NCLS Emerging Leader Service Award (ELSA) recognizes students who demonstrate a strong commitment to volunteer service and community engagement.

From 2015 to 2025, NCLS served as a certifying organization for the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA). In 2025, we established ELSA to carry forward the spirit of volunteerism and encourage our students to continue making meaningful contributions to their communities. We carefully review each application and look forward to celebrating our students’ service and contributions.

*牛顿中文学校新锐领袖服务奖（ELSA）**旨在表彰积极参与志愿服务、热心回馈社区的学生。

2015年至2025年，NCLS曾担任**美国总统志愿服务奖（PVSA）**认证机构。2025年，学校设立ELSA，旨在延续志愿服务精神，鼓励学生积极参与社区服务、贡献自己的力量。我们将认真审核每一份申请，并期待与大家一起见证和表彰学生们的服务与成长。

Please make sure to submit your complete application package by October 18, 2026.

Emerging Leader Service Award (ELSA) Application Procedure:

1. Please click the ELSA Guideline for details.

2. Submit your application materials to ncls_elsa@newtonchineseschool.org  
    by October 18,2026.  

3. When submitting your application materials by email:

1) Use the following subject-line format: ELSA + your name.

2) In the email body:

a) Write a brief application statement (fewer than 500 words) describing
    what you did, why you did it, and what you learned.

b) Include a list of all attachments.

c) Name each attachment using this format:
Your Name – List Number – Organization Name – Hours.

Examples:

Victor Li – 1 – NCLS TA – 20 hr

Victor Li – 2 – NCLS SEP – 50.5 hr

Victor Li – 3 – XX High School – 3.0 hr

d)  Attach all supporting documents, including the  

 2025-2026 ELSA Activity Summary Sheet

4. Complete the 2025–2026 NCLS Emerging Leader Service Award (ELSA) Application Form:   2025-2026 NCLS – Emerging Leader Service Award (ELSA) Application Form

Our Support Education Program is officially launching its 2026–2027 activities! If you have not yet registered and would like to participate, please complete the registration form here.

志愿服务迎开学-SEP学生助力中文学校课本分发（供稿及图片：Xiaodan)

新学年即将开始，中文学校也进入了忙碌的开学准备阶段。8月29日上午，SEP学生与家长志愿者一起参与了学校新学期课本的搬运、整理和分发工作，全程认真投入，为顺利开学贡献了一份力量。

当天早上8点半，SEP学生志愿者便抵达仓库集合领取教材。面对一箱箱数量众多、颇有分量的课本，大家分工合作，将教材搬运上车并送往分发现场。抵达后，同学们顾不上休息，很快投入拆箱、清点、分类和摆放工作，把不同年级、不同课程的课本与练习册逐一整理妥当。

当天，中文学校校长、副校长、教务处主任、家长会会长和家长志愿者也都到现场共同参与。大家一边核对教材和书目，一边协助家长领取课本，并随时为各个分发点补充书籍。虽然任务繁杂，现场却安排有序、配合默契，忙碌中也充满了轻松温暖的气氛。

身穿SEP红色T恤的学生志愿者成为现场一道亮眼的风景。他们不仅参加了早晨的取书、装车和搬运，还协助完成教材分类与现场分发。领取工作结束后，大家又一起整理场地、清点剩余图书，并将余下的教材重新装车送回仓库。从早上8点多到全部工作结束，SEP学生全程参与，以行动展现了责任心、团队精神和服务社区的热情。

对SEP的同学们来说，这不只是一次简单的搬书活动，也是一次生动的社会实践。大家在合作中学习承担责任，在劳动中感受奉献的快乐，也更真切地体会到：一场顺利的开学背后，离不开许多人的默默付出。

感谢中文学校校长、副校长、教务处主任和家长会会长的组织与协调，也感谢所有家长志愿者的耐心指导和并肩合作。SEP很高兴能够参与其中，为中文学校的新学期尽一份心、出一份力。

一本本课本已经整齐就位，一张张笑脸也记录下这次充实而有意义的志愿服务。新学期即将启程，祝愿中文学校的老师和同学们开学顺利，在新的学年里收获知识、友谊与成长！

SEP同学9/5/2026参加学校组织的第16届亚美节游行反响热烈，为我校阵容添彩！（图片：陈锐、小红书：梁楠 )

【牛顿中文学校欢迎您！ – NCLS1959 | 小红书 – 你的生活兴趣社区】牛顿中文学校在第16届亚美节上… https://xhslink.cn/o/2wCs0qTV20B

