Author: admin

延遲通知學生獲國家優秀獎學金資格 湯瑪斯傑弗遜高中挨轟

位在北維州費爾法克斯郡 (Fairfax County)的明星高中湯瑪斯傑弗遜高中(Thomas Jefferson High)，當中有些學生家長認為校方延遲通知他們的學生在國家優秀獎學金計畫(National Merit Scholarship Program)中獲得嘉獎(commended students)的榮譽，可能使他們在申請大學時錯失更好的機會，因此抨擊並要求解雇校方領導人。

國家優秀獎學金計畫於1955年開始，目的是表彰學業成績優秀的學生。根據該計畫的官方網站，每年約有150萬名高中生參加，學生通常會在高三期間透過參加全國標準化考試PSAT/NMSQT來申請進入該計畫，學生會在兩年後的9月份收到獲獎通知，以便他們申請大學申請時提出。

根據學生家長表示，今年湯瑪斯傑弗遜高中共有261名學生直到秋末才被告知他們獲獎。學生家長雅沙爾(Shawna Yashar)說，她的兒子在11月中旬才收到國家優秀獎學金公司頒發的表彰信，加上其他家長紛紛表示有類似的經歷，因此使整個事件曝光，有家長甚至認為這會對該校多數有色人種學生帶來災難性的衝擊。

前湯瑪斯傑弗遜高中學生家長諾曼尼(Asra Nomani)說，獲得這個計畫的獎項對申請大學有很大的優勢。她認為她的兒子在2021 年畢業時並沒有被告知他在2020年獲選為嘉獎學生，因此可能錯過一些機會，她目前正在聯絡兒子的大學重新考慮他的申請條件。

因此家長們計畫致函州、郡教育領導，要求終止該校的校長波尼他提巴斯(Ann Bonitatibus) 和學生服務主任科撒塔 (Brandon Kosatka)的職務，並希望學校和學區要制定一致的政策來通知學生獲獎。

校方發言人莫爾特(Julie Moult)說，這次的延誤通知只是一次性的人為錯誤，並否認校方官員故意對獲得嘉獎的 261名學生有所保留而不予通知，並說明學校輔導員已經向這些學生所申請的大學發送電子郵件和電話，告知這些學生獲得表揚。

今年參加國家優秀獎學金計畫的學生當中，有5萬名得分最高的學生以決賽選手或半決賽選手獲選得到競爭優異獎學金的資格，在費爾法克斯郡學區符合資格的這些學生，已經在今年初得到官方的通知。

另外，全美約有3萬4000名學生獲得嘉獎，這些學生雖然沒有競爭優異獎學金的資格，但仍然可以參加其他獎項的競爭。

減少行人死亡 華府街頭將再加裝130個測速攝像機

華府去年至少有34名行人因交通事故而死亡，比前年的40多人雖然減少，但為了減少行人死亡與非法駕駛的行為，華府交通局(DDOT)將在2023年於該市街道上加裝一倍數量的測速攝像機(speed camera)，希望將行人死亡數字降低為零。

華府目前已經裝設136個測速攝像機，準備再增加130個，希望能減少司機超速、闖紅燈和強行闖過停車標誌(stop sign)的情況，以減少行人在交通事故中的傷亡。

住在本寧路(Benning Road)和H街東北部附近的沃森(Chris Watson) 說，在街道兩邊有很多餐館和公寓，所以他看到有很多行人經常隨意穿越馬路。他認為人們在疫情趨緩後重返工作崗位，會讓道路變得更加擁擠，並且他也覺得現在的汽車駕駛行為比以前更加魯莽，讓他非常擔心在沒有測速攝像機的地方是否會助長這些駕駛。

也有居民則認為安裝測速攝像機來取締超速並罰款，可能弊大於利。住在華府的奧託(Jodi Otto)說，他注意到很多測速攝像機安裝於貧窮人口住的地區，他認為這只是對住在當地的窮人徵稅，而不會改變那些有錢支付罰款的駕駛的行為，因此他不認為這些攝像機能帶來預期的效果。

一些居民表示能看到其他選擇，比如路面高凸的減速丘(speed bump)和通勤稅。

目前華府大多數的測速攝像機裝置在東北部或東南部，但未來會根據交通事故報告和時速限制來選擇地點安裝。

根據華府交通局(DDOT)網站，會優先選擇在發生超速與闖越停車標誌處的地方部署自動交通執法攝影機(traffic enforcement cameras)。在該處並會設立測速照相中(Photo Enforced)的標誌，並有30天的教育宣導期，在此期間的違規者將會收到警告傳單。一旦30 天警告期過後，DDOT將開始對違規者開罰單，並根據超速的情況處以 100元到500元的罰款。

華府交通局尚未公布安裝這些測速攝像機的確實時間表，但居民可以上網為特定位置申請安裝。詳情請上網：ddot.dc.gov。

Thanksgiving in 2022

Thank God for giving me honor,

Showing His love of generosity to His servant.

I receive memorable gifts and blessing from Him,

Through my editor, saints and friends.

