Festive moods surge throughout the school as the Chinese New Year Celebrations start with a bang. Exciting events were lined up for all Rafflesians to participate in, including a potluck, concerts and contests. The Year of the Dragon has certainly put all into a lively, enjoyable spirit as Rafflesians look forward to the long holiday that follows after.
A Jovial Festival of Decorations and Treats
This year, the classrooms were adorned with a myriad of colourful decorations. The annual class decoration contest was back in full swing. Early in January, many classes already begun their work, scrambling to furnish their class with paper lanterns, dragons made from red packets,and chunlian decorations. As Chinese New Year Celebrations drew to a close, much organisation, time and effort was put into the celebrations by both students and teachers to ensure a successful event.
While Chinese New Year was indeed a great time for relaxing and indulging in food and performances, this was just the tip of the iceberg. The celebrations were a significant part of building our Rafflesian community, and required the cooperation and communication between many who were involved in the performances. Hence, we interviewed Mr Frank Fu, head of the Chinese Department, as well as Matthias Chong (3D), a student performer, to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes.
Behind the Scenes: Chinese New Year Preparations
Interview with Mr Frank Fu
Mr Frank Fu is the head of the Department of Chinese Language and was instrumental in organising the celebrations. The celebrations were meant to create a celebratory atmosphere in the school and promote Chinese culture.
Throughout the planning of the event, various departments had to work closely to ensure the success of the Chinese New Year Celebrations. This included the Festivals and Celebrations Committee, which was responsible for overseeing the overall planning and execution of the event. Teachers were assigned to different segments or duties such as ordering and distribution mandarin oranges, training emcees, coordinating students’ performances, and handling logistical planning.
There was the Estate Department, which was vital in accommodating logistical requests. The team collaborated closely with the committee and assisted with venue arrangements and setup. Even the IT Department was involved, as they were responsible for helping the numerous departments meet audio and video requirements. This ensured that the technical aspects of the event ran smoothly.
Besides the teachers and other members of staff, students were also heavily involved in the preparations for the concerts. For instance, the NCC teachers and students collaborated on the dragon dance performance, with NCC students participating in the dance and teachers providing guidance and support. Numerous students participated in a variety of performances including crosstalk, the Ke Mu San dance, quizzes, and RICO performance. They also assisted with video production and writing couplets at the beginning of the year. School leaders, as well as teachers, were also invited to be judges for the class decoration contest.
Mr Fu dancing during the CNY celebrations (Taken by RPAC)
However, as one of the main teachers in charge of the celebrations, Mr Frank Fu had to overcome several challenges in logistics and planning. Though they were quite difficult to deal with, his team managed to resolve the issues, allowing all Rafflesians to enjoy a lively, joyous and successful event.
One of the key hurdles Mr. Frank Fu faced was juggling time and organizing the event lineup. Initially, the plan was to wrap up the celebration by 10 am, perfectly syncing with the departure schedule for Chinese students and staff on the eve of the New Year. However, a snag emerged when the RICO conductor could only be available at 9.45 am. This unforeseen circumstance forced Mr. Fu’s team to recalibrate the schedule, notably moving the RICO performance from the opener to the finale. To ensure seamless transitions and maintain the event’s energy, strategic planning became paramount. Mr. Fu had to carve out time for stage setup while orchestrating elements like keeping the screen down and the stage curtain half-drawn for acts preceding the RICO performance. Despite the hurdles, their problem-solving efforts paid off, culminating in a successful concert.
In addition, close cooperation with the performers was crucial for the concert. In fact, different teachers were assigned to take charge of specific items within the celebration. For the crosstalk performance, a teacher conducted an audition with students nominated by various Chinese Language teachers. After selecting the pair, the teacher worked with them over several afternoons to prepare for the performance. While the major part of the script was drafted beforehand, amendments were made as new ideas emerged during rehearsals. As for the dragon dance, Y2 NCC cadets received a briefing, and the coach observed their performance during the initial training session to select participants. Collaboration with NCC teachers enabled the organising team to utilise their insights into the cadets’ capabilities. In each training session, a dynamic duo of teachers from the festival committee and NCC were on hand, offering invaluable guidance. Rehearsals were captured from various angles, with videos circulated among the team for feedback and fine-tuning. With three intense 2-hour sessions solely devoted to perfecting the dragon dance, students had ample opportunity to hone their skills and commit the steps to memory. This meticulous preparation guaranteed an exhilarating dragon dance performance that would captivate and delight the Rafflesian community.
Photograph of the Dragon Dance (Taken by RPAC)
Overall, there were a few elements that Mr Frank Fu noted which were essential to bringing about the success of the celebrations. Firstly, the involvement of students in various aspects of the event was crucial. Teachers worked closely with students to train them for performances such as the dragon dance and the quiz segment. This ensured that students were well-prepared and confident in their roles.
Secondly, good audience engagement was also key. This involved incorporating interactive elements such as having a prefect dressed as the god of fortune and distributing chocolates to the audience during the dragon dance entrance. Additionally, the Ke Mu San dance by Year 4 students and the teachers’ participation in the dance added excitement and kept the audience entertained.
