District 13 celebrates Lunar New Year

In celebration of the Lunar New Year which started February 1, students across Valley Stream Union Free School District Thirteen immersed themselves in classroom activities to learn more about the culturally significant holiday.

“Lunar New Year was a celebratory day for all the schools in our district,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Judith LaRocca. “Holidays are an excellent opportunity for students to learn about cultures, beliefs, traditions, and values.”

The Howell Road Elementary School students celebrated the Lunar New Year by reading “Sam and The Lucky Money” by Karen Chinn. The book is about how the main character Sam decides to use the customary lucky money he receives for the Chinese New Year. Each student at Howell Road were given a traditional lucky red envelope and a pair of red chopsticks. The red envelope given out symbolizes good luck, prosperity and happiness in the new year, with the color red itself meaning fortune and joy.

Students at Willow Road Elementary School learned all about the Lunar New Year by creating a class dragon made from 2D shapes. The elementary students participated in a parade of powerful dragons modeled after the traditional dragon dances performed during the Lunar New Year celebrations around the world. The mythical dragon has long been the most important symbol of power, strngth, and good luck in China.

James A. Dever students folded paper animals, crafted Chinese dragons and drew symbolic Chinese drawings by watching video tutorials on their school laptops. The Chinese dragon is a symbol of China and an important part of their culture. Wheeler Avenue Elementary School students celebrated the Lunar New Year by creating dancing Chinese dragons, watching videos about the Lunar New Year, and studying Chinese characters. One of the students at Wheeler dressed in his beautifully vibrant red traditional Chinese attire and shared his family traditions for the New Year with his classmates.