Aidan Collins, a third-grader from La Grange, watches as Lauren Grimm talks about a snake during the Chinese New Year (Year of the Snake) assembly at Spring Avenue School. | Steve Johnston~for Sun-Times Media

Animals for Awareness' Lauren Grimm lets the students at Spring Avenue School get an up close look at a snake during the Chinese New Year (Year of the Snake) assembly. | Steve Johnston~for Sun-Times Media

Spring Avenue School's reading teacher Nicole Manganello holds up the Zodiac chart for the Chinese New Year as Principal Liz Webb-Peterman reads a story about the animals involved in the chart. | Steve Johnston~for Sun-Times Media

Fifth-grader Mary Prystalski of La Grange reacts when Lauren Grimm brings out one of the larger snakes for the students at Spring Avenue School during the Chinese New Year (Year of the Snake) assembly. | Steve Johnston~for Sun-Times Media

Anna Westrick of La Grange, a third-grader at Spring Avenue School, reads about the Chinese New Year during at assembly. | Steve Johnston~for Sun-Times Media