Lunar New Year Celebrated At West Orange High School (PHOTOS)

WEST ORANGE, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the West Orange Public School District. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

The Year of the Snake was celebrated at the annual Chinese Lunar New Year Gala, held at West Orange High School on Jan. 24.

Students in the Chinese programs at Roosevelt and Liberty Middle Schools and West Orange High School worked with their instructors to create the program, which featured arts and crafts organized by the Chinese Club and Honor Society, dinner, and performances highlighting Chinese culture and history. WOHS art students entered the Year of the Snake art contest sponsored by the Chinese Club and created art in various forms. The artwork was displayed at the Gala. Ms. Dongmei Li instructed her classes to create beautiful folk art titled "The White and Blue Porcelain Vases". Her students also did cultural research on Chinese New Year Traditions and created posters to show at the Gala.

Additional support was provided by United Asian Voices of West Orange, along with several local vendors.

WOHS Mandarin instructor Yajing Li helped to facilitate the colorful evening, along with emcees Andrew Chan, Nicole Ng, Karissa Rivers, Michal Simon, Aidan Watt, and Gianna Zhang. World Languages Supervisor Felix Plata welcomed students, parents, and community members along with Superintendent Hayden Moore, WOHS Principal Oscar Guerrero, and Mayor Susan McCartney.

Performances ranged from the traditional Dragon Dance by Roosevelt Middle School students, animal interpretations by Liberty Middle School, a fan dance, Chinese opera, Kung-Fu, K-Pop dance by Elixir, classical music, and Crowd Dance by high school students. The White Snake Dance, specially interpreted by the WOHS Dance Honor Society program, was a highlight of the evening. Graduating seniors were recognized.

Ms. Li wanted to additionally thank Chinese instructors Ms. Dongmei Li, Ms. Chiaohan Yu, Mr. Theodore McGurrin, Chinese Club members, students in the Chinese programs, grades 7-12, Supervisor Felix Plata, Superintendent Hayden Moore, Principal Oscar Guerrero, Mayor McCartney, Asian Culture Club members Fannie Chan-Jarvis, Janice Morillo, Leizyl Somoza, Connie Kam, Marc and Mai Joaquin, Sage Gajarawala, and many of the children of these members.

Raffle baskets were donated by families in high school Chinese classes and UAV provided desserts from 'Sweet Orange Bakes' vs 'Sweet Orange'.Children received traditional "hongbao" gifts of red envelopes filled with money.

All profits from the evening will provide scholarships for graduating WOHS students who studied Chinese language and culture to the highest level available.

Video filmed by Lauren Grof-Tisza

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