Families with Children From China, Northern California

Mailing address:
FCC - N. California, P. O. Box 6688, Albany, CA 94706

Chinese Language Schools

The following partial list is provided for information only. No endorsement by FCC is implied by inclusion in this bulletin. Contact individual parties to see if classes are being offered.

In addition, the Association of Northern California Chinese Schools offers a listing of schools in various locations.  See http://www.anccs.org/00/school-list.htm for a complete list.

Bilingual Day Schools 
After-School and Saturday School Chinese Classes
Summer Culture Camps
 

Bilingual Day Schools 
The following preschools and grade schools offer full-day programs with Chinese immersion constituting 50 percent or more of the curriculum. If you would like to be an FCC contact person for a bilingual school, please contact the website coordinator. 

For more information, a table summarizing what some of the schools offer has been compiled.

Balboa Preschool, 521 Balboa Ave., San Francisco 94118, (415) 668-5877 Preschool for ages 2 through pre-K, bilingual English/Cantonese (though teachers are also fluent in Mandarin). FCC contact: Joy Schermer,  JDSCHERMER@aol.com. 

Chinese American International School, 150 Oak Street, San Francisco 94102, (415) 865-6000, http://www.cais.org/
Now in its 23rd year, CAIS offers a full-day English and Mandarin modified-immersion program that educates students for academic excellence, moral character and international perspective through immersion in American and Chinese culture and language.  This pre-k through 8th grade independent school offers an unique education to a diverse student body where students acquire written and spoken fluency in both languages in an environment that encourages creative expression and personal responsibility.  CAIS also offers a summer program featuring classes and educational field trips.  FCC contacts include Anna Schmitz ASJCW@aol.com , Amy Klatzkin amyk@alumni.stanford.org, and Wendy Robushi wrobushi@aol.com, among a growing number of others.

Cupertino Language Immersion Program (CLIP)                                           Cupertino
A Cupertino Union School District alternative program for students in kindergarten through 8th grade. District residents are given priority, but out-of-district families are welcome to attend tours, orientation and register their children. Classroom tours and an orientation are offered in Jan. and Feb. of each year at Meyerholz Elementary School in San Jose. Info: Leslie Kornblum, Recruitment Coordinator, jpmoms@pacbell.net

International School of the Peninsula, 151 Laura Lane, Palo Alto, CA 94303, http://www.istp.org/
Admissions Information: (650) 251-8504
The International School of the Peninsula (ISTP) has a bilingual Mandarin Chinese and English program for students in Nursery through 8th grade. Our mission is to provide a challenging academic curriculum through a dual language immersion program within a nurturing multi-cultural environment. We accept children in nursery (age 3), pre-kindergarten (age 4), and kindergarten (age 5) with no language background in Mandarin Chinese. For a complete list of Information Nights and Campus Tours go to: http://www.istp.org/admissions/events_tours.html
FCC parent contact: Linda Park yuanning@pacbell.net or lpharmony@yahoo.com, Andrea Chan achan@slac.stanford.edu
 

New World Child Development Center, 730 E. Homestead Rd., Sunnyvale 94087, (408) 255-5330, www.newworldcdc.com
A new bilingual (Mandarin/English) preschool. FCC contact: Nancy Lourié Markowitz, nlaurie@aol.com. 

Pacific Rim International School, 5521 Doyle St., Emeryville 94608, (510) 601-1500; also 454 Peninsula Ave., San Mateo
Full-day bilingual multicultural Montessori programs with English and Mandarin instruction for ages 18 months through 12 years (sixth grade). FCC contact: Teresa Friend TFriend01@hotmail.com  
 

Presidio Knolls School, 2733 Lombard Street, San Francisco, CA 94123, Phone 415.292.9889
Mandarin Immersion, Ages: 2-5, Hours: M-F 7:30AM to 6:00 PM
www.presidioknolls.org, email: wendy @ presidioknolls.org or info@presidioknolls.org
 

San Francisco Unified School District-Public Chinese Language Immersion Schools:
 
1) Starr King Elementary School, 1215 Carolina St, San Francisco, CA 94107, Phone: (415) 695-5797
Mandarin Immersion.  FCC contact: Joanne Hurley jhurley0610@hotmail.com

2) Alice Fong Yu Alternative Elementary School, 1541 12th Ave., San Francisco, CA 94122, (415) 759-2764
West Portal School, 5 Lenox Way, SF 94127, (415) 759-2846
Cantonese immersion for grades K-5. Open to SF residents only; follow the SFUSD Optional Enrollment Request (OER) procedure. FCC contact: Linda James, (415) 285-3266.

