Saint James, NY - February 10th, 2016 - Thirteen Mandarin students from Harbor Country Day School, a nonprofit independent school in St. James, performed onstage at the 2016 Chinese New Year Celebration at the prestigious Confucius Institute at Stony Brook University.
The event, which was held on February 6 at the Charles B. Wang Center, featured performances from professional Lion Dancers, acrobats, traditional Peking Opera performers and more. Harbor Country Day’s participants, who ranged in age from five to eight years old, sang three Chinese children’s songs, dressed in traditional Chinese Qipao and Qing Dynasty costumes.
Harbor Country Day School has offered Mandarin to its students since 2012. This year, Harbor partnered with the Confucius Institute, forming the Confucius Corner at Harbor Country Day School. With this partnership, Harbor’s students are given unique opportunities to enhance their study of the Mandarin language with enriching cultural events such as the Chinese New Year Celebration.
“Harbor Country Day is delighted to have been able to join the Confucius Institute’s Chinese New Year Celebration for the second year in a row,” said Harbor Country Day‘s Head of School, John Cissel.
“In everything we do at Harbor, we strive to find that perfect balance between academics, character-building and cherishing childhood. Our Mandarin program perfectly strikes that balance, as it challenges children to learn a complex language, opens their eyes to rich and diverse cultural experiences and enables them to participate in joyful activities like this.”
About Harbor Country Day School
Founded in 1958 by conscientious parents, Harbor Country Day School is an independent, co-educational day school for children from preschool through eighth grade situated in St. James’ Village of Head of the Harbor. The school employs a whole-child approach to education, wherein its rigorous curriculum is supported by a broad program in its academic, athletic, advisory, and visual and performing arts departments designed to develop all aspects of each child's talents and interests.
Harbor Country Day School’s summer camp program, Camp Harbor, is among the leading summer camp programs on Long Island. The school’s mission to “cherish childhood, cultivate wonder, and inspire confident learners and leaders” underscores every child’s experience at Harbor Country Day School and ensures that all of its graduates are prepared to lead fulfilling lives filled with wonder, confidence and many successes.
Harbor Country Day School is chartered by the New York State Board of Regents and is accredited by and a member of the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS). It is a non-sectarian, nonprofit organization under section 501(c) (3) of the IRS Code governed by a self-perpetuating board of trustees.