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Notes from Nakayoshi Preschool
2nd term 2021-2022
According to the lunisolar calendar, it’s spring now; however, it’s still a bit cold sometimes. Our children greet cheerfully and have fun playing outside, undaunted by the cold.
Summarized below are the guidelines of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health as of February 1 regarding the COVID-19 correspondence.
Everyone with COVID-19 must isolate for at least 5 days. How long you have to isolate depends on whether you have
symptoms and if you get a negative follow-up viral test on day 5 or later. If you test on day 5 or later, it is better to use an antigen test because NAAT/PCR tests can stay positive even after you are no longer infectious.
Ending isolation: if you have symptoms and test positive for COVID-19 of if your doctor thinks that you have COVID-19
You must stay home until:
- At least 5 days have passed since your symptoms first started and
- You have a negative viral COVID-19 test collected on day 5 or later and
- You have not had a fever for at least 24 hours and
- Your symptoms are improving
-OR-
You must stay home until:
- At least 10 days have passed since your symptoms first started and
- You have not had a fever for at least 24 hours and
- Your symptoms are improving
Day 0 is your first day of symptoms. Day 1 is the first full day after your symptoms developed.
Ending isolation: if you test positive for COVID-19 and you never develop symptoms
You must stay home until:
- At least 5 days have passed the day your initial positive test was taken and
- You have a negative viral COVID-19 test collected on day 5 or later
-OR-
- You must stay home for 10 days after your initial positive test was taken
Day 0 is the day your positive test was taken. Day 1 is the first full day after your positive test was taken.
Ending isolation: If you are exposed to someone with COVID-19
Stay home for at least 5 days, after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19.
- Test on Day 5.
- Quarantine can end after Day 5 only if symptoms are not present and a COVID-19 viral test collected on Day 5 or later is negative.
- If a test is not done on Day 5 or later, and symptoms are not present, quarantine can end after Day 10.
Day 0 is the day of your last contact with the infected person. Day 1 is the first full day after your last exposure.
Ending isolation: Domestic and International Travel
After travel, get a viral COVID-19 test 3-5 days after you return to California. You should quarantine for 5 days and monitor for symptoms for 10 days post travel.
Let’s ask the teachers how your child has been doing in class?
Penguin Class
Our children straighten up their back and greet the teachers in loud voices saying “Sensei, Ohayougozaimasu!”
In our December Christmas video, they were a little nervous about singing and dancing; however, now they sing loudly and dance energetically after having lots of practice.
In outside time, they say, “Ready, set, go!” and practice jumping high and far. They also enjoy the playground equipment and the feeling of sand with bare feet in the sandbox, which we restarted last month. The children also enjoy playing tail tag. They run so as not to be tagged with the tail. We added the “Cutting paper using scissors” to our curriculum.
Risu Class
The New Year has come, and our children’s cheerful voices are back. They became good at conversation in Japanese
such as “Issho ni asobo (Let’s play together)” or “Kashite (Please lend me)”. They also can now convey their feelings to friends.
They call out their names to each other, play together with toys, laugh together, and share in each other’s joys. Some children show a picture book to the teacher and ask, “Which do you like, Teacher?”. In playing Legos, some children build the same thing that others do and laugh at each other. Furthermore, they tear down their creation to
build more unique things.
In terms of their preschool life, they became good at using scissors and drawing pictures with crayons. They can now eat their least favorite food. What they can do by themselves has increased. When they are able to do it by themselves, they come to the teacher and say, “I did it! Look!”
We encourage the children not to give up and to try their best with everything they do. Then we share the joy of
their accomplishments.
Banana Class
The children remembered their seats and friends’ names although they did not see each other during the winter break. They were so glad to see each other again. Then they talked to the teacher eagerly about their winter vacation and Christmas time.
In January, we enjoyed the New Year’s play and felt the New Year’s atmosphere. In our class, Karuta (a traditional
Japanese playing card game) is popular now. We put the picture cards on the table such as “Ichigo (a strawberry)”,
“Hasami (scissors)”, and “Ringo (an apple)”, and then the children take the card after the teacher say those words.
They were confused with new words at the beginning; however, after they often played it, they learned even difficult words such as “Chikatetsu (a subway)”, “Makura (a pillow)”, and “Nagagutsu (rain boots)”. Recently, the children take turns reading the Karuta. I believe that the children will learn more words by not only taking cards but also reading.
Melon Class
We are happy to see our cheerful children again after the winter break. We feel and see their growth.
We showed the Japanese New Year play such as “Kendama (a Japanese Juggling toy)”, “Tako (a kite)”, “Hagoita (a battledore)”, “Fukuwarai (like the tail on the donkey)”, and “Karuta”, and we talked to the children about them. Then they made kites by painting and drawing a picture. We hope that they learn Japanese culture through our plays.
Although many children tended to play independently at the beginning of the new school year, they now interact more with each other. They care for friends using words with the teacher’s assistance although they sometimes have
conflicts between friends.
Bara Class
We feel that our cheerful children have grown up after the winter break. They must have had a fulfilling time with
their family.
Regarding the relationship between friends, we are happy to see them caring for each other, helping each other, and
creating something together.
Bara children love to play dodgeball called “Korokoro Ball” in the morning and afternoon every day. They throw a ball or avoid it while thinking, and they wait their turn but sometimes compete for it. Although they sometimes may get upset and cry, they enjoy playing it in a great many dramas.
In terms of learning, we can see their rapid growth in writing Hiragara letters and numbers, and reproducing pictures. They get used to writing letters and numbers, and they are enthusiastic about practicing them.
We encourage them to listen to others, understand them, follow instructions, and improve concentration.
Sumire Class
Our children were full of words when the New Year started because they wanted to talk to the teacher and friends about their winter break. Although I sometimes add words or phrases when they talk in Japanese, I am happy about their growth.
I think that this time is a transition from conveying their feelings to explaining things. I also assist the children in selecting words when they talk about the feelings of others.
While at home, I encourage you to talk to your child in Japanese if possible.
In the morning, I will continue a teacher-structure program and teach them about learning (concentrating on the capacity to listen). In the afternoon, it will be a child-centered program. They will draw pictures, do Origami and crafts, and so on. I would like them to enjoy a free choice time to strengthen their initiative and creativity.
