Ni hao!

As part of Mandarin Stars’ endeavours to promote bilingual learning within the community, particularly within schools who play such a vital role in our children’s education and interests, we encourage all families enrolled with Mandarin Stars to consider the following opportunities for your schools:

Becoming Asia Literate Grants to Schools

Do you have an interesting project idea to increase Asia literacy in your school?

Could funding help launch your project?

The Becoming Asia Literate Grants to Schools grants will “assist schools to promote the teaching and learning of Asian languages and/or the studies of Asia”. Visit the Asia Education Foundation FAQ here for more information, and to apply for a Becoming Asia Literate grant!

Applications now open online, but be quick – applications close online at 5pm EST Friday 28 May 2010.

The Asia Literacy Ambassadors – Partnering Businesses & Schools

Interested in hosting an Asia Literacy Ambassador in your secondary school?

The Asia Literacy Ambassadors – Partnering Businesses & Schools project establishes and supports partnerships between businesses and school communities to “stimulate and increase student and school community demand for Asia literacy.”

Have you registered your school’s interest yet? Don’t miss out! Visit the website here for more information!

Xie xie!

Dawna and the Mandarin Stars Team!

Mandarin Stars provides fun and inspiring Mandarin Chinese lessons for children age 1 to 12 years. Our Mandarin program for children is designed for children from all nationalities and our program is specifically designed for non-native learners. To find out more and to read about what our parents and the wider community think of us- please visit www.mandarinstars.com.au

Ni hao!

Mandarin Stars is proud to annouce that we are now members of the Australian Tutoring Association (ATA). More than ever, we are committed to providing a high quality of teaching and professionalism to families and supporters our of community.

As an ATA member, Mandarin Stars’ obligations include:

• Tutoring organizations will use their resources for the best educational outcomes for students.

• Individual Members will use their educational skills to the best of their ability to teach students so that they improve in the subject/s in which they are being tutored.

• Members will use their teaching and learning practices and resources to enhance students’ self-esteem and confidence to learn.

• All ATA Members must ensure that a copy of the ATA Code of Conduct available for clients to peruse as requested.

How have we been qualified for this privilege and achievement? All ATA members must ensure:

• All tutors have been trained in the organisation’s curriculum and methods of teaching

• Staff training and staff professional development is an on-going commitment. Training may take the form of curriculum and program development, in-servicing on educational issues related to child development, assessment, child protection and so on.

• All tutors employed by organisations are to be assessed at least once annually in order to maintain educational standards. The assessment of tutors shall be based upon criteria that has been disclosed to the tutor prior to the assessment and may include the use of the ATA Tutor.

Congratulations to all the teachers for their dedication and perseverence, and a warm thank you to all the parents for their support of Mandarin Stars!

Xie xie!

Dawna and the Mandarin Stars Team!

Mandarin Stars provides fun and inspiring Mandarin Chinese lessons for children age 1 to 12 years. Our Mandarin program for children is designed for children from all nationalities and our program is specifically designed for non-native learners. To find out more and to read about what our parents and the wider community think of us- please visit www.mandarinstars.com.au