E-news of April, 2015

1. Hot School News

2. March Monthly Reader

Flashback

3. April Monthly Reader:

Three Hens and a Peacock

4. Morning English:

Multiculturalism-Britain

5. About Tomb Sweeping Day

(Qing Ming Jie)

6. Excellent G1~G5 Winter

Assignment Projects

7. Outstanding Winter Assignment

8. G1~G3 Reading Funfest

Flashback

9. Reading Funfest Winners

Hot School News

Did you have any April Fool’s Day pranks and practical jokes on

April’s Fool Day? Did you share your fun experience with your family,

teachers, and friends?

Did you practice singing Polar Bear’s Big Chill with your classmates?

That was a cool song, wasn’t it? We have another storybook, Three Hens

and a Peacock for April. Don’t forget to read the story in the English

library during your break time.

The multiculturalism program for Morning English was about Britain.

Welcome to England, a country known for its rich history and royal

traditions. Along with Scotland and Wales, England makes up part of the

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Let’s learn about

1

April 1st.

This is the day upon

which we are reminded

of what we are on the other

three hundred and sixty-four.

-Mark Twain

British English and American English.

In addition, for Tomb Sweeping Day (Qing Ming Jie) has passed,

which is an important time to remember, honor and tend the graves of our

deceased ancestors. What do you know about Qing Ming Jie? Read the

article and find out more.

There were many excellent winter assignments projects for

different graders. Let’s take a look at some excellent work and the list of

our outstanding winter assignments.

Finally, the 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders had all enjoyed the Reading

Funfest. The students not only borrowed some books but also learned

about Dr. Seuss, Anthony Browne, and Hans Augusto Rey and Margret Rey.

Let’s take a look at the flashbacks of G1, G2, and G3 Reading Funfest and

also the reading Funfest Winners.

2 March Monthly Reader Flashback

Time: March 9th, 2015

Place: Auditorium

Instructor: Ms. Sandy Chen Students: Andrea, Aya, Joy, Jeremy, Selina

What was Polar Bear’s great idea? If you were him, what would you

do with a fish bone and a fishing rod? What are you waiting for?

Let’s go to English Library to check out “Polar Bear’s Big Chill”!

3

A peacock shows up on the Tuckers’ farm and brings many

welcome visitors by just wandering down to the road. The three

hens on the farm complain that they are doing all of the hard work

until the hound suggests a trade.

2015 April

Monthly Reader

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Location and Countries of the UK Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country located off the north-western coast of continental Europe. The country consists of the island of Great Britain, the north-eastern part of the island of Ireland and many other smaller islands. Capital City London is the capital city of the United Kingdom. Covering an area of 607 square miles, it is the

largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom. It is located on the River Thames.

It is the most-visited city in the world. The Tower of London, Kew Gardens, Palace of Westminster, St Margaret's Church, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly Circus, and Trafalgar Square are the major attractions.

Language of the UK The official language of the UK is English. However, there are some differences between British and American English. Be aware of the word choices; otherwise, it might cause some misunderstandings. Some of the examples are listed below.

British English

American English

biscuit cookie

chips fries, French fries

crisps potato chips

mad crazy, insane

pocket money allowance

trousers pants, trousers

pants underpants

4

London is a fascinating city laden with

history, filled with museums and art

galleries, beautiful green parks,

fantastic shopping and dining, a vibrant

theatre scene. London is truly a city that

has it all.

The 150

year old Big Ben Clock Tower is one of

London’s top attractions. The name Big Ben

actually refers not to the clock tower itself,

but to the 13 ton bell housed within the tower

and takes its name from the man who first

ordered the bell, Sir Benjamin Hall. It is the

3th largest free-standing clock tower in the world.

Cambridge is a charming English city

located on the River Cam just north of

London. As the home to one of the world’s

top universities, the University of

Cambridge, it has all of the cultural and

entertainment options you might expect

from a college town.

Our Little DJs of Morning English “All about Britain”

Hi, I am Jim. Hello, I’m Quentin.

