After only 7 school days for a spring break, the new school year started today. For Alistair this meant the pomp and circumstance of the entrance ceremony - a special occasion for those starting school for the first time. All the 6 year olds were resplendent in their suits and ties for the boys and black or pale peach coloured dresses for the girls. Outside, they all received hand-made accessories for their bag, made by the local association ladies as a reminder for them to be careful of traffic. Inside, after a brief introduction in their classroom, the children processed in to the hall to the music of the 6th graders orchestra (which everyone plays in). The 5th graders looked after them all, showing them where to sit. The national anthem, a speech from the principal, then greetings from each of the other school years, led by the 6th graders followed. Calum had a part in his year's greeting as they introduced the fact of the autumn school show by doing a brief performance of Michael Jackson's Thriller dance! Then it was the compulsory photo and down to the classroom. There they received their brand new textbooks. In Japan, each child receives a set of high quality brand new textbooks each year, for free. Parents, however, buy jotters, pencils, crayons etc (all as laid down by the school) as well as a pack of items which the school has chosen to help the children learn things like maths. So each child has their own complete set, and everything is new. Parents on low income receive a grant to help them buy these things. Later parents will buy the 2 octave harmonica, paint set and other items as required. Every single pen, crayon, maths tile etc has to be individually named, and specially sized labels are on sale to help. It's all quite an event, but the children are made to feel very special. Even if you meet people in the street, when they see the outfit, they will bow and say "today you entered school - congratulations". It's a big landmark in the life of a Japanese child, and for us too this year, marking the end of nearly 16 years with a pre-school child or children in the house!
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Entrance ceremony
After only 7 school days for a spring break, the new school year started today. For Alistair this meant the pomp and circumstance of the entrance ceremony - a special occasion for those starting school for the first time. All the 6 year olds were resplendent in their suits and ties for the boys and black or pale peach coloured dresses for the girls. Outside, they all received hand-made accessories for their bag, made by the local association ladies as a reminder for them to be careful of traffic. Inside, after a brief introduction in their classroom, the children processed in to the hall to the music of the 6th graders orchestra (which everyone plays in). The 5th graders looked after them all, showing them where to sit. The national anthem, a speech from the principal, then greetings from each of the other school years, led by the 6th graders followed. Calum had a part in his year's greeting as they introduced the fact of the autumn school show by doing a brief performance of Michael Jackson's Thriller dance! Then it was the compulsory photo and down to the classroom. There they received their brand new textbooks. In Japan, each child receives a set of high quality brand new textbooks each year, for free. Parents, however, buy jotters, pencils, crayons etc (all as laid down by the school) as well as a pack of items which the school has chosen to help the children learn things like maths. So each child has their own complete set, and everything is new. Parents on low income receive a grant to help them buy these things. Later parents will buy the 2 octave harmonica, paint set and other items as required. Every single pen, crayon, maths tile etc has to be individually named, and specially sized labels are on sale to help. It's all quite an event, but the children are made to feel very special. Even if you meet people in the street, when they see the outfit, they will bow and say "today you entered school - congratulations". It's a big landmark in the life of a Japanese child, and for us too this year, marking the end of nearly 16 years with a pre-school child or children in the house!
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