MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES NEARLY $5M IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR BPS BUDGET

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES NEARLY $5M IN ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR BPS BUDGET $1.032B BPS budget represents $18.2M increase from FY16

BOSTON - Monday, June 13, 2016 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced that he will file for an additional $4.7 million for Boston Public Schools (BPS) in Fiscal Year (FY17) to invest in several proposed initiatives aimed at the long-term success of Boston's schools. These initiatives, part of Superintendent Tommy Chang's long term vision for BPS,  include rolling out the Excellence for All program in 13 schools, planning for a new dual language program in three schools, preparing for Extended Learning Time expansion in FY18, and implementing a transportation data system. "I believe deeply in public education, and I believe our unstinting goals in public education should be to close opportunity and achievement gaps, meet the diverse needs of every kind of student, and make our district schools top choices for every family in every neighborhood," said Mayor Walsh. "I am pleased to re-submit the FY17 operating budget with a nearly $5M increase for BPS, which will fund programs aimed at getting all of our children on the pathway to success." Mayor Walsh's Medium post on education and the increase in the BPS budget. Chief Financial Officer David Sweeney's Medium post on the data behind the BPS budget. On Friday, June 17, Superintendent Chang will present his plan for the additional investments to the School Committee for their approval: A $1.2 million investment in the new Excellence for All program will offer 4th graders in 13 schools access to rigorous and enriched experiences, bringing the benefits of the Advanced Work Classes to a more diverse set of students and equipping them with new skills such as foreign languages and robotics. The Superintendent plans to use data to improve operations, performance and efficiency of the district. BPS will roll out a transportation data system to track ridership, provide information to parents and improve student safety. BPS will use the data to streamline bus routes and improve operational efficiency for student transportation, which is budgeted to save $10 million in FY17. BPS will also develop a performance meter with measures to assess college and career readiness. The Superintendent will use funds to plan for BPS's future with instructional and logistical support for approximately 40 schools in advance of extended learning time roll out in FY18, grants to three schools to design a financially viable dual language program, and completion of the high school redesign. Additional funding will help ensure that students are learning in a safe environment .The funding will provide leadership for the safety office and expansion of the CrisisGo app, a notification system to guide principals and administrators and inform staff about ongoing emergencies and incidents with BPD intervention. BPS also plans to conduct a safety audit of facilities, policies and procedures. Finally, these investments will continue high levels of service to our families by adding an additional $400,000 to provide translation for BPS families in multiple languages. "I extend my gratitude to Mayor Walsh for increasing education funding for our schools," said Superintendent Chang. "This investment will help move us forward as a district and will support many of the activities and programming that are extremely important to our students and families. Together, as a community, we remain deeply committed to the future of our children and I look forward to a promising year ahead." These are in addition to the investments Boston is already planning for FY17 that increase equity and better serve student needs such as: Increasing access to quality early childhood education by adding over 200 new pre-kindergarten seats on top of the 200 seats the Mayor added over the past two years; Investing thoughtfully in special education including additional classroom supports, a data system to improve parent access to children's special education plans, and transition services for special education students ages 14-22; Maintaining district commitments to expanded learning time, professional development and other school based supports as federal and state grants expire.   Consistent with Boston's annual budget process, the Mayor will resubmit the FY17 Operating Budget to the City Council on June 20, 2017. The FY17 Budget Resubmission will invest almost $1.032 billion in Boston Public Schools, an $18.2 million increase over the FY16 Budget, and the City is likely to add additional funds to the BPS budget if wages increase further through collective bargaining. To support this increased investment, the City will be budgeting $1.9 million in increased net state aid and $2.8 million in additional local receipts. Although net state aid is projected to be slightly higher than the City originally budgeted, it is still projected to decline from FY16 and fall almost $16 million short of funding the state's obligations to Boston for charter school reimbursement.   Mayor Walsh's Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) budget proposal, is a balanced and responsible plan that is responsive to the needs to Boston's residents.  The budget builds on the Administration's strong and proactive fiscal management practices, implements department audit recommendations to achieve operational efficiencies and modernize processes, employs data-driven decision making, and continues to address long-term systemic challenges affecting the residents of Boston that have built up over many years.  Through thoughtful reforms that achieve savings, and improved utilization of existing funds, Mayor Walsh's FY17 budget is able to make targeted investments toward achieving a thriving, healthy and innovative City.

