More than 400 students and staff at Walton Elementary sported airbrushed dragon tattoos for the school's Lunar New Year Celebration.

Airbrush artist Nina Corrie of Tattoos for Now provided the tattoos to welcome the Year of the Dragon.

On Monday, all six bilingual Mandarin classes presented a special assembly of poems, songs and dances in Mandarin. Kids also participated in festive activities such as Chinese calligraphy and paper-cutting.

"As Walton is home to District 43's only bilingual Mandarin program, it seemed appropriate to plan a large-scale celebration for the upcoming Lunar New Year," said principal Sandra Meister.

EXPLORERS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON SCIENCE AND NATURE

The winter edition of Elementary Explorers will offer outdoor activities for kids aged five to 10.

The after-school initiative focuses on Earth science, biology and ecology learning objectives while giving kids a chance to reconnect with nature.

The program runs Tuesdays from Jan. 31 to March 6 at Heritage Mountain Elementary, Wednesdays from Feb. 1 to March 7 at Meadow

Mountains Elementary and Thursdays from Feb. 2 to March 8 at both Pleasantside and Glenayre elemen-taries. Each session is from 3 to 4 p.m.

Yoga for Kids will also be offered at Pleasantside Elementary on Mondays from Jan. 23 to Feb. 27 from 3 to 4 p.m. Led by a certified fitness instructor, this program will introduce age-and develop-mentally appropriate yoga poses to five-to 11-year-old participants. Classes incorporate creativity, self-acceptance, interpersonal skills, positive thinking, personal and environmental awareness, breathing exercises and relaxation techniques.

As well, Zumba for Teens will take place at Port Moody Recreation Complex on Thursdays until March 8 from 4 to 4: 45 p.m. This dance program for 13-to 18-year olds mixes exotic rhythms set to high-energy Latin, international and Top 40 beats.

Registration is available in person at the Port Moody Recreation Complex and Kyle Centre, by phone at 6044694556/4561 or online at www. cityofportmoody.ca/signmeup.

STUDENT'S IDEA A WINNER

Castle Park Elementary student Ailis Einerson won a global kid invention challenge from ePals-Smithsonian.

The Grade 4 student designed an overnight pet feeder for the international contest. Participants were allowed to use up to five common household items, such as bottle caps, playing cards, sponges, tape, cardboard and kitchen utensils.

Ailis is among 10 international winners, including students from India, Turkey and the United States.

BRINGING UP 'BABY'

Hope Lutheran Christian School students gained some hands-on parenting skills by taking care of an "egg baby" for a week.

The planning class students had to create a photo journal of their activities. They had to take their "child" to the park, organize a play date and find a babysitter.

The students also had to document their experiences and how the project made them feel.

ONE-WOMAN SHOW

She was formerly a mechanical engineer by trade, but hung that career up to perform and inspire. So goes the road of children's entertainer Dianna David, who'll be bringing her one-woman show to Coquitlam's Evergreen Cultural Centre on Sunday, Jan. 29.

David's show is called Take a Closer Look and speaks to the realities of a young girl trying to fit in at her new school.

David plays all five characters involved in the show and the story unfolds through a combination of hip hop dancing, miming, shadow play, contact juggling and multimedia.

Take a Closer Look gets underway at 2 p.m. on Jan 29 and tickets range in price between $10 and $18. For more info, call 604-927-6555 or log on to www.evergreenculturalcentre.ca.

. Do you have a school event or accomplishment you'd like people to know about? Send Class Act submissions and photos to jmcfee@thenownews.com with "Class Act" in the subject line. A gallery of Class Act photos, called "Tri-Cities students are a class act," is posted on our website at www.thenownews.com.