MLCCC 2017-09-17 news letter

Dear Parents,

Wow, what a smooth first day at our school last Sunday! We want to thank everyone who helped to make it a great success! It was truly a team effort! Thank you especially to our PTO members for selling textbooks, errands, suggestions, and taking photos!  

侨报：明朗中文学校迎来新学年 全心服务、更上层楼（China Press article: MLCCC Welcomes New School Year: From Good to Better Services):

Our first school day was captured by us and also reported by 侨报 China Press’s both Wechat Edition and weekend Print copy. The story was collaboratively written by our own third grade teacher Ms. Tang Ying, our new PTO President Mr. Li Lu and former MLCCC’s Public Speech Teacher Ms. Cheryl Wang. The photos were taken by our own Mr. Lu Li and Ms. Zhihong Lai, both of whom are on the PTO and are MLCCC Photo Club instructors. Thank you all!

Synopsis:

1. Introducing Our Newly Elected PTO Committee and Leadership!
2. Parent-On-Duty Sign Up Online at
3. Introducing Our Expanded Teaching Staff
4. Introducing Our Team of Volunteer TAs
5. GVSD Grants MLCCC Use of Classroom Projectors at $25/Room/Day
6. Suggested Class Movements and Registrations
7. Photograph Club Outlook for the Year 摄影俱乐部:
8. Fitness Club Outlook for the Year 健身俱乐部:
9. Taiji Club Outlook for the Year: Sundays at 3PM, Admin Hallway
10. MLCCC Dance Troupe Participates in Culture Event at Central Library of Philadelphia, 10/14/2017
11. MLCCC Weekend School Teachers’ Training on 9/8/17
12. Textbooks Sale Continues
13. Special Event:
14. Update Your Contact Info at MLCCC Website
15. Summer Homework Completion Reward with School Dollars

Appendix:

1. Triumph Music Festival - Application Deadline 9/30/2017
2. Introducing Our Community Partner: The W. E Cultural Exchange Institute

Details:

1. Introducing Our Newly Elected PTO Committee and Leadership!
   On the first day of school, our PTO initiated a quick committee meeting and unanimously elected Mr. Li Lu 李路 (Photo Club president) as the new president of our PTO! We thank and welcome Mr. Li to the leadership position and also thank all of our PTO Committee parents:
   Li Lu (President), Lai Zhihong, Li Yufeng, Liang Shuguang, Men Lijie, Tong Jinlin, Zhu Xia. ( 李路， 来志红，李玉峰， 梁曙光，门立杰， 佟锦林，，朱霞）谢谢你们！
   Following the legacy of Ms. Sherry Wang, our prior PTO president for many years, under whom our PTO helped our school and community tremendously (events, programs, teachers’ support, etc.), our current PTO Committee has already accomplished a big task: Online Parent-on-Duty Sign Up form, which greatly improves the efficiency of the sign-up system and clarifies the duties. Please see 2) below to sign up.   
   We encourage all parents to join the PTO, work closely with the PTO beyond just lending a hand, or to offer your suggestions so that PTO can incorporate those into their projects.  PTO’s email address is pto@mlccc.org. We share the common goal of creating an educational, fun and safe environment for our children (after all it takes a village to educate a child). We look forward to closely working with the PTO in the new school year!
   
   
2. Parent-On-Duty Sign Up Online at
   MLCCC PTO has decided to use SignUp.com to organize our Parent-On-Duty Sign Ups for the new school year.
   Here's how it works in 3 easy steps:
   1) Click this link to see our Signup on http://signup.com/go/BkrmiZK
   2) Review the options listed and choose the spot(s) you like.
   3) Sign up! It's Easy - you will NOT need to register an account or keep a password on SignUp.com.
   Note: SignUp.com does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact pto@mlccc.org, can sign you up manually.
   明朗中文学校PTO决定使用SignUp.com来组织我们的新学年的家长值班报名和统计。
   以下是3个简单的步骤：
   1）点击此链接查看我们在SignUp.com上的注册：http://signup.com/go/BkrmiZK
   2）查看列出的选项，并选择您喜欢的时间。
   3）登记报名！很简单 - 您不需要在SignUp.com上注册帐户或密码。
   注意：SignUp.com不会与任何人分享您的电子邮件地址。如果您不想使用您的电子邮件地址，请与pto@mlccc.org 联系，可以帮你手动报名。
   
   
3. Introducing Our Expanded Teaching Staff
   We are very fortunate to have a dedicated teaching staff that has again expanded from last school year!  Our most senior teachers Mao Laoshi, Qi Laoshi and Wang Liping Laoshi, have each been with MLCCC for more than 10 years, while new and talented teachers continue to choose MLCCC for their community service. Our teachers can teach heritage Chinese, second language Chinese, many academic and enrichment courses.  We welcome (alphabetically) Kim Chan Laoshi (Music Instruments), Tang Ying Laoshi (MLP G3), Wang Rui Laoshi (AP Chinese and MZHY G7), Xia Wen Laoshi (Journalist), Zhang Wanxia Laoshi (Chorus) to MLCCC!
   
