Written by Liya Zhou, Foreign Language Teacher at Boynton Middle School
In mid-February, the Lunar New Year—celebrated as the Year of the Dragon—commenced, marking a momentous occasion in Eastern culture. This year’s celebration also holds special significance for many sixth graders in our school district who were born in the Year of the Dragon.
To celebrate and promote cultural diversity within our community, Boynton's eighth-grade Mandarin students organized a Lunar New Year dragon parade during the Chinese New Year.
Accompanied by traditional music and drums, students adorned in dragon parade costumes proudly carried Chinese knots, fans, and lanterns throughout the parade route. In keeping with the spirit of Lunar New Year festivities, red envelopes filled with candies were distributed to the audience.
"We're hoping all our community members feel those lucky vibes and enjoy a wonderfully prosperous Year of the Dragon," Ms. Zhou, the Chinese Mandarin teacher, said.
Associate Principal McGrath lauded the students' initiative, remarking, "Witnessing our students actively spreading positivity and cultural awareness is truly heartwarming. Their endeavors authentically embody the spirit of the Lunar New Year of the Dragon."
Inspired by the Lunar New Year celebration, students from Boynton and DeWitt will participate in a dragon dance and kung fu performance during the upcoming Ithaca Festival Parade on May 30.
At the Ithaca City School District, we provide meaningful and personal learning that contributes to our commitment to establishing communities built on love and joy, and learning about and honoring events like the Lunar New Year is just one example of how we live out our commitment. Together, we celebrate each other and create a more inclusive school community.