Celebrating Year of the Horse

Our AMAZING Lunar New Year celebration took place on Sunday 1 March, here at Pate’s. It was another fabulous event, with stalls, lots of food and great performances from our Mandarin learners, plus incredible dance, music and song provided by the Chinese Culture Connection and Juju Dance Workshop (run by Patesian parents), and hot food provided by Cheltenham’s 288 Bar and Wok. Culminating in an incredible professional lion dance, which really was a show in itself, we welcomed in the Year of the Horse in exceptional style! Thank you so much to all the performers, stall holders and guests for all you did to make this event such a memorable cultural delight.

Year 12 Pate’s student Elianna said,
“This year’s Chinese New Year celebration at school was an enjoyable and lively event that allowed students to experience different aspects of Chinese culture. I was one of the Mandarin speakers for the second half of the programme, which gave me the opportunity to help guide the audience through part of the event.

One of the highlights was the variety of food available. There were many different options for students and staff to try, which made the event more engaging and allowed people to experience different Chinese dishes.  The performances were also a key part of the celebration. The dances were visually pleasing and enjoyable to watch, creating a festive atmosphere. In particular, the lion dance was very interactive and involved the audience, which made it one of the most exciting parts of the event.

The event was organised very smoothly by the teachers. As speakers, we were given a clear running order, so everyone always knew what was happening next. This helped the programme run efficiently and meant there was very little confusion during the event.  It was also great to see non-native Mandarin speakers demonstrating their language skills, especially the Year 11 Chinese class. Their participation showed enthusiasm for learning the language and helped create an inclusive and supportive atmosphere during the celebration.

Overall, the event was a successful and enjoyable celebration that brought students together and allowed the school community to appreciate Chinese culture.”

Pate’s parent Jasmine, who was key to the organisation of this year’s event, said,
“On behalf of the parent group, I would like to extend our warmest congratulations to you for the incredible success of last Sunday’s LNY celebration. It was a truly spectacular event, and it was clear to everyone how much hard work and heart you put into the planning and coordination. We also want to express our sincere gratitude for the school’s continued support of diverse cultural activities. It means a lot to our families to see these traditions celebrated so vibrantly within the school community.”