Harbor Country Day Students Join Chinese New Year Celebration

Nineteen students from Harbor Country Day School took the stage on Saturday, February 9 at the Charles B. Wang Center to perform in the Confucius Institute at Stony Brook University’s 2019 Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration.

The first, third, and fourth graders from Harbor Country Day sang two songs to the sold-out crowd of more than 200 people. The students sang “Let the World be Full of Love” and “Learn to Meow,” both entirely in Mandarin. Other performers included solo and group vocalists, dance groups, and an actress and acrobat who juggled and demonstrated tricks with a Chinese yo-yo.

This year marks the fifth year the independent school has participated in the annual ceremony. Harbor was the only elementary school to participate this year, owing in part to the school’s strong partnership with the Confucius Institute. Mandarin teacher Hong Li Snyder cherishes the relationship.

“We are grateful to the Confucius Institute for inviting us to participate in its Chinese New Year Celebration once again. This performance is an unforgettable experience for our students,” said Mrs. Snyder. “I truly believe that it helps to motivate our students in their study of the language by giving them something to work toward every year. Audience members have told me that our students’ pronunciations are so good that if they closed their eyes, they couldn’t tell that the singers were non-native speakers. That is the highest compliment these children can receive.”

Harbor Country Day Head of School John Cissel added: “I am constantly impressed by the level of dedication and mastery Mrs. Hong’s students demonstrate, both during grand events like this and during everyday lessons in the classroom. As our Mandarin program continues to grow in size and breadth, we look forward to maintaining our relationship with the Confucius Institute, so we can continue to provide wonderful opportunities for our students to expand their understanding of the Mandarin language and Chinese culture outside the classroom.”

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 8th 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. For more information, visit www.hcdsny.org.