Elementary students began their Chinese instruction this past fall with weekly lessons.  Last year we offered Chinese as an after school enrichment program; however, we believed that all elementary students would benefit from Chinese instruction and were determined to add it to our language program.  We are very excited about this addition to our curriculum.  Our instructor is Mrs. Aizhu Lu.  Mrs. Lu is a native of China, born in Guangdong.  She has a BA and MA in Economics.  She has been teaching Chinese at St. Catherine’s School in Richmond for the past twelve years.  Mrs. Lu is also the grandmother of Angel Lu in Miss Jen and Ranny’s class.

In addition to learning the Chinese language, the elementary students will continue to receive Spanish instruction.  Our Spanish curriculum was developed in-house and is based on Montessori materials familiar to the children.  This year Spanish is being taught in the primary and elementary classes by Gina Schimpff.  Gina is the mother of Tyler in Miss Jen and Miss Ranny’s class and Isabel in Miss Kelley’s class.  Gina helped with Spanish last year by reading to the children in Spanish in addition to their Spanish lesson with Miss Luli.  Gina is a native of Boliva and holds an MBA in Information.

We are very grateful to have these wonderful instructors join our staff to enrich the language of our students.