Friendship Day th August 2017 - whitelodge.asia · Friendship Day – 4th August 2017 As human...

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Friendship Day – 4 th August 2017 As human beings, we are social creatures. We value the importance of having friends in our lives. In the US, the first Sunday of August was declared as Friendship Day in honour of friends through a Proclamation made by the Congress in 1935. We at White Lodge also believed that learning to appreciate and treasure the value of friends should start from young. This can be done in the school context where children come together in search for new knowledge, and at the same time, learning to embrace one another despite the differences in their backgrounds, cultures and needs. Friends are the closest family anyone can have, when they are away from their family members. At the East Coast branch, the Friendship Day celebration coincides with the Free Expression Day. Hence, the children came to the school wearing the costumes based on the theme that their classes had planned. Nevertheless, we did not forget about the Friendship Day celebration. Around 10 a.m., all the children gathered at the indoor hall to listen to a story about friendship, ‘The Giving Tree’. This story tells about the friendship that was bonded between a boy and a tree. As the boy grew older, their friendship starts to wither. Each time the boy came back to meet the tree, he will share his problems with the tree. The tree will always help him even though helping the boy means sacrificing itself. When the boy reached the old age, he still went back to meet the tree. However, this time, the tree had become a stump and as the boy sat down on the tree stump, he realised how precious the friendship was and how fortunate for him to have the tree as his friend. For the rest of the White Lodge schools, two other books were used to discuss on the value of friendship. The first book entitled ‘Whoever You Are’, talks about the children from all over the world and it touches on the issue of peace and equality. The author discusses on the differences that these children have as well as the similarities that they shared. According to the author, the similarities that the children shared, will always be there, no matter where they are or who they will be when they grow up. As White Lodge children came from different countries and ethnic groups, it is vital that the children learn to accept other children’s differences and focused more on the similarities that they have with each other to enable them to work, study and play in harmony. The second book entitled ‘Should I Share My Ice Cream?’ This book talks about generosity and how this behaviour brings happiness to those around us that will lead to positive changes in their lives. An example of generosity is sharing. Learning to share is part of the PALS programme that is taught to the children in White Lodge. Learning to share can be a challenge to young children and it is a skill that needs practice and infused in the daily activities. Sharing teaches children about compromise and social skills that is vital when they grow older. Finally, lets us look at the photos of the children from the White Lodge schools as the engaged in the activities that were prepared for them. Last but not least, till we meet again in the next celebration, have a great day and be nice to one another. Yours Sincerely, Ms Salwa Sujuddin (Vice-Principal and Kindergarten Teacher from East Coast White Lodge)

Transcript of Friendship Day th August 2017 - whitelodge.asia · Friendship Day – 4th August 2017 As human...

Page 1: Friendship Day th August 2017 - whitelodge.asia · Friendship Day – 4th August 2017 As human beings, we are social creatures. We value the importance of having friends in our lives.

Friendship Day – 4th August 2017

As human beings, we are social creatures. We value the importance of having friends in our lives. In

the US, the first Sunday of August was declared as Friendship Day in honour of friends through a

Proclamation made by the Congress in 1935. We at White Lodge also believed that learning to

appreciate and treasure the value of friends should start from young. This can be done in the school

context where children come together in search for new knowledge, and at the same time, learning

to embrace one another despite the differences in their backgrounds, cultures and needs. Friends

are the closest family anyone can have, when they are away from their family members.

At the East Coast branch, the Friendship Day celebration coincides with the Free Expression Day.

Hence, the children came to the school wearing the costumes based on the

theme that their classes had planned. Nevertheless, we did not forget

about the Friendship Day celebration. Around 10 a.m., all the children

gathered at the indoor hall to listen to a story about friendship, ‘The Giving

Tree’. This story tells about the friendship that was bonded between a boy

and a tree. As the boy grew older, their friendship starts to wither. Each

time the boy came back to meet the tree, he will share his problems with

the tree. The tree will always help him even though helping the boy means

sacrificing itself. When the boy reached the old age, he still went back to

meet the tree. However, this time, the tree had become a stump and as

the boy sat down on the tree stump, he realised how precious the friendship was and how fortunate

for him to have the tree as his friend.

For the rest of the White Lodge schools, two other books were used to discuss on the value of friendship. The first book entitled ‘Whoever You Are’, talks about the children from all over the world and it touches on the issue of peace and equality. The author discusses on the differences that these children have as well as the similarities that they shared. According to the author, the similarities that the children shared, will always be there, no matter where they are or who they will be when they grow up. As White Lodge children came from different countries and ethnic groups, it is vital that the children learn to accept other children’s differences and focused more on the similarities that they have with each other to enable them to work, study and play in harmony. The second book entitled ‘Should I Share My Ice Cream?’ This book talks

about generosity and how this behaviour brings happiness to those around

us that will lead to positive changes in their lives. An example of generosity is

sharing. Learning to share is part of the PALS programme that is taught to the

children in White Lodge. Learning to share can be a challenge to young

children and it is a skill that needs practice and infused in the daily activities.

Sharing teaches children about compromise and social skills that is vital when

they grow older.

Finally, lets us look at the photos of the children from the White Lodge schools as the engaged in the

activities that were prepared for them. Last but not least, till we meet again in the next celebration,

have a great day and be nice to one another.

Yours Sincerely,

Ms Salwa Sujuddin (Vice-Principal and Kindergarten Teacher from East Coast White Lodge)

Page 2: Friendship Day th August 2017 - whitelodge.asia · Friendship Day – 4th August 2017 As human beings, we are social creatures. We value the importance of having friends in our lives.
Page 3: Friendship Day th August 2017 - whitelodge.asia · Friendship Day – 4th August 2017 As human beings, we are social creatures. We value the importance of having friends in our lives.