亲爱的苏城外家人们、同学们、朋友们：

展信欢颜，见字如晤。

当新年的钟声穿行过寒枝与暖窗，当第一缕春风轻叩苏城外的门廊，我们已并肩立于丙午年的晨光之中。在此，我谨以一颗满怀感恩与期盼的心，向全体教职员工、可爱可敬的学子们、始终信任支持的家长朋友们，以及所有关心苏城外成长的社会各界友人，致以最深切的新春祝福——过年好！

回首旧岁，恍如一幅温暖的长卷徐徐展开。我仿佛仍能看到——教室里专注聆听的明亮眼眸，讲台上挥洒智慧的清朗身影，运动场上肆意奔跑的青春姿态，家校沟通时那份信任交织的坚定目光……每一个平凡的日子，都因你们的参与而熠熠生辉；每一处校园的角落，都因爱的流淌而成为家园。我们共同经历的，不仅是知识的传递，更是生命的彼此照亮与温度的共生共长。

教育，是一场向美而行的遇见，更是一场以心托付的共赴。我们何其有幸，在这片名为“苏城外”的沃土上，以师者之心育苗，以父母之爱守护，以同路人之谊并肩。感谢每一位同学，你们的好奇、纯真与努力，是校园里最动听的乐章；感谢每一位老师，你们的匠心、汗水与坚守，是学园最坚实的脊梁；感谢每一位家长，你们的信任、理解与支持，是旅程中最温暖的后盾；也感谢每一位朋友，你们关注的目光与真诚的建议，是我们前行路上宝贵的星光。

马蹄声疾，春风送暖。马，象征着奔腾、奋进、忠诚与通达，亦如我们对教育事业的追求——既要有驰骋千里的豪情，也需有踏实稳健的足迹。新的一年，愿我们继续以爱为辔，以志为鞍，在这片我们深爱并为之奋斗的园地里，共同奔赴更多关于成长、关于梦想、关于美好的远方。愿同学们如骏马初驰，身心两健，学业日新；愿老师们如良驹识途，职业幸福，桃李春风；愿家长们如骏马护驾，家和人兴，诸事顺遂；愿所有朋友们如马跃前程，安康如意，万里通达。

此刻，无论您是与家人围炉守岁，还是因故暂在他乡，愿这封携带着苏城外温度的信笺，能跨越山海，为您送去一份融融的暖意。心在一起，就是团圆；志在同行，便是未来。

祈愿新的一年，国泰民安，家和校兴。愿我们继续温暖相伴，携手并驰，像一树树花开，各自绽放，又彼此成林；像一缕缕微光，静静点亮，终汇聚成星河。

恭祝大家：

新春愉怡，骏景同辉。

愿您与所爱之人，岁月安暖，喜乐长伴；

愿您与心中理想，并辔前行，万里可期；

愿我们热爱的教育，如春水长流，如草木丰茂，年年皆好，岁岁如愿。

陈杰

2026年2月17日

（农历丙午年正月初一）

May the New Year Bring Peace to Your Heart and Spring to Every Corner

--A Letter to All Family Members and Friends of Soochow Foreign Language School

Dear colleagues, students, and friends,

Warm greetings as you read this letter; though separated by distance, may our hearts meet through these words.

As the bells of the New Year echo through winter branches and glowing windows, and as the first breath of spring gently knocks upon the doors of our campus, we find ourselves standing together in the fresh morning light of a new year. With a heart full of gratitude and hope, I extend my sincerest New Year wishes to all our devoted faculty and staff, our diligent and delightful students, our parents who have placed in us their trust and support, and to all friends from every walk of life who care for and accompany the growth of our school—Happy New Year!

Looking back on the year just passed is like unrolling a long, warm scroll. I can still see the bright, attentive eyes in our classrooms; the teachers at the podium, sharing wisdom with clarity and passion; the youthful figures running freely across the sports fields; and the steady, trusting gazes exchanged during moments of home–school communication. Each ordinary day was made radiant by your presence, and every corner of our campus became a home through the quiet flow of care and love. What we have shared goes far beyond the transmission of knowledge—it is the mutual illumination of lives and the steady growth of warmth, side by side.

Education is a journey toward beauty, and even more, a shared commitment of the heart. How fortunate we are to meet on this fertile ground called “Soochow Foreign Language School,” nurturing young minds with teachers’ devotion, safeguarding growth with parents’ love, and walking forward together as companions on the same path. My heartfelt thanks go to every student—your curiosity, innocence, and perseverance are the most beautiful melodies on our campus; to every teacher—your craftsmanship, dedication, and steadfastness form the strongest backbone of our school; to every parent—your trust, understanding, and support are the warmest strength behind our journey; and to every friend—your attentive care and sincere advice are precious guiding lights along our way.

With the rhythm of galloping hooves and the warmth of spring winds, the horse has long symbolized vitality, progress, loyalty, and far-reaching vision. It mirrors our pursuit of education: bold enough to dream of distant horizons, yet grounded enough to move forward step by step. In the year ahead, may we continue to ride with love as our reins and aspiration as our saddle, journeying together across this land we cherish and strive for—toward growth, dreams, and ever more beautiful horizons.

May our students, like young steeds setting out, grow strong in both body and mind, advancing steadily in their studies; may our teachers, like seasoned horses who know the way, find professional fulfillment and see their students flourish like spring blossoms; may our parents, like noble steeds guarding the journey, enjoy harmony at home and smooth paths in all endeavors; and may all our friends ride forward with confidence, blessed with health, peace, and boundless opportunities.

At this moment, whether you are gathered with family around a warm hearth or spending the season away from home, may this letter—carrying the warmth of Soochow Foreign Language School—cross mountains and seas to bring you a gentle sense of closeness. When hearts are together, we are reunited; when aspirations align, the future unfolds before us.

In the coming year, may our nation know peace and prosperity, and may families and schools flourish together. Let us continue to walk in warmth and companionship, moving forward side by side—like trees in bloom, each flowering in its own way yet forming a forest together; like countless small lights, quietly shining until they gather into a galaxy.

With our sincerest wishes to all:

A joyful Spring Festival and a year filled with shared brilliance.
May you and those you love be embraced by warmth and lasting happiness;
may you ride alongside your ideals, with vast journeys ahead;
and may the education we cherish flow on like spring waters, thrive like verdant fields—year after year, ever abundant, ever true.

Eric Chen

February 17, 2026

(The first day of the Lunar New Year, Year of the Bingwu Horse)