News / Nunn Road / 2018 / November 2018

Last month, the four big children were busy preparing for their graduation. They converted their weaving into bags and a boy asked to make it into a pencil case for his usage in primary school. They also made colourful music instruments and star crowns.

As we started to practise for their graduation during the ring time, a girl told her mom that she was holding back her tears while practising as she knew she will leave Nania soon after the graduation.  But in spite of their sadness about separation, the graduating children gave their best during the big day. Bravo, big ko-ko and che- che!

Although I was only with them for about a year, I watched them become more independent, confident and upright. They have creative ideas during playtime and can play well with the other children. They take turns to serve lunch to their friends. They challenge each other to climb up the trees during outside playtime. During the afternoon lesson time, they are eager to learn.  And they are confident performing in front of parents during our festival presentations.

The younger children gave full support to their koko and che che during our practices and also during the Graduation Ceromony. I take this opportunity to thank all the parents for bringing your children for the few important hours that day in order for them to cheer their graduating ko-ko and che-che.

When the ceremony started the graduating children took over the morning presentation.  They stood upright and brilliantly presented one after another the programme for the day.

They gave speeches, sang, recited a Chinese poem and the Bahasa Malaysia suku-kata well. They even played a game or two with the younger children.

The highlight of the ceremony has to be when they recited the action poem ‘I am a Star’.  They wore their beautifully drawn ‘star crowns’ on their heads.  Next, they sang and danced to “Rasa Sayang” with the accompaniment of the musical instruments that they had made earlier.

The smaller children watched in awe at the performances by their ‘ko-ko’ and ‘che-che’ and I am sure they look forward to the day when it will be their turn to do so. All of them were in good spirits and congratulated the graduates enthusiastically.  Although it was not easy for the younger children to sit down patiently during the hour-long presentation, the other children co-operated very well. They congratulated the ko-ko and che-che by giving their drawings as presents.

After the graduation ceremony, some of the younger children imitated the movements of “I am a Star” in the classroom. A few girls used the hoola hoop as their instruments to imitate the “Rasa Sayang” song and dance in the garden during outside playtime.

During the sharing session, the parents told us how happy they were to observe the positive changes in their children and how eager their children were to attend Nania. I thank you for your kind words and comments. Your words really touche my heart and encourages me. But parents, you have played an equally important part in their lives too by giving them the chance to have a wonderful childhood at Nania. 

Christmas Festival Celebration

At Nania, we work on the theme of ‘sharing and giving’ with the children for the Christmas Festival.  The focus of this festival is to connect the children with their inner beings and cultivate the goodness that lies within them.  Christmas is not just about receiving presents, having parties and dressing up.  It is also about giving, nurturing kind thoughts and showing love to others.  By encouraging them to carry a kind thought for others, we hope to help the children rekindle their inner lights and experience the warmth and joy of sharing and giving.

During the festival ceremony, we want to prolong the particular beautiful moment when the children have lighted all the candles by singing the “Song of Prayer”.  Only after they have sung the song will we put out the candles.

In the classroom, the children have also started to weave, draw and decorate their paper ‘Christmas sock’. They will take this sock home filled with their beautiful drawings and paintings on the day of the festival.

We look forward to seeing all of you at the Christmas festival.

Teacher Thian

Congratulations to the 4 graduating children

It was a very special and memorable day. The graduation ceremony was so beautiful and touching. The room was filled with the warmth and love radiating from their parents, classmates and teachers towards the 4 graduating children.

It was wonderful to watch the 4 children recite poems, sing, speak with confidence and also care for the younger children as they played and sang with them.  They stood upright to signal their readiness to go on a new phase in life. They really shone like stars.

Having finished this phase with joy and confidence, I believe each of them will continue to journey on to become who they truly are and who they want to be.

The parents’ messages also touched my heart very much.  I wish the graduating children and parents many happy and fruitful years to come.  I’m very grateful for your support and please keep in touch with us.

With my utmost gratitude,

 Junko