Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 06-16-2026 Oral Communications_Written Communications Cupertino-Hsinchu Sister City Association Student Exchange Program 2026 To the Cupertino City Council The Honorable Mayor Kitty Moore The Honorable Vice Mayor Liang Chao City Councilmember Sheila Mohan City Councilmember J.R. Fruen City Councilmember R “Ray” Wang The Cupertino-Hsinchu Sister City Association, CHSCA, is pleased to present to the Cupertino City Council our Student Exchange Program April 2026 Report. Our student exchange program started in 2004 when we welcomed the first student delegation from our Sister City - Hsinchu, Taiwan and this year marked the 22nd year of our Exchange Program. Our delegation of 25 students representing our city from our two school districts, Cupertino Union School District (CUSD) and Fremont Union High School District (FUHSD), traveled to Hsinchu for a one week exchange from April 10th to April 19th, 2026. The CHSCA Student Exchange Program provides 7th-12th graders the opportunity to stay with a host family in Hsinchu, attend local schools to experience the education system in Taiwan, learn about the history of Hsinchu and Taiwan, and most importantly establish lifelong friendships between our students and host families. Hsinchu is known as the Silicon Valley of Taiwan with over 300 tech companies located in the Hsinchu Science and Technology Park. During their time in Hsinchu, students have an opportunity to see how connected our two cities are. Our report will highlight the major activities of our trip based on student journals on our 2026 CHSCA Student Delegation Website where each student was asked to chronicle their time and reflect on the activities they participated in Hsinchu. This year ’s delegation consisted of 25 students, 6 from FUSHD and 19 CUSD students representing all middle schools. Our 2 teacher Chaperones, Mr. Mike Jarvis from Cupertino Middle and Mr. David Chen from Cupertino High School. Mr. Chen had already been part of our student delegation when he was in middle school and so we are excited he now rejoins us as a teacher chaperone! Joining our delegation are members from our organization: President Janice Sung, Vice President Angela Chen, Vice President Chia Ching Lin, and Student Activities Coordinator Angelo Noguera. Prior to our trip in April, our students participated in 7 training sessions to learn about Taiwan, understand their responsibilities as a delegate, collaborate on a skit to present to our host during the Farewell Dinner, and connect virtually with their host families before arriving in Taiwan. Our meetings are facilitated by members of our group who work with city and education officials in Cupertino and Hsinchu, and act as primary contacts for all family members. CHSCA 1 Official Delegation Visit to Hsinchu City Hall and Meeting with Mayor Gao on April 13th, 2026 Though our student exchange was only a week long, thanks to the Hsinchu City Government and our host school for this year, Yu Hsien Junior High School and Principal Wang, students were able to explore and learn various aspects of student life in Hsinchu. The week consisted of our official delegation meeting with Hsinchu City Hall Officials, a day trip to Taipei, 3 days of school with their host student, and time to explore Hsinchu. Throughout our entire trip, our students were able to engage with various members of the Hsinchu community who helped ensure our students enjoyed their activity rich week inHsinchu. CHSCA 2 Welcome Celebration at Yu Hsien Junior High School on April 12th, 2026 A key component of our student program is experiencing school life in Hsinchu. Throughout the week our student delegation was able to visit many Hsinchu schools to experience unique electives and classes Hsinchu junior and high schools have to offer. Cupertino students first spent the morning with their host students in school and then in the afternoons traveled to another school to experience classes as a whole delegation. After our visit with Mayor Gao on Monday, our students traveled to Fuli Junior High, a school known for their glass blowing and a championship archer team. Unfortunately, we were not able to visit last year due to renovations on campus. We were excited to return this year and continue the long and positive history our program has had with Fuli. At Fuli, students broke up into two groups and rotated between the glass blowing and archery class. During the glass blowing class, students were paired with a Fuli student and were tasked with making glass flowers. Sitting side by side in the forge, our students watched the meticulous movements of staff and Fuli students to create their glass sculptures and add their own touches to it. On Fuli’s new archery field, students first received instruction from the coaches, including the Bilingual English teacher and a former Olympian who now coaches the Fuli Team. WIth their Fuli partner, students attempted to hit a target about 5 yards out and many of our students competed with each other to see who could get the most points! CHSCA 3 CHSCA 4 Student Delegation visit to Fuli Junior High School on April 13th, 2026 On the morning of Wednesday, April 15th our students attended their host schools for the first time being