For the past couple of weeks at MICDS, students from the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools have been celebrating Lunar New Year in a number of bright and colorful ways. From the First-Grade Lunar New Year Parade to our Upper School’s traveling Lion Dance team, see how Rams are slithering into the Year of the Snake. Gong hei fat choi!
Lower School Celebrations
In Beasley Lower School, students honored Lunar New Year with an assembly on February 7. During the assembly, the Upper School Lion Dancers performed for the first time for the Beasley students, and Amy Scheer, Head of Lower School, received a red envelope from one of the lions. The assembly also had a theme word which was cooperation. The Upper School Lion Dancers spoke about the cooperation and coordination it takes to be a part of the lion. “One of the students mentioned how her role changed from being the back of the lion to being in the front, and how she had to work together with her partner each time to bring the lion to life,” shares Dr. Katy Nichols, Lower School Music Teacher.
At the assembly, Emily G. ’34 played the Hulusi, a Chinese flute. She played at the beginning and end of the assembly and wore a traditional Chinese dress. The third graders stayed and cheered on Emily after the assembly. “It was a moment of pure joy,” details Dr. Nichols.
Next, on Tuesday, February 11, the two first-grade classes were thrilled to welcome MICDS parent Sherry Hornsby P’36 to their classroom. Ms. Hornsby, a parent of one of the first graders, presented about Chinese New Year and culture. She talked about the history, customs, and cuisine pertaining to how the new year is celebrated. Students had the opportunity to watch videos of the Lion Dance, special Chinese New Year phrases, and they even received their very own red envelopes at the end of her presentation. Thank you, Ms. Hornsby, for sharing all of this with the first graders!
On Friday, February 14, the full Lower School gathered in the Beasley Dining Hall to witness the First-Grade Dragon Parade. The first graders carried the head of a dragon with a body and tail made out of a long piece of red parchment paper. Students had decorated the body of the dragon and marched to the beat of a gong, much to the delight of their Lower School peers, faculty, staff, and parents.
Throughout the weeks leading up to the parade performance, Lower Schoolers made red paper lanterns that hang in the Beasley hallway to scare away Nian, the Dragon. They also made paper dragon faces.
Middle School Enjoys Lion Dance
For the first-time ever, the Upper School Lion Dance team performed during a Middle School assembly.
Upper School Club Celebrations, Assembly, and Traveling Lion Dance Team
In the Upper School, several festivities took place to ring in the Year of the Snake. A trio of clubs, including the Asian Student Association, Arts Council, and International Council, held a Lunar New Celebration in the Olson Presentation Room on January 28. Students folded paper cranes, posed in a bright red photo booth, put up decorations, and participated in a scavenger hunt for red envelopes (hongbao).
On Friday, February 7, the Upper School hosted its annual Lunar New Year assembly. First, Andy Zheng ’26 and Jeremy Wang ’28 presented about the Lunar New Year or Spring Festival. They shared basic information about the popular celebration, the traditions, the 12 zodiac animals, and facts about how the new year is celebrated. Following, per tradition, the assembly featured a dance performance by the Upper School Lion Dance team, coached by two WashU students. The Lion Dance performers include:
- Mac Froedge ’25
- Cade Miller ’26
- Oscar Sun ’26
- Lucas Cheng ’27
- Milton Duckworth ’27
- Isaac George ’27
- Bella Froedge ’28
- Nolan Ma ’28
Next, the Upper School was pleased to welcome back YoWU, the Yo-Yo Club at Washington University. This favorite guest group of the Upper School had students cheering for all of the tricks the yo-yo experts threw at them.
In addition to the Lion Dance performances in the Lower, Middle, and Upper Schools, the team delivered a fantastic performance in Sculpture Hall at the St Louis Art Museum for their event on January 24 called SLAM Social: Lunar New Year. They captivated the audience with their vibrant display of culture and artistry. “The event drew a supportive crowd, and we extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who attended to cheer on our talented Lion Dance team,” shares Lily Childs, Upper School Mandarin Teacher. “Your presence made the performance even more special!”
Check out the SLAM performance below!
The Lion Dancers also performed at the Passport Series’ Lunar New Year event on January 31. Read the Passport Series recap here.
“Celebrating the Lunar New Year at MICDS and beyond at the St Louis Art Museum this year was truly special,” states Ms. Childs. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to share my heritage culture with our community. A special thanks go to the Lion Dance team! The rich cultural traditions and the sense of community brought everyone together in meaningful ways. From the festive decorations to student activities, each element contributed to a memorable experience that highlighted the importance of celebrating diversity and fostering inclusivity within our school community.”
What fun it has been slinking into the Lunar New Year in so many different ways at MICDS. A big thank you to Ms. Childs for overseeing so many of these Lunar New Year events in the MICDS community. Happy New Year, Rams!