YINGHUA POST Issue 2 | Yinghua Academy | Minneapolis, Minn. | Jan. 2022
Contents In this issue...
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Different learning environments shape students’ experiences By Addica
Students learn community service through Dragon Life Organization By Lily
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Custodian continues family legacy of serving Yinghua
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TikTok trends add to facility manager’s challenges
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By Thomas and Roya
By Arianna
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LGBTQ+ community awareness grows at Yinghua
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Beth Irish relishes her role as kitchen guardian
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New staff member revives school spirit through song
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What I learned from Yinghua?
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Staff offers advice on mental health issues
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Student vendors banned from selling snack and goods
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Community discusses not-soglamorous side of social media
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Perspective at Yinghua on respect and safety
By Markus
By Ben
By JJ
By Addica
By Matilda and Ameila
By Anika and Carmina
By Meili
By Adrienne and Luella
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Timeline
Sept. 28
Oct. 19
GETTING TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER
Oct. 12
Yinghua reporters meet and get to know the Bethel coaches and brainstorm story topics.
Yinghua middle schoolers worked with Professor Yu-li Chang Zacher’s Principles of Editing class at Bethel University for seven weeks in Fall 2021 to report, write and edit the second annual issue of the Yinghua Post.
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STORY STRUCTURE
Bethel coaches explain story templates and work with Yinghua reporters to draft quality interview questions.
Nov. 2
INTERVIEWS
EDITING
Yinghua reporters interview story sources with the help of Bethel coaches. Bethel coaches and Yinghua reporters brainstorm visuals to be published alongside their stories.
Yinghua reporters and Bethel coaches finish writing and begin editing story drafts to prepare for publication, looking at grammar, style and structure.
Nov. 9
FINALIZING STORIES
Yinghua reporters and Bethel coaches spend their last day together finalizing stories, photos and captions.
Oct. 5
INTRODUCTION TO NEWS After assigning stories, Bethel coaches start teaching Yinghua reporters about the 5 W’s of stories (who, what, when, where, why) and story structures.
Oct. 26
WRITING STORIES
Together, Yinghua reporters and their Bethel coaches start writing stories and captions based on interviews from the previous week.
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Different learning environments shape students’ experiences How changes from distance to back in person learning has affected students.
By Addica | Yinghua Academy Reporter Due to COVID-19, the learning environments at Yinghua have been changing, from distance learning to hybrid learning and then to in person learning. Three students share their experiences with these different learning environments. Regardless of each learning environment, they all have one thing in common — classwork. One student, Amelia, found that distance learning caused her to be more distracted. “I kept procrastinating a lot, so I never really got much done and as a result I kind of failed a lot of my classes,” Amelia said. She said she never really had the motivation to finish her work due to distractions. “If I had the option to watch YouTube or whatever, I’d rather do that, so I always chose that [instead],” Amelia said. Another aspect of school that is affected by the type of learning environment is the social aspect -- friendships. Many students have both positive and negative experiences with friendships changing during the course of online versus in person learning. “I did make a couple of new friends, but I’ve also maintained my old,” one student, who wishes to remain anonymous, said. Amelia said her experience was different. When other students returned to the classroom for the 2020-2021 school year, her family chose to stay at home. Not being in school with others made it difficult for Amelia to return to school this year. “Everyone had their inside jokes,” Amelia said. “Everyone had their own little thing going on. I didn’t know where to go, or who to be with and it’s kind of like you’re a stranger again.”
“It was easier in person because I could never focus during distance [learning]. You’re in front of a screen, but it’s nice to have a teacher right in front of you.” - Student who wishes to remain anonymous
Despite the differences in opinion and experience, some students prefer a certain learning environment over others.
Students in a 4A class with their homeroom teacher, Qian Xu. | Photo by Hannah Hobus
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Students play hand games as they take a break from learning in the classroom. One of the pros of being back in the classroom is students reconnecting with their friends. | Photo by Hannah Hobus Mira said she prefers in person learning to distance and online. “In distance [learning], most of the time I had absolutely no clue what I was doing,” Mira said. “I would find stuff online, or watch YouTube videos instead of doing homework.” Amelia said she also prefers in person learning because “it’s more interactive.” The student who wants to remain anonymous agreed with Mira and Amelia. “It was easier in person because I could never focus during distance [learning],” the student said. “You’re in front of a screen, but it’s nice to have a teacher right in front of you.” The core foundation of distance and online learning from home was technology. Some had the expectation that students would learn more about technology after distance learning for so long, but that didn’t seem to be the case.
ADDICA
“I don’t think it was the main reason I got better at using a computer,” Mira said. “I’m always using my computer anyways.”
Q: What is your favorite movie? A: “Phantom of the Opera”
Some students, however, miss the advantages of online learning.
Q: What is your favorite musician? A: Olivia Rodrigo
“It’s harder to focus in a classroom full of people,” Mira said. “Whenever I had a question, all I had to do was open another tab and quickly Google it. In class I have to wait for a teacher to call on me.” The student who wants to remain anonymous also said that it’s hard to come back to being with lots of other people. “People talk and it’s louder,” the student said. “And you can’t just mute somebody when they’re talking too much.” (Edited by Makenzi Johnson.)
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Q: Who do you look up to? A: Laura Dreyfuss and Emma Stone Q: What university do you want to attend and what do you want to study? A: Columbia or the New York Conservatory for Dramatic Arts
Middle schooler Sophie leads fourth grade students in playing tug-of-war. | Photo by Jenni
Students learn community service through Dragon Life Organization Susan Berg talks about what inspires her to establish this model for Yinghua.
By Lily | Yinghua Academy Reporter Imagine being 4,000 miles away from home in England for a month, teaching and traveling with American students and learning about prefects before “Harry Potter” was popular. This is what Executive Director Susan Berg learned in that trip to England when she realized that their partner school was using prefects as mentors to build off each other in the community. When she was building up Yinghua Academy, she remembered how organized that school in England was, and she used that model to establish the Dragon Life Organization in Yinghua. The Dragon Life Organization, founded in 2012, is mainly about keeping Yinghua Academy organized and helping students learn skills that they would need for the future, like how to communicate, help people and learn computer skills.
office, so that when they need help, they can reach out to Dragon Life students. Seventh grader Alma said that while the process is slow-moving, she enjoys helping with middle school late nights.
“I think [helping each other is] what makes a good community,” Ms. Berg said. “Dragon Life helps students to make friendships across grade levels through after-school events, late nights, community service, and interaction with students such as tutoring.”
