Welcoming the Year of the Tiger

 

Brendon Fulton

Master

 

My favourite thing about being an educator is the endless discovery. There is just so much out there to learn. I keep being reminded of this when we celebrate Chinese festivals at Wellington. This is the first time my family and I will celebrate Chinese New Year, and these past two weeks have really stoked my sense of curiosity.

I have loved seeing the big red lanterns hanging in our trees and the tiger slippers neatly lined up in our lobby. From the lion dances and martial arts performances to the unique handicrafts, exploring the Temple Fair with our pupils in years 4–13 early today filled me with a sense of wonder and awe. It has been a true joy to learn about many of the ancient customs and rich traditions of my new host country. They are, in many ways, so different from my own yet so much the same in one very important way: the sharing of good times with people we care about.

I noticed that this sense of sharing and cultural curiosity is alive and well in our pupils, too. Our youngest learners participated in their own mini-Temple Fair at our Early Years Centre and tried their hand at Chinese opera mask painting and delicate paper cutting. Meanwhile, our pupils in years 1 through 3 put on a spectacular performance of music and dance. They took to the stage with the Courage of tigers. It was so inspiring! More importantly, it was wonderful to see children from such a diversity of countries being fully open to new experiences. They expressed mutual Respect as they engaged in such meaningful and enriching cultural exchange. I am convinced that such activities will pay off with massive dividends as they grow up.  

It also fills me with great pride to see our community put the Wellington Value of Kindness into practice this holiday season. Our pupils in Nursery to year 5 channeled their creative energy into charitable action with Friends of Wellington's annual pupil art auction. Our parents bid on several original Chinese New Year-themed works, which raised 51,600 RMB for Stepping Stones, a non-profit organisation that helps to provide English and digital literacy education to disadvantaged pupils in Shanghai and in rural areas throughout China. I, too, bid on a work and it will be on display in the College soon!

I wish you all a restful break as you celebrate the New Lunar Year with family and friends. Let us all look ahead to a happy, healthy and prosperous Year of the Tiger.
 

In case you missed any of our on-campus festivities, we hope you enjoyed some of our pictures and video from this year. Click 'read more' below for more from our Chinese New Year 2022 gallery.