By Sara Osborn Gilbert ’94, P’26, ’29
On Friday, January 31, the MICDS Parents Association Passport Series welcomed in the Year of the Wood Snake with all the sounds, sights, smells, and tastes you have come to know and love from this event each year. Michelle Li P’37 led the attendees on a tour of differences in Lunar New Year traditions throughout the globe. Dean of Faculty Dr. Grace Lee highlighted MICDS’ appreciation for the importance of the Lunar New Year in the lives of many of our students. She described how the school strives to foster a sense of belonging by enjoying these celebrations alongside our families.
Trivia questions showcasing St. Louis’ long history of Asian communities kept the crowd engaged as the festivities transitioned into the performance portion of the event. MICDS and Washington University students captivated the audience with an impressive rendition of the lion dance, followed by music featured during the 1904 World’s Fair played by Max and Maggie Zeng of the Asian American Civics Scholars group. Traditional Chinese dancer Xuemei Si and renowned calligrapher Sun Liu gave the community a sample of their art, which was enjoyed by all.
Before moving into a sampling of the delicious foods, our PA President Jen Hogan P’26, ’28 welcomed good luck this year by tossing the salad of prosperity high into the air. The offering of a variety of dishes capped off this fantastic event, and parents were able to connect and meet new friends as we headed into the prosperity and good fortune that is sure to come during this Year of the Snake.
A big thank you to our fearless event chairs, Yan Zhou P’30, Karen Wang P’28, and Michelle Li P’37, for bringing together the much-appreciated parent volunteers that made this event wonderful.
Thank you also to our MICDS Lion Dance troupe, Max and Maggie Zeng from the Asian American Civics Scholars group, Xuemei Si, Sun Liu, Yen Jan P’25, ’31 for the prosperity salad, Lucy Fan P’25, Mary Chou P’23, and Rachel Wei P’29, ’31 from Corner 17 Chinese restaurant, each and every one of the parents who brought in the many food donations, and, of course, the PA for their endless support. This event would not be possible without your support and help!