FIRST CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION AT SMA!
THE TRADITIONAL LION DANCE wove through the SMA cafeteria to symbolically bring GOOD LUCK in to the school and all in attendance and to chase any bad luck or misfortune out of the cafeteria.

About one hundred and seventy five people came together to celebrate the Chinese New Year and the New Mandarin Chinese Language Programs at School In The Park middle school (www.schoolinthepark.com) and Sarasota Military Academy high school (www.sarasotamilitaryacademy.com) on Sunday, January 29 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM at the Sarasota Military Academy campus on 801 Orange Ave. N.  The Lion Dance was performed by Wah Lum Kung Fu of Tampa and the delicious buffet of favorite Chinese foods was provided by China Palace Express.  (To try your own Chinese feast at home call "May" at China Palace Express, Beneva and Clarke, and order the following: beef and broccoli, spicy chicken and peanuts, chicken lo mein noodles, General Tso's chicken, and pork fried rice.)  A Chinese feast for dinner is a wonderful excuse to get the whole family together and take a break from a busy schedule.  Ask everyone to try and eat with chopsticks for some amusing moments and wonderful family memories.    
 
This year, 2006, is known as the year of the Dog.  The Chinese zodiac of twelve different animals distinctly mark each passing year and each coming year.  Each animal for each year has different personality traits and attributes which are then associated with people born during that year.

There is much to learn about this ancient sleeping giant of a country and no better time than now with two years to prepare for China's debut on the international scene with the 2008 summer Olympics.  What is China doing to prepare for the summer Olympics in 2008?  More to come...  

SCHOOL IN THE PARK enthusiastically provides opportunities to middle school students in Sarasota County. In August of 2005 they added Mandarin Chinese, and German as foreign language electives; all students are required to take Latin. In February the innovative middle school will start its Saturday School Program by offering Mandarin Chinese Language and Culture classes to interested students ages 5-12. Adult evening classes are also available. Call 365-2530.

SARASOTA MILITARY ACADEMY is the first high school in Sarasota County to understand the global opportunities students must have by adding Mandarin Chinese to its foreign language department; both Mandarin Chinese levels I and II and Japanese I will be available to students in August 2006. Sarasota Military Academy is used to being first in many of their programs and Headmaster Kennedy continues to lead in high school education. Could it be that Sarasota Military Academy is the first public high school to offer Mandarin Chinese in the state of Florida?