Chinese American International School (CAIS), the nation's oldest independent Chinese-English immersion school, will host its 25th Anniversary Gala on Saturday, May 12, at San Francisco's City Hall Rotunda. Hosted by the CAIS Board of Trustees, the gala will honor The Freeman Foundation for exemplary philanthropy in support of U.S.-China relations through educational and cultural exchange; Leslie Tang Schilling and the Committee of 100 for their pioneering education project bringing Chinese history, culture and language into California schools; and CAIS Founding Board Chair, Justice Harry Low for a lifetime of extraordinary public and civic service. Additionally, CAIS will also announce the kickoff of an endowment campaign that has raised $1.3 million to date.
The school's celebration of 25 years of "Leading the Way" in the teaching of Chinese language and culture in the U.S. coincides with the launching of the public phase of its endowment campaign. The endowment will support various programs at the school including financial aid and scholarship programs, teacher salaries, professional development forfaculty and staff, athletics, and arts, music, and other programs approved by the school's Board. Every member of the CAIS community is welcome to consider supporting the Endowment Fund with either an outright or a planned gift in order to ensure the school's continuing excellence.
The CAIS began in 1980 with the Honorable Carol Ruth Silver's unsuccessful search for a Chinese immersion school. Wishing for her adopted son from Taiwan to maintain his heritage and native language, Silver took it upon her self to start the Chinese American Bilingual School (CABS), which was later renamed Chinese American International School (CAIS). With Justice Harry W. Low's endorsement and the support of a small group of civic leaders, educators, and parents, CABS opened its doors in September 1981 under the leadership and dedication of Shirley Lee, the school's founding teacher and principal.In a quarter of a century, CAIS has grown exponentially -- from its original class of four students to the school's current student body of over four hundred students. Beginning as a preK-5th grade elementary school, CAIS expanded its program to also include a middle school in 1992. Today, the school occupies a four story building on 150 Oak Street with French American International School and the International High School of San Francisco.