Bolton Community Education Foundation, Inc. Education for the Entire Community of Bolton, Connecticut

	The All-Purpose Room at Bolton Center School was transformed into a festive setting for the party.
	Mr. Sima, a Chinese educator visiting Bolton, drew names in Chinese characters
	Participants enjoyed delicious Chinese food and goodies.
	The party provided an opportunity for learning about Chinese customs and traditions.
	Dancers from Asian Performing Arts in Hartford started their program with a Miao Tribal Cup dance.
	Clara Tang of Asian Performing Arts played the Chinese Classical Instrument called Gu-Zheng.
	Barbara Chan of Asian Performing Arts performed with the Tai Chi Sword.
	Barbara Chan invited audience members to learn some Tai Chi Qi Gong exercises.
	The audience imitated Barbara Chan's movements as they performed for the crowd.
	Julie Lai of Asian Performing Arts performed a traditional Silk Ribbon Fan Dance.
	The beauty of the slik ribbons was apparent during the dance.
	The audience again had an opportunity to participate, this time in a silk ribbon dance.
	The many ribbons streaming in the room created an impressive sight.
	The evening concluded as BCEF Chairman Beth Harney conducted drawings for a number of prizes, including beautiful bamboo plants, cookies and much more.

 

The Sayings of Confucius... interpreted by Bolton!

As part of our New Year Party, participants were invited to give us their interpretations of famous sayings by Confucius. Here is a sample of some of the responses we received:

Confucius says: "He who learns but does not think is lost. He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger."

• Amanda, grade 4, says this means: "When you don't listen, you won't learn."

• Kent, grade 9, says this means: "I believe that both of these are true and independent of each other. The first one means that if a person learns something but doesn't retain it through thought, he will forever forget it. The second half is if you only think, but don't have the learning to back it up, then you meet the same fate of not being able to retain your information."

Confucius says: "Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart."

• Jacob, grade 4, says this means: "If you are going to do something, put your heart into it. Give it your all."

• Julie, grade 8, says this means: "Don't do something halfway."

Confucius says: "Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it."

• Tina, grade 5, says this means: "Beauty if everywhere, so keep looking until you see it."

• Andy, grade 7, says this means: "People have different ideas of what beauty is, but everything can be beautiful in some way."

Confucius says: "I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand."

• Mia, grade 3, says this means: "A lot."

• Sarah, grade 6, says this means: "If you really want to know how to do something, you should try to do it yourself."

• A teacher says this means: "The essence of teaching!"

Confucius says: "Never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself."

• Kate, grade 7, says this means: "This quote is similar to the Golden Rule: Treat others like you want to be treated. If means that if you wouldn't choose something for yourself, you shouldn't force someone else to do it."

 

And for the adults in the audience.... we asked "What Would Confucius Say If He Were In Bolton Now?"

• Cori thinks he would say: "Live your life with the best intentions and as morally and with as much integrity as possible."

• Bill thinks he would say: "He would apply his wisdom and adjust it to the modern era. If you give a person Chinese food he would eat it for a day. If you teach him how to make rice he will eat always."