"The Classroom" Debuted A Huge Success

On December 5, 2015, 9 Middle School and High School students of the Shanghai American School (SAS) Puxi gathered at SHINI Ping Hu site in Zhe Jiang Province, China, for their first community English teaching service program for the employees’ children aged four to thirteen. "The Classroom", located at the SHINI employee's recreational center, was organized by a group of SAS families. They arranged for students' voluntary work devoting to offer the lessons in basic English for SHINI staff’s children. "The Classroom" community service aims to cultivate SHINI children's appreciation in language, art, and music in an eco-friendly and English speaking environment.

Mrs. Tiffany Wu initiated the project and generously offered the space and furnitures for "The Classroom" venue. Prior to the first class, SAS students helped decorated and set up "The Classroom" with their art paintings. Furthermore, with an eco-friendly mindset, students also used metals and old machinery equipment and transformed them into a standing robot.  Old car tires were repainted with colors and recycled into plant pot holders.  Used metal boards were polished and engraved with "The Classroom" logo. In addition, student volunteers also collected old books and DVDs to fill up the library space.

The Sunday school project was well received by the SHINI Ping Hu community, with around thirty students signing up for the first class. Volunteer teachers separated the children into 3 groups and shared  them with the spirit of Christmas. The toddlers learned English Christmas songs and made Christmas cards. The lower elementary students wrote letters to Santa Claus while the teenagers learned about the origin of Christmas. In addition, SAS parent volunteers prepared sumptuous sweets and desserts and warmed the children with hot chocolate and marshmallows!

Afterward, teachers and students sang 'Jingle Bells' and 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town' together on the stage. Another teacher performed an original English rap song and stunned all the local kids with his loud fast-paced rhythmic beat. Finally, the highlight of the program was when "Santa Claus" showed up and gave everyone a gift donated by the SAS parent volunteers.  When their names were called for the raffle draw, children were excited, and their radiant smiles brightened the community.

The first community service event at "The Classroom" was a huge success. SAS student volunteers had their first experience of being a teacher. The student volunteers came face-to-face with the local Chinese community with eagerness. As a result, they had an excellent opportunity to practice Mandarin and learned about the live of the locals. On the other hand, these children will learn the alphabet to basic English communication skills. The SAS volunteers and the SHINI children have built the rapport and are looking forward to the monthly Sunday class in 2016!