A Week to Remember! Welcoming our Friends from Shanghai to King Edward VI School
Day 1 – Saturday – Arrival Day!
We are beyond thrilled to welcome back students and staff from the Shanghai Yangjing Juyuan Experimental School! This is their first visit to King Edward VI School since 2019, and we are so excited to continue the incredible partnership we’ve built over the past 15 years. On Saturday 28 September, our visitors safely touched down in the UK, and were welcomed by Miss Tomkins at Heathrow Airport. We can’t wait to kick off this unforgettable week!
Day 2 – Sunday Vibes in Bury St. Edmunds
Sunday was all about soaking up the charm of Bury St Edmunds. Mr Elliott, Head of Year 9, led the group on a guided tour around the town. The group had a beautiful dinner in the evening at their hotel.
Day 3 – Official Welcome to King Edward VI School
Monday was packed with excitement as we officially welcomed our guests with a special morning celebration. Mr O’Regan, Year 9 students, our brilliant Sports Leaders and a few talented student translators made sure our guests felt right at home. Mr McVey (our Organ Scholar) directed the school’s orchestra- King’s Sinfonia and they wowed everyone with two stunning performances: “Jupiter” from The Planets by G. Holst, and Variation 7 from Elgar’s Enigma Variations – pure magic!
Afterwards, the Sports Leaders led a tour of the school, followed by some delicious refreshments. Shout-out to Mr Punchard, our Chef, and his team who received raving reviews! The students then enjoyed a Rugby lesson with Mr Wragg – a true British sporting experience – followed by lunch in the Lower Hall. In the afternoon, they took part in a History lesson with Mr Bull, where they were fully immersed in school life. Our visitors loved every minute of it!
In the evening, the group headed out for a fun dinner in town with staff. What a great way to end the day!
Day 4 – The Cathedral Tour and Immersive Lessons!
Tuesday, 1 October was another jam-packed day of adventure and learning for our visitors from the Shanghai Yangjing Juyuan Experimental School. They kicked off the day with a tour of the breath-taking St Edmundsbury Cathedral in Bury St Edmunds, alongside students and staff from King Edward VI School. The Cathedral’s grand architecture and rich history left everyone in awe.
Our visitors delved into the heart of Christianity, learning about Jesus and the incredible story of St Edmund. They were fascinated by the beautiful stained-glass windows, where biblical stories were artistically brought to life. To top it off, they were treated to a soul-stirring piece of music played on the Cathedral’s magnificent organ – an experience that left everyone feeling inspired!
After the tour, the group enjoyed a delicious lunch before diving into the academic side of things. Our Shanghai students were warmly welcomed into a variety of lessons, including Geography, Drama, Food and Nutrition, Philosophy, Chemistry, Physics, Film Studies, Maths, English, Biology, and PSHE. They got to see how we do things here at King Edward VI School, and from all the feedback, it seems they had an amazing time!
A massive thank you to all our fabulous teachers for making this possible and for allowing our visitors to fully experience school life in the UK. A huge shout out to our incredible student helpers for guiding the Shanghai students to their lessons and making sure they felt right at home.
What a day! An unforgettable mix of culture, history, and learning. We can’t wait to see what the rest of the week holds!
Day 5 – London’s Calling!
Wednesday was all about the bright lights and iconic sights of London for our visitors from Shanghai Yangjing Juyuan Experimental School and some of our lucky King Edward VI students who got to tag along! The groups packed their day full of must-see attractions, starting with a trip to Tower Hill, where they soaked in some serious history. From there it was straight to the River Taxi, gliding along the Thames to Westminster – talk about arriving in style!
London did not disappoint. Our guests and our students explored some of the city’s most famous landmarks, ticking off St James’ Park, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, Leicester Square, and Trafalgar Square. They even squeezed in a picnic in St James’ Park – because what’s better than lunch with a royal view?
No trip to London would be complete without a bit of shopping of course! The group enjoyed a relaxed stroll around the city, taking in the vibrant atmosphere and squeezing in a little retail therapy.
The adventure didn’t stop there. They checked out the incredible exhibits at the British Museum, explored the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden, and finished their day with a visit to the vibrant South Bank. Dinner at South Bank was the perfect way to wrap up what was undoubtedly an unforgettable day in the city.
