Saturday Preschool

For those who missed Saturday Preschool this month, or if you just wonder what we do there, here are some highlights from today. The theme was Autumn.

Fall Leaves
(This poem was really fun with motions.)

Leaves are drifting slowly down.
They make a carpet on the ground.
Then, swish! The wind comes whistling by
And sends them dancing in the sky!



Autumn Prints with cookie cutters.

Apple Cider

This is an easy recipe for kids to follow and it teaches math, measuring skills, fine motor skills, how to be careful around a stove, and the way very different tastes combine together to make something delicious.

• 1 liter apple juice
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons honey

Mix, heat, serve and enjoy!

Making apple cider. Smells good, doesn't it?

Saturday Preschool is on the fourth Saturday of each month.

Second Fall Outing 2006

For various reasons, over half of our class was absent today. The weather was beautiful, so after checking with parents, we took an impromptu field trip back to the park we enjoyed last week. Of course it was less organized this time, but the park itself provided all the fun we needed.

Tree Dwellers (Don't worry Moms; the branch they're on is only a foot off the ground.)

Jumping Rope

Five-Kid Pile-Up

Next Stop: Mount Fuji!

(First?) Fall Outing 2006

Yesterday was our Fall Outing to a very large (as in easy to get lost in) park not too far from the preschool. We played ball, caught butterflies, dragonflies and other bugs, ate a picnic lunch, and blew bubbles. It was so much fun we are thinking of adding a second fall outing in a few weeks.

Morning Circle--Outdoor Version


Bug Hunter


Girls like bugs too.


Lunch Time


Big Bubble

A True Gentleman

Recently at the park, the children have been playing something called the monster game or the bear game. It's pretty simple; one child is the bear or monster and goes roaring and chasing after the other children. From my point of view, it's a nice way for the kids to take some exercise and get the yells out while away from the classroom.

By the way, the park was resurfaced earlier this week with a truck-full of sand (seemingly insignificant detail).

Back to the game. One child yesterday quietly asked me to pretend to be the monster this time and to chase everyone. As I crouched down to pick her up, making my most dramatic monster sounds, a shower of sand came down on my head and went all through my clothes!

I was angry for a split second before I tracked the thought process of the sand dumper. He hadn't heard the girl ask me to be the monster. He was just filling his hat with the new sand when he saw this big guy grab his friend and start yelling like a freak. Without further thought, he came to the girl's aid in the most immediate and significant way he could, and for the rest of the day I was shaking sand out of my hair and clothes.

How I wish I were more like that boy. I'm not suggesting it's a good idea to pick fights or carry buckets of sand around just in case, but how many times do I see someone that I could give immediate help to, but don't? Maybe the guy sprawled awkwardly on the stairs outside the station needs help, but he might wake up and get mad if I approach him and I'll miss my train if I walk to the police box. Those tourists look lost, but what if I can't communicate with them? Or I might not know how to get where they want to go.

If the boy in the park with nothing more than a sand-filled hat,can stand up to a big monster, then surely I too can overcome some of my own apprehensions and inconveniences. We can learn a lot from children if we try, even from the things they do that initially irritate us. I've been putting together some more thoughts about how adults could benefit from being more child-like (not childish, mind you). I'll share them soon. In the meantime, I'd love to hear your stories or comments.

Sneak Preview of New Web Site

We've been working on a new web site for the preschool. The majority of the written content is up. We still need to add more photos and otherwise pretty things up. Please have a look and tell me what you think. Click here or on the title of this post to see the site. You can comment here or by writing to me at jseminoff [at] newhopeclc [dot, period or whatever you call it] jp. I'd like your input on obvious mistakes, things that could be better phrased, and content you'd like to see that isn't there.

Thanks. :)

[Edit 10/10: Thank you for your input. Our url, www.newhopeclc.jp , now points to the new site. There is still some work to be done, so keep coming back and giving your suggestions.]

New This Fall

Here is (a slightly edited version of) a letter I recently gave to the preschool parents. It outlines some of the new things we have going on this fall. Warning: it's long.

Dear Parents,

I trust that everyone had a nice summer vacation. I enjoyed our time of rest with my family and being with many of you in summer school. The fall term has begun and with it some exciting new things are happening.

Sing, Dance, Move with the Rhythm! Thursday is music day with Jiyun Kuboe. Born and raised in Korea, Mrs. Jiyun went to Shobi Music School in Japan. She plays the piano and organ professionally at weddings. She lives in Tokyo with her husband and three children. Mrs. Jiyun enjoys hula, jogging, swimming and reading.

Stretch, Shake, Roll and Tumble! Friday is gymnastics day with Mrs. Aiko. You may have seen her in the office, but did you know that Aiko Onoda participated in gymnastics for several years, specializing in floor exercises, vault and balance beam? She graduated from Fukuoka University with a degree in English literature. She combines her English and gymnastics skills in a popular weekly class for our students. Mrs. Aiko is married to Shoji Onoda (you may see him around the preschool sometimes) and has a beautiful baby daughter. She enjoys baking bread.

More Teachers in the Classroom. We are grateful to the volunteers who helped us in the classroom last term and, building on that foundation, we now have at least two teachers in the classroom all day every day.

Michiko Thicksten was born in Kumamoto prefecture. She graduated from Japan Women's University with a Master's degree in social welfare and lives in Tokyo with her husband Todd (from California) and her two children who are New Hope Preschool students. Besides her work here, she teaches at Orange English. Mrs. Michiko enjoys reading, traveling and cycling. She is in the classroom on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Ellen Yamase, an American, was born in Japan and has spent much of her life here. She graduated from the University of Hawaii and has twenty years of teaching experience. She is the mother of two teenage daughters. Some of you know her older daughter from summer school. Mrs. Ellen enjoys baking (and eating) sweets. She teaches on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Hiroko Kano (another preschool mother), born in Tokyo, received her high school diploma from Christian Academy Japan and graduated from Azusa Pacific University in California. Mrs. Hiroko has experience teaching Japanese-American and Chinese children. She worked for Duty Free Shoppers in Los Angeles before returning to Japan. You'll see her in the classroom on Mondays and in the office at other times. In her free time she enjoys bike riding, bowling, meeting people and, recently has been making our weekly bulletin boards.

Three Rs for Older Children. Our students who will enter elementary school within a year are spending time each day learning Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic (the three Rs) apart from the younger children. Reading and math readiness have always been part of our curriculum, but now we are giving "upperclassmen" a more concentrated daily dose.

Afternoon Preschool. You may know this already, but we offer an Afternoon Preschool program for our own students as well as those who attend other preschools. From April we had classes on Mondays from 3:30 to 4:40, but beginning in October we will be adding Wednesday classes too. If there is enough interest, we will even add classes on Thursdays. Please let us know if you or your friends might be interested. Of course New Hope Preschool students get a discount.

We are grateful that you chose New Hope Preschool for your child. As always, we are open to questions and input from you. Just give us a call or stop by the office any time. Here's to a wonderful autumn, full of adventure and discovery!

Warmly,

Jeremy Seminoff

Music!

Another class that began last month is our music class with Mrs. Jiyun. It's tons of fun and everyone's learning a lot (including me)!


Mrs. Jiyun at the keyboard.



Learning the notes of the major scale.

Gymnastics!

Mrs. Aiko has been teaching gymnastics since last month. Her class is wildly popular with the children. We just got some tumbling mats. Here are a few shots of the kids using them for the first time.

We started by just rolling sideways down the mat.

Then moved on to forward rolls.





















Great job!