Save the Date!

Tedako Preschool Newsletter

Tedako Graduation

The CDC proudly announces the graduation of 9 children from our program on March 31. We wish

Shunta, Ayumu, Souta, Aya, Siyu, Griffin, Alejandro, Luke, and Mateo all the best at their new schools and will miss them very much. We feel so proud of their growth and accomplishments since they joined Tedako. Some of them have been with us for over 4 years, and some have only been with us

for 3 months, nonetheless, they each have a special place in our heart. Most of these children will be attending local Japanese Kindergarten or Elementary School, one child will attend Amicus International

school, and one child will return to his home country of Australia for Primary school.

Birthdays

4/21

Spring Pictures

Tasting 4/10

Kugani 4/7

Shinka 4/14

Teddy Bear

Picnic

4/10

Picnic Lunch

Event, No School

Lunch

A P R I L 2 0 1 7

We will celebrate

all birthdays at

Tedako Preschool

at 3:00

We will take class

Pictures. Each child should wear his or her

OIST Shirt

Field Trip to Okinawa

Zoo

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Classroom Updates

Tummy Time Fun

Our littlest ones in the Kukuru class are making the most our of their tummy time daily. Exercising to

strengthen arm and neck muscles are a big part of a baby`s daily routine. It is these strong muscles allow

babies to roll, sit and crawl.

Spring is here and the weather is getting warmer so the Kukuru class will enjoy “o sanpo” (the Japanese

work for walk) twice daily. The children enjoy riding in the 4 person stroller all around our beautiful

campus. Together they feel the wind on their face, look at the water, and make friends with the birds.

When they reach the destination, the teachers take them out of the stroller and they can really enjoy

playing on the grass and sand. Our older children also enjoy riding in the toy car all around our

playground.

Kukuru Class Enjoys O Sanpo

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Churasan, Kanasan, and Umusan Enjoy the Sand

Young children love playing in the sand. They like to dig in it, sift it, pour it, and build in it. As the

younger children explore the materials, they are building their understanding of how the material works. They also enjoy building sand mountains, and discovering new shapes in the sand! When the

children play with sand as dramatic play, they even explore a variety of themes such as pretending to 'cook' which is a great opportunity to learn about food, table manners and sharing toys with friends.

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Nuuji and Kafuu Class

Focus Skills

Nuuji and Kafuu classes have been working hard on

their focus skills, and are improving every day. We have been focusing on some unusual, colourful

animal puzzles that the children have been piecing together. Although these are quite difficult and require a lot of time and attention from the children,

they remain engrossed in the activity and focus for a long time trying to complete the puzzles! This is a

wonderful improvement and a great developmental ability displayed by all the Nuuji and Kafuu class

children. Well done!

At 3 years of age, children don`t give up easily and are better

at ignoring distractions to stay focus on tasks. This focus them to think more creatively and solve problems resulting in

them building things like the incredibly complex block

structures you see in the Nuuji and Kafuu classes. One key

factor in encouraging children`s concentration skills is having children do the things that interest them because it affects their willingness to concentrate. This is why center time and

free choice play are so important in a preschool program. It not just play, children are learning to focus.

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Nuuji and Kafuu Go Strawberry Picking

In March, Nuuji and Kafuu classes went on an excursion to pick and eat strawberries! This was the very first field trip for some of the children in the 3

year old Class and all of the children were very well behaved. Some children were so excited to eat

strawberries that they didn`t eat the morning snack to save room for the strawberries. They enjoyed riding

on the OIST bus and then toured the strawberry farm. After receiving instructions on how to pick strawberries, the children were allowed to pick and eat

all they wanted.

Leaving the classroom is great fun for the children and

it is one of the best learning experiences we can give

them. Giving the children an opportunity to see where

food is grown gives them a chance to see first hand

that food comes from plants. Getting to eat it off of

the plant is an added bonus. The children instantly

become more aware of the environment around them

as they see, touch, and feel.

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Inside the classroom the kids put on their "thinking

caps" when playing with the pumpkin seeds. After reading a book that had mentioned pumpkin seeds. Their Teacher gave the children pumpkin

seeds from the science activity from last fall. I broke one open and showed the kids the inside of

the seed. After that, the plate of seeds was left out in the science center for the kids to explore on their

own. At first, the children couldn't open the seeds they way that the teacher did, so they used their problem solving skills. The teacher later went over

to see if they had opened any yet, and they did! The kids figured out that if they banged the

top of the seeds on the whiteboard, the seeds would crack, and make it easier for them to

open. They were so proud that they figured it out on their own.

