01. Overview
This year, Utahloy International School Guangzhou (UISG) proudly joined schools and communities around the globe in celebrating International Dot Day, an event dedicated to embracing creativity and self-expression. Inspired by the beloved children’s book “The Dot” by Peter H. Reynolds, this celebration encourages participants to make their mark and explore the limitless possibilities of art.
02. Primary School
With kids
On September 15, 2024, primary school students enthusiastically celebrated International Dot Day, engaging in a vibrant exploration of Aboriginal Dot paintings from Australia. The day kicked off with an interactive lesson on the significance of dot art within Aboriginal culture, where students learned about the stories and traditions conveyed through these intricate patterns. This experience aligns with the International Baccalaureate (IB) concept of cultural understanding, encouraging students to appreciate diverse perspectives. Armed with this knowledge, they set to work creating their own rain sticks, decorating them in colourful dot patterns. These beautifully crafted instruments were then proudly hung around the school courtyard, transforming the space into a lively gallery that echoed the spirit of the celebration.
In addition to the rain sticks, students participated in individual art classes where they designed smooth pebbles in dot patterns, showcasing their unique creativity. This activity fostered Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills such as creative thinking and collaboration as students shared ideas and techniques with one another. The culminating activity brought everyone together as the students assembled their decorated stones in a circular formation, symbolizing unity and collective expression through one large dot. As a meaningful extension of their Dot Day activities, the students marked their places of origin and other locations they have visited on a world map, reinforcing the IB concept of global citizenship. This immersive celebration not only fostered artistic skills but also instilled a deeper appreciation for cultural heritage, making International Dot Day 2024 a memorable and impactful experience for all involved.
03. Secondary School
From September 9th to 13th, the secondary school students came together to partake in this global initiative, fostering a sense of unity and creativity among students and teachers alike. Throughout the week, participants showcased their artistic talents on canvases displayed in the atrium.
With art supplies generously provided by the Art Department, students eagerly created their unique dots during morning and lunch breaks with an engaging event themed ‘Make a Dot’. This celebration brought together students and teachers to promote creativity and teamwork in a fun competition among the four Houses (Panda, Tiger, Warrior, and Dragon)
The competition featured several exciting categories, including the Highest Number of Dots, Aesthetically Best-Looking Canvas, Creativity in Dots Exploration, and Space and Material Organization. Points were awarded based on the teams’ performance in each category, with the first-place teams earning 400 points, followed by points for subsequent places.
The event was a wonderful opportunity for our school community to express creativity and foster teamwork. We are proud of all the students and teachers who participated and contributed to making this International Dot Day a vibrant celebration of art and collaboration at UISG.
A heartfelt thank you to the K-12 Visual Arts Department for their support in making this event a success. We look forward to more creative endeavors in the future!
