May 27, 2024
Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool marks its second Moving Up Ceremony
By Joy Rojas
A moving up ceremony is always a bittersweet affair, and the second moving up ceremony of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines was no exception. Held on May 25 at the Jing Si Auditorium of Tzu Chi’s Agno Street branch in Quezon City, the morning event had teachers and parents express mixed emotions as eight students moved up from nursery to pre-kindergarten and 15 students advanced from pre-kindergarten to kindergarten.
“It's actually very surreal, but it’s such a nice feeling for the teachers, seeing the students move up from one level to another,” says Jane Sy, Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines school directress.
“Seeing the students and the parents every day really made us feel that they are part of our life, which is why us not being able to see them in the next months will be a big adjustment,” she adds. “But we're happy because we know that this is not the end but just the start of something new. And we hope that all the learnings, all the values that they've gained from us would be shared to even more people when they go to their individual big schools.”
Tzu Chi Philippines fulfilled its mission of education when it launched its Great Love Preschool two years ago. Those were challenging times: The pandemic made people wary of leaving their homes, and the foundation had no experience operating a preschool. Still, Great Love Preschool became the preschool of choice for parents who appreciate how the system puts as much emphasis on values and life skills as it does academics.
Even a short stay can have a huge impact on a child. Princess Rodrigo, whose son Mason is a late enrollee in Tzu Chi’s pre-kindergarten class, was pleased with the changes in her little boy after just three months. “He became more mature, compassionate, and responsible,” she says. “Every day, he would always say, ‘Mom, I love my teachers, Teacher Jane.’” Summer classes are in the offing for Mason who will attend kindergarten in the US next year.
“Mason really loves coming to school every day,” says his mother. “I’m a bit emotional because I know he’ll miss his friends who graduated already.”
The second moving up ceremony was made more memorable with each student receiving special tokens from Dharma Master Cheng Yen. Weeks before the big day, preschool directress Sy was in Taiwan presenting a report to the Tzu Chi founder. When she finished, Master Cheng Yen gave her bracelets and red envelopes (angpao). “For the students,” she said.
In addition to certificates of completion, the tokens were handed to each of the kids by Tzu Chi Philippines’ first CEO Linda Chua and current CEO Henry Yuñez during the moving up ceremony.
“In the short time you have stayed with us, I hope you bring the lessons you learned here in Tzu Chi wherever you go and share them with more people,” said Yuñez, who personally placed the bracelets on the wrists of each student. “Today might mark the end of the Tzu Chi educational journey for some of you, but we hope to see you in future Tzu Chi activities.
“To seize the present is to seize the future. Let’s make good use of our time and live a meaningful life.”
A Hollywood red carpet event was the inspiration for Tzu Chi’s second moving up ceremony. Organizers decorated the place with artwork and a gallery showcasing students’ milestones and experiences. Colorful parent-and-child-made posters highlighting a student’s superpower were also on display.
The moving up ceremony was also an opportunity to fund-raise. Preschoolers designed and made pottery to sell, and enlisted the help of a pottery teacher to fire their works. Proceeds from the sale of their creations will go to Tzu Chi’s scholarship program.
Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez leads Tzu Chi commissioners, teachers, and students in a Hollywood red carpet event-inspired second moving up ceremony of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines.
Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez leads Tzu Chi commissioners, teachers, and students in a Hollywood red carpet event-inspired second moving up ceremony of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines.
Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez leads Tzu Chi commissioners, teachers, and students in a Hollywood red carpet event-inspired second moving up ceremony of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines.
Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez leads Tzu Chi commissioners, teachers, and students in a Hollywood red carpet event-inspired second moving up ceremony of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines.
Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez leads Tzu Chi commissioners, teachers, and students in a Hollywood red carpet event-inspired second moving up ceremony of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines.
Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez leads Tzu Chi commissioners, teachers, and students in a Hollywood red carpet event-inspired second moving up ceremony of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines.
Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez leads Tzu Chi commissioners, teachers, and students in a Hollywood red carpet event-inspired second moving up ceremony of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines.