Sophie in middle school said she has learned a lot from planning and hosting events for little kids. “Big Sibs event is for having a fun time and meeting new people,” Sophie said. “I have learned to change things last minute on the fly and to work with many other chaperones. This can be a bit difficult sometimes.”
Dragon Life does this by assigning students to a department, like teacher helpers or the front
Stian, also a seventh grader, likes working as a Lost and Found prefect “because you can help people find their things.” Mateo volunteers in the anti-bullying section of Dragon Life. This seventh grader works to help send out email messages about anti-bullying to students and teachers.
First graders and their older sibling Dragon Life leader pose for a photo. | Photo by Jenni Hoyt
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LILY
Q: What’s your favorite app? A: TikTok Q: Who’s your favorite book series? A: Harry Potter, because it’s good to know there is still a bit of magic in this dark dreary world. Q: Who’s your hero? A: Robert Downey Jr.
Dragon life leaders act as older siblings to kindergarteners and together they drew turkey handprint paintings. | Photo by Jenni Hoyt
Q: Which city is next on your list to visit? A: New York City
In November, Mateo organized a drawing competition where students drew pictures of equality and unity. The winner received a 10 dollar gift card.
Q: What do you want to do with your Chinese language skills? A: Possibly as a job help with translation.
Dragon Life will head into its 10th anniversary soon. Ms. Berg looks forward to more students participating in the organization to learn about community service. (Edited by Molly Wilson.)
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Custodian continues family legacy of serving Yinghua Matthew Shackle steps up to the plate, taking over the job of Yinghua custodian.
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were so happy.” Around Yinghua, Mr. Matt’s job is to maintain the condition of the school. You can often catch him fixing property and doing maintenance work. Mr. Matt looks like a quiet, reserved person around Yinghua, but his behind-the-scenes work at school is essential. Dan Carson, Yinghua’s facilities manager, shared a story about Mr. Matt’s kindness. In the school, two brothers also work as custodians. These brothers speak Spanish as their first language, so sometimes communication is challenging. Because of this, Mr. Matt took the time to create a personalized organizational schedule in Spanish just for the two brothers. These can be found in multiple janitor closets around the school.
Custodian Matt Shackle with wife, Amanda, and newborn daughter, Lily Mae. | Photo by Joanne, nurse from the Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis
By Thomas and Roya | Yinghua Academy Reporters For Matthew Shackle, Yinghua custodian is just one of his many titles, but he enjoys being a dad the most.
enjoys spending time with his 13-year-old daughter.
Just over two months ago, Mr. Matt welcomed his newborn daughter, Lily May, into the family. As he worked around the school, other staff congratulated him, which made him overjoyed.
Lately his daughter, wife and he have had lots of family time together in the hospital with his newborn daughter, who has Down syndrome and needed heart surgery. His son is only allowed to be in the hospital for half an hour per week.
Now besides being Yinghua’s handyman, he is the proud dad of three kids back at home. He often plays video games such as Fortnite, Minecraft and PUBG with his 9-year-old son. Mr. Matt also
“I will never forget the day that she came off of oxygen,” Mr. Matt said. “The doctors tried to take her off every two weeks just to see if she could make it. And when she did, it was unforgettable. We
the faces of people when the project or job is finished is so rewarding.” The challenges, he said, are keeping everything clean and disinfected. Things need to be wiped down so often. From playing with his kids, to creating solutions at school, a lot of Mr. Matt’s life is tied to family -- his direct family with his children and his indirect family at Yinghua. (Edited by Annika Carr.)
ROYA
Q: What’s your favorite app? A: TikTok Q: What is your favorite class? A: Math Q: Who is your favorite author? A: Suzanne Collins
Another thing Mr. Matt helped out with was a poster hanging rack. In the lower school, teachers love to show off their kids’ work. The teachers used to tape up art and posters, but cleaning up the residue from the posters was time-consuming. A past Yinghua custodian, Paul Strand, waxed the walls to prevent teachers from taping things up. Mr. Matt thought of something better, a permanent solution, by setting up a long rack, where teachers could use pins to put up students’ creations. “The term janitor isn’t really applicable to what he does,” Mr. Carson said. “We help fix things and create solutions. Matt is a big part of that.” Mr. Matt and Mr. Paul were no strangers. Mr. Paul was Mr. Matt’s late stepfather and was the one who told Mr. Matt about the job opportunity when he decided to retire from Yinghua.
THOMAS Q: What is your favorite app? A: YouTube
“I love helping people get the things done that they need,” Mr. Matt said. “Seeing
Cork board strips, made by Matt Shackle, become a permanent solution for displaying students’ artwork. | Photo by Jenni Hoyt
Q: What is your favorite class? A: Math Q: Who is your favorite author? A: Rick Riordan
TikTok trends add to facility manager’s challenge Dan Carson talks about managing school property responsibly.
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By Arianna | Yinghua Academy Reporter Dan Carson fulfills the role of a facilities manager at Yinghua Academy, and he has been working at Yinghua since 2018. Mr. Carson has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a master’s in healthcare management under business administration. He has also been in sales at Coca-Cola and in building operations for Kmart before. “Yinghua was a better opportunity for me and my family,” Mr. Carson said. “It allowed me to bring my children here to learn Chinese. I really love it here.” Mr. Carson’s roles at Yinghua primarily include managing the building, the budget and the communication. He manages the school’s facility budget to ensure the school gets the best value on
things, he monitors the heating and cooling system of the building, and he also has to communicate effectively with his peers. Mr. Carson said the whole Yinghua community can help him keep the school safe by reporting dangerous and hazardous conditions right away. Students should learn to care for school equipment as it’s their own because that’s how people expect others to treat their belongings. An easy way to do this, Mr. Carson said, is to ask yourself, “If this was my home, and I am responsible for keeping it safe and also cleaning and taking care of it, how will I treat it?” “Mr. Carson has a ‘can-do’ philosophy of life,” Jenni Hoyt, student activities coordinator, said. “He is very approachable and willing to get involved to make things work better for everyone. He truly enjoys kids and we are lucky to have his expertise and positivity at Yinghua.” Mr. Carson has four children, one of them studies at Yinghua. Having a child at Yinghua helps Mr. Carson stay on top of the trends. As the school’s facility manager, he knows how many TikTok challenges can be dangerous and have long-lasting consequences for the students. His advice to students is, “Asking ‘Is this a good idea?’ to your parents, teachers, or mentors.”
