The autumn rain has beaten out the summer heat, yet there will never be a lack of huge enthusiasm on campus. On October 12th, the Puxi primary grades 4-5 and the middle school section held the annual Sports Carnival at the Puxi Campus.

Primary School Section Puxi Campus Grades 4-5: Enjoy Sports, Learn Teamwork

On the morning of October 12 at 8:45 a.m., grades 4 and 5 students welcomed the fantastic sports carnival with great enthusiasm and vigor. Mr. Wang Hui, SHS party secretary and vice principal, Mr. Liu Lian, SHSID middle and primary school principal, Ms. Liu Fang, middle and primary school vice principal, Ms. Miao Xiaoling, middle and primary school principal assistant, Mr. Shen Tianyuan, middle and primary school principal assistant and director of grades 6-8, Mr. Ni Minxue, director of middle and primary school teaching affairs center, Ms. Zhu Dan, director of Puxi Campus grades 4-5, Ms. Zhang Yi, director of Puxi Campus grades 1-3, attended the carnival, cheered and supported the athletes!

Leonel from 5(8), the student athletes’ spokesman, delivered a speech at the beginning of the opening ceremony. He shared his opinion on sportsmanship and was looking forward to spreading the spirit of teamwork in the upcoming team activities. In her speech, Ms. Zhu Dan encouraged students to cheer for each other, work together, and enjoy the process. She also invited all the students to show their gratitude to all the teachers, staff, parent volunteers, and students who organized this carnival.

After that, grades 4 and 5 students presented the grade sports chant! With the sonorous and powerful sound and neat gestures, students presented their great spirit and enthusiasm. In order to warm up their bodies before the competition, students followed the teachers’ lead and had a warm-up dance. We could see the students were eager to participate!

Mr. Liu Lian, SHSID middle and primary school principal, lit students’ enthusiasm and passion with a short but powerful calling. Our young athletes rolled up their sleeves for the coming competitions in an exciting atmosphere.

The first competition was Hula Hoop Relay. The best part was that all the 4th and 5th grade teachers also formed a team in one line, competing with all the students. Students could also witness the live situation through the big screen, which made the activity more exciting.

The carnival of 4th and 5th grade encouraged teamwork and 100 percent participation from all students. All of the activities required students to collaborate with each other, such as the Caterpillar Dash and the obstacle relay. Non-participating students were also cheering for their classmates throughout the process. No matter which team won the final competition, all of the students gained happiness and developed a sense of group honor. Other small team activities such as “Super Wheeler,” “Ice Cream Cone Relay,” “Cross the River,” and “Crab Race” all showed students’ teamwork and responsibility, developing perseverance and sportsmanship.

Middle School Section: Brighter, Braver, Better

The middle school Sports Carnival, incorporating a cheerleading competition and traditional sporting events, let students and teachers express their passion for sports.

Cheerleading Competition: the Combination of Power and Beauty

Students and teachers gathered at the big auditorium and the opening ceremony officially started at 12:30 p.m. Mr. Wang Hui, SHS party secretary and vice principal, attended the opening ceremony to cheer students on. Mr. Shen Tianyuan, the director of SHSID grades 6-8, gave a brief and inspiring speech, appreciated the efforts and dedication of the staff, and encouraged everyone to actively practice the spirit of this sports week—“Brighter, Braver, Better - Together.”

Following the speech, the exciting cheerleading competition began! Nearly 150 students involved, coming from 37 classes in three grades, formed 12 teams after a month of preparation. Cheerleading performances covered pom poms, jazz, and hip-hop, as well as reflected the vigorous and courageous spirit of the young people. The wonderful performance that perfectly combined music with moves and formations raised warm applause and cheers. At last, the teachers’ performance brought the competition to a climax.

After the opening ceremony ended at the award ceremony, Mr. Liu Lian, SHSID middle and primary school principal, announced the Sports Carnival of grades 6-8 for 2021 officially began!

Sports Carnival: The Test of Team Spirit and Individual Perseverance

Team activities can not only show students’ sports talents but also exercise everyone’s team spirit. The 6th grade students participated in the activities of pony crossing the river and passing through hula hoops. They needed to move from one side of the “river” to the other by moving two hula hoops in turn. After all the players have crossed the “river,” they had to hold hands and pass a hula hoop from one end of the team to the other. The team with the fastest time won the game. This project was a great test of students’ physical coordination and flexibility. The 7th graders’ game is ice cream passing. The players stood apart at a certain distance, holding ice cream cone-shaped containers to pass the volleyball from one end to the other. This project tested both the stability of throwing and the accuracy of receiving the ball. The 8th grade students’ project was invincible wind and fire wheel. The team members needed to work together to drive a huge conveyor belt forward. Team projects in all grades required students to cooperate with each other, which was a great test of everyone’s teamwork ability. Each grade was awarded its own “first prize.” Of course, the activity focused on participation. When everyone was smiling, the purpose of the activity was achieved.

Badminton, darts, baseball, softball, and basketball were the individual activities. These projects made traditional sports more interesting, so that students can not only exercise but also feel the fun of sports. For example, many students tried baseball for the first time. They found that the sport was not as difficult as they thought, and it was very interesting.

Students could collect stamps for participating in each activity, and they could win individual, team, and class awards through stamps. In this way, the students’ enthusiasm for sports was even greater. The stadium was filled with the laughter of the students, but the most important thing was that the students also had a real understanding of the sports spirit—winning or losing doesn’t determine everything. It depends on whether you enjoy this competitive process! They experienced the fun of sports while exercising.

Students were excited about the introduction of three new activities held at the Zhongxing Building in addition to the traditional table tennis and football activities. Showcased in the atrium, the “Sports Gallery” illustrated beautiful background with various sports such as fencing, figure skating, and triathlon. The pictures of the Tokyo Olympic Games champions motivated students to put forth their best effort in the upcoming events, where students could win stamps by answering sports questions or participating in the “sports imitation show” with their friends. The “laser shooting” event in the shooting room tested students’ aim and reflexes, and they enjoyed doing target practices to further improve those skills. Despite the cold in the ice rink, students were enthusiastic and excited to try out new things. They put on their skates and completed the initial moves with the help of their coaches. Their smiling faces and good cheer were an excellent sight indeed!

It was everyone’s effort that made the school Sports Carnival a grand stage to show the spirit of sports. The Sports Carnival kindled students’ passion for both sports and life. They are already looking forward to the next gathering!

(Written by Wu Yin, Liu Chen, Gu Yuting, Ma Xinyu Pictures byNina, Ginger, Teachers Edited by Huang Shiyuan, Brie Polette)