KNI Newsletter, April 2012
1:
Our Goals for April
2:
Let's Sing!
3:
Request
4:
Announcement
5:
Undokai (Sports Day)
6:
Application for the Next School Year
7:
Summer School
8:
Report from the Disaster Area
We've been feeling
warm spring breeze on our cheeks. How did everyone spend your 2-week-long spring break? We can see some fresh
olive-green buds on our mulberry tree now.
Now we are on the last trimester. We have lots of events in this trimester: Children's Day, Mother's Day, and Undokai (Sports Day). We'll do our best to keep up with our genki children!
Our Goals for April
- Play outside in the nice spring sunlight.
- Develop scientific curiosity through observations of insects (butterflies, ladybugs, pill bugs, worms, ants, etc.) in the yard.
- Make Koinobori and look forward to the
Children's Day.
- Learn about your mother's work and develop the sense of appreciation to your mother through preparation of Mothers' Day gift.
- Practice the Undokai events and look forward to the sports day.
- Keep up with washing hands and rinsing mouths.
Let's Sing!
Songs of the Month
Renge: Buranko Kemushi (Swing Caterpillar)
Momo: Ohana ga Waratta (The Flowers Smiled)
Sumire: Chuurippu (Tulip Song)
Kiku: JanguruJimu no Uta (Jungle Gym Song)
Ume: Ohana no Kuni no Kishapoppo (Flowerland's Choo Choo Train)
Sakura: Omoide no Arubamu (My Photo Album)
All classes: Koinobori (Carp Streamer), Okaasan (My Mother)
You can find the score and words of the songs near the attendance sheets. Enjoy singing the songs together at home!
Request
We are
missing a bunch of books from our book shelves. If you ever find any of our library books at home, please make sure to return it.
Announcement
We will have our annual
"Children's Day Celebration Event" at the
Huntington Library.
Date and Time: Sunday, April 29th 13:30-15:00
Place: renovated Japanese garden
Program: workshop of Children's Day Origami, Storytime, songs (Koinobori, Katatsumuri, Inu no Omawarisan, Kawaii Kakurenbo, KNI School Song)
Please practice the songs at home for the event.
Undokai (Sports Day)
Sunday, May 20th 9:00-13:30
at Jefferson Middle School,1372 E Las Tunas Dr. San Gabriel, CA 91776
Please mark your calendar today! We hope to see everyone at the event.
Application for the Next School Year
We are accepting applications for
the school year 2012-2013.
The children who are currently enrolled and their siblings may apply now. We will accept children new to KNI starting in May. We hope to see everyone again in the next school year!
(Renewal registration fee is $30.)
Summer School
Summer School is coming up! You can take classes that fit your schedule. Please come join our
Summer School for more fun and excitement for the summer!
Report from the Disaster Area
During the Spring Break, I visited the disaster area which I had been wanting to visit for the longest time. Since I had never been to Tohoku before, I was very nervous to go there by myself, but I was able to visit the
Shishiore Elementary School in Kesennuma, Miyagi without any trouble.
The Principal of the school told me the story of what happened one year ago on the day of the earthquake in the Principal's office where a broken clock still hung on the wall showing the time of the earthquake. After that, he drove me around to show me how it is still like around the school. That famous large ship that has become a sort of a monument of the Tsunami, pushed inland by the big wave, was laying right next to the school. The area around the school used to be a densely populated residential area, but now it is just a vast open space with nothing on it. Burnt areas were a result of the large oil tank explosion. I was told that the blazing inferno covered from the surface of the ocean all the way to the inland area.
The Principal also told me about how he led the students for 3 days trying to evacuate to a safer place. While there were many unfortunate students who were taken by the Tsunami in other areas, the Principal said he we extremely happy when he was able to return all of his students to their parents. His stories touched me deeply in my heart.
Inside the school, numerous letters from all around the world and many thousand cranes were hanging on the wall. I delivered the money we raised through various activities and the letters that our Saturday class students wrote.
The Principal asked us not to forget about the Great Earthquake and the students of this school. He also asked us to continue sending them the best wishes as long as we can.
I intend to carefully share the details of my trip with the children at KNI and pass on the stories of the disaster to all.
Umehata