Guanghua Chinese Association (GHCA) Back to school weekly newsletter No. 3, August 24, 2018

Weekly briefing: 

1.       Textbook purchases and orders, Deadline: August 24

2.       Brief introduction of difference Chinese classes (regular Classes and CES Classes) & textbooks (Ma Liping Zhong Wen and Meizhou Huayu)

3.       Early sign-up for the After School Care and No School Day Services

4.       New Classes and New Teachers

5.       TA application link

6.       Donation updates

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1. Textbook purchase and orders

School will open on Sep 9. Please get your textbook ready before the school starts. For all the Guanghua freshmen of KGA, KGB, CES1A and CES1B, school has purchased the textbooks and can be picked up on the first day of school opening.

Please note: if you are new students of Guanghua, or if you haven’t purchased your textbooks, please fill out the form below and submit online to school no later than August 24.

https://goo.gl/forms/dvUCU4HHzm2XQPv

2.  Find the right class and the right textbook for your children

Before the school starts, we would like to ask our parents to review the classes you have registered and find the right class and the right textbook for your children. As we find out, a few families who are Chinese speaking families have registered their children in CES classes since they felt the Ma Liping textbook is hard to follow for their kids. If it is the case, please remove your children to the regular classes (KG-G9).

In order to meet some of our parents’ request, we have opened Meizhou Huayu classes for all grades including Kindergarten this semester. We urge the parents review your registration carefully. Below is the brief introduction of the Chinese teaching and textbooks in our school.

光华中文学校中文教学介绍:

光华中文学校中文课程主要分成两大系统,一是为非继承语家庭设置的中文课程,一是为继承语家庭设置的课程。学校根椐非继承语家庭和继承语家庭的特点,分别制定了适合不同语言背景的学生学习中文的教学大纲。

非继承语家庭中文班,取名为CES (Chinese for English Speaking Families),是为非华裔的家庭子女开设的。现有CES1,CES2,CES3, CES4,CES5,CES6。2018年6月,就读9年的CES9班学生毕业,开创了非继承语中文班的里程碑。根据非继承语家庭子女的特点,我们采用了朗朗教材系列,以其生动活泼的教学内容,精彩纷呈的互动课程,丰富完善的配套资源,比较适宜非中文背景双语班学生的学习。今年我们在CES一年级开设了《美洲华语》班,作为试点,尝试是否适合非继承语班的学生。

继承语家庭中文班,是为华裔子女开设的,从学前班到九年级,每个年级根据注册人数,开设二到三个班。现有KG-G9三十几个班级。根据“因材施教”的教学原则,我们主要采用了《马立平中文》、《美洲华语》两种不同的教材。家长可以根据自己孩子的中文水平选定教材。

马立平教材系列,以听说读为主,写为辅作为教学思想。整体上分为三个阶段,第一阶段:集中认字(一年级到四年级); 第二阶段:大量阅读和学习写作(五年级到七年级); 第三阶段也是最后阶段,中华文化的学习。使孩子们系统地了解了中国文化的传承和精华。应当说,这套教材需要家长积极配合,课外需要复习巩固。如果能坚持下来,学生可以掌握上千的中文词汇,将为中文的听说读写打下较好的基础。

美洲华语教材系列,是为了适合美国地区华裔子弟学习中华文化与语言的编写的课本。系统化地把儿童文学、生活伦理、人文关怀、自然科学等中国和美国的本土文化素材。用浅显易懂的文字编写成可爱的人文故事、短文、童谣和儿歌,使学生能在有乐趣的语文学习情境中学习。识字量和难度相对马立平中文教材要简单容易一些,适宜非普通话家庭的子女使用。

3. Early sign-up for the After School Care and No School Day Services for school year 2018-2019

Our Greater Philadelphia Chinese Cultural Center (GPCCC) offers After School Program, Early Dismissal Day Service and No School Day Service. If you have school age child and are looking for a good, dependable and fun place for after school care, welcome to our program. Please   register ASAP, you will receive the favorite rate for early registration.

 Programs:

1).  After School Program: 3:30pm -6:00pm

    Open every school day during school year

2).  Early Dismissal Day Service: 1:00pm – 6:00pm

    11/19, 11/20, 11/21 of 2018;   03/27, 03/28, 03/29 of 2019

3).  No School Day Service: 8:00am – 6:00pm

   08/31, 09/10, 09/19, 11/06, winter break (12/26, 12/27, 12/28) of 2018;  

   01/18, 01/21, 02/15, 02/18, Spring break (04/15, 04/16, 04/17, 04/18, 04/19), 05/21

Transportation:

         We offer transportation from school (listed below) to our GPCCC or the schools within 15 mins distance. Also, the school buses of the Wissahickon School District pass by the Cultural Center, parents either could ask buses to stop by or we are going to negotiate with the school district about this issue.

  • Blue Bell Elementary School
  • Shady Grove Elementary School
  • Oak Lane Day School

Promotion Discount:

1.  If you register on or before Sept. 9, you will get 10% discount for the first 3 months’ tuition;

2.  If you are the member of GPCCC, you will get 10% discount and Registration fee;

3.  Siblings will get 10% discount for the older child.

4.  Returned After School Program/No School Day Service Students will get 5% discount

5.  $100 deposit required at registration;

Sign-up:

4. New teachers and New Classes for the 2018-2019 school year

a.       Dance Classes by Li Jiao

 毕业于北京舞蹈学院中国民族民间舞系; 曾在多所舞蹈专业机构任舞蹈教师,也曾在光华任教。今年李皎重返光华任教:

  • 1:00-2:00pm      Performing Arts (Ages 7-8)
  • 2:00-3:00pm      Adult Dance Class
  • 3:00-4:00pm      Adult Dance Class
  • 4:00-5:00pm      Performing Arts (Ages over 9)

b.      Class: Basic SQL, Excel/Access database, data analysis for healthcare industry by Anna Chen at 1:00-2:00pm for adult and high school students

Anna has obtained a Ph D. in biochemistry. She worked on data modeling and calculation for more than 20 years in pharmaceutic companies. She is a data specialist in the West Philadelphia healthcare industry. She specializes in data analysis/reporting, data modeling/simulation, database design and management.

Class description: Basic SQL conception and application. Excel and Access database for preparing the job application for middle level data analyst position.  Class also includes basic healthcare knowledge including health care bill code, patient/physician claim process, and data analysis. The class will have Q&A for job interview preparation. Some advanced techniques for T-SQL, BI tools (SSIS, SSAS, SSRS), and Crystal report may be introduced depending on the student’s interest and progress.

c.       Brain Education by Yuying Chen for students ages over 5 at 4:00-5:00pm

Brain Education is an innovative educational program designed to develop the full potential of the human brain. It is a progressive convergence of traditional Eastern practices for energy development and mindfulness and new findings from neuroscience and education. The goal is to create new synapses in the brain.

For KIDS we offer a 50 min class once per week. Our classes include a variety of engaging and challenging physical, emotional and cognitive exercises.

Teacher Chen has been our CES teacher for 5 years and received a certificate of Brain Education recently.

5.      TA Application Link 

Any high school students who are interested in TA or volunteer jobs at Guanghua, please fill out the form: https://goo.gl/forms/B6aIooyQiZPMgp5r1                          

6.       Donation update

We would like to thank the following families/individuals for their generous donation to our school.  

Teacher Shirley Tang (Asher Wang@G5B)

GHCS Management Team