Discover China

DISCOVER CHINA Summer Professional Development Program for K-12 Leaders Purpose  Prepare your students with global skills for 21st- century success  Initiate or expand a Chinese language and culture program at your institution  Establish meaningful partnerships with Chinese education institutions and network with US colleagues

WHAT Highlights include Meet with national, city and district level education officials and educators

Meet with local Interact with US Chinese students K-12 students and parents studying Chinese in China

Visit local Cultural schools activities

WHO  K-12 district administrators, school leaders, and other education decision-makers actively seeking to develop new/expanded Chinese programs

WHEN

 June 22 - July 03, 2015 (tentative)  Application deadline: 4/15/2015 ORGANIZER  CAST-LA & SV – Chinese Association for Science & Technology Chapter at Los Angeles & Silicon Valley  Sino Language & Beyond – US-China Educational Exchange For Youth Since 2003 SPONSOR

 The Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council  City or Provincial government office of China PARTNER  AASA – The School Superintendents Association 2014 TRIP REVIEW

 6/21 & 22 Departed from hometown to China  6/23-6/25 Wuhan – the capital of Hubei Province with 3,500 years of history, and the most populous city in Central China  6/26-6/27 Chongqing - a major city in central China and one of China's four municipalities (the other three are Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin) with a population of 34 million  6/28-6/29 Chengdu - the capital of Sichuan province in Southwest China, and the 4th most populous city in mainland China dating back to +2000 years ago

 6/30-7/04 Beijing – the capital of China dating back three millennia, the 3rd largest city in the world, and has been the political center of the country for the past eight centuries.  7/05 Fly homebound

2014 TRIP PARTICIPANTS

 Mr. Chuck Woodruff, COO of AASA  Ms. Christine Syriac, Superintendent of the Seymour Public Schools District, CT  Ms. Tracy Crowe, Superintendent of the Pittsfield Public Schools, MA  Dr. Andrew Smith, Superintendent of the Antelope Union District, AZ  Ms. Sonia Beckford, Principal of the James Ryder Randall Elementary School  Ms. Judith Grow, Supervisor of English, Music & Chorus, and World Language Department, Lenape Valley Regional High School, NJ

6/24: Wuhan - Attend the Opening Ceremony of the Wuhan Overseas Chinese Entrepreneurship Development Convention Local Chinese media showed strong interest in our American guests. AASA COO Mr. Chuck Woodroof (left) accepted interviews. 6/24: Visit to the Wuhan Optical Valley Experimental School Meet with principals from several local schools in Wuhan and district education officials • Meet with Chinese educators • Enjoy a student performance and exchange gifts. Observe a class and interact with the students and teachers 6/24: Visit to the Middle School Affiliated with Central China University of Science and Technology 6/25: Chinese cultural day – visit to the Yellow Crane Tower (a national treasure) and the Hubei Provincial Museum. 6/26: Chongqing Visit to the High School Affiliated to Southwest University Above: A group photo behind the e-bulletin board welcoming the delegation

Right: exchange gifts 6/27: Meet with officials of Chongqing Foreign Affairs Office

6/27: Chinese cultural day – Visit the ancient Fishing Town, and cruise along the Yangtzi River for a night view of the “Mountain City” 6/28: Chengdu – Visit to the Wenjiang Middle School, meet with the leaders of the District School Board. 6/29: Meet with the Deputy Director of Chengdu Education Bureau and build collaborate relationship with Wenjiang Education Bureau.

6/29: Chinese cultural day – Visit to the Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base, cultural and historical neighborhood in Chengdu 6/30: Beijing – Meet with the director and officials of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Beijing Municipal, Beijing Education Bureau, district school board, and principals of several Beijing middle schools 7/01: Meet with the leaders from the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council 7/01: Visit to the Experimental School Affiliated to Haidian Teachers Training College and have seminar with the Haidian District Education Commission

7/02: Visit The Kindergarten Affiliated with the Beijing Normal University, and gain a understanding about China's early childhood education.

7/02: Visit to the Beijing Children Activity Center located in Xicheng District, and gain an understanding about how Chinese kids develop their interest in arts, music and dance.

7/03: Explore the Great Wall of China - the world's largest man-made structure, and one of the seven wonders of the World. 7/04: Visit to Sino Language & Beyond Chinese summer camp in Beijing, where American students get total immersed in Chinese language, culture and service. Cultural activities in Beijing: Kongfu show, Chinese Acrobatic show, Hotpot dinner, and Roast Duck dinner. LEADERS FROM K-12 SCHOOLS ARE INVITED TO APPLY FOR THIS UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL TRIP TO CHINA AS GUESTS OF THE OVERSEAS CHINESE AFFAIRS OFFICE OF THE STATE COUNCIL.

JOIN THE 2015 TRIP AND REGISTER NOW!