School celebrates Chinese New Year along with international award

Pupils at St Wilfrid’s RC college, in Temple Park Road, South Shields, were invited to experience the taste of the Orient as they also marked scooping the British Council International Schools Award.

The Chinese-themed event included pupils enjoying traditional Chinese food and writing messages in Chinese to those who were born in the year of the monkey.

The day was made even more special following the announcement St Wilfrid’s is now recognised as a British Council International School.

The accolade was awarded to the school following an intensive nine months of work aimed at showcasing how it promotes international values to its pupils.

Abigail Simpson, geography teacher at the school, said: “The students really enjoyed celebrating the Chinese New Year and there was a real buzz around the school.

“We are so proud to have been recognised as a British Council International School, and marking the start of the Chinese New Year was part of our work promoting different cultures and values from around the world.

“It was quite intensive and there was a lot of work involved in showing how we introduce different values into our curriculum.

“We are now hoping to move to the next level of the awards programme, which will involve us making contact and building links with a school in India.

“The international schools award definitely allows our students to engage with other cultures in such a special way, enriching their minds and widening their outlook on life.”

The Chinese New Year celebrations were supported by pupils from St Gregory’s RC, who created decorations including dragons and lanterns for use in the canteen and Red Dragon Chinese restaurant in South Shields, who donated fortune cookies for students to experience the tradition.

This year, is the year of the monkey - the ninth animal in a cycle of 12 used by the Chinese.

The next year of the monkey will be in 2028.