News / Nunn Road / 2007 / February 2007 (E64)

Dear parents,

After our Chinese New Year celebration in Nania last month, a girl came to me recently and asked, “Why is the Chinese New Year still not over?” I thought she was wondering why the New Year mood was still in the air. I explained to her that we had celebrated the festival earlier this year in Nania. A mother commended that the lion dance was fun as we changed the way the young girl gave “ang pow” to the lion. I hope you enjoyed yourselves during the celebration.

Other than that celebration, we also invited parents to join our “Kuih Kapit” Baking Day. I was amazed how the new “bakers” learnt the skill so well. Parents who had baked the Chinese delicacy during their younger days recalled those festive moods. The children were their parents’ helpers as they folded and ate the Kuih Kapit. I was deeply moved when the staff members decided to donate some profit we have earned from this activity to an old man called Uncle Por. Uncle Por is blind without any family members. He used to earn his living by selling sweets by road side. But now he is staying in an old folks’ home after his right leg was amputated due to diabetes.

Last week, the children enjoyed making “Ribbon Kuih” . Have you tasted the biscuits which your child brought home?
 
Nania's Lion dance

Drum players

Children watching Chinese New Year puppet show

Kuih kapit making day

Another interesting happening was the Thaipusam Excursion. During the Thaipusam eve, we could hear music from the main road in front of the kindergarten. Children were curious about the sound. Later, we decided to have an excursion to see how the Hindus celebrate Thaipusam. Teacher Chithra explained to the children how the Hindus show their gratitude towards their Gods for making their wishes come true on Thaipusam. The children were excited as this was the first time they were brought out from kindergarten. The bigger children were caring. They took care of the younger children when we walked along the roadside.

Please mark 22nd March 2007 (Thursday) on your calender. I would like to invite you to this year’s Parents’ Meeting on that evening. This meeting will be held at Nania from 7.30pm. Parents can take this opportunity to meet each other as well as discuss issues related to child development and class experience with the class teachers. We will start off the meeting by ayatori (finger string play).

Enclosed with this newsletter are the photos of some activities, a song sheet and an updated parents’ contact list.

Lastly, a Happy Chinese New Year to all Chinese families, and to all, Happy Holidays!

Teacher Thian


Coming events

Girl’s Day Celebration (2nd March 2007)
We will celebrate the Japanese Girl’s Day Festival (Hinamatsuri) with the children on 2nd March. The dolls in traditional kimono displayed at the Festival corner are praying for the well being of girls. The dolls are called hina-ningyo and the custom is also known as momo-no sekku (Peach Festival) because of the peach blossom season on the old lunar calendar. In some areas, the old custom, nagashibina, of loading one’s troubles onto a paper doll and floating them off down the river is still practiced.

Most Japanese families with girls display hina-ningyo and dedicate peach blossoms to them. They are usually arranged on a five or seven-tiered stand covered with a red carpet. At the top are the Emperor and Empress. The next level sit three court ladies, followed by five musicians, two ministers, and three servants at the bottom row of a five-tiered display. Displays may include small pieces of furniture, meal dishes, and other things. The hina-ningyo at Nania is hand made by a child’s mother.

The children have started folding paper dolls and make them into wall decorations. They will bring home the wall decorations on the festival day.

Japanese Class Graduation (9th March 2007)
There are 7 children in Japanese Class graduating this year. I wish them all the best in their future. As the graduation falls on Friday, we will cancel water play on that day.

Holidays
The kindergarten will close from 12th March until 16th March. We will reopen on 19th March.

Parents’ Meeting Evening (22nd March 2007)
The meeting is open to all parents of the English class students. It will start at 7.30pm and we plan to end by 9.00pm. Kindly make arrangements for your children’s care.