I am a huge fan of Mass Greeting, and especially of the sixth grade Lion Dance. Current Middle School students and alumni have shared with me how they watched the Lion Dance at Mass Greeting growing up, first as somewhat terrified kindergartners, later as second and third graders trying to feed the lions lettuce, and then as they approached middle school, they looked forward to their turn to perform in this long standing CAIS tradition. Seventh graders, eighth graders, and alumni all boast that their class performed the dance better than any other class.

I love this time of the year hearing the almost ceaseless drumbeat of the Lion Dance rehearsals from the Sensato Performing Arts Room down the hall from my office. I’ve dropped in several times to watch the Class of 2026 as they prepare for their Lion Dance, and they look pretty good. I believe that they will be able to boast as loud as any class of the superiority of their performance at Mass Greeting on February 8.