美国麻州大学波士顿孔子学院参加波士顿龙舟节文化展示

美国麻州大学波士顿孔子学院参加波士顿龙舟节文化展示

          6月12日，波士顿第37届龙舟节在查尔斯河上举行，吸引3万人前来观赛和体验在岸边举行的文化活动。麻州大学波士顿孔子学院也特意布置了文化展台，借此机会展示和推广中国文化。中国驻纽约总领馆总领事章启月在活动期间来到孔子学院展台，称赞孔院的项目做得好，孩子们都喜欢。她还亲切地同工作人员合影。

          孔子学院的展台前人头攒动。他们有的在工作人员引导下，体验跳绳、踢毽子，有的兴致勃勃地参加“筷子夹豆子”比赛。还有的更喜欢“舞文弄墨”，在孔院准备的万次书写纸上，用从来没用过的毛笔，一遍遍“画”汉字。也有人跟展台的工作人员索取现场毛笔书写的成语、祝福语和名言警句。汉语水平比较高的，就尝试做“汉字数独”游戏。孔院也提供了“汉字组词”和“偏旁组字”游戏，供有一定汉语学习基础的体验者挑战自己。参与游戏和比赛获胜的人分别得到孔院赠送的明信片和中国风格小挂历等纪念品和奖品。孔院也在展台前发送了孔院项目和汉语水平考试等宣传材料，让更多人对孔子学院有了更多的了解。

        波士顿龙舟节是波士顿地区一年一度举行的盛大节日活动，孔子学院每年借此机会展示和宣传中国文化，受到很多关注和欢迎。(麻大波士頓孔院提供）

Attorney General Maura Healey on the Orlando shooting

Attorney General Maura Healey on the Orlando shooting:

"My heart is broken for all of the victims, their loved ones and the community of Orlando. There will be more to learn in the days and weeks ahead as we seek answers to our questions. Today we focus on those we've lost and those who've been injured. The LGBT community is strong. Americans are strong. Today, we focus on the victims and their families. Tomorrow, we get back to work to honor their memory, the memory of the 100,000 people killed in gun violence since we said "never again" after Sandy Hook and all those who have lost their lives in such senseless tragedies. Let us stand in solidarity, united in strength, compassion and love.​" - Attorney General Maura Healey

黎卓宇迷倒韓日 將回波士頓再赴中國巡演

            (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導)青年才俊鋼琴家黎卓宇（George Li）在韓國、日本演奏，搏狂熱好評的載譽歸來後，將於6月23日回到波士頓的岩港（Rockport）劉沙林表演中心演奏，再於7月1日到重慶大劇院，7月3日到北京音樂廳，7月5日到廣州星海音樂廳演出。

家住波士頓，目前還是哈佛大學，新英格蘭音樂學院做雙學位學生的青年鋼琴家黎卓宇（George Li） ，甫於2015年7月贏得柴可夫斯基國際音樂賽銀獎，同年12月再在北京國家大劇院的捷杰耶夫和馬林斯基交響樂團的音樂會中，臨危受命做救場演出，迷倒全場觀眾，贏得捷杰耶夫親自上台獻花，聲譽一路攀升。

今年6月初，黎卓宇在韓國首爾，日本東京及大阪（Osaka）分別舉辦了獨奏會，贏得一片好評。

首爾那場，粉絲稱那是最好的演出，自己絕對不會忘記，還追問黎卓宇何時再到首爾表演。

日本的6月4日大阪演奏，會後有粉絲發電郵稱之為意外警喜，形容黎卓宇是大阪本年度的最棒鋼琴家。在東京那場，事後有報導稱，“一個真正的音樂家誕生了”，形容觀眾在黎卓宇演奏結束後，一片沈默，30秒後才醒過來，再瘋狂鼓掌。

黎卓宇其實早從5歲就已展露鋼琴天份，經老師楊鏡钏，殷承宗等人指導，6歲，7歲連續兩年獲得麻州音樂教師協會鋼琴比賽一等獎，還在9歲時就首次和廈門交響樂團合作演奏。

進胡桃山音樂學校（Walnut Hill Music School），升讀哈佛大學和新英格蘭音樂學院雙學位以來，黎卓宇還師從新英格蘭音樂學院的Wha Kyung Byun (卞和暻)，羅素雪曼（Russell Sherman）等大師。

如今年僅21歲的黎卓宇，已得獎無數，包括2014年的巴黎阿尼瑪托國際大獎賽冠軍，凡多姆獎第二名，2015年蕭邦比賽第三名，2012年的吉爾摩青年藝術家獎，成為該獎歷來最年輕得主，以及2010年的青年音樂會藝術家（YCA）國際甄選第一名等等。

他的榮譽，還包括許多青年音樂家豔羨的“御前演奏”經驗，包括15歲時在美國總統奧巴馬，德國總理梅克爾面前演出，贏得國家元首的讚譽。

在音樂這條路上，黎卓宇能有如今的成就，固然和他有天份，勤於演練，受母親薰陶，上大學後選文學做主修課，正在修讀“哈姆雷特之後的莎士比亞”，“當代小說”，浪漫英文詩等，加強他自己對抽象音樂的了解，詮釋，得到更深入感觸，也是原因之一。

