The whole of MCM has been abuzz with activities and performances to welcome the Chinese New Year (Year of the Rat).
The Prep pupils enjoyed many activities such as paper cutting, lantern making, singing Chinese songs and Chinese legend stories. In a cross-curriculum programme with Art, they made blue and white porcelain paper plates and designed their own Chinese opera facial masks with different colours and patterns to represent each unique character. Using Chinese calligraphy pupils wrote their own prosperity words and then created a modern collage, bringing traditional calligraphy into 2020.
To end the first half of the Lent term with a flourish, the Prep School Chinese New Year assembly contained an ensemble of performances from each Prep year group. There was a superb range from traditional and modern singing performances to graceful waterfall sleeve dancing and Kung Fu, and not forgetting the amazing Lion Dance. At the end of the assembly, the Prep beaks walked the Wykeham Hall catwalk and were resplendent in traditional Han Fu fashion (from the Han Dynasty) to the surprise and delight of the whole of the Prep school. Mrs Eaton-Jones, made her way down the runway to wish everyone a prosperous Year of Rat.
The Senior school enjoyed two grand events, a wondrous Temple Fair and the Senior School Chinese New Year Assembly. The Temple Fair transformed the Learning Resource Centre and it was filled with booths for the pupils to get involved in Chinese cultural activities and games. The activities comprised of paper cutting, lantern drawing, mask painting, calligraphy writing and playing Chinese Chess. After working up an appetite they were able to feast on dumplings which were prepared by the Senior School Chinese Department. Many thanks to the CAS pupils who assisted in organising and running the event.
The Senior School Chinese New Year Assembly in the Wykeham Hall contained performances of Chinese Traditional Dance, Kung Fu Fan Dance, Guzheng, a Chinese Live Band and the Choir singing “Gongxi Gongxi”. Thank you to all the amazing performers who created and practised in their own time, to ensure such a wonderful celebration assembly.
The boarders also enjoyed an excellent Chinese New Year Supper complete with fortune cookies, mandarins and the traditional Lo Hei ‘Prosperity Toss’.
Last but not least, we would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Happy Chinese Year!
