IMS hosted a Lunar New Year celebration this past weekend to honor the Year of the Pig. This celebration was an opportunity for our boarding and day families to enjoy each other’s company, celebrate Chinese culture, and eat delicious food. We were especially grateful to IMS families who traveled from China to visit and make dumplings and other traditional Chinese cuisine.


According to the Chinese zodiac, people born this year are expected to have personality traits reflecting the pig, including being energetic and enthusiastic. The evening was indeed marked by energy and enthusiasm. Our Mandarin students delivered a presentation about the ways in which Chinese New Year is celebrated around the world. They also treated the community to a musical performance in Mandarin. Games were another highlight of the evening, and many of them were inspired by the Year of the Pig.


Assistant Director of Residential Life Caitlin Vaughn and Mandarin Teacher Fred Lam played integral roles in the organization of the event. Of the turnout, Mr. Lam shares, “With the excellent planning and organization of our colleagues we managed to bring the essence of the Lunar New Year to IMS. This momentous event was enjoyed by all, especially our students who got a taste of the festive cheer and immersion into Chinese culture. For Chinese students who were half a world away from home, we were able bring “home” to IMS. Events like this allow our students to share in the culture of their classmates and strengthen their ability to be more globally aware.”