“Chushu no meigetsu” –let’s look up at the night sky!

“Chushu no meigetsu” (Harvest Moon) fell on September 24th this year. Unfortunately, it was too cloudy in Philadelphia to view it. “Chushu” refers to August 15th, which was the middle of the fall in the Chinese calendar, and we call the moon seen on that day “chushu no meigetsu.” People used to offer grains that were harvested during this time to show thankfulness and celebrate “otsukimi” by viewing the beautiful moon. This has been a tradition that has been passed down from China during the Heian period.
In my hometown Kumamoto, we would decorate our porch with the silver grasses, make rice dumplings and offer them as well as potatoes, fruits, and snacks under the moon. As kids, we would go around the houses in the neighborhood and ask for these offerings and put them in our bags. By the time we got home, all the food in the bags were squished and mixed up, but I remember eating them with thankfulness. In a strange coincidence, there were news this week about MINERVA-II developed by JAXA has successfully landed on the asteroid “Ryugu” and a Japanese CEO planning the first private space travel to the moon. The dream to the universe is only expanding, and the space development is progressing steadily. While we are busy with our daily lives, perhaps it would be nice to look up at the fall night sky and enjoy the beautiful moon and stars as we think of the universe.

Use of mobile devices in school (reconfirmation)

The use of smartphone and tablet is noted in the rules, but we still see them being used on campus. Same as last year, we will be guiding our students as follows. We ask for the same support from the home too.
We will provide guidance to “not bring things that are not related to class” (School Manual).
Supplementary explanation
1. When the teacher needs to teach using the characteristics of mobile device (information gathering, processing, sending out, etc), the students will use them under the guidance of the teacher.
2. Avoid teaching uniformly like “Everyone needs to bring xxx” but give guidance with consideration towards students who do not own mobile device.
3. Teaching students about morals and characteristics of the information society so that they can make appropriate judgment.
4. As for the use of mobile devices, we will give guidance based on the School Handbook: “Mobile device should not be used upon entering the campus until classes are over and you have left campus.”
*In the school grounds, always keep them in your bag.
* Set smartphone etc. in airplane mode so that there will be no disruption.
5. If a student needs to contact parents, please do so before school. However, if unexpected emergency or accidents occur and you need urgent contact, please contact the school cell phone (215-901-8172). Otherwise, if it is necessary to use the smartphone, you may do so in the teacher’s room with prior approval from the homeroom teacher.

Heart-warming comments from the parents

My younger daughter started pre-school last Sunday. I asked her how her first day went and she replied, “I couldn’t understand English…” So my son who was listening told her, “It’s okay if you can’t understand now! Now is the time to absorb a lot of things.” I am happy that my children are not learning academics but other important things in life through the JLSP. (Elementary school 1-1, Mother of Kazuki Kitahara)
*We strive so that all parents appreciate sending their children to JLSP.

Reading Award “YOKOZUNA”

Kindergarten
Nencho-1 Reika Nishiyama
Nencho-1 Emma Iyama
Nencho-2 Haruki Ato (600 books)
Elementary School
Shunpei Furuta

Announcement from the Library
There will be no library service on September 30th. We only accept book returns. We will be registering new books and clean out the shelves. Thank you for your understanding.
Lost and Found Books
“Bremen no ongakutai”
“Chikaramochi no tugboat Toto”
Please come pick it up at the library.

*Correction of earning from the bazaar: $5,741.25 →$ 4,286.50