ARIANNA Q: What is your favorite app? A: Doesn’t Have One
Q: What is your favorite class? A: Chinese Q: Who is your favorite author? A: Rick Riordan & JK Rowling
He said he hasn’t had many TikTok challenges performed at school because “our students know the difference between right and wrong.” He added, “We have had to clean up a few things, but I know our students are settled in for a great school year and will continue along a successful path to 2022.” (Edited by Annika Carr.)
Facilities management means being out with the students, not just sitting at a desk all day. | Photo by Hannah Hobus
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LGBTQ+ community awareness grows at Yinghua Students and staff alike learn about the importance of inclusivity and proper use of pronouns.
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By Markus | Yinghua Academy Reporter Inclusivity is one of the most important values a school and its community can have. Walking into Yinghua Academy, students and guests are greeted by a sign reading, ‘All are welcome here.’ I interviewed a few people to answer the question of inclusivity, one person being Tracy Sanders, the school counselor. Ms. Sanders (she/her) is not part of the community herself but is supportive of the community and has helped many people who are LGBTQ+. “I think [the LGBTQ+ community] is empowering,” Ms. Sanders said. She said there is room for the general community to grow in support of the LGBTQ+ community. No community is perfect, but the Yinghua community makes an effort to focus on acceptance and welcoming. There is, she admits, some “prejudice and stigma” toward the LGBTQ+ community. She thinks that education is the key to understanding and supporting anything.
acknowledgement, like using proper names. Ms. Sanders also said that when people are fearful of something, they don’t want to learn more about it. She went on about how LGBTQ+ people experience more anxiety/ depression than cis/straight people from bullying. The Trevor Project, a hotline with trained counselors for suicidal youths who are LGBTQ+, is one of many resources available for LGBTQ+ students struggling with identity and acceptance. An Yinghua student (she/they) who chose to remain anonymous is a member of the LGBTQ+ community and identifies as a lesbian and demigirl. While the student has not experienced homophobia firsthand, the student has seen others experience it.
There are also many safe [online] accounts (LGBTQ+ inclusive/education accounts) that provide support and awareness for members and allies of the LGBTQ+ community. The student said that the school can involve itself in new projects or pride marches to show its support. One problem for the student is that she formerly denied her own sexuality “Knowledge is power,” she said. due to internalized homophobia. In time, the student had to learn to embrace her One such piece of knowledge those in identity on her own although society deemed support of the LGBTQ+ community can it “inappropriate.” The student said that educate themselves about is the concept coming out is hard because families may fear and usage of pronouns. Personal pronouns, and misunderstand it. including “he/him,” “she/her” and “they/them” should be respected. When “It’d be nice to see the society be more people choose the pronouns they prefer accepting,” the student said. to be addressed by, using them properly shows a certain amount of respect and (Edited by Rachel Blood.)
PRONOUNS
HOMOPHOBIA
INCLUSIVITY
personal identifiers one uses, such as ”she/her”
prejudice, stereotyping and/or discrimination towards the LGBTQ+ community
providing equal access to opportunities and resources for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalized
CISGENDER
SEXUALITY
when one identifies with the sex they were born as
the gender(s) one is attracted to
MARKUS Q: What is your favorite book? A: Flowers from 1970
Q: Who is your favorite superhero? A: Spider-Man
GENDER IDENTITY
the personal sense of one's own gender, which can differ from or corerlate with assigned sex. Gender expression typically reflects a person's gender identity, but this is not always the case.
Q: What is your favorite subject? A: English
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New staff member revives school spirit through song
By Ben | Yinghua Academy Reporter Many new teachers and staff members joined the Yinghua community this year, and among them is new recess and lunch monitor Jordan Character -- a fun, lighthearted and understanding person. Mr. Character is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, and he loves music and fashion. He never went to music school but was trained by several professional music producers. He played instruments as a kid but later shifted to making electronic music instead. Mr. Character said he feels like he escaped many hardships by being successful in school; therefore, he thinks that educating youth is really important because education provides a pathway to success and a bright future. “The atmosphere at Yinghua is very homey,” he said. “Very caring, and it also upholds education and individual freedom and responsibility in a way that I really respect.” In addition to serving as recess and lunch monitor, Mr. Character helps out around the school as a substitute and a kindergarten assistant teacher. When he’s not working, he loves hiking, playing basketball and having deep conversations with others. In his free time, Mr. Character surrounds himself with music. He offered to compose a new school song for Yinghua about the unity and strength of the academy. The lyrics aim to motivate Yinghua students and help them to understand what they are capable of.
Recess and lunch monitor Jordan Character writes a song encompassing the spirit of Yinghua.
“I’m pretty excited to see what comes out of this,” Mr. Character said. “This is my first school spirit song.” The song is written all in Chinese. Mr. Character learned Chinese in mainland China, so handling Chinese lyrics is no problem for him. He said he spent time living between a few different cities in China over the course of two and a half years, and it was studying at Nankai University in Tianjin when he really got his first grip on the language.
BEN
Q: What is your favorite sport? A: Cross country Q: Who is your favorite superhero? A: Dr. Strange Q: What is your favorite subject? A: Social studies
(Edited by Rachel Blood.)
Lunch and Recess Monitor Jordan Character is in his first year at Yinghua Academy. | Photo by Hannah Hobus
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Staff offers advice on mental health issues Stress is the main cause of anxiety and depression in students, an issue that can be remedied by giving students time managment skills.
By JJ | Yinghua Academy Reporter Jenni Hoyt, student activities coordinator at the Yinghua Academy, is responsible for scheduling, coordinating events and programs, and promoting them through planning, development and implementation. Ms. Hoyt surrounds herself with the Yinghua students and helps however she can.
Over 800 students attend Yinghua Academy every day. Through the stress of schoolwork, tests, social interactions and family life, students are placed in a difficult position where they need to balance all of these elements. Every day, students go to Jenni Hoyt or the school counselor, Tracy Sanders, for help to deal with different problems they face, from homework and assignments, to bigger stress and family issues. The causes of mental health issues could include “pain and stress, as well as past trauma,” Ms. Hoyt said. In addition, it could be related to
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a combination of factors such as genetics, environment, biology and psychology. Because of its complexity, learning about mental health becomes essential. “If students learn to recognize their feelings and have the courage to share them, they will have a better chance dealing with stress,” she said. She mentioned that unhealthy coping methods could exacerbate mental health issues. Students often don’t know how to handle stress, “especially if they haven’t practiced talking through their strong feelings with trusted people who can validate their experience and offer some tips to get through the hard times,” Ms. Hoyt said. She encouraged students to learn to talk about their struggles. “I am so proud of students who are willing to share in class to help others see that we are not alone in difficult times,” she said.