Even a trip to Italy to open my heart to appreciate His abundance.

I shall remember:

God is greater so He empower me to be an overcomer.

I give thanks for the saints and His creation,

Who do many things I cannot,

So I can benefit from them

As I love God, who send them to give me help.

Judge with God’s justice

With the authority of Jesus’ righteousness,

I may judge God’s people with justice:

Defend the afflicted,

Save the needy,

Crush the oppressor of devil,

To announce freedom with justice of Jesus,

As an intercessor of Christ Jesus.

Praying life is my mission God ordains,

While my earthly need is also take care.

I’m honored to be part of His Body,

Working together and walking with Him till eternity.

(Psalm 72:1-4)

Do the next right thing

Woke up early but cannot get up.

Face the battle of flesh in guilt,

Cannot concentrate on meditating on God,

Finally hear “Do the next right thing” and get up from bed.

Thank God for being with me at any moment,

Reset me to live on through His strength,

With the spirit of power, love, sound mind of self-discipline.

ministry in the cooking class

I prayed that God gives me words to speak,

In the cooking class I was invited to minister.

I woke up early and prayed to God on my bed.

I was reminded that I may walk with Jesus when I share His mindset.

Then I read the Bible and devotion and got ready to go.

I shared about Farmaz’s encounter with a Muslim lady from Indonesia.

I saw the tears seem to be watering her eyes.

I prayed for her to ask Jesus to deliver her from fear some day.

I say Jesus came to reveal Himself to me even though I didn’t see His face.

Likewise, Jesus comes to speak to her through my sharing.

I know Jesus is knocking on her door of heart just as He did to Farmaz’s door.

I wrote a letter to Lili and believed God is sending the message to her marriage.

I talked to her daughter 夢蝶 but she didn’t seem to hear.

I talked to Sarah about Japanese students and prayed to God to lead me to that ministry.

O Jesus Christ,

Thank you so much for speaking through me.

I pray for the people You speak to today and may they feel encouraged to seek You and find You. In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.

Walk together

同心才能同行 (Walk together with the same mind.)

I heard Him saying in the early morning.

O Jesus Christ,

I desire to walk with you,

With your mind of humility and compassion.

When I meditate on who you are:

You are my Rock where I take refuge;

The dark of anxiety fades away,

My heartbeat stabilizes,

My mind is quiet,

My ears shut off the feeling of lies.

I see you are the light in me,

The temple you wash and paint and clean.

So I was transformed,

My wall turned transparent.

Let your light shine forth from me,

You are worthy of my praise,

So I am worthy of your honor through my faith in you.

And I shall have no worry if I indulge myself.

Jesus is God,

I am a mere man.

He is my solid Rock to depend on.

My worry is humane pride as skinning sand.

Only Jesus can powerfully reign

So I cast off all my burdens on His feet,

Look up to HIs shining face,

His love warms and melts all my anxiety,

Gives me integrity to guide me,

Through this earthly frame.

Prepare for trip

God has answered so many prayer

For giving me peace to step out in adventure to Italy

We got flights in low price.

We bought hidden purses.

I connect with Makiko in Rome.

I see God’s love to comfort me little by little.

Carol prayed that God is worthy so I am worthy to be rewarded by Him.

Suzie prayed that I shall not look down upon myself and I was touched to cry.

God doesn’t laugh at my worries but assure me with His peace and provision,

To help me grow bold in this season.

My hope in expectation to see the beautiful scenery and artistic paintings and drawing architecture and eating food is getting bigger because of Jesus’ peace.

No matter how much I can plan ahead,

I am comforted to know He is with me and He goes before me to prepare and go with me.

O Jesus, how I long for the trip,

With you, we shall be protected.

Praise God that

I have been redeemed,

So I can shout for joy,

My lips sing praise to Him,

I can write and tell all His righteous acts and wonderful deeds.

God increases my honor in front of foes and comforts me once again.

Take deep root

Stand firm in your faith at your gate,

As the tree takes deep root in the place God deliberately plants.

Let everything you do be through faith,

And no one shall accuse you,

As the truth of water circulates in your thoughts.

Let everything work out for your good.

When your heart loves God and people as yourself.

Give thanks for people who are doing different things from you,

For that’s God’s grace to all His people.

How much you die to the world,

Then how strong the fragrance of Jesus shall come forth from you,

You are setting free,

No need to be hurried or accepting condemnation of slowness to be perfect,

For Jesus is the Best Teacher to initiate and complete you to be perfect in His time.

Just ask for strength to follow Him daily,

So you shall be led to the complete

All things can be used for your training,

So  take heart to act upon your faith, from the daily chores to the big dreams,

Just pray first and persevere to follow His lead.

May I and my familyes be planted by His living water,

Bear all kinds of fruit of Holy Spirit in season to satisfy people’s souls,

My leaves are evergreen to heal people’s sickness of mind and body,

Through God’s authority flowing from my prayer.

(Psalm 1:2-3, Jeremiah 17:8)