HSArts Community Newsletter – Apr 21

San Francisco High School of the Arts Community Newsletter | April 21, 2023

FROM THE ADMINISTRATION

Important Dates
Apr 24 PSAT Testing

May 3 Asian Heritage Month Performance at Kaiser


Remarks from our Head of School

We had our first Career Fair led by our Parent Club last week! We had 15 presenters give insights to their professions, which included computer, branding, finance/loan, accounting and chemistry.  It is great for our students to think about where their passion lies and what they want to do in the future. Big thanks to our parents and teachers who made this happen! 


Dr. Sherry Zhang 
Head of School
San Francisco High School of the Arts

*Editor’s note: Pictures from the Career Fair in the STUDENT LIFE section

Virtue of the Month: Responsibility

Mr. Brian, Responsible Man, Responsible Plans

“The price of greatness is responsibility.” -Winston Churchill

Responsibility is one of the most important virtues we can possess as human beings. It’s the cornerstone of our personal and professional lives, and it’s essential for our well-being and success. But what does it really mean to be responsible?

To be responsible means taking ownership of our actions and the consequences that follow. It means being accountable for our decisions and choices, and recognizing the impact they have on others. It means showing up, being present, and doing what needs to be done, even when it’s hard or inconvenient.

Continued in the CULTURE section

*Editor’s note: Sorry for the delay in production! We had a very busy week last week, with events almost every day! Don’t worry, we have pictures. Lots of pictures. Like…get yourself strapped in for all the pictures you’ll get 🙂

ACADEMICS

Featured Academic News of the Week    

Ms. Ginnie Wu, History Teacher

This week we wrapped up the final unit in AP Macroeconomics (International Trade and Finance). Students received their first full-length practice exam to take home and will be completing several more next week. We will also be reviewing select topics from Units 2-4.

Just a reminder to all AP students that there are only two more weeks before AP testing begins! Please make sure to be **responsible** for your own learning, stay on top of your assignments, and reach out to your teachers if you have questions. 

Meanwhile, Modern World History students are discussing the Great Depression and New Deal while English 8 is starting the last assignment in our poetry unit. 


ARTS

Featured Arts News of the Week    

Mr. Brian Nieh, Facilitator of Things, Decidedly not very French


Last week, we welcomed a group of dance students from the faraway island of Tahiti. As part of our Intensive Arts Bootcamp Program, 10 dance students visited San Francisco and our school to experience Chinese dance and learn from our teachers. Speaking mainly French, we had some growing pains to work through to even communicate with them. Luckily, dance is a universal language. And also, a few spoke enough English to help translate.

Several of our students volunteered as student ambassadors, greeting and talking with our Tahiti friends to help them get acclimated to our school. During classes, lunch time, and all the breaks in between, they helped welcome and make the Tahiti students feel at home, so a big thank you to all of them!

The Tahiti students had 6 hours of dance with us each day, having their own classes in the mornings during our academic periods, and then more dance in the afternoon during our arts periods. That’s a whole lot of dancing! Our team of Ms. Hanna, Ms. Annie, Ms. Emily, and Mr. Mike were able to provide a variety of dance content for them to have a full bootcamp experience. They even learned a whole dance in the style of the Xinjiang ethnic group, captured in the farewell showcase last Thursday.

In the future, we will continue to explore opportunities for both students to come visit us and for our students to visit other school, not unlike our recent trip to Taiwan! In fact, our Tahiti friends have already invited us to visit them next year!

ADMISSIONS

HSArts will continue to provide private campus tours over the next several weeks giving all interested students and their families the opportunity to further explore our programs and offerings.  Please RSVP here to schedule your tour.
YOUNG ARTISTS
Young Artists News from the Competition
By Ms. Ginnie and Ms. Hanna, Newspersons of the Young Artists

Our students attended Epic Dance Competition in San Jose during the April 14-16 weekend. We have seen them grow so much as dancers since the last competition a month ago! Competition results are listed below. 


