Oct 08

SEP Outreach: Heartfelt Visit to Stonebridge at Burlington

【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.

Oct 06

SEP Annual Working Group Meeting Summary

SEP Annual Working Group Meeting Summary

Date:  July 20, 2025

Location:  Auburndale Park, Newton

(by Jing Wan,  Hua Fang & Eric Shi)

Attendees:

Eric Shi, Hua Fang, Jing Wan, Helen Cao, Shirley Chen, Jun Liu, Jianqing Luo, Naizhong Qiu, Yunjuan Yuan, Ling Zheng, and Faith Hu.

Meeting Highlights

Accomplishments of 2024–2025

SEP had a successful year with many highlights. Jing Wan, Feng Hua, and Eric Shi debriefed SEP’s impactful programs, including:

• Tennis Fundraisers

• Bake Sales

• Online Tutoring

• Talent Shows

• Fundraising Dance

• Support for NCLS book distribution, Thanksgiving Party, and Chinese Gala

• Award Ceremony for SEP’s high school seniors

New initiative in 2024 – iCanfly: Successfully organized four times at NCLS.

New initiative in 2024 – IT Outreach: Successfully run for several months in 2025.

New initiative in 2025 – Cards for Seniors

SEP China Trip: Led by Board Member Helen Cao and Eric Shi, the April 2025 trip to Guilin High School in Guangxi Province was a notable success, providing significant support to students from underprivileged backgrounds. Trips to Shandong Jijing High School in 2026 and a revisit to Wuling High School in Zhejiang are also scheduled.

2025–2026 New Initiatives

• The Emerging Leader Award: Endorsed by the Mayor of Newton, with outreach made to the Massachusetts state government for endorsement.

• SEP Team for the Boston Dragon Boat Festival

Financial Review

Peng Feng presented an overview of SEP’s financial status, highlighting the successful management of funds across various programs.

Vision for 2025–2026

Continuation of Signature Programs: SEP will continue its established programs and recruit new volunteers for the upcoming school year.

Upcoming Actions

Volunteer Recruitment: Co-led by Hua Fang and Jing Wan, SEP will soon begin recruiting volunteers for the 2025–2026 school year.

Support for NCLS: Assist with new book distribution.

Student and Parent Meetings: Establish key groups and roles for ongoing programs such as bake sales, online tutoring, and talent shows.

Program Development: Prepare for upcoming events and programs, including the China trip, fundraising events, and community support activities.

Explore New Opportunities: Maintain contact with schools and organizations to discover and develop new partnerships.

The SEP Working Group values the contributions of all members, volunteers, and supporters, reflecting on the past year’s achievements and looking forward to continued success in the new school year.

Sep 08

NCLS 东方舞蹈团25周年庆典暨SEP 支教募捐晚会

诚邀您与我们共同见证东方舞蹈团的银禧华章。
晚会门票免费领取,我们恳请并欢迎您为支持NCLS支教项目捐款,金额不限!
You are warmly invited to join us in celebrating the silver jubilee of the Dongfang Dance Troupe.
All tickets are Free and we highly encourage you to make a Donation to the NCLS Support Education Program (SEP).
To request free tickets, please text 617-416 9430 or 781-325-2948.
To donate, please scan the QR code on the flyer below. Thank you for your support!

Jul 22

Visit Maplewood Senior Center at Weston – July 20th 2025

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)

May 30

2025 支教中国行汇报

欢迎大家周日(6/8/2025)下午3:30pm来学校图书馆聆听2025支教中国行团队的演讲。欢迎14 岁以上青少年加入支教团队, 为社区服务!

Please check the link for 2025 Trip Team Reflection: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vmYroCBhy2eTKzou_cy93x0Gw_4UOFb8/view?usp=drive_link

and also, please check School Journal Page 39: 牛中故事: 从牛顿到桂林 PowerPoint Presentation

Apr 27

SEP第15次中国行

牛顿中文学校SEP第15次中国行转眼就结束了,感谢桂林中学的精心安排和接待,我们的学生得以全方位的短暂体验中国高中生的学习生活,我们的学生也在18次宣讲中锻炼了自己,得到快速成长。 和每一次中国行一样,中国学生的热情和善良让我们的学生真切感受到什么是宾至如归。青年人间的热情来得那么快,那么真,虽然只是一周的时间,分别已经恋恋不舍,居然看到双方都在手写临别赠言,友谊的种子俨然已经埋在双方的心里。 You will shape the world! (文: 摘自带队老师曹景雁微信朋友圈)

