Spring 2012

C A I S C O N N E C T I O N S

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CAIS Connections is a quarterly publication with the goal of keeping the community informed and connected to the vibrant events and accomplishments at Chinese American International School.

IN MEMOry Of AlICE A. CArNES

悼念 Alice A. Carnes

On february 8, 2012, CAIS founding board

member, friend, leader and education

professional, Alice Carnes passed away after

a six-year battle with cancer. A civic leader of

uncommon style and wit, Alice’s selfless hard

work helped shape CAIS from its early journey

into what it is today, 30 years later. Alice was

the force of nature and earthly power behind

the acquisition and construction of the former

Caltrans headquarters that is now our school’s

Oak Street campus. In 2009, our Waller Campus

was named the Alice A. Carnes Pre-Kindergarten Center in recognition of her more than

25 years of dedication to CAIS.

Outside of her involvement with CAIS, Alice contributed to many Democratic Party

causes, was one of the first women to produce television programming in the early,

very male-dominated days of TV and can be credited with Tom lantos’s decision to run

for congressional office. Although

Alice’s career spanned many fields,

closest to her heart was our school;

Alice shepherded CAIS through

many chapters of growth and challenge, several heads of school and

countless children and families who remember her fondly.

A celebration of Alice’s life and her many contributions to CAIS will be held

on Thursday, May 24. Details about the celebration can be found at www.

cais.org/alicecarnes. Everyone is encouraged to attend and share their

thoughts and stories about this remarkable visionary.

Photo courtesy of Mira Ringler

Since last spring, the school faculty and administration has articulated its interest in producing graduates who are strong

readers and writers of simplified characters, the official script used in mainland China and Singapore. The discussion of CAIS

transitioning from complex to simplified characters as the main script for Chinese instruction has been ongoing and has sparked

robust discussions with every constituent, and illustrates just how passionate our community is about Chinese language and

culture, which is ultimately why we are here.

Different members of our community have various levels of knowledge and understanding of Chinese script. What has been

discovered through one-on-one, small group and community discussions is that there is a degree of misunderstanding about

simplified script.

ClarifiCation about Simplified SCript

• Misconception: It is easier to learn simplified characters if you have first learned complex characters than the other way

around. Or, conversely, it is easier to learn complex characters if you have first learned simplified characters than the

other way around. There is no research that supports either position—opinions about this subject are largely intuitive and

anecdotal. Neither simplified nor complex characters are “easy” to learn and learning two sets of characters is more difficult

than learning one.

• Misconception: Complex characters provide a clue to the meaning of the word, while simplified characters have lost

that meaning. This is not the case. While there a few characters that we might, with some help, be able to see as literal

renderings of the things they represent, the overwhelming majority of characters contain no useful visual clues to their

specific meanings.

• Misconception: Ancient texts cannot be rendered in simplified characters. In fact, anything that can be rendered in complex

characters can also be rendered in simplified characters.

• Misconception: By learning simplified characters, students have no access to literature written prior to 1956. Subsequent to

the simplification of Chinese script in mainland China, a concerted campaign to create authoritative editions of the classics

was undertaken. Virtually all great works of Chinese literature are available in both simplified and complex editions, including

The Confucian Analects, 300 Tang Poems, Dream Of The Red Mansion, to name a very few.

What iS Currently happening at CaiS? CAIS middle school Chinese language teachers report that our graduates are

strong readers and writers of complex characters, the official script in Taiwan and Hong Kong, but are much less comfortable

and accomplished with simplified characters. Currently, the primary script taught at CAIS is complex characters; simplified

characters are introduced to our students gradually, beginning in fourth grade. The school administration and faculty feel it is our

duty to focus greater attention on simplified characters, as our students will graduate into a world where Chinese language is

dominated by simplified script.

What happenS next at CaiS? Chinese Program Director, Kevin Chang and the Chinese language faculty have the feedback

from the community meetings and discussions that have taken place. They are engaged in work on an implementation plan for

the 2012-2013 school year that will ensure that CAIS graduates are strong readers and writers of simplified script, while also

taking into consideration the concerns of the community and the responsibility of the school for teaching Chinese in a cultural

and historical context and exposing students to complex characters and the relationship between the two scripts.

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CAIS’S INTENDED TrANSITION frOM COMPlEx TO SIMPlIfIED CHArACTErS

中美的中文課程將從繁體字轉型為簡體字 THOugHTS frOM SOON-TO-BE CAIS grADuATES

應屆畢業生專頁

As our 35 eighth grade class of 2012 prepares to leave CAIS and embark on the next chapter of their academic lives, we caught

up with a few of them and asked about their thoughts about leaving the school they’ve called home for so many years.

