On Friday, Feb. 7, Poly’s Mandarin department hosted the annual Lunar New Year Celebration in the Gamble Gym. The event, organized by World Languages teachers Lois Chung, Cheyanne Yao and Mimi Chiu, featured lively performances and interactive booths run by Poly’s Mandarin students of all levels, including Mandarin I, II, III, IV and AP.
Dragon dances, retelling of Chinese fables, staged fights and more commemorated the onset of the Year of the Snake in the Chinese Zodiac. After the performances, Lower, Middle and Upper School students ventured to the Upper School Library to explore booths featuring engaging activities such as a chopstick contest, Chinese chess and a Zodiac wheel, which allowed participants to learn about the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac.
Chung, founder of Poly’s Mandarin program, has coordinated the event annually since 2012, with the goal of giving students a chance to develop key skills such as leadership, time management and teamwork. Despite challenges such as rain and recent wildfires, students and teachers alike considered the event a resounding success.
“Bringing joy to the community was even more important at this time,” Chung remarked. “I think [students] put their heart into it to make it a successful and joyful event every year.”
Indeed, attendees enjoyed the celebration. “The fan dance was particularly incredible,” freshman Anthony Iek, an audience member, reflected.
Sophomore Kalyx Lara, student director of the Mandarin III Vietnamese hat dance, noted how the event allowed shy students to step out of their comfort zones. “It was really fun to see how some of the people who were not that familiar with dancing and people who were shy come out of their shell.”
“I loved doing the choreographed dance that we had been practicing for nearly a week and watching it come to life,” said freshman Ayende Terrazas, who played the snake in the fan dance. “It was incredible to witness the Lunar New Year celebration being carried out with such love and care.” This year’s Lunar New Year Celebration not only highlighted the beauty of Chinese culture but also showcased the dedication and spirit of Poly’s Mandarin students, making it an event to remember.
