In mid-October, SHSID Lin'gang Campus welcomed its highly anticipated Sports Week. From colorful theme days to fun activities during recess and PE, and finally to the exciting Sports Meet, the children ignited the autumn campus with their running and laughter.

Sports Meet: Running, Paddling, and Teamwork

Under the beautiful sunshine, the children entered the field in an orderly manner, their faces filled with excitement and anticipation. At the opening ceremony, host Mr. Tansey first welcomed the students and parents. Then, Daniel from Class 3-2, as the athlete representative, delivered a speech centered on the theme "Little Athletes, Big Spirits." He shared his experiences in martial arts and kayaking training, encouraging everyone to embrace challenges bravely and not fear setbacks.

Following that, the children performed an energetic group dance. Daniel from Class 2-2 demonstrated Taekwondo, and Hannah from Class 3-1 gave a fencing performance, earning rounds of applause for every move. Afterwards, teachers and students performed a rap together. The homeroom teachers led the children in clapping to the beat and doing movements, creating perfect coordination between the performers on stage and the audience. The energy on the field instantly boiled over, pushing the atmosphere to a climax.

At the end of the opening ceremony, Ms. Liu Fang, Vice Principal of the Primary and Middle School Division, took the stage to deliver a speech, calling on everyone to fully enjoy the joy of sports. She then announced the official start of the meet. Eager and ready, the children headed to their respective competition areas under the guidance of their teachers.

The events were diverse and full of character. On the 50-meter track, the children dashed off like arrows released from a bow. The standing long jump tested their explosive power and balance—takeoff, flight, and landing, all in one smooth motion.

The comprehensive "Fun Challenge" tested both wits and physical strength. The children climbed, hurdled obstacles, and crawled quickly along the track, finally tossing a ball steadily into a bucket. They had an absolute blast.

The team events involved the entire class. In the Grade 1 "Balancing a ball on a disc," the children worked together to protect the small ball on an inflatable tray, navigating around cones and back. For Grades 2 and 3's "Playing Ball Together," students paired up, holding a ball between two cones and running forward in perfect sync. Everyone united and gave their all for their class.

In the kayaking relay, each class sent out five young paddlers who took turns rowing, tapping paddles in the water to complete the handover. As the kayaks glided across the water, the children paddled vigorously, fighting for their team and putting their efforts to the test.

In the parent-child event "Invincible Fire Wheel," big hands held small hands as they ran and cooperated together. The children were especially engaged with their moms and dads by their side. Following this, the teachers and parents' "Together in the Same Boat" event pushed the atmosphere to another climax—teachers who usually stand on the podium and parents who usually sit in the audience all became athletes on the field. The children cheered enthusiastically from the sidelines for their teachers and parents, their shouts rising one after another.

Throughout the Sports Meet, the children played happily and competed to their heart's content. Regardless of the results, every little figure crossing the finish line or completing a task was putting the meaning of "Little Athletes, Big Spirits" into action. After the meet, the children returned to their classrooms to watch a sports movie, experiencing the charm of sports through the screen. Later, organized by the PE teachers, each class played "Colorful Parachute"—the children formed a circle, pulled the parachute, and worked together to keep the small balls dancing in the air. The joy of sports continued to soar over the field along with the colorful balls.

This Sports Meet drew the most brilliant stroke for Sports Week, but the joy of sports extended far beyond this one day. Looking back on the week, from Monday to Wednesday, there was a different excitement on campus every day.

Sports Week: A New Surprise Every Day

The excitement of Sports Week began with daily "theme days." On Monday, every class wore clothing in their own exclusive color. Red, blue, yellow, green... colorful figures shuttled through the hallways, spreading energy and joy.

Tuesday became "Sports Hat Day," with baseball caps, ski hats, and bicycle helmets taking turns making an appearance, filling the campus with lively scenery “overhead."

On Wednesday, the children wore their favorite sports jerseys. Some wore football club kits, some sported basketball star jerseys, and others wore the shirts from their own competitions, sweating it out on the field and in the gymnasium.

Beyond the daily themes, sports also quietly seeped into the fragmented moments of recess and PE classes. From Monday to Wednesday, during PE, the children played the jumping sack relay—putting both feet into colorful sacks and holding the edges tight, hopping forward like little kangaroos. During lunch break, the playground echoed with laughter from the "egg and spoon" relay, where children carefully balanced eggs on spoons and walked forward with caution. Small games happened every day, helping the children practice balance and focus in a relaxed atmosphere.

The successful hosting of Sports Week would not have been possible without the silent dedication of every parent volunteer. They maintained order on the field, assisted with organization during parent-child events, captured wonderful moments with their cameras, and provided support behind the scenes. Thank you to every parent volunteer for your participation; it is your dedication that made Sports Week warmer and more unforgettable.

Though Sports Week has come to an end, the spirit of "Little Athletes, Big Spirits" lives on. May every child carry this great spirit of a little athlete and keep running forward.

(Written by Shawna Zhang

Pictures/ Video by Chun'ai Xu, Junle Yu, Parents Volunnters

Reviewed by Xiaoting Shi, Chenli Shen, Shiyu Wu, Grace Gilmore)