First...A special thanks to all who have already done lots to help!
Eisenhower's PTO has done a lot behind the scenes to help make XinXing successful. Let's not forget to show our appreciation by helping with our school events.
Eisenhower's PTO still needs volunteers for the Fall Festival and they are looking for new to gently used stuffed animals, books and small toys for prizes. There is a collection bin in the main office. Contact Doobie Kurus (952) 938-8202 if you have any questions or wish to volunteer!
The Fall Festival is Nov. 8th. from 5:30-8. Look for XinXing's booth! Thanks Megan for getting this together.
********WANTED*WANTED*WANTED*WANTED*WANTED*WANTED*WANTED*********
Stuffed animals (all sizes) Books (especially chapter books)
“Happy Meal” type trinket toys Leftover party favors Post Halloween candy
Oct 29, 2007
Oct 28, 2007
Moms' Night Out
Join Mary Fabian and Beth Ross for a Moms' Night Out. We plan to attend the Minhua Concert on Nov 10 and watch our very own Zhining Chin (who has done so much for our program) sing and her husband orchastrate the concert.
The music should be fabulous!
There are only a few tickets left so e-mail Zhining soon to buy a ticket for $12. It is open seating so we can meet before the concert and sit together.
Zhining's email zhining_chin@hopkins.k12.mn.us
Email Beth Ross if you plan to attend or have any questions at bross@superinfoinc.com.
You can also find out more on Minhua's web site
www.minhuachorus.org
The music should be fabulous!
There are only a few tickets left so e-mail Zhining soon to buy a ticket for $12. It is open seating so we can meet before the concert and sit together.
Zhining's email zhining_chin@hopkins.k12.mn.us
Email Beth Ross if you plan to attend or have any questions at bross@superinfoinc.com.
You can also find out more on Minhua's web site
www.minhuachorus.org
Spirit Wear - Order Now!
Are you wondering what to get Grandma and Grandpa or an Aunt or Uncle for the Holidays?
Order XinXing spirit wear by Nov. 1st and get your Holiday shopping done early!
Contact Kimberly at xinxingparent@yahoo.com if you have any questions or need an order form.
Next order won't go in until Spring!
Order XinXing spirit wear by Nov. 1st and get your Holiday shopping done early!
Contact Kimberly at xinxingparent@yahoo.com if you have any questions or need an order form.
Next order won't go in until Spring!
Halloween Party (Oct. 31) Schedule
1:30 Schoolwide Costume Parade around Eisenhower – parents
are welcome to come and stand in the halls (with cameras) to watch the
parade! Children bring their costumes in a bag at the beginning of the day.
2:00 ‐3:00 Classroom Party, including:
* Halloween Craft Projects
* Halloween Dessert Project
* Trick or Treating around the room
At conferences, parents were asked to donate $7/family for the year to cover the costs of the 3 parties that we will have during the year. The Halloween Party will be an English‐speaking event! We will have three stations with a variety of simple Halloween craft projects, and one station with a (probably messy) Halloween dessert “project.”
The party will conclude with Trick‐or‐Treating around the room, and most likely a video at 3 pm to calmthe children down before dismissal.
Volunteers are needed in three areas:
1) 1:00 – 1:30. Help children get costumes on for the parade.
2) 2:00 – 3:00. Help at the classroom party with stations.
3) We also need a photographer to document this fun event!
If you would like to volunteer, please contact your room parent.
Wang Laoshi - Betsy Auth
DongHong Laoshi -Andrea Kromschlies
are welcome to come and stand in the halls (with cameras) to watch the
parade! Children bring their costumes in a bag at the beginning of the day.
2:00 ‐3:00 Classroom Party, including:
* Halloween Craft Projects
* Halloween Dessert Project
* Trick or Treating around the room
At conferences, parents were asked to donate $7/family for the year to cover the costs of the 3 parties that we will have during the year. The Halloween Party will be an English‐speaking event! We will have three stations with a variety of simple Halloween craft projects, and one station with a (probably messy) Halloween dessert “project.”
The party will conclude with Trick‐or‐Treating around the room, and most likely a video at 3 pm to calmthe children down before dismissal.
Volunteers are needed in three areas:
1) 1:00 – 1:30. Help children get costumes on for the parade.
2) 2:00 – 3:00. Help at the classroom party with stations.
3) We also need a photographer to document this fun event!
If you would like to volunteer, please contact your room parent.
Wang Laoshi - Betsy Auth
DongHong Laoshi -Andrea Kromschlies
XinXing Sunday Afternoon Playtimes
This is an opportunity for XinXing families to connect in an informal setting outside of school. Join in the fun for all or part of each playtime!
November 4 Indoor/Outdoor 1:00 – 4:00
Westwood Hills Nature Center
www.stlouispark.org
December 2 (revised) Indoor play 1:00 – 4:00
Maple Maze
www.ci.maple-grove.mn.us
December 30 Ice Skating 1:00 – 4:00
Centennial Lakes Park
www.ci.edina.mn.us
February 3 Sledding/Tubing 1:00 – 4:00
Theodore Wirth Park
http://www.minneapolisparks.org/
March 2 Swimming 1:00 – 4:00
Chaska Community Center
http://www.chaskacommunitycenter.com/
April 6 Adventure Park 1:00 – 4:00
Edinborough Park
http://www.edinboroughpark.com/
May 3 TBA
Please check websites for information and admission prices. Please contact Traci Meyer.
