|
2005年三月二十五日（週六）萬佛聖城舉辦慶祝培德與育良二校的卅週年慶。午齋時，創校校長易果參居士論及培德、育良學校有很多老師是佛教徒，但既不是純粹的佛學學校，也非一般私立學校，難就難在這處於中間。上人預見學校要包容所有國籍、宗教與國家；她說在今日更須要，學校所做並非普通事。二位校友挐庫拉賀茲和白慧學緬懷學生生活並表示對宣公上人學校和聖城的感謝。目前任教於學校的慧學，表示很高興與昔日的老師共事，也視她們依舊是自己的輔導。曼都仙諾郡的警長致詞時提到，警察局如何努力以實現─推行尊重與和諧─類似學校的目標。
下午男校友為在校同學的冠軍賽/淘汰賽加油；女校友則和在校女同學以遊戲方式來交換在校和人生的經驗也解答各種有關大學的問題。下午三點鐘師生、家長、校友與其他來賓聆聽企業家、慈善家羅勃布拉克的演講（請參閱本期第40-43頁）晚餐由一位校友提供全體學生披薩餅，而應屆畢業生則和校友在易果參居士家聚餐。
晚上7:30師生、家長、校友與聖城住眾塞滿佛殿觀賞一場由易果參居士敘述舊事的校史相片展，她介紹許多學校早期精彩的景象。吳適有校友接著談到初入培德男中時不懂英文，卻在四年中改變並受鞭策。馬丁維荷文教授提及上人對學校的願景，這個願景也正是世界今日之所需。比丘尼恆音師指出，學校的成績應歸功於萬佛聖城所有住眾的努力與辛勞；住眾們德業的修行生活是學生的楷模。三十週年校慶將許多與學校有關的人聚集一堂，使人體會到這個經驗多麼特別而感化人。目前本校正在編輯一本師生、校友、家長的見證文集，歡迎6月15日前賜稿。
|
|
On Saturday, March 25, 2005, the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas (CTTB) celebrated Instilling Goodness and Developing Virtue Schools’ thirtieth anniversary. At lunchtime Terri Nicholson, the founding principal of the school, remarked that the most interesting thing about these schools is that they have been neither “Buddhist” schools in the full sense nor ordinary private schools, but somewhere in the middle. The Venerable Master foresaw that the schools would embrace all nationalities, religions, and countries throughout the world. She said that this is even more necessary now, and that what the schools are doing is not something ordinary. Alumni Nakula Hertz and Sarah Babcock reminisced on their school experiences and expressed their gratitude to the school and CTTB. Sarah, who is currently teaching Chinese at the school, said it was wonderful to be able to work alongside her former teachers and also have them as her mentors. The Mendocino County Sheriff spoke about how the Sheriff’s Department strives to realize similar goals to those of the school, such as promoting respect and harmonious community.
In the afternoon, the boys school alumni cheered the boys basketball team as they competed in the playoffs, and the girls school alumni and students engaged in games and discussions, where alumni shared about their lives and careers and answered questions about college. At 3:00 p.m., students, parents, alumni, teachers, and other guests enjoyed a speech by entrepreneur and philanthropist Robert Block. [See page ___ for his talk.] One alumna donated pizza for all the students’ dinner, while the senior girls and the alumni gathered Mrs. Terri Nicholson’s house for dinner.
At 7:30 p.m., students, alumni, parents, guests and CTTB residents filled the Buddha Hall, enjoying a slideshow of the school’s history narrated by Terri Nicholson, who showed memorable scenes from the school’s early years. Alumnus Franklyn Wu spoke of how he had arrived at Developing Virtue Boys School barely knowing any English, but had been transformed and challenged during his four years there. Dr. Martin Verhoeven shared the Venerable Master Hua’s vision for the school and how this is what the world really needs. Bhikshuni Heng Yin pointed out that the achievements of the school are possible only through the collaborative efforts and hard work of all the residents at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, who serve as models for the students by living a life of virtuous cultivation. The 30th Anniversary celebration brought together many people affiliated with the school and helped people realize how special and transformative the experience can be. The school is presently compiling a growing collection of essays by students, alumni, parents, and teachers for publication, and welcomes submissions until June 15.
|
