＜Baby Class＞
Age 0～
The baby class for infants from 6 months at Harbourfront is a fun 45-minute English lesson in a relaxing atmosphere with parents.
Active fun activities such as English songs and picture book readings, dance, baby work, and physical games are incorporated into the lessons.
Experienced teachers will also teach parents, giving them the confidence to naturally enter the world of English with their child.
Smooth separation of parent and child for a more enjoyable school debut
These classes stimulate the child’s interest in the world around them, and as they become accustomed to the environment and more familiar with their surroundings they are prepared for a smooth separation from the parent into school.
Children develop an ear for language from a very early age, thus this class is highly recommended as a preparatory class for your child’s debut into school.
＜Preschool ＆ Kindergarten＞
Age 1～5
Circle Time
Our day begins with a welcome circle time that includes morning greetings, weather and dates through engaging songs and games.
The monthly themes are designed to broaden the range of children’s interests through, flashcards, and other materials. Children begin working in a group from age 4, learning to share and exchange opinions and ideas.
Not only will you be able to acquire familiar English expressions to help your child, but your own curiosity will be stimulated, leading to a motivation and desire to learn more.
Show ＆ Tell
Show and Tell is an invaluable part of the school day. Each child is encouraged to bring in a special toy or favorite item to show the class. This activity stimulates conversation, and children learn how to listen to other, ask meaningful questions, and provide detailed responses.
Themed Activities
The experience of seeing and touching is incredibly stimulating and memorable for children. We will go outside of the classroom and explore our surrounding environment through experience-based learning.
Experience-based learning prompts children to see, touch, feel and engage with each individual experience, thereby etching it into the child’s long-term memory.
We will visit a variety of workplaces, enabling children to gain hands-on experience and learn the joy and thrill of a challenge from a young age. Children can meet with people from a range of industries, ask questions and listen to their stories.
Healthy Eating and Wellbeing
Children will develop a positive relationship with food and wellbeing by learning about where their food comes from, and the processes involved in bringing the food to the table.
We will plant our own vegetables in our garden on the school veranda, water and care for our plants, and enjoy the harvest while developing a deep appreciation for the food we enjoy.
Cooking lessons begin with the family going shopping, imitating the actual process of cooking. By searching for ingredients, children will learn about what foods are in season, and also nutritional balance.
Active Time ー Outdoors
Physical outdoor play is essential in laying the foundations for good physical and mental health, and developing motor skills.
Outdoor play provides the opportunity to not only physically move the body, but also to observe the plants and living things in our environment, and learn societal rules, such as how to cross the road. On rainy days when outdoor play is not possible, we will have a full program of indoor activities designed to maximize physical movement.
Active Time ー P.E.
Physical education strengthens the body, but also build social skills, and teaches children how to interact with others as part of a team and control emotions. To build a strong body, we will have a focus on gymnastics, with mat exercises, trampolines, horizontal bars etc. to promote a strong core.
Improving and strengthening athletic ability works to prevent future injuries and accidents, which is essential in early childhood.
Swimming
Children will being learning to swim from age three. Swimming engages all the muscles in the body and improves physical function, activating and strengthening the respiratory system as water pressure is applied to the chest.
Children also learn the daily life skill of taking their clothes on and off, being responsible for their own belongings, and obeying the rules of the facility.
Japanese Education
At our school, our highly qualified Japanese staff will teach Japanese language and culture. Even though we are strongly focused on English language education, it is extremely important to support children to have a solid understanding of Japanese language and culture and become true international citizens.
In addition to Japanese etiquette and customs, we also enjoy seasonal events such as Setsubun, and Tanabata. We will also introduce reading and writing of hiragana from age three, and also incorporate composition and tanka for 5-year-old children.
Mandarin (Chinese)
Why not learn Mandarin, the second most influential language in the world after English.
Chinese is the world’s most spoken first language and is one of the official languages of the United Nations. In addition, there are more than 400 combinations of sounds in Chinese, which help develop the ability to distinguish sounds. Learning not only English, but also Chinese is a way for children to expand their future options, and this is why Harbourfront chose Chinese for one of our class activity.
International Week
During International Week we invite guests from other countries and cultures to come and talk to the children.
Exposure to different cultures and countries promotes cultural awareness and sensitivity, and an understanding of different values and ideals.
Writing・Reading・Listening・Speaking
Our reading program focuses on age-appropriate books and resources to help children to develop literacy skills.
Our native English speaking teachers help children to learn and develop phonetic awareness to decode English texts, as well as learn sight words that do not conform to the rules.
By listening and practicing the sounds they hear children will learn how to spell words themselves, while learning to recognize the different tenses (past tense, present tense, future tense).
Our literacy program will relate back to the relevant themes and topics being studied.
For example, when studying about space and planets, children will be able to read and explore books on the theme, and write sentences on their favorite planets and aspects of space.
Our students will focus on the language with a native English speaking teacher, learning how to correctly use the vocabulary and relevant phrases, and naturally use them in everyday conversation.
Arts ＆ Crafts
Our students will use a variety of materials to create seasonal and topical art and craft, designed to inspire and develop children’s growing imagination and creativity.
Art and craft activities are an excellent way to develop fine motor skills, strengthening the muscles in the hands and fingers, which then assists children to become ready for writing, as well as daily life skills such as feeding themselves, changing their own clothes and so on.
Children learn to feel a sense of accomplishment and joy in finishing a project they have made all on their own.
A sense of community and mentorship is also fostered as children help and teach each other during this time.
At our school, the individuality of each child is highly valued and respected, with the focus being on enjoyment of the process and self-expression rather than the finished product.
＜Optional Classes＞
At Harbourfront, we offer extracurricular class, such as robotics, science, programming, to develop children’s individuality
and to meet a wide variety of needs.
Age 3～5
Robotics
Our students will have the opportunity to learn about robotics with access to the Human Academy Robot Class curriculum, which boasts the largest number of classrooms and enrolled students in Japan.
Our school staff are trained so we can respond with any problems our students may encounter.
During the process of making a robot, the children expand on their creativity and concentration abilities, and gain new knowledge through play.
Science
Each month the children explore the wonder and excitement of science through chosen themes.
They lean to develop problem-solving skills through working as a team, rather than just focusing on knowledge, thereby building an inquiring mind.
Gymnastics
Conducted separately from physical education, gymnastics is taught in small groups by a professional instructor.
Gymnastics teaches the movements of the body that are critical to all sports, and can be used as a basis before selecting a focus sport.
Programming
With programming now an essential component of education from elementary school, our children will begin learning this skill from a much earlier age.
Teaching programming from an early age is essential for two reasons:
Firstly, programming teaches problem-solving skills, the ability to think logically and in order.
Secondly, programming fosters inquisitivity through trial and error.
Through learning from their mistakes, the child learns to persevere and not give up when things become challenging. They gain the experience of exploring their mistakes, and learning what to do next.
Elementary School Exam Course
Rieikai is a school for elementary school exam preparation that supports families, aiming to enter a private or affiliated elementary school. The children learn to do well in written exams, exercises, behaviors, and paintings that are necessary for any elementary school exam in a well-balanced manner.
Rieikai will motivate children to study and take the entrance examination without being pressurized.
In addition, thorough support for parents are provided with examination information, application form correction, and interview guidance.
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