Andy Ispas and Abigail Wong received 1st Place Overall for their duet “Chasing Light” and a Platinum award!
✨ Abigail Wong received Epic Platinum and Platinum for her solos “Out of My Mind” and “Ode to Lotus” respectively, and placed 2nd Overall in her division. 
✨ Emilie Fu received 2nd Place Overall and a Platinum award for her solo, “Dancing in the Rain.”
✨ Kylie Tang and Abbie Tanabe received 3rd Place Overall and a Platinum award for their duet, “Together We Stand.”
✨ Andy Ispas received a Platinum award and 8th Overall in division for his solo, “Courage,” as well as a “Powerhouse” Judges’ Award for his dynamic leaps and jumps!
✨ Kylie Tang received Platinum and 9th Overall for her solo, “Remembrance.”
✨ Madeleine Chan received Platinum and 10th Overall for her solo, “Teahouse Waiter.”

Photos courtesy of our Dance Instagram account @hsarts_dance. Make sure to follow and like!

STUDENT LIFE
Santa Cruz Trip
Recap by Mr. Brian, reporting live from on the scene

On Friday, April 17, we ventured down south to the Los Gatos mountains, to a land that’s the school’s land for outdoor things. There, students engaged in the student council prepared EGG HUNT! 

And hunt they did, uncovering little egglings in nooks and crannies, over, sideways, and under on a magic carpeted egg hunting extravagenza.

The prizes? Lots of delicious chocolates and candies and 8 special tickets to Whack the Easter Bunny Piñata!

*Editor’s note: no real bunnies were harmed in the bunny battery batting session.

After spewing the sweet sweet candied innards of the piñata, we had an egg decorating contest!

We had first, second, third places and a few honorable mentions!

Honorable mention: Ivy Vong
Honorable mention: Dylahn Zamudio
Third Place: Lucas Luu
Second Place: Coco Waissman


First Place: Angela Zhang

And then we had lunch!

All in all, fun times!

We wrapped up our day at the Santa Cruz Boardwalk! Students split into groups and had at it! Rides, beach, sunshine, and lots of food and drinks!


Thanks again to our student councils and Ms. Anne for helping to organize this wonderful day!

Career Fair (in Pictures)
Wednesday, April 15

CULTURE
Continued from the Front Page
Still Mr. Brian, responsibly finishing this op ed piece

Responsibility is not just about fulfilling our obligations and meeting our commitments. It’s also about recognizing our power and agency to make a positive difference in the world. When we take responsibility for our lives and the world around us, we become agents of change, capable of shaping our future and creating a better world for ourselves and others.

Unfortunately, not everyone embraces responsibility. Some people fall into a victim mentality or mindset, where they believe that their circumstances are beyond their control and that they have no power to change them. They may blame others for their problems, make excuses for their failures, and resist taking responsibility for their lives.

“When you think everything is someone’s fault, you will suffer a lot. When you realize that everything springs only from yourself, you will learn both peace and joy.” -Dalai Lama

The truth is that we all have the power to take responsibility for our lives, no matter our circumstances. We may not be able to control everything that happens to us, but we can control how we respond to it. We can choose to see challenges as opportunities for growth, to learn from our mistakes, and to take proactive steps to improve our situation.

So how can we cultivate a sense of responsibility in ourselves and others? Here are a few ideas:

First, start with yourself. Take responsibility for your thoughts, actions, and choices. Be honest with yourself about your strengths and weaknesses, and work to develop your character and skills. Set goals and hold yourself accountable for achieving them. Don’t blame others for your failures, but learn from your mistakes and use them as opportunities for growth.

Second, lead by example. Show others what it means to be responsible by modeling the behavior you want to see in them. Be reliable, trustworthy, and dependable. Follow through on your commitments and do what you say you’ll do. Communicate clearly and honestly, and be open to feedback and criticism.

Third, empower others. Encourage others to take responsibility for their lives and their world. Help them develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed. Support them in their goals and aspirations, and give them opportunities to lead and make a difference.

