克利夫兰及周边地区消息

CLEVELAND’S GALA STUDENTS

RECEIVED INVITATION TO CHINA

   Nadia McKay's family brings a unique story to this journey. Yolanda McKay, Nadia's mother, recently achieved a significant milestone by becoming a Cleveland firefighter. She stands as one of only three Black women among the 764 members of the Cleveland Fire Department. Nadia's journey to China is not only a testament to her academic talent but also a celebration of her family's tradition of breaking barriers in the community.
   Katie Perkins, the oldest of four siblings, contributes another inspiring narrative to the GALA team. Two of Katie's siblings were adopted from China, enriching the Perkins family with a diverse cultural heritage. As Katie engages in the cultural exchange in Chengdu, her family's commitment to fostering cultural understanding and unity is palpable.
   Zhangjie Chen, GALA's dedicated Mandarin teacher, plays a crucial role in shaping the students' linguistic and cultural development. Chen's guidance and commitment to excellence in language education have been instrumental in preparing Nadia and Katie for this international platform.
   Meran Rogers, GALA's Founder and Executive Director, expresses admiration for the students, stating, "Nadia and Katie, embody the spirit of GALA not just as students but as representatives that inspire us all. Both of them joined GALA in 2017, as second grade students in the Mandarin immersion program. Their dedication to learning Mandarin and academics has led them to this great achievement, and I couldn’t be more proud. They are both model ambassadors for the rest of our students."
   GALA is a tuition-free public K-8 language immersion school in Cleveland. GALA provides students with a bilingual education in Mandarin or Spanish. At GALA, students receive daily instruction in Mandarin or Spanish for 50% of the day, covering Math, Science, and Language Arts. The remaining 50% of daily instruction is in English, focusing on Social Studies, ELA, and Specials.
   Now in its eighth year, GALA continues to grow and outperform nearly all schools in Cleveland. GALA recently purchased the historic McKinley School, a vacant CMSD building located less than a mile away from its current site. Meran Rogers is leading a $16M effort to renovate the school, with the aim of opening its doors for the 2025-2026 school year. This transformative project will allow GALA to double its current enrollment of 300 K-8 students and expand access to a quality language immersion program for Cleveland students. GALA's dedication to language immersion, combined with its commitment to high quality education, makes it a beacon of excellence in Cleveland's educational landscape.