Giovanna Geraldino, identified herself and her address, told the board she and other Montville Township High School students took a 10-day trip to China this summer and described why the experience matters for language learning and cultural understanding.

"The language program at this high school, specifically Mandarin program, it reaches far beyond academic into intellectual and academic curiosity," Geraldino said, adding that the trip exposed students to new cultural perspectives and real-world uses of Mandarin.

Danilo Condreshen, secretary of the Chinese Honor Society, described student-organized activities for September tied to the Mid-Autumn Festival, including a lantern-making contest with prizes, a riddle contest and mooncake tastings for Mandarin students. He also said the society runs "China on Screen," a free monthly library film series (the first screening was Kung Fu Panda) and plans to assist the middle-school Mandarin club at a forthcoming meeting.

Geraldino and Condreshen asked the board and community to review the trip photos included in the meeting packet and encouraged attendance at upcoming Mandarin-related events.