GBC JLS/NAKAYOSHI PRESCHOOL SCHOOL-PTC NEWSLETTER

2nd term 2021

Notes from Nakayoshi Preschool!
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We will carefully watch over your child’ safety;
therefore, please continue your cooperation for themeasures against COVID-19. Thank you.
Director, Keiko Damiata
Preschool Calendar

More than a month has passed since the start of theNew Year. Unfortunately we still have to be cautious
about COVID-19 as it continues to spread. Even
under such circumstances, the Nakayoshi children’s
cheerful voice never ceases, and they show growthevery day. It makes us feel reassured.

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February 15 (Mon)
March 3 (Wed)April 2 (Fri)
April 5 (Mon)~9 (Fri)
April 12 (Mon)Last December, we were not able to invite ourfamilies to the Fun Party (Performance Day) becauseof COVID-19; however, the teachers made a fun
Christmas video instead. I watched it more than tentimes! I hope our families also enjoyed watching it.
In January, our children enjoyed the traditional
Japanese New Year activities. They made Shishimai(dancing lions), played Karuta (playing cards),
Fukuwarai (pin the tail on the donkey), and Kakizome(calligraphy). In February, they made demon masks
and played a game by throwing beans made out ofpaper associated with Setsubun (Bean throwing). We
will be also celebrating the Valentine’s Day, which is atime to express your caring heart to an importantperson. We are planning fun activities associatedwith Hinamatsuri (Dolls’ day) in March and the EasterDay in April. We hope the children experience theseasonal transitions and traditional Japanesecustoms.

Hinamatsuri (Girls’ – Dolls’ Day)
2nd Semester ends
Spring Vacation
3rd Semester begins!
Sports EventRegarding the Sports Event, which is one of ourbiggest events, we will have it to the extent possible
like using YouTube given the present circumstancesof COVID-19.
New Teacher
Ms. Nao Aizawa started as a teacher’s assistant in
the Banana class at the beginning of the new schoolyear.
She has been studying early childhood
education and dance at college.
She has won
numerous awards at dance competitions.
We
anticipate that she will teach dancing to theNakayoshi children soon. We are happy to have thisnew addition to our preschool staff.

Concerning measures to mitigate against COVID-19,
the teachers have been working hard in order to keep
physical distancing. Regarding masks, the children inthree-year-old and four-year-old classrooms are able
to wear them; however, it is difficult for the children
in two-year-old classroom. The teachers encouragethem to wear masks by saying, “Let’s wear a mask”.

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Presidents’ Day School Closed

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What had the Nakayoshi children chosen to playduring free choice time recently?

What had the Nakayoshi children been playing
recently during outside time?

Risu Class! They loved the songs “Riding on a Bus” and “BigBus Song”.
When the music started, theypretended to hold the steering wheel as a bus
driver does and sang the songs.
! They wore a demon mask and pretended to be thedemon by saying “Wow!!!”! They memorized the names of objects using flash
cards. When the teacher said the name of theobject, the children selected the picture thatmatched it. They even knew some difficult words
suchas“Reizouko(refrigerator)”and“Mushimegane” (magnifying glass).

Risu Class! They had a race running at full speed. They said
“Yo-I-Don” (ready-set-go) by themselves andthen ran. Their gestures were so adorable!
! They loved to play with a hula-hoop andwalk/explore around the premises.
Banana Class! They enjoyed chasing a hula-hoop or kicking a balleach in his/her own way.
Melon Class! They pretended to be cats and dinosaurs.
! They rolled a hula-hoop and caught it by running.
! They played “Play shop” during outside time as
well.

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Banana Class! They made dinosaurs by cutting out their shapeafter the teacher had drawn them. Since they
had learned how to use scissors, they now canmake the dinosaurs by themselves.
! Using the Hiragana cards, they had beenpracticing how to read Hiragana letters sinceOctober.
They can now read twelve letterswithout looking at the pictures.

Bara Class! They played “Daruma-doll fell down”.
! They played a game in which the children dodged
a ball that was thrown by the teacher. The last
survivor was the winner!
Sumire Class! They played dodge ball amongst themselves.
! They loved a balance play. They liked to get theirbalance and walk on car stoppers or lines when
they saw them on the premises.
! They said “Yo-I-Don” and had a race.

Melon Class! They had been excited about playing “Play shop”,
which was the theme in the curriculum. They said
“Irasshaimase! (Welcome to the store!)”, “Nani ga
ii desu ka? (What is your recommendation?), or“Ikura ni narimasu ka? (How much?”), among otherconversational phrases.
Bara Class! They loved to draw pictures. For example, when
the teacher asked “What word starts with “Na”?,a child answered “Namakemono! (Sloth)”. Thenthe teacher wrote “Namamemono” in Hiragana anddrew its picture. During free-choice time, they
drew the picture and the word that they hadlearned in class.

Building MaintenanceDuring winter break, both the soft mats in theplayground and the asphalt between the schoolbuildings were repaired. We would like to say thankyou to our families, the Church volunteers including
Mr. Alan Miwa and Mr. Brian Imai for making therepairs possible. Thanks to all, our children can playsafely as is always our priority.
Thank you very much for your Oseibo donation.

Sumire Class! They practiced how to make origami by following
instructions by themselves.
! They built multi-story car parks, castles, orhouses using magnetically shape toys.

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Enrollment
There are some spaces currently available for 3year-old and 4-year-old classrooms. Please tell yourfriends who may be interested about the openings!

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