Post on 18-Oct-2020
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)