各位親愛的校長、老師、校務人員、學者專家、家長及同學們，大家好：

美東中文學校協會第四十四屆年會，將於今年五月廿七、廿八兩天在康乃狄克州(Connecticut)首府哈特福市的Hilton Hartford Hotel (315 Trumbull Street, Hartford, Connecticut, 06103) 舉行。此一盛會不僅是每年美國東部近百所中文學校的師生熱切期盼的大型活動，也是所有中文學校緊密結合、聚集一堂的難得機會，每年約有六百多人參加。

目前在全美各地的協會及聯誼會中，美東中文學校協會是規模最大的組織之一，其成立目的在於提昇中文教學的品質，並藉經驗的交流，培訓優良的師資。而本協會所舉辦的年會，係藉著教學研討、觀摩切磋及專家講授，以創新化及科技化的教學方式，來宣揚中華文化並將華語文導入主流社會，提昇主流社會及新一代僑民對中華文化的認識與認同。年會亦舉辦各項活動，諸如:青少年中華歷史文化常識問答比賽、國語演講比賽、壁報比賽、中華文化專題簡報比賽、國語歌唱比賽、扯鈴比賽等學藝競賽；以及最優教師、優良教師、資深教師、資深行政人員、優秀學生及榮譽學生等選拔項目，藉以鼓勵師生爭取最高榮譽。

本協會始於一九七四年創立。本會會員學校分佈範圍廣泛，現今分成六個區域包括: 第一區:新英格蘭地區; 第二區:紐約州北部及康州; 第三區:新澤西州; 第四區:賓州東部、賓州西部、德拉瓦州及南新澤西州; 第五區:馬里蘭州、華府地區及維吉尼亞州; 第六區:紐約市及長島。 今日，華語文教育的發展，已經不侷限於華人及華裔，也開始涵蓋到各種不同族群。為了普及華語文教育，本會利用每年國殤節的長假，集合各地教育界之先進及菁英，為提昇華語文教育貢獻心力，使傳承的工作能不斷注入活水泉源。多年來推廣華語文教育的努力也逐漸得到了美國教育界的重視，僑教在這其中扮演著舉足輕重的角色。爰此今年年會主題擬訂如下：

數位網路蔚風潮，華文學習遍世界

美東中文學校協會竭誠邀請您闔府參加年會，共聚一堂就中文教學互相觀摩，經驗分享，一起為傳揚中華文化，提昇中文教學共同努力，也趁此機會流覽康乃狄克地區豐富的歷史、學術與文化，享受一個豐盛的國殤日長週末!

耑此，順頌時祺！

美東中文學校協會會長
林宏圖

第四十四屆年會主席
莊嘉褀

暨美東中文學校協會理事會全體理事

一同敬邀
二零一七年元月三十一日

Event: The Association of Chinese Schools’ (ACS) 44th Annual Conference
Date: A two-day event to be held on May 27th and May 28th, 2017
Location: Hilton Hartford Hotel (315 Trumbull Street, Hartford, Connecticut, 06103)

It’s that time of year again! Time for our annual East Coast Regional event, where we gather nearly one hundred Chinese language schools with teachers and students participating in exciting educational and informational activities. We invite you and your families and friends to join us for this exciting conference.

This always much anticipated event is a great occasion for all our Chinese schools to gather and mingle together to share educational experiences and best teaching practices. Each year we have about 600 attendees participating in lectures, workshops, and activities designed to educate students of Chinese language and culture, and to enhance the teaching skills of our talented and dedicated teachers and instructors.

As one of the largest and oldest Chinese language and culture organizations within the United States, ACS and its guiding mission to enhance the quality of Chinese teaching through the active exchange of experience and shared best practices is a cherished and venerable institution. We accomplish our excellence and longevity through never losing sight of our vital mission to effectively promote the Chinese culture and language into mainstream society; for both our next generation students and all those interested within the larger community in which we live. The careful planning and execution of our annual conference, with its numerous training seminars, games, presentations, and workshops provides opportunities to observe and learn from experts, to explore new and innovative technologies and approaches, and sample technology-driven teaching methods designed to enhance the learning experience that is key to our success, as well as your participation!

ACS invites you and your families to attend this year’s annual meeting. Our sincere hope is that we use this golden opportunity to gather together to observe, learn, and share the most up to date techniques on Chinese teaching, to mutually experience the benefits of such sharing, and to work together to spread Chinese culture, accomplish synergy in our joint efforts to continually improve the quality of Chinese teaching, and for those of you from outside Connecticut, to also take the opportunity to explore the rich history of the greater Connecticut area, both academic and cultural, and enjoy a memorable and wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Sincerely,

Charles Hungtu Lin
ACS President

Chiachi Chuang
ACS 44th Annual Conference Chairman

And the ACS Board of Directors