谷心中文學校Corvallis Chinese School

Spring Festival Teacher-Student Celebration Report (Welcoming the Year of the Snake)

Event Overview

On Friday, February 14, 2025, from 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM,
Chinese school hosted the Spring Festival Teacher-Student Celebration (Welcoming the Year of the Snake) at Ashbrook Independent School.
This event brought together students, teachers, parents, and guests to celebrate the Lantern Festival. Through various cultural activities, students deepened their understanding and interest in traditional Chinese customs.
Event Highlights Calligraphy & Ink Painting Exhibition Students and teachers showcased their calligraphy and ink paintings at the event, featuring auspicious phrases and snake-themed artworks, highlighting the beauty of traditional arts.
Snake-Themed Headwear Assembly & Photo Session Students assembled and wore snake-themed headwear provided by the Overseas Community Affairs Council, joyfully taking photos to capture festive memories.
Snake Year Red Envelope Origami Students folded paper to create red envelopes, experiencing the joy of Chinese culture and symbolizing New Year blessings and prosperity.
Riddle Guessing Activity

Riddles were presented in both Chinese and English, encouraging participation from students and parents, fostering language learning and interactive thinking.

Speech & Red Envelope Distribution by the Head of Ashbrook Independent School
Dr. Christopher A. Schoberl attended the event, delivering a speech to all students and distributing ancient coin red envelopes as a symbol of New Year blessings.

Student Performances

• Song & Tambourine Performance – “Happy Children“: Students sang a Tzu Chi Foundation song while playing tambourines, showcasing a lively and joyful rhythm.
• Five Animal Exercises: A traditional Chinese health exercise demonstrating the beauty of mind-body harmony.
• Tai Chi Fan Performance: A graceful yet powerful display of Tai Chi movements.
• Tai Chi Sword Performance: A showcase of Tai Chi sword techniques, blending elegance with strength.
• Chinese Yo-Yo Performance: Two talented brothers from Taiwan amazed the audience with their impressive Yo-Yo skills.
• Diabolo Experience Activity: Students had hands-on fun learning diabolo (Chinese yo-yo) techniques.
• New Year Video – “Happy New Year”: A playback of classroom moments to reminisce about learning experiences.

Delicious Spring Festival Treats

The event featured a variety of traditional Lunar New Year snacks, including nian gao (rice cake), Taiwanese steamed buns, shrimp dumplings, fruit jelly, and Wang Zai instant noodles, allowing attendees to savor the festive atmosphere while enjoying delicious food.

Snake Year Photo Frame Keepsake

Each family had the opportunity to take a memorable photo in front of a specially designed Year of the Snake photo frame, capturing precious New Year memories.

Event Outcomes & Feedback

The Spring Festival Celebration was a resounding success, with enthusiastic participation from students and parents. Every activity received overwhelmingly positive responses. Through the calligraphy exhibition, hands-on crafts, traditional performances, and cultural experiences, students deepened their understanding of Lunar New Year traditions while fostering a sense of pride and appreciation for Chinese culture. Additionally, parents expressed high praise for the event’s rich content and look forward to even more diverse cultural exchange activities in the coming years.

Conclusion

The “Welcoming the Year of the Snake” Spring Festival Celebration successfully provided students and parents with an immersive Chinese cultural experience, allowing everyone to welcome the New Year with joy and excitement. Special thanks to the Cultural Center of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle for their generous support. Our school will continue to host similar events to promote Chinese cultural heritage and language learning, and we look forward to more exciting celebrations in the future!