On the morning of September 11th, Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto Chinese School held the first in-person Opening Ceremony in over two years. Over 80 students, parents and staff attended the event. The students were excited to return to the temple to Chinese language classes and to experience Chinese culture.

The ceremony started with the singing of “An Ode to the Triple Gem”. Venerable Chueh Fan, Abbess of Fo Guang Shan Temple of Toronto praised the students’ passion for learning to read and write Chinese and emphasized the importance of Chinese culture and literature towards a child’s growth.Venerable Chueh Fan welcomed everyone back to the temple and encouraged students to cherish every opportunity spent with teachers to study the Chinese language and to apply the language in their everyday life. In addition, she urged students to work hard cultivating Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s “ThreeActs of Goodness Spirit” of Do Good Deeds, Speak Good Things and Think GoodThoughts. Study hard, spread the Chinese virtues and promote the Buddha’s selfless spirit overseas. Bring happiness to everyone around you and make our world into a pure land paradise.

Under the guidance of the Chinese schoolteachers, the students learned to sing the “Three Acts of Goodness Song” inChinese while also dancing along with the video. Everyone had a joyful smile, full of inspiration to learn and a sense of respect for the Triple Gem. After the ceremony, the teachers completed a language assessment for each student so that they can be placed in the appropriate class to improve their learning efficiency.

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