JJ
Q: What’s your favorite app? A: Pinterest Q: What’s your favorite sport? A: Volleyball Q: Who’s your favorite author? A: J.K. Rowling Q: Who’s your hero? A: Cousin Q: Which city do you like the most? A: Kenora
Counselor Tracy Sanders talks about mental health in students. | Photo by Hannah Hobus Tracy Sanders is the school counselor responsible for working with students and providing guidance and care to set them up for success. She is also in charge of managing school guidance programs to help students develop skills and methods for dealing with stress and other mental health problems.
Ms. Sanders said that anxiety and depression are the main mental health issues that students seek help with. There are “things at home, stress at school, schoolwork that seems overwhelming along with high expectations” that produce higher stress levels within students, she said. Mental health is becoming more of an issue in America, but here at Yinghua Academy, staff like Ms. Hoyt and Ms. Sanders help students find tools to cope with stress. One significant way
to help students go through difficult times would be to provide more time and outlets to talk about their struggles. Ms. Hoyt recommended to “have support groups, lessons on time management and more trusted adults for advice.” Throughout elementary and middle school, stress is mostly associated with the demands of schoolwork; therefore, providing more help and time for schoolwork would be beneficial for decreasing stress. Time management is vital because students need to “give themselves time to relax,” Ms. Sanders said. “Time management is important to prevent oneself from being overwhelmed. They should try their best, but not overwork themselves.” (Edited by Owen Mantz.)
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New to Yinghua:
Audrey Emery as ELA teacher
Q: Tell us about your story. A: My name is Audrey Emery, that is, Ms. Emery to you. I grew up in Minnesota with my little sister, Autumn, and our mother, Andrea: The A-Team. I grew up playing all the sports, but I was never a great team athlete. Let’s just say my spatial awareness is not up to par. I later found that I am more talented in individual sports: yoga, running, archery, etc. Along with my endeavors as an English teacher, I am a United States Army veteran and past-time fitness instructor. As an English teacher, you would expect I spent much of my childhood cooped up in my bedroom, reading, and you would be absolutely right. My love of literature began with the Junie B. Jones series, which then morphed into an obsession with Harry Potter and Twilight. Today, my readings consist of various memoirs and academic articles as I am currently studying to obtain my Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at Augsburg University. My favorite memoir is Untamed by Glennon Doyle. I’d recommend it to just about anyone. Q: Why did you choose to join Yinghua? A: I came to teach at Yinghua Academy for the same reason that many parents send their children to learn here; I wanted to be somewhere that instills a global mindset. I fully believe in Yinghua’s mission to grow learners that will become global citizens and thinkers. We are all learning to become better members of our global community, no matter our age. Q: How do you like Yinghua so far? A: If I had to pick my favorite thing about Yinghua Academy, it would be a hard decision between my relationships with my fellow teachers and my relationships with the amazing students I have come to know. A common consensus in this school is that we are there for each other and I could ask for nothing more than that.
New to Yinghua:
(Edited by TA Chloe Peter.)
Taylor Singleton as ELA teacher 24
Q: Tell us about your story. A: I was born in Duluth, Minnesota, but grew up in western Wisconsin. I completed my bachelor’s degree at the University of Minnesota Duluth and taught for three years at a charter school in downtown Minneapolis. After teaching for a few years, I decided to go back to school. When choosing a graduate school, I decided to apply at Trinity College Dublin, in Dublin, Ireland. From 2019 to 2020, I lived in Dublin and worked on an M.Ed in Positive Behavior Management. When COVID started, I had to move back to the United States. Living in Ireland was amazing. I enjoyed traveling the countryside and being close to other places in Europe. While I was there, I got to visit Belgium, Holland, Germany, Austria and Czechia. I would say my favorite place to see was Prague, Czechia, or Salzburg, Austria. Now that I am back in the states, I look forward to my next opportunity to travel back to Europe! Q: Why did you choose to join Yinghua? A:I enjoy working at charter schools. I believe the community is tightly knit, and most of the students genuinely seem to enjoy being here. Many of the teachers I have met are friendly and seem to care deeply about their students and learning. It’s nice to have so many great role models around. I applied to Yinghua because I believe that our ideals are similar. As a person, I care a lot about the relationship I have with my coworkers and my students. I want people to know that I care about their success and will try and help them succeed. Q: How do you like Yinghua so far? A: I am enjoying teaching at Yinghua. Like I said, the students and staff seem to genuinely enjoy being here. Yinghua uses a lottery system, so students who get chosen to be here should really acknowledge how great an opportunity it is to go to school here. I also enjoy how enthusiastic my students are. Many of my hobbies overlap with my students’ hobbies, so we always have a lot to talk about! I try to incorporate our shared interests in our learning so that things stay fun and engaging. Q: What are your hobbies/interests? A: I have a lot of hobbies. I enjoy traveling. As I mentioned above, I have been to Belgium, Holland, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Czechia. I have also been to
Britain, Northern Ireland and Canada. In terms of the United States, I have been to Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida (I used to live there, actually), New York, Washington D.C., Hawaii, Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, Arizona, Pennsylvania and South Carolina. I would love to visit Washington state, Alaska and Maine. Besides traveling, I enjoy video games, writing, watching TV, drawing, painting, playing games and reading. I played Elder Scrolls Online for a long time (I’m on a break from that right now). I am writing some short stories as well as drawing and painting some characters from TV shows I enjoy. Right now I am watching Tokyo Revengers and My Hero Academia. I have watched a lot of Anime, so I usually draw or paint characters from shows I enjoy. I am looking forward to the next season of Demon Slayer and Haikyuu, and the Jujutsu Kaisen movie. As for games, I like board games, but mostly play TTRPGs (table top role playing games) like Monster of the Week or Dungeons and Dragons. I am currently wrapping up a campaign I have been playing for over a year. Feel free to ask me about it sometime! Q: Is there anything else you want the Yinghua community to know about you? A: I enjoy talking with people about mutual interests! Even if I have not met you, please feel free to talk to me if we have similar hobbies! (Edited by TA Chloe Peter.)
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through entertainment,” she said. “People need time and space to create new ideas and come up with solutions. Our ideas get better when we let them simmer in the back of our minds. Consuming media steals that time unless it is purposeful, which is really hard for kids.” At what age is social media use appropriate? It’s a subjective decision for parents to make. To some it’s about age, and for others it’s about maturity. Eva said she believes that it depends on the maturity of each person. She recalled feeling left out because she got social media after most of her friends did.
