Students from Freeport Public Schools' Leo F. Giblyn, Columbus Avenue, Archer Street and Bayview Avenue Elementary Schools celebrated the Year of the Tiger by learning about Chinese traditions.
At Giblyn, the Mandarin Club, advised by Ms. Mengshi Li, celebrated by making traditional Chinese dumplings filled with shrimp, corn, breadcrumbs and special seasonings. Students learned how to fill and fold the dumplings and were then given a lesson on using chopsticks before cooking and enjoying their culinary creations. Students also celebrated with a school-wide Lunar New Year parade. Students from Ms. Christa Vetack's first grade class were chosen to walk the dragon down the hallways of the school as students cheered and traditional Chinese music filled the air.
At Columbus, kindergarteners from Ms. Tracy Filipowksi's and Ms. Karen Haynes's class welcomed the Chinese New Year by creating dragon masks and learning about the Year of the Tiger.
Students at Archer Street Elementary School celebrated with several different lessons and activities. Fourth grade students in Mrs. Justine Cotillo's class researched why red envelopes are given out during the Chinese New Year celebrations, the traditions that take place for the celebration and what lanterns signify. Ms. Nicole Gomes's first grade class read, Goldy Luck and the 3 Pandas and compared it to the story, Goldilocks and the 3 Bears. Third graders in Mrs. Cristal Levine's class were given fortune cookies, taught how to use chopsticks and learned about the Chinese New Year and culture.
Bayview Avenue students in Ms. Cara Tucciarone's fourth grade class created Chinese lanterns to celebrate the Year of the Tiger. After learning about the traditions of the Lunar New Year celebration, the students worked diligently to color and build the lanterns.