Cover Photo: The 1st Halloween Staﬀ Photo Contest- Toyonaka School Wins the Grand Prize!
The "Halloween Staff Photo Contest" was held on Instagram Stories,

Grand Prize
Congratulations!
Toyonaka School

where staff from each school posted photos in Halloween costumes,
competing for the highest number of likes❤.

The inaugural Grand Prize goes to Toyonaka School, earning a total of 52 likes❤!

We will continue to hold various events on Kinder Kids Instagram,so be sure to follow our ofﬁcial Kinder Kids account for more information!

ofﬁcial Kinder Kids
Instagram

We look forward to
your ideas!
“Hiraku” provides useful informationand the latest news related toEnglish and childhood education.

・Your recent interests
・Topics you want us to cover
・New content etc etc…
If you have ideas to contribute,please share these with us!
“Hiraku” Editorial Department
TEL：06-6135-0150
Mail： hiraku@kinderkids.ed.jp

Halloween 2023
Staff Photo CONTEST

30
Expanding future possibilities
Published in
November 2023 Vol.30
Next issue isplanned to comeat the end of January

Kinder Kids Inc.
TEL：06-6135-0150
Pulala Tenma 2F, 3-1 Ikeda-cho,
Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka. 530-0033

www.kinderkids.com

It is Surrounded by Abundant Greenery Despite Being in the Center of a Large City
The “i-Mall” where Ogimachi School is located is in the center of

OgimachiSchoolOsaka City, just a 15-minute walk from JR Osaka Station. Despite
its central location, the building is surrounded by 120 Someiyoshinocherry trees, and the expansive Ogimachi Park right in front. Thissetting allows children to spend their time in an environment where

Ogimachi Park

they can forget the hustle and bustle of the city when interacting with nature and exercising on theplayground and the large playground equipment to their heart's content.
Noteworthy is the "Urban Beekeeping Project" promoted by the adjacent ISEIKAI International General
Hospital. As part of the SDGs, the honey collected from plants around the hospital is expected to be a
new learning opportunity for KinderKids' students. Experiencing coexistence with bees in an urban setting
is sure to provide a valuable experience for the children.
Also, since it is located within a medical complex, medical staff can provide immediate care in case of any
injury or illness. Moreover, ISHISEIKAI International General Hospital offers childcare services for sickchildren, so If children need to take medical care, medical staff will take good care of them.

Enjoyable days of Learning at the Newly-Opened Ogimachi School.
One month has passed since the school's inauguration. Some children
initially felt bewildered by the new environment, but now they'reenjoying daily school activities. They especially enjoyed the ﬁrst major
event, the Halloween Party, which included impressive activities likeHalloween crafts, a costume fashion show, and Trick or Treating.

KinderKids Ogimachi School Opens!
In October 2023, Kinder Kids International School Ogimachi, the29th Kinder Kids school, opened. The school is located in "i-Mall"

Kinder Kids Ogimachi School is located in the center of the city, yet issurrounded by greenery, and will be loved by many families as an ideal
place where children can learn.

which houses the International General Hospital at its core, aMessage from Branch Manager

theater complex for performing and other art forms, a hospital-run

I would like to express my warmest gratitude to all the parents and guardians as

healthy food café that provides new health information, and a

Kinder Kids Ogimachi School was successfully inaugurated on October 2nd.

24-hour Gym with a full range of training equipment.

The children gradually became accustomed to their new environment and began to

On October 2nd, President Nakayama attended thecheerfully greet and wave to all the teachers. They are learning and playing in theschoolʼs opening ceremony and participated in the
ribbon-cutting ceremony. After the ceremony, a special
live performance themed "Music and Health" by twoformer Takarazuka Revue members showcased their

Hazuki Hirao,
Branch Manager of
Ogimachi school

teachers are also welcoming the children with cheerful greetings every morning.
At Ogimachi School, we have a highly experienced headnursery teacher, teachers who have transferred from Osaka

splendid voices, and the ﬁrst day at Ogimachi School

School, and staff who have worked at Kinder Kids for a long time. We are all working

started off with four grades from Baby to K1.

as a team to make the children feel happy, have fun, and make Kinder Kids a welcom-

Children who had previously attended Osaka School were

ing and enjoyable place.

thrilled to explore their new classrooms at Ogimachi

Many of our staff members are also parents, we aspire to build a relationship where

School. The K1 class had a fun day of doing crafts andplaying in the gym after circle time. It was a great ﬁrst day
at school under clear autumn skies!
1

light-ﬁlled classrooms, a spacious gym, and a rooftop playground every day. The

parents feel comfortable consulting with us about childcare.
Please come and visit our spacious gym and light-ﬁlled classrooms. We are conﬁdent
that you will love it! We look forward to seeing you at Kinder Kids Ogimachi School.

