News / Nunn Road / 2015 / May 2015

It was another memorable day spent together with you and your family at the Japanese School hall.  The fun of playing games, running and jumping with their peers and friends definitely creates long lasting sweet childhood experiences for the children and I am sure that they will cherish them throughout their life long journey.

Right from the moment we started, the children willingly demonstrated their capabilities to you through their presentations of poems, songs and dances.  One or two children were slightly overwhelmed by the large crowd in the beginning, but they plucked up their courage and by the middle of the event, I saw them running about happily.

I am certain that for the next few days, the topics of conversations in the classroom will be centered on what they have done together last Sunday.  They will repeat their experiences to each other during their free-play in class.

We thank the committee members for all your help that you offered us so willingly.

Now, I wish to share about the Asia Pacific Waldorf Teachers Conference in Japan.

The lectures were about the 7 virtues of a teacher.  After the 7- day lectures, I felt rejuvenated and re-charged about my role as a kindergarten teacher. 

The morning workshops were about ‘making creative play possible.’  All of us discussed and debated passionately on the best way to set up the optimal classroom environment that allows the children to play creatively when they come to the kindergarten.

The afternoon workshops brought me deeper insights into the ‘children’s development through their drawings.’  Universally, all children start by drawing lines and curves. Gradually as they grow older, they draw about things that they have seen and experienced.  Should their drawings be not age-appropriate, the lecturer showed us how to help these children.

All in all, Japanese counter-parts were gracious hosts.  The parents especially those from the Fujino Waldorf School worked really hard during the 7 days that we were with them.  They prepared warm meals and ensured that we eat healthily throughout our days in Japan.

Junko-sinsei and I had a little happy and emotional gathering with some of the Japanese class children who had returned to Japan.  Their faces lighted up when they saw us.  They gave us warm hugs and I could see from their facial expressions the love that they felt for us.  We were glad for the wonderful memories that we had created together at Nania.  All of them jumped for joy upon receiving Mr Gnome as a gift. 

After a while and with much reluctance, we said goodbye and hope to see them again in the future.

                                                                                    Teacher Nora