In honor of the Year of the Snake, Lunar New Year celebrations took place across all divisions. In Lower School, students welcomed Lina Liu, the “Umbrella Queen” and two-time Guinness World Record holder, who demonstrated umbrella acrobatics. They also enjoyed the Face-Changing act (Bian Lian) from Sichuan Opera, where the performer changes masks in the blink of an eye. Upper School students welcomed Chinatown Community Young Lion during a recent assembly for a lively lion dance performance.

In Middle School Mandarin, Class VII students learned how to say 新年快乐，蛇年行大运! “May the Year of the Snake bring you wisdom, strength, and great success in your studies!” Students then enjoyed delicious home-made 年糕 (rice cake) by Ms. Wang's family—a traditional symbol of prosperity and progress. Sampling it is believed to bring good luck for academic success.

The Year of the Snake symbolizes wisdom, transformation, and renewal. Previous Snake years include 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, and 2013.