Classroom Updates

Kugani and Shinka Class

Wonder Museum Field Trip and Problem Solving Skills

Last month, a lot like every month, the Kugani and Shinka classes worked on their problem solving skills both in and out of the classroom. The kids went on a field trip to the Wonder Museum, and were able to

engage themselves in a wide variety of science related activities. Most of the activities at the museum require the children to utilize their problem solving skills. The areas are set up for the children to

explore, and figure out how to work them. A new one that was there this year were the long plastic pipes and sandal soles. Each pipe was a different length and when the child hit the opening of the pipe with the sandal sole, it made a different sound. At first the kids were trying to shout in it and smack it with

their hands. Then they looked down and saw the sandal sole and started hitting it. They hit it many different ways until they were able to finally make the sound. It was really fun to watch them figure it

out for themselves.

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Tedako News

BCG Vaccine or TB Free Certificate

The BCG vaccine is part of the mandatory vaccination schedule in Japan, and because the OIST

community travels out of the country frequently, it was determined by the CDC Governing Board

that if a child does not have the BCG vaccine, the CDC requires a negative TB certificate submitted to

Tedako office twice a year. If your child is over 6 months, please take him or her to receive the BCG

vaccine or if you do not plan on getting the BCG vaccination, a TB free certificate will be required for

continued enrollment. A skin test is available at Onna Clinic and costs 1500 yen. If you need

assistance making an appointment please contact the OIST Health Center at 098-966-8945

Teacher Appreciation Week

Dear Tedako Parents,

The teachers at Tedako are fabulous and parents often express an interest in doing something special

to show appreciation for all the hard work they do for our children. This year, “Teacher’s Appreciation Week” will be from May 15-19. I met with several members of PATO and planned a very special week to shower the teachers with love and appreciation.

Monday: Catered Lunch

Tuesday: Fresh Fruit Juice and Ice Cream Bar Wednesday: Pot Luck Lunch

Thursday: Coffee, Tea, Dessert Friday: 15 Minute Massage

You can contribute by donating prepared food, drinks, on Wednesday, Thursday or money (for the massages and food). We have sign up sheets in the office or contact us at tedako@oist.jp

In total, we need 55,000 JPY to cover the costs of the planned events, any extra money donated for

teacher appreciation week will be used to buy CDC teachers Starbucks Gift Cards. I appreciate your help and support in making a special week for our teachers who make each day

special here at Tedako for the children.

Sincerely,

Julia Nabholz, Director Tedako CDC

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As a part of the 2017 registration fee, each child will receive a new OIST T-Shirt. Please return the

order forms to your classroom teacher. Available sizes are from 70-120. Sample sizes are available in

the office.

Tedako News

Parent Lunch Event

T-Shirt Order

Children should have access to drinking water at all

times, so please make sure your child brings a cup and

water bottle each day. Our teachers will continue to

check that children drink adequate amounts of water to

prevent dehydration. In Okinawa, the sun is the

strongest from April- October and we require children

to wear sunscreen while outside, so please make sure

your child has an adequate supply when you drop him

or her off each morning. We will ensure children wear

clothing appropriately (or change, or take off a layer)

and a sun hat and apply sunscreen on all exposed skin

(excluding infants under 1 year).

Have you ever wondered what the CDC school lunch taste like? On Monday May 10, the CDC will organize a School Lunch Tasting for Parents.

Please REGISTER by Friday, April 28 at https://groups.oist.jp/cdc/parent-lunch-event

This will also be a good opportunity to meet and socialize with CDC Director, Julia Nabholz, and other

Tedako Preschool Parents.

Forms Update

Outside Play

On the morning of April 10, we will take class

pictures. Please have your child at school by 9:30 dressed in his or her red OIST T-Shirt. Every family will receive a digital copy of the class picture.

We will are updating our emergency contact records. Please confirm your emergency contact and

pick up authorization with your child`s teacher by April 14.

Class Pictures

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Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

AM 朝 Cereal/Soy Milk

シリアル/豆乳

Apple/Cheese

りんご/チーズ

Bread Stick/Milk

スティックパン/牛

乳

Banana/Soy Milk

バナナ/豆乳

Tomatoes/Dried

Fish とまと/ごま付

きいりこ

PM 午後 Pumpkin/Cream

Cheese

かぼちゃ/クリー

ムチーズ

Rice/Furikake

(Dried Fish

Flakes)

ごはん/ふりかけ

Okinawa Tofu 沖縄

島豆腐

Avocado/

Calcium senbei

アボカド/カルシウ

ムせんべい

Oatmeal/Raisins

オートミ

April Snack Menu

Substitutions

Due to availability or ripeness of fresh fruits or vegetables, substitutions may occur.

Young toddlers will not be fed prunes, dried fish chips or crackers. Especially made rice crackers or

bananas for will be substituted. Birthday Cake and Milk: On April 21, we will celebrate all April Birthdays. Birthdays and the children

will enjoy cake and milk for snack.

Japanese Snack Glossary

Dried Fish Calcium Sembei Kabocha

April 2017 Lunch Calendar