South Bay Members Teach About Chinese New Year

On February 9, we helped 400 mostly Latino students at Ygnacio Valley 

Elementary School in Concord, California, learn about and celebrate Chinese New Year.

Our team included eight volunteers (three are USCPFA members, Kenny Lin, Winny Lin, Waylee Filley)  led by Winny Lin, South Bay Chapter board member. 

The half-day event began with the school principal leading a Chinese dragon

 dance. Then we went to all 15 classrooms K-5,  to teach art, calligraphy,  and tell 

stories, such as The Legend of Chinese Dragon and The Great Race: The Story of the 

Chinese Zodiac.

Students loved it. They took notes, drew Chinese dragons and wrote auspicious

 words like good fortune 福 and spring 春. 

Best of all, every student was given a hong bao 红包 (red envelope) with lucky 

money, and learned to receive it with the Chinese display of respect —— bowing to the

 adult and accepting the envelope with both hands. The school also sent home a note 

that says first in English and then Spanish: 

At Lunar New Year, it’s a tradition for children to get the gift of a bright,

 beautiful red envelope (known as hong bao) with lucky money from their parents and 

relatives. The red color of the envelope symbolizes good luck, happiness, and 

blessing.

(Spanish) En el Año Nuevo Lunar, es tradición que los niños reciban como 

regalo un hermoso y brillante sobre rojo (conocido como Hong bao 红包）con dinero de 

la suerte de parte de sus padres y familiares. El color rojo del sobre simboliza 

buena suerte, felicidad y bendiciones. 

I think we really made an impact on the children. Thanks to Renee Terry, the 

school office manager, for working with Winny on this huge task. 

The next day Feb. 10th,(Chinese New Year’s Day),  South Bay Chapter had a 

wonderful luncheon to celebrate the Year of the Dragon at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church

 in Cupertino, California. 

About 60 people turned out to enjoy good food, a dragon dance, an impromptu 

Chinese ribbon dance and hong bao envelopes. 

Thanks to Shirley Lin Kinoshita and her husband Kim Kinoshita for their work 

and donations. Thanks also to Velma Chen for the prizes and decorations, board 

members Teresa O'Neill, George Chadwick, Jana McBurney Lin and President John 

Marienthal for all their support.

We also like to thank a new member, Waylee Filley 李蔚, for bringing about 20 

Chinese exchange students and their host families. They helped set up, clean up, with

 the program and made 200 Chinese dumplings on the spot. 

We saw old friends we hadn't seen for years, due to the pandemic, and met new

 friends. It was an impressive way to start the New Year with lots of energy.