Tzu Chi Philippines CEO Henry Yuñez leads Tzu Chi commissioners, teachers, and students in a Hollywood red carpet event-inspired second moving up ceremony of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines.
In this moving up ceremony, 15 students advance from pre-kindergarten to kindergarten.
In this moving up ceremony, 15 students advance from pre-kindergarten to kindergarten.
In this moving up ceremony, 15 students advance from pre-kindergarten to kindergarten.
In this moving up ceremony, 15 students advance from pre-kindergarten to kindergarten.
Eight students move up from nursery to pre-kindergarten in Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines’ second moving up ceremony.
Eight students move up from nursery to pre-kindergarten in Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines’ second moving up ceremony.
Eight students move up from nursery to pre-kindergarten in Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines’ second moving up ceremony.
Eight students move up from nursery to pre-kindergarten in Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines’ second moving up ceremony.
This second moving up ceremony was made more memorable with each student receiving a bracelet and red envelope from Dharma Master Cheng Yen.
This second moving up ceremony was made more memorable with each student receiving a bracelet and red envelope from Dharma Master Cheng Yen.
This second moving up ceremony was made more memorable with each student receiving a bracelet and red envelope from Dharma Master Cheng Yen.
This second moving up ceremony was made more memorable with each student receiving a bracelet and red envelope from Dharma Master Cheng Yen.
This second moving up ceremony was made more memorable with each student receiving a bracelet and red envelope from Dharma Master Cheng Yen.
Flanked by Tzu Chi commissioners and special guests, parents pose proudly with their kids in the second moving up ceremony of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines.
Flanked by Tzu Chi commissioners and special guests, parents pose proudly with their kids in the second moving up ceremony of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines.
Flanked by Tzu Chi commissioners and special guests, parents pose proudly with their kids in the second moving up ceremony of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines.
Flanked by Tzu Chi commissioners and special guests, parents pose proudly with their kids in the second moving up ceremony of Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines.
Princess Rodrigo shows off son Mason’s poster boasting his superpower as a “finder” and “fixer.” “He became more mature, compassionate, and responsible,” she says. “Mason really loves coming to school every day. I’m a bit emotional because I know he’ll miss his friends who graduated already.”
Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines’ teaching staff gets emotional at the moving up ceremony. “Seeing the students and the parents every day really made us feel that they are part of our life, which is why us not being able to see them in the next months will be a big adjustment,” says school directress Jane Sy. “But we're happy because we know that this is not the end but just the start of something new.”
Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines’ teaching staff gets emotional at the moving up ceremony. “Seeing the students and the parents every day really made us feel that they are part of our life, which is why us not being able to see them in the next months will be a big adjustment,” says school directress Jane Sy. “But we're happy because we know that this is not the end but just the start of something new.”
Tzu Chi Great Love Preschool Philippines’ teaching staff gets emotional at the moving up ceremony. “Seeing the students and the parents every day really made us feel that they are part of our life, which is why us not being able to see them in the next months will be a big adjustment,” says school directress Jane Sy. “But we're happy because we know that this is not the end but just the start of something new.”
No moving up ceremony is complete without selfies and photos with the preschoolers.
No moving up ceremony is complete without selfies and photos with the preschoolers.
No moving up ceremony is complete without selfies and photos with the preschoolers.
Preschoolers’ artworks reflect their love for nature and harmonious surroundings.
Preschoolers’ artworks reflect their love for nature and harmonious surroundings.
Preschoolers’ artworks reflect their love for nature and harmonious surroundings.
Guests were drawn to the gallery featuring photos of the preschoolers’ milestones and memories.
Guests were drawn to the gallery featuring photos of the preschoolers’ milestones and memories.
Guests were drawn to the gallery featuring photos of the preschoolers’ milestones and memories.
Guests were drawn to the gallery featuring photos of the preschoolers’ milestones and memories.
Preschoolers enlisted the help of a pottery teacher to fire their ceramic creations, which they designed and made themselves. Proceeds from the sale of these ceramics will go to Tzu Chi’s scholarship program.
Preschoolers enlisted the help of a pottery teacher to fire their ceramic creations, which they designed and made themselves. Proceeds from the sale of these ceramics will go to Tzu Chi’s scholarship program.