Lunar New Year Celebrations

Welcoming the Year of the Fire Horse

Lunar New Year at Serendipity School

Over the past two weeks, Serendipity School’s Preschool and Elementary campuses came alive with celebration as our community gathered to welcome the Year of the Fire Horse. Families, teachers, and students joined together to share Lunar New Year traditions celebrated across Asia and around the world. From classroom explorations to campus-wide festivities, our campuses were filled with curiosity, connection, and belonging.

We are deeply grateful to the many families and faculty members who participated and helped us ring in the new year with such warmth and enthusiasm. A heartfelt thank you to our dedicated parent volunteers who organized, prepared materials, led activity stations, and generously shared their cultures and traditions. 

Preschool Campus Celebration

At the Preschool campus, Lunar New Year celebrations unfolded through engaging classroom experiences and a joyful evening gathering that brought families together. Parents and caregivers visited classrooms to share stories, music, traditions, symbols, and cultural practices connected to the holiday. Children explored red envelopes, festive decorations, traditional foods, zodiac animals, and meaningful greetings, engaging their curiosity through hands-on discovery and conversation.

The celebration culminated in a warm and festive evening event created collaboratively by preschool families. The campus was transformed with beautiful decorations and fun activity stations. Families enjoyed traditional treats, created crafts together, participated in cultural activities, and exchanged good wishes for the year ahead. 

Elementary Campus Celebration

At the Elementary campus, the festivities began with an exuberant student parade that set a celebratory tone for the afternoon. Prancing horses, winding dragons, playful lions, bright red lanterns, decorative fans, colorful noisemakers, and vibrant zodiac piñatas filled the parade route as students proudly carried their creations. Families lined the path, cheering to the rhythmic beat of drums and the swirling of dragon tails, creating a joyful and energetic atmosphere.

Under the thoughtful guidance of our Mandarin teacher, Qimin, students deepened their understanding of Lunar New Year traditions, meaningful symbols, Mandarin greetings, and the broader cultural significance of the holiday. During opening remarks, families learned about how Lunar New Year is celebrated across China, Vietnam, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, and other regions throughout East and Southeast Asia. 

Families also learned about the fascinating cross-cultural journey of the piñata — from early papier-mâché animal figures in China filled with seeds for good fortune, to their evolution through Europe, and eventually into the beloved form associated with Mexican celebrations today. Third Graders enhanced the presentation by sharing their learning and their own handcrafted zodiac animal piñatas. Each student created a papier-mâché representation of a Chinese zodiac animal, including this year’s spirited Horse. Through this exploration, students examined how traditions travel, adapt, and connect cultures across continents.

The elementary celebration culminated with a rotation of hands-on activity stations including calligraphy, dumpling making, crafts, red envelopes, traditional games, and more. Students engaged in inquiry, experimentation, and creative expression.

We closed out the week with a delightful Kindergarten performance retelling the legend of the Zodiac Animal Race. Dressed as zodiac animals, our youngest elementary learners brought the story to life with confidence and joy, ending with a Lunar New Year song performed in both Mandarin and English — a beautiful celebration of shared learning and cultural connection.

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Across both campuses, these celebrations honored the diverse identities within our community while expanding students’ global understanding. Children saw their own cultures reflected and celebrated, and they explored new traditions with curiosity, respect, and open hearts.

As we step into the Year of the Fire Horse — symbolizing energy, courage, passion, and forward movement — we carry with us the spirit of connection and belonging that defines Serendipity School. May this new year bring strength, vitality, and bright beginnings to our entire community.