GBC JLS/NAKAYOSHI PRESCHOOL SCHOOL-PTC NEWSLETTER

1st term 2021-2022

Notes from Nakayoshi Preschool!
It’s the season when the persimmons in the Churchyard are changing color. Those children who criedor were held by the teacher when coming to schoolin August now have become comfortable withpreschool life. They say, “Ittekimasu!”, “Matane!”,or “bye-bye!” and wave their hands as they gosmiling into their classrooms. In the office, I hear
the children singing the “Morning Song” and the“Lunch song” to the teacher’s piano playing. I alsohear excited voices of the children who are riding
tricycles outside. The pictures of self-portrait
and friends are displayed in the hallways. The
teachers measured the height and weight of thechildren, which provides a barometer of theirhealthy growth. I am looking forward to watch
over the children’s healthy growth.

has only just begun, the Bara children alreadygather around a smiling Miyuki. Furthermore, Ms.
Kimiko Sullivan joined us as an assistantadministrator at the end of September. She isexcited about being in a workplace with energetic
children. We appreciate having more staff.
Lastly, we will maintain the children’s health careand safety measures while watching over thechildren’s growth. I appreciate your continued
cooperation. Thank you.
Director, Keiko Damiata
Teachers
Penguin class Naoko Saito (Master), Kazue Higa
Risu class
Toshie Kimoto (Master), KyokaTakamura
Banana class Tomoko Nakagawa (Master)Melon class
Naomi Inoue (Master), Shiho
Iwagoe, Yoko Hersch
Bara class
Ryoko Nakawake (Master), Miyuki
Hernandez
Sumire class Yuka Nayuki (Master)Everyone is concerned about COVID-19.
The
Gardena Buddhist Church cares about our families.
The Nakayoshi Preschool follows the instructionsof the Church and operates based on the guidelines
as similar to last year, which insured the healthand safety of the Nakayoshi children.
Themaximum number of children per classroom is nine.
The children remain in the same class with thesame teachers and group of children for all day.
We continue enhanced cleaning including sanitizing.
In addition, air purifiers were installed in all theclassrooms, and the classrooms and hallways werewaxed before the start of the new school year.

*Assistant teachers may work with classrooms ofthe same grade level (2-year, 3-year, or 4-year-oldclassrooms) as needed.
Tokyo Central Fund-Raising

We have happy news regarding our staff. The
number of our staff has increased. In August Ms.
Miyuki Hernandez started as an assistant teacher
in the Bara Class. Although the new school year!

!

Thank you very much for giving us the receipts
from Tokyo Central for our fund-raising. Your
continued support and cooperation are greatlyappreciated.

1!

Messages from teachers
Penguin Class

Risu Class and helps the teacher. The new children
were a bit confused about the new preschool
environment and cried at the beginning; however,they now memorize the “Morning Song”, the “LunchSong”, the “Good-bye Song”, friends’ names andfaces, and the class routine. The children whocried at the beginning have now discovered
enjoyable activities after they separate from their
dad or mom in the morning. I hope that thechildren will have various experiences that will
provide fun memories through the year.

The children who cried out loud at the beginning of
this school year now come to school with a smileand say, “Preschool! Fun!” They have become
accustomed to preschool life.
When they gooutside, they teach the teachers by saying “Hat!
Mask!” They started practicing getting dressed,opening and closing their bag, and putting on andtaking off their shoes. They enjoy doing crafts
with crayons and glue and running around outsidewith friends.

Melon Class
Risu Class!

It has been a month since children were promoted
or started the three-year-old class. Althoughsome of the children were bewildered at thebeginning, the children now come cheerfully toschool every morning. They have become used tothe new class so that they call their friends’
names, talk to each other, and laugh. They bringlaughter to the whole classroom.
We will make every effort to create a nurturing
environment where children will have fun.

It has been a month and half since the Risu
children started the preschool life.
At thebeginning, some were full of anxiety and tension,and some had tears in their eyes; however, they
are getting used to it now. They say, “Goodmorning!” cheerfully in the morning. The Risu Class
is full of energy.
Although they tended to play alone at thebeginning, they now have become interested intheir friends’ existence so that they memorize
their friends’ names and interact with each other.
The Risu children love to play outside. When goingoutside, they wear hats and run around shouting“All aboard!” They love to play with balls, bikes,
soap bubbles, and to dance to music. Since they
get excited about playing so much, they sweat alot!
We hope that the children will have fun as theygrow emotionally and physically this year. We
value the relationship with every child and striveto have a fun and safe environment for them.

Bara & Sumire Classes
The senior class (4-year-old class) has begun. The
last year of the preschool life will be thekindergarten or elementary preparation. In thisgrade, the children will learn how to write numbersand Hiragana letters, and to make seasonal crafts.
They will learn how to write their names first andthen simple letters so that they will be interested
in learning the Hiragana letters.
Regardingnumbers, they will learn the concepts of numbers.
For example, they will get a sense of dates anddays by creating a calendar for next year. We will
put forward a curriculum that will challenge thechildren to think and create by themselves so thatthey will feel a sense of accomplishment and joy.
Furthermore, we want to instill self-confidence intheir daily life. Please have them look after
themselves as well as help with housework.

Banana Class
The Banana Class consists of six children: three
are graduates from the two-year-old class andthree are new to the three-year-old class. The
promoted children have self-assurance about
moving up. Also, they take the lead with singing
and playing, which livens up the atmosphere of the!

!

2!

!