Chinese New Year Celebration (16 Feb 2011)

Report by Jenna Lee Qian Yee (Sec 4 Resilience)

The school's Chinese New Year celebration event this year gets my thumbs-up.

Our guest-of-honour this year is Mr Devin Otto Kimble who is a member of the Board of Trustees. In keeping with the spirit of the Hwa Chong family, Mr Kimble's arrival was ceremoniously announced by the drum roll of our school's lion dance troupe, which could be heard echoing throughout the multi-purpose hall, the venue of the celebration.

Mr Koh Chin Nguang, our principal, gave the school a short but meaningful speech on the need to remember our Chinese traditions.  This was followed by a symbolic opening of the celebration by Mr Kimble through the unveiling of two Chinese calligraphic couplets written by our art teacher Mr Lawrence Leow.  Our two lovely emcees, Pui Yee and Shi Jia wowed the audience with their melodious recital of the poem titled, 'New hopes for a new year'. It must have taken them much practice to put up such a sterling performance on stage.  The student performances that followed such as the song and dance items and instrumentals were outstanding. I was totally captivated by my talented schoolmates.

The game, 'Guess Who Am I?' blew me away.  It was hilarious when we had to guess the teacher hidden behind the big doll mask over their heads. Many students took their chances but not many could guess it right.  Our teachers must have been really good actors to stump so many of us.  A lucky draw capped the celebration with the winners walking away hearty and happy. My favourite of all was the performance put up by the school lion dance troupe. It was heart-stopping to see the performers leaping from chair to pole and back again which was no mean feat.

The programme was so much fun and entertainment, it was thoroughly enjoyable for me. The various performances were a good showcase of the extent of effort the teachers and student organisers had put in to make it a success.  I can't wait for the next celebration next year.


新开端，新展望 文：4R 楼思易

中国的正月总是伴随着春天走近的步伐，故农历新年的到来满含着春的喜悦。在中华文化中，新年更是一年中家人团圆，走亲访友的日子，人们分享过去一年的经历，诉说对新一年的憧憬和期待。2月2日上午，华中国际学校的师生们齐聚一堂，辞别旧岁，迎接崭新的兔年。

校长的新年致辞拉开了迎春活动的序幕。许进源校长少时与今夕对于"年"的感触与变化的话，让我们愈加感激父母，亦勾起我们各自内心关于新年的记忆。其间对于新年的见解更让人再三品味：旧年所经历的都成为过去，新的一年是新的起点，可这并不意味着对之前的放弃，而是更好的开始。

随后大会主宾Mr. Devin Otto Kimble（金博先生）揭下舞台正中的大红幕布，许多可爱的兔子与新年的祝福语映入眼帘，迎春活动正式开始。新年歌曲烘托出浓浓的节日氛围；热辣的现代舞体现出华中国际学校学生的青春与朝气；单簧管独奏、歌舞表演也给人留下了深刻的印象。更有三名同学带来的武术表演，精湛的中国功夫让台下同学叫好连连，掌声阵阵；而舞狮作为历年庆祝的保留节目，又一次让人感受到春节的喜庆气氛。

不光是载歌载舞的表演，活动中还穿插了趣味横生的互动游戏。新春知识抢答让学校中许多外国同学对于春节文化习俗有了更深的了解，而"我猜我猜我猜猜猜"这一环节将整个联欢活动推向了高潮。游戏规则简单，需要同学们猜出乔装打扮的老师究竟是谁。每每有老师上台，台下总是纷纷议论，同学们都努力的猜测到底是哪位老师。有几位老师可真难坏了同学们，在许多轮猜测之后才成功让老师摘下面具。

活动在老师们的合唱《春风吻上我的脸》中接近尾声。每个同学脸上都洋溢着幸福激动的神情，与身上红色的衣服相映成趣。春节庆祝活动掀开了新的一页，相信在新的一年当中华中国际学校的老师同学一定会书写出更加精彩的篇章！