The Chinese New Year, based on the Chinese lunar calendar, was celebrated in January this year, before we started back at school. There are 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac, all associated with certain character traits, and the featured animals alternate on a yearly basis. 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit, so in Room 19 we painted our papier-mâché rabbit red.

We had already drawn around our hands and coloured them in for a wall display, so we used the same hands, reduced in size on the photocopier, to decorate our classroom rabbit.

Here's what the children have to say about the classroom rabbit:

I like our rabbit because it says 2023 because it is 2023. - Saif

I like that we celebrated Chinese New Year because I am Chinese. - Joanna

I like our rabbit because it is cute and colourful - Sam, Rebecca, Lauren, Maia, Dasha, Sophia

I like how we used our hands to make the rabbit's fur. - Carmen, Zacharia, Bo, Max, Mila, Lucy, Ellie

When you come in, in the morning, you'll always have company. - Harper

I like our rabbit because it is painted red. - Zachariah

We have our hands on the rabbit and they are beautiful hands. - Matthew

I like our hands because they are pretty. - Aiden

I like the rabbit because it is pretty. - Jasmine

I like how smooth the rabbit is. - Leo, Maia

When the teacher isn't here he keeps us company. - Ava

J'aime le lapin 2023 parce que il y a plein de main colore de tout les couleures. - Gabin (I like the 2023 rabbit because there are lots of hands of all colours)

According to PureWow wellbeing website, rabbits are quick, but gentle creatures that approach challenges creatively. "2023 will be a year when thoughtful action is rewarded more than huge risks. It will also be important this year to have regular check-ins with our emotions and to genuinely feel our feelings." 

We are already 3 months into our year but we wish you a rewarding remainder of the year.