Right before the National Holiday of the People's Republic China, over 1500 students and faculty members from 36 countries and regions recorded a MV of 5 songs, to express their best wishes to our country as well as the world.
‘Each year in September, our students and teachers gather at the central meadow and join the National Holiday celebration flash mob, singing songs together to celebrate the birthday of China. It has become a tradition of SCLS. Due to the epidemic, the celebration is held online this year. ’ Ms. Tang Huihui, the director of this event, said so.
Influenced by the epidemic, some students of SCLS still stayed in countries such as Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, US etc., taking online classes. These students also joined the school video recording from abroad. Together, the SCLSers brought us this wonderful MV.
With the epidemic under control, the students locked abroad are preparing to return. ‘Because of the COVID-19 epidemic, I can’t go back to school. I want to go back because I miss my teacher called Mrs. Clark. She was a really fun teacher. I miss my best friend Helen. We loved to play on the playground everyday. It’s really fun. I miss the food called Donggua Soup. It’s so yummy and healthy. Bless China! Bless the world! I’m happy to join this MV recording activity. I hope you can use the new vaccine soon.’ Thinking of the reunion soon, US student Jade said excitedly.
‘Right now, the COVID-19 epidemic is causing many children to be unable to attend school, my daughter being one of them. I hope that China and the rest of the world can recover soon so we can go back to life as normal. China, do your best! The world, do your best!’ Jade’s father said.
‘We miss Soong Ching Ling School! I want to see my classmates and teachers but what I miss the most is taking lessons with my classmates. I’m really looking forward to get back to school soon!’ Japanese student Coco said.
‘I hope we can win the war against corona virus and we can hang out together again!’ Coco's mother said.
Helen, Jade's best friend in school, just finished the recording of ‘You Raise Me Up’. ‘Hello Jade! I miss you and I know you miss me too. Ms. Yang tells me that we’ll have a vaccine soon and we can get the vaccine to put on your body then you’ll not be sick and I'll see you at school soon and play with you.’ She said.
Shen Yibing，a student from high school, said, ‘I sang ‘Country’ and ‘Fill the World with Love’ with my classmates. Some lyrics of ‘My Motherland’ were added to the intermezzo of ‘Country’ and the two songs matched perfectly. At this special time, as a global citizen, we should break the bounds of different countries, look at the whole world with a wider vision and work together for a better future.’
The last song ‘We Are the World’ is very familiar to us. We hear it in the disaster relief fundraisings for 1985 African poverty, 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami and 2010 Haiti Earthquake. SCLS hopes that immersed with the spirit of Madam Soong Ching Ling, every student joined in the chorus will work together as a global citizen.
The National Holiday celebration flash mob of SCLS has been held for 5 years. Although some of us are still separated by the epidemic, we are united by love. We will follow the great love of Madam Soong Ching Ling, and express the Chinese values of peace, progress and juctice to the world.
‘We chose to bless China and pray for the world in this way during hard times, to sow the seeds of love in children’s hearts. Madam Soong Ching Ling’s spirit of patriotism and internationalism will be inherited by generations.’ Ms. Tang Huihui said.
‘It's really important for children to be connected to the patriotism of their home country. Here at Soong Ching Ling School, with our very strong connection to the history of China through Madam Soong Ching Ling herself, it's especially important for us to celebrate China's national day. So we devote a lot of time to reminding the students where they come from and how we can appropriately celebrate those connections. This is important also for the foreign staff, as well as our foreign students along with their Chinese classmates to be together in these kinds of observances so that we can all appreciate both the school's connection to history and also the connection that each child feels to their home country.’ Middle and high school principle of SCLS International Division, Dr. Magee said.
