Chinese New Year began on February 10th and continued for 15 days, with a Lantern Festival marking the end of the celebrations on February 24th.  

On February 16th, the day before winter break, Berlin Elementary School’s three third grade classrooms set up stations with each room taking on an activity to celebrate the year of the dragon!  

Mrs. V. Healy and Mr. Bourquard’s classroom activity was exposing the third graders to some of the different types of food you might find at a Chinese New Year celebration like ginger, noodles, and dumplings. The students also tried out eating with chopsticks. Mrs. V. Healy shared information about the different Zodiac signs that are part of the Chinese calendar and made each student a goodie bag filled with different Chinese New Year treats!

In Mrs. Peter-Hoen’s room the Mountaineers made Chinese lanterns with dragons.  The lanterns were part of the traditional last day celebration which includes the Chinese New Year Lantern Parade!

Mrs. Rontey’s classroom hosted an activity introducing the children to the different Chinese Characters that are used in writing.

A special thanks again to third grade teacher Mrs. V. Healy, who each year shares some of her own traditions and memories from her childhood celebrations of the Lunar New Year.

A fun time was had by all!  – Mr. Bourquard, Mrs. Healy, Mrs. Peter-Hoen and Mrs. Rontey 

photos submitted by the 3rd Grade Team