They know they are the older children in the school, and they are aware that it is not just being bigger or a year ahead of the others but more importantly, that they are leaders and role models. Kailua’s Makani (The Wind) class and the Lani (The Sky) class are very conscious of the responsibilities that come with their current school status.
They have demonstrated their leadership in various ways, including acting as walking partners for the younger children when going to the play park, the sweet potato farm, visiting the seniors’ house or participating in community activities during festivals and so on. They make sure to have their younger partners take the safer side of the street as they walk. They show the toddlers and the pre-kindergartners what to do during fire and earthquake drills and even console those who are frightened during the drills. And, at the park, without being asked, they give way to the younger ones who want to use the slides and the swings. How else can young leadership be shown?
These two Kailua classes also engage in healthy competitions such as which group can be better at singing and dancing during programs, demonstrating the way to sing and dance the school song, leading the morning prayers, mastering short and long vowels as well as simple sight words, finishing artworks that are potential contest winners, keeping written work neat and accurate, reading and writing numerals through hundreds and many other learning activities.
The two classes are very close and friendly with each other, and to further bond their friendship, they went on a trip to a sweet potato farm and a large park in Funabashi City, Chiba. After digging four big bags of sweet potatoes at the large farm, they had a picnic and play time at the Funabashi park. The weather seemed to cooperate, as it was a bright sunny day with not a wisp of cloud in the sky. They showed one another their well-developed gross motor skills, climbing the rope ladders with ease, walking skilfully on the wobbly roped log bridge and standing bravely at the top of the tower-like structure. People around were amazed with their ability to engage in lively conversation, switching from English to Japanese and vice versa – young learner bilingualism at its best.
On March 21, 2015, Graduation Day, the Lani Class (pre-first grade), will formally turn over the over-all student leadership to the Makani Class (in-coming Lani Class) that will become the Kailua student “seniors” from April 2015 – and the beautiful cycle goes on.
– Robert L. Gomez