Finally, remember that responsibility is not a burden, but a privilege. It’s a sign of our maturity, our self-awareness, and our commitment to making the world a better place. So embrace it, cherish it, and use it to create the life and the world you want to see.

As the great Ben Parker once said, “With great power, comes great responsibility.” 

Let us all strive to be responsible individuals who take ownership of our actions and make a positive impact on the world around us. Let us lead by example, empower others, and embrace the privilege of responsibility. Together, we can create a better future for ourselves and for generations to come.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Coming soon!
May 3
Asian Heritage Month Performance at Kaiser
May 6

Student Art Gallery at Stonestown mall

May 5-7
Thunderstruck Dance Competition
May 10
Spring Spectacular Dress Rehearsal #1
May 11
Performance at Stevenson Elementary School
May 16
Charlotte’s Web Open Rehearsal
May 17
Performance at Sagebrook Senior Center, sponsored by NHS
May 19
Charlotte’s Web musical performance
May 19-21
Headliners Dance Competition

Communication is essential and we strive to connect with our students, parents, and families throughout the school year. We will continue reaching out to you with this weekly newsletter. We also encourage you to visit our website and follow our social pages including Facebook and Instagram for announcements, information, and celebrations
 4-21-2023
Read more

HSArts Community Newsletter – Apr 7

San Francisco High School of the Arts Community Newsletter | April 7, 2023

FROM THE ADMINISTRATION

Important Dates
Apr 12 Career Fair

Apr 14 Land Day & Santa Cruz


Remarks from our Head of School

We are back! We had a wonderful time in Taiwan. We visited beautiful places, tasted lots of delicious fruit and food, and made many new friends! The most inspiring experience is studying at Niaosong, another arts high school and among many like-minded young artists. This exchange will become our high school’s new tradition in the years to come!


Dr. Sherry Zhang 
Head of School
San Francisco High School of the Arts

Land Day, Easter Event, and Santa Cruz Boardwalk, Oh My!

Mr. Brian, Santa Cruising, Bored-walking, 

April 14. Mark it down: We’re going to the Land! This time… with an Easter theme!

Why hunt for eggs at the park, when you can do it in the lovely Santa Cruz mountains? Our student council has prepared Easter activities for our students to enjoy, which include the classic hunt, egg decorations, and a piñata! 

After some delicious outdoor BBQ and other delicious delicacies, we’ll head down to the Santa Cruz boardwalk. Hang out on the beach, feel the breeze and watch the waves crash to the symphonic soundtrack of the local sea lions.

Or maybe you’re a thrill seeker, and bought the park ride pass for roller coasters galore! Whatever flavor your fun, you’ll find lots of it on our upcoming field trip next Friday.

Who’s excited?

ACADEMICS

Featured Academic News of the Week    

Mr. Ray Chen, Math Science Computer Science Teacher and Enthusiast

We’re approaching the due date of AP CSP’s Create Performance Task. Students are working very hard to create their own programs utilizing functions, data abstraction, procedural abstraction, with good algorithm strategies plus testing. The Create Performance Task is worth 30 percent of the exam score. I’m so sure all students can do very well and get a full score on the Create Performance Task. Also, all students are very confident on getting a 5 on the AP Exam (AP Exam 5 means extremely well qualified for that subject). Let all of us cheer on my 5 AP CSP students who are Sabrina, Eric, John, Olivia and Dylan!

Editor’s note: Go CSP! Add oil! 


ARTS

Featured Arts News of the Week    

Ms. Hanna Zhang, Dance Teacher


Dear Parents,
We finished our tambourine dance a few weeks ago and we hope the girls thoroughly enjoyed their Taiwan trip. We are now planning to learn a new dance called the Yi Dance. The Yi people are known for their exceptional ability to sing and dance, with many rhythmic and enthusiastic movements. These dance routines were developed from the locals’ harvesting and stepping on buckwheat.