   
4. Introducing Our Team of Volunteer TAs
   We are fortunate that our team of Volunteer TAs has also expanded from last school year!  Thank you and welcome to (alphabetically):  
   Tingfu Chou, Jenny Dai, David Huang, Sarah Huang, Jonathan Liu, Rainy Jin, Cheryl Qin, Ashley Tang!
   These young men and women are setting great examples of the spirit of volunteerism to our community. We also hope that the interactions with teachers, parents, and students, in a Chinese cultural environment, will also be fruitful for them on other fronts. Let’s all help our TAs and work together to maintain a nurturing, fun and safe environment for our children!        
   
   
5. GVSD Grants MLCCC Use of Classroom Projectors at $25/Room/Day
   During the summer, MLCCC Admin team initiated negotiations with GVSD and GVHS to request usage of the classroom projectors, which greatly improves the quality and efficacy of our teaching. GVSD and GVHS has officially approved our request with a usage protocol that all of our teaching staff needs to follow strictly in order to minimize disruption for the GVHS teachers. This additional technology usage will come at a price - GVSD will charge us $25 per room per day used throughout the school year. To keep the cost under control, we will keep the number of projectors used to the minimum without compromising our teacher's ability to teach. We also want to take this opportunity to thank GVSD for making this technology available to us. We want to thank the GVSD Superintendent Ms. Regina Speaker Palubinsky, Assistant Superintendent Mr. Stephen O’Toole, GVHS custodial and tech support staff, James Abraham, Robert Floyd, Patrick Scott, Erik Bowers for all of their efforts to make this happen. Thank you!
   
   
6. Suggested Class Movements and Registrations
   -Move to same class during same time slot:
   3pm Montessori K by Ms. Iris Teng (13 kids) - move from
   3pm Montessori K by Ms. Wang Xin (6 kids) - move to
   -Move to same class in different time slot if you can:
   1pm Montessori PreK by Ms. Iris Teng (12 kids) - move from
   2pm Montessori PreK by Ms. Iris Teng (6 kids) - move to
   2pm Children’s Dance by Ms. Ma Weiwei (15 kids) - move from
   3pm Children’s Dance by Ms. Ma Weiwei (6 kids) - move to
   -Great Classes With Few Students
   While our enrollment is again higher than last school year, there are a few classes that can still enjoy more students:
   CHL JDZW G5 3pm
   CHL MLP G7 1pm
   CHL MZHY G7 1pm
   Calligraphy with Pen 4pm
   Martial Arts 3pm
   Music Ensemble 3pm
   MATHCOUNTS 4pm
   Drawing 1pm and 4pm
   
   
   
7. Photograph Club Outlook for the Year 摄影俱乐部:
   本年度主要内容：
   摄影俱乐部2017-18学年教学以讲解组织管理、加工处理照片为辅，以现场拍摄实践、总结评析为主来提高学员的摄影摄像技能。具体做法是在帮助学员温习上学年所学的基本技能后，设定不同的拍摄主题，带领学员在不同的场合里（中文学校校园、文化课兴趣班教室、周边公园、校办活动地点）实践拍摄。用各自的软件工具加工处理后，相互交流经验、总结教训。本学年的重中之重是培养创作力，从而突破自己的极限。
   
   
8. Fitness Club Outlook for the Year 健身俱乐部:
   热爱健身的朋友们，大家好！开学伊始，希望大家都度过了一个美好的暑期，以更加饱满的热情迎接新学年。从这周日起（9/17），我们跳操班正式开始。老时间（2-2:50pm），老地点(Room 166)，我们一起继续“郑多燕”的减肥健身操。另外，我已订购Zumba DVD，希望下周有机会一起来跳Zumba。新学期新气象，希望大家都能通过健身变得越来越健美！期望我们每个周日见！
   
   
9. Taiji Club Outlook for the Year: Sundays at 3PM, Admin Hallway
   Our Taiji Club will resume this Sunday, 3:00-3:50pm, Admin Hallway.  We welcome all parents, especially new MLCCC families. Our renowned instructor, Ms. Shao has shown what is caring and giving to our community by volunteering her time and energy for many years teaching Taiji at our school.  We thank her for her high spirit of community service!
   大家好！新学年开始了！我们太极班这个周日也要恢复正常练习和示教了，欢迎大家老朋友归来，更欢迎新朋友的踊跃参加！我们和邵老师一起练太极，议养生，　充实每一个礼拜天。
   邵老师今年计划先教＂八段锦＂，作为练拳前的热身运动。这个時间很短，椄着复习24式太极拳。再椄着可教42式太极拳。24式太极拳是纯杨式的，打基础。42式太极拳是＂陈＂、＂杨＂、＂吳＂、＂孙＂综合竞赛套路。学完这套拳就可以学剑了。
   时间：周日下午三点到三点五十, 地点：明朗中文学Admin走廊
   
   
10. MLCCC Dance Troupe Participates in Culture Event at Central Library of Philadelphia, 10/14/2017
    The MLCCC Dance Troupe was invited to participate in a cultural exchange event with other organizations at the central library of Philadelphia on Saturday, October 14th. Our Children’s Dance Troupe, under the teaching of Ms. Ma Weiwei, will bring two performances! Thank you children, parents, and teacher!!  This cultural event is sponsored by the W. E Cultural Exchange Institute (see attachment) and the Philadelphia Free Public Library. We strongly share our missions with the W. E Institute in the advancement of cross-cultural communication and collaboration through educational and community engagement programs. All parents are invited to this event (admission required). More details to come.
    