            黎卓宇的父母，黎小堅及卓超英，眼見黎卓宇有天份，又勤奮，正傾力栽培。原本主修文學，來美後改行做會計，金融的卓超英，甚至辭去工作，專心打點黎卓宇在音樂路上大小事項，輔佐黎卓宇達成在世界四大音樂廳，包括維也納金色音樂大廳，柏林音樂大廳，卡內基音樂廳，阿姆斯特丹皇家音樂廳等演出的心願。

韓國樂迷團團圍住黎卓宇。

樂迷爭相拍攝黎卓宇的相片。

馬友友“絲路”樂團 6/24到劍橋市演出

馬友友與“絲路（Silkroad）“樂團的本年度巡演，甫於6月10日起，從洛杉磯展開，將陸續抵達 紐約，澳洲雪梨，印第安納州等地演出，預訂6月24日在麻州劍橋市置地肯德廣場9號演出。 OPENING OF "THE MUSIC OF STRANGERS:  YO-YO MA AND THE SILK ROAD ENSEMBLE" Landmark Kendall Square 9 June 24, 2016 THE MUSIC OF STRANGERS: YO-YO MA AND THE SILK ROAD ENSEMBLE Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom) profiles celebrated cellist Yo-Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble, which brings together master musicians from around the world to teach, collaborate, and perform. The film will open on June 24 at Landmark Kendall Square 9 in Cambridge, MA. IN U.S. THEATERS STARTING TODAY The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble Find it in a theater near you! Screenings in NYC and LA this weekend will be followed by a special conversation with Silkroad artists. “Musically DELIGHTFUL! The spirit of creativity is INFECTIOUS.”  — John DeFore, The Hollywood Reporter The latest film from Oscar-winning director Morgan Neville (20 Feet from Stardom) follows Yo-Yo Ma and members of the Silk Road Ensemble as they explore the ways art can both preserve traditions and shape cultural evolution. The film arrives in New York and Los Angeles today, with theatrical release across North America this summer. Find it in a theater near you! In Other News: The Silk Road Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma will tour across the U.S. this August. View our calendar for details. The Arts and Passion-Driven Learning Institute brings together educators and artists from around the world. Apply now.

silkroadproject.org

賴銘琪讚揚李育雄醫師為「臺灣之光」

賴銘琪處長(左三）應邀出席李育雄醫師（左二）的頒獎酒會。左一

為李醫師太太，中為波克萊臺商會會長蘇鴻昌夫婦，右為友人劉備世

夫婦。（圖由經文處提供）

駐波士頓臺北經濟文化辦事處處長賴銘琪6月8日應邀參加「東波士頓社區醫療中心」頒發臺裔李育雄醫師「大師獎」(Maestro Award)之酒會。他表示很榮幸出席見證具高度愛心及高明醫術的李醫師獲此殊榮，出身臺灣的李醫師服務該中心46年，多次獲得各界肯定，誠為「臺灣之光」。

賴處長表示，李醫師畢業於高雄醫學院，為小兒科及急診科醫師，曾任職於麻州總醫院及波士頓醫療中心，也曾任哈佛醫學院教授，學驗俱豐；但他不求名利，甘於以微薄報酬在「東波士頓社區醫療中心」擔任醫師，1970年初任時每小時僅7美元，以愛心澆灌此機構，奉獻給社區需要的人，令人欽佩，也是臺灣精神之展現。

賴處長強調，李醫師出身臺灣，時時不忘臺灣鄉親的需要，特別向他推薦該中心是一所對僑胞、留學生及臺灣旅客非常友善與便利的醫療機構，同胞在海外難免有不時之需，鼓勵有需要的同胞善加利用。

李育雄醫師之醫術受同業之廣泛推崇，曾兩度獲頒波士頓市及麻州醫學會頒發之「年度醫師獎」，也是美國小兒科醫學會、感染疾病協會、急診醫師學院之會員。

「東波士頓社區醫療中心」（East Boston Neighborhood Health Center）是美國同類醫療中心之先驅，每週七日全天候開放的社區醫療中心，服務對象廣及東波士頓及附近地區之居民及一般大眾。尤其難能可貴的是無論能否負擔費用，該中心不拒絕任何有醫療需求之對象。該中心的主要資金來源為聯邦及州政府，也靠勸募補助資金之需求。當晚酒會近400人出席，包括該醫療中心總裁兼執行長Manny Lopes、州參議員Joseph A. Boncore、州眾議員Adrian Madaro及市議員Salvatore LaMattina，波克萊臺灣商會會長蘇鴻昌夫婦及僑界友人劉備世夫婦亦應邀出席。