Junior School

2026 Chinese Cultural Celebration 

Article by Stephanie Gao, Junior School Mandarin Teacher

To celebrate Harmony Week, Year 3 students participated in a Chinese Cultural Incursion on March 19th. They rotated through four interactive workshops; percussion, lion dance, mask making and fan dancing, each offering a unique cultural experience and bringing Chinese culture to life. 

Throughout the day, students demonstrated strong engagement and curiosity, actively participating in each activity and making connections to their prior learning. In the percussion workshop, students explored traditional instruments such as the drum, gong and cymbals, and were excited to apply their prior knowledge - that loud sounds are traditionally used to scare away the mythical monster “Nian.” 

The lion dance session was a highlight, with students enthusiastically mimicked movements such as the lion resting, cleaning itself, and playfully shaking its head to bring good luck. During the lion mask making session, students thoughtfully selected colours and designs, reflecting their understanding of the cultural significance of the lion dance. In the traditional fan dance workshop, students dressed in colourful costumes and learned graceful movements, expressing both creativity and appreciation for the art form. 

It was a vibrant and memorable day, filled with energy, collaboration, and meaningful cultural learning experiences. 

Reading Aloud  

Article by Shona Bullingham, Deputy Head of Junior School

When adults read aloud to children, they are doing far more than simply sharing a story. Read-aloud provides powerful modelling of effective reading behaviours that children can then apply in their own independent reading. As adults read aloud, they demonstrate how fluent reading sounds — including appropriate pace, phrasing and expression - helping children to understand what “good reading” sounds like.  

Listening to your child read aloud is one of the most powerful ways you can support their reading development. When children read aloud to an adult, it provides an opportunity to check for accuracy(are the words read correctly?), whilst providing support, when required. If your child makes an error, pause and encourage them to have another go, look at the letters and sounds, or think about what would make sense in the sentence. This immediate feedback helps strengthen decoding skills and builds confidence. Regular read-aloud time also allows you to celebrate progress and reinforce that reading is both important and enjoyable. 

Listening carefully also helps you notice your child’space, expression and overall fluency. Reading should sound smooth and natural - not overly slow and word-by-word but not rushed either. Encourage your child to read in phrases, to pause at punctuation, and to use expression that matches the meaning of the text. Reading fluency (speed, accuracy and expression) is strongly associated with improved reading comprehension. Fluent reading supports comprehension, as children who read smoothly can focus more on understanding the text rather than just working out the words. Repeated reading aloud of the same book is known to be one of the most effective strategies to build accuracy, increase reading speed, strengthen expression and phrasing, and support deeper comprehension as it allows children to become more familiar and confident with the text. 

In short rereading your child’s favourite books with them is not only enhancing their love of reading but also building their reading skill and confidence.