    
11. MLCCC Weekend School Teachers’ Training on 9/8/17
    Our teachers have always been regularly trained on teaching methods, safety precautions, and more. For example, every year before school starts, we hold a teachers’ training meeting. The training this year was very well attended by all of our teachers. Those few teachers who could not attend were emailed the presentation and will watch it at home and sign a declaration that he/she has watched it.  
    This year in the training meeting, we strengthened many of our policies, including communications, support, safety, and more. We sincerely hope that this will improve the quality of all of our programs. Thank you to our staff who made great efforts to attend the training.  Their spirit of caring and dedication should be commended. We cannot be luckier to have them with MLCCC for so many years!
    
    
12. Textbooks Sale Continues
    We will have another textbook sale this Sunday, to ensure that we have your textbooks ready, please reply to this email with “textbook” on the subject line and specify the books you need and your child’s name.
    ·         No textbooks needed for Montessori Chinese PreK and K.
    ·         马立平 Ma Liping Textbooks: $50 per set
    ·         美洲华语 MeiZhouHuaYu Textbooks:  $25 per set
    ·         JiNan University's ZhongWen Textbook: $20 per set (for students in Ma, Liping track CHL grade 5).
    ·         CSL Level I& II: $46 per set.
    ·         CSL Level III- IV: $50 per set
    ·         Harvest - 收获 （AP中文九年级) $75
    (Please have you check or cash ready, and remember to sign the sale record sheet.)
    
    
13. Special Event:
    We welcome back our students Kenneth Yang and Kevin Wu to present this special seminar to promote the MATHCOUNTS cause (and other math competitions), which has been their devotion for years. Come join them for this special presentation on 9/24/2017.  See attachment.
    
    
14. Update Your Contact Info at MLCCC Website
    While you are registering your kids online for the new school year's classes, please also update your contact info, so the school can reach you if there are school cancellations, especially if due to unforeseeable weather conditions.
    Please let us know if you are not receiving the school’s weekly newsletter, we will add you to the group list.
    
    
15. Summer Homework Completion Reward with School Dollars
    CHL students (grades 2 and up) who have done the Ma Liping summer HW book, will be rewarded with school dollars. Those who completed 90% or more of the HW book will be rewarded $10 school dollars and those who completed 40%-80% will be rewarded $5 school dollars.
    Note that our school dollars now have a QR code on them. It is a real QR code. Try scanning it with your phone.
    Best regards,
    Qunbin Xiong - Principal
    Julia Chou – Vice Principal
    Sally Chen – Director of Academics
    Lu Li - PTO President
    MLCCC Chinese Weekend School
    "Like" us on Facebook under "Main Line Chinese Culture Center"
    
    

Appendix:

1. Triumph Music Festival - Application Deadline 9/30/2017
   The mission of the Festival is to provide an extraordinary performance opportunity and to support growing artists with professional evaluation and guidance of our panel of judges. The team of judges will feature winners of prestigious international competitions, members of Philadelphia Orchestra and music educators from colleges and universities of the United States.
   The winners of the Festival will participate at the Gala performance held at the Academy of Music Ballroom in Philadelphia. The elegant Ballroom, filled with sounds of instrumentalists, vocalists, and ensembles is a special place for a memorable celebration of outstanding talents and their achievements.
   This Festival can become an exclusive educational event for our participants. The historic city of Philadelphia is the home of the oldest grand opera house in the United States, which was opened in 1857. Since then, many prolific musicians have graced Academy of Music with their presence and historic performances, including Peter Tchaikovsky, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Igor Stravinsky, Arthur Rubinstein, Vladimir Horowitz, Enrico Caruso, and others.
   We invite all aspiring musicians to participate at an inspirational classical music event - Triumph Music Festival, as well as in rich cultural life of "Avenue of the Arts".
   Please see attached flyer for more information.  Application deadline is 9/30/2017.
   
   
2. Introducing Our Community Partner: The W. E Cultural Exchange Institute
   The W. E Cultural Exchange Institute
   On October 14, MLCCC will partner with the W.E, Institute to present a cultural event at the Central Library of the Philadelphia (see attached).
   The mission of W. Cultural Exchanges Institute in Philadelphia is to Advance the cross-cultural communication and collaboration through educational and community engagement programs, see attached. We are proud to be the community partner with the W. E. Cultural Institute. We look forward to more collaborations in the future.