Lawrence schools mark the Chinese New Year

To mark the Chinese Lunar New Year, Lawrence High School’s Asian American Club delivered a Lunar Gram to staff and students. The Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is an important holiday to East and Southeast Asian communities.

Students and staff were able to buy a Lunar Gram in the school building’s main hall. The Lunar Grams contained a fortune keepsake and a Boba milk tea mochi treat. Boba milk tea, which is a popular dessert, consists of tea, milk and tapioca.

Lawrence Primary School students also celebrated the Lunar New Year that was on Feb. 1. The students read “My First Chinese New Year” by Karen Katz and they learned the significance of the Lunar New Year and the many symbols associated with the celebrations. All students received oranges for good luck from their school’s food service management company.

In celebration of the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Tiger, students in Anne Young’s art class painted tigers with watercolors. People born in the Year of the Tiger are said to be brave and intelligent

The students watched a BrainPOP video on Lunar New Year and created paper lanterns and red envelopes. During the Chinese New Year, people celebrate by hanging paper lanterns for good luck. The red envelopes are a traditional gift given to children and elders. The color red symbolizes energy, happiness and good luck.

Students learned about the Chinese calendar, and how our birth year determines what Chinese zodiac we are and how it supposedly affects our personality. Students also learned that the Chinese dragon is a very important New Year symbol and created dragon masks to represent good luck and long life.