The Western International School of Shanghai held its first annual Christmas holiday party on Saturday. The event was held in support of the Half the Sky Foundation, a charity organization that trains local nannies and caregivers working in homes for children across China.

 

The public event, which was attended mainly by expat families living locally, included a number of fun activities for children in photos with Santa, a magician clown, Christmas cookie decoration, ornament painting, Chinese opera mask painting, karaoke, face painting, and Lego and Duplo displays. The children were also provided with gift bags.

 

The day started with a performance by the students entitled "Snowman at Sunset," followed by a violin duet, a piano rendition of "Silent Night" and a poem recited by children in grades one and two.

 

"The children worked hard with the teachers and learned a great amount of material in a very short time," said Gregor Lochtie, one of the proud parents. "Their enthusiasm showed how much the production was theirs."

 

Grade two student Grace Stevens added: "I really liked the performance and party today. I enjoy being with my friends at school, and love learning Chinese as well."

 

WISS Director Dr Alfonso Orsini was especially proud of the children on the school's first annual holiday occasion. In a special presentation held for the parents, he discussed how the school was creating a new and different educational community in Shanghai, focusing on the full program of the International Baccalaureate and inquiry-based learning.

 

"Our aim is to be not like a big comprehensive public school following a national system. Instead, we are building the ethos of a small, traditional college preparatory school where students are truly known and inspired," he said.

 

"But we have a very 21st century focus. We are internationally-minded people using an international curriculum. We are working very carefully to build a mixed international student body in order to prepare students, not just for university, but for the complex, interconnected world that is taking shape all around us."

 

He said learning songs, determining roles, suiting movement to the words, practicing skits and creating the costumes for the performance are all examples of how authentic, active, inquiry learning works.

 

While the school's IB Primary Years Program is based on the best practices the world has to offer in terms of methodology and outcomes, a strong Chinese language and cultural program has also been carefully integrated into the curriculum to ensure students use Chinese language throughout the day, and not just in daily Chinese classes.

 

Currently, WISS is offering classes up to grade three in its inaugural year, and will extend to grade eight starting in September. The kindergarten, the first building of the European-designed 5.35-hectare campus, will be joined this spring and summer by a state-of-the-art Middle and High School building in addition to a 500-seat theater, a science lab building, and the dining hall which includes a three-floor library. The school is located close to a number of villa developments in the rapidly-developing Qingpu District.

 

Proceeds from donations and other fundraising activities, as well as contributions from the various vendors, support the Half the Sky Foundation.

 

While surrounded by kids holding up their Christmas craft decorations, Orsini summed up the excitement: "Enjoying a great time with family and friends, supported by vendors and entertainers, and all for a worthy cause - that's the holiday spirit. I'm fortunate to have such a great job."

 

(Shanghai Daily December 13, 2006)