GBC JLS/NAKAYOSHI PRESCHOOL SCHOOL-PTC NEWSLETTER

1st term 2022-2023

Notes from Nakayoshi Preschool!
The temperature has finally become normal! We feel thechange of seasons.
Welcome to the newly enrolled children and welcome back to
the returning children.
This school year, the teachers arranged the classroom for thechildren to be able to play, study, and eat together because
each child sat at each desk by himself or herself until lastschool year due to COVID-19. Now the children play withthe same toys, look at each other and laugh, and call eachother by name. It makes us happy just looking at them.
Continuing from the last school year, the children do exercise(e.g. “Radio Exercise”) or dance all together outside for about
15 minutes every Friday.
We will have the Picture Day on October 14. Karen
Nakamura Photography will come to school and takeindividual photos. On October 28, our Halloween Parade will
be held on the premises. We will notify you of the details
later.
Concerning the Church guidelines of COVID-19, outdoor
masking is no longer required but highly recommended.
The teachers and staff will continue to work together as a teamso that the children will be able to play and learn safely andenjoyably at the Nakayoshi preschool. Thank you.
Director Keiko Damiata

New Teacher’s Self-introduction
I am Kimika Nakashima. I started to work as an assistantteacher at NAKAYOSHI Preschool this August. I am honored
to work for this preschool where my daughter graduated 8years ago. My goals are to make children feel secure andhappy to learn.
Piano and Laminating Machine Donation from ChurchMembers
The Joe Koyanagi family donated a piano. It has been placed
to the Banana class. Also, the Patti Nishimura family donateda laminating machine. We now can laminate bigger sizematerials. We truly appreciate the generosity of both families.

Messages from Teachers
Penguin Class

The Penguin children say, “Good morning, Teacher!” when
they come to their classroom. Those children who cried amonth ago can greet the teachers now. At the beginning, thenew children must have been full of anxiety because they had
to separate from their parents, and everything was new. They
were in a new preschool environment with unfamiliar teachersand children. On the hand, our returning children are leading
the Penguin Class as a leader and teacher’s helper.
The Penguin children are getting used to the daily routines.
For example, they play with new friends outside, eat snack,play in the classroom, make various crafts, eat lunch, and takea nap. They are trying to do these activities by themselves asmuch as possible. For example, they take out the snack fromtheir bag, put a blanket and sheet on their bed, and put on andtake off their shoes. Although we may help the children, they
are happy and shinning when accomplishing these activities.
They mostly play alone; however, they sometimes interact
with other children and play with them. We hope that thechildren will learn various things and grow up while
conflicting sometimes, making amends, and helping eachother. We strive to have a fun and safe environment for them.

Teachers & Staff
Penguin class:
Risu class:Banana class:
Melon class:Bara class:
Sumire class:

Ryoko Nakawake (Master), Kazue Higa
Naomi Inoue (Master), Kimika Nakashima
Naoko Saito (Master), Miyuki Hernandez,Yoko Hersch
Yuka Nayuki (Master), Miyuki Hernandez,
Yoko Hersch
Toshie Kimoto (Master), Shiho Iwagoe
Tomoko Nakagawa (Master), Shiho Iwagoe

Office Admin Assistant:

Kimiko Sullivan

!
!

!

1!

Risu Class

Bara Class

It has been more than one month since the new school year
started. Those children who were full of anxiety and tension
cried out loud at the beginning but come to school with asmile now. They can say, “Ohayo” and “Sayonara”. Theylove to sing “Dragonfly’s Grasses“ and “I have a Beard” in theclassroom. They tend to play alone now; however, we hope
they will be interested in playing with others soon. At thesame time, we will teach them how to interact with others.
We will make every effort to create a fun and safe
environment where children will have various experiences.
We’re looking forward to having your children for all year.

A month has passed since the children moved to the Bara
Class. They are getting used to the new environment. Whenthey come to the classroom in the morning, they tell theteachers about a lot of things.
They seem to be proud of being the oldest children in theNakayoshi Preschool and full of energy with joy andconfidence.
There are many children who want to be a helper. They checkthe helper chart every morning and say, “Today is your turn.
Good luck!” and they are looking forward to being a helperand ask, “Who will be a helper tomorrow?”. They seem toshow their potential fully and enjoy their new preschool life.
They started to practice writing their names and simple lettersand numbers so that they will be interested in learning.
Writing Hiragana letters with a pencil is the first time forthem. They sometimes ask, “How can I write, Teacher?” orsay, “I can’t.” Then we encourage them and say, “Let’s doyou best.” They try to do their best because they know thatthey are the oldest children at school. Telling them that “Youare the oldest children in school” motivates them to do it.
When they can write well, they show their workbook to us
with a big smile. We will value their motivation andcooperation with friends. We would like them to enjoy thelast year of their preschool life.

Banana Class
The Banana Children sit at a big table every day where
teachers put desks together to make it. Sitting next each otheror face to face is the first time for them in a while due to
COVID-19. Although some of them were bewildered at thebeginning, they now enjoy playing and eating lunch while
talking.
Continuing from the two-year-old classroom, they practice
getting dressed, taking out a water bottle from their bag,opening and closing their lunch box lid, putting on and taking
off their shoes, and preparing their bed. When they need help,
we encourage them to use words by saying, “Sensei,
Yattekudasai (Please do it)”.
In the three-year-old class, they will learn how to use markers
and pencils and learn the concepts of numbers. They will also
learn the concepts of before and after from the calendar. We
hope that they will enjoy making crafts with glue and scissors
all by themselves.

Sumire Class
It has been more than one month since the Sumire Class
started. The children look so happy to see each other after thesummer vacation. Since all the children in the Sumire Class
were moved from either the Banana or the Melon Class, theyall know each other. Both the Bara and Sumire children getalong and we have a good atmosphere. They call each otherby name when seeing or playing together outside. After theguidelines for COVID-19 mitigated, we put a carpet in theclassroom like we had before. The children sit shoulder-toshoulder and look at books, play Legos with other children,etc. They look so happy because it is the first time for them toplay with others like this at preschool due to COVID-19. It
makes us smile just looking at them. In terms of academicelements, the four-year-classrooms include learning theconcepts of numbers and Hiragana letters to prepare forkindergarten. Our children started to write letters andnumbers with a pencil. Before they go to a local school, wewould like them to master Hiragana letters as much as
possible. Interest differs from person to person so that we
encourage our families to introduce Hiragana letters to yourchild or have them practice them at home. We hope that thechildren will have many memories through the last year of
their preschool life.

Melon ClassThe Melon Class consists of returning friends and a newfriend (Akira-kun). They care about crying of younger
children (the Penguin and Risu children) and help them tocarry their bags, which make us feel their growth. We feelthat they are proud of being promoted because they answer,“Yes” in a strong voice when being asked, “Are you in theMelon Class?”. We will look after carefully the needs of eachindividual child until they get used to new class environments
and proceed at their own pace. It’s the time of the season now
so that it’s easy to get sick. Please reexamine your child’s
daily habits. For example, going to bed early and getting up
early, and eating breakfast are very important. Lastly, we will
try to have an environment that children feel that today was
fun as usual. Our first goal is that to make them feel “I lovepreschool!” We’re looking forward to having your children
for all year.

!

2!