Celebrating the Asian Games
and National Day
The 19th Asian Games celebrated its grand opening on 23 September 2023. Hangzhou, a city located in the south of the Yangtze River with a profound history and picturesque landscape, extended its hospitality to guests from around the world. As the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day are approaching, our Hiba pupils have presented their heartfelt blessings to the motherland.
What does one's 'motherland' entail?
Our motherland is where our dreams originate and our pupils grow with lofty ideals. We feel its heartbeat every time we see the five-starred red flag fluttering in the wind.
Every year on the 1st of October, Chinese people from across the country gather at Tiananmen Square to watch the flag-raising ceremony with pride. At Hiba, we celebrated the 74th birthday of our motherland in advance in the same way.
Full of energy and vitality, our young pupils wearing red scarves in the sunshine are developing an understanding and love for their Chinese identity as well as their motherland at Wellington College Hangzhou.
Here at Hiba, we guide and inspire teachers and pupils to heed the development of the country and society, understand the national conditions, and courageously shoulder social responsibilities by incorporating patriotism, national confidence and cultural pride into every aspect of our education. When the bright five-starred red flag rises to the majestic national anthem at the flag-raising ceremony every Monday, all the teachers and pupils stand in respect, expressing their reverence and love for the motherland.
President Xi, once stated, "The future competition is the one for talents. Students need to aim high with a down-to-earth attitude to learn knowledge and develop themselves, lay a solid foundation and contribute their wisdom and strength to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in the future."
We aspire for our pupils to be learners and connectors to bridge China and the world, to explore and accomplish their better selves with cultural confidence, and to shape the world and make a difference. If pupils' learning experience is a piece of brocade, Chinese culture is the silk thread woven into the brocade.
Pupils in our school have a deep understanding and appreciation for the rich and profound history and culture of China. They identify with Chinese history and traditions, and they understand the social etiquette and norms of China. We always strive to build campus life from a Chinese perspective.
Be you, be more. We are a school with global perspectives located in the city of Hangzhou in China. Our pupils understand Chinese culture and values well and they are inclusive of diversified cultures and backgrounds. They will represent China on international platforms in the future.
We incorporate patriotic education into daily life and learning at Hiba. Allowing pupils to engage and experience the fine culture, develop a love for their motherland, and carry forward the spirit of patriotism. Patriotism is not a slogan but is reflected in our daily life.
The first lesson of the academic year
On the first day of school, Grade 1 pupils watched patriotic education films and learned the lyrics and music of the national anthem, cultivating a sense of patriotism. Grades 3 to 5 pupils explored the connection between national and personal development, fostered a love for the country and family, and deepened their understanding of patriotism by visiting the Young Pioneers' room and establishing a Young Pioneers marching band, among other enjoyable activities.
Portrait China through painting
Pupils expressed their love and well wishes for their motherland through the art of painting. With creativity and imagination, they depicted China using brushes and paints. This activity allowed them to express their emotions and thoughts and enhanced their artistic skills and observation, allowing them to have a deeper understanding and love for their country.
Further integration of traditional culture
into the school-based curriculum
A comprehensive understanding of Chinese history and culture serves as an indispensable foundation for Hiba teachers and pupils to demonstrate themselves on the global platform. In primary school, fine traditional Chinese culture is subsumed in the curriculum in many ways. Among them, the course on Chinese cultural traditions takes pupils on a weekly journey to study Chinese literature, spirit and history. It enjoys wide popularity among pupils as they are presented with an opportunity to experience the continuity of Chinese civilisation.
Engage in the patriotic play Hua Mulan
Pupils immersed themselves into the story of Hua Mulan, a legendary folk heroine in Chinese history, through the play of the same name. They assumed different roles and showcased their talents and acting skills, and their confidence and expressive skills were further developed. From this activity, they realised how courageous and resilient Mulan was and learned how to carry forward such excellent cultural traditions.
Experience woodblock printing,
one of the Four Great Inventions
Children had a hands-on activity to feel the charm of woodblock printing, one of the Four Great Inventions of ancient China, through which they learned about the vital role it played in printing history and cultural exchange. It increased their understanding of the technological inventions of ancient China and fostered their interest in scientific innovation and exploration.
Xiaozhuan (small seal script) is an ancient Chinese character font and an important member of the Chinese calligraphy family. Pupils learned about the basic strokes and structural rules of Xiaozhuan before writing in it and experienced the charm of ancient characters and the essence of calligraphy art. Such activity is beneficial to pupils as it hones their calligraphy skills and nurtures their love and respect for traditional Chinese culture.
