On February 8th, the Golden Gate Bay Area Bo Ai Chinese School held its 45th-anniversary school celebration and Lunar New Year festivities at the Berryessa campus in San Jose, attracting over 700 attendees.
Representatives including Guo Huizhen, head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco, on behalf of Director Lai Mingqi, were present. Also in attendance were director Zhuang Yashu of the Overseas Compatriot Education Center, California Assemblyman Li Tianming, San Jose City Councilman David Cohen, President Li Naya and Vice President Fu Qijun of the Northern California Chinese Schools Association, as well as members and directors of the Berryessa Unified School District. Additionally, Congressman Ro Khanna sent a representative to join the event.
The celebration began with a lively lion dance performance, followed by a welcoming speech from Bo Ai Chinese School Principal Li Yiwu, extending gratitude to the guests and praising the hard work of the teachers. Guo Huizhen delivered a speech on behalf of Director Lai Mingqi, thanking overseas Chinese educators for their dedication, emphasizing the importance of education, and expressing the office’s commitment to promoting the Chinese language and culture to mainstream society and Chinese-American youths.
Director Zhuang Yashu expressed gratitude for the school’s efforts in promoting Mandarin, Cantonese, and Chinese culture. She presented spring festival couplets gifted by the President of Taiwan, conveying blessings for prosperity and success.
Li Naya, President of the Northern California Chinese Schools Association, thanked the teachers and parents for their support in preserving and developing Chinese education, enhancing cultural exchanges and understanding. She commended the Bo Ai teachers for their contributions and efforts.
A parent, Mr. Zhuang, working in semiconductor design, shared that both his daughters had been learning Chinese since kindergarten and that Chinese was spoken at home. His eldest daughter is in sixth grade and the younger one is in third grade. He highlighted how the school not only enhances the children’s literacy skills but also teaches them about Chinese culture, including knowledge about Taiwan, helping them understand their cultural background.
He emphasized the importance of such schools in the Chinese community, providing opportunities for the next generation to learn Chinese and understand their own culture. He praised the teachers for their passionate commitment to cultural inheritance and their dedication to promoting and sustaining Chinese education in the United States.
Throughout the celebration, students from various classes prepared dazzling performances, including Mandarin and Cantonese songs, dances, martial arts, showcasing their learning achievements and talents, adding a festive atmosphere to the event. Parents enthusiastically participated, applause resounding, immersing themselves in the celebration filled with the festive spirit and cultural richness.
Established in 1980, the Bo Ai Chinese School (Berryessa Chinese School) has two campuses, one situated in San Jose in Silicon Valley, focusing on promoting Mandarin education and Chinese culture. The school offers Mandarin and Cantonese courses catering to children and teenagers, including calligraphy, Chinese painting, martial arts, dance, and other cultural programs.
Furthermore, the school hosts traditional events such as the Lunar New Year and Mid-Autumn Festival annually to promote community exchanges. Upholding the spirit of “Bo Ai” (universal love), the school is dedicated to creating an immersive learning environment, passing on the spark of the Chinese language and culture in a diverse society.