I. A Much-Anticipated Day of Sport

From October 12 to 15, students in Grades 1 to 4 at Hongkou Campus celebrated the 2026 Sports Week. On October 15, students, parents, and teachers gathered at the sports field for the Junior Sports Games, a long-awaited event themed “Junior Games, Giant Hearts.” Trying bravely, supporting teammates, and playing fairly — every child showed their own “giant heart” on the field.

II. Building Excitement Throughout Sports Week

Sports Week brought something special to campus each day. Sports Socks Day, Sports Hat Day, and “My Favorite Sport” Day invited students to express their love for sports in creative ways. Colorful sports socks bounced through the corridors, and under all kinds of sports hats were excited smiling faces. Children proudly showed off their favorite sports gear, filling the campus with a vibrant sports atmosphere.

The Sports Bingo challenge in PE lessons was equally exciting. Four activities — Choo-Choo Train, Hoop Twist Challenge, Hands & Feet Crawl, and Ring Jump Challenge — helped children practice coordination, balance, and teamwork while having fun. Each completed challenge earned a stamp on their stamp card. When all four stamps were collected, the children held their cards high, their faces beaming with pride — and this enthusiasm built up plenty of energy for the upcoming Sports Day.

III. Sixteen Teams, One Shared Spirit

On October 15, the much-anticipated Sports Day officially began. Eight classes formed sixteen sports-themed teams. With eye-catching team signs and creative props, the children entered the field one by one, chanting loud and clear slogans. “Splash, splash, kick, kick!” “Chop the competition! CHOP the opposition!” “One team, one dream! GO! FIGHT! WIN!” — one spirited chant after another filled the air and ignited the atmosphere. Some students wore colorful headbands, some snow hats and snowboarding goggles, some carried Australian footballs, and others waved small flags. Their distinctive entrance styles won round after round of applause from the stands.

Two student representatives then took the stage. Jacquelyn from Class 3-1 shared the story of how her uncle taught her to “run five steps first,” which took her from barely finishing half a lap to completing a full lap. She realized that sports are not just about winning or losing, but about persistence and encouragement. Ian Du from Class 4-2 talked about his experience learning tennis — from always missing the ball to serving steadily — and encouraged everyone not to fear difficulties and never give up. Finally, Ian led all the young athletes in a solemn oath, promising to compete honestly, respect others, and show good sportsmanship. Their young but firm voices echoed across the field.

Afterward, Ms. Zhu Dan, Director of Hongkou Campus, took the stage. She highlighted this year’s theme, “Junior Games, Giant Hearts,” and encouraged the children to give their best, play fairly, and make sure no one felt left out. She also thanked the parents, volunteers, and teachers for their efforts, and expressed special gratitude to PE teachers Mr. Ethan and Ms. Wei for their careful preparation. Finally, she led the whole audience in a rousing chant, and the atmosphere was electric.

Then, the group dance brought the atmosphere to a climax. The children moved in perfect unison, their smiles bright and radiant, while parents’ applause and cheers rose and fell, offering the warmest support. In that moment, confidence, dedication, and a sense of collective honor were written on every face. Next, Ms. Miao Xiaoling, Assistant Principal of SHSID Middle and Primary School, took the stage and declared the Sports Day officially open. The whole field erupted in cheers and applause.

IV. Every Effort Deserves a Cheer

The competitions officially began. Guided by teachers and volunteers, the sixteen teams rotated through six events in an orderly manner.

In the Obstacle Course Relay, the children dashed off the starting line like arrows, climbing over soft mats and crawling through tunnels. Even when a child’s shoe came off mid-race, they didn’t stop to pick it up and kept sprinting on one bare foot. On the 30m and 50m sprint tracks, the young athletes raced toward the finish line, while teammates and parents cheered loudly from the sidelines. That all-out effort touched everyone present.

Back-to-Back Ball Relay, Tug of War, and Giant Volleyball all tested teamwork and coordination. In the Back-to-Back Ball Relay, the children locked arms tightly and reminded each other to “slow down” and “move left a bit,” finding a shared rhythm as they adjusted direction. Tug of War was the fiercest. The young players gripped the rope and dug their feet in, those at the back needing to hold their ground most. Their faces turned red, but no one let go. When one child fell, they still clutched the rope and, encouraged by teammates, stood up and kept going. Another child at the very back pulled so hard that the rope hurt their hands; teammates quickly came to check and took turns holding the last position. Cheers from parents on the sidelines surged wave after wave. In Giant Volleyball, the ball flew back and forth in the air as the children worked together to keep it from touching the ground. Their small figures looked especially adorable against the giant ball.