Promote Chinese civilisation and
appreciate one's teachers and education
Pupils understood the traditional values of respecting teachers and valuing education through reading ancient classics and historical anecdotes. They participated in teacher-pupil interactions and carried forward the excellent tradition of respecting elders and being filial to parents, showing respect and gratitude towards education and their families.
We inspire pupils to conduct in-depth research into Chinese history and culture. Children visited historical sites and archaeological exhibitions, or read relevant literature to understand the vicissitudes in politics, economy, society, and culture of ancient China. Field trips help to broaden pupils' horizons, increase their knowledge, and cultivate their independent thinking and comprehensive analysing skills.
Celebrate traditional festivals
Pupils will participate in the celebration of traditional festivals such as the Dragon Boat Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival. They will learn about the origins and ways of celebrating them, participate in the performance of traditional customs and carry them forward, feel the distinguished charm of the festivals, and develop their passion for and awareness of inheriting traditional culture.
Participate in folk art performance
to celebrate National Day
We organise folk art performances, including dance, music, opera, acrobatics, and other forms. Children will learn and perform traditional dances or play musical instruments, experiencing the charm of traditional art. It is a wonderful opportunity for pupils to hone their performing skills and promote the fine traditional culture of the Chinese nation with a better understanding of their cultural heritage.
Ode to our motherland to celebrate National Day
Children expressed their love and gratitude towards our motherland through singing. They learned and performed patriotic songs, conveying fine wishes and praise for our country. This activity cultivated their appreciation and expression of music and deepened their sense of identity and belonging to our motherland.
The allure of the Song culture
from a thousand years ago
In the Chinese Social Studies course at Hiba Junior High, pupils participated in the project-based learning of the Song Dynasty Exhibition to experience the Chinese style and Zhejiang elements in the Song culture. Pupils also watched and appreciated movies such as My People, My Country, The Battle at Lake Changjin, The Eight Hundred, and Leap, reliving the glorious years of the revolution and feeling the patriotism of our predecessors who marched together to realise their noble beliefs.
On this occasion of celebrating the Asian Games and National Day, our campus is filled with energy and a sporting atmosphere. This week, Wellington College Hangzhou organised a passionate Zumba dance activity for all teachers and pupils, where everyone enthusiastically participated and immersed themselves in the charm of sports and music.
Undoubtedly, music takes the top spot as Zumba's perfect companion. Enlivened by cheerful melodies, the sports field was filled with laughter and vitality on the day. Following the guidance of the dance coach, teachers and pupils danced gracefully to a variety of rhythmic Zumba moves with passion and confidence. The scene was vibrant and captivating, as everyone was rejoicing in the happiness and spiritual release brought by dance.
Dancing is about staying physically and mentally active. This Zumba dance activity has elevated our team spirit and allowed both our teachers and pupils to discover happiness within the joyful atmosphere.
Zumba is an exercise evolved from dance that combines music with easy-to-learn movements and intermittent aerobic movement. It includes various South American dance styles such as samba, cha-cha, salsa, reggae, flamenco and tango. The term 'Zumba' originates from Colombian slang that means 'fast movement'. Even people without any dance background can find relaxation and fun in Zumba.
On Thursday morning, pupils and staff engaged in an exciting Fun Run activity. We enjoyed the fun of running on the field which was turned into a sea of joy with laughter and cheers. Children ran happily, releasing their energy and passion.
The Fun Run event enhanced interaction and teamwork among teachers and pupils with an emphasis on promoting wellbeing and health. The passion and vitality also resonated with the spirit of Asian Games.
In addition to sports activities, pupils expressed their anticipation for the games and their love for their country through watercolour painting, pencil drawing, creative painting and posters etc. They used watercolour to depict the mascot of the Asian Games, pencil drawings to silhouette the magnificent mountains and rivers of China, creative painting to showcase the glamour of Chinese culture, and posters to convey positive energy and patriotic sentiments.
In this moment of great significance, Wellington College Hangzhou presented an opportunity for pupils to marvel at the strength of our motherland and the unity of Asia through the integration of patriotism education and sports activities with passion and enthusiasm. Such a perfect combination of patriotism and sports spirit is how we pay tribute to National Day and the Asian Games, and it allows us to feel pride and responsibility as Chinese citizens.
Youth is the sowing period of life, where the kind of life we reap is determined by the seed we sow. Pupils at Wellington College Hangzhou are nurtured to cultivate ambitious ideals from a young age. Holding within their hearts the future of humanity, the rejuvenation of our nation, the glory of their alma mater and their own dreams. Hiba Academy Hangzhou will continue to uphold the spirit and preserve the fine traditions of China, delivering the pinnacle of bilingual education to Hiba pupils.