The rise of various social apps affects people of all ages with pros and cons.
“I didn’t get social media until maybe last year, things like Snapchat and Instagram,” Eva said. “A lot of my friends got them in fifth and sixth grade. I wasn’t getting those things.”
By Addica | Yinghua Academy Reporter When you think of social media, what comes to mind? Do you think of talking to your friends? Are you creating TikTok dances with your siblings? Do you think about the “perfect” lives your peers live, or things you wish you had? You might have noticed that some of the things listed are positive — the pros. Other things are negative — the cons. Learning about people’s experiences with social media can help you put social media effects into perspective. Eva, an eighth grader, said the app she uses most frequently is Messages because that app is good for communicating with friends and peers. Another app she uses is Instagram, for entertainment purposes. Jenni Hoyt, student activities coordinator, also said her most used app is Messages. She uses Messages for scheduling and carpooling for her kids. Though social media has its pros, it also has its cons. “I compare myself a lot to other people and what I see on social media,” Eva said. “A lot of people don’t understand, and even sometimes I don’t realize that their lives aren’t perfect. Sometimes on social media you think, ‘Why isn’t my life perfect or why isn’t my life like that too?’”
Jenni Hoyt, student activities coordinator, believes the appropriate age for social media is 14 years old. | Photo by Hannah Hobus
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Ms. Hoyt said that social media affects people’s ability to be creative and problem solve. “Students don’t see the potential for creativity and innovation in the valuable time they spend scrolling
Ms. Hoyt said she thinks it is more about age and an
Student shows the most popular social media apps on her phone.| Photo by Ariel Dunleavy
appropriate age would be 14 years old. Her daughter got her own phone when she began high school. Students are encouraged to think about the pros and cons of social media and find the right balance for using social media. (Edited by Makenzi Johnson.)
Beth Irish relishes her role as kitchen guardian Without the lunch assistants who prepare and provide the food, the school would not be as successful as it is today. Lunch Assistant Beth Irish hands out food to each student during lunch. | Photo by Ariel Dunleavy
By Matilda and Amelia | Yinghua Academy Reporters Beth Irish is the lunch assistant at Yinghua Academy. She is responsible for setting up equipment and workstations, preparing and serving food to the students by following health and food service regulations. Coming from the kitchen, Beth Irish begins to hand out trays to hungry students. Her eyes light up. Beneath the mask, it is apparent that she’s smiling as she makes sure that every student receives enough food. The main motor of the academy is the luncheon staff who provides the students with energy, nutrients, and guide them toward a healthier lifestyle. Providing fresh food from local sources, Ms. Irish and the other lunch assistants work within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) budget to provide the best source of nourishment for the students.
MATILDA Q: Which city do you like the most? A: Minneapolis Q: Which city is next on your list to visit? A: New York, USA
They “pick the menu for the day almost two months ahead of time,” Ms. Irish said, “based on how many people we have.” The USDA is the federal executive department in charge of developing and implementing laws relating to food: from farming and processing, to development and distribution. “Every year the USDA picks out how many calories we can give the students and from what food groups,” Ms. Irish said. On an average day, the luncheon staff arrives at 7:30 in the morning to start making sure the dishes are clean, ovens are turned on, food is at the right temperature, and equipment is working properly. At the Yinghua Academy, the staff serves both breakfast and lunch, working hours ahead of time to ensure that students get enough food with the best ingredients. “We all love working here,” Ms. Irish said with a smile. “It’s a really great place to work.” Ms. Irish serves alongside Helen, Randi, Fumi and Brooke. (Edited by Owen Mantz.)
AMELIA Q: Which city do you like the most? A: Stillwater Q: Which city is next on your list to visit? A: Queensland, Australia
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Q: Tell us about your story. A: I was born in Zhejiang, China, and I had my undergraduate degree in Wuhan, central China. During those undergrad years I had some exchange studying experience in Birmingham, United Kingdom. It was then when I had the idea of studying abroad for my master’s degree. When a school in the United States offered me the scholarship, I moved to the states. Q: Why did you choose to join Yinghua? A: My graduate major is teaching Chinese as a second language, and I also had a couple of years of experience teaching Chinese for college students as a TA in my department. When I participated in some academic conferences, I could always hear Yinghua’s name. This year, I graduated from my graduate school, so I applied for the
if students take their ability for understanding Chinese language with them, I also hope that they take their ability to understand other cultures. It’s something that needs to be shown verses directly taught, and Yinghua does a great job through Chinese New Year’s performances to connecting with teachers from different parts of Asia.
New to Yinghua:
Jianan He
as sixth grade teacher
job and got the position here. It is such a smooth transition. Q: How do you like Yinghua so far? A: I do like most parts of Yinghua -- the team and support and huge Chinese teacher community. I think the most exciting part is the students. The kids here are so amazing, so self-manageable and so disciplined. Also, as a new teacher, I got the academic coach’s support by having her observe my classes. She offered a lot of sincere advice, and I do grow from it. Q: What are your hobbies/interests? A: I am interested in exploring new restaurants because I am a foodie. And I like to Netflix all day if the week is busy. Lastly, I like traveling. I love traveling abroad and experiencing different parts of the world and their cultures. My next stop would be Japan or North European countries like Iceland. (Edited by TA Chloe Peter.)
Q: How do you like Yinghua so far? A: Well, I like it a lot. I love connecting with the students. Right now, I’m a seventh grade science teacher. I absolutely love biology, I love health, and I love getting the students to understand the wonder of nature -- how we are made and connected together. Q: Tell us about your story. A: My story at Yinghua started a while ago. In 2014, I moved back from China after living eight years there. My kids were able to go to school here, that was a great opportunity that got us involved in Yinghua and we really loved it. After two years at Yinghua, we moved back to China, to the western part of China. We were there two years before we, sadly, had to move quickly and ended up back in America. At Yinghua again, Ms. Berg actually offered me a job to work as a paraeducator in the special ed department. I had never worked in public education before but had been doing a lot of education in China. I was teaching English to Chinese students and my own kids because my own kids went to public Chinese schools at the same time that I homeschooled them. So, I had a lot of experience teaching, but nothing in the public school system. Yinghua afforded me the opportunity to work at a public school, where I could use my Chinese ability to connect with students. It also gave me the opportunity to think about if I wanted a career in education. At the time, I was more leaning toward getting a master’s in public health because that’s where my background was. But, working with Yinghua made me see how I loved connecting with kids, and so I went back to school and became a teacher. Q: Why did you choose to join Yinghua? A: Our family’s values line up very well with Yinghua’s. As a family, we want to raise global citizens, and I think Yinghua does a good job at balancing that. Learning language is one thing, but learning culture is a whole other skillset. And
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Q: What are your hobbies/interests? A: I’m raising four kids and I’m going to graduate school, so I think my hobbies would be cooking because I have to cook for my family. Q: Is there anything else you want the Yinghua community to know about you? A: I truly want to raise up students who can be difference makers, students who can see problems and, instead of getting overwhelmed with them, can see solutions. I really want, as an educator, to be a good example of how we can include so many different kinds of people and ideas in learning. Most of all, I just want to connect with my students -- helping them see science in a different way they’ve never seen before. (Edited by TA Chloe Peter.)