华裔学子跨海来, 文化交流情满怀 —美国牛顿中文学校学生到桂林中学研学之旅

来自桂林中学的报道: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/m2t_2awmBSMHYNwqcmGxMQ

Mar 18

SEP 新活动 – 帮助师生家长提高智能手机使用技能

(供稿:Huili Shao 海报制作:Jasmine Gu & Christina Lu)

牛顿中文学校(NCLS)的SEP团队近期推出了一项新活动,旨在帮助师生和家长提升智能手机使用技能。这项名为”SEP Digital Literacy Outreach”的活动由支教学生Jasmine Gu和Christina Lu发起。她们多年参与中文学校和SEP的活动,深刻了解许多家长因母语非英语而在使用智能手机和数字技术时面临额外挑战。正是这种洞察激发了她们为社区服务的热情,提出创建“SEP Digital Literacy Outreach” 的活动。

活动想法得到了SEP团队负责人万劲和方华会长的大力支持。在多次深入讨论后,Jasmine和Christina投入大量时间收集资源、制作演示文稿。经过两个月的精心准备,团队于2025年3月9日在牛顿中文学校一楼成功举办了首次活动。

首次活动重点展示了智能手机的无障碍功能,如何更便捷地使用手机。例如,通过语音助手和屏幕朗读功能,用户可以轻松获取信息和操作手机。团队还演示了AI技术如何增强无障碍体验,比如使用AI聊天机器人提供实时翻译和辅助功能。首次活动得到了中文学校师生,家长和祖父母的热烈响应,也吸引了更多地SEP学生加入志愿者行列。

在首次活动中,团队积极收集社区反馈,为后续活动制定了详细计划。在接下来的周日中文学校课程时间,团队将推出一系列主题活动,内容涉及:

·       智能手机基础操作:介绍如何调整字体大小、使用语音助手等无障碍功能,以及智能手机电池管理和性能优化技巧。

·       社交媒体与智能应用:Instagram入门指南、Zoom会议主持技巧,以及利用AI工具优化社交媒体内容。

·       在线支付与安全:移动支付和数字钱包使用指南、在线信息保护方法,以及提高网络诈骗防范意识。

·       人工智能科普:AI基础概念介绍、AI在日常生活中的应用(如翻译、图像生成),以及AI辅助旅行规划和智能导航。

·       互动问答与个别辅导:解答个性化问题、提供一对一技术支持,并鼓励参与者提出疑问。

“SEP Digital Literacy Outreach” 活动为志愿者们提供了服务社区的新视角,创造了与社区深入互动的宝贵机会。团队将持续改进方法,收集反馈,了解社区需求热点,致力于帮助中文学校社区更好地适应数字化时代的挑战。通过这些努力,SEP团队不仅提升了社区成员的数字素养,也为志愿者们提供了宝贵的领导力和沟通技能培养机会。

Feb 28

2025 NCLS 第15届支教募捐舞会

今春4月,将是NCLS 支教项目第15次赴中国高中进行支教文化交流活动。SEP 中国行团队已组成,学生们的行前培训正在进行中!欢迎您光临第15届支教募捐舞会,感谢大家对本项目的关爱和支持! (海报制作:Shirley Chen)

When: Saturday, March 22, 2025, Where: Todos Dance & Fitness Studio, 677 Worcester Street, Natick, MA 01760

Feb 13

Hands & Hearts 系列爱心手工活动

由牛顿中文学校 SEP 团队和 iCan Fly 携手合作的 Hands & Hearts —特需儿童的系列爱心手工活动,在学校相关部门的大力支持下,于2024年11月至2025年2月,如期举办了四期,圆满收官。请看来自iCan Fly Hui Zhu女士的报道:

Hands & Hearts——特需儿童的系列爱心手工课

Hui Zhu iCanFlyGroup  2025年02月08日 19:38

       “新年快乐!” “蛇年大吉!” 伴随着一句句温暖的祝福,牛顿中文学校董事 Eric Shi、SEP 会长万劲以及 iCan Fly 的董事兼主席庄茜,为参加活动的孩子们和志愿者们送上一个个装有金币巧克力的红包,寓意新年的美好祝愿与好运。