Reference: http://www.touropia.com/best-places-to-visit-in-the-uk/

Tomb Sweeping Day

Tomb Sweeping Day is a holiday for Chinese

to commemorate and pay respect to the person’s ancestors.

On Tomb Sweeping Day, families visit the gravesite of their

ancestors to show their respect. It is also known as Clear Brightness Festival or

Qingming Festival which is a combination of happiness and sadness.

Tomb Sweeping Day is held 107 days after the start of winter and is

celebrated on April 4 or April 5, depending on the lunar calendar. It is also the time

to welcome the arrival of spring, when temperatures start to rise and rainfall

increases. This helped farmers know the right time to start plowing their fields and

sowing their crops. Tomb Sweeping Day is a national holiday in China, Hong Kong,

Macau, and Taiwan with most people having the day off from work or school to allow

time to travel to ancestral gravesites.

On Tomb Sweeping Day, families tend to their ancestors graves. They

will pull up weeds, attend to any repairs that the tombstone needs, and get rid

of underbrush. All dirt is swept away from the grave site to give the tomb a

bright appearance. They also burn incense and paper money to help the dead in the

other world. However, the process has been simplified with the rise of cremation.

Often, only flowers are offered at the memorial stone.

Then, the Chinese will offer sacrifices of food to their ancestors by

placing it on the tombs. The food is bland and dry, but this is to appease the

ancestors. Back at home, the Chinese will spread out a much nicer display of tasty

foods at altar tables. The foods are carefully arranged for good luck, and most of

the foods are dishes that the ancestor liked very much, including chicken, eggs, rice,

and other foods.

5

Tomb Sweeping Day is based on the Hanshi Festival. It was first celebrated

in the Tang dynasty (AD 618-907) as a memorial day for Jie Zitui. As legend goes,

there was much fighting for the throne during the period of the Warring States

(771-476 BC). The prince, Chong'er, managed to escape and went on a long exile

with his followers.

One day, Chong'er was starving to death when Jie Zitui, one of his followers,

saved him by cutting off a piece of own flesh to prepare a soup with. After 19 years,

Chong'er returned to his kingdom and became Duke Wen of Jin. He wanted to

reward all his followers, but Jie Zitui chose to lead a hermit's life in the mountains

instead.

The Duke traveled to the mountains to reward Jie Zitui personally, but

couldn’t find him. To force him out, he rather drastically set fire to the mountain.

When Jie Zitui was found dead a few days later, the Duke decided to commemorate

his death by establishing the Hanshi (or Cold Food) Festival, during which only cold

food can be eaten.

One year later, the Duke returned to the mountain and found that all the

burnt willows had revived. He was reminded of Jie Zitui’s nobleness and swept his

tomb in respect. He then declared the day after Hanshi Festival to be Qingming

Festival (Tomb Sweeping Day). The two festivals were later combined; this is where

the tradition of not cooking and eating cold food comes from in the modern version

of Qingming.

Tomb Sweeping Day has continued to be a celebration of new life, but also

a day to honor ancestors. It is believed that ancestors watch over their

families in their afterlife. For this reason, the

Chinese sacrifice things necessary to keep their

ancestors happy, so the ancestors will be

endowed with good fortune upon them.

Reference:

http://www.childbook.com/Tomb-Sweeping-Day-s/221.htm

http://chineseculture.about.com/od/chinesefestivals/a/Tomb-Sweeping-Day.htm

Outstanding Winter Assignment Projects by Ms. Ciou

Grade 1: Winter Homework: All about Me!(Mini Book)

Last semester, grade 1 students have learned how to introduce

themselves. For their winter homework, they made a mini book about

themselves.

Grade 2: My Family Tree-- Home Sweet Home

Grade 2 students are going to tell the story of their families by making a

family tree!

Class: 203

Group: Seagull

English Name: Ryan

Chinese Name: 李宏毅

Instructor: Ms. Tseng

Class: 103

Group: Jupiter

English Name: Woody

Chinese Name: 陳泓宇

Instructor: Ms. Wang

6

Grade 3: Food Poster

Last semester, all grade 3 students have been studying food and

adjectives to describe it. For the Winter Assignment, they created a

poster that told all about their favorite food.