For our upcoming performance, the Spring Spectacular at Herbst Theatre, we will be showcasing the free flowing style using Yi movements. We can’t wait for the girls to learn this new dance and showcase their skills. Please stay tuned for further updates. Hanna out.

Editor’s note: Spring Spectacular, new name for the upcoming recital, thoughts? Good, bad, you can do better? Comment down below 😀

ADMISSIONS

Admissions News

HSArts will continue to provide private campus tours over the next several weeks giving all interested students and their families the opportunity to further explore our programs and offerings.  Please RSVP here to schedule your tour.
MSSONS

YOUNG ARTISTS

Young Artists News from the Break

Ms. Ginnie Wu, Dance Teacher and Young Artists Coordinator


Last week we asked our Young Artists families to submit photos of their dancers practicing during the spring break. There were so many wonderful submissions and we wish we could feature them all! Here are some of the photos.

Arlo Juergens (6) mid-cartwheel on a trip to Hawaii.

Audrey Chen (6) works on her back strength and flexibility on a Friday afternoon.

Kylie Tang (12) leads a stretching session for her twin sisters Karina and Keona (8). 

Isabella Chang (9) gets in some practice time at a local park. 
Alexandra Kuchenova (6) works on her leg and back flexibility over the spring break.
Charlotte (12) and Madeleine (9) working hard before bedtime.


STUDENT LIFE


404 Pictures not found… yet
Post Spring Break, we’re still awaiting pictures from field trips and other fun events right around the corner. Stay tuned!

Check out the schedule for the upcoming events down below!

UPCOMING EVENTS

Coming soon!
Apr 12
Career Fair
Apr 14
Land Day & Santa Cruz (Easter event)
Apr 14-16
Epic Dance Competition
May 3
Asian Heritage Month Performance at Kaiser
May 4

Badminton & Ping Pong Tournament

May 5-7
Thunderstruck Dance Competition
May 10
Spring Showcase Dress Rehearsal #1
May 19-21
Headliners Dance Competition

Communication is essential and we strive to connect with our students, parents, and families throughout the school year. We will continue reaching out to you with this weekly newsletter. We also encourage you to visit our website and follow our social pages including Facebook and Instagram for announcements, information, and celebrations.
 4-7-2023
Read more

Taiwan Updates

Student Life News
March 24, 2023

Our students are enjoying the warmth and humidity of Taiwan. In other words, ‘warmth’ referring to our hospitable hosts but also it’s really hot, and ‘humidity’ referring to the weather, the sweat from the intense training, but also the many many cups of bubble tea already had. While they’re sure to bring back wonderful memories and stories of their Asian adventure, here are a few pictures they’ve shared so far:

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After School Art

Ms. Lucy Cui, Fine Arts Teacher
March 24, 2023

This semester for after school class, besides the training in drawing fundamentals and encouraging students creativity from imagination, like usual, we are exploring a different material, watercolor, to support our students’ drawing. 

Watercolor paint is a translucent art medium and the paints are made of pigments suspended in water-based solution. The key for watercolor painting is water control. Students in this class will try watercolor techniques such as wet on wet, wet on dry, washes, underpainting, etc. Of course, different materials and techniques are just things to support ideas. Encourage students to express their imagination and illustrate it to share, to communicate.

In this class, we always start with a master copy of a realistic drawing to improve kids’ drawing skills, something like a simple still life or a landscape painting . After this project is finished, they can pick references themselves and design their own pieces. Training in professional skills first, then keep their imagination active and combine with their skills.

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Featured Arts News of the Week

Ms. Lucy Cui, Fine Arts Teacher
March 24, 2023

Recently we are working on a quick sketch study with pencil. This practice trains students to make art decisions in a short time and move on quickly. 

We have long term art studies to prepare students for solid fundamentals, something like the grisaille painting we did last semester. After a while of long term training, students can make great art work, but at the same time, they become too cautious because they want every marker on paper to be correct. Here comes the quick study. Limited each sketch into less then 15 min, sometimes 5 mins or even 1min. For the fundamental skills they have are already good enough, they only need to get used to making decisions quicker and the result can be pretty good. Like the example photo there, the quick sketch practice page made by Coco (7th) and Niki (8th).

