A phenomenal night to remember: The Year 9 Oscars
By Sally Lee & Nadia Hung
After numerous crashouts and immense dedication, on January 29, 2026 Year 9 students came together to celebrate the annual Oscars ceremony, an event commemorating their hard work throughout the Design and English Interdisciplinary Unit (IDU). Transforming the Performing Arts Centre (PAC) into a hub of anticipation and excitement, the evening was a testament to the power of communication, conveyed through both written memoirs and stop-motion animations.
*Photo by Annie Lee - The nominations for English class 9.4
Nevertheless, this year’s Oscars wouldn’t have been as magical without the ambition of the English and Design departments. Behind the scenes, teachers Ms Lewis and Ms Riccó orchestrated this “extravaganza” with weeks of meticulous planning. “We try to make it more and more exciting each year,” Ms Lewis explained.
Their vision was clear: to create an immersive experience that would honour the students’ efforts. This year, a photobooth dedicated to the Oscars theme was added, along with a Red Carpet where students made their grand entrances, elevating the celebratory atmosphere as a whole.
“Everyone's excited, and we feel the atmosphere as everyone is walking down the Red Carpet," beamed Ms Riccó. "We love it!"
Overall, the enthusiasm of both teachers and the English/Design departments transformed the event into a truly memorable occasion, one that all students would most definitely find indelible.
As the event began, stepping into the Performing Arts Centre (PAC), a smile lit up on every student’s face at the sight of the decorations and the shimmering lights. The hall dimmed down, with hardly any lights illuminating the dark room, capturing the glamour of an actual awards ceremony. Laughter and chatter filled the air as students posed for photos, eager to capture their moment in the spotlight. The success of the Oscars was deeply appreciated and felt by the Year 9 students, creating an atmosphere brimming with positivity and satisfaction.
“I think this year’s Oscars were a success in general, as the atmosphere and attitude were both very positive,” Cherry, a Y9 student, remarked as she stepped into the PAC.
This sentiment was shared by Dora Chen, another Y9 student, who stated that “Everything had been run through smoothly, and it would definitely count as one of my most memorable experiences in Year 9.”
The highlight of the evening was, of course, the awards section. Across the fourteen award categories (six English and eight Design), three nominations for each category were selected, with one winner attaining an Oscar in that category. Throughout the literary open-mics and animations, the year group’s diverse talents were put on display, from poignant prose memoirs to powerful graphic memoirs and intricate stop-motion films. Afterwards, students waited with both anticipation and nervousness, as the joy of winning meant giving an acceptance speech. In the end, the moment of announcement was a whirlwind of emotions for the nominees and winners, as one student from each class emerged victorious.
As the excitement of the awards presentations for each class unfolded, the atmosphere in the PAC was electric. Applause erupted after each winner was announced, making the evening even more unforgettable. Students celebrated their peers’ achievements, cheering and clapping with enthusiasm, creating a “night to remember” for each individual winner. Of course, the winners were more than overjoyed with the honour of receiving an Oscar and making a speech in front of the year group.
*Photo by Aarya Desai - Sally, one of the Oscar winners, giving her acceptance speech
“My friends always told me that I’d get the Oscar, but then I just thought that I wouldn’t get it because there were so many better people. I was surprised when I was announced as the winner, and also very nervous to go on stage and give the speech,” recounted Ramsie Chan, a Design Oscar winner, who was shocked but excited when she won.
Keira Lee, a Design Oscar winner, echoed, "I really didn’t expect to win... I was super nervous but very happy. This year has so many super good competitors, and everyone has such high-quality stop motions and memoirs.”
Alice Huang, who won an English Oscar, remarked on similar feelings: “I was astonished because I didn’t expect to win. Everyone else did so well. I was honestly both overjoyed and shocked!”
*Photo by Alison Jan - All the Oscar winners
Overall, the Year 9 Oscars ceremony was not only a showcase of talent and creativity but, furthermore, a memorable gathering that celebrated hard work, dedication, and shared experiences. As students left the PAC, they carried with them not just their awards, but also their cherished memories with their friends at the photobooth. Next year, we look forward to seeing even more shining talent, emotional memoirs and intricate films. Who knows? Maybe the current Y9’s may even sneak in next year just for the photobooth!