Dancing Dragon Welcomes The Lunar New Year At Increase Miller

GOLDEN'S BRIDGE, NY — Students at Increase Miller Elementary rang in the Lunar New Year with a roar, with the help of some special visitors.

From the Katonah-Lewisboro School District.

Everyone gasped in surprise when the large red and gold dragon danced into Increase Miller Elementary’s gym. Wide eyes turned to giggles when the colorful creature pretended to be a puppy playing with a ball and pranced over to the students to say hello.

The February 5 assembly featuring the New York Chinese Cultural Center was an entertaining introduction to elements of Chinese culture, in anticipation of the coming Lunar New Year and launching the Year of the Dragon. It was one of the many programs throughout the year that support diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging at Increase Miller Elementary, with the support of the IMES PTO.

Many students had learned about Lunar New Year ahead of time with their teachers. Classes had made Chinese lanterns which hung by the school’s main doorway. The audience was sprinkled with red shirts as students knew that red symbolizes good fortune and joy in Chinese culture, particularly at Chinese New Year.

The students enjoyed performances of traditional dances and practiced saying Happy New Year as well as other phrases in Chinese. Seeing students join in the ribbon twirling dance was another highlight.

"I loved when the dragon came running out!" said second grader Miller Schwartz. "I knew there were two people inside the dragon because we read about it in Scholastic News," said his classmate, Graham Goodhue.

"I liked the ribbon dance," said student Madi DeVeau. "I think it looked easy but it's probably hard."

The assembly ended with another Chinese language lesson: "Xièxiè nǐ zàijiàn," the students repeated the phrase meaning, "Thank you, goodbye."