Pacific Beach Middle – The sixth grade Mandarin immersion students in Boyan Zhang’s classroom at Pacific Beach Middle School enjoyed a feast of the senses on Feb. 18, as they prepared their elaborate buffet of traditional Chinese foods. Each recipe was researched in advance and prepared by the students themselves. Handmade posters and homemade video tutorials accompanied each item. The annual Chinese food project is a much-loved tradition for the sixth-grade immersion class, not only because it incorporates the Mandarin reading, writing, and speaking skills they have been honing since elementary school, but also because it (literally) adds flavor to classroom learning.
“Tasting each dish was like tasting a piece of China,” said sixth-grade student Texas Z., who selected scallion pancakes for his project. “Everyone in our class chose to make authentic Chinese foods and I sampled all of them – even the ones I didn’t think I would like. Also, it was fun to make a video of my recipe at home. Everyone in my family wanted to taste my pancakes.”
Bringing the project into the home and making it a family affair was an important component of the lesson. According to Zhang, engaging the students’ parents in the selection of the recipe, purchasing the ingredients, making the dish, and filming the video allows them to gain a greater appreciation for their students’ language skills and the Chinese culture.
The San Diego Unified School District’s Mandarin immersion program begins in kindergarten at Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary School and continues into PBMS and Mission Bay High School, giving students the opportunity to be immersed in the language from kindergarten through high school. Hands-on, cultural projects like this one make learning fun and leave the students hungry for more.
– WE Charity encourages people of all ages to make a difference, both domestically and locally, through programs like WE Schools and WE Villages. WE Charity is financially efficient as an average of 90% of donations going directly to child-serving programs. ASB advisor, Ashley Hensen said ” ASB can’t wait to put these funds to good use to spread kindness. PBMS ASB has run various WE Campaigns throughout the school year, including a WE are Silent Campaign, raising $193 via penny wars to help fund education in rural China. Pacific Beach Elementary – New student registration for TK-fifth grade has begun at Pacific Beach Elementary. Please make sure to have proof of address, student’s birth certificate, and immunization record. Please call 858-488-8316 for more information and ask for Gloria Reyna.
– PB Elementary is gearing up for its annual auction – the biggest fundraiser of the year. The online portion of the auction begins Monday, March 16th, and now is the time to visit the auction site, register, and begin browsing the silent auction items online. You will have one week, March 16-23, to bid and battle against fellow parents for items. Remember to choose a catchy handle to use while bidding as everyone has a secret name so you don’t know who you’re bidding against. pbe.schoolauction.net/downandderby/signup. For questions, email [email protected]. Barnard Elementary – Barnard Mandarin Magnet Elementary School community welcomed the Chinese Year of the Rat over several weeks in January and February. Barnard students performed in Chinese New Year events at Sea World, Balboa Park, and downtown. Students from each classroom took to the stage for their families in acts that highlighted different Chinese arts, including traditional and contemporary songs and dance, kung fu, and more.
The highlight of the celebrations was Barnard’s annual free, community-wide Chinese New Year festival, held on Feb. 1. Festival attendees enjoyed spirited entertainment, fun games, and food throughout the day, a labor of love and the result of hours of work from dozens of dedicated parent volunteers. “I love to watch the Chinese New Year performances with my family and friends,” said Barnard first-grader Natalie M. “They are so interesting. They teach me about China.” – For more information on Barnard Elementary or to find out about the District’s School Choice program, visit sandiegounified.org/barnard.