BAIlEy lANMAN (SACrED HEArT CATHEDrAl PrEP)林寶妮

Despite the extra workload of

seven different San francisco

high school applications on top

of everyday homework, Bailey is

excited at starting a new chapter

in her academic career. “[CAIS] is

where I grew up, but also I would

be really happy to have a new place and new experiences

and meet new people,” said Bailey. Entering Sacred Heart

Cathedral Prep this fall as a freshman, she looks forward

to getting involved in different high school extracurricular

activities, sports opportunities, maintaining her love to

learn Chinese outside of CAIS walls. Bailey wants to thank

all her teachers for helping her prepare for high school.

frEDDIE yAO (uNIVErSITy HIgH SCHOOl)饒頌昇

Beyond great academics, fred-

die yao looks forward to partici-

pating in high school athletics

programs. “I’m a huge soccer

fan,” said freddie, “so I want to

have time for sports.” A star ath-

lete for CAIS Athletics since the

sixth grade, freddie set his eyes on going to university

High School, where he will join his older sister on campus.

for his future, he dreams of becoming a member of the

u.S. National Soccer Team for a career. With Chinese spo-

ken at home and relatives in Taiwan, freddie is confident

he will continue embracing Chinese after graduating and

hopes to learn Spanish at his new school.

lIHONg CHAN (BErKElEy HIgH SCHOOl) 陳麗虹

for the last eight years, lihong

commuted across the Bay from

Oakland for an excellent educa-

tion in a dual language program.

unlike her eighth grade peers,

lihong did not have to stress

about applications. Instead, she

is looking forward to moving to the local unified school

district, so she can attend Berkeley High School in the

East Bay. Excited at meeting new people, lihong however

will miss the community aspect of CAIS. “We have been

together for so long that there’s going to be a part of it

that I’ll miss,” said lihong. “And I’ll miss the really close

relationships that we’ve all built.”

COlE yArBrOugH (BAy HIgH SCHOOl)葉可仁

Having applied for five differ-

ent private high schools, Cole is

pleased to be attending his num-

ber one pick, Bay High School

in the Presidio. Known to be a

tech guru among his classmates,

Cole looks forward to select-

ing his own classes and getting involved with the high

school’s engineering lab and robotics class. As a CAIS

student since the first grade, he wants to thank his advisor

for helping him with this transition out of middle school.

“Mr. Sproull has been helpful,” said Cole. “He has taught

us what to do to get into high school, and [prior] I didn’t

know anything on how to prepare for it.”

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fIfTH, SEVENTH AND EIgHTH grADErS ‘EMBrACE CHINESE’ DurINg TrIPS TO ASIA

五、七和八年級的 “心懷中華” 之旅-中國及台灣訪遊記事

It’s spring, and that means our three International Program trips are

in full swing. At press time, the fifth, seventh and eighth graders

had completed their first full week of immersion in Taiwan and

China. Here is what they’ve been doing.

fifth grade exChange – ren-ai SChool, taipei With the

backdrop of the monolithic Taipei 101 building, the fifth graders

have experienced many exciting activities including a visit from

San francisco Mayor Ed lee’s wife Anita to their exchange

school, ren-Ai. The students participated in the Children’s Day holiday and Tomb Sweeping Day,

practiced their Chinese calligraphy, visited the National Palace Museum and learned the art of the

Chinese yoyo from their exchange buddies. During the weekends, their host families have been

taking the students on various cultural and educational trips in and around Taipei.

Seventh grade CaiS-Sya beijing aCademy In the last Connections, we told you about

CAIS’s major International Program initiative; CAIS-SyA Beijing Academy, a structured, three-

week academic program for all CAIS seventh grade students in partnership with School year

Abroad (SyA) and Beijing Normal university Sanfan Middle School. During the program, the CAIS-

SyA Beijing Academy seventh graders start their day with a three-hour small group language class. The highly focused class

involves a daily lesson, such as how to communicate and follow street and walking directions and how to talk to their homestay

families about the development and changes that are taking place in China. Their morning lessons also include recess exercises

to help get the blood flowing with calisthenics. The afternoons are spent putting what they learned during the morning into

practice through excursions throughtout Beijing. for example, one excursion involved going to the hutongs, the narrow street

and alleyway districts of the capitol city. The students were assigned interviewing tasks to figure out who lives there, who visits

and how the hutongs have changed with time. Completing the lesson involves talking to both tourists and residents, and using

what they learned during their morning lesson. Their evenings are spent with their homestay family,

where they experience the everyday life of being a Beijing resident. However, the students’ learning

doesn’t necessarily end just because they’re out of school. Each evening they must interview their

host family members regarding a particular subject as part of their homework, which they in turn must

formulate into an oral report for the next day’s morning lesson.

