Recently, Secondary students at the Century Park Campus explored and expanded their understanding of human diversity as part of Celebrating Differences Week. Supporting the focus of the students’ Character Education classes, Celebrating Differences Week aims to raise continued awareness of acceptance and respect in the school community and global context.

The week kicked off with an assembly which included a number of cultural musical performances and an introduction to the accompanying events for the week. Throughout Celebrating Differences Week, the students participated in a wide range of activities including a themed bake sale of food from different countries on Tuesday, taking part in a Differences Challenge to reflect on experiences with disabilities on Wednesday, followed by an afternoon of rotational activities on Thursday for Year 7–9 students to further explore this concept. Thursday’s activities also included a dyslexia awareness task, as well as a range of impairment sport and art challenges, bringing a fantastic conclusion to the event by heightening students’ understanding of the difficulties individuals with disabilities face.

On the final day of the week, students also helped support a fundraising project by dressing outside school uniform for Jeans for Genes, a genetic disease research organisation. Students who took part in the Dress Down Day wore jeans and a themed top or colour reflecting their home country, and they also contributed a small donation to help support the organisation.

Experiences such as Celebrating Differences Week help students develop vital understanding and awareness of others, corresponding directly with their learning through the YCIS Character Education programme. Character Education is a key component of the well-rounded and global education provided at YCIS Shanghai, helping to develop kind, caring, and accepting individuals. To learn more about the programme, please click here.