February 14 2019 saw the welcoming of the Chinese New Year at St.George's School. A celebration was held for the school's Chinese community to share the festive merriment with everyone else in the school.
His Excellency the Right Reverand Bishop Cornelius Sim, President of the School Board of Governors, Yang Berhormat Awang Ong Tiong Oh, member of the Brunei Legislative Council, members of the School Board of Governors, Officers from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Religious Affairs, invited guests, parents and students were present to celebrate the joyous event together.
In his speech, Principal Janidi Jingan, informed that the Chinese New Year has been the most important Chinese festival over thousand of years and is also a family-reunion festival most cherished by the Chinese people. At St. George's School, the Chinese students represent about 20% of the school population. He further stated that oftentimes he was asked why festivals like Chinese New Year and Hari Raya were celebrated at the school, to which he answered that St. George's School prides itself with its multiracial staff and students. It is with this belief that a school is the best venue to expose students of different cultural and religious backgrounds to share and understand other cultures and traditions from their own. It provides students with an awareness on the importance of understanding the various festivals and customs of other races better, thus generating mutual respect. Such celebrations is part of the school's ongoing effort to promote tolerance, understanding and respect amongst our students, and which will leave an indelible mark in their lives, of which they will appreciate, cherish and remember in years to come.
A welcoming dance by secondary students warmly greeted the audience. Other highlights of the celebration were dances such as The Cats Meow by kindergarten students, Paper Cut Dancing Girls by primary students, Grand Celebration of Prosperity by secondary students, Chinese New Year songs 'Chai Shen Dao' by Abigail Calimbas Olayvar of Year 3A and Happened to Meet You by secondary students.
Mandarin oranges were offered to the guests and excited kindergarteners later went on stage to receive 'ang pow' packets from the esteemed guests. The celebration was made merrier with the Lion Dance performance by St. George's School own lion dance troupe after which the invited guests, parents, teachers and students were treated to some refreshment.
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