As part of the Chinese New Year celebrations, pupils at Our Lady’s School took part in a programme of lively and creative cultural workshops that brought the traditions of the festival to life.

The week began with a Mandarin taster session, where pupils were introduced to simple words and sounds in Mandarin Chinese. Through games and speaking activities, they enjoyed their first experience of the language while learning that the Chinese New Year is a time for fresh starts and good wishes for the year ahead.

Later in the week, the focus turned to traditional Chinese arts. Pupils created bright and decorative lanterns, discovering how lanterns are used during Chinese New Year to symbolise hope, happiness, and family reunion. They also explored the art of Chinese calligraphy, using brushes and ink to write Chinese characters and learning how this ancient practice is connected with expressing good fortune, peace, and positive wishes for the new year.

Together, these workshops gave pupils a rich and hands-on insight into both the artistic beauty and the cultural meaning of the Chinese New Year, making the celebrations both educational and memorable.