New to Yinghua:
Emily Meyer as science teacher
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What I learned from Yinghua? Alumni speak on their past experiences at Yinghua Academy and their future plans.
By Anika and Carmina | Yinghua Academy Reporters
Edie Stubblefield
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Edie Stubblefield, a Yinghua alum, is now a freshman at the Dominican University of California, where she majors in dance and minors in psychology.
believes that learning other languages is essential to bridging the gap between different cultures and communities. She said learning Chinese greatly broadened her view of the world, and she is grateful to be given that ability at a young age. She also encouraged students to make the most out of their Yinghua experience.
During her time at Yinghua, Stubblefield had a 504 plan, which accommodated her with extended testing time and a personalized testing environment. The support she received from the school and from Phillip Morris, Yinghua’s assessment and media coordinator, allowed her to advocate for herself and her needs at a young age.
“Make at least one good connection with a teacher,” she said. “When you’re in middle school, a lot’s happening academically, socially and mentally. To have that connection with someone you can emotionally open up to at school makes you feel safe, which is really valuable.”
“It was hard (preparing for high school), but it was also easy because I had the foundation I needed academically,” she said. “The care that teachers and the community put into learning made me feel like I was a step ahead.”
She said she is not scared about her decision to pursue dance in college. In her experience, pursuing a degree in the arts is often perceived as risky, and some believe dance cannot become a lifelong career. Stubblefield disagreed by pointing out that communities are built on art and culture.
Stubblefield does not regularly practice speaking Chinese even after going through Highland Park High School’s Chinese program. Going from graduating Yinghua to having only one Chinese class a day in high school made it difficult to remain disciplined.
Stubblefield also wants to use her minor in psychology to give voice to dancers who feel like they don’t have one. She said she noticed that the mirror panels in dance studios are made to slightly distort one’s body, and she would like to do a study on how that affects the brains of dancers.
While Stubblefield doesn’t have the desire to pursue a Chinese-related job in the future, she said she feels that studying Chinese language and culture at Yinghua prepared her to be a citizen of the world. She said she
Stubblefield’s motto is, “If you want something, you can make it happen.”
ANIKA
Q: Who is your hero? A: Michelle Obama
Q: What is your favorite sport? A: Soccer & Nordic Skiing Q: What is your favorite subject? A: English Q: What do you want to do with your Chinese Language Skill? A: Connect with people from different cultures. Use it in my job when I grow up. I want to at least try to keep it up in high school.
As a dancer who trains hours everyday, she emphasizes the importance of nurturing your mind and your creativity.
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“I feel like I have this mindset because I have to use it everyday, and if you’re nurturing your mind, you’re gonna do well,” Stubblefield said.
Skelly took Chinese classes in his freshman and sophomore years and hopes to major or minor in Chinese studies in college. He said he believes this will give him opportunities to use Chinese in international business. Duke University has a branch in China called the KunShan institute, and Skelly sees this as a potential opportunity. Skelly’s favorite memory from Yinghua is graduation, not because he was excited to leave, but because of the community of togetherness. Skelly said he doesn’t want students to focus on being popular, but instead on their passions. “If you feel like you’re not fitting in, there are other options, and you’ll find your place in life even if it might take time,” Skelly said.
Wendy Owens Wrobel Wendy Owens Wrobel, a Yinghua alum, is now a 23-yearold University of Minnesota law student. After moving to Minnesota from China, Wrobel spent her last two years of middle school at Yinghua, where she joined the school’s first graduating class of only four people. Because she had already been living in China, the transition to Yinghua was not as difficult as it might have been otherwise, but some aspects remained challenging. Though Wrobel’s ability to have conversations in Chinese was very good, reading and writing did not come as easily. Wrobel’s experience at Yinghua was different from most, but she loved her time at Yinghua. “My family has six kids that are adopted from China, so Chinese culture has always been really important in my family, and to have it be a big part of our academic life was amazing,” Wrobel said. In high school, Wrobel entered into classes years above her grade level and also attended Minnesota’s Post Secondary Education Option or PSEO. Wrobel has been keeping up her Chinese by speaking the language with her family members. She said she holds value in being a part of a Chinese speaking community.
CARMINA Q: Who is your hero? A: Amanda Gorman - Her public speaking is really inspiring. Q: What is your favorite sport? A: Tennis & Swimming Q: What is your favorite subject? A: Social Studies & English Q: What do you want to do with your Chinese Language Skill? A: Go to China and communicate with those who can’t speak English. My high school has a Chinese class that I want to keep using.
William Skelly
Will Skelly - 2021 William Skelly, a Yinghua alum and currently a senior at Mounds View High School, will be going to Duke University in the fall of 2022. Skelly plans to use his Chinese to pursue a career in international business. During his time at Yinghua, Skelly enjoyed the learning structure and the emphasis on hard work. While challenging at the times, he said that looking back it definitely helped in high school.
As a U of M law student, Wrobel said she hopes to work in immigration law as a bilingual lawyer working with Chinese American immigrants. Wrobel attributes her appreciation of culture to her immersion experience at Yinghua. She has this advice for current Yinghua students. “Try really hard to keep your Chinese throughout high school,” she said. “It can open up different career opportunities, and even if you don’t pursue a career involving Chinese, you will still have a greatly broadened world view.” (Edited by Talia McWright.)
“I think I undervalued the Chinese immersion environment, but now I realize what an incredible advantage it gives you,” Skelly said. Skelly took AP classes in his first year of high school and credits his time management skills to Yinghua’s rigor as he learned to keep a balanced schedule with sports, school and friends. “Maintain a balanced schedule and get good at managing your time,” he said. “Hold on to your Chinese as much as possible even if it’s just taking a few extra classes.”
