Family socials are offered throughout the year as a wonderful opportunity for parents to get to know each other and the staff. Many of the events are potluck lunches which allow everyone attending a delicious opportunity to share and taste many culturally diverse dishes.

"Oshogatsu Matsuri"  New Year's Festival
In January, children participate in the Japantown community’s Oshogatsu Matsuri which is the New Year’s Festival. Children proudly wear the headbands they make in school which are based on the Chinese zodiac animal for that year. Children sing songs in English and Japanese and later participate in fun activities and festival events.

Ice Skating
In February we hold our Ice Skating family outing at the Yerba Buena rink. Everyone enjoys skating with friends, family and our teachers.

"Kodomo No Hi"  Children’s Day Festival
In May, we participate in JCCCNC’s "Kodomo No Hi" Children’s Day Festival at Yerba Buena Gardens. We have an arts and crafts table and all families are invited to join in the fun.

NLF Family Get Together Picnic
The NLF Family Get Together Picnic is held in late-September. We have a potluck and also ask a few parents to bring games, such as volleyball or another net activity, for all to enjoy. This is a fun social event held in the beginning of the school year so we can meet and make new friends.

Preschool Halloween Party
On the last Friday closest to Halloween, we hold our Preschool Halloween party. We begin with a pizza party followed by "trick or treating" at NLF. This is a fun evening for the children, staff and parents, and a chance to get dressed-up and enjoy Halloween safely.

A few days before the event, on our "Worknight on Wednesday," we ask parent volunteers to help prepare the treats and the wooden doors which are arranged around the room for the children to use for trick or treating that Friday. Parents and staff are behind the doors passing out the treats. Parents also help by bringing in the treat items to be passed out at the Halloween party, such as Band-Aids, stickers, rice krispy treats, fruit snacks, etc. We try to stay away from too much candy.

After our party, families are invited to the Japanese Community and Cultural Center of Northern California's (JCCCNC), Halloween Party which is held next to our Sutter Site preschool. This is probably one of the most fun Family Social for children and adults alike.

Winter Family Social Mochitsuki
In mid-December, we hold our Winter Family Social Mochitsuki (rice pounding) potluck lunch. The preschool children sing Japanese, English and Chinese songs to bring in the holiday season. The children love to sing "Mochitsuki" which is about pounding sweet rice to make mochi (rice cakes). After the children sing, families enjoy watching and participating in the actual pounding of the rice. Everyone gets to enjoy some mochi and the potluck lunch. The mochi pounding ceremony is performed by the group, Kagami Kai, which is composed of many NLF alumni families. This is a great social event centered around the Japanese culture.

Return to top

Home | Programs | Calendars | Experience NLF | Newsletters | Outreach to Japan | About Us | Get Involved
Children's Programs | Parent Participation | Enrollment | Preparing for Kindergarten | Links and Resources