eighth grade exChange – Sanfan middle SChool Although the eighth graders are

attending the same school as the seventh grade class, their experience is

completely separate. Their first days of getting acclimated to Beijing life

included visits to culturally significant spots such as Tiananmen Square, the

forbidden City and Jingshan Park. They also attended classes with their

exchange buddies and their host families have kept them busy during the

evenings with doing everyday things like grocery shopping and exposing

the students to the wonderful delicacies of Beijing. One student reports

riding the subway was a bit scary but she’s finally got the hang of it.

fIrEDrAgON BASKETBAll SquADS gO INTO POST-SEASON PlAy

中美火龍籃球隊進入季後賽

led by Athletic Director, Debbie Talbot, the CAIS Athletic Program aims to help each student improve his or her individual

physical skills, have fun and experience the spirit of camaraderie and teamwork inherent in competition.

The four CAIS firedragon basketball squads meet daily after school during the season and

compete in the SfAl league, which is comprised of 13 San francisco independent schools.

The right combination of hard work, determination and preparation during the season paid

off, and three of the four firedragons basketball squads went into post-season play. The girls

varsity team advanced to the semi finals and both the girls and boys junior varsity squads

progressed to the finals. “unfortunately, both junior varsity teams were defeated during the

finals, so we didn’t bring home a championship trophy this

year, but I am extremely proud of our boys and girls this

season. Three teams in the semi-finals and two in the finals

is something to be pleased about,” Debbie Talbot said of

her firedragons players. “Physical education and athletics

play an important part in the educational development of

students at CAIS; our belief is that physical and athletic

accomplishments have important lifelong benefits.”

SuMMEr AT CAIS

精采夏季在中美

The regular school year may end June 13, however, the CAIS Auxiliary Program kicks into

summer mode starting June 18 with the first of two four-week summer camp sessions.

Opened to both CAIS and non-CAIS kids from around the Bay Area, each session will

integrate Chinese language through a wide variety of cultural activities where no prior

Chinese experience is required to participate.

This will be the summer camp’s first year officially integrating iPad use into the class-

rooms. Phoebe Kuei, sixth grade Chinese teacher, will be supporting the curriculum de-

velopment for summer camp and is excited about iPads being available for student use.

“Technology makes curriculum more alive,” she said. “Kids will get more excited to learn, because it’s interactive and

easy to use.” CAIS summer camp will also offer a creative movement class, led by Peiling Kao, CAIS dance instructor

and award winning professional freelance dancer. “The goal of our class is to explore movement with our bodies,” Peil-

ing said. “Students can learn how to be more confident by controlling how to use their body around other people.” Both

boys and girls will participate in this class instructed in Chinese.

for more information about this year’s Mandarin Camp, please visit www.cais.org/auxiliary/mandarin-camp. registration

is first come first serve and closes June 18, 2012.

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CAIS Connections Spring 2012CAIS ConnectionsSpring 2012

In its 30th year, CAIS will continue to celebrate its tradition of generosity

at ShowCAIS 2012: Over the Dragon gate on May 12, 2012 at the ritz-

Carlton San francisco. The biggest annual fundraising and community

event, ShowCAIS brings together parents, trustees, faculty and staff,

alumni families, friends and supporters for a night of revelry, fine dining,

exciting auctions and dancing.

This year’s ShowCAIS gala evokes the story of “Carp Jumping Over the

Dragon gate.” In this fable, nine carp battle upstream against a strong

current. When they reach a waterfall called Dragon gate, they leap from

the water, turning magically into dragons as they clear the falls. The tale

is an old and enduring Chinese parable for courage, perseverance and

accomplishment, and illustrates the lesson that a person can succeed

through hard work, grit and diligence. Much like the carp, we have

come far as a school community, faced with many obstacles but always

motivated by the pioneering and innovative spirit of our founders. At 30

years, we stand proudly at our own Dragon gate. At ShowCAIS, we will

celebrate our past achievements and usher in a bright future.