中文学校支教团队首次参加波士顿香港龙舟节，Wave Chasers队在Charles River上两天的年度龙舟竞赛中，同学们团队协作，相互配合，进步显著，最终取得Youth组亚军🥈，500米公开组第37名（与参赛的70多支成人队伍一起按成绩排名），Division D 第6名的好成绩。热烈祝贺！

(Anna Wang报道）波士顿香港龙舟节（Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival）是美国历史上最为悠久的龙舟节之一。今年SEP团队本着强身健体，团结奋进，传承文化的目的，由万劲，方华和晓丹负责，注册且组建了SEP的“Wave Chasers” (追浪）龙舟队。 “Wave Chasers”队员们目前正在积极备赛。
​
今年的正式龙舟赛将于6/13和6/14日在美丽的查尔斯河畔举行。界时，SEP”追浪队”将与其他队竞赛。激烈有趣的龙舟竞渡还将伴随丰富多彩的手工艺展示、精彩演出和美食餐车等。让我们共同期待SEP “追浪队”在波士顿龙舟赛的首秀，我们的口号是“SEP, 追浪追浪！” 敬请全校师生和社区各界朋友光临助阵！为NCLS SEP龙舟追浪队加油！

NCLS SEP Wave Chasers龙舟队 (Shirley Chen 供稿）

乘风破浪，奋楫争先！

SEP追浪龙舟队由SEP学生和家长组成。队员们以龙舟运动为纽带，用团结协作和拼搏进取的精神，展现SEP大集体的活力与凝聚力。

龙舟竞赛不仅是一项体育运动，更象征着同舟共济、携手前行的团队精神。这与SEP二十年来坚持支教助学、热心公益、服务社区的理念高度契合。

在鼓声与桨影之间，追浪队员们奋力挥桨、勇往直前，用汗水诠释坚持，用行动传递爱心。

SEP支教团，二十载爱心同行；追浪龙舟队，一条船同心奋进！

Paddling Together, Growing Together!

加油，SEP Wave Chasers！

以下是网络信息：Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival 2026

波士顿：全美最古老的龙舟庆典
活动：波士顿香港龙舟节（Boston Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival）
日期：6月14日
地点：查尔斯河畔（Charles River）
波士顿香港龙舟节始于1979年，是北美历史最悠久的龙舟赛事，也是全美最具代表性的端午庆典。本届查尔斯河上的“速度与激情”预计将吸引超过70支船队、数千名运动员和5万名观众参与。参赛船队使用的是传统的玻璃纤维龙舟，色彩明艳，船头巨大的龙头和船尾的龙尾，在波士顿著名的红砖背景映衬下极具视觉冲击力。

 龙舟节的魅力一半在水里，另一半则在岸边的文化集市中。岸上设有“亚洲文化村”，武术表演、中国传统舞蹈、民乐演奏精彩纷呈，书法、剪纸、汉服试穿等互动摊位五花八门，孩子们还可以参与龙舟模型制作、五彩绳编织，还能享用粽子盛宴，大快朵颐。
        2026年是美国建国250周年，波士顿作为历史名城，其龙舟赛也将被纳入全市夏季大型庆典序列，现场会有更多关于“多元文化交融”的主题展示。

(Report by – Evan Shi) On October 25, 2025, five students from various high and middle schools — Evan Shi, Jasmine Gu, Tony Wu, Alex Wang, and Lucas Shi—who attend Newton Chinese Language School, visited Maplewood Senior Living in Weston, MA, as part of the SEP Senior Home Initiative.

Maplewood Senior Living in Weston is the third senior living center that SEP students have connected with. Having previously visited Stonebridge in Burlington and Maplewood earlier this year, this was the students’ second visit to Maplewood. The group was delighted to reconnect with familiar residents and meet new ones, making the afternoon both meaningful and joyful.

The visit took place around noon, while residents were enjoying lunch and socializing. The students distributed handmade greeting cards created by SEP participants to all the residents, bringing smiles and warmth throughout the dining hall. During the visit, students engaged in conversations with the residents—listening to their personal stories, life experiences, and heartfelt advice.

Revisiting Maplewood was a wonderful and rewarding experience. The SEP students look forward to continuing their outreach by visiting more senior living centers in the future, spreading kindness, love, and positivity to the community.

As many of you already know, the President’s Volunteer Service Award (PVSA) was paused earlier this May. In response, Newton Chinese Language School is proud to introduce a new and prestigious award that recognizes and honors individuals who have demonstrated a strong commitment to volunteer service.

As the largest nonprofit weekend language school in New England, NCLS has served as a certifying organization since 2015. Each year, we carefully review all applications and celebrate the outstanding achievements of our students.

