Activities and Sport Weekly Update - Mar 13

Inaugural APAC Robotics Champions

From March 5 to 7, something new happened in APAC. Eight of the twelve APAC schools gathered at SAS Puxi for the first-ever APAC Robotics Competition, a tournament that asked schools to think beyond individual results. This was not a standard VEX event where teams pursued individual outcomes. Each school could bring up to four teams, and every performance counted toward a single collective school score. It was a format that rewarded depth, consistency, and the ability to work as a school rather than as isolated teams.

Concordia arrived with four teams: 13212A, 13212B, 13212C, and 13212D.

What most people saw was the competition. What they didn't see was the long hours at the drawing board, designs that looked promising and failed, rebuilds after frustrating test runs, and the steady discipline required to improve one small step at a time. The challenge was to build four teams that could function as one.

Competing alongside AISG, HKIS, ISB, SAS Pudong, SFS, WAB, and host school SAS Puxi, Concordia delivered the strongest overall performance of the event. All four Phoenix teams advanced to the playoff bracket. That alone spoke to the depth of Concordia's five-year-old VEX Robotics program. This was not a victory carried by one standout team. It was a full-school result.

Concordia's performance extended beyond the field. The program earned both the Design Award and the Think Award, recognition for the quality of its engineering process, documentation, and strategic programming. In the Skills Challenge, 13212D placed first, and 13212A placed second. In the playoff rounds, 13212A fought through the bracket to claim first place, while 13212D finished third. When the final points were tallied, Concordia had secured the inaugural APAC Championship.

But over those three days, what stood out just as much as the results was the way these students carried themselves. Older students steadied younger teammates between matches. Students who had just stepped off the field turned around and cheered for the next Concordia team. Hard moments were handled with composure, and good ones with perspective. This program is developing students who understand responsibility, teamwork, and what it means to show up for one another.

Concordia Students Shine at APAC Theatre Festival in Korea

Students from Concordia International School Shanghai recently traveled to South Korea to participate in the APAC Theatre Festival hosted by Taejeon Christian International School. The festival brought together student performers from a total of 6 internationals school in APAC or several days of workshops, performances, and creative collaboration.

This year’s festival explored the theme “Legacy: planting seeds in a garden we don’t get to see.” Inspired by the musical Hamilton, the theme challenged students to reflect on the impact of their choices and the lasting influence individuals can have on others and the world around them. 

Throughout the festival, Concordia students worked alongside peers from across the region in a series of immersive theatre workshops led by professional artists from Red Leap Theatre, a renowned New Zealand theatre company. These sessions encouraged students to explore movement, ensemble work, storytelling, and creative risk taking while deepening their understanding of the craft of theatre. 

A highlight of the festival was the opportunity for each school to present an original performance inspired by the theme. Concordia proudly presented “Mortui Vivos Docent,” a powerful piece exploring the idea that “the dead teach the living.” Through imagined conversations following a person’s passing, the performance examined the lasting impact of one life and the ways in which memories, regrets, and relationships shape the legacy we leave behind.

More than anything, the APAC Theatre Festival is about collaboration. Throughout the week, Concordia students worked closely with other young artists, exchanging ideas, supporting one another’s performances, and celebrating the creativity of the international theatre community. It was an inspiring environment where students were encouraged to be bold, curious, and generous with their artistry.

Our Concordia students represented the school proudly. They embraced every opportunity to learn, connect, and grow as performers and collaborators. The experience not only strengthened their skills on stage but also deepened their appreciation for theatre as a shared human experience that transcends cultures and borders.

The APAC Theatre Festival continues to be a powerful reminder that theatre is more than performance. It is a way of telling stories, building community, and planting creative seeds that will continue to grow long into the future.

APAC Band
APAC Band Asia Division took place March 4th - 8th at AISG. Concordia brought 15 students to participate with others schools, working with well recognized conductor, Dr. Peter Morris from the Queensland Conservatory at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia. Students worked a variety of music literature with an Australian / Chinese connection. The composers for each piece were either Chinese, Australian or both. One special piece featured was Dragon Boat Dances, a piece composed by a Chinese student studying in Australia who grew up in Guangzhou. This piece featured a local Guzheng player. The festival concluded with a concert at AISG Saturday afternoon featuring all the students from the six schools.

AMIS MS Choir in Singapore

Last week, nine middle school students attended the AMIS MS Honor Choir Festival in Singapore. They spent their days at the Canadian International School of Singapore rehearsing 9 multicultural songs with conductor Quahnkatiere Marshall. Through dynamic rehearsals, Concordia students learned many new techniques and skills, as well as a varied and challenging repertoire of music. They made friends from schools near and far who share similar interests, and created closer bonds with each other. The final concert featured a song about Singaporean landmarks, foods and popular activities. This wonderful introduction to Singaporean culture was written by composer Liong Kit Yeng, who was in attendance at the concert.

JV Badminton SISAC 

Over the weekend, the JV Badminton competed in the SISAC Middle School Badminton Competition at SASPX (girls) and Lycée Francais Shanghai (boys). Student-athletes had the opportunity to compete against 10 other schools in Shanghai for friendly competition, work on key skills, and make friends from other schools. Overall, the athletes had fun, and the event served as a great introduction to competitive badminton for us.

HSMT Math Competition 

On March 6th, 40 teams consisting of 150 students from 11 schools converged to Dulwich High School Dulwich to participate in the High School Team Mathematics (HSTM) competition. The intensive competition spanned 6 events over 2 days that tested students mathematical reasoning, strategic thinking, and teamwork. In addition, the students attended a lecture from a guest professor, participated on a Math Walk through the Suzhou Botanical Gardens, enjoyed a wonderful Gala Dinner, and made many great memories and friends along the way.

Concordia was represented by Ms. Sullivan, Mr. Wolodzko, and 3 teams consisting of 10 students. The students served as role-models for the Concordia community conducting themselves with integrity, demonstrating perseverance, showed exemplary sportsmanship and comradery with all participants. Concordia’s students also put on an amazing performance in the actual competition, earning several individu al and team awards. Concordia students performed so well, that all students have been invited to compete in the World Mathematics Championship (WMC) at Imperial College in London this summer. Ms. Sullivan and Mr. Wolodzko are proud of the student’s accomplishments as well as their passion and commitment to mathematics.