Plymouth College celebrates Chinese New Year

Published: 24 January, 2012

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Plymouth College celebrated the Chinese New Year in style with a colourful lantern procession around the school grounds.  The lanterns were made in after-school club, Art Extra.     

To honour the Year of the Dragon, pupils and staff created a large dragon from willow rods covered with coloured tissue paper.  Taking five months to design and construct, the dragon was built in sections allowing the team to do a little bit each week.  The sections were fitted together and mounted on poles so it could be carried.  The dragon was articulated so that it could turn corners and go up and down stairs during the procession.

Parents, Mr and Mrs Yung, of KW Brothers Ltd, Wholesale Foods, loaned the school a 'real' Chinese dragon for the procession, which also included a series of red lanterns with New Year wishes written in Chinese. 

As well as members of Art Extra, a number of other pupils took part in the procession including some of the school's Chinese students, who played percussion instruments and a Chinese drum throughout the event.

"The lanterns were very colourful and the dragon was particularly fun to make", said art teacher, Dana Roberts.  "The procession was really lively and it was great to see so many pupils get involved."

Earlier in the day pupils enjoyed a Chinese lunch with a choice of main courses, rice dishes, noodles and prawn crackers on offer.  The dining room was festooned with traditional Chinese decorations.