On February 17, 2025, all teachers and students of BNDS.SJS gathered to solemnly hold the spring semester opening ceremony themed “Winter’s End, Spring’s Awakening: Dreams Recharged,” collectively embarking on a new academic journey.

Amidst the solemn national anthem, the Five-Starred Red Flag rose slowly, igniting the passion and dreams in the students’ hearts.

The flag-raising ceremony was hosted by Diao Fanyi from Grade 7 and Wang Qitian from Grade 8.

Flag-Raising Ceremony

Li Xinyao — A Winter Break Filled with Gains

Looking back on this winter break, Li Xinyao reflected on her abundant achievements. At the start of the break, she meticulously planned her study schedule, strictly adhering to it daily and completing her holiday assignments with diligence. Beyond her homework, she immersed herself in the vast ocean of books, experiencing diverse lives through the protagonists of her readings. On the sports field, she sweated freely, committing to daily practice of badminton fundamentals. During the Spring Festival, she actively participated in household chores, cleaning rooms with her family, putting up Spring Festival couplets, and purchasing New Year goods, filling their home with festive spirit.

Li Xinyao’s speech was not only a reflection on her winter break but also an outlook on her future studies and life. Her story inspired her peers to embrace the new semester with greater enthusiasm and positivity, joining hands to confront new challenges and write their own brilliant chapters.

Xiong Yihan — Goal Setting for the New Semester

The new semester is a fresh start and a journey filled with challenges and opportunities. Xiong Yihan has formulated clear goals for this term. He plans to solve three extra math problems daily and conduct a weekly review on weekends. For English, he aims to read one short passage weekly to accumulate vocabulary and collect elegant sentences, enhancing his reading comprehension. In terms of personal growth, he hopes to overcome nervousness and timidity by improving his communication skills and mental resilience. To achieve this, he intends to actively participate in class discussions, engage in group activities, and seize every opportunity to practice.

Finally, he encouraged his peers to set personalized goals amid the call of the new semester, ride the waves of challenges with courage, and forge ahead. May everyone grow, discover better versions of themselves, and unlock infinite possibilities this semester!

Speech Under the National Flag

Drawing Snakes, Adding Blessings: A Creative Welcome

Li Liying — Volunteer Service During the Winter Vacation

During the vacation, Li Liying exemplified the meaning of dedication and growth through her actions. She participated in the role of a "Smart Book Cabinet Curator" at the Shijingshan Library, visiting her assigned smart book cabinet punctually every week to maintain and clean it diligently while recommending books to nearby residents. Additionally, she joined the public welfare initiative "Caring for Elderly Living Alone," visiting seniors’ homes with her volunteer team to deliver fruits, milk, and daily necessities, clean their rooms, tidy their beds, and chat with them. She also provided one-on-one companionship to children with autism, listening attentively to their worlds through online voice communication.

Li Liying’s heartfelt speech moved and inspired everyone present: individual efforts may seem small, but when each of us is willing to lend a hand, the collective power becomes immense, capable of warming the entire society.

To celebrate students’ return to campus, the school specially designed the “Drawing Snakes, Adding Blessings for the New Semester” creative coloring activity, igniting hopes for the term ahead with colors and creativity.

At the event, students buzzed with enthusiasm, holding paintbrushes to pour their aspirations for the new semester onto a large poster board, dressing the snakes in "new outfits" with their favorite hues. May every student embrace good fortune and shine brightly in the coming semester!

New Semester, New Spirit, New Journey. May students carry this warmth and strength into their new semester, embarking on a journey where perseverance and effort sparkle, writing their own remarkable stories. Let’s make this semester count!

Easter Egg: The furry BNDS.SJS wishes everyone a joyful start to the semester!

Contributed by Guo Xiaoyan, Hou Wenyu

Video Production by Media Center

Reviewed by Luo Yixiao