At Glenfield Kindergarten we joyfully celebrated Lunar New Year, embracing the rich traditions, stories and creativity that come with this special time of year.

Throughout the week tamariki were immersed in a variety of hands-on experiences. We explored Chinese dragon collage, experimented with Chinese calligraphy and image printing, and learned about the intricate designs of Chinese opera masks before creating our own. Dragon masks were also a highlight, sparking imaginative play and storytelling.

We spent time watching and learning about the zodiac animals and the legend of how they came to be, listened to the story behind lighting fireworks at Lunar New Year, and admired the beauty and symbolism of the lion dance. Inspired by this, our Koru Club worked collaboratively to create a lion costume as part of their art project. This allowed us to perform our very own lion dance at mat time, a moment filled with excitement, rhythm and pride.

We were also incredibly fortunate to have a special visit from Rainbow Chorus, who performed beautiful traditional Chinese dances for us. Their stunning costumes and graceful movements captivated tamariki and provided a meaningful, authentic connection to the cultural traditions we had been learning about.

A heartfelt thank you to our wonderful whānau who generously gave their time to come into kindergarten and make delicious dumplings with the tamariki. We truly appreciated your support, especially during such a busy and significant time for your families. Sharing kai together made our celebrations even more special.

To conclude our week, we held a Cultural Dress Day. It was a beautiful opportunity for everyone to share and honour their own cultures, strengthening our sense of belonging and appreciation for the diverse community that makes our kindergarten so special.

新年快乐 (Xīn Nián Kuài Lè) — Happy Lunar New Year to all!