Now that the ‘Year of the Pig' is coming to an end, the ‘Year of the Rat’ awaits us. The Spring Festival is a joyful time of the year, as the Chinese community hang lanterns, attach couplets to doors, which can be viewed all around the city.

At this year’s YCIS Chinese New Year celebration, all students, staff and parents assembled to watch an inspiring Chinese Drum Performance, a wonderful song performed by the ECE students, and a dance performed by some a group of very talented staff. Immediately following this grand opening, students and staff gathered in their respective Houses, Earth, Wind, Fire and Water to prepare their dance for the Chinese New Year ‘Dance Off’. Congratulations to all for their energy, creativity and support of each other. The activities relating to Archery, Equestrian, Calligraphy, Arithmetic, Etiquette and Music were located in different Learning Communities and brought the students to a deeper understanding of traditional Chinese culture.

This festive atmosphere was enriched with the Secondary students Form Room decoration competition. Each form room was adorned with red paper-cuttings, with the character of Fu representing good luck in Chinese, and a range of red decorations. The Amazing Race was the highlight of the whole secondary celebration at the end of the day. There is no doubt that all students actively experienced the traditional ‘Chinese Six Arts’ and had great fun interacting in the variety of activities on offer.

We wish you all a very happy Chinese New Year and look forward to seeing everyone on Monday 3rd February.