Grand River Chinese School offers a series of Chinese language courses for school age children, including CFL (Chinese as a Foreign Language) course for students from non-Chinese family backgrounds, 3-year-old Chinese language course, elementary Chinese language courses (JK through Grade 8), secondary Chinese language credit courses (Grades 9 though 12).
In addition to Chinese language programs, the school also provide a series of extracurricular interest classes, including
● Fine Arts for Kids ● Cartoon Art ● Sketching
● Chinese Folk Dance ● Erhu (a.k.a. Chinese violin) ● Pipa (a.k.a. Chinese lute) ● Guzheng
● Music and Movement for kids ● Choir and Performing Arts for kids ● Vocal ● Keyboard ● Violin
● Quick Chinese literacy ● English Writing (elementary, secondary, and advanced levels)
● Hand and Mental Calculation ● Olympic Math (elementary, secondary, and advanced levels)
● “Go” ● Badminton
Chinese Camps in March Break and summer are another set of feature programs that attracted many students. The camps include courses of Chinese, Math for Fun, Fine Arts, Chinese History, Chinese Geography and Tradition, Craft, and Stories in Chinese, Chinese cooking for kids, etc. The camp also include a rich series of recreational activities such as Chinese Cartoons, games and sports. Students learn while they play.
Excellent teachers, small class learning environments, teaching methodology that combines Chinese tradition and Canadian favour, and strict safety measures are among the reasons that attract more and more students.
Elizabeth Witmer, MPP, The Hon. Karen Redman, P.C., M.P., Brenda Halloran, Mayer of Waterloo, and The Hon. Andrew Telegdi, P.C., M.P. sent letters respectively in 2007 to congratulate the establishment of Grand River Chinese School. In 2009, Harold Albrecht, MP also sent letter to our school recognizing the service to the community.
A Common Dream ©
(Anthem of Grand River Chinese School)
Music by Meng Weidong
Lyric by teachers of Grand River Chinese School
(Play it: Solo Choir)
The warm spring breeze caresses the earth.
The Grand River flows quietly and nourishes everything in silence.
The maple leaves near and far colour the northland red.
The ringing sound of children reciting reverberates through the campus.
We will take the long journey in spite of numerous hills and streams ahead,
Our teachers' encouragement and their smiling faces will always live in our hearts.
On each sunny day of great joy,
Hand in hand we have a lot to say.
Our childhood is as merry as the snowflakes dancing in the sky,
The Grand River flows into our souls.
Our shared language brings us together,
And our shared heritage gives us a common dream.
The sunshine harmonizes all the languages.
The gentle breeze carries the stories of the Devine Land.
Our shared language brings us together,
And our shared heritage gives us a common dream…
A common dream.