shot forward like arrows from a bow, every burst of acceleration quickening the pulse of the spectators. Beside the long jump pit, students ran, leaped and landed in one smooth motion, touching down firmly in the sand. In the throwing zone, medicine balls were hurled with all their strength, arcing across the sky, leaving the audience in awe of the students' power and skill.

As the competitions went on, waves of cheers rose and fell across the stands, shouts of encouragement echoing into the sky, filling the entire field with youthful energy and an uplifting atmosphere.

The day's competitions reached their grand finale with the 4×100-meter relay. Parent representatives from every grade took to the track, with each grade fielding two moms' teams and two dads' teams. The parents, normally busy in their own workplaces, now sprinted at full speed on the track, passing the baton with perfect coordination and handing on trust and joy with every lap. Along the sides of the track, students' cheers rose and fell as they rooted for their moms and dads. This extraordinary home-school relay brought the atmosphere to its highest point, sending unity and joy flowing down the track.

After a morning of intense competition, the students welcomed a relaxed and joyful carnival in the afternoon. On the caterpillar race track, the wriggling “caterpillars” pushed forward with all their might; on the lacrosse court, the ball bounced nimbly between the sticks; at the shooting range, students held their breath and took careful aim; and on the ice rink, blades traced graceful arcs across the silky ice. These diverse games made the Sports Meet more than just a competition—they placed teamwork and joy at the very heart of the day. After the activities, the students returned to their classrooms in an orderly manner, collecting their activity stamp cards and keeping the memory of a day filled with laughter. That day, sports became the bond connecting every participant's heart, allowing everyone to experience even greater joy through the competitions. It reminded us that in this era of cultural diversity, unity, cooperation and happiness are always the goals we share—and “SHSID Middle School: More United” was the most touching footnote of this Sports Meet.

(Written by Chen Xu

Pictures by Ruolin Yan, Parents Volunteers

Reviewed by Ying Shen, Shiyu Wu, Grace Gilmore)