親愛的蓋城家庭成員們，大家好!

又到了歲末年終的時候，也是一個讓我們回顧和感恩的時候。過去這一年，很多很多的事情發生了!有的讓我們感傷，有的讓我們欣慰，有的讓我們高興鼓舞，也有的讓我們沉默悔醒。不管哪一件事給你有最大的感觸，對我來說，最重要的還是要感謝好多好多默默奉獻參與的家長,老師,同學和許多的前輩。因為許多人無私和奉獻的精神給蓋城和中文教育，蓋城可以走過41的年頭。

無可置疑的，蔡慧玲校長無怨無悔地貢獻在蓋城和中文教育是會永遠記在我們心裡的。但是希望大家也不要忘記跟其他對蓋城有貢獻的人，像是我們董事長顏照晃，我們的教務管絮芬，我們的董事群，我們的老師，表示我們由衷的感謝。在這裡，我也要特別恭喜並謝謝我們高班B的王瑋文，毛億蓉，毛億瑄同學，在大華府數位導覽競賽主辦單位的要約下，他們同意在繁忙的課業下和短短一個星期的告知與準備，他們代表蓋城參加大華府數位導覽競賽，勇得第三名!當然他們的家長和老師在背後的支持與鼓勵，也是不可忽視的!就是有這樣的精神，我們蓋城才可以繼續沿續下去。

未來幾個月，蓋城安排或參與許多的活動。例如二月十三日支援 Quince Orchard Library 的中國新年慶祝和表演，二月十四日在蓋城的慶祝中國新年聚餐和表演，四月十七日校內認字比賽，四月二十四日漢字文化節活動暨午餐義賣，五月一日與台語學校合辦大華府中文學校聯合運動會，六月五日結業暨畢業典禮。僅靠董事老師學生和一些在上課時間留下來待命的家長(謝謝你們)是不夠的。親愛的家長，如果你還沒有機會幫助學校，請和我聯絡。幫忙無論大小，有了大家的參與，學校可以運作的更好。有了大家的幫忙，蓋城才可持續下去!

為慶祝中華民國105年元旦，華府榮光聯誼會、台灣同鄉聯誼會及黃埔同學會訂於2016年1月1日（星期五）上午10時假馬州洛城Richard Montgomery High School（250 Richard Montgomery Dr., Rockville, MD 20852）戶外廣場舉行「大華府地區僑學界慶祝中華民國105年元旦升旗典禮」。希望各位家長和同學踴躍參加。另駐美代表處亦將於當天上午10時30分假該校Cafeteria舉辦「慶祝中華民國105年元旦暨全僑新年團拜活動」。有興趣參加者請告知人數，謝謝!
  

祝福您闔家平安愉快，新年快樂!

蘇立群
 

Dear GCS family members,

This is the end of the year. It is also a time for us to count our blessings and give thanks to people who helped us, especially during difficult times.  There were many events happened this year. Some are encouraging; some are cherished; some were disappointing, and some may be used as lesson learned. To me, I think it is the important to me to thanks all of you who contributed so much to the Gaithersburg Chinese School in the past. Without many of you, there would not have the past 41 years of memories of the Gaithersburg Chinese School.

There are so many people at Gaithersburg Chinese School that have devoted so much of their efforts to the school. No doubt that Mrs. Hueling Tsai Evans is always going to be the top of everyone's memory. However, I want to remind everyone to express your gratitude to many others, such as our President, Mr. Chao-Huang Yen, Mrs. Hsu-Fen Kuan, all the board members, and all the teachers. I would also like to special mention and congratulate three of our High B students, Emily Wang, Yi Rong Moh, and Yi Xuen Moh for their willingness and effort at the last minute notice representing Gaithersburg Chinese School to participate in the Great Washington Metropolitan Area Chinese Culture Digital Learning Competition and won the third place. They did not have to go. However, their parents, their teacher, and most importantly, themselves are willing to represent our school to participate this competition. This spirit and dedication is really admirable.  

There are many scheduled activities in the next few months at the Gaithersburg Chinese School. For example, we will support Quince Orchard Library for their annual Chinese New Year and Culture celebration on February 13; we will have our annual Chinese New Year celebration and potluck the day after on February 14; word recognition contest on April 17; Chinese Language and Culture celebration and potluck fundraising on April 24; we are in charge the Great Washington Metropolitan Chinese School field day planning and organization together with Taiwanese School on May 1; and graduation on June 5. These activities cannot be accomplished with only a handful of board members and teachers. We need your participation! Parents, if you have not volunteered your time to Gaithersburg Chinese School recently, please come forward.  No act of kindness is too small.  Your small gift of time will go a long way. With your help, I sincerely hope our school will continue its work.

TECRO and several local Chinese organizations will celebrate the New Year this coming Friday at 10 a.m. (January 1, 2016) with a symbolic flag raising ceremony at the Richard Montgomery High School (250 Richard Montgomery Dr., Rockville, MD 20852). Lunch will be provided afterward at the cafeteria of Richard Montgomery High School. I hope there will be a good representation of Gaithersburg Chinese School at such a meaningful event. Please advise me and provide a head count if you are interested in participating.  

I hope you all have a happy New Year.  Count your blessings!
 
Sincerely,
 
Joseph Su