spread over 20 schools in Hsinchu. From being introduced to the entire school during morning assemblies or being interviewed in their English Class, our students shared how exciting it was to finally meet their classmates as well as expressed how different school in Hsinchu is compared to home. Despite cultural and language differences, our teacher chaperones noted how many of our students easily adjusted to their new school environment. After having lunch with their host classes, our students traveled to Peiying Junior High School to take part in a circuit building class. In this Makers Space style class, students were creating right from the start as they were taught by Peiying staff the basics of circuits, how to solder, and putting the whole piece together, a spinning randomizer with the school’s logo and exchange program on it. Though our students only have a few hours at each school, our Hsinchu hosts make every effort to provide a unique and authentic Hsinchu school experience that our students will remember for a lifetime. CHSCA 5 CHSCA 6 Student Delegation visit to Peiying High School on April 15th, 2026 On Thursday, April 15th after having lunch at their host schools our delegation traveled together to Chien Hua Junior High, a school known for its art program. At Chien Hua, our delegation participated in 3 arts classes: creating a preserved flower display, watercolors painting class, and Chinese Calligraphy. Our teacher chaperones were also able to take part in these classes and got to work side by side with Hsinchu students and staff to learn and create. As a program, we are thankful to each of the schools we visited who created these opportunities for our students and teacher chaperones to collaborate with each other and form new friendships. CHSCA 7 CHSCA 8 Student Delegation visit to Chien Hua Junior High School on April 16th Our students shared how on the first day at their host school, many local students greeted them when arriving on campus, sharing social media profiles, and helping our students navigate each campus. Many of our students expressed how they always felt welcomed and became part of the school community during the short time they were on campus. CHSCA appreciates and is thankful to all our host schools who make sure that our students are well taken care of and included in the school community right from the start. Outside of the classroom, our delegation had a chance to learn and immerse themselves in Taiwan and Hsinchu’s culture by exploring the local area. After our Monday visit with Mayor Gao, our whole delegation toured the area around City Hall to learn of the local culture, food, and traditions of our host city. Students learned how to make traditional Taiwanese delicacies near Cheng Huang Temple, an important temple in Hsinchu surrounded by local markets and delicacies. As students traveled the narrow but lively city streets, our students saw how modernity blends with tradition that defines Hsinchu as a city of innovation with deep roots. On Tuesday, April 14th our delegation, joined by their host students, traveled to Taipei to visit the National Palace Museum, enjoy lunch at Din Tai Fung, and view the sprawling cityscape from the top of Taipei 101. The evening ended back in Hsinchu at Xinzhu Hou Zhan Night Market, a staple of Taiwanese daily life filled with carnival style games, comfort foods like scallion pancakes and stinky tofu, and souvenirs available at night markets. Spending the whole day with their host student makes this day so special for our students as they travel, eat, learn, and bond with their host families. CHSCA 9 CHSCA 10 Student Delegation visiting Hsinchu and Taipei CHSCA 11 Over 9 years ago we started our exchange with the National Experimental School and Hsinchu Science Park. NEHS also hosts the International Bilingual School at Hsinchu Science Park, and in collaboration with the Hsinchu Science Park blends Western and Taiwanese education systems to support the science park and families who work at the companies headquartered in Hsinchu. Having the chance to visit such a unique part of Hsinchu education system highlights how students from different cultures and language backgrounds are able to collaborate and learn with each other to create a school community focusing on developing the best learning environment for all involved. We look forward to hosting NEHS students in October 2026 and continuing this valuable relationship for years to come. As our week came to a close, our Friday Farewell Dinner is our final opportunity to celebrate with our host families, school leaders, and members of the Hsinchu City Government. Our “”Journey to the West” student performance was a short retelling of the classic story with humor and laughter mixed in. Each host family was presented with a gift from our delegation as a thank you for welcoming our students with open arms and taking them in as their own. Walking through the dining hall, it was great to see the smiles, laughs, and some tears as students reminisced about their time this week while making final plans for the last two days together. For our adult delegation, we reconnected with many of the Principals whose schools we have visited in the past. With a slide show and video testimonials playing