News / Nunn Road / 2020 / February 2020

Dear parents,

Thank you to all of you who attended the Chinese New Year Festival. The children felt your support when they saw you attending the festival. Although the festival is now over but some children still talk about the lion dance and a boy showed us that he could lion dance too.

Days before the Chinese New Year Festival, we were busy with preparations which helped the children get into the festive mood. The 6-year-olds helped to clean the stools. The children practised folding Ribbon Kuih by using origami papers. On the day we made Ribbon Kuih, the big children helped to cut the folding line. Then all of us folded the Ribbon Kuih and Auntie Janet helped us to fry them. I hope you liked the Ribbon Kuih that was served during the festival’s snack time. The children also made ornaments with ang pows and hung them in the garden. As we were preparing, some children also shared with us what they were doing at home to welcome Chinese New Year.

The Chinese New Year Festival is the first festival for the newcomers in the English Class. So, they were still shy to perform in front of parents. Moreover, it was very close to the start of the new term and the children had only 3 weeks to practise the songs and poems. Despite the time limitation, I was happy to see that the children enjoyed themselves during that morning. Most of the older children became more confident and participated willingly.

   

  

  

   

   

 

This Chinese New Year was very difficult for people in the world especially the Chinese in China when the Coronavirus broke out. Many people couldn’t reunite with their families and some even lost their beloved family members.

I would like to take this opportunity to share my thoughts about how we can talk about this kind of issue with the young children. If we tell children all the information in the media, it will be hard for children to “digest” the news. At Nania, we ask the children to wash their hands frequently, gargle their mouth with salt water and wear a mask when it is necessary and to cover their mouths or noses when they are coughing or sneezing. We pray for the people who are sick. During story time, I told a story about a brave boy who took a journey to ask for advice from the wise old man in the mountain. This brave boy wanted to know how  to cure his people in the village who have fallen sick. He was advised to find the wind (ventilation & life), rain (cleansing & nourishment) and sun (warmth & love). That boy prayed and waited with faith until the three elements appeared after 3 days. Meanwhile, he remembered his grandmother advice to sleep earlier (enough rest). For young children, it is important for them to feel that this world is a good and beautiful place. It is important for us to protect them from overwhelming news and fear which doesn’t help their sense of well-being. I also want to take this opportunity to thank you for your support in monitoring your children’s condition and keeping them at home whenever they are not well.

After the Chinese New Year break, we celebrated Bean Throwing Day. That was a good chance for children to make wishes that all people can be safe and healthy. The children wore masks and went out to the garden with a box of soybeans. We scattered the soybeans as a symbolic desire to get rid of sickness and sadness while welcoming goodness and happiness for the coming year. Children called out “Sickness, sadness outside; happiness inside.” while they scattered the beans against the demon which represented sickness or sadness. After that, the children collected the scattered soybeans and planted them in the vegetable patch.

  

  

 

Whenever I pray with the children, I truly believe in the power of prayer. Children who are naturally still connected to the spiritual world always touch me with their pure hearts. Recently, two children brought dead bees that they found at home to bury in our garden. After the burial, they offered flowers and said “Mr. Bee, we wish you will be happy in the heaven.” We learn to respect life and death in this way.

Recently, eight Form 2 students from Penang Japanese School visited us. We had a picnic with the big “koko” and “jiejie” in the garden. Later, the children enjoyed playing with toys and maracus made with recycled bottles by the Japanese School students.

Last week, Chia Yui, a girl who graduated 12 years ago came back to visit us. She helped us in both the English and Japanese classes as well as in baking cakes and cooking in the kitchen. I was very impressed with her enthusiasm and diligence. The children love her very much. She wrote me a letter after her visit.  Attached with this newsletter is her letter.

There will be 11 children graduating from the Japanese Class in March. I wish them all the best for their future endeavours. Please take note that the English Class will be closed on that day.

                                                                                                    Teacher Thian