FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 11, 2021
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Adriana Rodriguez
646-241-9805
arodriguez@desalesmedia.org
John Quaglione
718-576-9180
jquaglione@desalesmedia.org
ST. MICHAEL CATHOLIC ACADEMY TO CELEBRATE CHINESE NEW YEAR AS PART OF THEIR CELEBRATION OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK
WHO: St. Michael’s Catholic Academy School Community
WHAT: Chinese New Year Celebration as part of Catholic Schools Week
Classes throughout the building PKA through Grade 8 will celebrate the Chinese culture on this day. This year is the Year of the Ox.
WHERE: St. Michael’s Catholic Academy, 136-58 41st Avenue, Flushing, New York
WHEN: Friday, February 12, 2021, 10:00 A.M.
Background:
For 170 years, St. Michael’s has welcomed immigrant families in the heart of downtown Flushing. Our immigrant population has shifted from predominantly European/Hispanic, to Asian, primarily Chinese. The school’s most recent census indicates that it student body is almost 70% Asian while maintaining a significant Hispanic population slightly under 30%.
In 2012 the academy applied for admission and was accepted to the TWIN-CS (Two Way Immersion Network for Catholic Schools) with the Roche Center for Catholic Education at Boston College. Since 2013, the school has offered a language immersion program with Mandarin. Presently all grades kindergarten through grade 8 offers instruction in the Mandarin language. PKA students are introduced to basic concepts in Mandarin.
The school is following all the health guidelines, and restrictions for social distancing, and therefore, celebrations will be within each grade level cohort and not a group assembly as in previous years. The teachers have been creative in their choice of grade-appropriate activities.
Here are the class activities as scheduled for presentation tomorrow:
PKA has focused on Chinese artwork.
Kindergarten and Grade 1 learned about the importance of the Chinese zodiac animals and will perform a traditional Chinese New Year Song.
Grade 2 has learned about the Chinese culture and the importance of food in relation to the geographic regions, as well as the importance of family gatherings and eating together. The class also learned how to make dumplings.
Grade 3 made lanterns and compared American New Year with the Chinese New Year.
Grade 6-8 infused the Chinese culture in their academic studies-the Silk Road in China, and interpreting how Confucius’ wisdom can be applied to their lives.
Students are encouraged to wear red on Friday or other Chinese clothing to celebrate the New Year. Members of the media interested in attending must RSVP to jquaglione@desalesmedia.org.
All photography will be taken from outside each classroom to maintain the safety of the school community.
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