Grade 4: Making Lapbooks: Research, Discover and Create

Do you have any pets at home? What is

your pet? Is it a cat, a dog, or a bird? In

this assignment, grade 4 students are

going to choose an unusual animal and find

out some interesting facts about the

animal.

Class: 302

Group: Sea Horse

English Name: Mag

Chinese Name: 曾子瑜

Instructor: Ms. Ciou

Class: 402

Group: Einstein

English Name: Katrina

Chinese Name: 李例潔

Instructor: Ms. Cheng

Grade 5: Country Poster

Except Taiwan, what is your favorite country? For this project, you

are going to find out the interesting facts about the country and make a

poster to introduce the country.

Class: 504

Group: Squirrel

English Name: Ashley

Chinese Name: 黃鈺淇

Instructor: Ms. Ciou

2015 Winter Assignment Top 5

Grade Teacher Group Top 5

1

Ms. Su

Venus 101 Alan 李御弘 101 Bonnie 林念瑾 101 Joe 洪聖球 101 Andrew 王萁禾 103 Bright 莊又亮

Uranus 102 Ryan 杜柏霆 102 Emily 陳芊娣 102 Wilson 黃堯倫 104 Ariel 林芯薆 104 Yuki 柯婷云

1

Ms. Ko

Mercury 101 Dylan 何浩魁 101 Eason 樓弈成 101 Wendy 羅子婷 103 Daniel 吳哲安 103 Jasmine 楊鈞閔

Saturn 102 Aurora 查韋杉 102 Bryan 李易 102 Tiven 廖宥閎 102 Wyatt 謝孟延 104 Andrea 張晏禎

1

Ms. Wang

Jupiter 101 Anne 許蕎安 103 Natalie 林心牧 103 Hannah 黃浩瑀 103 Vicky 江冠瑩 103 Woody 陳泓宇

Earth 102 Joey蘇仲威 102 Randy 陳叡霆 102 Max 呂柏翰 104 Ian 李意揚 104 Jessie 尚芯嫺

1

Ms. J. Chen

Neptune 102 Binson 李秉森 102 Sean 賴承軒 104 Yu-Ga 張祐家 104 Catherine 戴欐懿 104 Jelly 陳虹谷

