On October 14, the first Sports Meet of Shanghai High School International Division (SHSID) Fengxian Campus officially kicked off in the crisp autumn air. Students, teachers and parents gathered on the sports field for a vibrant day of athletic challenges and school spirit.

Under the theme "Start Strong, Stand Strong, Strive Strong", the Sports Day encouraged every student to approach challenges with confidence and enthusiasm, remain determined in the face of difficulties, and strive towards their goals with perseverance.

The opening ceremony was attended by Ms. Zhang Zehong, Secretary General of Shanghai High School (SHS); Mr. Liu Lian, Principal of SHSID Middle and Primary School; Mr. Zhu Guanhua, Director of General Affairs at SHS; Mr. Shen Tianyuan, Vice Principal of SHSID Middle and Primary School and Principal of SHSID Fengxian Campus; department heads; and all teachers at Fengxian Campus. Together with parents, they cheered on the students and celebrated this special occasion.

1.Marching In with Spirit, Ready to Begin

First- and sixth-grade students marched onto the sports field in well-organised lines, full of energy and enthusiasm. Guests and parents greeted them with warm applause, setting an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation for the opening ceremony.

In his opening address, Mr. Shen Tianyuan shared his hopes for the students through the theme "Start Strong, Stand Strong, Strive Strong": to begin with confidence and positivity, remain steadfast when faced with challenges, and continue pushing beyond their limits through perseverance and determination.

This was followed by an oath from Athena of Class 6-1, representing the athletes. She pledged to respect the rules, show respect for fellow competitors, and give her very best throughout the competition. Her words also inspired all athletes to embrace the challenges ahead with enthusiasm and determination.

The ceremony continued with an energetic pom-pom cheerleading performance by the first graders. As the music began, the children took to the field with colourful pom-poms, carefully following the rhythm and performing each movement with enthusiasm. Their pom-poms danced in the sunshine as they waved, jumped and turned in time with one another, combining coordinated movements with the lively spirit of young learners.

With bright smiles and wholehearted enthusiasm, the children brought confidence and joy to the performance. Parents watched proudly from the stands, delighted to see their children perform with such focus and self-assurance. Their infectious energy added a cheerful and heartwarming touch to the opening ceremony.

To the powerful beat of drums, sixth-grade students and teachers then took to the field for a traditional Fengxian rolling-lantern performance (Gun Deng).

As a nationally recognised aspect of intangible cultural heritage with deep roots in Fengxian, the rolling-lantern tradition brought local culture into the school and offered a meaningful opportunity for the campus community to connect with the region's cultural heritage.

Moving in harmony with the drumbeats, students and teachers worked together to change formations and movements. The lanterns spun, turned and moved across the field, displaying the performance's distinctive rhythm, coordination and strength.

By performing side by side, students and teachers brought the unique artistry of this traditional practice to life while giving it renewed energy on the school stage. For the sixth graders, the performance was more than an opening ceremony display: it was also a valuable opportunity to experience Fengxian's local culture firsthand and strengthen the connection between their school and the community around them.

Following these wonderful performances, Mr. Liu Lian, Principal of SHSID Middle and Primary School, took the stage to deliver his address. He encouraged the students to cheer for themselves, celebrate their youth, and give their all in the pursuit of excellence.

Amid enthusiastic applause, Mr. Liu officially declared the first Sports Day of SHSID Fengxian Campus open!

2. United as One, Racing Ahead Together

The sixth-grade 4×100-metre mixed relay kicked off with the sound of the starting gun. Four teams lined up across four lanes, each made up of two students, one parent and one teacher, working together to complete the four legs of the race.

The competition was close from the very beginning. Teachers, parents and students raced neck and neck, with each handover bringing fresh opportunities to catch up and overtake their rivals. Every burst of speed and every baton exchange drew the attention of spectators in the stands. With students, parents and teachers competing side by side, the relay was not only a test of speed but also a celebration of teamwork and shared enjoyment.

While the sixth-grade mixed relay showcased the close cooperation of students, parents and teachers, the first-grade parent-child events brought a more heartwarming and playful atmosphere to the field.