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Featured Academic News of the Week

Mr. Qining Cai, Chinese Teacher
March 24, 2023

正如大家所知道的,我校高中部分學生正在體驗經歷她們美妙的台灣之旅。借此機會,祝她們旅途愉快、一路順風、收穫滿滿!
出發前,AP Chinese班的學生們,對這次旅行充滿了期待,雖然她們已經具備了很好的中文聽說能力,但是把這種能力運用到台灣純中文的交際學習生活環境中去,還是第一次。本著"學以致用"的教學原則,過去的一個多月裏,我在課堂上,利用教學遊戲、觀看視頻、模擬對話情境等方式,鞏固學生們所學知識,加深他們對台灣當地語言文化生活的了解,增強她們用中文與台灣當地民眾進行交流的興趣和信心。通過不斷的學和練,學生們說:"我們是最好的,一定行!"請您為我們這些優秀而可愛的學生祝福吧!
這次兩個星期的台灣行,不算長也不算短,既是學生課堂所學知識、能力的一次實踐,也是對中文課教學的一次檢驗。相信台灣之行一定會給學生們留下深刻的印象,我們同樣熱切地期待著學生們回來後,跟大家分享她們美妙的經歷和故事。

As you all know, some of our high school students are experiencing their wonderful trip to Taiwan. I would like to take this opportunity to wish them a happy and fruitful journey! 

Before their departure, the students in the AP Chinese class were full of excitement for this trip. Although they already have good Chinese listening and speaking skills, it is still the first time for them to apply this ability to real life. In the past month, I have used teaching games, watching videos, and simulating dialogue situations in class to consolidate their language and deepen their understanding of Taiwan culture. I hope more practice in daily life has enhanced their confidence in communicating with local Taiwanese people in Chinese. Through continuous learning and practice, the students said: “We are the best, we must do it!” Good luck to our lovely students! 

This two-week trip to Taiwan is not only a practice of the knowledge and abilities learned in the classroom for students, but also a test for us Chinese teachers. I believe that the trip to Taiwan will definitely leave a deep impression on the students, and we are eagerly looking forward to the students’ return with their wonderful experiences and stories to share with us.

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Look! Ahead to these things! Happening!

Mr. Brian, Punctuationally Illiterate
March 24, 2023
Front Page News


Spring break is upon us! And everyone can enjoy a well-deserved break! Coming back in April, we’re jumping right into a slew of events and important dates, listed at the end but detailed right here:

Apr 3 Senior Photoshoot
Our lovely seniors will don their graduation gowns and take their immortalized photos in the annals of HSArts history.

Apr 5 Last day to pay for Santa Cruz fees for 4/14
Optional, for those who want to ride the rides.

Apr 6 Monterey Fish Market Field Trip
Led by Mr. R, there will be fish.

Apr 7 Group photoshoot
At lunch, all staff and students will take a group photo together!

Apr 7 Last day to pay for Yearbook
Get your moneys in for your very own yearbook! We won’t order extras, so you have to preorder if you want one!

Apr 12 Career Fair
Learn about the jobs and careers of adults in our HSArts community. Organized our Parent Club.

Apr 14 Land Day & Santa Cruz (Easter Event)
This is the big one. We’ll be going down to the Land for an Easter Event before heading to the Santa Cruz boardwalk for a full day of fun!

Keep reading the newsletter for more news on what’s coming up! If we missed anything, let us know down in the comments!

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Remarks from our Head of School

March 24, 2023

Greetings from Taiwan! We (Mr. Ray, myself and eight of our high schoolers) are enjoying our trip immensely. We love the delicious food (especially the famous milk tea), warm hospitality, beautiful scenery, but even more, the cultural and art exchange. We will give you a more detailed report when we come back. Take care!


– Dr. Sherry Zhang 
Head of School
San Francisco High School of the Arts

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