Pictures from the S.E.E. Event 2013!
Parents, PTAs, Teachers and Principals came to the STAR Resource Station from all around Los Angeles to find out more about everything STAR Education has to offer! Here are some of our favorite pictures from the day…
STAR Chinese Instructor Returning Home
STAR bids farewell to one of our favorite language instructors, Vivian (Liping) Wang, who will be returning to her native China. For this past year Vivian has served as our after-school Chinese instructor at both Broadway and Nora Sterry Elementary schools through an arrangement with the Chinese government in conjunction with UCLA’s Confucius Institute. Said one Broadway student, “Vivian has helped me understand Chinese – and understand what life is like in China.”
Vivian Gives Students A Lesson In Chinese Cuisine
Vivian found one of the most compelling aspects of her work for STAR the ways in which we emphasize a global viewpoint. “In China, we teach just Chinese history, Chinese culture. Hear at STAR, the kids learn about how the whole world works. I’m proud to be part of that learning process.”
Vivian found the dedication and curiosity of her STAR students inspiring. “They could have chosen to spend their whole afternoon outside playing games. They wanted to have this time with me to learn Chinese, and they all learned so much so fast.”
Vivian Demonstrates A Language Tool
Vivian is sad to be leaving STAR, and we are sad to see her go. We hope someday she may return and work with us again. Regardless, her lessons will last STAR students a lifetime, and her contributions to our Language Department will be felt for many years to come.
STAR Communications Director Sam Lanckton Awards Vivian a Certificate of Appreciation
Now Read This! STAR Featured At L.A. Times Book Festival
Students from STAR schools throughout the region were invited by the Los Angeles Times to perform at the annual L.A. Times Festival of Books at the University of Southern California. In conjunction with the Spanish newspaper Hoy, STAR was also selected to organize the 2011 Spanish Spelling Bee. While STAR Spanish students impressed with their command of the language, STAR student performers had audiences stomping to the beat as they dazzled them with one performance after another.
A STAR Student Spells En Espanol
The following STAR schools and groups performed:
Irish Dance – Wonderland
The Irish Dancers from Wonderland Elementary demonstrated amazing speed and agility, setting the crowd’s toes tapping with their upbeat, rhythmic, synchronized numbers!
Bollywood – Eshelman
Hip hop hooray for Bollywood! Eshelman Elementary students boogied down to the maddest music from Mumbai in this East Indian Dance performance that showcased classical dance rhythms set to India’s latest Bollywood sounds.
Dance Team – Wonderland
The Wonderland Elementary Dance Team shuffled and slid across the stage, swirling and twirling as they performed the most daring of dances with the greatest of ease!
Folklorico Dance – Oxnard
Folklorico, traditional Latin American dance style was brought thrillingly to life by students from Oxnard, with their hands clapping enthusiastically and their feet keeping time with percussive heel-stomping. It was a beat-heavy whirlwind of dancing wonders.
African Dance and Drumming – Loyola Village
Loyola Village Elementary presented a performance steeped in the traditional culture, dance styles and drum techniques of Africa. Blending African percussion with thrilling and stylized dance moves, these students transported audiences back to the very birthplace of dance!
Marquez STAR American Musical! – Past and present students from Marquez Charter school performed songs from several historical musicals that dramatized major turning points in American history. These talented students have performed at the Broad Stage in Santa Monica and at the Duke Theater on Broadway in New York City!
RockSTAR All Star Band – Various STAR schools
The RockSTAR All Star band featured students from several STAR schools, keeping rock and roll alive and well as they wailed their hearts out.
STAR Chinese Teacher – All The Way From China!
STAR welcomes our newest Chinese teacher, Vivian (Liping) Wang, who comes to us all the way from Chongqing, China! Last year Vivian taught Mandarin during the school day to 2nd and 3rd graders at Broadway elementary, and this year she will be joining STAR as our after school Chinese instructor at both Broadway and Nora Sterry Elementary.
STAR's Newest Language Instructor - Direct From China!
A bright, energetic and thoughtful instructor, Vivian reflected on the differences between the school day in America and the one she encountered as a student in China. “In China we obeyed every rule. We had to sit with proper posture, and always show respect to the teacher. If you act out even once your parents get called in to meet with the teacher.”
Vivian was in for a big surprise when she started teaching at Broadway last year. “When I first walked in, I thought, ‘whoa, what are they doing?’ Why does a teacher need to take a student aside who is acting out?”
It didn’t take long for Vivian to start bringing a little traditional Chinese educational style into the classroom. “I taught them the posture we had to have when I was a child in school. The kids seemed to like it; they even started doing it when I wasn’t there. Their teacher really appreciated that.”
Vivian is excited to get started on bringing an understanding of the language and culture of China to a much wider base of students. “It’s wonderful to be working with STAR. Last year I saw the STAR teachers working with the kids, who were so excited to be learning. What STAR does – it’s such a good cause, and I am so proud to be a part of it.”
We are so proud Vivian is a part of STAR, too, and we know she will be a terrific addition to our staff of highly-qualified foreign language instructors. For more information on studying Chinese and other foreign languages, please contact Pablo Tellez, Head of the STAR Language Department, at pablot@starinc.org or by calling him at 310-736-8577.