At the NFL Quarterback Target Throw area, the children aimed carefully and threw with force, jumping for joy each time they hit the target number. Some children missed on their first try, took a deep breath, adjusted their movement, and tried again — that never-give-up spirit won applause from their peers.

On the field, heartwarming little moments were everywhere: the persistence to restart after a mistake, the enthusiasm to cheer loudly for teammates, and the grace to applaud other teams. Every child was interpreting sportsmanship in their own way. The smooth rotation through all six events would not have been possible without the seamless coordination of teachers and volunteers, who helped the children complete every event successfully.

V. Families Moving Together

The parent-child events filled the sports field with warmth and laughter. In the Grades 1-2 Snowshoe Walk, parents and children coordinated their steps, finding a shared rhythm through trial and error. Some families started off in a tangle, making everyone around laugh, but soon found their groove and strode forward together. The Grades 3-4 Caterpillar Track Race tested communication and coordination, as parents and children pushed the track forward together. Some families chanted “one, two, one, two” as they moved in unison toward the finish line.

Those reminders, laughter, and mutual encouragement between parents and children made “companionship” a visible action. The significance of families participating in school life and supporting children’s growth together was especially vivid in that moment.

VI. A Friendly Match to Remember

The most anticipated Parent-Teacher Friendship Match pushed the atmosphere to its peak. The match began with parents competing against each other. Parents from different grades took turns on the court, serving, bumping, and spiking with impressive skill. The score seesawed back and forth, and the competition was intense. Facing tricky shots, some parents dove to save the ball, desperately bumping it up just before it hit the ground. Every exciting rally at the net drew gasps and cheers from the audience.

Then, parents and teachers from Hongkou Campus faced off in a friendly match. The children instantly split into two camps, shouting themselves hoarse for both sides — “Go, Dad!” “Teachers, you got this!” The cheers rose wave after wave, almost lifting the roof off the court. Every thrilling save and every beautiful point was met with thunderous cheers and screams, and the atmosphere was completely ignited. In the end, the teachers’ team won this joyful battle. Both sides laughed, high-fived, and hugged, and some teachers were surrounded by students, being “interviewed” as if they had just won an Olympic gold medal. Beyond winning and losing, the effort, chemistry, and sportsmanship on both sides — and the wonderful memories created together by home and school — were the most precious takeaways.

VII. Beyond the Games: Reflecting and Growing

After the Sports Carnival, students in Grades 1 to 4 at Hongkou Campus completed reflections and self-evaluations designed for their respective grade levels. Through drawing, ticking choices, and writing, they looked back on their experiences and growth.

Grade 1 students drew their favorite moments and reflected on their efforts and acts of kindness. One child drew a picture of themselves sprinting in the obstacle race, while another wrote “I cheered for everyone,” proud of their kind gesture.

Grade 2 students used prompts and key words to think together about how listening, moving in sync, and helping each other could make teamwork smoother. During the Back-to-Back Ball Relay, one student shared that only by truly listening to each other’s rhythm cues, keeping steps in sync, and supporting each other could they keep the ball from dropping and complete the challenge. They truly felt that listening, moving together, and helping one another could make teamwork twice as effective.

Grade 3 students connected their experiences to the core values HEROES+ and thought about how to carry the positive behaviors from the field into daily life. One student wrote that a teammate twisted their ankle during an activity but insisted on walking to the finish line with the support of friends and teachers. That persistence made them understand that when facing difficulties, they should also refuse to give up easily, just like their teammate.

Grade 4 students connected their experiences to the Semester One core values GROW — Growth Mindset & Safety, Responsibility, Organization, and Work Ethics — analyzing their strategies, choices, and contributions to the team, and making plans for their next steps. One student shared that they felt anxious when losing points in the Giant Volleyball match, but seeing how parents, when losing a point, never blamed anyone and instead focused even more on the next ball, made them realize their own mindset needed adjustment. Their next step was to learn to focus on the next opportunity rather than dwelling on points already lost.

These sincere expressions showed the growth the students gained from the activities — they not only learned how to compete, but also how to face winning and losing, how to support others, and how to become better versions of themselves.

VIII. Closing: Junior Games, Giant Hearts

The success of this Sports Day would not have been possible without the contribution of every participant. Thank you to the students for their enthusiastic participation, to the parents and parent volunteers for their strong support, and to all teachers and staff for their hard work. Special thanks to PE teachers Mr. Ethan and Ms. Wei for their wholehearted dedication in preparation, practice, and organization, which made every event smooth and wonderful.

The cheers may fade, but the courage to try and the kindness to support one another stay with us. Junior Games, Giant Hearts — on to the next challenge, together!

(Written by Nina Kang

Pictures by Parent Volunteers and Rachel Wu

Reviewed by Dan Zhu, Shiyu Wu)