YCIS’s unique bilingual environment and co-cultural education model brings together the best of the East and the West. To celebrate this multicultural environment and to promote Chinese culture to the international student body, YCIS recently held a “Chinese Culture Day” for Primary students at the Regency Park and Century Park campuses.

The day started with a morning stretch taught by the school’s Chinese teachers at the Regency Park Campus, and included traditional Chinese sports such as kite flying and skipping ropes at the Century Park Campus. During Chinese classes, students got to experiment with Chinese art, including making kaleidoscopes and painting vases. Later, both campuses were treated to special folk artists’ performances that included a tea show, circus performances, and a stunning “face-changing” ceremony.

The students later reflected on the day, sharing their thoughts about the meaningful experience, as follows:

Abby, Year 5: “I played some Chinese traditional games during the day, such as flying kites, kicking shuttlecocks, rolling a hoop, etc. We also watched performances which were related to Chinese culture, including acrobatics, watching the ‘Changing of Opera Face Mask,’ and a tea ceremony. I liked all of the activities, and I had a really good time that day. I enjoyed Chinese Culture Day and I am looking forward to the next one.”

Emma, Year 5: “During Chinese Culture Day all of the Year 5 and 6 students gathered together in the Auditorium to watch some local folk artists perform acrobatics and a tea ceremony. The ‘Changing of Opera Face Mask’ was an excellent show. We had our full attention on the actor’s face, interested in how he changed his face. Chinese Tea was the last performance, as well as the most important one. The teacher first asked us several questions, and everyone was scrambling to answer them. Then the teacher introduced the six-major kinds of Chinese Tea. They are: Black Tea, Green Tea, Dark Tea, Oolong Tea, White Tea, and Yellow Tea. She also asked for eight students to go on stage and taste different Chinese Tea. I was lucky and had a chance to taste the famous ‘Dong Fang Mei Ren.’ It was delicious! What an interesting and wonderful Chinese Culture day!”

Adele, Year 3: “Making a kaleidoscope was amazing. It was a little difficult to make our own kaleidoscope, so we had to listen carefully, following our teacher’s instructions and to do it step-by-step. I really liked the kaleidoscope and shared it with my sister at home.”

Yun Fei, Year 5: “We drew or painted Chinese traditional patterns on kites during our Chinese Studies class, and we all made our own kite! Some were colourful butterflies, some pictured delicious Chinese foods, and some had cute pandas and bamboo. Right after the bell rang, students gathered on the field with their hand-made kites and they flew up in the sky like elegant birds. Kites with all kinds of different pictures flew up into the sky. It was a really exciting Chinese Culture Day!”