May is a festival for workers — and a classroom for growth.
To put its commitment to whole-person education into practice, Lu'an Foreign Language High School built its May Day holiday around the theme "Labour Tempers Growth, Practice Lights Up the Holiday." Students stepped out of their textbooks and into everyday life — cooking, tidying, exercising and planting — and handed in a very different kind of holiday homework. Here are some of the highlights.
A taste of love — in the kitchen
Aprons on, our students headed into the kitchen and did everything themselves: washing and preparing ingredients, cooking, and plating up. Tomato and egg, shredded pork with green pepper — and, for the braver cooks, "big dishes" like braised fish and cola chicken wings. When families tasted food cooked by their own children, smiles and warmth filled the table; every photo captured the satisfaction of work and the closeness of family.
Small spaces, big skills — housework
Making the most of the May sunshine, students gave their rooms a thorough clean. Scattered papers were sorted, wardrobes neatly folded, beds freshly made and dusty corners set right; some even washed windows and mopped floors. Along the way, they learned to plan and organise — and came to appreciate just how much their parents do every day.
Healthy living — daily exercise
At least thirty minutes of exercise a day: skipping ropes spinning, runners stretching out in the morning light, sit-ups powered through. Some students brought their families along for a workout; others tracked a full week of activity. Sweat-soaked but beaming, they built not only fitness but the habit of perseverance.
Labour is most glorious — planting
Over the holiday, each student planted a seasonal vegetable or flower in a pot or plot — tomatoes, cucumbers and lettuce; roses, jasmine and gardenia. Loosening soil, sowing, watering and feeding, every step done with care. "Watching it grow taller day by day, I understood what patience and responsibility mean," one student reflected. Those fresh green shoots are labour's finest footnote.
Through this project our students touched life with their hands and watered their growth with effort. We hope they carry this spirit of labour into their everyday studies — tempering their will, nurturing virtue, and lighting up the future through honest work.