Another crucial element was the script development and rehearsals for the emcees. Emcees collaborated on drafting engaging and culturally appropriate scripts, while teachers offered constructive feedback to enhance delivery. Through rehearsals, the emcees refined their presentation, focusing on timing, transitions, and incorporating humour to entertain the audience.
Despite the logistical hurdles encountered in organising the CNY celebrations, Mr Frank Fu and his teams experienced several memorable moments throughout the process. One notable instance was observing 14-year-old students courageously embrace this traditional dance, usually reserved for older and stronger students, which left a lasting impression. While observing their cooperation and quick adaptation skills during training, he felt pride in the students’ dedication. Another notable moment was the sight of non-Chinese students enthusiastically participating in the hosting emcees, the dragon dance and Ke Mu San performances. To Mr Fu, this exemplified the school’s commitment to inclusivity and racial harmony. In fact, the teachers even willingly and enthusiastically joined in the dance. To him, these moments of shared enjoyment among students of different backgrounds truly reflected the diversity and unity within the school community.
All in all, the organisation of the event was very fulfilling to Mr Frank Fu. While it required detailed planning with lot of coordination with different parties, the entire process was incredibly enjoyable. Some aspects of the event, such as the distribution of mandarin oranges, the classroom decoration competition, and the RICO performance, were signature elements of the Chinese New Year festivities that couldn’t be omitted. They contained hints of Chinese culture inside. Moreover, his team took pleasure in brainstorming additional elements to incorporate, with the aim of enhancing the event’s appeal and infusing it with a light-hearted atmosphere for both students and teachers. Creatively incorporating Chinese culture into the lineup of events presented a fun challenge, adding an extra layer of enjoyment to the organising process.
Photograph of Mr Yang Ji Wei conducting the Chinese Orchestra (Taken by RPAC)
Interview with Matthias Chong (3D)
Photograph of Matthias Chong Zheng Han (3D) (Taken during interview)
Chong Zheng Han Matthias Vice Chairman of 3D and Member of Raffles Chinese Orchestra played a pivotal role in CNY Preparations
Matthias Chong is a member of the CEC and plays the Guzheng in RICO.
He was one of the key leaders who stayed behind frequently to wrap up class decorations for 3D (which won 2nd place). According to him, he found it enjoyable working together to decorate the class alongside his peers. While the preparation was enjoyable, it certainly took a lot of work. Everyone had to contribute by gathering materials and stay behind for many weeks. However, although the planning was challenging and the collection of materials tedious, he discovered the decoration held significance beyond simply winning a competition.
It encompassed the class spirit, and served as a great opportunity for classmates to bond together. Despite facing challenges such as decorations not sticking on or enduring long working hours, Matthias never felt any regret. In hindsight, he felt that it allowed him to get to know his new classmates better, and it was therefore an experience that was worth the effort.
Apart from contributing to the class’ achievement of 2nd place in the decoration contest, Matthias was also actively involved in preparing for the Chinese New Year concert in RICO.
During the concert preparations, sessions when the entire Chinese Orchestra came together to practice, also known as combined) were mostly unaffected by the additional song. However, although only a small amount of time was dedicated to preparing the song, Matthias never failed to find the piece fulfilling and fun. Matthias mentioned that the preparations for the Chinese New Year piece had contributed to uniting the CCA, adding vibrancy to all members.
When RICO was on stage, Matthias found it exhilarating, especially when the school started clapping along to the lively song. It was always fulfilling for him to work towards this end goal, and the preparation filled him with excitement of celebrate the joy of Chinese New Year.
Additionally, Matthias emphasised that the CNY celebrations play a vital role in fostering a sense of community withinn the school. Festivals like these provide an opportunity for everyone to unite and enjoy themselves, with music and performances serving as bonds that connect the entire school.
Building a Rafflesian Community: The Significance of CNY Celebrations
Chinese New Year Celebrations in Raffles Institution is not just about the good food, the Chill vouchers or the festive music. They serve as a prime opportunity for Rafflesians to build a school community together.
Whether it be the potluck, the decoration contest or the concert, each Rafflesian contributes to strengthening his class spirit, and adding a little more colour to the lives of other Rafflesians across the school. The decoration contest, for instance, not only aimed to determine which class had the most impressive embellishments, but aimed to unite the class in pursuit of a shared goal. It injected a more spirit into each class, heightened the excitement across the whole school and contributed to the vibrancy of the Rafflesian community.
Even in the concert, the school had Rafflesians with different talents, with different interests coming together to make a wonderful morning to start off each and every Rafflesian’s Chinese New Year’s Eve. There were the schoolmates from NCC in the concert, as well as the members from the Chinese Orchestra. Each of the participants brought out a showcase of their own, all to bring the whole school into a festive atmosphere.
Rafflesians of different races also participated in the celebrations. Even if they did not celebrate Chinese New Year, all Rafflesians ensured that others would be included in the potluck, and in the concert. In retrospect, this celebration was meant to celebrate the cultural diversity of every Rafflesian, and to build a sense of community within the school.
That is what Chinese New Year (or at least in Raffles Institution), is all about. Happy Chinese New Year!
