Dear NWCS families, 

If you haven’t responded to our family survey, please take a few minutes to answer it so we can hear your voice and act on it. Please note some classes are having their midterms this week while others will hold midterms on the Nov 5th.

Dumpling (jiao zi) making and tasting on Nov 5
Not stopping at bake sale, our Breakfast Club and talented chefs are bringing back the popular dumpling making and tasting event for its next fund raiser on Nov 5th (after some of us finish the midterm). Come learn how to make dough, wrap and fold, and cook Chinese dumplings. The plan is to offer mild and spicy fillings. Yummy!! We have photos from last year’s dumpling event here http://www.nwcsny.org/?p=1208.

Dear NWCS families, 

We have parent teacher meeting coming up this Saturday and midterm the week after. Given the curriculum change in the CSL track this year, please do speak to your teacher, Dean or myself to give us feedback. We would like to hear what we can jointly work on to make sure our students’ time is well spent. As principal, there is no bigger reward for me than seeing our students listen, speak, read and write Chinese better, since that means my volunteering time is very worthwhile. 

NWCS family survey, need to hear your voice
Please take a moment to answer the family survey sent by board member, Mr. David Quinn. We hope to hear from you by Oct 29. For 3 hours at school and some more hours at home every week, we want to make sure all students are learning the Chinese language, culture and social principles of this 3000 year old civilization. The school was founded by parents and run by parents. We need to hear your voice and get your participation. Thanks!​

Chinese folk art demonstration photos posted
Many thanks to board, teachers and volunteering parents’ help to host the visit of the traveling folk art group from Taiwan last Saturday. One noticeable benefit was that almost every student placed their sugar animal orders in Mandarin, from turtles, pandas, giraffes, fish to pug. If there is enough interest, we will try to invite the group back next year, pending their touring availability. Photos of the event have been posted here http://www.nwcsny.org/?p=1436. Please send me your photos for our web site if you’d like to share with NWCS community.

Dear NWCS families:

Chinese folk art demonstration this Saturday​
The traveling artists from Taiwan will visit our school this Saturday to demonstrate sugar painting, lion head painting and lion dance in the cafeteria and middle school theater. Board members have been working hard to sort out the logistics to welcome our guests. I would encourage you and your kids to take advantage of this rare opportunity to enjoy and participate in these traditional Chinese arts. 

We would be altering the class routine slightly. At the discretion of teachers, we are dividing the classes into two visiting slots: from 9:15 to 10, below Heritage IV and CSL Intermediate I, and from 10:15 to 11, all other upper classes. Our teachers will decide how long their classes can stay. Please try to visit all three stations and ask lots of questions. Our board members will act as translators at those stations. 

Before 11, our students can get sugar painting for free, limit one per person. After 11, the demonstration is open to friends and family as well as the Briarcliff school students and teachers. Sugar painting and other art work will be for sale. Let us be a great host to visitors from our host school. 

Learning survey and feedback
Communication specialist on our board, Mr. David Quinn, will be sending out a survey this week to solicit your input and feedback on the learning environment, curriculum and any ideas to improve the school. Please take a moment to take the survey and participate in the change for the better. We need your help. 

Quiet in the hallway due to PSAT
While I am sure there will be lots of excitement and lots of sticky little fingers, please be aware that the PSAT is being administered in the Briarcliff High School gym. So we need to be mindful of hallway noise and bell ringing.

Dear NWCS families, 

Chinese folk art demonstration on 10/15
I have most exciting news to share with you. On Oct 15, three folk art teachers/performers from Taiwan will be visiting our school to demonstrate sugar painting (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl5jwE_F5Ms), lion head painting and lion dance. Our school is a stop of their East Coast tours. Their leaflet is attached to this email. 

We will be altering the 10/15 class slightly so our students can take advantage of this very rare opportunity to watch and participate in these traditional arts. Sugar koi fish, I was told, is most popular among our younger kids. I’d imagine lots of sticky little fingers after visiting the sugar painting station. 

I am working with board members and teachers to host and welcome our guests. They will need transportation from Flushing on the Friday before to Westchester, from hotel to our school on Saturday morning, and from school to bus station shortly after lunch to travel to Boston. There are enough suitcases and containers that I am asking if you drive a mini van or full size van to help. In addition, we will need parents to meet, greet and maintain order at the three stations. You are very welcome to invite your friends and families to come after 11 am as the demonstration will go on till close to noon. Then they need to pack and travel again. 

Personally, I am very excited that our school is chosen as one of their stops. Hopefully, you would feel the same after seeing their demonstration. If you could help, please feel free to contact me or Chairperson Mr. Calvin Chin. 

Dear NWCS families,

Here we are going to Week 2. There are several things I’d like to share with you.

Registration​
Feel free to update your kids’ registration and electives on the web site sis.nwcsny.orgby the end of Week 3, Saturday, Oct 1. We will freeze registration shortly after. Oct 1 is also the last day to withdraw with only book fee deducted. If you need help, please contact our registrar, Mr. Tony Wu, for assistance.

CSL Placement Adjustment
If your children spoke to you about the current level being too difficult or too easy, please let your teacher, Dean and myself know so we can reassess the placement right away. On one hand, we would like to see our children learning more effectively. On the other hand, we recognize they have bonded with their classmates from young and may not want to move to the next level without their friends. So teachers would like to hear from you what’s best for your kids. 

Parents
Please elect a class parent so we can better communicate and reflect the needs of your class. Class parents please contact each family in your class to make sure they are receiving emails from school. Class parents will also coordinate help with the Chinese New Year performance.  

Electives
We are continuing to search for Kung Fu and Chess teachers. If you know someone who are willing to teach at a fairly modest pay, please let me or Chairperson, Mr. Calvin Chin know. In the mean time, please encourage your children to explore other electives. 

Student Travel Journals
I’d like to invite our students who visited any Mandarin speaking cities during the summer to submit your travel journals for publication on our school web site. Please share with us your journal on the culture, people, food, and fun things you did.​