During a lively Lunar New Year celebration, second graders at Birch Lane Elementary School welcomed the district’s Mandarin Chinese teachers, Mrs. Montana and Ms. Zhang, along with their students from Berner Middle School. They taught the second grade students about Chinese language and culture. The students practiced saying common Mandarin expressions, learned how to form a few Chinese characters, practiced kung fu and made a horse puppet to mark the beginning of the Year of the Horse. The Birch Lane students left with a Lunar New Year activity packet and a richer understanding of traditions, greetings, and the importance of cultural exchange.
