THE CHAYAGASAKA COOPERATIVE PLAYGROUP

Every Wednesday, 10.00 - 12.00 am

Chayagasaka Koen Heights, Building B
Meeting Room 1
Ageha-cho 1-23-1
Chikusa-ku
Nagoya

名古屋市千種区揚羽町１−２３−１
茶屋が坂公園ハイツＢ棟　第１集会室

For directions, click here.

　

GOALS

1. To offer pre-school children a wide variety of strructured play activities such as songs / music, stories, games and physical activities and craft. It is the purpose of these activities to foster socialization with other children and teach children to follow simple directions, all with a natural English environment.

2. To provide a playful environment which encourages the use of English.

It is hoped that these goals will be kept in mind when planning each activity.

　

QUALIFICATIONS FOR MEMBERSHIP

The playgroup welcomes parents of any national or cultural origin and their pre-school children aged 0 to 6 years, who can demonstrate that English is the language, or one of the languages, used at home.

There's one restriction: at least one of the parents must be non-Japanese.

　

POLICIES

1. This is a cooperative playgroup in make-up and spirit. All members are therefore requested to run an activity on a revolving basis. A roster listing each activity and the member responsible for it, is made up on a bi-monthly basis. If amember is scheduled to lead an activity but cannot attend a playgroup meeting, it is her / his responsibility to find a replacement and then to notify the monthly leader as soon as possible. In order to fit in all fo fhe weekly activities, we endeavor to adhere to the 10:00 am starting time.

2. The officers of the playgroup (annual leader, treasurer and keeper of the roster) who serve for a one-year period are chosen every March. Their duty begins on April 1st and ends on March 31st. The monthly leaders are chosen on a revolving basis in the same way as the weekly activity leaders, and the names appear on the activity roster.

3. Members are asked to speak only English during the playgroup session.

4. It is hoped that the parent will encourage the child to participate in every activity. One hundred per cent compliance is neither required nor expected, but sometimes a nudge or two will help a child to join in, especially if most of the other parents and children are participating. If the child is too young to participate fully, it is hoped that the parent will nevertheless try to involve the child as much as possible.

5. Members are asked not to come to playgroup if their child is ill.

6. To meet the socialization needs of the adults, there is usually a get-together lunch in a near-by park following playgroup or, in case of bad weather, the room will be rented for two extra hours. The playgroup time should be used to concentrate on the children and their activities.

7. Old-members are welcome on special occasions (.e.g. Christmas and the Easter egg hunt), provided they still have at least one child in the 0 - 6 years range. Usually a small extra fee is charged. Please contact the yearly leader before the event.

　

PRACTICAL DETAILS

1. There is a weekly fee of 500 yen per family. Each member should sign the register booklet and add the money to the playgroup fortune bag before craft time. The money is used to pay the room-fee and to pay for craft supplies, other equipment, special occasions and presents.

2. A small snack is provided for the children each week, by the parent on "snack duty". This person is also responsible for disposing of the "snack-trash". The parent who is on snack duty is exempt from paying the 500 yen weekly fee. Simply write "snack" instead of a check-mark in the register booklet.

3. Members are asked to bring a drink for their child to be given during snack time.

4. There is in principle no reimbursement for the craft activity as there are supplies stored in the craft box, to be used by the person who is scheduled for craft.

5. New members are asked to sign the playgroup notebook, which the monthly leader keeps. New members are exempt from paying the 500-yen member's fee on their first visit.

6. During the year, special activities will be scheduled:
  • fieldtrips. ** In case of rain, the activity will be cancelled and a 'normal' playgroup session will be held.

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  • Halloween, a Christmas party and the Easter egg hunt

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  • a graduation party for all the children who turned 6 in the previous year in March

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    7. During the summer months July and August, playgroup will be closed but can be run by volunteers when there are more than 4 families attending.

    8. Playgroup has purchased several series of books, for members to borrow and use at home (e.g. "Bob books" to teach your child to read, Ladybird and Scholastic books for starting readers). Depending on the book-type, they can be borrowed for 2 - 4 weeks at a time. When borrowing, write down your name in the booklet provided for this purpose.

    9. Parents are responsible for disposing of their own lunch garbage.

    10. Diapers are not to be thrown in the bins at the bottom of the stairs.

    　

    OFFICERS AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES

    1. Annual Leader
  • ensures that the playgroup duties are evenly distributed among all of the members

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  • serves as a liaison between the playgroup and the superintendents (kanrinin) of Chayagasaka Koen Heights
  • introduces new members to the playgroup

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  • distributes copies of the playgroup policy to all new members

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  • delegates the responsibility for purchasing "farewell" and "new baby" gifts

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  • purchases necessary supplies for the craft box

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  • publicizes the playgroup and its activites in the Nagoya Calendar or in other periodicals as necessary

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  • provides the International Center with the name and phone number of the playgroup's new annual leader


    • 2. Monthly Leader
  • arrives 15 minutes early, collects the room key from the kanrinin, unlocks the door and sets up the room

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  • keeps the playgroup running smoothly and at a balanced tempo

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  • reads through the names of those on the roster to conduct the following week's activities during snack-time. Also checks if there are any upcoming birthdays and starts introductions if there is a potential new member

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  • ensures that the room is left clean and tidied with the vacuum cleaner, that the windows are closed and locked and that the lights and the air conditioners / heaters are turned off

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  • locks the door, returns the room key to the kanrinin and pays him the room fee of 1000 yen per hour plus 100 yen per hour per air conditioner/ heater, if in use

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  • is exempt from running activities during her / his period of duty

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  • is the keeper of the playgroup notebook

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  • ensures that new members sign up the playgroup notebook


    • 3. Treasurer
  • brings the treasurer's notebook to playgroup every week

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  • ensures that the page has been appropriately lined and dated

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  • at the conclusion of the playgroup, gives the monthly leader money to pay the room rental fee

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  • reimburses anyone who has otherwise incurred expenses on behalf of the playgroup

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  • keeps a monthly record of all money received and paid and calculates the balance


    • 4. Keeper of the roster
  • creates a new roster listing on a bi-monthly basis and distributes it

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  • ensures that each new member of the playgroup has a copy of the roster and the members' list

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  • updates the members list every six months and distributes it

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