For the first time, students from Shinryu Elementary School made New Year's cards wishing for road safety to elderly people living alone in Hokuryu Town.

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

On Friday, November 20th, as part of the "Comprehensive Learning Time" class at Shinryu Elementary School, an event was held where students wrote New Year's cards to elderly people living alone.

Making New Year's cards wishing for road safety

▶ Integrated studies:Shinryu Elementary School (Principal Yoshimichi Matsunawa)
▶ Sponsor:Hokuryu Town Traffic Safety Association (Secretariat: Takeshi Otomo, Hokuryu Town Residents Division, Citizen Life Section)
▶ plan:Hokkaido Prefectural Police Fukagawa Police Station, Wa Police Station (Detective Inspector Hideki Tomitokoro, Chief) and Numata Police Station

Writing New Year's Cards: Messages that Connect Hearts

Writing New Year's cards is a heart-warming message that children send to elderly people in their community, as opportunities for elderly people living alone to interact with children have decreased due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Traffic accident prevention, special fraud damage prevention

The day the New Year's cards were created also fell during the National Winter Traffic Safety Campaign (November 13th to November 22nd), which also serves the purpose of preventing traffic accidents and crime.

54 students from 3rd to 6th grades will be recruited by 120 elderly people living alone.

The New Year's cards will be written by 54 students from third to sixth grade at Shinryu Elementary School, each writing about three cards, which will be mailed to approximately 120 elderly people living alone in Hokuryu Town.

The New Year's cards were donated by the Hokuryu Town Traffic Safety Association.

The printed New Year's cards were donated by the Hokuryu Town Traffic Safety Association and will be sent out by the Hokuryu Town Hall Resident Affairs Division.

Comprehensive learning time: "Writing New Year's cards"

The lesson on that day was held in a sixth grade class (all 9 sixth graders).

Words from Principal Yoshimichi Matsunawa

"Children rarely have the opportunity to interact directly with the elderly, so I think this initiative is wonderful. I think it's a great opportunity for the children," said Principal Matsunawa.

A talk by homeroom teacher Keita Murakawa

"Hokuryu Town has a large elderly population, and this year, due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, they have been unable to meet with their families as they normally would.

"Let's all extend our New Year's greetings to the elderly who are feeling lonely and alone. We should also convey messages about road safety and fraud prevention," said Professor Murakawa.

A speech by Detective Inspector Hideki Tomitokoro, Chief of the Fukagawa Police Station, Hokkaido Prefectural Police

"Today, I would like you all to write New Year's cards to elderly people living alone. There are three things I would like you to write about.

The first one is "Please avoid traffic accidents."
The second message is "Don't fall victim to scams like 'It's me' scams."
The third is, "Please write a handwritten message to your grandparents, expressing your feelings to them."

"I hope you will carefully write your New Year's cards that incorporate these three thoughts," said Director Tomitokoro.

Professor Murakawa suggests some examples of traffic safety

"Use the example sentences as a guide and write down your thoughts while arranging them in your own way," suggested Professor Murakawa.

1. Wear reflective materials to protect your life
2. Stop at intersections and other places without forcing yourself
3. Slow and steady wins the race, so cross the street at the crosswalk.

"Send your own messages of concern to the elderly, such as 'Let's stay healthy this year!' or 'Let's try not to catch a cold!'

Let's write carefully, beautifully, and using correct kanji!!!" says Mr. Murakawa.

Each person writes three New Year's cards

With kind advice from Principal Matsunawa, Mr. Murakawa, and Director Tomitokoro, the students carefully wrote their own messages in New Year's cards for the elderly.

Students drawing and coloring illustrations.
Students are learning how to draw a cute illustration of next year's zodiac sign, the ox.
Students checking the size of the letters and the correct kanji.
The student is praised by the teacher, "Good! That's great!"

Each student put their own feelings into writing their New Year's cards, working hard and carefully.

Students' impressions

"I don't know who will receive this New Year's card, but I was able to write it as if I was sending it to my own grandparents."

"It was my first time writing New Year's cards to elderly people in my community, and it was a lot of fun."

"This experience made me want to continue writing New Year's cards to the elderly people in my community."

"I was nervous at first, but by the second page I was able to relax and write neatly and carefully, which was great."

Words from Professor Murakawa

"It was the first time for everyone to write, so I think they were all nervous when they wrote it.

Everyone worked hard on their New Year's cards, asking questions like, "Will the letters be readable at this size?", "Is this text okay?", "Can I add color to the picture?", and so on, while thinking about how the recipients would feel.

I hope that today, having been able to empathize with the feelings of the elderly, will also serve as an opportunity for people to greet others and speak to them in their daily lives, saying "Good morning! Hello!"

"I hope that what you have learned today will not end as a one-time thing, but that you will continue to use what you have learned today in the future," said Professor Murakawa.

Children send New Year's cards with warm feelings to the grandparents living alone in town, filled with boundless love, gratitude, and thoughts...

Other photos

・Click here for photos (63 photos) of students from Shinryu Elementary School making "New Year's Cards Wishing for Road Safety" for elderly people living alone in Hokuryu Town.

Related articles

・Hideki Tomitokoro, a resident of Hokuryu Town(April 28, 2014)
　

◇ Photography and editing: Noboru Terauchi Interview and text: Ikuko Terauchi