Media, Student Life

From Toroto to Sparklers: SEASU Weekend 2026

Image depicting students who attended the SEASU Dance. Photo Credit: Communications Department

From February 20th to 22nd, Southeast Asian Student Union (SEASU) returned in full force with the annual SEASU Weekend. Dedicated to honoring the vibrant cultures of Southeast Asia, the weekend wasn’t just for SEASU members, it welcomed the entire George School community and students from neighboring schools as well.

The weekend kicked off on a freezing Friday night with a screening of the beloved Japanese animated film My Neighbor Totoro in Marshall. With the cold outside, the small space seemed even cozier: steaming ramen, warm soup, and soda in hand as the movie lit up the screen. What began as a chilly evening quickly turned into a heartwarming start to the weekend.

Image depicting students watching My Neighbor Totoro in Marshall. Photo Credit: Diana Zhang ’26.

Saturday brought hands-on fun with dumpling-making sessions in the Barash Room. The room buzzed with conversation, flour-dusted fingers, and shared excitement. 

Image depicting a plate of dumplings that students created during a dumpling-making session. Photo Credit: Diana Zhang ’26. 
Image depicting students learning to make dumplings in the Barash Room. Photo Credit: Diana Zhang ’26. 

That night marked the highlight of the weekend: SEASU’s third annual dance. This year, students from Solebury, Church Farm, Westtown, and Friends’ Central joined George School, bringing together over 80 students in total. From 7:30 to 9:30 PM, the dance floor stayed alive with energy. Music pulsed through the room with a wonderfully curated playlist representing both Asian artists and popular cultures worldwide.

Image depicting students dancing during the SEASU Dance in Marshall. Photo Credit: Cherry Gao ’27.  
Image depicting SEASU leaders who organized activities for the weekend (left to right): Evan Kim ’26, Diana Zhang ’26, Cassandra Eusebio ’27, Angie Le ’26, Nini Tan ’27, and Joseph Bian ’28. Photo Credit: Cherry Gao ’27.  
Image depicting four students enjoying the SEASU dance (left to right): Haerin Noh ’28, Charlotte Paul ’28, Hamilton Wreaks ’28, Edam Cho ’28. Photo Credit: Cherry Gao ’27.

Of course, no SEASU event would be complete without incredible food. SEASU leaders prepared a spread of homemade treats, including strawberry sago, almond cookies, polvoron, and gyeongdan, alongside classic Asian snacks like jelly cups, shrimp chips, and traditional Chinese biscuits. Between songs and conversations, students lined up for seconds and even thirds. The night ended with sparklers in Red Square, marking a joyful close to an unforgettable evening.

Image depicting SEASU members lighting sparklers in Red Square (left to right): Alina Pang’26, Fiona Wu ’26, Sarah Zhu ’26, Jamie Weng ’26, Nini Tan ’27. Photo Credit: Cherry Gao ’27.

When asked about the most rewarding moment of the weekend, SEASU leader Nini Tan ’27 shared, “when everyone crowded together for the group photo. Seeing so many people come really made me happy.”

Behind the scenes, however, getting to that moment wasn’t easy. Leaders reached out to at least twelve schools, unsure of who would respond. At times, there were real worries that the dance wouldn’t draw a crowd. On top of that, the success of previous SEASU dances meant expectations were high. There was pressure to make this year just as memorable — if not more.

By the end of the weekend, though, any doubts had disappeared. The turnout, the energy, and the sense of community proved that SEASU Weekend continues to grow stronger each year. There’s plenty more SEASU events to look forward to for the rest of the school year, so get involved and be part of what’s next!

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