Montrose Messenger
January 20, 2022
I hope this newsletter finds you renewed and ready for the year ahead.
Montrose is busy, busy, busy!
We celebrated the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King by reading about his life and decorating luminaries for the Community Coalition on Race's annual luminary lighting. Each student decorated a bag in their own way. The bags were then collected and became part of the South Orange Maplewood Community Coalition on Race's MLK Luminary Project.
In addition to learning about Dr. King's life and legacy, the goal was for SOMA to be lit up as a sign of hope, sanctuary, peace, and solidarity with Dr. King’s vision of the Beloved Community.
Gong Hei Fat Choy! ("Wishing You Great Happiness and Prosperity!")
The Lunar New Year starts on January 22. It is the Year of the Rabbit.
Please join us in celebrating the Chinese New Year by having your child wear something red on Monday, January 23. We will share facts about this celebration, create symbols of the holiday and read Happy Holidays!: Lunar New Year, and Round Is a Mooncake: A Book of Shapes
We will discuss some of the following facts:
The Chinese new year lasts for 15 days
Red symbolizes being lucky
Families decorate their front doors with a special poem called ”Spring Couplet.” The couplet is painted on red paper. It wishes people a happy and prosperous new year
The traditional Food: dumplings
On New Year’s Eve, the whole family makes dumplings together. They eat them at midnight the start of the New Year.
The next day they make more dumplings for the New Year
Family Engagement in Cultural Experiences
If you or a trusted adult would like to share a cultural experience with your child's class or multiple classes, please reach out to your child's teacher to let us know. We would love to continue learning and experiencing!
Montrose Early Childhood Center
Email: bsamuels@somsd.k12.nj.us
Website: somsd.k12.nj.us/montrose
Location: 356 Clark Street, South Orange, NJ, USA
Phone: 973-378-2086