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Student vendors banned from selling snacks and goods By Meili | Yinghua Academy Reporter One day a fourth grader spotted a sign that read ‘General Goods’ that a fellow classmate had left on her desk. The general goods referred to an array of miscellaneous knick knacks such as snacks and toys. The display of these goods was the inspiration behind the fellow classmate’s expansion of what would become a business.
Concerns of learning distractions, health and safety, and the possibility of hurt feelings are reasons for the ban. Also, our student population is kindergarten to grade eight, so we don’t want children bringing money to school.” Ms. Berg said she doesn’t view the situation as only negative. She also acknowledges the positives such as the opportunity for students to start potential business endeavors and to share creativity, especially if the items sold were created by students, such as arts and crafts. Even though Ms. Berg understands that there are pros and cons to student-run businesses, she does not have plans to change the policy. She, however, has expressed that there could be a possibility to host a student-run business event in which parents and guardians can be informed beforehand. (Edited by Talia McWright.)
The student would be one of many venturing into this business model of the fellow classmate -- selling items for profit at Yinghua. ”There was a group of fifth graders, they spread the word,” this student said. “And they came to my shop every day, and I made seven dollars a day off of them for a week.” The fellow classmate’s business lasted for a while. The business grew larger than expected, and the fellow classmate did not realize they’d started a trend. Soon more and more students copied the idea. Quickly gaining popularity at school, this practice was discontinued by the school’s executive director, Susan Berg, because it distracted from the academic focus. Ms. Berg said she is concerned about this practice’s effects on learning distractions, health and safety, the possibility of hurt feelings and theft. At one point Ms.Berg had a box containing everything she collected from students who had sold things on school grounds. She’d display it to the students who participated in these businesses to explain why students selling goods was not appropriate for school. “We don’t have vending machines for that very reason,” she said. “Number one, typically the things being sold are not very healthy.
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MEILI
Q: What is your favorite video game? A: Mario Kart Q: Which place is next on your list to visit? A: Antarctica Q: What is your favorite sport? A: Swimming
Executive Director Susan Berg checks in with students during their lunch period. | Photo by Hannah Hobus
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New to Yinghua: Claire Little on communications team Q: Tell us about your story.
A: I grew up in Northfield, Minnesota, with my parents, my older brother, and our dogs and cats. My parents’ house is in the country outside of Northfield, so I spent a lot of time outdoors, learning to climb trees and exploring. I graduated from Luther College in 2018, majoring in communication studies and anthropology. While at Luther, I played on the women’s soccer team and worked in the media relations office. Working in media relations with my incredible bosses Julie, Aaron and Jennifer really sparked my interest in working for a school in communications. After graduating but before coming to Yinghua, I worked a few different jobs. I spent one fall at an apple orchard, and the past year as a Reading Corps Pre-K Literacy Tutor. This tells you that I can make a mean apple pie, I love reading to kids, and I have an incredible amount of respect for all teachers. Q: Why did you choose to join Yinghua? A: I chose to work at Yinghua because I wanted to work at a school where I could use my skills to support students and staff. I studied Chinese for four years in high school, and I immensely enjoyed the experience. Seeing that Yinghua was a Chinese immersion school, I was immediately interested because it was so unique. Yinghua felt like a place where I could put many different skills to use and make a positive impact. Taking over as the communication and development coordinator is an opportunity that continues to present challenges. I’m coming up on my second month of working at Yinghua and looking forward to events such as the Character Parade and the Chinese New Year performances.
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Q: How do you like Yinghua so far? A: I have loved Yinghua so far! Everyone is very kind and willing to help each other out. The way that everyone is ready to help whenever needed has been incredibly supportive as a new staff member. I appreciate that every day is also a little bit different. Part of one day I might spend prepping the weekly newsletter and another part helping with recess. A highlight of my time here so far has been reading to a few of the kindergarten classes. It was fantastic to spend some time with our youngest students and share the joys of reading. I love every time a student from the two classes that I read to says hi to me in the hallway. It makes my day a little brighter!
Q: What are your hobbies/interests? A: Generally, I would consider myself a nerd. I love all kinds of board games, video games, movies and books! Fantasy books are my go-to genre, and I love the works of Brandon Sanderson especially. A few years ago, I began crossstitching and have been stitching ever since. I also greatly enjoy baking, especially pies, for the people in my life that I care about deeply. Soccer and downhill skiing are also two activities I love. I began skiing almost as soon as I could walk in the mountains of Wyoming every Christmas. Since I was four years old, I have played soccer and am an avid fan of the National Women’s Soccer League. Q: Is there anything else you want the Yinghua community to know about you? A: For some reason, this question is more difficult than I expected, so I’ll list some fun facts. Winter is my favorite season. Otters and foxes are my favorite animals. I don’t like coffee and prefer chai or black tea for a morning caffeine boost. In college, I lived on a schooner in the Virgin Islands for three weeks for a class. The class was focused on learning how to sail, ocean ecology, and discussing stories of those who sailed across oceans in exploration. It was an incredible adventure, and I’d love to go sailing again sometime. (Edited by TA Chloe Peter.)
New to Yinghua:
Noah Smith
as assistant to academic director Q: Tell us about your story. A: I grew up in the Twin Cities suburbs, and my elementary schooling actually also took place at an immersion school - Normandale French Immersion in Edina. I, however, switched to a local private school called Blake in middle school, and it’s there that I began studying Chinese kind of coincidentally (since I wasn’t allowed to take higher-level French classes). I grew up playing violin and participating in youth orchestras, as both my parents are musicians, and that continued to be an important part of my life all the way through high school. I also played basketball, football, and threw shotput and discus for track and field throughout my time in middle/ high school. In middle school, my parents decided to send me to summer camp at the Concordia Language Villages Chinese Immersion program, a camp called Sen Lin Hu. Though I whined and begged to come home early initially, after a few weeks I was hooked. I spent three years there as a student and then began working there as an intern when I was 16. At this point, I’ve worked at Sen Lin Hu for eight years total and have grown to love it as my second home. Working in an immersion environment really jump-started my Chinese language ability and my passion for it, and it wasn’t long before I was researching ways to get even deeper into immersion - through studying in either China or Taiwan.
