NEWS                                                                                   Walnut Valley Unified School District

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                           880 S. Lemon Avenue

February 1, 2013                                                                Walnut, CA 91789

 

Contact:                                                       

Kelli Gile, Office of Community Resources

(909)595-1261 ext. 31204

Diamond Bar, CA -- South Pointe Middle School hosted the 45-member Caishi Education Group Delegation during a 3-day visit January 30, 31, and February 1.

South Pointe 7th and 8th grade students were paired as mentors with the 37 middle school Chinese students who accompanied them to classes, toured the Huntington Library, performed choir, band, and traditional music for each other, and attended a school basketball game.

The visiting group also included five teachers and administrators.

The mentors and mentees enjoyed an All-American hamburger barbecue lunch together on the final day of the visit.

Students from across the globe share their talents with each other during a performance on January 31.

The group enjoyed eating icy treats during show held in the multipurpose room.

The audience included the distinguished visitors from China and their mentors, and 6th graders who received a special invitation for achieving their Accelerated Reader goal.

The elite wind ensemble, under the direction of Susan Willmering, performed “Downtown Dash”. The group has been invited to perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. this spring.

One of the 13 year-old Chinese guest students, a saxophone player, even joined the ensemble for a true cultural exchange.

The Showtime choir, under the direction of Robin Wadsworth, performed old American folksong called “Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier” that originated during the Revolutionary War. The 45-member group includes 8th grade girls and 7th grade boys.

South Pointe 7th grader Audrey Lee performed “Jasmine Flower” on the Chinese traditional guzheng string instrument.

Lee, who is also a member of the 7th grade choir, has played for just six months and currently takes lessons.

“It’s something I was drawn to,” she said.

The Chinese visitors then took the stage to share their talents at the culmination of the showcase.

Two students played traditional instruments and another group surprised the South Pointe students with a Chinese rap and dance featuring Kung-Fu. The crowd cheered and clapped along.

What have we learned during this visit?” asked Principal Sue Arzola during the performance on January 31.

“That honestly, kids around the world have a lot more in common than they have differences,” she said.

The South Pointe wind ensemble under the direction of Susan Willmering performed for the Chinese delegation on January 31. 

At right: An 8th grade saxophone player and member of the education delegation joined the South Pointe performance. 

Showtime, South Pointe’s mixed ensemble took the stage to perform a ballad during the talent exchange. 

During a solo performance, South Pointe 7th grader Audrey Lee performed on the guzheng, a traditional Chinese instrument. 

Two students from the visiting delegation shared their talent playing traditional Chinese instruments. 

The crowd cheered as the Chinese visitors danced during the global talent exchange. 

Students giggled during an All-American hamburger barbecue lunch on Friday, February 1. Photo courtesy of teacher Jessie Cadenas. 

South Pointe 8th grade students, Principal Susan Arzola, and the Delegation of Caishi posed on the last day of the visit to the Diamond Bar school. Photo courtesy of teacher Jessie Cadenas.