At BestStart St Lukes, we were delighted to celebrate Chinese New Year and welcome the joyful Year of the Horse with our tamariki. This vibrant celebration created a wonderful opportunity for our learning community to explore, respect and appreciate the richness of Chinese culture together.
Each room embraced the festivities in their own creative and meaningful way. In Waitā, tamariki explored colours, patterns and fine motor skills as they carefully crafted beautiful Chinese lanterns, learning about the symbolism of red and gold representing luck and prosperity.
In Hiwa-i-te-Rangi, children worked collaboratively to create a stunning cherry blossom money tree, symbolising growth, hope and good fortune for the year ahead. Meanwhile, our Matariki tamariki confidently performed an energetic lion dance, visiting other rooms and spreading joy, excitement and a strong sense of community across the centre.
Through storytelling sessions and books about Chinese New Year traditions, children discovered the legend behind the celebration and learned about family gatherings, gratitude and new beginnings. These shared learning experiences supported cultural awareness, confidence, creativity and a sense of belonging.
A heartfelt thank you to our whānau who generously provided delicious traditional sweets. Sharing kai together made our celebration even more special and memorable for everyone.