OgimachiSchool HP

6-26
Minami-Ogimachi,
Kita-ku, Osaka-shi,
Osaka
2

Kinder Kids was the start.
Introduction of graduateswho throughH.K.

their efforts opened new doors.

I aspired to specialize in Astrophysics at Rice University,
a top-tier institution in the ﬁeld of space science,and delve into the mysteries of “black holes”.

studying astrophysics at a university in the United States sinceAugust.

sa ge f r
es moth oeisrH, who graduated from high school this June, has been

After graduating from a public elementary school in Nara City, DISK(Doshisha International School, Kyoto - an International Baccalaureate
school), H proceeded on to Rice University in Houston, Texas in August2023. His major is Astrophysics.Having achieved notable success in“Tai Chi,” including receiving an award at the National Sports Festival
and later placing second in the National Tournament.
At DISK, he was on the Honor Roll from the later part of 8th grade until
graduation and gave the graduation speech as the valedictorian.

m

I was fascinated by Black Holes introduced in Theme-Based Learning.

Rice University
FreshmanM

Fascinated by "Space" from the Theme-based Learning in K3,

Rice University［ RU］
Rice University is a prestigious private university
and is located in Houston, the fourth-largest cityin the United States.
It is one of the top universities in the UnitedStates and is renowned for excellence inchemistry, space science, and architecture.
Houston is home to NASA's Johnson Space
Center and also has an active aerospaceindustry. In 1967, it was given the ofﬁcial alias of"Space City.”

The reason H has chosen to study astrophysics in the United States isdue to his days of learning at Kinder Kids and the support of his mother.
We had the chance to hear about episodes
and parenting advice from his mother.

black holes.

【What advice did you give him to maintain his English skills】
I always told H not to mix English and Japanese because I wanted him to grow up to be a person who
could thrive in the world. Also, to foster an interest in the Japanese language, we spent quality
family time engaging in activities like reading books aloud and playing traditional Japanese card
games.

The impact of this experience stayed with him and nurtured his【Things that should have been done】

His interest in space began with the Theme-based learning on
space at Kinder Kids. One day in a class, H was strongly
attracted to the incomprehensibility and mysteriousness ofinterest in astrophysics, especially black holes. His interest
was heightened by the news he heard in junior high school
about the successful ﬁlming of a black hole.

Astronomical observation
with an astronomical telescope
given to him by his uncle

Studying Hard at a Public Elementary School and Enrolled In an International Middle School

After graduating from Kinder Kids, H went to a public elementary school and was devoted to the martial
arts “Tai Chi,” and spent his days without thinking about taking the entrance exam.However, he started

When considering H's future international endeavors, I believe it would have been beneﬁcial for
him to learn about traditional Japanese culture such as karate or tea ceremony.
【Things that shouldnʼt have been done】
While at Kinder Kids, I attempted to explain unfamiliar words to H using an English-English
dictionary for children. Looking back, it might have been better to explain those words inJapanese.
【How did you decide which school to attend?】

was good at English in elementary school, but he had to study very hard for a short period of time to

Our foremost consideration in choosing a school was based on its educational philosophy. My
three children have different strengths and interests, so after middle school, we let them go to
the school of their choice based on their aspirations and individual strengths.

reach a level that would allow him to pass the exam.

【Parenting advice from his mother】

Because He was good at math, He was able to pass the exam by concentrating on studying English.

