Designing the Right Learning Environment
Our children are not only influenced by their teachers and friends; we strive to ensure that they grow up influenced by the right environment.
| Language Space |
While their ‘Hearing’ plays a major role in learning a language as well as its culture, ‘Seeing’ also plays a significant role in this. This is why we have English rooms and Japanese rooms separated in our campus so that while the children are in English class, the room will also be arranged with English visual aids to let their brains focus solely on one language. |
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| Flexible Spaces |
In order to maintain the best possible learning environment, one class will not have more than 18 students. (36 students/grade maximum) This ensures that each student is given enough time to participate individually, even in group learning activities. The outdoor environment we provide at our courtyard and the library corridor encourage the students to communicate and expand on their imagination. |
Annual Events
At Aoba-Japan Bilingual Preschool Nakano, we have various annual events prepared for kids.
| Enjoying Self-Expression | Winter Concert, Show and Tell, Sports Day |
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| Understanding Cultures and Traditions | Tanabata, New Year, Setsubun, Hinamatsuri, Children’s Day |
| Growing International Perspectives | International Day, Halloween, Christmas |
| Class Learning Trips | Field trips to a zoo, picking vegetables at a farm, visiting workplaces |
| Play with Nature | Forest Day –Spending half a day in nature at a park to cultivate their sensitivity and taste. |
In addition, we plan many fun events throughout the year such as overnight stays and plants cultivation. Please refer to the annual calendar for more information.
Daily Schedule
During the morning hours, children proactively participate in activities. Individuality, creativity, and social skills are nurtured through playing with their friends.
In the afternoon, we have special programs ready for children. With the support of specialist teachers, we incorporate languages, numbers, intellectual activities, music eurhythmics, sports, and more into our programs. It’s very important that children have fun through these experiences. This feeling will lead to satisfaction and inspiration to further learning.
Morning Activities (8:10-11:30)
| School Arrival | Please ensure your child to arrive between 8:10-8:30. |
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| Play Zone | Children are free to choose what to play with, purely based on what they are interested in. Here, children also get the opportunity to interact with children of different ages. |
| Morning Time | Greetings, Schedule of the Day, Songs, Phonics, Show & Tell ( 3 years or older) |
| Playtime | Children play outdoors in the neighborhood park when the weather permits. The time for playtime varies depending on their age. (The round trip to and from the park is about an hour a day.) |
| Research Time | The International Baccalaureate Programme’s inquiry-based learning time. Together with the children we discuss and decide upon a theme. We, then work together towards a deeper understanding of that particular theme. |
Lunch Time (11:30-12:30)
| Lunch | From about 11:30, children are served with some warm meals. |
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| Naptime | Naptime for 2 year olds are until 1:30 pm. (about an hour) |
Afternoon Activities (12:30-2:30pm)
| Special Program | Specialist teachers are joined to teach languages, numbers, intellectual activities, music eurhythmics, sports, and more. |
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| Reflection Time | “Reviewing” is an important process. We go over all the things we did on that day together. |
| Dismissal | 2:20pm-2:30pm is time for pickups. Kids participating in the After School Programs will have a break and a snack time. |
After School Program / Extended Day Care (2:30pm-6:00pm)
AJB Nakano’s After School is an English-centered program where both internal students and external students are joined together to learn activities in English. (Some of the classes are held entirely in Japanese or Japanese/English) Please see the website for details.
Target age:
Little Kids-3 year olds
Big Kids-4 to 8 year olds
Class:
PE, Drama, Arts & Crafts, English, Hip Hop Dance, Science, Ballet, Cheer Dance, Music etc.
※ There may be changes to the above programs.
■ Opening hours
Block A: 2: 30pm-3: 15pm
Block B: 3: 20pm-4: 05pm
School Lunch & Snack
The school provides a daily hot and nutritious buffet style lunch.
The school uses the services of a licensed and qualified external food catering service that is highly experienced in the preparation of food for children and for schools. Together with them, we ensure that all meals are preservative free, handmade, nutritiously balanced, and healthy.
The cuisine is mainly Japanese, with foreign foods served on occasion. We are acutely aware of the potential of food allergies, and when we screen our students, we require parents to provide all health and allergy information.
Domestic and seasonal ingredients are used to the greatest extent possible. Information regarding the food we use and its origins is readily available for all parents wishing to see it. For infants yet in the weaning stage, we ensure that it is prepared and served appropriately.
The 2 year old classes receive a morning snack along with a school lunch. During the regular school day, older children are provided with lunch, but children attending after school programs, including the extended childcare, also receive a late afternoon snack.
