News / Nunn Road / 2006 / September 2006 (E59)

Dear parents,

Many children missed Nania during their two week holiday. Some children came to Nania to see whether the teachers were back. I am moved to know how much the children love Nania. During the break, Nania’s staff had an enjoyable trip to Pulau Langkawi. We got to know each other better and refreshed ourselves in that beautiful island.

While we were away, a new ‘friend’ came and built her nest in the garden. Children were very excited when they saw baby birds chirping in their well protected nest. Meanwhile, the sugarcane plants were growing taller and taller each day. Some of the sugarcanes were ready to be harvested. Some children enjoyed the sweetness of the sugarcane while some were not keen to try.

We are now practicing poems and songs for the Harvest Festival. This festival enables the children to appreciate the food they eat. They learn to be grateful to the sun, the rain, the wind, and the farmer for food. The festival songs, poems and puppet story are chosen with that in mind. Children who have joined the festival before still remember most of the songs. The display corner takes on a farming atmosphere. More vegetables and fruits will be gradually displayed as the festival approaches to create the atmosphere. I hope to meet all of you during the festival on 13th October 2006. Please refer to the attachment for more details.

Teacher Thian


Children’s World
The children looked forward to Bento (Lunch Box) Day. They counted the days till the big occasion. On that day, a girl couldn’t wait till lunch time. She asked why the Bento Shop was not open during outside play time. Later, before we went out to buy’ the lunch boxes, I told the children that a new friend who had joined us lately didn’t have money. I asked for some donations for the boy. A boy gave his wallet to me without a second thought. My heart melted at his kindness and generosity. Seeing this, the other children also wanted to help the new boy. I am glad to see children are willing to help people in need.

Harvest Festival programme
Date: 13th October 2006
Venue: Taska Nania

Schedule:
09:00 - 09:30 bread making (for snack) & free play
09:30 - 09:45 setting up tables for snack & toilet break
09:45 - 10:15 presentation
10:15 - 10:25 toilet break
10:25 - 10:40 snack
10:50 - 11:05 puppet show
11:10 goodbye song & gift (origami flower)
11:15 going home

Please note:

• The children will make bread for the festival’s snack in the morning.
• Preparation for the puppet show will start during snack time.

We look forward to sharing a wonderful celebration with you



About Moon Cake Festival
The Moon Cake Festival, a Mid-Autumn Festival (Chung Chiu), is the third major festival of the Chinese calendar. Every year on the fifteenth day of the eighth month of the lunar calendar, when the moon is at its maximum brightness for the entire year, the Chinese celebrate "Chung Chiu Jie." It is also known as the Moon Cake Festival because a special kind of sweet cake (yueh ping) prepared in the shape of the moon and filled with sesame seeds, ground lotus seeds and duck eggs is served as a traditional Chung Chiu delicacy.

On that day children are told the story of the moon fairy, Chang-o, living in a crystal palace, who comes out to dance on the moon's shadowed surface. The legend surrounding the "lady living in the moon" dates back to ancient times, to a day when ten suns appeared at once in the sky. The Emperor ordered a famous archer to shoot down the nine extra suns. Once the task was accomplished, Goddess of Western Heaven rewarded the archer with a pill that would make him immortal. However, his wife found the pill, took it, and was banished to the moon as a result. Legend says that her beauty is greatest on the day of the Moon festival.

Of course, the most famous legend surrounding the Moon festival concerns its possible role in Chinese history. Overrun by the Mongols in the thirteenth century, the Chinese threw off their oppressors in 1368 AD. It is said that moon cakes - which the Mongols did not eat - were the perfect vehicle for hiding and passing along plans for the rebellion.? Families were instructed not to eat the moon cakes until the day of the moon festival, which is when the rebellion took place. (In another version plans were passed along in moon cakes over several years of Mid-Autumn festivals, but the basic idea is the same).


Coming events

Moon Cake Festival (6th October 2006)
We will have a class celebration and the children will bring back a vegetarian moon cake each on that day.

Harvest Festival (13th October 2006)
We will celebrate Harvest Festival on 13th October 2006 (Friday). Parents are invited to join us for the festival from 9 am. Children will go home early with their mothers after the festival at about 11.15 am. The programme details and songs are attached with this newsletter.

Deepavali and Hari Raya Celebration (20 October 2006)
We will decorate the hall display based on the theme of Deepavali and Hari Raya. On that day, before the holidays, children will have Muruku (Indian Snack) for snack time and Ketupat (Malay Traditional Food) for lunch. Chithra (Administrator) will tell a Deepavali story to the children.

Holidays
10th October 2006 (Tuesday) 　Hari Nuzul Quran
21st till 29th October 2006 　 Deepavali and Hari Raya holidays