To share our family's experience, we paid attention to what the children were saying andcaptured the moments when we felt they were "interested”.
We actively looked for related books and materials and enjoyed exploring their interests
together as a family. For instance, when he brought up a conversation about space from
KinderKids, we'd pick up a science magazine like 'Newton' and expand the conversation byasking, 'Does it mean something like this?'
He was also passionate about manga, anime, and video games but I have tolerated this as part ofthe pursuit of the popular culture that Japan is famous for.

to wish to enter an international middle school and began studying English in the returnee's course. He

After entering an International Middle School, he continued to watch English videos on YouTube andTED to improve his listening skills and knowledge.
Volunteer work at Kinder Kids that led to obtaining the IBDP

When H was looking for volunteer opportunities to fulﬁll the requirements for the IB Diploma, his former
teacher, Ms. N, recommended volunteering at Kinder Kids. Since he likes speaking English and small

3

Nara
Tomigaoka School
GraduatehMy
Stepping
Stone〈File6〉

children, he immediately seized this opportunity. H worked with young children from the ﬁrst year of

We have learned that parents' support was behind Hʼs higher education and English skills.

high school until graduation.

We sincerely hope that he will continue to explore and grow in the ﬁeld of astrophysics.
4After being postponed for four years,
It is ﬁnally back!

Everyone was eagerly anticipating the chance to go surﬁng. First, we
received instructions about the equipment, how to catch waves, and how
to protect ourselves when swept off by the waves. With the help of theAustralia
Study Abroad Trip

staff, we managed to ride the waves but struggled with falling over andgetting swallowed by the waves!! Some of us got the hang of it andmanaged to stand on the surfboard. Once you get the hang of it, it seems
easy, and those who managed to stand could repeatedly stand on theboard!
After taking a class to learn about animals unique to Australia, they visited

After being postponed for 4 years due tothe Australia Zoo and seemed very excited to be able to see real Australian

the COVID-19 pandemic, we are excited to beanimals. They had the fantastic experience of touching koalas and evenable to resume the Grad Clubʼs Australia study abroad trip. The

took pictures with them!

study program took place in the Sunshine Coast region, north of the

The 16 days ﬂew by. On the last day,center of Brisbane in Queensland. Our students attended local
schools and participated in activities with local students of thesame age.
They took classes in various subjects at school, including a study on
money management using a supermarket scenario. During thecultural exchange program, they introduced Japanese culture to
local students, such as how to write their names in katakana andfold origami. They had the chance to interact with many local
students. All the student seemed to enjoy the lunch break with their“Buddies” and as soon as the lunch bell rang, they'd rush outsidewith their lunchboxes, playing card games, sports, or just sitting
and talking together.
On weekends, they enjoyed time with their host families, ﬁshing inthe sea or swimming in the home pool, and made the most of theholidays. High school students visited the nearby town, Noosa,while those staying with host families in rural areas had theopportunity to interact with animals like cows on farms! It was afantastic experience for everyone.
The most memorable part of my homestay was the various activities we did in
the backyard, which is not common in Japanese houses. My Buddy taught met's
pantici ws
Par revie

about the school, and I found the Australian schooling system to be quite
different from Japan's, such as no designated time for cleaning, and parents
driving students to and from school every day.
Regarding English, I learned new expressions like ”Pardon?” and ”Ta” that I
hadn't known before. I believe my English skills improved signiﬁcantly throughthis Australia study trip. Attending a local school there was truly a precious
experience, and I'd highly recommend the Australia study trip to my friends inrhsa ge f r
es moth o
e
is

m

M

R.G.
［G4/Kyoto School Graduate］ Grad Club. It's a fantastic opportunity to enhance our English proﬁciency.

The host family welcomed him as a member of their family and took him camping and to
the park on weekends, which was a good experience for him.The relaxed atmosphere ofAustralian primary school, made him hope to study abroad and he is now studying evenharder.The staff members were incredibly attentive and caring toward the children,which made this program a truly wonderful experience.

5

we reminisced about our memories
by watching a slideshow of the photos we'd taken and enjoyed eatingcake together. Some Junior high school and High school students
shed tears as the time to say farewell approached. Their tears of "Iwish I could stay longer" and "I will miss you" showed how much they
had enjoyed their time there.
On the ﬂight from Japan,
our students impressed theﬂight attendants with theirﬂuent English, showcasing
their high proﬁciency. But
when I spoke to them inEnglish, since Iʼm Japanese,they often responded inJapanese. However, thefollowing morning after
Grad Club
spending a night at the host
Saeka Deguchi
family'shome,
they
responded all in English. I
was amazed at how they could change after just onenight! Also, it was particularly impressive to see
students with moderate English proﬁciency greatly
improving their language skills during their stay. Seeing
the children, who had been homesick for the ﬁrst few
days, gradually gaining conﬁdence in the latter part ofthe program, I realized once again the signiﬁcance of
this study abroad program. We would like to express
our sincere gratitude to the students who participatedin the program and to the parents who trusted us andentrusted us with their children, despite the uncertainties of the program's availability and the restrictions
and conditions that we had to deal with.
We will continue to do our best to make the program
even better.

