Lakeside, California — February 15, 2026
On February 15, 2026, ESC Club partnered with Riverview International Academy — the only language-immersion school of choice in the Lakeside Union School District — to host a vibrant Lunar New Year Festival that brought together students, families, and community volunteers for a day of cultural discovery and hands-on learning.
The celebration began with welcoming remarks from Principal Mr. John Greenwell, followed by cultural presentations from Ashley Fang, ESC Director of Chinese Cultural Integration, and Junpeng Zhao, ESC Founder & Mathematics Captain, introducing the history and traditions of Lunar New Year.
Student Leadership in Action
Student volunteers from ESC Club, TDS, and El Capitan High School led ten interactive booths, guiding younger students through cultural and creative activities. The event highlighted youth leadership and cross-school collaboration, reflecting ESC Club’s mission to promote multicultural communication through education.
✨ Quote Highlight: “It was great to see the high school students helping the younger kids. Everyone was very happy and excited.” — Parent attendee
🧧 Lucky Red Envelopes:
Visitors learned about the symbolism of red envelopes and their role in sharing blessings for the new year.
🏮 Interactive Cultural & STEM Activity Booths:
Families explored a wide range of activities designed to blend culture, art, and technology:
🖨️ 3D Printing Innovation
ESC Founder Alex Tang and Ziming Xia hosted a creative booth featuring temporary tattoo art and a popular 3D printing demonstration where students produced special items.
🎨 Arts & Crafts
ESC volunteer Qian Cheng Li helped students create traditional Chinese crafts and festive artwork.
🥟 Spring Rolls & Dumpling Workshop
Families learned how to prepare traditional foods with Ashley Fang, followed by a shared tasting experience that brought everyone together.
✍️ Chinese Calligraphy
ESC volunteer Lanting Jiang guided students in practicing traditional brush writing, introducing the beauty of Chinese calligraphy.
🦁 The Exciting Lion Dance Performance
After the activity booths, the festival continued with a lively Lion Dance accompanied by drums and music. Students interacted with the lions and participated in the tradition of offering red envelopes for good luck and prosperity.
👘 Traditional Qipao Tryout – Chinese New Year Photo Day
One of the most popular booths was the Traditional Qipao Tryout, where girls had the opportunity to wear elegant Chinese qipao dresses and participate in a special Lunar New Year photo experience. Students proudly posed in front of the 2026 Year of the Horse banner, celebrating cultural heritage while creating joyful memories with friends and family.
🌏 Strengthening Community Through Culture & STEM
By the end of the day, Riverview International Academy was filled with a strong sense of unity and cultural appreciation. The collaboration between ESC Club, local schools, and student volunteers demonstrated how youth leadership and cultural education can bring communities together.
Events like this reflect ESC Club’s ongoing mission to promote multicultural understanding, STEM learning, and inclusive youth engagement across the San Diego region and cross-border communities.