Mars 101Ethan李宥辰

101 Riane王裕心

101 Ella黃靖云

103 Ming-Yun 潘明雲

103 Irene 黃庭瑜

7

2

Ms. Tseng

Woodpecker 201 Eunice陳姿宇

202 Cybill李玠儀

202 Ariel黃柔榛

202 Grace簡佳慧

202 Alexander L. Hsu許智皓

Seagull 203 Ryan 李宏毅

203 Amber 鄧歆樺

204 Jim 陳濬宏

204 Ray 楊睿紘

204 Tonton 葉彤彤

2

Ms. Yang

Dove 201 William 方浩宇

201 Stefano 馬秉宏

201 Iris 陳品蓁

202 Jake 黃瑞翔

202 Kate李寶心

Robin 203 Kenneth 黃靖凱

203 May 曾紫芸

203 Amy 呂恩美

204 Hank 黃浩淵

204 Kevin Chen 陳孟澤

2

Ms. Huang

Parrot 203 Christine 杜芸臻

203 Thomas鄭子桓

203 Winnie鄭暐寧

204 Maya李梓瑜

204 Josh 吳嘉栩

Peacock 201 Wilson 王偉劭

201 Conner王宇凡

201 Queena 張芳瑜

201 Molly 張馨予

202 Neo 蔣垣梃

2

Ms. Cheng

Eagle 201 Renee 楊芯瑀

201 Emily 張瀞允

202 Ray 葉峻睿

202 Peyton 鍾心卉

202 Georgia 許淳鈞

Toucan 203 Nemo 廖唯辰

203 Yvonne 吳詠安

204 Shunki 黃俊希

204 Charlotte 黃怡熏

204 Lulu 石喬如

3

Ms. J. Chen

Beluga 303 Ivy呂映蓉

303 Jeffery陳宥杰

304 Ken郭品謙

304 Kyle王聖元

304 Sandy 許芯禔

Starfish 301 Thomas黃彥綸

301 Bella簡慈嫻

302 Jean蔣明瑾

302 Rita林昀蓁

302 Shammah 林莎瑪

3

Ms. Ciou

Sea horse 301 Aaron 羅子豪

301 Bryan 賴秉暉

301 Zohra 王賀禧

302 Kelly 吳聿庭

302 Mag 曾子瑜

Dolphin 303 Brandon 陳立心

303 Yoyo 黃蓉

303 Abigale 陳芮琪

303 Valerie 林心悅

304 Annice 趙苡安

3

Ms. S. Chen

Sea lion 301 Vicky 楊芳語

301 Beckham張鈞翔

302 Iris 周瑋

302 Sean柯名烜

302 Jeromi應智鈞

Whale 303 Gaspar 李仲禾

303 Willie王力威

304 Kevin高健昌

304 Yasmine 陳妍希

304 Tiffany林芷諭

3

Ms. Ko

Swordfish 301 Melody 林孟潔

301 Phoebe 許芯瑀

301 Vivien 陳紫芸

301 Ashley 賴偲庭

302 Edward 許恆碩

Shark 303 Emily 王姵筑

303 Michelle 嚴珮瑜

303 Stanley 柏宣宇

304 Ethan 鍾佳憲

304 Grace 張瑜晏

4

Ms. Hsu Edison 401 Daphne 張偵楨

401 Phoebe 彭翊方

401 Mimi 劉芸

401 Annie 鹿嘉紜

402 Jacklyn 陳語婕

Shakespeare 403 Max 張佑晟

403 Derek 蕭奕翔

404 Fei 蔡英飛

404 Jed 陳靖德

404 Annie 彭琮貽

4

Miss Kao

Newton 401 Nina 呂安婷

401 Kelly 曾翊嘉

402 Tim 陳昶宇

402 Sophie 劉立文

402 Apple 洪迺絜

Grimm 403 Elsa 陳孟妤

404 Coco 蔡宜辰

404 Ethan 謝孟呈

404 Rose 陳品均

404 April 林毓晴

4

Ms. Lai

Nobel 401 Joseph 李權峻

401 Harry 王賀語

401 Maggie 鄭芷潔

402 Matt 陳又齊

402 Yoyo 劉祐呈

Dickens 403 June 葉盈均

403 Evans 張翼

403 Yoyo 劉芮伶

404 Joanna 彭若婕

404 Joyce 朱翊昕

4

Ms. Cheng

Einstein 401 Jerry 陳威翰

401 Stephanie 許濰伶

401 Charlotte 蕭妤秦

402 Wilson 許碩晏

402 Katrina 李例潔

Andersen 403 Mia 張紜

403 Bonnie 林芷岑

404 Ming-Yu 潘明羽

404 Rachelle 劉宜蓁

404 Ruby 吳幸儒

5

Ms. Ciou Panda 501 Josh 柯博允

501 Evelyn 黃怡融

501 Cindy 蔡馨誼

501 Yuki 黃佑琪

502 Tim 黃亭逸

Ms. Ciou Squirrel 503 Lawrance 姚雍翎

503 Allen 劉丞祐

503 Phoebe 陳子靜

504 Kyle 陳如明

504 Ashley 黃鈺淇

5 Ms. Yang Rabbit 501 Leo Wang 王力平

501 Bryan 曾士祐

