When traditions come alive - CNY @ TCK

Chinese New Year at TCK has never been a “sit down and watch” kind of event.

It’s a tradition we’ve kept for years—parents showing up, grandparents coming along, families gathering close. Not just for the photos, but for the shared experience. The kind that feels familiar the moment you step in: the buzz, the red, the little ones peeking out from behind teachers, the older children trying to look calm when you can tell their hearts are thumping with excitement.

And that’s the thing about tradition. It’s comforting. It’s predictable in the best way.

But it’s also doing something deeper.

It’s a space where children learn to say thank you with their whole selves. Where they practise honour. Where they speak blessings—not because they were told to, but because they’ve seen it modelled. Where family ties get strengthened in the middle of noise, laughter, and a room full of tiny voices.

From our youngest two-year-olds to our confident six-year-olds, every child had a part to play.

The little ones stood bravely to sing and move. Sometimes off-beat, sometimes forgetting the next action, but always giving it their best. Their small voices filled the room with oversized joy and parents beamed with pride.

The older children carried themselves with a kind of poise that makes you pause. They delivered greetings and performed with confidence that didn’t appear overnight. You could see the growth not just in skill, but in courage.

Then came the quieter moments.

Chinese calligraphy. Some children held their tongues between their teeth in deep concentration. Parents leaned in, watching closely. Some recorded. Some simply sat still and took it in.

In those minutes, patience and heritage met at the same table.

Traditional games sparked laughter. Crafts brought bright red cheer into the classrooms. And then, one of the most tender moments of the day:

Children holding out oranges with two hands, offering New Year greetings to their parents and grandparents.

The room softened as respect was embodied.

An orange passed from child to elder can look like a small thing.

But in that exchange, there’s a whole world: Gratitude expressed. Blessings shared. Relationships strengthened.

That’s why Chinese New Year at TCK isn’t just a festive event.

It’s formation.

Formation of character. Formation of confidence. Formation of culture made visible, made real, made memorable.

To all our families who joined us, your presence told your child, “You matter. Your effort matters.”

And in that shared moment, we did more than welcome a new year.

We nurtured the ties that will carry them into the years ahead.

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