Many
host
families
commented on how polite
our students were. They
were also very impressedby the English level that
our students displayed.
Particularly, the elementary
schoolstudents
exhibited a much higher
level of English proﬁcienGrad Clubcy than anticipated by the
Matthew Horne
host families and wereable to develop excellent
relationships. I was very excited to join the Australia
study abroad trip for the ﬁrst time. To be a part ofthis trip with our students and to share wonderfulexperiences with them that I hope they willremember for many years was a privilege. Taking alarge number of students overseas was quite adaunting task, however, the attitudes of ourstudents and the maturity they demonstrated
throughout the trip were fantastic. I believe that
this study abroad trip has allowed the students torealize that English is not just a subject that they
can study in a classroom, and I also believe that forsome of our older students, it has opened theirminds to the endless possibilities for their futurestudies and career options that lay ahead of them.

The Information session on
the Australia study trip for 2024 to be held!
please visit our

website for details ・
・
・
〉

6

British Hills Study Tour

Grad Autumn Camp in Karuizawa

A large site that recreates a medieval British town, andWe went camping at an outdoor resort in the Jōshin'et-

once you step into the site, you are already in England.

su-kōgen National Park, a habitat for many wild birds andWe spent two days immersed in English at this resort

wild animals such as a type of antelope, which is asite, which has the most popular international study

protected national animal, to enhance "survival skills"

abroad program in Japan.

through nature activities.

Outdoor Resort & National Park

British Hills this year, the second time

Glad Club planned this camping trip toto visit, there were participants not only

developfrom the Kanto region but also fromabilities through unique experiences.

Kansai and Nagoya, as well as fromIn the "Ropes Course" activity, all thestudents'

unlimited

students worked together to leap onto a

Sakura International School. It becamea cross-school exchange. Participants from Kansai had an earlysmall island. Utilizing the Tarzan ropes, the children

morning meeting time, yet seeing the excitement on thebrainstormed ways to transport everyone to the island.

children's faces upon arrival made us truly glad they could

Through this activity, they experienced the joy of success andthe importance of teamwork!

participate.

In the 'Treasure Hunt BBQ,' children are divided into teams

We took the '3D Pictures' and 'British Hills Explore' program forand rely on maps with clues to ﬁnd ingredients for the evening's barbecue.

the ﬁrst time! The 3D Pictures, a multi-layered art form that has long been a

Cooperation was crucial, and the ingredients each team found werefavorite in the UK, required a lot of detailed work. The students createdshared, resulting in an amazing BBQ thanks to fantastic teamwork!

wonderful pieces by carefully following the
instructions and selecting their favorite
illustrations!
In theBritish Hills Explore

Despite a light rain, the campﬁre got
3D Pictures that createa three-dimensional eﬀect
by layering multiple
layers of cutouts.

program,students enjoyed a 'Treasure Hunt' in the vast British Hills,
where the students searched for places indicated by clues,
answered questions, and completed a secret word. The
students were excellent at expressing their thoughts clearly in7

theeveryone excited with fun Grad games!
Gathering around the ﬂickering ﬁre, it surely
became a cherished memory etched deep withineveryone's hearts.
It was the Grad Club's ﬁrst full-scale tent camp. The children
were ﬁlled with anticipation and excitement for this ﬁrst
experience. Many of the students had never stayed in tents

English! The Grad Club students are truly impressive!

before, and for some, it was their ﬁrst time attending a Grad

There are not many facilities in Japan where children canCamp. Each activity carried out in the great nature isspend time experiencing diﬀerent cultures in English like this,undoubtedly a valuable experience for their growth. Theyso we would like to continue to participate in these programs

learned the importance of teamwork, challenging themselves,and oﬀer experiences to more children in the future.

and succeeding on their own in the great outdoors.
8On the ﬁrst day, we experienced marine activities and a night walk at
the YMCA Anan International Ocean Center in Anan City, Tokushima

Learning About History, Geography,
and Our Society Through TravelInﬁnity Global Elementary
School s Inaugural Class

Prefecture. Many of the students had never been on a kayak before,

Trip toShikoku(Tokushima & Kagawa)and initially, some were hesitant. However, after taking that ﬁrst step,
they

began

enjoying

themselves.

