Kindle Gift

Dear Andy,

Eight years of homework assignments surely add up. Therefore, as a token of our appreciation for all that you have done for the school and the students, we cannot let you leave without taking the liberty of assuming a role reversal here. You are now the proud and deserving recipient of "summer reading homework" gleefully "assigned" by the following individuals.

Mandatory or optional? Genres? Due dates? Book project rubrics? Books, magazines, newspapers? Current event reports? You decide. It's entirely up to you!

Don't worry. We're being merciful and limiting your reading assignment to just one page. We hope you enjoy your new toy! Each time you fire up this Kindle, may you be reminded of how very much we will always appreciate you and the work you've done over the course of eight years at CAIS--goals and plans, tasks and accomplishments, ideas and actions--the work that has ultimately benefitted the many students in attendance during your tenure and the work that will continue to benefit those to follow.

Thank you for being a part of our lives, these past eight years. We wish you the very best for whatever adventures and endeavors await you. As the kids write in their yearbooks, KIT and HAGS! (Keep in touch and have a great summer!)

Susan Chang & Laurence Huang, Colin Huang '09, Peter Huang '12, and Simon Chang-Huang '15

Susan Cheng & Alex Woo and Katy Woo '12

Rachel Chin & Thomas Wu, Katherine Wu '14, and Elizabeth Wu '12

Julia Chu and Celine Gauchey '11

Margie Chung & Steve Melino and Avery Chung-Melino '11

Shelly & Peter de Vries and Sophia de Vries '12

Judy Chan Farmer & Kenneth Farmer, and Caitlin Farmer '14

Winnie Fok, Alec Ng '08, and Emma Ng '13

Judith Gamble & David Irwin, Julia Mei Irwin '09, and Anna Irwin '16

Cynthia Gissler & Brian McDonnell, Pierce McDonnell '13, and Ronan Gissler '14

Nan Goldberg & Nick Van Cleve, and Lillian Van Cleve '08

Margot Golding & Michael Powers, Mara Golding-Powers, and Mirei Golding-Powers '13

Jing Wong & Don Hill, Soong Ming Hill '16, and Soong Ping Hill '16

Gwen Hinze & Ernie Chow, and Claire Chow '18

Jackie Holen & Bill Jackson, Clarie Jackson '14, and Arlena Jackson '16

Laura Kee & Daryl Browne, Rachel Browne '07, and Ian Browne '

Yalan & Greg King and Alexa King '16

Laura Larsen-Gilkey & Whitney Gilkey, and Sofia Gilkey '11

Barbara & Fred Lau, Nicholas Lau '08, Erik Lau '14, and Zachary Lau '14

Mee-Fah Lee & Bryan Young, Nicholas Young ', Charlotte Young '08, and Bonnie Young '10

Janny & Edward Lukawski and Audrey Lukawski '14

Jeremy & Chloe Lukins and Tianji Lukins '15

Vivian & Greg Massialas, Alexander Massialas '08, and Sabrina Massialas '11

Kazumi Matsuyama & Doug Steedman, and Emi Steedman '15

Joanie McCollom & Kevin Arnold, Luxi Arnold '16, and Niko Arnold '18

Maureen & Bill Newlin, Louise Newlin '09, and Nicole Newlin '11

Dorothy Pang & Peter Lee, Jonathan Lee '07, and Benjamin Lee '13

Ying-Hui & Louis Ptacek and Gabor Ptacek '14

Victoria So & Jason Yang, and Thea Yang '15

Myrna & Henry Sy, Hillary Sy ' and Hensley Sy '08

Joyce Tang, Jonah Tang '12, and Ian Tang '15

Tricia Tong & Kuo Tong, Lucas Tong '14, and Katherine Tong '16

Amy Tsui & Barry Alexander, and Quinlan Alexander '11

Rika Ueda & Joe Bravo, Nobuo Bravo '08, and Kenji Bravo '15

Linda Vann-Adibe & Robbie Vann-Adibe, Sophia Vann-Adibe '12 and Kai Vann-Adibe '17

Lilian Wan & David Curley, and Sebastian Curley '17

Laurie Ann & Dewey Woo, Gregory Woo '08, and Jonathon Woo '11

Ann & Charles Wu, Alex Wu '08, and Jacqueline Wu '10

Sherrie & Francis Yao, Crystal Yao '09, and Frederick Yao '12

Potty Proclamation

Whereas Andy is a male,
whereas moms are not,
whereas men's rooms are for males,
whereas moms have women's rooms at their disposal,
whereas even ATM etiquette allows users a respectable space to conduct business in privacy,
whereas there exist seats in Min's office,
whereas there exists an inviting fishie bench at the end of the hall,
let it be known that today, Friday, June 12, 2009,
Andrew W. Corcoran,

Head of School at Chinese American International School

at the International Schools Campus located at

150 Oak, 55 Page, and 41 Waller

in the Civic Center district of

the City & County of San Francisco,

State of California

is hereby presented with this

Perpetual Privy Privacy Pass

which shall not be revoked or ignored at any time.

