Celebrating their first year of offering Chinese as a second language, Good Elementary will host a Chinese Dragon Boat Festival on May 21. The Chinese Dragon Boat festival celebrates the death of Qu Yuan, a famous poet who served the King of Chu during the Warring States Period (475-2221 BC). He threw himself into the Miluo River when he heard that the capital of Chu had fallen into enemy hands. When villagers heard that the respected scholar had done this, they rushed out in their fishing boats to try to save him, but all was in vain. The act of racing in boats to search for Qu’s body gradually became a cultural tradition. Today, dragon boat racing has transcended into a competitive sport and races are held throughout the world.
The festival at Good Elementary will have 3 stations: kite making/flying, hacky sack competition, and “mini” dragon boat racing. The first kite was invented in China over 2000 years ago.Philosopher Mo Di made the first kite in the shape of an eagle in the Lo Mountain of Shandong province. At the turn of the centruy, the great adventurer Marco Polo brought back to Eurpose stories of kite flying in China. Kite flying it generally regarded as a family activity, but there are many kite skill competitions and tournament being held all year round internationally.
Jianzi (Chinese Hacky Sack) dates back to the Han Dynasty more than 2000 years ago and was formally declared as a national sport in 1933 at the fifth National Sports meeting held in Nanjing, China.
Students will participate during their specials time at the following times:
3rd: 8:30-9:15 a.m.
4th: 9:20-10:05 a.m.
1st: 10:10-10:55 a.m.
2nd: 1:20-2:05 p.m.
5th: 2:10-2:55 p.m.
Parents are welcome to attend. For additional information, contact principal Julie Rodriguez at rodriguezj@cfbisd.edu or at 972-968-1900.