News
La p’tite école Celebrates Chinese Week with Kung Hei Fat Choi!
From January 23rd through the 26th, students and staff at La p’tite celebrated the culture of China. And it was no coincidence they chose this particular week. It was the Chinese Lunar New Year, the most important holiday to the Chinese, in this most auspicious Year of the Dragon.
The colour of luck
Each child received a small red envelope, containing a token nickel. The symbolism of this tradition is two-fold: red, because it is believed to scare away evil spirits and bad fortune, and money, used to suppress or put down the evil spirit.
As with the other international, single-country themed weeks held throughout the year at La p'tite école, a museum table was set up with items representing many aspects of China and Chinese culture, including textiles, maps, books on various topics, toys, a ceramic teapot and tea cups, traditionally-patterned porcelain bowls, chopsticks and more.
The TV monitor in the branch's entrance played Chinese music, accompanying photos and a video describing aspects of the country in French.
How to design a dragon
What better way to ensure the ferocity of your dragon than by making one yourself? The PK classes contributed the tissue paper flames and scales to the dragon slinking across a hallway wall, while the SK's created their own paper dragons.
Then it was time to meet a dragon in person. All of the students attended one of two assemblies in La p'tite école's gym to watch an authentic dragon dance. Some of the students even got to feed the dragon!
Festive dress
The journée chic that week saw La p'tite école awash in resplendent Chinese wear, in fortunate shades of red and jewel tones. Not to be left out were some staff, who were provided with Chinese jackets. Meanwhile the entire staff enjoyed a Chinese tea tasting, courtesy of the branch's music teacher, who is also a sommelier of tea.
