I am filled with gratitude for the support and enthusiasm the entire school community has shown towards our Chinese performing arts class. This first trimester has been a remarkable journey, and it's my honor to share it with you.

Chinese Performing Arts, a recent addition to our middle school's elective offerings in 2023-24, has been intentionally designed to meet the unique needs of students who completed fifth grade Chinese Immersion and those who entered middle school with a high level of proficiency in Chinese. This innovative course is strategically crafted to deepen language acquisition, strengthen students’ ability to express themselves in Chinese and Chinese art forms, and also to cultivate a meaningful understanding of culture.

Our class, primarily involving sixth grade students, is centered around learning Chinese through the vibrant lens of performance arts. This term, students dived into Chinese music, instruments, and drama, developing skills in responsiveness, creativity, and performance. Their growth has been impressive and speaks to the power of integrating arts into language learning.

Our ethos in the classroom is one of joy, engagement, and active learning. You may have seen or heard about our recent showcase, where students took on various roles, often switching between them. This approach, along with collaboration with local musicians and performers, has greatly enriched our learning experience.

Currently, we are gathering insights from our students and parents, and these perspectives will shape our plans for the seventh grade curriculum, which promises to include more singing, dancing, and acting.

We are excited to share two videos showcasing our drama unit's culmination with the entire community, and we look forward to continuing this journey with your support and hopefully, welcoming many of your children into our seventh grade class:
Mona Lisa (with English subtitles)
Stone Soup (with English subtitles)