Sunnyvale KinderCare center, 1155 E. Argues Avenue, Sunnyvale, CA 94086
Knowledge Learning Corporation is the parent company to close to 2,000 childcare centers nationwide, including KinderCare and Knowledge Beginnings.  We’re excited to announce that beginning this February 2008 we’re launching a Mandarin Immersion program in our Sunnyvale KinderCare center: Sunnyvale KinderCare Preschool Mandarin Immersion Program.  Contact: Center Director Mandy Cummando at 408-245-3276 or  Jennifer Ewell <JEwell@klcorp.com>

Wah Mei Preschool,1440 Judah St., San Francisco (665-4212), http://www.wahmei.org/
This school has over 25 years of bilingual (Cantonese/English) education for preschoolers. Ages 2.9 - 5. Morning, afternoon and full-day programs. Equal emphasis is given to both languages, with the goal of all children becoming fluent in both languages, regardless of their first language.  Saturday Mandarin class for children ages 3-5.  It will be a play-based program, conducted in Mandarin in small groups.  No prior knowledge in Mandarin is required.  FCC contact: Julie McDevitt at 647-4778 or sfmcdevitt@hotmail.com

Yew Chung International School, 310 Easy Street, Mountain View, CA 94043, 650-90-0986, www.ycef.com, inquiry@ycef.com
Yew Chung International School (YCIS) prepares young people to participate fully in the global society. The campus in Mountain View, CA joins a robust network of bilingual Chinese/English day schools serving preschool through 12th grade children in Beijing, Hong King, Chongquing and Shanghai. Their proven curriculum and teaching method -- developed through 60 years of experience with thousands of children -- teaches in both Chinese and English languages in a school environment that fosters in each child a love of learning, respect for self and others, and a global perspective. The school welcomes FCC families and offers special training for teachers in issues surrounding adoption and schools. FCC contacts: Alexis Hamilton (alexis@hgpr.com)


After-School and Saturday School Chinese Classes

The following partial list is provided for information only of schools offering Chinese classes either after school or on weekends. No endorsement by FCC is implied. Contact individual parties to see if spring classes are being offered.  For a complete list of the Association of Northern California Chinese Schools, see http://www.anccs.org/00/school-list.htm 


Albany Beginning Mandarin Class         Albany
Year-round class meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, 3:15–4:15. Taught by native speaker with university degree in
education. $10/class with monthly sign-up. Info: ckabond@sbcglobal.net.

Albany Recreation Dept.                                                                                        Albany
Beginning and advanced beginning classes offered Tues. and Fri., late afternoon/early evening. Info: 510-524-9283.

Phoebe Chen’s Saturday Chinese Classes         Berkeley
Phoebe Chen and Amy Kao’s classes have moved from the Albany Community Center to Epworth Methodist Church,
1953 Hopkins St., Berkeley. For ages 3 and up. Spring session begins April 1. Info: phoebechen@comcast.net or 925-
876-1148 or 925-283-8866.

Berkeley Chinese Community Church Chinese School         Berkeley
Beginning and intermediate Mandarin for kindergarteners and elementary- and middle-schoolers, as well as adults.
Saturdays 2:00–4:00, Berkeley Chinese Community Church, 2117 Acton St. Info: www.chineseschool-bccc.com.

East Bay Chinese Culture and Language Class        El Cerrito
Miaoyan Zhang teaches Chinese calligraphy, painting (brush and ink) and language on Saturday afternoons in his El Cerrito
home.  These are fairly informal classes with the Chinese dialogue part running from 2 to 3 pm and the art from 3 to 4:30 (you can attend for either or both).  Mr. Zhang also speaks Mandarin during the art  class.  E-mail Mr. Zhang at zhang_miaoyan@yahoo.com  or call 510 232-8288 for more information.

CCAC Chinese School                                                                                           Pleasanton
Amador Valley High School, 1155 Santa Rita Rd. Sun. morning classes for pre-K through 10th grade. Also children’s choir, dance, drawing, martial arts, math, and Chinese musical instruments. Info: www.caccusa.org

Champion Youth Enrichment School, Mountain View. (408) 838-3333 Chinese/Mandarin after school enrichment program. We pick up K-8 students from local schools (Mt. View, Los Altos, Palo Alto, Sunnyvale and Cupertino). Daily: 1 hour Chinese, math/English enhancement & Park outdoors. Weekly: Art, Drawing, Soccer, Chess, KungFu, English Writing, Piano, Violin, Accordion, Tennis, Children Choir. School Location: 2094 Grant Rd. Mt. View 94040 Contact: yang_jane@yahoo.com for more information.

Chico Chinese School, Chico: Meets every Sunday from 1:30-2:300 p.m. at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 285 E. Fifth St, Chico. Class fee is $5 per child per meeting with a semester commitment required. Focus is on the Mandarin language and the incorporation of Chinese culture. Classes are divided by age and language level. Open to the public. For more information, contact Dawn Campbell, wei03@telis.com. 
                             
