On the morning of February 12th, Wuxi United International School awoke with the dawn, its campus—a harmonious blend of Eastern and Western charm—transformed into a wonderland as the new semester serendipitously collided with the Lantern Festival. Seven “fortune-filled” challenges awaited young adventurers to embark on a day of joy.
In the ink-scented corner of “Painting Serpents, Gathering Fortune,” calligraphy brushes glided across golden-flecked red paper, crafting whimsical “福” (fortune) characters that sparkled with innocent wishes.
Coca-Cola cans waltzed across themed floor stickers in “Serpent’s Spin for Luck,”ink from traditional prints bloomed centuries-old patterns on paper, and the giggles of lantern-riddle solvers harmonized with the brisk steps of students embracing a fresh semester. As each child left with seven blessing badges clutched to their heart, their laughter wove into a poetic ode—a testament to the enchanting fusion of timeless tradition and modern education.
The most captivating scene unfolded at the “Global Tapestry of Blessings” photo booth, where vibrant Northeastern Chinese floral-patterned jackets and crisp Arab *thobes* stood side by side, their cultural symphony frozen in time by the click of cameras, celebrating the beauty of cross-cultural unity.
At the “Golden Serpent Harvesting Blessings” station, giggles bubbled like spring water as children tiptoed to grab colorful snacks, their tiny hands dancing like lively notes composing a cheerful overture for the new year.
On February 13, 2025, the opening ceremony of the Primary School of Wuxi United International School was held in the Grand Theatre. The event was uniquely themed around the story of the White Snake, inspired by the Year of the Snake, blending interesting knowledge, habit development, and skill challenges, creating a wonderful journey full of joy and learning for both teachers and students.
To kick off the event, a video greeting from the teachers of WUIS instantly brought everyone closer. Following this.The opening dance, “Dancing Serpents,” radiated energy and ignited the atmosphere of the venue.
The appearance of White Snake and Qing’er marked the beginning of the fantastical story. White Snake, who had practiced and refined for thousands of years to become a white snake spirit, heard that WUIS was holding the first lesson of the new semester in the Grand Theatre, so she came along with Qing’er to “join in the fun.” This lively and engaging opening successfully captured everyone’s attention.
Following closely was the segment “Talking About Snakes in the Year of the Snake,” where the interaction between White Snake and Xu Xian was full of fun and wit. They not only discussed that 2025 was the Year of the Snake according to the Chinese zodiac (specifically, the Year of the Earth-Snake), but also led the students on a journey to explore the Chinese culture behind the Year of the Snake through a video playback, allowing traditional culture to be disseminated in a relaxed atmosphere.
In this adventure, Xiao Qing’s quest to rescue White Snake was the highlight. The first challenge involved live questioning on topics such as White Snake’s original name, the location and history of Leifeng Pagoda. Students eagerly participated and successfully contributed to “tilting” Leifeng Pagoda in the game. Meanwhile, little role models took to the stage, using theme stickers of “Quietness” to guide everyone in developing the good habit of walking quietly. Other theme stickers such as “Courtesy,” “Quietness,” “cleanliness,” and “Love” were also utilized in various scenarios to inspire students to regulate their speech and conduct.
The Math challenge was also innovative, combining mathematical knowledge with fun puzzles, allowing students to experience the joy of mathematics through thinking. With everyone’s intellectual contributions, Leifeng Pagoda continued to tilt.
The plot of Xiao Qing searching for food for White Snake cleverly integrated information about the meal sets available at the school’s café. Following this, an English knowledge quiz that covered topics such as Spring Festival customs and natural science enhanced students’ English application skills, while also contributing to the increasing tilt of Leifeng Pagoda.
The school also seized this opportunity to introduce a new evaluation mechanism. A unified Classdojo account was created for the entire school, through which teachers evaluate students’ moral and academic performance based on the criteria of “courtesy, quietness, cleanliness, love, diligence, and discipline” in various scenarios such as in-class and during breaks, aiming to promote students’ overall development.
The climax of the event was the announcement of the Labor Skills Competition. In May, the school’s moral education department will organize students from different grades to participate in labor skills contests with various themes, ranging from organizing stationery and tying shoelaces to making dumplings and desserts, aiming to enhance students’ life skills.
At the end of the event, the principals took to the stage to lend their support by conducting a lucky draw for students of all grades, presenting them with delightful surprises. Principal Meng also extended blessings for the Year of the Snake. Ultimately, through the concerted efforts of the students, Leifeng Pagoda collapsed, symbolizing the reunion of the White Snake family. The students were wished “perfection in all ten aspects like the snake, and a soaring start to the year” in 2025.
This opening lesson of the new semester imparted knowledge and culture through innovative formats, cultivating students’ good habits and skills, and planting seeds of growth and hope in their hearts. It is believed that in this new semester, everyone will surely reap abundant achievements and embark on a wonderful campus life.