A big shout out to the awesome staff from King Edward VI School who accompanied our guests: Mr Corentin, Mr Mills, Mr Spillane, and Ms Sweny. You made the day as smooth and memorable as possible, and we appreciate you!
From rich history to retail therapy, stunning sights to tasty bites, our visitors got a true taste of London life. What an epic adventure in the heart of the UK!
Day 6 – A Day of Cultural Exchange and Scientific Fun!
Thursday was an extra-special day for our visitors from Shanghai Yangjing-Juyuan Experimental School and the younger pupils from St. Edmundsbury Primary School and Risby Primary School. Our visitors took on the role of teachers, leading fun language lessons for the primary school pupils. They taught Chinese in small groups, covering everything from counting and common phrases to the months of the year and even taught the pupils how to introduce themselves. The primary pupils even got the chance to try handwriting in Chinese! It was such a fun cultural exchange, and the excitement in the classrooms was contagious. A massive thank you to both St. Edmundsbury Primary and Risby Primary for welcoming our visitors with open arms!
After a tasty lunch, the Shanghai students joined Mr. Thompson, our Head of Science, for an unforgettable Science lesson. They got to perform two super cool experiments – The Glow Stick Transition and The Disappearing Crosses, both of which wowed the class. But the highlight? Playing the Game of Thief, where the suspense of seeing who the thief would steal from had everyone on the edge of their seats! The students were buzzing with excitement and said the lesson was one of the best yet.
After school, it was time for our visitors to spend a cozy evening with their host families. We know these moments will create lasting memories for both the students and the families who opened their homes. A huge thank you to all our host families and a special thank you special thank you to Ms. Tucker, our Deputy Headteacher, for hosting the Shanghai staff and treating them to some delicious British cuisine.
What a day! From teaching and learning to building friendships and memories, Thursday was packed with moments we won’t soon forget.
Day 7 – A Magical Farewell to Our Friends from Shanghai
Friday was bittersweet as it marked the final day of our incredible week with the students and staff from Shanghai Yangjing Juyuan Experimental School. The morning was all about getting ready for the highly anticipated farewell party that everyone was buzzing about!
After lunch, our visitors had the chance to attend a Performing Arts workshop with some of our Year 8 students. A huge shout-out to Ms. Peddel for leading such an inspirational session! The students – from both Shanghai and KEVI – bonded over fun games like Zip Zap Boing, Splat, Wink and Murder, and Just Dance. It was laughter, energy, and pure joy all around!
As the evening rolled around, the excitement continued. Our Music and Drama students delivered some fantastic performances, including an exclusive sneak preview of Cats! The talent didn’t stop there – our guests from Shanghai wowed us with their own amazing performances, featuring a diverse mix of storytelling, Moon Cake tasting, a fashion show, Kun Opera, a Tai Chi demonstration, and even an English song played on traditional Chinese instruments! It was an incredible cultural exchange that left everyone in awe.
A big thank you to our Chef Mr. Punchard and his team for the delicious food and refreshments – they really outdid themselves! We were also joined by some of our wonderful School Governors, along with students who helped make the evening extra special.
Mr. O’Regan gave a heartfelt farewell speech, and we exchanged some fabulous parting gifts with our guests, ensuring they’ll have something to remember us by. In return, we were treated to some thoughtful gifts from the Shanghai staff and students too. It was such a touching moment!
As the evening came to a close, the song of the evening was See You Again – a perfect choice to wrap up this magical week of friendship, culture, and unforgettable memories. The farewell party was the perfect way to cap off their visit, and we’re already looking forward to when we can welcome them back again!
Here’s to an unforgettable week of friendship, culture, and memories!
Day 8 – Farewell to Our Friends from Shanghai!
On Saturday, 5 October, we said our goodbyes to the amazing students and staff from Shanghai Yangjing Juyuan Experimental School. Their final adventure in the UK took them to the stunning city of Cambridge, where they had the chance to do some shopping, soak up the sights, and even squeeze in some punting along the River Cam before heading to Heathrow Airport.
We are so grateful they chose to spend this unforgettable week with us. From cultural exchanges to shared experiences in and out of the classroom, it’s been a week packed with friendship, fun, and learning.
Wishing our friends a safe journey back home – we already miss you! Here’s to the incredible memories made, and we hope to see you again soon. Safe travels, until next time!
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