Getting ready for that big step into primary school
At the Chuncheng Campus of Minhang Experimental Primary School in Minhang District, more than 400 students take part in a camp to have an early taste of their future study life on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Students and parents enter the Chuncheng Campus of Minhang Experimental Primary School in Minhang District on Sunday morning.
As about 182,000 children will enter primary schools in September, some schools are organizing activities for them to prepare for future study.
At the Chuncheng Campus of the Minhang Experimental Primary School in Minhang District, more than 400 students took part in a camp to get an early taste of their future study life during this weekend.
According to Gu Jinghua, director of the campus’ students affairs office, the camp was designed to help students adapt to their new school environment and study life.
Like the school’s regular schedule, they had four classes on the morning, but the teaching content was not regular Chinese, math or English, but activities designed with specific themes, such as getting to know each other, lining up to walk correctly, using toilets with good manners, fetching lunch and tidying desks by themselves and playing during class breaks safely.
Students and parents enter the Chuncheng Campus of Minhang Experimental Primary School in Minhang District on Sunday morning.
He Xuefeng, principal of the school, and Zhang Jun, executive headmaster of the Chuncheng campus, also gave a lecture to parents on Sunday morning about the school’s history, educational philosophy, teaching staff, curriculum and students’ clubs.
He stressed that each student has to grow up by himself or herself, and no one can take their place in the process.
“Sometimes, our parents or teachers are helping children too much, which is not helpful for their development,” he said.
“Let the children do what they can do independently, the parents and teachers only have to provide assistance and companionship.”
Zhang wishes parent could spend time to listen to children talk about what happens in the school every day so as to be partners as they face challenges boldly and begin their school life happily.
She also reminded parents to help students cultivate good manners and habits in life and learning.
A teacher greets her new students at Minhang Experimental Primary School.
Students play games during class break at Minhang Experimental Primary School on Sunday morning.
A mother surnamed Chen told Shanghai Daily that her daughter loved the camp and said she was looking forward to real study later.
The mother was also impressed by the curriculum and the teaching strength.
“There are many award-winning teachers and sport and art classes,” she said. “I think students will be able to find out their own strength and interest and grow up happily here.”
Students line up during the camp at Minhang Experimental Primary School.
The Luwan No. 1 Central Primary School in Huangpu District and its branch in Jiading District also organized a training session for the new students and their parents over the weekend.
Principal Wu Rongji and some other school officials welcomed them at the school gates around 8am each day.
Instructed by teachers, children lined up quickly and learned using public facilities on the campuses.
After sitting down in classrooms, they learned how to tidy up school supplies by themselves.
A teacher guides students to use toilets at the Jiading District Branch of Luwan No. 1 Central Primary School.
The school had prepared new school bags, pencil cases, pencils, erasers, rulers and other items.
It said the school logo on the bags was expected to enhance students' sense of belonging to the school and match the lockers in the classrooms well.
The uniformity is also expected to avoid comparisons and competition for luxury things by parents and students.
Teachers also demonstrated teaching with games to help students get a general idea about each discipline and inspire their interest in learning.
Wu reminds parents not to be too eager to prepare their children with academic knowledge, but to focus on cultivation of good study behavior.
Students in class at the Jiading District Branch of Luwan No. 1 Central Primary School.
Students have lunch at the Jiading District Branch of Luwan No. 1 Central Primary School.