November 4 Indoor/Outdoor 1:00 – 4:00
Westwood Hills Nature Center
www.stlouispark.org
December 2 (revised) Indoor play 1:00 – 4:00
Maple Maze
www.ci.maple-grove.mn.us
December 30 Ice Skating 1:00 – 4:00
Centennial Lakes Park
www.ci.edina.mn.us
February 3 Sledding/Tubing 1:00 – 4:00
Theodore Wirth Park
http://www.minneapolisparks.org/
March 2 Swimming 1:00 – 4:00
Chaska Community Center
http://www.chaskacommunitycenter.com/
April 6 Adventure Park 1:00 – 4:00
Edinborough Park
http://www.edinboroughpark.com/
May 3 TBA
Please check websites for information and admission prices. Please contact Traci Meyer.
Oct 27, 2007
Lion Dance World Championships
Lion dance (simplified Chinese: 舞狮; traditional Chinese: 舞獅; pinyin: wǔshī) is a form of traditional dance in Chinese culture, in which performers mimic a lion's movements in a lion costume.
The lion costume may be operated by a single dancer, or more frequently by a pair of dancers. The single dancer springs about while energetically moving and shaking the head and operating the jaws and eyes. The pair of dancers, forming the back and fore legs of the beast, mimic the motions of a single animal as they move between platforms of varying elevations. The dance is traditionally accompanied by gongs, drums and firecrackers, representing the descent of good luck. (to read more and blurb source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_dance)
Watch videos of amazing lion dances.
http://www.genting.com.my/en/live_ent/2000/liondance/video2000.htm
The lion costume may be operated by a single dancer, or more frequently by a pair of dancers. The single dancer springs about while energetically moving and shaking the head and operating the jaws and eyes. The pair of dancers, forming the back and fore legs of the beast, mimic the motions of a single animal as they move between platforms of varying elevations. The dance is traditionally accompanied by gongs, drums and firecrackers, representing the descent of good luck. (to read more and blurb source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_dance)
Watch videos of amazing lion dances.
http://www.genting.com.my/en/live_ent/2000/liondance/video2000.htm
Oct 15, 2007
Directory going to print on Friday
The XinXing directory will be printed at the end of this week. Please send directory updates or pictures by Friday. If you did not get a return e-mail that mentions your new information has been added, I didn't see your e-mail.
Hopefully, the directory will be ready for the Thursday folders following break.
Beth
bross@superinfoinc.com
Hopefully, the directory will be ready for the Thursday folders following break.
Beth
bross@superinfoinc.com
Minnesota Advocates for Immersion Network - Oct. 25
We have been invited to attend MAIN (Minnesota Advocates for Immersion Network) parent group. They meet monthly to address issues of interest and concern to immersion parents from the structure of the PTO to teacher trainees.
Their next meeting will be at Normandale French Immersion on Thursday, October 25, from 9:45-11:30 am.
The invitation is open to all XinXing parents.
Their next meeting will be at Normandale French Immersion on Thursday, October 25, from 9:45-11:30 am.
The invitation is open to all XinXing parents.
Oct 13, 2007
Children and Conferences
Conferences are next week and parents will meet with the teachers in the classrooms. There will be a table set up in the hallway by the classroom for children who come along and need a place to sit and read or color.
More learning Mandarin web sites...
More learning Mandarin web sites...
If you go to the bottom of the page, there is a chart where you can select different pinyin and hear how it is pronounced. There are also some matching games that the kids might find fun. http://www.newconceptmandarin.com/support/Intro_Pinyin.asp
Numbers: http://hua.umf.maine.edu/Chinese/games/numbers/chinese/one.html
Colors: http://hua.umf.maine.edu/Chinese/stories/xinxin/saving/colorc.html
If you go to the bottom of the page, there is a chart where you can select different pinyin and hear how it is pronounced. There are also some matching games that the kids might find fun. http://www.newconceptmandarin.com/support/Intro_Pinyin.asp
Numbers: http://hua.umf.maine.edu/Chinese/games/numbers/chinese/one.html
Colors: http://hua.umf.maine.edu/Chinese/stories/xinxin/saving/colorc.html
Oct 1, 2007
An Introduction to Mandarin Chinese
BBC offers a lively introduction to Mandarin Chinese in ten short parts. View them at http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=fx5ljdcab.0.0.8mdcbyn6.0&ts=S0273&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Flanguages%2Fchinese%2Freal_chinese%2F&id=preview.
First XinXing Parent Group Meeting
The parent meeting will be located in the staff lounge at Eisenhower. (The staff lounge is through the main doors. Go past main office and all the way down the hall where you take a left.
Go almost to the end of the hall and take a right. Look for staff lounge.)
On October 8th, the Xinxing parent group will be meeting at 7 pm. Some of the topics we will be discussing include the role the XinXing parent group, our support of the Halloween party, the addition of a Chinese event to the Imagination fair, website creation and opportunities to volunteer beyond the PTO.
Go almost to the end of the hall and take a right. Look for staff lounge.)
On October 8th, the Xinxing parent group will be meeting at 7 pm. Some of the topics we will be discussing include the role the XinXing parent group, our support of the Halloween party, the addition of a Chinese event to the Imagination fair, website creation and opportunities to volunteer beyond the PTO.
