Howard County Chinese School

08/06/2026

Howard County Chinese School's Youth Journalist Team is looking for new members!

The Youth Journalist Team’s mission statement is to provide informational and engaging coverage for events that Howard County Chinese School (HCCS) sponsors or joins, connect with the community, and empower its members to develop critical thinking, public speaking, media creation, and communication skills. If you are interested, fill out the application form by scanning the QR code on the attached flyer. Applicants should be rising 7th, 8th, or 9th graders; applications are due on 8/21/2026. We'd love to see you on our team!!

(This flyer was created by Youth Journalist Team members Sophia Gion and Sophia Hua!)

07/19/2026

Howard County Chinese School Participates in Annual Fourth of July Parade!

On July 4th, the Howard County Chinese School (HCCS) proudly participated in the annual Independence Day Parade at River Hill, joining hundreds of community members in celebrating America's birthday. This year marked the ninth consecutive year that HCCS has participated in the parade, continuing a tradition of sharing Chinese culture and bringing energy and excitement to one of Howard County's favorite Independence Day events.
Leading the parade were members of the Student Government Association (SGA) along with Alphabots and Ingenuity, two of HCCS’s decorated robotics teams. They happily handed out candy to children and families lining the streets, bringing smiles to spectators of all ages. Close behind them was a beautifully decorated truck covered in festive red, white, and blue decorations.
The Howard County Chinese School's participation in the parade is about much more than simply driving down the street. It is an opportunity to celebrate Independence Day while sharing Chinese culture with the wider community and highlighting the diversity that makes Howard County so special. Through colorful performances and the simple joy of handing out candy, HCCS once again delighted the crowd and demonstrated its commitment to bringing people together through culture, service, and celebration. Their outstanding performance made this year's parade another memorable success and continued a tradition that the school can proudly carry forward for years to come.

Reported by Addison Liu

06/23/2026

Howard County Chinese School Successfully Holds Class of 2026 Graduation Ceremony

On June 6th, 2026, the Howard County Chinese School held its graduation ceremony for this year’s class of tenth graders. This marks HCCS’s 28th year of bringing Chinese to our community. Each and every one of these graduates have spent an entire decade learning at HCCS, persevering through rain, snow, and even a pandemic. It’s truly inspiring to see them at the end of their journeys, smiling on the stage as they receive their diplomas. The event began with an address from principal Ming Li and BOE member Linfeng Chen, congratulating them for completing an entire decade of education at the Chinese School. They were followed by teacher representative Zhang Shiliang and recent graduate Song Lele, both introduced by Board member Gao Limei. Song Lele recounted his own personal journey with Chinese, and how frustrating it was in the moment, but how rewarding the experience was in the end for him. Zhang Shiliang, who is also a robotics coach, connected the two subjects of robotics and Chinese, reflecting that robotics was difficult and required perseverance to get through just like how the recent graduates needed to persevere through years of Chinese education to reach where they are today. To the graduates, he imparted his profound expectations: may you never back down from challenges, empower and uplift one another along the way, serve the community with dedication, boldly grasp every opportunity, and preserve an enduring passion for the unknown.

After their inspiring speeches, the school distributed the following awards to commemorate the achievements of the following students, celebrating all of the great work they’ve contributed to the Chinese school and our community.

Feng Yan Jun Memorial Award: Kunni(Queenie) Lin, Helen Luo, Calvin Song
H4C Traditional Culture & Art Award
Gold: Lily Yin
Silver: Callie Chen, Zihan Chen

Mentorship Excellence Award: Clara Luo, Mabelle Liu, Alex Jiao, Kaylan Zhang

SGA Senior Commitment Award - Bronze: Kunni(Queenie) Lin

Student Leadership Award: Helen Luo, Annie Xu

HCCS Community Service Excellence Award:
Gold: Addison Liu
Silver: Mabelle Liu, Mandy Teng, Lindsey Yu
Bronze: Cynthia Chang, Vivian Chang, Jessica Li, Claire Liu, Lawrence Tong, Sherry Wei
Honorable Mention: Kunni(Queenie) Lin

CADA Student Community Service Award
Gold: Evan Luo, Helen Luo
Silver: Luke Ni, Bryan Wang, Kaylan Zhang
Bronze : Eric Han, Vincent Li, Melinda Liu
Honorable Mention: Yifan Chen, Zihan Chen
We would also like to celebrate our teachers with the following teacher service awards:

20-Year Service Award: Ms. Wu Yaping
15-Year Service Award: Ms. Hu Hong, Mr. Yuan Yingdong
10-Year Service Award: Ms. Dai Jing, Ms. Luo Nan, Ms. Song Danfeng, Mr. Li Guanghui
5-Year Service Award: Ms. Shao Weiwei, Ms. Li Xue, Ms. Li Yao, Ms. Wang Wei, Ms. Wang Pei

In addition, Shi Jin and Han Zhiyang received the School Board’s 10-Year Service Award, and Mr. Zhang Shiliang was presented with a Special Contribution Award in recognition of his work and achievements for robotics education in the school.

When interviewed, the recent graduates advised the current students to know what’s going on in the wider Chinese school community, and do their homework to better understand the culture, while an interviewed teacher emphasized the importance for the students to understand, appreciate, and continue to spread Chinese culture. Once awards were distributed, each and every graduate went individually onto the stage to receive their diploma and celebrate the monumental occasion of completing their Chinese school education. Finally, to end off the day, all of the graduates gathered on stage and sang the popular chinese song 青花瓷 (Qing Hua Ci). Marking the finale of all their efforts throughout an entire decade. Congratulations to all the graduates! The skill of being bilingual will no doubt open doors in the future and you all have a bright future ahead of you!

