Warren Township Schools Celebrate the Year of the Monkey

Warren, NJ -- Kindergarteners at Mt. Horeb School celebrated the Year of the Monkey with a colorful parade on Feb. 9, waving handmade dragon kites and monkey masks to mark the start of the Chinese New Year.

There were drums and cymbals and a three-person Chinese dragon, a miniature version of the magnificent, multi-person dragons seen in big city parades.

At Angelo L. Tomaso School, sisters Emma and Melinda Xu (Grades K and 3, respectively), prepared and recited a new year greeting during morning announcements on Feb. 8 wishing teachers, students, and families a happy and productive 2016.

“2016 is the Year of the Monkey,” said the sisters, switching between the English and Chinese translations of the text. “In this new year, we wish that all the students will study well and grow up quickly. We wish that all the teachers will work happily and develop wonderful careers. We wish that all the parents and grandparents will live healthily and become younger. We wish that everyone’s dream will come true.”

-- By Mary Ann McGann

(Photos by Mary Ann McGann)

Photo 1: Kindergartner Katherine Zheng leads a parade through Mt. Horeb School hallways on Feb. 9 to celebrate the Chinese New Year. (Pictured with teacher Diane Harris.)

Photo 2: Mt. Horeb kindergartner Lucas Finkelstein and two classmates don a Chinese dragon costume for a Chinese New Year parade.

Photo 3: Lucas and Joseph Fazio join their kindergarten schoolmates in a Chinese New Year parade.

Photo 4: Kindergartner Mia Li keeps rhythm on a drum during a Chinese New Year parade at Mt. Horeb School.

Photo 5: Melinda and Emma Xu recited a Chinese New Year greeting during morning announcements at Angelo L. Tomaso School on Feb. 8, wishing teachers, students and families a happy and productive 2016. (Pictured with ALT Principal Kathy Bond.)