The 2023 All-School Lunar New Year Celebration was our best yet! We had over 175 people attend the celebration, which was kicked off with an amazing performance by Henry Leong’s Lion Dance troop. The Asian Student Alliance (ASA) and International students gathered in person for the first time since 2020 for the traditional dumpling-making event, hosted by Christopher Li ’22 and Sarah Li ’24’s family. Thank you to Penka Slavova for leading the ASA and ISP students and families in organizing the celebration. Please enjoy a photo album of the event here.

The Year of the Rabbit was embraced by each division through programming aimed at educating the community, while also ushering in the joy that accompanies the holiday. A great debt of gratitude is owed to Yi Li and Rebekah So who collaborated with the DEI Office and Diversity Committee to continue to extend our learning this year.  Students in Early Childhood through eighth grade received a red envelope commemorating the great affection between children and their elders during Lunar New Year. Each division also created Wishing Walls and put their hopes for 2023 on display for the whole community to enjoy.

All Early Childhood and some Lower School classes invited Mandarin teachers Yi Li and Ivy Zhao to come and share important symbols and traditions behind the decorations, music, and legends of the Lunar New Year. Our librarian Kate Garrity also created a beautiful book display to teach us about ancient and modern Lunar New Year traditions celebrated throughout the world. Piano teacher Rebekah So, along with Lower School music teacher Carly DeCock, and theatre teacher and ASA faculty advisor Ada Cheung also organized three incredible assemblies this past week. Our Lower, Middle, and Upper School students and teachers immersed themselves in Chinese music and games similar to the typical Lunar New Year Gala, which is a must-watch by each Chinese family on Lunar New Year Eve. 

We feel so lucky to have each other and to celebrate such an important event as a community; feasting, dancing, singing, and creating hope for the year to come.