SLEMAN – Al Azhar 55 Islamic Primary School Yogyakarta was bustling with activity as parents took part in guiding and accompanying their children on the inaugural day of school, which fell on Monday, the 15th of July, 2024. Parents could be seen ushering their sons and daughters through the school gates, with some arriving accompanied by extended family members.
“I was delighted to witness one student's grandmother even inviting the teachers for a group photo, adding to the excitement and jubilation of the occasion,” remarked Ms. Ita (the homeroom teacher for the 1st grade class of Utsman Bin Affan).
The first graders look different since they wear different uniforms, with some dressed in their kindergarten (TK) uniforms while others wear Muslim attire. Nevertheless, this variance in attire did not interfere the students' joy.
Both parents and teachers exhibited great enthusiasm for the day's events, with some students arriving as early as an hour prior to the commencement of activities. The day's schedule included an opening ceremony, storytelling sessions, and a tour of the school premises. Mr. Risal, the school principal, inaugurated “The Student Orientation” activities by symbolically presenting an ID card to one of the students, followed by introductions to the respective class teachers.
During the course of the day, the children had the opportunity to interact directly with Ms. Tara, a native English-speaking teacher at Al Azhar 55 Islamic Primary School Yogyakarta. This engagement was conducted through a storytelling session, during which the children displayed keen interest in listening and posing questions related to the narratives shared by Ms. Tara.
In order to foster familiarity with the school environment and its facilities at the Al Azhar Sleman Campus, the children were taken on a guided tour of the campus grounds by their teachers. Started from the front yard, the tour encompassed visits to the Al-Hafidh Mosque, the health centre, the auditorium, the student centre, the canteen, the boarding area, the swimming pool, the library, the IT room, the rooftop, before concluding back at their respective classrooms.
The children expressed immense excitement and eagerness to explore all the facilities, particularly the swimming pool, with exclamations of “Wow, segerrr!” said one of the students while splashing their hands to the water.
The day drew to a close with class bonding activities followed by a collective prayer session before the children were picked up by their parents. “Alhamdulillah Miss, Nayra said the school was exciting today,” conveyed Bunda Uki, the mother of a 1st grade student at Utsman Bin Affan.
The successful execution of the student orientation event was attributed to the concerted efforts and enthusiasm of the teachers and staff in preparing the necessary arrangements for the occasion.
“We are grateful that the first day of student orientation proceeded smoothly, leaving students and parents with a positive first impression of the school,” remarked Ms. Sintia, the Chair of the Student Orientation Committee. It is hoped that this positive beginning will set the stage for a fulfilling academic journey for the students at Al Azhar 55 Islamic Primary School Yogyakarta. (Team 55)
