Senior Visits
The First School community takes pride in its tradition of community outreach. Senior Visits is one of several volunteer community outreach opportunities available to First School students and their families. The First School has partnered with Westwood Horizons with hopes of bringing joy to senior residents and encouraging young children to interact with elderly people and to develop an understanding of the aging process.
Small groups of students and their parents visit Westwood Horizons several times during the school year. On a typical visit, children spend time chatting with some of the residents. We sing songs together, share items of interest that the preschoolers have selected to bring, present artwork or bring handmade cards for occasions such as Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day. Our visits with the seniors brighten their days and provide a meaningful experience for all who participate.
Cultural Exchange/Japan Program
As part of our commitment to expose preschoolers to cultural diversity, we have developed an exchange program with preschools in Japan. First School teachers have traveled to Japan to visit preschool classes and learn about approaches to early childhood education there. We have met with teachers and students in Niigata, Tokyo, Sendai and Kyoto. In exchange, Japanese teachers visit The First School to observe ad to interact with American teachers and preschoolers. The First School now has an on-going relationship with the Mukaiyama School in Sendai (www.mukaiyama.ac.jp), and we have visited several other schools including the Gyotoku, Wakaba, Meysen, Futuba and Seijo Gakuen preschools.Helping Hands
The First School supports an organized effort to lend a hand to families in the school community that may need assistance during challenging times. The Helping Hands committee is a parent-inspired program run by parent volunteers. Events such as pregnancy, post-partum transitions, illness or hospitalization often become overwhelming. The Helping Hands committee has provided meals, playdates, carpooling and other forms of support to First School families facing such stressful times. One year, the Helping Hands committee organized a blood drive to support the medical treatment of a preschool student (see Alberto’s Story below). It is our hope that the practical assistance and the sense of community support can provide a bridge in a time when many of us live far from extended family and cannot look to neighbors or other support networks for assistance.