Chinese Cultural Education Association (CCEA) New Sprouts         Oakland
CCEA New Sprouts offers year-round Friday morning and Sunday afternoon Mandarin classes to children preschool - 6th grade (ages 2.5 - 11 years old). We make Mandarin FUN and interactive. Classes are held at The Lake Merritt United Methodist Church, 1255 First Avenue in Oakland. After-school classes are offered at Chabot Elementary, Joaquin Miller Elementary and Redwood Day School in Oakland. Enrollment is twice yearly, during January and September. For more information on schedules, tuition and registration, please visit www.cceanewsprouts.org or call 510-206-5666.

Cupertino Mandarin Immersion Program     Cupertino
Opens to registrants outside the Cupertino school district. For students in kindergarten through 4th grade. Info: Sherry
Schmit, Recruitment Coordinator, 408-749-8188

Davis Chinese School, Davis: Meets in Room N-1, Davis Senior High School, 315 W. 14th St. For ages 5-18 with separate tracts for non-native and in-home Mandarin speakers. Meets Friday evenings from 7:00-9:00 p.m. with optional arts/crafts/other activities 9:00-9:30 p.m. Spring Semester is being held Feb 2, 2001-June 15, 2001. This school provides instruction in reading, writing and speaking Chinese to instill an appreciation and knowledge of Chinese customs and culture. Registration Fee $25 per semester waived for new students and returning students who meet the deadline registration date of June 9 (Fall) and December 1 (Spring). Tuition is $70 for the first child and $65 for each additional sibling and includes textbooks (some exceptions). For registration forms or additional information contact principal Grace Dahmus at (530) 753-2576 or Tsui Chang at (530) 753-0652. 

Enlighten School, Los Altos: This small English/Chinese pre-school is located at 1919 Annette Lane, Los Altos, in the backyard of the teacher's home. One teacher speaks only English, and the other only speaks Mandarin to the children. There are twelve students ranging from 3 to 5 years in age. Three-, four- and five-day options with hours from 9 a.m.-noon. Call (650) 938-2473. Waiting List. 

Fairfield Mandarin Class, Fairfield. A year round Chinese language school held 9:00 a.m.-11:15 a.m. for ages 4 ½-adult. Meets Saturdays at B. Gale Wilson Elementary School, 3301 Cherry Hills Court, Fairfield and is sponsored by the Chinese American Association of Solano County. Fee is $170/year (materials included). For more information call (707) 421-5255. 

Folsom Chinese School                                                                                          Folsom
Sutter Middle School, 715 Riley St. Fri. evening Mandarin classes for K through adults. Also classes in Chinese abacus, mental math, music, dance, drawing, etc. Info: www.folsomchineseschool.org.

Fun Mandarin Learning Center
www.funmandarin.com
Through songs, games, body movements, stories, arts & crafts, and hands-on activities, you will find Mandarin is such an easy language to learn. You will be immersed in a relaxed atmosphere with our native experienced teachers in a small group.  You can explore the amazing history of China, its ancient literature, culture and traditions.   Besides the regular classes, Tracy Chang provides private one to one and small group Mandarin classes for children and adults.

Hwa Shin Chinese School, Palo Alto. Chinese Saturday Classes.
Top-quality staff with years of experience in teaching Chinese language and culture.  Diversified activities such as reading, writing, conversing, calligraphy, painting, storytelling & singing, etc.  Small Class Size (16 maximum).  Non-Chinese speaking students welcome.  Encourage parents’ participation.
Jordan School: Saturday morning from 9AM – 11AM, starting Sept 10,2005
Jordan Middle School, 750 N. California Ave., Palo Alto, CA
Addison School : Thursday from 2:30PM –4:00PM , starting Sept. 8,2005
Addison Elementary School, 650 Addison Ave., Palo Alto, CA
Classes open for students from age 5 to 15 (from pre-kindergarten to 9th grade)
For school information, please call : Phyllis Lee at 650-948-2057 or Vivian Loh at 650-325-2877, www.hwashinschool.org, email: hwashinschool@yahoo.com

International School of the Peninsula         Palo Alto
The school offers evening Mandarin classes for adults and after-school classes (beginning and intermediate) for children.
Info: BeatriceBergemont@istp.org, 650-251-8519, or visit www.istp.org.
Chinese Culture Class Sunnyvale
Chinese culture class for 3–5 year olds meets every other Sunday afternoon during the school year for Mandarin, songs,
and crafts in a developmentally appropriate curriculum. Classes are held at New World Child Development Center. Info:
Wilma Chu, wilmachu@aol.com or 408-732-7776.