A WINCHESTER primary school held a special new year celebration to welcome the Lunar New Year.

Pupils at Oliver’s Battery Primary and Nursery School celebrated the new year by learning all about how different cultures welcome in the new year, and learning and performing an all school Lunar New Year dance.

Headteacher Carly Redfern explained: “We have lots of different cultures in the school, and we were working with our parent body on bringing everyone together and bringing all those different traditions and cultures in.

“And one of those ideas was about new year, because everybody celebrates new year, just in a slightly different way, so it’s the Lunar New Year celebration.

Hampshire Chronicle: Pupils and teachers pose after completing the dance in the playgroundPupils and teachers pose after completing the dance in the playground (Image: Newsquest)“Each of the classes have chosen a culture of a child in their class, and that’s what they have showcased, and we are doing a whole school dance that the children have learnt as well, which is half Chinese New Year style and half just a celebration.”

The dance was performed on the school’s playground on Friday, January 20 to an audience of parents.

It was choreographed and taught to the pupils by award-winning dance school Integr8 Dance.

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Several families from Hong Kong whose children attend the school also set up craft activities for the pupils and their families to complete in the school hall, with activities ranging from making paper lanterns to decorating chains of paper rabbits.

Hampshire Chronicle: Parents and children participating in different arts and craftsParents and children participating in different arts and crafts (Image: Newsquest)The pupils also received a traditional Chinese red envelope each, containing a chocolate coin.

Deputy Mayor Cllr Angela Clear, who attended the event, said: “Being here today and seeing all the boys and girls brought back happy memories.

“And what a lovely reason to be brought together to celebrate all the different cultures!

“I just thought it was lovely, and what a brilliant idea, I hope it continues, I’m all for it; I thought it was absolutely lovely.”

Hampshire Chronicle: Deputy Mayor Cllr Angela Clear presenting a pupil with a red envelopeDeputy Mayor Cllr Angela Clear presenting a pupil with a red envelope (Image: Newquest)The event was also warmly received by several parents who attended it.

PTA chair Shona Chalmers said: “It’s been absolutely brilliant.

“It’s nice to celebrate, not just our new year, it’s nice to celebrate other culture’s new year and learn something – I’ve learned something about lots of different countries and all the Chinese food and it’s absolutely amazing.”

Chloe Jenkins, whose son Alfie attends Oliver’s Battery Primary and Nursery School, said: “It's great that they are learning about different cultures and the kids seem to be having loads of fun and learning lots of stuff.”

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The pupils also put together presentations around new year traditions that their classmates celebrate.

Hampshire Chronicle: A Oliver's Battery Primary and Nursery School student posing with a dragon puppetA Oliver's Battery Primary and Nursery School student posing with a dragon puppet (Image: Newsquest)Year 5 pupil William explained: “Me and my friends are doing Singapore.

“So, on the working wall, we’ve all made different facts and pictures about their new year celebration.”

Meanwhile, Year 6 pupil Neela said her favourite part of the event had been learning different stories from Hong Kong while drawing dragons for her class’s presentation on Chinese New Year.

Neela said: “One of my friends is from Hong Kong and she was telling me a few stories from where she comes from, the story of the nine dragons.”