Hello, Milky Way Families!
This week, the Milky Way class continued preparing for our Preschool Inquiry Fair through role-play and quiz practice. Students worked closely with their teammates, demonstrating wonderful teamwork as they practiced together. They encouraged one another, took turns speaking, and supported their teammates as they worked toward a common goal. Everyone tried their best to memorize their lines, express their emotions, and use appropriate actions to make their role-play meaningful and engaging. It was wonderful to see their confidence and enthusiasm grow with each practice.
As part of our ongoing inquiry for teamwork unit, we revisited our KWL Chart to reflect on our learning journey. Students added new questions under “What We Wonder” and shared their new understandings under “What We Learned.” Some thoughtful questions included, “Why do we need to help our team?”, “What does achieve mean?”, and “What does common goal mean?” Their growing understanding was evident as they shared that “Teamwork means helping together,” “Teamwork means solving problems together,” and “Teamwork can help finish the job faster.” It has been exciting to see how their thinking has deepened throughout this unit of inquiry.
When the day of the Inquiry Fair finally arrived, the Milky Way class immediately got on the bus filled with excitement and eagerly looked forward to seeing their parents at the Gojo Campus. As soon as we arrived, the students warmly greeted the teachers and students at Gojo Campus and were overjoyed to see their parents waiting for them.
Before their presentation, the students had the opportunity to visit the elementary classrooms to observe and learn from the different inquiries and presentations. They were encouraged to engage as the elementary students warmly and caringly invited them to try the hands-on activities and experience how their projects worked. It was a wonderful opportunity for our students to explore and learn through interactive experiences.
When it was time for our class to present, everyone quickly got into position and confidently performed their role-play and teamwork quiz. The students showed great courage, confidence, and enthusiasm as they shared their learning, especially in front of their parents. It was heartwarming to see them proudly demonstrate everything they had learned throughout the unit.
Thank you to all the parents who participated in our quiz and supported the children. Your encouragement, enthusiasm, and presence made this special experience even more meaningful and memorable for our students.
After the Inquiry Fair, some students went home with their parents, while others stayed at Gojo Campus to enjoy their delicious obento lunch. After lunch, Although the weather was very hot, students were still able to spend a short time playing outside with the Rainforest class and the elementary students. Some children enjoyed the play structure, others played soccer, while a few became little explorers and searched for insects around the playground.
On our way back to Minami Campus, everyone was pleasantly tired after such an exciting and eventful day. The students enjoyed a peaceful and relaxing bus ride, and a few even drifted off to sleep on the way back to school.
Our students were very excited to enjoy the school pool water play! With the hot summer weather, the pool was a wonderful way for them to cool down, relax, and have fun with their friends. One of the most exciting moments of the day was when the teachers sprayed water into the air! The students squealed with laughter as they ran through the water and tried to dodge the spray. Their joyful smiles and laughter filled the pool area, making it a memorable and refreshing experience for everyone. Even during water play, we continued to connect our activities to our Unit of Inquiry on teamwork. Students were divided into two teams and played a fun “Pass the Ball” challenge. Their goal was to work together to pass the ball from one teammate to another without letting it drop into the water. They communicated, encouraged one another, and carefully cooperated throughout the game. In the end, the challenge ended in a tie, and everyone celebrated because both teams showed excellent teamwork and everyone was a winner!
Thank you very much for sending PET bottles to school. The students will be able to use them in our future water play activities, and we truly appreciate your support. We look forward to many more fun and meaningful water play activities throughout the summer! Thank you for your continued support.
This week, we had a wonderful time celebrating the birthdays of our students who were born in August! Everyone gathered together to sing a cheerful “Happy Birthday” to our birthday celebrants. After the song, the teachers presented each birthday child with a special birthday card to make them feel extra loved and celebrated. In the Milky Way class, we were happy to celebrate the birthdays of two of our wonderful students. It was a joyful occasion filled with smiles and warm wishes from their teachers and classmates.
Before the birthday party came to an end, we danced the Matsumoto Bonbon together! Everyone enthusiastically followed Ms. Kumi’s movements, carefully copying each step while enjoying the lively music. We had so much fun dancing and moving to the rhythm together. It was a wonderful opportunity to practice the dance as we look forward to the upcoming Matsumoto Bonbon Festival on August 1.
Every day during our closing circle, we take time to reflect on our learning and think about which IB Learner Profile attributes we demonstrated throughout the day. Students proudly stand in front of their classmates and share reflections such as, “Today, I was a Communicator because I shared what I learned about recycling with others,” or, “Today, I was Open-minded because I listened carefully to the presentations of others.” This daily reflection helps students recognize their own growth and celebrate the learner qualities they demonstrate. It also encourages them to become more aware of how they can continue to learn, work together, and grow each day. After our reflection, the students proudly receive their medals and wear them with big smiles, celebrating their hard work. It was a special moment that made them feel proud of all they had accomplished.
As always, we encourage you to listen to and sing along with the songs we are learning this month, “Teamwork Makes Us Strong” and “ROAR.” Singing together helps the children build confidence and reinforces the concepts we are learning in class.
We are also looking forward to another exciting week! The students will enjoy gym class, water play, and a special visit to a vineyard where they will experience bagging Shine Muscat grapes. We can’t wait to share these wonderful learning experiences with you!
Have a long, relaxing, and fantastic weekend, Milky Way families! Thank you for your continued support and partnership in your child’s learning. We look forward to seeing everyone again next week!
