SOUTHFIELD Junior School pupils were given an insight into Chinese New Year this week at a special lunch to learn more about the celebration.

Most of the youngsters stayed to school dinners on Monday and pupils were given a taste of Asia with classic Chinese favourites, such as sweet and sour chicken, egg fried rice and prawn crackers.

Headteacher Nicola Anderton said: “In class they have been looking at the different years within the Chinese New Year calendar and one class has even had some artefacts brought in by a teacher whose dad I believe travels to China quite often and collects things to bring back.

“The children have been able to try a variety of different cuisines and we have done a Mexican day as well as an American-themed lunch on July 4. The children instigate these ideas through the school council and they come up with the menus on what they want.

“The children really liked it and it is days like this which increase our uptake on school dinners and on Monday there must have been the majority of the school who stayed.”

Chinese New Year marks the first day of the Chinese solar calendar and this year marks the zodiac sign of the monkey.

Within the festival, red packets are given to wish good luck while envelopes are sent to wish happiness – something which pupils have engaged with while learning about the Chinese culture.

The meals, which were cooked by nearby Highworth Warneford School, were served by Nikki Mead, who took on the theme of the year of the monkey by dressing up in costume.

“When we have any events like this, Nikki always dresses up and it always makes the children smile,” said Nicola.

“At the school, we try to do a couple of events like this throughout the year with different themes and cuisines.

“We also have events coming up in the next few weeks which tie in with things going on in the world and children need to know what is happening and about different cultures.”

For Sport Relief on March 18, pupils and staff will be doing a 12-hour skipathon and they will also be doing something to tie in with the Queen’s 90th birthday.