It鈥檚 the Year of the Rooster and students at Beairsto Elementary are celebrating.

Children in grades three and four participated in the annual dragon parade through the school鈥檚 hallways on Friday morning to kick off the Chinese New Year.

Organized by Anita Bateurin since 2002, more than 20 students were brought together to participate in the action.

鈥淲e are celebrate Chinese New Year, so we did a dragon parade, we are making Chinese rice, and learning how to write in Chinese and speak in Chinese. It鈥檚 all about the Chinese New Year,鈥� she said.

Students of Beairsto look forward to the celebration every year, gathering in the hallways to watch the parade.

Bateurin says it鈥檚 important to talk and share information about Chinese New Year so students understand about different cultures in the melting pot of Canada.

鈥淏ecause Chinese culture is important to me I thought I would share something personal with them.鈥�

Celebrations officially start on Feb. 28 and run for 15 days.