501 Queeny 周宴綸

502 Ian 張璿程

502 Jessie 古孟臻

5

Ms. Lai

Bear 501 Justin 蔡承霖

501 Antonio 王順信

502 Katie 侯宣翎

502 William 周于崴

502 Ray 李子睿

Koala

503 Chris 李寶崴

503 Cindy 顧佳恩

503 Victor 吳侑霖

504 Dolly 丁琤庭

504 Melody 吳華蓉

5

Ms. S. Chen Cheetah 503 Sophie李昀蓁

503 Ruby 蔡薷誼

503 Megan周昀樺

504 Andrew徐煒博

504 Jason謝宗祐

Kangaroo 501 Andrea 羅安廷

501 Angely 李彥箴

502 Charlene 柏喬翎

502 Chloe 王姵勻

502 Monique張品晞

5 Ms. Huang Giraffe 503 Hermes 蘇致諭

503 Anglita 張晴茵

503 Nana 江宸儀

504 Duncan 張耕堂

504 Iris曾翊軒

6

Ms. Kao

Jasmine 603 Digu 陳子勳 603 Matilda 黃寗堯 603 Elaine 蒲依蓮 604 Rachel 簡睿頤 604 Madelin 袁慕恩 604 Livian 陳品瑄

Dandelion 601 Mark 林右承 602 Henrick 李知恆 601 Fifi 莊靜 601 Renee 鄭芮安 602 Candy 陳盈蓁

6

Ms. Hsu Lavender 601 Mina陳郁心 602 Mark 李奕成 602 Hannah 楊詠涵 602 Jack 林靖傑 602 Harvey 許書齊

Sunflower 603 Ken 陳昶安 603 Jerry 曾奕中 603 Audrey 陳瑄 603 Priscilla 陳宜鈴 604 Calvin 吳鎧丞 604 Rina黃于娟

6

Ms. Kao

Rose 601 Victor 王柏鈞 601 Bobo 楊寶玉 601 Melody 陳宣先 602 Kave 蘇柏愷 602 Selina 吳昭鈴 602 Cindy 黃聖茹

Tulip 603 Rex 杜家華 603 FiFi 韓菲 604 Johnny 林宜森 604 Amy 湯沛真 604 Angel 陳霨方 604 Tina 蔡詠如

6 Ms. Tseng Iris 603 Peter 徐沐恩

603 Liyan 孫立言

604 Zoe 黃筱柔

604 Alan 吳若豪

604 Lydia 呂宜樺

6

Ms. Su

Daisy

601 Andrew 郭懷仁

601 Linda 孫芝樺

602 Gio 鄭長和

602 Tim 詹為廷

602 Eric 廖駿愷

8

2015 Grade1 Reading Funfest Week

Dr. Seuss’

books are so

interesting!!!

Now we know

more about

Dr. Seuss!

We will know more about the great author Anthony Brown!

Borrow some books and read more !!

Anthony Brown’s favorite charactors are gorillas !

2015 Grade 3 Reading Funfest

George was published in the United in 1941. Curious George is famous for his ability to “save the day.”

Reading Curious George series is fun and interesting. I learn a lot from the authors

Hans Augusto Rey and Margret Rey!

2015 Reading Funfest Luck Draw Homeroom Group English Name Chinese Name

101 Jupiter Cindy 黃榆喬

101 Venus Bonnie 林念瑾

102 Neptune Allison 邱薪羽

102 Saturn Bryan 李易

103 Mercury Jasmine 楊鈞閔

103 Mars Gabbie 宋祖忻

104 Neptune Yu-Ga 張祐家

104 Earth Aley 黃彥翰

Homeroom Group English Name Chinese Name

201 Peacock Ryan 張達程

201 Woodpecker Brian 林柏安

202 Dove Cynthia 黃馨儀

202 Eagle Amber 林熙恩

203 Seagull Ivan 陳元昊

203 Parrot Winnie 鄭暐寧

204 Robin Brian 洪博洋

204 Toucan Charlotte 黃怡熏

Homeroom Group English Name Chinese Name

301 Sea horse Zohra 王賀禧

301 Starfish Chloe 簡苡亘

302 Swordfish Vincent 陳品丞

302 Sea lion Kenny 呂坤祐

303 Whale Gaspar 李仲禾

303 Dolphin Valerie 林心悅

304 Shark Gina 李郁瑩

304 Beluga Kyle 王聖元

9