in the background, this night highlights what makes our program so special for all those involved and the deep bonds that are created throughout our program. CHSCA 12 Farewell and Recognition Party on April 17th, 2026 CHSCA 13 Though our time in Hsinchu is short, our students were able to experience so much thanks to the planning and generosity from our Hsinchu hosts. Many members of our delegation will be welcoming their Hsinchu host students in October 2026. Our mission is to develop and establish lifelong friendships and partnerships between our two cities through our student exchange and much of that comes from the student experience as members of the CHSCA Exchange Program. We are extremely thankful to all the volunteers, school leaders and teachers, and families both here in Cupertino and Hsinchu. We would also like to extend our appreciation and gratitude for the support from the City of Cupertino, CUSD and FUHSD, in ensuring a positive and healthy program for all of our students and staff involved. We look forward to our continued work together and sharing our students' experiences in years to come. Sincerely, Cupertino-Hsinchu Sister City Association CHSCA 14 1 Lauren Sapudar From:j w <jzw97@yahoo.com> Sent:Thursday, June 11, 2026 4:06 PM To:City Council Cc:City Clerk Subject:Re: time sensitive!Request for Support, Restoration of Communication, and lift the 'political prisoner/hostage'/Fair Treatment from the City Follow Up Flag:Follow up Flag Status:Completed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Please publish. We are requesting immediate assistance from the Cupertino City Council regarding property taken in early 2016 and with belongings without notice again at the end of 2021, which has still not been returned. I have made multiple attempts to resolve this matter, including requests for meetings, but have received no response. I am asking the Council to (1) investigate the removal of my property, (2) facilitate its return if still in the City’s possession, and (3) stop all on-going retaliation/ ensure there is no further retaliation for raising this issue. We are ready to meet with a City official as soon as possible to resolve this and expect the return of the property and an end to the retaliation we have experienced since bringing this forward. Regards, Residence Huang family Sent from my Device -------- Original message -------- From: Huang family Date: 2/19/26 1:44 PM (GMT-08:00) To: citycouncil Cc: City Clerk Please publish. Thank you! We request the immediate return of all property and belongings taken from us. Additionally, we ask that all sanctions and any prosecutorial overreach—both to date and ongoing—be lifted as soon as possible. On Tuesday, December 2, 2025 at 06:57:42 PM PST, j w <jzw97@yahoo.com> wrote: ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: j w <jzw97@yahoo.com> To: City Clerk <cityclerk@cupertino.org> 2 Cc: citycouncil@cupertino.org <citycouncil@cupertino.org> Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 02:47:24 PM PST Subject: Re: time sensitive!Request for Support, Restoration of Communication, and lift the 'political prisoner/hostage'/Fair Treatment from the City Dear City Clerk, Please confirm it is published. Thank you! From: j w <jzw97@yahoo.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 4, 2025 4:55 PM To: Liang Chao <liangchao@cupertino.org>; Cupertino City Manager's Office <citymanager@cupertino.org> Cc: City Clerk <cityclerk@cupertino.org>; City Council <citycouncil@cupertino.org> Subject: Re: Subject: time sensitive!Request for Support, Restoration of Communication, and lift the 'political prisoner/hostage'/Fair Treatment from the City lease include in the public record for next meeting----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------ Mayor Chao, Vice-Mayor Moore, Councilmembers Fruen, Mohan and Wang, On Monday, November 3, 2025 at 11:27:26 PM PST, j w <jzw97@yahoo.com> wrote:On Monday, October 20, 2025 at 03:51:05 PM PDT, j w <jzw97@yahoo.com> wrote: Subject: Request for Support, Restoration of Communication, and Fair Treatment from the City Dear Mayor, I would like to share some background and respectfully request that the City treat our situation with the fairness, dignity, and compassion it extends to all residents. Our family lives at the bottom edge of the city’s economic and social margins. We are doing our best to hold on — even now, part of our roof requires patching every few months just to keep things livable. Years ago, we were misled by an Indian real estate agent, which led to major losses and hardship. Despite this, we took full responsibility and followed the proper path through the City Planning and Building Department. We worked with licensed, experienced professionals to carry out an approved plan for the 2nd time. Unfortunately, a complaint from the 1st construction — made by someone who has since left their position — led to retaliation on the 2nd one, and lack of the communication as stated below caused more confusion. We did our best to stand up, but over time, we lost everything: the property, our belongings, and the sense of home we built over years as long-standing residents. It felt like persecution. And the pain didn’t stop there — we were falsely labeled, our rights stripped