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Mandarin program in grades 6–12. As the program has expanded, we have added Eva Burgoyne to the faculty to teach our Middle School students. We were lucky to find Eva during the very strange spring of 2020, when we were entirely online. She bravely joined the Trevor team without ever setting foot in either building or meeting any of us in person! In speaking with her about this program, she conveyed the big- picture thinking that makes the program successful: "My aim is to facilitate students in acquiring effective communication skills in Mandarin, which includes listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities. In addition, I strive to foster cultural awareness and appreciation among our students. My objective is to encourage their engagement with diverse perspectives and cultivate their recognition of cultural differences to nurture students who can become better global citizens." By every measure, the program is thriving. Our students enter their classes enthusiastically with a big "Niǐ hǎo!" and they leave saying, "Zàijiàn!" and they banter away in Mandarin in between. Our Upper School students' work has been showcased at the National Chinese Expo of Students Works (NCESW). Middle School students have published original storybooks in Mandarin. Our students have visited Chinese communities in Manhattan and Queens so that they can practice their language skills in an immersion setting and sample traditional Chinese foods while doing so. On one field trip this school year, students enjoyed a lesson in how to play the Chinese harp. Mandarin students also learn the skill of calligraphy, which is as much art as it is writing. If you have never seen Chinese "magic" paper for calligraphy, which is activated by water and can be used repeatedly, it is something fascinating to try, even as an art project at home. The World Language department has also hosted multiple Lunar New Year celebrations for the entire Middle and Upper School communities. As we develop programming to celebrate students' and faculty's various cultures, this has become an event that everyone looks forward to. We've seen the traditional dragon dance, oohed and aahed at the feats of a Chinese acrobat, made zodiac symbols using paper folding and cutting with a teacher who guided us live from Beijing through Zoom, and tasted all sorts of delicious drinks (bubble tea, anyone?) and treats (the sugar sculptures were particularly popular). Ms. Hong summed up her feelings about the program this way: "I am proud of our Mandarin program's remarkable progress over the past six years. We have successfully built a comprehensive curriculum that spans eight levels from 6th to 12th grade, allowing our students to not only master the language but also immerse themselves in Chinese culture. It brings me great joy to witness the level of engagement displayed by all our students. I am also proud of our passionate Mandarin teachers and students, as well as their accomplishments." I am grateful to Mr. Reisinger for providing the initial impetus for us to pursue this new program. It isn't possible to know exactly how any new program will develop, but he knew that this would enrich our academic program and our community. Ms. Tisman shares that, "Scott was always supportive of the world language department. He encouraged new courses and innovation, and he made us feel good about ourselves as a school." This, perhaps, is the greatest gift of all. Xièxiè, Scott, for your vision and leadership. n TREVOR DAY SCHOOL / 31 INSIDE TREVOR TREVOR TRANSLATES FEATURE AR TICLES ALUMNI

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