Community School News June 2005

President’s Message

By Makoto Osawa

Thanks to the cooperation among the teachers, the executive committee, and all our school members, the first term has come to an end. We’ve maintained good relations with Richard Secord School and had fewer problems this term.

This year we have started various activities. First, we introduced the “Kanji no Tatsujin” program. Next, in May, the “Ushi no Tatsujin” field trip arranged by Mr. Oba was a great success. Also, in June, under the leadership of Hill-san and in conjunction with the EJCA, the weather was wonderful for another successful undokai. Did you enjoy yourself? The executive committee is considering more new ideas for events to plan, so if anyone would like to contribute, please put in a proposal.

Please have a wonderful summer break. See you on September 9^th for the start of the second term.

Principal’s Message

By Sanae Ohki

Students, you learned a lot this term, didn’t you. Parents, thank you for all of your cooperation. Also, teachers, thank you for all of your work this term.

Do you have plans for the summer break? I’m sure that there are some families that will go to Japan or take a trip somewhere else. Summer break is also a good time to study Japanese, so please take some extra time to do the things that you don’t normally have time for. Especially for families who do not often communicate in Japanese at home, please try to speak a little more in Japanese.

How about trying the following tips this summer:

1. Borrow lots of books from the school library and read them with your children. Even if they can read the books themselves, students love it when their parents read them books. There are many new books in the library this year.

2. Please do shukudai (homework) little by little. One purpose of the homework is to keep the students from forgetting what they learned in the first term. Please try ways that encourage the children to enjoy repeating things they have learned and practicing kanji.

3. Please speak in Japanese with your children. Although this may sound frank, if you do not use Japanese at home, the children will not improve their Japanese language abilities.

4. Please use Japanese in your daily activities, including calling friends and relatives in Japan.

5. The Heritage Days festival is a good opportunity for the children to be proud of Japanese culture. Please participate and encourage them to carry this pride into their studies.

I always mention the following point - our school is a support school. Please endeavor to incorporate Japanese language learning at home. We try to help out in this process. The summer break is a great time to do a lot at home.

This year, the Himawari group is thinking of plans for having students do homework together. Our school will help out in the search for volunteer teachers.

During the summer break, our teachers will be attending some conferences and preparing for the second term. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again in September.

Have a safe and wonderful summer break.

From the Executive

Please note that because of scheduling by the Edmonton Public School Board, our second term will start on September 9^th.

Picnic and Undokai – Atsuko Hill

On Saturday, June 11^th, our undokai started under a cloudy sky, but contrary to the weather reports, we went rain-free and had a successful event. It was a great day for deepening community spirit as about 40 families, including 60 children from our school, and at least 50 members of the EJCA participated. We had the pleasure of hearing positive feedback, such as “A huge success, Great, Fun, and Delicious!” from many people. Thank you for all of your cooperation.

The owners of Wasabi Restaurant graciously donated a $50 gift certificate, which was given to the individuals who ate the wasabi-filled donut in the donut-eating race. Also, Lasalle-san provided enjoyment for both Japanese and non-Japanese speaking participants by using both languages as the Master of Ceremonies. There were many words of thanks for his efforts. In addition, thank you to Ito-san for choosing and buying the participant prizes, and to Motoda-san’s husband, Bruce, and Inoue-san for donating special prizes. Thanks also go out to Chen-san for taking pictures and to Shimizu-san, Morita-san, and Kondo-san for leading the taiso (calisthenics). And thank you to all of the parents and participants who helped out.

Finally, thank you to all of the members of the undokai committee, who earnestly began preparations over a month ago (Osawa-san, Oba-san, Morita-san, Shimizu-san, Kin-san, Fedrau-san, Megan-san, Tani-san, Kaide-san, Kawamoto-san, and Katayama-san). Also, from the EJCA, Cathy-san and Hayashi-san assisted in the preparations. Members of the EJCA asked us to extend their thanks for “a wonderful undokai.” Thank you!

As a final note, if anyone would like to give feedback or suggest a proposal for our next undokai, please forward it to Atsuko Hill, the committee representative.

Parent Shifts (Toban) for September

June 24 Motoda, Abe

Sept 9 Jackson, Liu

Sept 16 Kaide, Frankiewicz

Sept 23 Fedrau, Kawamoto

Sept 30 Hill, Kondo

Oct 7 Kin, Stein

If you need to make a change in the toban schedule, please contact Setsuko Dunwald (437-3457).

The Community School News is printed in the fourth week of each month. If you have any questions and/or comments, please let us know.

Translated by Terry McLean