Pre-KG 2024 / 25 Blog 32
THE ASSEMBLY and other Celebrations
As Monday was still part of Easter, the Pre–Kindergarten children and their friends from K1 and K2 enjoyed a fun egg hunt looking for Easter baskets which were lovingly handcrafted with recycled materials by the PTA and students at the Culture Week and filled with fun surprises. The children eagerly searched for their baskets hidden in our backyard play areas and were thrilled to find a bouncy egg and big, cute stickers inside.
A big thank you to the PTA for helping the Easter bunny get the children’s gifts and for the delicious and generous Easter surprises for the teachers! We were very touched !
The EY team were also lucky to enjoy a delicious traditional Osterzopf kindly presented by Mr.and Mrs. Heuseler.
Ganz herzlichen Dank liebe Familie Heuseler für den köstlichen Osterzopf, der viele Erinnerungen an die Heimat und das Osterfest hervorrief.
We wrapped up our Easter celebrations with reading books on the subject in German and English and do some more bunny hops !
The next two days were very active again, as the Pre–Kindergarten children went to the nearby tulip field with all of EY to pull out the tulip bulbs. We explained that only our bulbs needed to be removed and soon the children started to pull and were very surprised to see what had been hidden underground. It was a first time experience for many of our children and a good lesson in nature observation and team effort.
Team effort and lots of movement ( yes, our current subject includes the body) was also on the agenda when practicing for the assembly this week. The children were so happy and joyful on the stage and we were hoping that this joy would shine through on the actual day.
And yes, the Pre–Kindergarten children and K1 did a fantastic job at their Assembly !
We entered the Multipurpose room in our usual train fashion to a German song which the children love and which really calms them . Schu, schu, schu die Eisenbahn…
The hall was packed with many spectators, all of the DSKI classes and the teachers were present as well as many parents and grandparents! After some announcements by Ms.Alexia and Ms.Anita who introduced the program and connections to the units, the Pre–Kindergarten children proudly presented their animals in German and then proceeded to the stage aka zoo and jungle area for their performance to a song in German ! Wir gehen in den Zoo !
The Pre–Kindergarten children were accompanied by Elias, Sophia and Tsudoi from K1 in this and the next song which was located in the jungle „ Walking in the Jungle“ involved a multitude of different steps and listening to various animal sounds.
Walking in the Jungle
The children really did a brilliant job and both songs echoed with the audience. Especially the movement to the „Krokodil“ was greeted with lots of happy laughter !
We then watched a nice video clip of the K1 class who introduced handmade collages of activities which they enjoy in different seasons.
The last program point was a charming performance by the K1 children waving scarves in seasonal colours and moving to a popular German song about seasons called „ Es war eine Mutter“. Everyone did such a good job and their German pronunciation was amazing.
Es war eine Mutter
When all the children bowed at the finale we could see the happiness on their faces and the great friendship among them. The children had also worked together for weeks on the beautiful stage props featuring colourful parrots, the zookeepers house and many beautiful lush palm trees.
Thank you dear Pre–Kindergarten and K1 children not only for the wonderful performance, but for all the learning experience and fun moments we had together leading us to this Assembly. You were a great team and the teachers as well ! Eine tolle Aufführung und ein gelungenes und fröhliches Team Projekt.
We took a great group photo and then it was time for the children to say goodbye to the parents.
For us teachers it was lovely to see how easily the children went back to their class to play with their friends. They have become good friends who are openminded , kind and comfortable with each other. Just look how calmly they had breakfast after the last practice on Wednesday and then enjoyed a good play and discovery session afterwards.
On Friday, we got ready for yet another celebration, this time featuring Japanese culture. During the Golden Week holidays, on 5th May Japan celebrates their Children’s Day ( aka Boy‘s Day as there is a Girl‘s Day on 3rd March ). Some of the symbols are colourful carp streamers ( for strength and endurance) called koinobori 🎏which are hung from the roof or displayed at the door or in the house.
Building on previous knowledge, the children printed a cute koinobori using bottle caps and they were very proud to take them home at the end of the day ! I am sure the carps will gain a special spot in their house!
Koinobori Song
Koinobori ( with English translation)
We finished the week by saying goodbye to our display which featured amazing work by the children on the previous unit subjects of „ Animals and Food“ .
All the art went into their individual folders and I would kindly ask you to mail me a photo of your child and your family ( if possible doing something active together like swimming , hiking, biking etc.), so we can start with the new display for „“Body and Family“ after the holidays. Thank you so much for your support.
Wishing you a wonderful Golden Week holiday and please give your child some extra praise for their effort in the Assembly, before, during and after!
Pre–Kindergarten children, you are truly amazing!
Kind regards,
Anita Ursula Mönch
Pre–Kindergarten homeroom teacher Playgroup / EY Deutsch & GFL. German Saturday School homeroom teacher
