News

With the arrival of the first light snowfall, winter deepens in New England, bringing with it a serene and quiet beauty. On December 7, 2024, a perfect day for gathering with family and friends by the fire, watching the snow, and sharing warm conversation, the New Legacy Cultural Center (NLCC) and Lexington Community Education (LCE) joyfully hosted the Mandarin Glow Year-End Party at the Clarke Middle School auditorium in Lexington. The event opened with excitement and concluded on a high note.

The celebration was hosted bilingually in Chinese and English by NLCC board member Omar Khudari and six students ranging from second grade to middle school. As representatives of the hosting organizations, Craig Hall, Director of Lexington Community Education, and Ting Fang, Executive Director of the New Legacy Cultural Center, introduced their respective organizations and highlighted key annual activities.
The entire NLCC Board of Directors attended the event, including Omar Khudari, Event Coordinator Hong Zhang, Director Dan Yuan, and members Jing Wang, Elizabeth Xu, and Lei Zhu. Led by Newton School Committee member and NLCC Advisory Board Director Anping Shen, the board presented appreciation certificates to partner organizations.

The celebration welcomed distinguished guests and community partners, including Harrington Elementary School Principal Jackie Daley, Indian Association of Lexington Chair Archana Singhal, IAL Education Committee Chair and Lex250 Committee Vice Chair Mona Roy, Community Endowment of Lexington Co-chair and CAAL Executive Committee Member Yifang Gong, Council on Aging Chair John Zhao, Lexington Human Rights Committee Chair Christina Lin, Lexington Lyceum Advocates Board Member Meghan Muckenhoupt, Lexington Historical Society Board Member and the founder and former president of the Association of Black Citizens of Lexington (ABCL) Sean Osborne, Lexington Lyceum Advocates Board Member Sabina Clark, and Darlene Wigton, lead Colonial Dancer with the Lexington Historical Society.
The celebration began vibrantly as two dragons danced their way onto the stage, brought to life by the NLCC Little Dragon Team and community partners. The energetic drumming by the NLCC Core team set the festive tone, pushing the excitement to its peak. Performances throughout the event showcased songs, dances, recitations, skits, and more. Students from the performance club and Mandarin classes shone on stage—some innocent and playful, others graceful and poised. Different faces and diverse hair colors united through one language to express joy and excitement.

Highlights included The Tale of the 12 Zodiac Animals, a short skit where young actors brought a beloved Chinese folktale to life with exaggerated flair; a lively drum and traditional Chinese music quartet featuring seamless coordination between the guzheng and drums; Climbing Spring Hills, a children’s choir that evoked imagery of blossoming pear trees in spring; and Mona Lisa, a dynamic volunteer street dance performance blending art and movement.

The variety of performances rich in cultural elements brought joy to the audience while showcasing the hard work and dedication of NLCC students, staff, and teachers. Special recognition was given to the four leading teachers who arrived early to prepare, overcoming personal challenges such as family responsibilities and health concerns. With patience, perseverance, and love, they led over 50 young performers of varying personalities to deliver a flawless two-hour show. This effort embodies NLCC’s vision of inspiring children to love learning Mandarin and Chinese culture through joyful experiences.
The celebration also served as a recognition ceremony for volunteers and performers. This year, five NLCC volunteers received the President’s Volunteer Service Award, and many young performers were honored with the NLCC Star medal. Principal Yingying Cui of the NLCC Education Department also presented special awards to teachers and teaching volunteers, inspiring everyone to look ahead to the future while reflecting on the past year’s achievements.

Post-performance interactive activities were a hit with the children. Freshly made tanghulu (candied hawthorn), jianbing guozi (savory pancakes), crispy sesame balls, and sweet milk tea brought back nostalgic childhood flavors for many attendees. The Go exhibition table, a highlight of the event, drew eager participants captivated by the ancient strategic black-and-white stones on the 19x19 board. At the Mandarin exhibit, delicate calligraphy penned by young learners told stories of cultural heritage. Meanwhile, the student class project showcase featured charming depictions of the world through children’s eyes—innocent, hopeful, and full of kindness.

The event also received active participation from the public school Mandarin program. Both middle schools contributed performances and showcased information about their Mandarin language courses.
As the year comes to a close and time continues its steady march forward, this celebration reflected a cherished moment of cultural connection. The New Legacy Cultural Center and the Lexington community came together to share joy and build lasting bonds, ensuring that today’s happiness will carry into the year ahead.

About NLCC/LCE program
The NLCC/LCE program offers Mandarin Language and Cultural classes at several LPS elementary schools afterschool and bilingual summer camp at Lexplorations. The winter session is now enrolling at: https://lexingtoncommunityed.org/class-category/classes-for-children/nlcc-lce-collaboration-classes-for-kids/