Dulwich Pudong Week at the Shanghai World Financial Centre
Dulwich Pudong Week at the Shanghai World Financial Center kicked off in style last weekend with a Family Garden extravaganza and continues this week with the "Chinese Village" architecture project.
On Saturday our Mei Lan Fang Choir kicked things off with a rousing repertoire of songs including:
Da Hai - Zhang Yu Sheng
Refuge - Howard Goodall
The Unicorn - Dan Walker
Benedictus - Brain Lewis
Amani - Jim Papoulis
On Sunday our Dulwich String Quartet wowed the crowd with 30 minutes of classical music:
Eine Kleine - Mozart
Prelude to Carmen - Bizet
Pizzicato Polka - Johann Strauss II
Water Music - Handel
La Paloma - Sebastian Yradier
Concerto in C - Vivaldi
Clocks - Coldplay
Don’t stop me now - Queen
On both days our Dulwich Robotics student team ran fun, interactive demonstrations challenging children to see who could move blocks across the competition field the fastest.
We were also pleased to be able to feature two thought leaders from our school who delivered powerful workshops for parents.
Pete Rogers, Director of Wellbeing and Leadership Formation in the Senior School, gave a fascinating talk on the nexus between wellbeing and leadership.
A renewed focus on wellbeing is necessary to equip the next generation of student leaders.
Says Pete Rogers: "The emphasis on grades has given way to a more holistic understanding that optimal academic performance cannot happen without optimal wellbeing. Meanwhile, we find that leaders are increasingly made from those who have the ability to effectively inspire and support others. A renewed focus on wellbeing is necessary to equip the next generation of student leaders."
Victoria Foster, Head of the Junior School, delivered a workshop on the growth mindset as a new ways of engaging young learners.
A growth mindset helps students to go beyond what they thought they were capable of.
Says Victoria Foster: "Traditional, or 'fixed' mindsets have dominated teaching for decades. These days, however, the multitude of challenges which will face our children in the future demand a new approach - a growth mindset. A growth mindset helps students to go beyond what they thought they were capable of."
Finally through Sunday 13 June our Year 7 students' "Chinese Village" architecture project will be on display in the 2nd floor atrium of the SWFC.
The "Chinese Village" project was an opportunity for our students to engage with Chinese culture and history through the medium of architecture.
Students worked in groups to create a small city block inspired by traditional wooden Chinese architecture. They began by constructing the basic shapes of their buildings using recycled polystyrene. They then sketched their creations using isometric underlays. The students then drew from different examples of historic buildings from the local area and wider country before returning to their drawings to add architectural details and then finally build them.
The focus of the project was: how do creative people work cooperatively? Students were tasked with discussing and sharing their design ideas so that the resulting buildings shared an aesthetic sensibility. Students were challenged to articulate their ideas, cooperate, share, and compromise. Together they created a miniature "community" full of imagination and incredible attention to detail which we are pleased to be able to share with Shanghai.
Every student in Year 7 contributed a building. After the houses were completed they were set up as a large-scale installation in our campus reception area for several weeks before being moved temporarily to the Shanghai World Financial Centre for public viewing.
Amazing work from our talented Year 7s!
