French International Celebrates Lunar New Year

Over the last few weeks, the French International community has celebrated Lunar New Year with food, art, music, stories, and more. The celebrations were unique to the different grade levels and the backgrounds students and teachers brought to the classrooms.

On February 4, the Middle School gathered for an assembly led by the eighth graders in Mandarin track. The three student hosts shared about the significance of Lunar New Year in both English and Mandarin. The assembly started with a dragon dance, followed by songs and dances by beginning Mandarin and Mandarin-track students.

Mandarin teacher Yan made dumplings with her classes. French International third-grade parents also made homemade dumplings for students to enjoy. Dumplings are a traditional Lunar New Year food. They symbolize wealth due to their shape, similar to ancient Chinese gold ingots.

On January 29, the third graders held a Lunar New Year festival in the Preau. The event, organized by third-grade parents, included calligraphy, chopstick lessons, Mandarin practice, and other games. The parents even printed money with the faces of the third-grade teachers on the bills.

In Maternelle and Lower School, parents visited their children’s classes to discuss their experiences celebrating Lunar New Year. They shared stories, taught students how to use chopsticks, and led classes in art projects and activities.

With more than 40 countries represented by the French International community, having parents and teachers share their cultures and backgrounds with students helps them open their minds to the world.