Page 12—SUSQUEHANNA TIMES Celebrating the Chinese New Year: Top row, left to right: Coby Waltman, Frank Smith, Kevin Duffany, Patty Sauder, Tom Anspach, Kevin Fitzpatrick, and Mike Snyder; seated are Jim Prowell, Beahm teacher; Mrs. Kids celebrate Chinese new year with chopsticks The kids enjoyed it, and so did everyone else who came to visit Mrs. Wei- gard’s class at Beahm Junior High; the food was great. One visiting teacher had trouble with the chopsticks. ‘Are you supposed to cut the noodles with these things?’’ he asked. *‘I mean, how are you supposed to do it?”’ The teacher was full of questions. Did the chop- sticks get washed, or thrown out? Had our reporter tried the mandarin oranges? “They’re very tasty. In fact,” he mused, ‘‘this whole thing is amazing. Mrs. Weigard is an excel- lent teacher. What do you call these noodle things?” Mrs. Weigard and her class put a great deal of work into the New Year celebration; one of the kids greeted each visitor, and printed rice paper napkins were available. Tiny um- brellas and chopsticks were given away. Mrs. Weigard’s story follows. -Ed. by Hazel Weigard It is the year 4676—in China, and it is the Year of the Horse. Unlike our American New Year, the Chinese New Year falls on the second new moon following the winter sol- stice and is celebrated for two weeks. Although the students of Sections 7H and 8H at Beahm Junior High School celebrated it belatedly on Friday (due to a number of snow days), they observed it well. Red crepe paper stream- ers and lanterns decorated the room, and the students invited members of the faculty, administration, and building personnel to share some of their experiences of the past month. In a rare departure from the basic studies of their curriculum, these boys and girls took a close look at two countries of the Orient—Japan and China—and their exper- iences were numerous and diversified. One such experience was a visit from Mrs. Harue Paters, a native-born Chin- ese who now resides in Lancaster. She taught the students origami, oriental dances, the gentle art of eating with chopsticks, and how to write numbers from one to 12. A second visitor, Mr. Amos Herr, former history teacher at Hemp- field High School and a world traveler, showed slides and artifacts from Japan. Another experience was that of learning Chinese calligraphy (beautiful writ- ing), simultaneously inter- esting and frustrating since the characters are written from top to bottom and from right to left, using a brush and sumi (ink) rather than pen or pencil. After students wrote short sen- tences in English, they ““brushed’’ the correspond- ing Chinese ideographs taken from a calligraphy chart. Because great store is set by the sons born to Oriental families, Boy’s Day is celebrated on May 5th by flying a carp kite in front of each family dwel- ling housing a son. The carp, the Japanese believe, is strong and courageous as he swims upstream, traits they pray their sons will ‘Janice Frazer, psychologist from 1.U. 13; and R . 4 F. Hallgren, schools superintendent. Seated in front are Bobby Pardoe, Carla Zink, Mrs. Weigard, Cindy Beaston, and Clara Zink. possess. In keeping with this tradition, students made green and orange paper carp kites which hung like a giant catch on display. Other impressions came from filmstrips, films, reading and discussion, music and art, and as they moved toward the culmina- tion of the unit, students made cover designs for the invitations and prepared some of the foods on the menu for the New Year Celebration which included chow mein noodle appeti- zer, mandarin oranges, Wonton soup, Chinese chews, almond cookies, and black tea. Continuing the Oriental theme, chopsticks were the only eating utensils furnished. A dis- play table featured, among various items, an abacus and cloth which once hung in a Chinese temple. So, for Sections 7H and 8H, the past month was filled with the flavors and feelings of two exotic cultures found half a world away. If one student was able to sense the human link connecting him to all other citizens of the world, it was a month well spent. Perhaps, after all, in looking more closely at others, we may better understand ourselves. available at the door. Bonnie Wolgemuth, above, plays a leading role in “Pillow Talk,” the DHS junior class play being presented this Friday and Saturday at 8:00 PM. Tickets are March 1, 1978 Poetry contest Two win out of field of two The Times got a limited number of entries in the Poetry Contest we told our readers about last week: just two entries. One is from B. Loercher, 314 W. High Street in Manheim; the other is from Kathy Milovanovic, 206 Ziegler St., Mount Joy. We couldn’t make up our minds which was better, so both will get the prize of a subscription to the Susquehanna Magazine. Here are the poems. by Kathy Milovanovic George Washington—great father of our land. Fought Indians in battle, against the English took a stand. George Washington—hero famous to us all. When the country needed him, he did not fail its call. George Washington—he never told a lie. What shame that when we honor him, we think of Cherry Pie! by B. Loercher February 22, 1732; born to lead, to build, to do. Founded a nation, united and free; governed by a system called democracy. Set the standards so others would know, how this country should blossom and grow. The credit, George, on you we lay, remembered annually on this your day. ...and Mr. Wittell adds one Chester Wittell also sent a poem about George Washington at Valley Forge. This entry was not eligible for the contest for three reasons: first, it’s too long; second, it's not about Washington’s birthday; and third, it’s by Chester Wittell, and thus cannot be judged fairly against the work of Chester Wittell. [The reader will recall that the purpose of the contest was to see if anyone could top him.] Mr. Wittell sent us his poem prefaced by a note saying that he had stumbled across the work while riffling through an old volume of early poems, and thought it ‘might be of interest.”’ He added that he did not wish to ‘‘butt”’ into the contest, because it would be more interesting to ‘‘see what - happens.”’ His poem is reprinted below. Whipped by the bitter wind, the whirling snow Ermined the vale with rolling dunes of white, While sleepless and alone through all the night He knew the fear that only brave men know. The campfires glimmered with a feeble glow; The nude trees shivered, numb with wintry blight; As, sad and worn, he walked without a light, Because there was no other way to go. Yet louder than the wind, though but a dream, In phantom strains that none but he would hear, The trump of urgency evoked a theme, Bidding defiance to defeat and fear; So we might witness tyranny’s surcease And know the boon of liberty and peace. Oldtimers wanted at Jaycee & Joycee-ette banquet The Mount Joy Joycee- ettes and Jaycees are making preparations for their annual 75 Plus Banquet to be held at Hostetter’s Dining Hall on Thursday, June 8th, at 5:30 PM. The organizations are now seeking the names of persons who are eligible to attend this year’s banquet. Persons who will be at least 7S years old by June 10 and who either now live or have lived at a Mount ‘Joy mailing address are eligible to attend. Those who have pre- viously received an invita- tion will automatically get another this year. If you, or some one you know, is eli- gible but has never gotten an invitation, call Sandy Rossman at 653-5868.
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