It has been a tradition to have Dumpling Day at St Catherine’s to celebrate a successful semester of studying Chinese, embrace Chinese food culture, and meet others who are also learning Chinese. 

At Semester One’s Dumpling Day we invited all students studying Chinese to enjoy delicious dumplings for lunch on the last school day of Term 2. 

Dumpling Day not only opens conversations about Chinese learning experiences but also provides a great opportunity for a true communicative language exchange. We’re already excited about continuing this tradition and look forward to another Dumpling Day next year. 

Students’ reflections about our cultural day are provided below:

“To celebrate the end of a semester of learning Chinese, all of the Chinese classes got together to have dumplings at lunch.  I really enjoyed being able to talk to some of my friends in the other Chinese classes and meet others. We got to talk about what we had been doing in class over dumplings. The dumplings were very nice as well and so was the fried rice. I feel like it was a great way to end the semester with the teachers and students.” Anna Roosenburg, Year 7 

“The Chinese Dumpling “Jiao Zi” Sharing activity today was a delightful cultural exchange. Whether you are Chinese or from another country, all students studying the Chinese language at School are invited to join in this fun event. The activity was held in a Chinese classroom, which was decorated with Chinese cultural elements such as red lanterns and calligraphy works. As soon as I stepped into the classroom, watching everyone enjoying dumplings while chatting with their friends, I felt like I had travelled back to my hometown. When I had a bite of the dumpling, the familiar taste brought back great memories of my hometown. This activity is very meaningful, as it not only brings comfort to Chinese students studying far away from home but also promotes Chinese food and culture.” Jia Ni Ting, Year 10 

“I loved Dumpling Day because it’s a wonderful opportunity to enjoy traditional Chinese food while connecting with other students who are also learning Chinese. It’s not just about the delicious dumplings, it is also about the sense of community and the chance to bond over our shared interest in the Chinese language. Dumpling Day has become a highlight of the semester, and I’m already looking forward to the next one.” Pippa Van der Venne, Year 8