In the early spring of Shenzhen, the gentle breeze brought bursts of floral fragrance. Nestled at the foot of the lushly forested Nanshan Mountain, Victoria Park Academy (VPA) hosted its second annual Sports Day. On this wonderful day, the children composed magnificent melodies with their sweat and passion.
On March 15, 2024, the VPA School Sports Day unfolded amidst laughter and cheers. This event, filled with enthusiasm and vitality, gathered teachers and students from the entire school, showcasing the charm and team spirit of the VPA community.
Guests attending the sports day included Dr. Maggie Koong, the Principal of Shenzhen Victoria Park Academy; Ms. Liang Xiaolu and Ms. Melanie Ng, members of the School Board; Ms. Yuan Xiaofeng, Honorary Principal; Foreign Principal Mr. David Krupski; Vice Principal Dr. Li Kangdi; Mr. St. John, Director of External Affairs; Principals Wang, Zou, and Xiao from Victoria Kindergarten; and Ms. Zhou Xinyang, Chairman of the PTA.
At 8:30 in the morning, the sun cast its rays on the sports ground, and the sound of drums reverberated through the sky. The students arrived early at the venue, dressed in class uniform and wearing smiles on their faces, ready to embrace this festive celebration of sports.
The sports day kicked off with a grand opening ceremony. Colorful flags fluttered in the breeze, and singing voices rang out loudly. Each class entered the ground in an orderly fashion and performed their respective routines.
Following the opening ceremony was the torch relay, with the participation of students,teachers and parents, demonstrating the spirit of unity and progress among the VPA faculty and students.
After the opening ceremony, the most thrilling part of the sports day arrived - the official start of the competitions.
The competition events werediverse and exciting. There was the intense 4x200 relay race, where every sprint was a challenge to oneself.
There was the thrilling tug-of-war among teachers, students and parents, where every time tested the team's coordination and tacit understanding; and there was the exciting obstacle race, where every athlete gave their all in the competition. Whether participants or spectators, every moment was thrilling and full of passion.
With the conclusion of the final competition and the awarding ceremony, the VPA Second Annual Sports Day drew to a successful close.
Parent-child Collaboration
Moving Forward Together
The extremely high participation of parents was the most significant highlight of this sports day. In order to show their best selves to their children and set an example for them, they took on multiple roles during the sports day: attending the opening ceremony, performing in the opening ceremony, volunteering as officials (judges or scorers), and participating as athletes.
During the preparation process, the PTA recruited and organized a team of parent volunteers. In order to ensure the smooth running of the sports day, they often held meetings late into the night.
At the same time, they also put a lot of effort into rehearsing the performances. One of the highlights of the opening ceremony was the drum performance, which was a collaboration between Dr. Koong, parents, and first-grade students.
One of the torchbearer, Wu Jiangang, father of Cynthia from Y2A3, is a native of Zhongshan and an outdoor sports enthusiast who enjoys climbing snow-capped mountains and running marathons. In 2010, he fell in love with mountain climbing and in just three years, he successfully summited Mount Everest in May 2013, maintaining the record as the only person from Zhongshan to have done so. He has participated in multiple marathon races both domestically and internationally. Wu is also committed to promoting outdoor sports, having organized the Zhongshan Marathon for five consecutive years and funded disabled mountaineer Xia Boyu's attempt to climb Mount Everest for three consecutive years.
"I love sports and enjoy engaging in them. Sailing, surfing, rock climbing, cycling - every time I soar against the wind, every time I catch a wave and rise above it, every time I leap and spin, every time I feel the thrill and satisfaction, they are all proofs of my unwavering commitment and never-give-up attitude."
The PTA has always been our most loyal partner and supporter, going all out to assist in the preparation of this sports day. Parents, together with the school and the community, form the Victoria community. In this learning-oriented community, parents can participate in various forms of support activities and engage in the school's education in different roles.
The original intention of establishing the Victoria IB Learner Community is to share valuable educational information with more parents and provide a platform for parents to exchange and discuss parenting tips. Victoria will learn together with every parent, striving to become better versions of ourselves and setting a good example of lifelong learning for our children.
Joyful Sports
Collective Glory
The joy was evident in every class's opening ceremony performance. With 16 classes dressed in unique costumes and given two minutes to shine, they incorporated their class's special characteristics into their performances, displaying their unique selves to the fullest.
The programs for each class were determined through communication and discussion between the class teachers and students, with the older students even taking charge of most of the choreography. The children thoroughly enjoyed the performance process, which not only strengthened their sense of collective honor but also tightly linked the words "sports" and "joy" together.
The sports day was not just a competition; it was a symbol of friendship and unity. Both on and off the field, the students displayed qualities of solidarity and friendship, encouraging and supporting each other, and jointly creating beautiful memories for VPA. Every smile, every cheer, embodied our love for the team and pursuit of dreams.
Looking back at this day, we will forever cherish those thrilling moments and remember those times of shared struggle. Let us carry this passion and memories forward and continue to create an even more glorious tomorrow!
Message from
Head of Academy:
This year, all our teachers, parents and students have put in their best efforts to prepare for this day. Each class has shown great dedication and added their own creative touch. The diverse and imaginative costumes and coordinated entry performances reflect the IB philosophy, empowering students' agency and ownership of their learning process, develop a sense of community, and recognise the opinions, values, and needs of others.
I am truly grateful to the Parent-Teacher Association and all the parents for their days of rehearsal and involvement in the pre-event preparations for the school's Sports Day. Especially the mothers who performed the fan dance. They have been practicing tirelessly for many days. By doing so, they set themselves as role models, leading by example and inspiring their children to embody values of perseverance and never giving up. I am also grateful for the opportunity to participate, performing alongside the parent volunteers, cheering on the students and encouraging them to do their best in each event. Once again, I want to express my gratitude to our teachers, the Parent-Teacher Association, parents, and students. Looking forward to next year's Sports Day.