The application for the 2025 ELSA is now officially open! Please see below for detailed guidelines:

1. Please click the ELSA Guideline for details.
2. Submit your application materials to ncls_elsa@newtonchineseschool.org by 10/30/2025.
3. When you send us the application materials:
   1) Email subject line should be in this format: ELA + your name;
   2) In the email body:
   a) Write a short application statement summarizing what you did, why you did them, and what you learned.
   b) Provide a list of all the attachments.
   3) The attachment file name format: Your name + list index number + organization name + hours (Example: Victor Li – 1- NCLS TA—39hr).
4. Attach all the supporting documents including the ELSA Activity Summary Sheet to the email.
5. Fill out this google form https://forms.gle/QtATuzic8V6DFn9e9

Date: September 14, 2025
Location: Room 221, FA Day School, Newton, MA
Time: 1:00 PM – 1:55 PM
Minutes prepared by: Christina Lu
Attendance
• In-person attendees: Over 50 students and parents
• Note: Approximately 1/3 are new student members

Leadership Introductions
Parent Leadership Team
• Board Director: Eric Shi
• SEP Directors: Jing Wan, Hua Fang
• SEP Associate Directors: Peng Feng, Ling Chen, Xiaofei Chen
• Advisors: Shirley Chen, Helen Cao
Student Leadership Team
• Co-Presidents: Henry Fang, Jasmine Gu
• Vice Presidents: Christina Lu, Anna Wang, Evan Shi
• Fundraising Directors: Julian Yang, Allison Sham, Sophia Fortuin
• Event Directors: Ella Luo, Jiarong Cui, Jiayi Cui
• Community Service Directors: Evan Shi, Jasmine Gu, Christina Lu, Anna Wang, Margaret Liu

Meeting Highlights

1. Welcome and Overview – Presented by Eric Shi
   Key Announcements:
   • NCLS Emerging Leader Service Award (ELSA)
   • China Trip (Spring Break: April 18–25, 2026)
   • Recruitment Drive
2. Upcoming Event – Presented by Peng Feng
   • Annual Year Opening Event: September 20, 2025, at Regis College
3. SEP Projects Overview – Presented by Student Leadership Team
   (Presented by Henry Fang, Jasmine Gu; with additional insights from Christina Lu, Anna Wang, Evan Shi, Julian Yang, BenXiao and Parent leaders: Ling Chen, and Jing Wan)

• Weekly Bake Sale (Every Sunday, 12:30–5:00 PM)
• Online Tutoring (Ongoing, Weekly)
• Cards for Seniors (Year-Round; Planned Event: October 19)
• Digital Literacy Outreach / IT Support (Year-Round)
  Additional Events (2025–2026 Overview)
• 10 events
  Member Self-Introductions

• Adjournment
  • Meeting concluded at: 1:55 PM

【编者按】8/31/2025, SEP三位学生暑假里自己联系，带着手工自制的慰问卡，去访问第二家老年中心Stonebridge at Burlington，请看 Jasmine Gu的报道。

On August 31st, 2025, three high school students—Jasmine Gu (顾思敏), Evan Shi (史一明), and Christina Lu (陆颖文)—from Newton Chinese Language School had the opportunity to visit Stonebridge at Burlington, a senior center in Burlington, MA, as part of the SEP outreach initiative.

Stonebridge is the second senior center that SEP students have reached out to. After a successful visit to Maplewood at Weston in July, we were excited to continue building meaningful connections within the local senior community by visiting Stonebridge.

Our visit took place just before the residents’ much-loved bingo game, filling the community room with a lively and warm atmosphere. We brought along 45 handmade greeting cards, thoughtfully crafted by students from NCLS, to share with the residents.

During this special hour together, we enjoyed heartfelt conversations with the seniors, sharing stories, laughter, and learning about their diverse life journeys. Many of the residents’ faces lit up with joy when receiving the cards, and several shared touching personal stories, making the experience truly memorable.

For all of us, this visit was heartwarming and meaningful, leaving us with smiles and gratitude. We are already looking forward to the next chance to return to Stonebridge, to continue spreading kindness and nurturing the friendships we’ve started.

On July 20th, 3 high schoolers Evan Shi（史一明）, Jasmine Gu（顾思敏）, and Christina Lu（陆颖文）from Newton Chinese Language School, visited Maplewood at Weston, a vibrant senior center in Weston, MA.

As part of the SEP outreach initiative, we brought 30 handmade greeting cards, which made by students from NCLS.

During the hour-long visit, we had in warm and meaningful conversations with the residents. The seniors enjoyed the cards and were thankful for the kindness of the students from NCLS. Several residents shared personal stories and life experiences, giving us a chance to learn about their experiences and build connections with them.

The visit was a memorable experience for us. We look forward to returning in August to continue to show gratitude and get to know more seniors. （by Christina Lu）