PANDA CLASS was founded in July of 2010 to meet the needs of children seeking to learn free expression in areas of language and art.  Our former studio space in Bellevue hosted over 500+ local students and families.  In the past, we mainly focused on art and Mandarin classes for non-native families.  Since moving to Newcastle in 2016, we now have the capacity for local working families in need of afterschool care and camps.  Our facility is within walking distance from local Elementary Schools and has easy access to many outdoor recreation and sites.  We are nearby (Newcastle, south Bellevue, and north Renton).  We have a spacious play yard, interactive classrooms, and experienced bilingual teachers.    In addition, We also offer weekly Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, art, and math classes for students PreK-5th.

 CHEN LAO SHI

As an educator, I have been working with families with children (0-12) since 1995. My work experiences include (Panda Class, KPL, CISC bilingual preschool, The Bush School, Sponge school, Saint Thomas, Open Window, YMCA, and Gymboree)  I am a children’s art instructor as well as a non-native Chinese language instructor.  Our art curriculum is about creative explorations using various mediums and techniques. I have been teaching art to children for more than two decades and have a background in architecture.  I was introduced to Mandarin teaching in 2006 through working for Sponge as their lead Mandarin teacher.  Over the years, I have developed various curriculums for both non-native and native families.

In 2011, my husband and I co-founded PANDA CLASS, and it’s been such a wonderful journey growing and learning with our students and their families.  Our goal is for our center to become a happy place where children can learn and grow together.