Suwon Gaon Elementary School Hosts 'Festival Grounds' Where All Educational Stakeholders Celebrate Together

[News S=Reporter Lee Min-jeong] Suwon Gaon Elementary School (Principal Kim Jae-young) has garnered attention by hosting a "spring festival" that enriches May, the king of seasons.

Gaon Elementary held the "Gaon Harmony Gathering," a grade-level spring sports day conducted from May 8 to 15 for all 996 students, providing an opportunity for both students and staff to share the importance of community.

To this end, the "Gaon Harmony Gathering" goes beyond a simple athletic event, serving as a communication venue where all educational stakeholders laugh and enjoy together, while enhancing the character education brand as a festival space.

The event, themed "Running Together, Laughing Together," proceeded with various athletic activities, with teams divided into blue and white squads according to each grade's schedule.

Main events included individual races, color tile flipping, ball rolling, tug-of-war, target popping, relay races, and recreational activities, providing students with opportunities to develop cooperation, health, and character through each program.

Notably, the Harmony Gathering holds special significance in that students and teachers jointly planned, prepared, and executed programs through autonomous meetings, brainstorming together. The event provided students with opportunities to develop autonomy and responsibility, while offering teachers a chance to share the educational value of realizing student-centered education.

Additionally, upper-grade students led by the student self-governance committee coordinated class t-shirts and held cheering rehearsals in advance, learning chants and movements firsthand to lead the cheering atmosphere, realizing an autonomous student participation culture.

Concurrently, the school actively utilized eco-friendly cheering tools made from recycled materials while avoiding single-use items, creating a new "cheering culture" that considers the environment and drew further attention.

This management approach, which highlights spontaneity and creativity, played a major role in developing students' leadership and community consciousness, earning praise from teachers and parents.

Principal Kim Jae-young said, "Through the process of students moving their bodies and cooperating with each other, and through teachers and staff preparing together, students were able to feel the value of community," and added, "We will continue to promote healthy and enjoyable educational activities going forward."