Elementary and Advanced Chinese students used their chopsticks to enjoy a Chinese luncheon at Buffet City before continuing on to The Hermitage in Norfolk.  Students there learned about the Silk Road, made kites, admired East Asian artifacts, and played games to strengthen their knowledge of Chinese culture, history, and artistic influence.

Field Trip tee shirts were distributed today at STARTALK.  Students of Chinese must wear them tomorrow, July 13, 2016. Regular classes will continue, including Daily Exercise tomorrow, so students must arrive at the regular time and wear close toed shoes.  We will travel by bus to a buffet luncheon at a Chinese restaurant and then continue on to The Hermitage Museum in Norfolk to view the East Asian artifacts and engage in fun, cultural activities.  Parent pick-up at Providence ES is at 3:00 PM. (Changed to 4:00 PM)

Ms. Christine Lee, a college student from Yorktown, visited the STARTALK classrooms today to talk about her experience studying abroad in China as part of the NSLI-Y program.  NSLI-Y provides high school students with an opportunity to stay with a family and study a critical language in an immersive setting for a summer or school year, all expenses paid.  Countries include Russia, China, Korea, Jordan, and Morocco.  For more information: http://www.nsliforyouth.org/
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Field Trip Forms are due on 7/5/16.  Students will NOT receive the tee shirt until the field trip permission form is received.

Students MUST wear the tee shirt on the field trip on 7/13/16.  The tee shirt may be worn at any time as long as it is clean for the day of the field trip!

Join us for an orientation to this year's STARTALK Program at Providence! 
Meet the teachers and tour the facility

Thursday, June 23, 2016
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
Parents and siblings welcome

Providence Elementary School is our new STARTALK home, but the Chinese program remains the same. Brochures have been sent to all current fourth grade students in the school division. Notifications will be sent via e-mail by June 1st. 
Last summer's Elementary participants have been invited to apply for the Advanced program via Google Forms. Under the guidance of Lead Teacher, Nora Benedict, the returning rising sixth grade students will learn about marine animals and the environment here in Virginia Beach and in China. 
All levels will partake in enrichment classes in Calligraphy and Brush Painting taught in Chinese by veteran STARTALK teacher, Ms. Chao. To model the mind-body connection, Mr. Levinsky will lead students in the typical Chinese exercises enjoyed by citizens of all ages in Chinese schools and parks.

Students returned to STARTALK in February 2016 for four 90 minute afterschool sessions to celebrate the Chinese New Year.