away, and our lives disrupted in ways that had nothing to do with the original matter. These labels have followed us into every corner of life. It has reached a point so tragic and unjust that criminals were able to attack us, but we could not fight back — not legally, not financially, not even emotionally — because of how the court accepted the City's false narrative. The damage from these untrue labels has led to severe mental and emotional decline for our family. The refusal of the courts to hear our side, to look at the full truth, has left us in a state of hopelessness and fear. Making things worse, the lack of communication from the City over the past several years has deepened the hardship. We were not able to schedule even a single in-person meeting, despite repeated efforts. One of our elder family members is now immobile, and the sense of isolation and exclusion has been profound. We’ve been forced to pay unnecessary legal fees, not only for the property matter, but also for broader issues where City sanctions were misapplied or extended beyond their scope — even into private disputes, turning what should have been civil into something resembling a political prisoner situation. We’ve had to spend even more money six figure just to settle matters that were never ours to begin with, nothing to do with city, but couldn't defend since city hold as 'prisoner' on all unrelated matter. We have no place else to turn. We have always believed in the City Council’s mission to support residents. We believe in redemption and renewal. We accepted the outcome the first time and tried to rebuild. But now, I’m asking — from the deepest part of my heart — that you extend that same belief to us. 3 No one — no matter their flaws — deserves to be forgotten in the system, lost in endless procedures, enduring punishment far beyond what justice requires. Please see us. Please give us the opportunity to be heard and to heal. We respectfully ask that this be treated as a high-priority matter, and that steps be taken to restore open communication, offer fair support, and ensure no resident is left behind. Thank you for your time and your service to the people of this City. Jane for Huang family 4086731820 1 Lauren Sapudar From:j w <jzw97@yahoo.com> Sent:Monday, June 15, 2026 9:12 AM To:City Council; City Clerk Subject:Re: Request to Prioritize Rebuilding Direct Communication Between City Leadership and Residents Dear [Recipient Follow Up Flag:Follow up Flag Status:Completed CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe. Please publish. Thank you! On Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 10:16:47 AM PDT, jzw97 <jzw97@yahoo.com> wrote: Mayor Moore Vice-Mayor Chao, Councilmembers Fruen, Mohan and Wang, -------- Original message -------- From: j w <jzw97@yahoo.com> Date: 12/2/25 6:58 PM (GMT-08:00) To: kirstens@cupertino.gov, City Clerk <cityclerk@cupertino.org> Subject: Fw: Request to Prioritize Rebuilding Direct Communication Between City Leadership and Residents Dear [Recipient ----- Forwarded Message ----- From: j w <jzw97@yahoo.com> To: citycouncil@cupertino.org <citycouncil@cupertino.org> Cc: City Clerk <cityclerk@cupertino.org>; Cupertino City Manager's Office <citymanager@cupertino.org> Sent: Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 04:50:22 PM PST Subject: Re: Request to Prioritize Rebuilding Direct Communication Between City Leadership and Residents Dear [Recipient Please include in the public record for this meeting-------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Mayor Chao, Vice-Mayor Moore, Councilmembers Fruen, Mohan and Wang, Could someone please get back to me on this, or forward it to the City Manager’s Office for a response? I’ve raised this issue several times over the past few years, and we would appreciate an update. >>>>>> On Monday, October 20, 2025 at 12:02:03 PM PDT, j w <jzw97@yahoo.com> wrote: 2 We would like to express our concerns about the ongoing lack of direct communication between residents and the City, including the City Council, in recent years. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, it was common to see the Mayor and City Manager walking around in front of City Hall, engaging openly with residents. The City Manager also maintained open office hours almost daily, and City Hall was accessible — doors were not locked, and transparency was part of the everyday culture. While we understand that the pandemic required changes, those restrictions have long since ended. Yet, the level of public access and face-to-face communication has not returned to pre-COVID standards. We've even seen news reports raising concerns about public employees holding multiple remote jobs simultaneously, which further undermines public trust. Most concerning is the fact that some long-term residents have not had an opportunity to meet with city leadership in person for years. This disconnect does not reflect the values or mission of the City to serve its community with transparency, accountability, and accessibility. We respectfully ask that this issue be treated as high priority — and that steps be taken to restore regular, in-person engagement between the City’s leadership and its residents. Thank you for your attention. Sincerely, Jenny Huang family