At NAIS Pudong, our celebration of Chinese New Year was an extraordinary feast that captured the community across a few days. The whole campus was filled with a festive atmosphere as students participated in a variety of fun and culturally rich activities, adding a unique and festive atmosphere to the upcoming Year of the Dragon.
One of the most interactive and enjoyable activities was the whole school dumpling making. From primary school to secondary school, everyone hand-packed their favourite fillings, supported by our parent group who delivered instructions. After the dumplings were wrapped, the canteen staff quickly cooked them, and everyone shared their delicious treats.
Our early years children were particularly excited when our Year 4 students were kind enough to take them to participate in the Chinese book reading activity and read stories to them as their little teachers.
The Chinese staff designed a Dragon and Lion Dance programme for the children to learn the charm of traditional culture in a playful way. What was even more exciting was performance in the theatre by a professional team who put on a wonderful show for everyone. In addition, the school provided Early Years children with the opportunity to learn Chinese drums, allowing them to experience the charm of traditional Chinese music in the theatre setting.
The Secondary students also found some interesting challenges across the campus, with elaborate crossword puzzles hanging from the trees. It was not only an exercise for the mind, but also a dual experience of laughter and challenge in a Chinese festive classic.
For the faculty and staff, our PCA presented them with delicious dumplings to show their appreciation for their hard work. At this time when the Chinese New Year is approaching, this thoughtful act made all of our staff feel warm and appreciated by our wonderful parent team.
On Wednesday, the school invited parents to join the special Chinese themed lunch – a great opportunity for our whole community to come together as one and enjoy this special time of year together. The campus was wrapped in the flavour of Chinese New Year, with everyone dressed in clothing themed around the festive celebration.
Through this series of activities, we’ve embodied our values of embracing creativity through things like calligraphy painting and puzzles; we’ve built confidence through student performances on stage and we’ve encouraged our students to be considerate as they acknowledge the importance surrounding this traditional cultural celebration.
Happy Chinese New Year to you all!