The year after I graduated high school, I was awarded a US State Department scholarship through the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program and set off for a life-changing year in Beijing, studying at a public high school. This was truly a formative year for me in terms of Chinese proficiency as well as future direction for my studies. I decided to major in International Relations in large part because Chinese people would ask me my thoughts on various US policies and I wouldn’t be able to answer them. I studied IR at Tufts University in Boston for four years, where I also played ultimate frisbee, basketball and sang in an a cappella group. I then began a master’s program cotaught between Johns Hopkins University and Nanjing University in China. Unfortunately, due to COVID, my degree has been put on hold as I have not been able to physically return to China, but I hope to do so soon so that I can finish my degree and see my friends in China once again. Q: Why did you choose to join Yinghua? A: Well I’ve spent a lot of my life and my activity in the Chinese-speaking/teaching community outside of the Twin Cities. Either living/studying in China, teaching weekends during undergrad in Boston, or working at an immersion summer camp up in Northern Minnesota. Now that I’m back in my hometown for the foreseeable future, I was very excited to be able to make a contribution to the Chinesespeaking and Chinese-learning community here! It certainly doesn’t hurt that Yinghua is incredibly impressive in both the breadth and depth of their language and cultural education, and that I know some former students and staff who have nothing but positive things to say. In fact, I was encouraged to apply by my friend James Kelloway (Ke Laoshi) when he began the process of moving to Taiwan!
Q: How do you like Yinghua so far? A: I really like it. Though my job is very administrative, I’ve been able to be involved across a wide variety of places and undertake many different sorts of responsibilities since I began. I already feel the sense of tight-knit community that is simultaneously excited for newcomers (like myself and many others this year) to be woven into it. From all staff members across various positions, teachers and administrators alike, I have consistently gotten the impression that everyone cares so intensely about the students’ success not just academically, but holistically. It feels like a special place. Q: What are your hobbies/interests? A: I have a wide variety of hobbies and interests. I am active in the Twin Cities Ultimate Frisbee community and play on teams during the fall, spring, and summer seasons. I love to play basketball and soccer as well. I grew up in a very musical household, and I still sing in a choir and enjoy playing guitar in my free time to relax a bit and express myself. I also love to bake and read or watch a lot of science fiction and fantasy media, especially superhero stories like Marvel or DC. I have two adorable miniature schnauzers named Cece and Freya who take up a LOT of time and attention, but are worth every second of it. Q: Is there anything else you want the Yinghua community to know about you? A: I have an older brother who speaks French, and my dad speaks Italian and German. Love for learning and teaching languages runs in my family! (Edited by TA Chloe Peter.)
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Perspectives at Yinghua on respect and safety. Yinghua students share experiences of being bullied; staff offers advice.
“As a Yinghua parent, I appreciate how the Yinghua Academy values ‘heart safe’ and ‘body safe’ as a community,” said Kenny Chan, director of special education. “I am assured school staff will respond quickly and consistently to bullying behavior so my children can focus on learning, developing empathy and respect for others.“ According to the federal government website StopBulling.gov, bullying is defined as “an unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.” The physical education department spends a lot of time teaching the value of sportsmanship and integrity and character.
By Adrienne and Luella | Yinghua Academy Reporters
“We really care more about how students respect themselves and each other than if they can perform the activities,” Sarah Totall, PE teacher and athletic director, explained.
To promote kindness, inclusion, acceptance and equity, the anti-bullying team held an art competition during the month of October. Students from all grade levels participated in creating art work, and the winner of each grade received a $10 gift card from Amazon.
Tracy Sanders has worked at Yinghua as a school counselor for four years. Students come to her when they feel hurt and are unsure if it is bullying and what they should do. She talks to them about their experience to decide if it is actually bullying.
Adam, eighth grader, said that, “I think this was a great project for students of all ages to participate in, and I am glad that so many took the time to make something that spread a kind message throughout the school.” Seventh grader, Mateo added, “I think kindness can be perceived in many different ways, which is why I am so happy that so many students created beautiful art to show what kindness and unity mean to them.” The school’s proactive approach to ensure respect and safety on campus is encouraging to
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parents
LUELLA
Q: What is your favorite subject in school? A: English
ADRIENNE Q: What is your favorite movie? A: “Captain America and the Winter Soldier”
Q: What is your favorite author? A: J.K. Rowling
Q: Who is your favorite musician? A: Taylor Swift
Q: What is your favourite book? A: ‘It’s not like a secret’
Q: Where do you want to visit? A: Stonehenge, UK and a volcano in Hawaii
She said bullying often occurs when students think they are unsupervised, and bullying often occurs verbally.
Mingmay Thomsen, an eighth grader, creates this digital artwork of unity in fighting against bullying.
“Words can be hurtful,” Ms. Sanders said.
that was a form of bullying until later. She then gained the courage to report the incident. She said that the experience brought a feeling of void to her life until she talked to her friends and knew she had people to lean on if things got out of hand again.
She said that some students don’t intend on hurting others even though their behaviors may appear like bullying.
LaLuz, a seventh grader, has experienced being bullied and has seen older kids in junior high bully the younger elementary kids.
“People will make mistakes. They don’t always know it,” she said.
“It’s honestly sad,” LaLuz said. “Younger kids look up to the older kids.” LaLuz explained that this will teach the younger kids that bullying is okay.
Ayva, a seventh grader, said she was pressured by a bully in fourth grade. She didn’t realize
Bullying prevention is talked about a lot in schools.
The anti-bullying art competition is one of the activities designed to teach students the importance of showing respect and creating unity. Ms. Sanders believes that the Yinghua community is a safe place for students to learn, to be who they are and to self advocate. “When you see something, say something,” she said. It takes a whole community to grow respect and unity. (Edited by Ariel Dunleavy.)
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PLAYGROUND Yinghua students enjoy recess with friends on a warm November afternoon.
EDITING STAFF Editors would like to thank the following people for their assistance or financial support in making The Yinghua Post happen: • • • • • • • • • •
Yinghua Academy students and staff Yinghua Academy Student Activities Coordinator Jenni Hoyt Yinghua Academy Executive Director Susan Berg Yinghua Academy Academic Director Luyi Lien Bethel graphic designer, student, Hannah Hobus Rick Berkner and the staff at North Star Media, who printed The Yinghua Post The Johnson Center, founded by Kathy and Gene Johnson, which helped fund student reporters’ notebooks and printing of newspapers Johnson Center Director Dave Kansas of Minnesota Public Radio Bethel University Dean of Academic Programs Barrett Fisher Bethel University Provost Robin Rylaarsdam and President Ross Allen
Yinghua Academy 1616 Buchanan Street NE Minneapolis, MN 55413 Principal Susan Berg Susan.berg@yinghuaacademy.org
Bethel University English and Journalism Department 3900 Bethel Drive St. Paul, MN 55104 Professor Yu-li Chang Zacher y-changzacher@bethel.edu