On the evening of ShowCAIS, guests will enjoy a delicious menu created

by ritz-Carlton Executive Chef Nathan Beriau, a signature “Dragon gate”

inspired cocktail chosen by parent volunteers and live music by the pop-

rock band, Pulse, featuring CAIS parent, Billy Shen. Competition will be

afoot, as attendees will bid for their favorite vacation packages, wines,

dining experiences, fun excursions with faculty and much more in the live

and silent auctions. Can’t make it on May 12? you can still be a part of

the fun! ShowCAIS is raffling three restaurant collections, which include

meals at some of the most popular restaurants in the Bay Area. Sign up

for popular community parties hosted by CAIS parents and teachers,

or find a great deal on our online auction, open to the entire CAIS

community. All proceeds from these fundraisers will go directly to support

CAIS, maintaining and growing the school’s exceptional dual language

education programs.

Please join us on May 12! general admission is $250; alumni tickets are

$150 each. To purchase your tickets or find out more information about

the event, auctions, raffle, or party sign-ups, please visit www.cais.org/

showcais.

Join the conversation! follow @ShowCAIS on Twitter.

TEACHEr fEATurE: KElly rEIMEr

教師專欄

A Bay Area native and now in her fourth year of teaching at CAIS, Ms. reimer leads

seventh and eighth graders in her favorite subject. CAIS Connections sat down with Ms.

reimer to discuss her approach to teaching middle school social studies and her role

on the curriculum committee.

CC: Why did you choose to teach social studies?

Kelly reimer (Kr): It’s always been my favorite subject. I have a background in

humanities, like traveling extensively and enjoy seeing life from a global perspective.

CC: What is your teaching style at CAIS?

Kr: My teaching style adopts differentiated methods. I teach with the future in mind,

so a lot of discussion and critical thinking goes on in my class. I use a lot of guided

questions, higher thinking skills, think-pair-share and research-based projects. I really try to get my students to understand how

to think about history and its connections from past to present.

CC: What do you hope your graduating middle school students will take away from your teaching?

Kr: Ability to take perspective. question. Evaluate. Analyze. form an opinion. understand differences. I want them to have the

skills that they’ll need for the rest of their lives.

CC: What’s your role with the curriculum committee, and what are the goals?

Kr: I’m representing the middle school faculty. We’re developing a curriculum and have it be owned by CAIS. It’ll be mapped in

a way that reflects a solid program.

CC: What does it mean to map our curriculum?

Kr: It’s like a road map. It shows what’s being taught in each grade and how that curriculum can be built upon for the following

grade level. It’s to see what the whole school teaches and create a consistent curriculum that both builds on prior concepts and

pushes us forward.

CC: Where do you see CAIS in the near future?

Kr: We have an incredibly skilled faculty. They’re dedicated, motivated, remarkable

and care deeply about the kids. With the help of our developed curriculum plan,

our skilled faculty will continue to push kids to succeed in the 21st century. We’re

moving towards an intellectually challenging environment, where kids graduate

with a deep global understanding of culture. Our students will really live out our

mission statement. It’s a very exciting direction.

CC: What surprises you most about your students here at CAIS?

Kr: Their motivation and diligence. They take their work very seriously. Their

characters are really amazing, and I am really excited to see how they develop

[part of the mission statement] “be your best self.”

SHOWCAIS 2012: OVEr THE DrAgON gATE

二零一二年中美輝煌之夜：躍過龍門

150 OAK STrEET, SAN frANCISCO, CA 94102TElEPHONE: 415.865.6000 fAx: 415.865.6006WWW.CAIS.Org

CAIS is an independent, not-

for-profit school founded by a

small group of multi-ethnic San

francisco Bay Area visionary

leaders and educators in 1981

as the first school in the u.S.

dedicated to Chinese-English dual

language immersion with a deep

understanding of Chinese culture.

from an enrollment of under 10

students in its inaugural year,

CAIS now enrolls nearly 500 students from Pre-Kindergarten through

grade eight and spans across two campuses in San francisco’s Hayes

Valley.

Since its founding, CAIS’s commitment to dual language and dual

culture education, international perspective and diversity has remained

at the core of its vision and program. The school community is proud

of its leading role in preparing culturally sensitive young people for an

increasingly globalized world. Today, CAIS alumni work in both China

and the u.S., continuing to draw upon their unique education.

ABOuT CHINESE AMErICAN INTErNATIONAl SCHOOl

關於中美MISSION STATEMENT

辦學宗旨

uPCOMINg DATES 中美行事曆• May 12, ShowCAIS 2012: Over the Dragon Gate • May 24, State of the School / Alice Carnes Memorial

• June 3, Ultra Arts Fair / End of Year Picnic • June 13, Last Day of School

• June 18, Summer Program Session One Begins

lIKE uS! fACEBOOK.COM/CAISSf

fOllOW uS @CAIS_Sf