Spring 2011 – Full Steam Ahead!
Dear
Students and Parents,
Spring
has sprung, and we are well into our new semester in 2011.
Chinese
New Year Festivities
We
recited, acted, crafted, danced, yo--‐yoed, pranced, ate, and cheered through
all
these
wonderful events: Fall Semester Concert & Party, Mid--‐Hudson Library
Culture
Day,
MHCCA CNY Celebrations (photo link on www.mhclc.org),
Field Trip to NYC,
Vassar--‐Warner
Senior Center Social. Congratulations to all the students who practiced
long hours
with such good cheer and enthusiasm --‐ your performances were excellent
and
professional --‐ a tribute to your dedication and support of the Chinese arts.
A big
“Thank
You” to the culture class instructors for their tireless efforts in grooming
our
performers;
to Kuei--‐Hua and Su--‐Wan for training our “Lions”, and especially to Carol
for
her tremendous coordination of our participation. It was a busy time, and we
all
had
fun!
School
Schedule and Academic Status
As
noted in recent emails, class dates in April and May have been rescheduled due
to
RCK
events --‐ one new change is school on Saturday, May 14. The Spring Calendar is
updated
on the school website. Many students are submitting entries to the ACS
Essay
Contest (due Mar 30) --‐ we wish them good luck! Mid--‐Term tests are scheduled
for
April 17. Please check with your teachers for details or changes.
Community
Service
The
Mid--‐Hudson valley region awareness of the Chinese community is growing,
leading
to organization of events that request our participation in a variety of ways.
A
key
mission of MHCLC is to participate and support cultural diversity for the
community
through our language, cultural, and charitable activities --‐ our participation
in the
recent CNY festivities is a testament for which we are proud of. Here are
upcoming
events to plan for --‐ your participation is greatly appreciated:
·
Lunch
Box Community Service, Thursday April 14, 5:00pm --‐ 6:30pm
This
is a traditional requirement with Dutchess Outreach to fulfill our school's
501(c)
status. We need at least 5 volunteers aged 14yrs or older to help serve
food
and drinks to the community. Younger volunteers are welcome to help too.
Community
service letters will be provided by Dutchess Outreach.
·
Wappingers
Library Event, Saturday April 16, 2:00pm --‐ 4:00pm
Help
with calligraphy demo. Contact Carol Tsai to sign up.
·
RCK Junior Prom, May 20, Dinner time
Cultural
performances requested --‐ more details to follow. Contact Carol Tsai if
you are available to support.
Parent Meeting
Report
Highlights of the
first parent meeting for Spring semester, held on 3/20:
·
SCRIP Fund Raising
We have raised
total donations just over $1,000 since we started this program --‐
thank you for your
support! The next SCRIP due date is April 17. Also Adams
Gift
Cards are
available for purchase at the snack table. Check out the option of using
ShopWithScrip.com
--‐ details on the school website.
·
Culture & Arts
We all
acknowledged the wonderful performances and participation of the
students in the
CNY festivities. The Wu Shu class will continue to run next school
year. The school
is working on a transition plan to support this much--‐demanded
class when Stanton
Wong leaves at the end of this semester (having completed
college).
·
Academics
Concern was raised
for appropriate phonetic support in tests for zhu--‐yin
students. This was
acknowledged as a general requirement for all students,
regardless of
learning method. The board reported that the zhu--‐yin and pin--‐yin
classes will be
combined in one foundation class next school year, with zhu--‐yin as
the learning basis
and supported by pin--‐yin as needed for the students and
parents. The mid--‐week
free review lesson is planned for Wednesday's 3:45pm --‐
4:45pm at either
Arlington School Library or RCK, based on availability. An online
calendar sign--‐up
system will be set up, and an announcement will be made to
start this program
mid--‐April.
·
Events
Request for
volunteers for the Lunch Box community service was sought. For
June 19 End of
Semester party, suggestion was raised to have games held in
Chinese. Parents
of each class are to help coordinate a game for the event.
Warm Regards,
Daphne Png
Principal
Mid--‐Hudson Chinese
Language Center
Upcoming Dates to Note:
Sun,
4/10 No school (RCK event)
Thu,
4/14 5:00pm --‐
6:30pm
Lunch
Box Community Service,
29 N. Hamilton St, Poughkeepsie
(Ground
floor Family Partnership Center)
Sat,
4/16 2:00pm --‐
4:00pm
Wappingers Library Event
Grinnell
Library
2642 E Main St,
Wappingers Falls, NY 12590
(845)
297--‐3428
Sun,
4/17 Mid--‐Term
Tests
SCRIP
order due
Yo--‐Yo and Chinese Chess 5--‐week
classes
start
Sun,
4/24 No school (Spring Break)
Sun,
5/8 No school (Mother's Day)
Sat,
5/14 School on Saturday
Fri,
5/20 RCK Junior Prom --‐
Details to follow
Sun,
5/22 3:30pm --‐
4:30pm
Parents Meeting, RCK Library