During

the

night

walk,

we

experimented with how colors appear differently in bright and darkplaces and observed the sea ﬁreﬂies. As the location was rich in nature,theweather

conditions

changedfrequently,

forcing us to change our schedule, but that was

Receiving a lecture on rowing
techniques, and oﬀ we go!

also one of the best parts of overnightlearning in the midst of nature.
These marine activities were meant to connect to larger challenges. For
instance, those who experienced kayaking at a younger age will understandSeptember 7-8
Tokushima & Kagawa

ocean currents and safety precautions when near or on the sea. Throughﬁrsthand experiences and understanding, older students would then try toreach an uninhabited island by boat. Growing mentally and physicallythrough these experiences, and taking on larger challenges leads to
conﬁdence and nurtures a curiosity to know more about the world.

“Learning through Traveling,” thisThe next day, the students experienced making Sanuki udon

time, aimed to acquaint students

noodles in Kotohira-cho, Kagawa Prefecture, followed by awith the nature of Shikoku and experience industries that takevisit to Kompira Shrine, which has been worshipped byadvantage of its natural resources and climate. Our daily lives andmany people since ancient times. After returning from theindustries in Japan are supported by abundant water and forests. Since our students usually live in

trip, we reﬂected on the trip using a reﬂection sheet. The

urban areas, they don't have many opportunities to experience nature, and it is difﬁcult for them tostudents thought about what left an impression on them,realize that their lives are supported by nature. We chose Tokushima and Kagawa in order to havewhat they learned, and what they would like to do on theirstudents become familiar with nature through nature activities.
Before departing on our trip, students were divided into groups based on prefectures in Shikoku andstudied about the region. Each group researched their assigned prefecture's distinct features,historicallysigniﬁcant

places,ﬁndings on Jamboard.
The students also learned about theof

Kamikatsu,

Making udon noodles
to the cheering tambourine.

Tokushima

compiled by students

We would like to make "problem-solving" the main focus of “learning throughusing Jamboard.

traveling” so that children to get involved in solving social issues by actively
engaging in them. Currently, predicting the future, even a year ahead, has"zero-waste town*," providing a good

［Jamboard］

opportunity to learn about the SDGs,

A whiteboard

which they have been studying in various

Cloud that allows

subjects, and the initiatives that arebecome difﬁcult, and for a better future we must understand “Now.”
Understanding the current social issues and the
direction the world should take becomes clearer bypowered by Google
sharing the screen.

actually being implemented in Japan.
【Zero Waste Town / Kamikatsu Town, Tokushima Prefecture】

Head Teacher
Akifumi Nakayama

In Japan, there are high technical skills and culture

nurtured within its rich nature and historical heritage, and many industrial
projects have been created that take advantage of these strengths. We areplanning to conduct classes on interesting projects, such as “Agriculture with

Shikoku with approximately 1,300 residents (as of September 2023). In 2003, they became the ﬁrst

minimal water,” “Wave power generation,”“Sustainable seaweed business” andnot generated. They implemented the sorting of waste into the most detailed categories in Japan,
with a total of 13 types and 45 classiﬁcations. The town achieved a recycling rate of 80.6% in 2019.

HP

knowing “Now.”

Kamikatsu Town, located about an hour's drive from Tokushima City, is the least populated town inin Japan to declare a 'Zero Waste' policy, aiming for a society where garbage is not disposed of and9differed from their own city and expanded their learning.

The Future Vision of “Learning Through Traveling'”

The learning materials

Prefecture, which aims to become aKamikatsu Zero Waste Center

next excursion. They also thought about how the city

andpopular tourist spots, and compiled their

town

Observing the glowing tiny
crustaceans called sea ﬁreﬂies“Fusion power generation by the artiﬁcial sun.” These would help solve social

1-2-22 Karasugatsuji,
Tennoji-ku, Osaka-shi,Osakaissues and we expect students to take leading roles in these projects.
10