During the obstacle relay, parents accompanied their children across balance bridges, working together to complete each challenge. In the parent-child throwing game, parents and children took turns holding marker cones and throwing beanbags, experiencing the fun of cooperation as they switched roles. With their parents by their side, the children were encouraged to try new things with greater confidence and take part more enthusiastically, creating warm and memorable moments together.

As the competition progressed, a series of team events followed, including the obstacle relay, rolling-ball relay, water-carrying relay and caterpillar race. In the obstacle relay, teammates raced against the clock through sprints, turns and handovers. In the rolling-ball relay, each participant pushed a ball back and forth, balancing speed with control. The water-carrying relay added another layer of challenge, requiring not only speed but also balance and technique.

Every determined sprint, careful handover and effort to catch up brought individual contributions together, turning them into a shared team effort.

The caterpillar race brought the joy of teamwork to life in an especially lively way. Seated astride inflatable "caterpillars", teammates had to coordinate their movements and work in unison to move forward quickly. Some called out the rhythm while others adjusted their movements to stay in sync. As teams learned to work together, the race was full of unexpected twists and turns.

The excitement of close competition blended with laughter and playful interaction, making the team events some of the most engaging and enjoyable moments of the day.

3. Challenge Yourself — Higher, Faster, Stronger!

The courage to climb higher, the speed of a sprint, the power of a throw, and the curiosity and perseverance to take on new challenges all came together to create the day's vibrant scenes.

At the climbing wall, students took turns tackling the route after securing their safety harnesses under the guidance of instructors. Some climbed swiftly and confidently in one smooth attempt, while others paused briefly along the way before adjusting their balance and pushing upwards again with encouragement from classmates, parents and teachers. Nearby, parents and teachers watched attentively, capturing these precious moments of courage and determination on camera.

Once the students had finished their climbing challenges, teachers and parents also stepped up to try the wall themselves, with students cheering them on from the sidelines. The roles subtly shifted, bringing children, parents and teachers together as fellow participants in the challenge. Their mutual encouragement added a relaxed, warm and playful dimension to the experience.

On the 50-metre track, students stood poised and focused at the starting line. At the sound of the signal, they surged forward, giving their all to reach the finish line. At the throwing area, participants adjusted their stance and found their rhythm, swinging their arms and releasing their throws in pursuit of greater distances. Across the different events, speed, strength and technique were all on full display.

Beyond the competitive events, interactive activities such as basketball, badminton and table tennis offered students even more opportunities to try different sports and discover the enjoyment of physical activity.

Inside the badminton hall, students and parents partnered up for doubles challenges, gradually developing an understanding of one another through their positioning and exchanges. At the shuttlecock-control challenge, students concentrated on controlling their rackets and worked to improve their personal bests with each attempt.

In the table tennis hall, doubles matches unfolded at a brisk pace, with teammates covering for one another as play shifted between attack and defence. When facing the ball machine, students had to react quickly to incoming shots and adjust their positioning and timing. In the basketball hall, shooting and dribbling challenges also attracted plenty of participants. From aiming and shooting to changing direction and weaving around obstacles, students enjoyed discovering what different sports had to offer through each new challenge.

Behind every successful sporting event was the dedication of the teaching team, whose professional efforts spanned event design, schedule coordination and officiating, alongside the close cooperation of parent volunteers, the General Affairs team and other support departments.

Throughout the day, many parents cheered for their children while capturing memorable moments from the competitions and activities on their phones. In conversations with teachers and staff, they also expressed their appreciation and shared their genuine impressions of the event. Every contribution and gesture of support helped create a safe and well-organised environment in which students could participate wholeheartedly and enjoy the rewards of movement, challenge and teamwork.

Looking back on the day, the determination shown in the final dash to the finish line, the coordination of teammates working side by side, the joy of overcoming a challenge, and the encouragement of classmates, teachers and parents all became treasured memories of this autumn day on campus.

May our students carry the enthusiasm, courage and perseverance they demonstrated on the sports field into their everyday learning and lives, continuing to Start Strong, Stand Strong, and Strive Strong as they take on every new challenge ahead!

(Written by Yang Die, Lin Jingyao

Pictures by Gong Haijie, Yu Xueling, Parents

Reviewed by Shen Tianyuan, Guo Lei, Ye Xing, Wu Shiyu)