Thadingyut begins this week, and the school is ready. The Festival of Lights brings a special energy to the campus — glowing lanterns, a sense of quiet celebration, and a reminder of what brings families and communities together.
What Students Are Doing This Week
Students across all year groups are taking part in activities tied to the festival. In the preschool and lower primary classes, children are making paper lanterns to carry home. They are also practising the tradition of showing respect to teachers and elders — a custom closely associated with Thadingyut. Upper primary students are exploring how different cultures use light to mark important moments in the year, linking the festival to wider topics in their learning.
The Lantern Walk on Thursday
On Thursday afternoon, all classes will gather in the school courtyard for a short lantern walk. Each child carries the lantern they made during the week. There are no long speeches or performances — just the students, their lights, and a quiet moment together before the holiday break.
Parents are welcome to join from 4:00 p.m. If you plan to attend, please let your child's class teacher know by Wednesday morning so we can arrange enough space in the courtyard. Children will be dismissed at the usual time.
Celebrating at Home
If you cannot come to the school on Thursday, there are still easy ways to mark the festival at home. Light some candles after dinner. Ask your child to show you the lantern they made and tell you what they learned. Even a small, calm moment together carries real meaning at this time of year.
Many families also use Thadingyut to visit grandparents and older relatives. Encouraging children to show respect to the elders in your household is something SSELC actively supports, and it connects directly to what we teach every day at school.
After the Holiday
Classes resume on Monday, 19 October. We hope the next few days bring rest, warmth, and good company to every family in our community. We look forward to hearing from the children about how they spent the time.
To find out more about school life and community events at SSELC throughout the year, visit our programs page.