        2024年秋天,在沈安平教授的积极推动下,牛顿中文学校与 iCan Fly本着服务社区、服务特需家庭的愿望很快达成了这次合作意向:由牛顿中文学校提供场地和文具经费,SEP 负责提供志愿者支持,由 iCan Fly 负责宣传、报名、文具准备、课程设计及现场教学。2024年11月,Hands & Hearts 系列手工活动正式启动,并连续举办四期,于2025年2月圆满收官。

        在这四次活动中,每期均有 8-10 个特需家庭积极报名参加。波士顿的冬天一会大风一会下雪,但家长们每次都准时带着孩子前来参与。牛顿中文学校 SEP 团队也秉持着“一对一”配对的原则,为每位特需儿童安排专属志愿者。如遇志愿者因临时课程冲突无法到场,学校领导、老师及 SEP 学生家长们也都会主动伸出援手,确保每个孩子都能在温暖而细致的陪伴下,享受创意手工的乐趣。

2月2日主题:好运连连迎蛇年

        蛇年当然少不了一条象征好运的小蛇!在老师的引导和志愿者的陪伴下,孩子们利用手工纸、彩笔、剪刀和胶棒等简单工具,发挥创意,一条条精美的蛇年手工作品应运而生,寓意新的一年好运连连、福气满满。

1月12日主题:立体窗花迎新年

       贴窗花,迎新年,满屋喜气洋洋!孩子们挑选自己喜爱的颜色,耐心剪裁、拼贴,精心制作出一幅幅别具匠心的立体窗花。当一个个五彩缤纷的窗花被举在手上,映照着窗外的冬日暖阳,孩子们的脸上也绽放出欢乐的笑容。

15日主题:新年日历迎新年

       新的一年即将启程,如何记录专属于自己的美好时光?老师带领孩子们一起展望一年中的美好时刻——一月的皑皑白雪、三月的纸鸢满天、八月的野外露营、十月的感恩丰收……随后,孩子们按照自己的喜好,在日历的每个月份空格里绘制下这些美好回忆,制作出独一无二的个性化新年日历。

1124日主题:感恩火鸡感恩情       

    感恩的季节里,小小的手掌化身为独特的创作元素!孩子们在志愿者哥哥姐姐的帮助下,在彩纸上勾勒出自己的小手印,拼贴出色彩斑斓的感恩节火鸡。在牛顿中文学校的教室里,在 iCan Fly 手工老师的带领下,孩子们全神贯注地完成每一项制作,感受手工创作的乐趣,也在欢声笑语中表达着对生活的感恩之情。

       在各期活动期间,所有课程内容均由活动策划与Hui Zhu设计并主持,iCan Fly董事兼主席庄茜、董事Melody Jiang, Esther Zhang与牛顿中文学校校长员玉娟、宣传部长梁楠亲临现场并恳切交流,探讨如何进一步提升对特需群体的支持与服务。同时,他们也为每一个完成手工的特需孩子加油欢呼,鼓励他们勇敢尝试,享受手工的乐趣。

        此外,校董事 Eric Shi、SEP 会长万劲和方华、校刊主编李青俊等也多次到场,不仅关心志愿者的签到情况,还亲自陪伴特需孩子,与他们互动交流,并与家长们耐心沟通,倾听他们的需求与建议。每一次的到访和关怀,既是对特需家庭的温暖支持,更是着眼未来,思考如何为这个群体提供更加细致、周到的服务,让每一个孩子都能在充满关爱的环境中茁壮成长。

后记:

        iCan Fly的每一次活动都离不开各方的建议与反馈。正是这些宝贵的声音,让我们的活动不断优化,让每一位特需儿童都能在温暖、包容的环境中收获成长与快乐。

    牛顿中文学校董事Eric Shi对iCan Fly的活动组织者说:“我个人非常支持这个公益活动,也非常愿意牛中和iCan Fly长期合作。”

        SEP志愿者学生家长看了活动照片后说:“活动组织得很好,看得出SEP的大哥哥大姐姐们非常有爱心,great team work!”

        iCan Fly的董事兼主席庄茜说:“特殊需求孩子的活动实在太少,因此 iCan Fly 将持续为大家提供丰富的活动,让孩子们在学习新技能的同时结交朋友。同时,我们也希望为家长们打造一个安全、开放的交流空间,让大家能够相互学习、彼此支持。特别感谢牛顿中文学校与我们的合作,共同为孩子们创造更多成长与互动的机会!”

    最后,当然少不了那些从各个镇专程带着特需孩子前来参加活动的家长们的肯定和鼓励,给予了所有活动组织者无比的信心和动力。期待下期活动再见!