06/16/2026

HCCS attend Asia BBQ Festival and A Journey to Chinese Culture Event

On June 14, the Asia BBQ Festival and A Journey to Chinese Culture Event were successfully held at Rockville Town Square, Maryland! The venue was packed with enthusiastic crowds, and the vibrant atmosphere featured wonderful music, cultural performances, rich cultural displays, and a diverse array of distinct Asian cuisines, drawing numerous families to join the festivities.

Howard County Chinese School (HCCS) also actively participated in this grand event. Students from the school's Student Government Association (SGA) and Youth Ambassador Program (YAP) set up a cultural experience and promotional booth, introducing Chinese culture and the achievements of the school's Chinese language education to the broader community.

06/06/2026

HCCS Participates in the 5th AAPI Festival of Howard County

On May 30th 2026, Howard County Chinese School (HCCS) proudly participated in the 5th Howard County's Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Festival, a community celebration highlighting the diverse cultures, traditions, and contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities throughout Howard County.

The festival opened with a parade featuring schools, cultural organizations, and community groups. HCCS participated with a traditional dragon dance, which attracted the attention of many spectators along the parade route.

Throughout the day, HCCS hosted an information booth where volunteers shared information about the school's Chinese language classes, cultural programs, and community activities. Families visiting the booth learned about opportunities to study Chinese language and explore Chinese culture through HCCS programs. Also representing HCCS was Alphabots, the school's FTC robotics team, which recently competed at the FIRST Robotics World Championship. Their participation showcased not only cultural heritage but also the achievements of HCCS students in STEM education.

Visitors to the festival enjoyed a variety of attractions, including food trucks serving cuisines from across Asia and the Pacific Islands. Vendor booths offered cultural crafts, artwork, clothing, and other items, while information booths from local organizations provided educational resources and opportunities for community involvement.

Performances were held throughout the day at The Chrysalis. Dancers, musicians, martial artists, and cultural groups showcased traditions from many different backgrounds, giving attendees the opportunity to experience the rich diversity of AAPI cultures represented in Howard County.

The AAPI Festival brought together students, families, educators, and community members for a day of learning, celebration, and cultural exchange. Through its dragon dance performance, information booth, and the participation of the Alphabots robotics team, HCCS was honored to contribute to an event that celebrated both cultural heritage and student achievement.

05/05/2026

Howard County Youth Journalists Interview County Executive Candidates at Community Forum

On April 26, Student reporters from HCCS Youth Journalists interviewed the three candidates running for Howard County Executive: Vanessa Atterbeary, Deb Jung and Liz Walsh during and after a candidate forum held at Howard Community College, offering voters a closer look at their positions on education, community representation, and local governance.

The forum, held in Howard Hall and organized by community groups including the Howard County Chinese School, the Chinese American Parent Association, and the League of Korean Americans of Maryland, brought together the candidates ahead of the upcoming election.

During the event, a student journalist asked how the candidates would support efforts to incorporate Asian American history into K-12 education, which is an issue that has gained increasing attention in recent years.

All three candidates expressed support, while emphasizing different approaches to implementation.

Atterbeary said she supports the inclusion of Asian American studies, as well as African American studies, in school curricula, arguing that greater understanding among communities strengthens society as a whole. She noted that while curriculum decisions are made at the local level, she would work with the school board to advance such efforts.

Jung pointed to the structural limits of the county executive’s authority, noting that the role does not directly control school curriculum. However, she said she would facilitate conversations with the school board and create a liaison position within her administration to improve coordination and help move initiatives forward.

Walsh focused on the role of funding, emphasizing that expanding curriculum offerings depends on available resources. She said decisions about what is taught depend on the allocation of the county’s budget, highlighting the importance of sustained investment in education and the role of the county executive in distributing the money.

Following the forum, HCCS Youth Journalists conducted individual interviews with each candidate, providing further insight into their priorities.

Atterbeary emphasized the importance of ensuring that underrepresented communities are not only represented but actively involved in decision-making. She also highlighted the need for more opportunities for residents to connect across communities and build mutual understanding. On youth engagement, she pointed to internships and civic participation as key ways to encourage involvement and said the government should remain accessible to students.

Jung described her decision to run as rooted in decades of involvement in local schools and a desire to address disparities in educational resources. She outlined policy proposals including the creation of liaison roles to help residents and businesses navigate government systems and discussed expanding affordable housing opportunities. On fiscal policy, she said she does not currently see a need to raise taxes, emphasizing instead the importance of prioritizing existing resources.

Walsh highlighted her focus on strengthening community visibility and improving government efficiency. She pointed to initiatives supporting Asian American communities, including the work of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Commission and the development of a community center. She also identified public schools, efficient use of county resources, and human rights as her top priorities. Addressing her campaign, Walsh said increasing voter awareness is a major challenge, noting that many residents are not yet aware of the upcoming primary election or the choices available.

The interviews reflected both shared priorities and differing perspectives among the candidates. While all three emphasized the importance of education and community engagement, Atterbeary focused on inclusion and participation, Jung on governance and policy coordination, and Walsh on funding priorities and resource allocation.

For the student journalists, the experience provided an opportunity to engage directly with candidates and bring community-focused issues, such as education and representation, into the public conversation ahead of the election.

by Joe Li - HCCS Youth Journalists
produced by Sophia Hua - HCCS Youth Journalists

https://youtu.be/GlpdWJseVSM?si=iX3FAtFixuOXSXX2

04/25/2026