--Granted this day by Da Pot Stirrers' Posse

What this means is that when this Head of School, whether current or former, heads for the head, let it be known to one and all (Winnie & Barbara), he's off the clock--so a) make an appointment, b) wait in Min's office, c) park on the fishie bench & be patient (there's no hidden escape hatch and secret corridor), or d) stay back at least three sidewalk squares!
In odda words, when Andy like use da kine lua, no boddah him, yeah? Sorry brah, pidgin is as bilingual as I can get. If it makes you feel any better, just think of Betty trying to visit the powder room in peace where all those moms ARE allowed! ;o)

Andy A-Z

Announcer (Mandarin) . Bilingual (see letter "A") . Counselor . Developer . Expediter . Friend . Good Sport . Humanitarian . Intellectual . Juxtaposer . Kind to Keikis . Listener . Musubi Man . Noble . Observer . Presenter . Questioner . Role Model . Supportive . Teacher . Understanding . Validator . Worldly-Wise . Xie-xie-ful . Yard Duty Doer . Ze Man!

Dear Andy,

A to Z, you're jus' da bes'! Mahalo nui loa for all of your dedicated and expert guidance and kokua as Head of School at Chinese American International School and as Head of the Institute for Teaching Chinese Language and as Principal. In just eight years, wearing three hats, you've contributed 24 years of service to CAIS!

I will always appreciate how you came into the school and stayed (thank you for banishing the revolving door!), how you stabilized the school and helped it grow, how you worked on weekends, and how you bravely addressed the crowd with your steadily improving Chinese. (Of course, I couldn't understand a word of what you were saying, but rest assured, it was all due to my shameful lack of Chinese, not yours! You sound pretty good to me!) I continue to be amazed at how you can take complicated questions tossed your way and deliver analytical yet comprehensible answers on the spot. An example of this was the complaint about CAIS having fewer days of instruction than public schools. You did some smart research then presented a very clear comparative study of hours of instruction, CAIS vs. SFUSD, and you convinced parents that they had nothing to worry about!

We'll miss your open door policy (some mothers--not me--even opened the door to the men's lavatory while you were in it!), your willingness to listen to and hear parents and students, your passion to serve the needs of all students, and your impressive Power Point State of the School Addresses which recently went high-tech. We'll remember fondly your willingness to get dunk tanked at the Autumn Moon Festival, play S.C. at the Holiday Faire, and get dolled up (and made up) as various Chinese Dignitaries in flashy outfits and being tethered at epistaxis level to Chinese New Year Parade floats on a yearly basis. We'll smile at the memories of your fun sense of humor, your thoughtfully home-baked cupcakes--with and without frosting, and your very human inability to control your cell phone during meetings!

However, we all benefit as your legacy lives on in the many students, families, teachers, and program(s)--the many facets of the CAIS Community--that you have touched. Thank you so very much for all that you have done and given to CAIS and the kids. We're sad to see you leave the school, but we wish you all da bes' with whatever endeavors and adventures life brings you!

Aloha and Mahalo,
Laurie Ann & Co.

A Note from the Alexander Family

Andy,

Words can not express how much we are grateful for your dedication to CAIS.

So, I am just going to keep it simple and say Thank You.

We'll dearly miss you!

If you are going to keep a blog somewhere, please let us know and I hope we can keep in touch that way.

All the best to you and best wishes to your exciting future endeavors.

Cheers,

Amy, Barry & Quinlan

Greetings from the Lau Ohana

Andy,

Nothing is more important to us than family. During your tenure, we have entrusted our sons Nicholas, Zachary, and Erik to CAIS. A great deal of our faith and confidence in CAIS has been due to your caring and leadership.

We will always remember seeing you in the hallways and in the yards stopping and being greeted by the children. There were many times when our sons would say hello and you would always take the time to share with them. We admired the kind and gentle way that you dealt with the trials and tribulations as the Head of School. Our school and children have grown, and will continue to grow, as a result of your dedication and hard work.

We will always be appreciative of your sacrifice and commitment to our school and our family. We will always cherish the memory that you are part of our family too.

It has been an honor and a privilege to know you.

Mahalo nui loa,

Fred, Barbara, Nick, Zachary, and Erik Lau

Vann-Adibes

Dear Andy,

CAIS will not be the same without you and I mean that truly sincerely. You have been our Head of School during all of the 6 years we have been at CAIS and a great one at that. Each year, we have seen changes for the better that only reinforce our love and commitment to the school. You have handled delicate situations with diplomacy and fairness. I admire so much your integrity. Your job was not an easy one. You will be missed by many. Thank you for all that you have done. All the very best for what the future holds for you. With fond thoughts always,

Linda Vann-Adibé



Dear Andy,

I echo my wife’s sentiments – your accomplishments while being Head of the school have been substantial and I consider my children and our family to have been fortunate to have had you as the Head of the school while our children have been there. I wish you ‘bonne chance’ with your future endeavors and thank you greatly for your exceptional service to the school.

Regards

Robbie Vann-Adibé