IT is undoubtedly rare to touch a 100 million-year-old dinosaur fossil. It is even rarer to excavate one yourself.

After I returned from my interim trip to Lanzhou, Gansu Province, countless friends and family asked, "What was it like to hold a dinosaur fossil?" How was I to respond? In all honesty, a fossil is almost indistinguishable from a rock. Yet fossils are so much more. Not only are they remnants of a past age when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, but fossils are also windows onto our planet's ancient history.

Our team of 14 students and two teachers from Concordia International School Shanghai embarked on a weeklong expedition in Gansu Province to uncover a dinosaur. We had every reason to be excited, considering the unparalleled opportunity to excavate dinosaur fossils with Dr Hailu You, an internationally renowned paleontologist who has alone named 12 dinosaur species. After an arduous hike up a 2,000-meter-high mountain, we arrived at the remote dig site south of Lanzhou, where a dinosaur had lain undisturbed beneath meters of stone. Within minutes, the sounds of ancient history being unearthed echoed through the ravine.

It was a teamwork experience in every way, as it required the combined efforts of the entire group to gradually chip away at the unyielding stone. Faced with a veritable army of hammers, chisels and brushes, the fossils were slowly excavated, and we realized that what lay before us was a sauropod. These titans were the largest land animals to have ever walked the Earth, and may have reached nearly 60 meters in length. It was incredible to realize that we were returning the bones to light they had not seen since the dinosaur took its final steps 100 million years ago.

After three days of strenuous but rewarding work, the fossils were finally freed from the stone, plastered, and transported to a preparation lab where they would be readied for study or display. Before the final trek down the mountain, our team took a last look at the dinosaur we had worked so hard to release from its stone tomb. We realized then that it wasn't a final parting, as the sauropod that we had unearthed would one day be immortalized within the halls of a museum, once again inspiring awe and reverence as it would have in its own time.

Looking back, the week I uncovered a dinosaur was truly an unforgettable and unique blend of learning, teamwork, service and leadership, and was a once-in-a-lifetime chance that every member of the group felt enriched by. Our team returned home with new knowledge and understanding after an immersion into the world of dinosaurs and fossils. Learning aside, the trip was an opportunity to get to know people better, to strengthen and forge new friendships, and was altogether an extraordinary week.

After all, what wouldn't the kid inside each of us give to excavate a real dinosaur? In the end, words can only begin to describe the full scope of our experience. Years from now, when other recollections have grown dim, this trip will remain a clear memory, ever a shining light in the murky past, just like the titan we unearthed.



Article by Jonathan Tan, a Grade 10 student from Concordia First friendly football match

The soccer team of the Shanghai Singapore International School's Xuhui campus played a soccer match in the Vision Park Soccer League last month.

It was my first ever friendly match after five years at SSIS, and it turned out great!

Even though I was nervous before the match, I was relieved that I was the largest player on the field that day. The match was five against five including the goalkeepers. The match was divided into four quarters, each lasting for 12 minutes. There were no throw-ins or corners. I have been playing soccer since I was in primary 1 in SSIS. No matter who the opponent was, I have always strived for victory. The only problem was, were they the better team?

At the beginning of the match, they passed the ball well and scored the first goal almost immediately. Adrenaline rushed through me. Wanting to win the match, we fought back immediately and scored a goal. After the first quarter, we were winning by three goals. Our team had scored eight times. Then their captain started to mark me on their coach's advice. They put more effort into their attack and had only one or two players defending. I managed to free myself from their defenders and scored eight in total during the game. The final score was 15-11!

On that Saturday afternoon, I learned that there are a lot of other great players out there so I'm going to practice hard and make my soccer team even better. I also have a little wish - to become a professional soccer player in the future. I must do my best and try to win all matches I participate in and never to give up.



Article by Yoon Jun Sik, a student from SSIS Xuhui campus Watching the sunset and meeting monkeys

My travel starts like this: "Mom, Mom, I forgot my panda. Can I go and get it?"

"Go and get it, and be quick."

"Ok!"

Then we were in the taxi, on the way to the airport.

I can't wait to be in Malaysia!

"When are we going to check in?"

"Now."

"Okay, sure …"

Now we're on the airplane to Malaysia. Yes, we're really here now.

My mom says we're going to stay in the First World hotel. I stayed there for two days and then we took an Air Asia flight to Kei Island. We stayed there at the Shangri-La hotel for nine days.

My mom and I watched the sunset at 6:12pm at the Sunny Bar. I had one cup of fresh orange juice - yum! Then the next day I took the hotel's private boat to the Shah-pi Beach. The beach was wonderful and I absolutely loved it! I went snorkeling and saw rainbow fish, zebra fish, ghost fish and lots of other beautiful fish. Shangri-La's swimming pool is wonderful and gigantic.

The next day we went to another beach called Maluka Beach, it was beautiful too!

The next day we went to see wild monkeys by boat, but it was a rainy day. I saw quite a few long-nosed monkeys.

I missed there it was a wonderful place to go!



Article by Simone Glende (left), a Year 5 student from SUIS New Rego theater opens

The parents, students and staff of Shanghai Rego International School were very pleased to be part of the opening of the school's new theater with the inaugural production of "Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish."

Richard Naylor, Rego's principal, led the opening ceremony which included "Toast" from "La Traviata" sung by Shi Guangyan, and an official ribbon cutting ceremony. Special guests included Mr Cui, chair of the school board, Mr Hang, an official from the Minhang Education Bureau and Dr Wolfgang R?hr, consul general of Germany in Shanghai.

The beautifully colored costumes and immaculate backdrops were much more than the sunflowers of Vincent van Gogh or the water lilies of Claude Monet. "The Fighting Temeraire" would be a better comparison for the pictorial narrative of the screenplay which was eye- catching from start to finish.

The students who took part, no older than 11 and no younger than two, reflected an aspiration in our society, which sometimes comes across as the dream of a few, founded by the knowledge of even fewer.

The idea of finally realizing that the environmental agenda is not only something which affects others, but is real for each of us all over the world.

As we speak, some countries in northern Europe are waking up to the possibility of regular harsh winters again. While the popular argument is about whether or not governments are responsible for the prolonged mess of a failed response to evidence about the ecological development of the world, the reality as portrayed in "Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish" is that Earth belongs to all people and to all its creatures and wildlife. Therefore the responsibility for its preservation and well-being is of all the people who live here and now.

The other portrayal of the here and now is that it can be colorful, like the backdrops in this production and it can be varied like the age groups involved.

In addition, it can be spectacular which was the feeling which you left with if you appreciated all that this theater means to Rego, to its pupils, parents and staff.

At this Christmas time it was a wonderful gift to share, at a time of sharing, peace and hope.