Building The Joy of Reading and Writing at Taruwara

"Life Skills Classes at Taruwara Primary are not about chores—they are about growth. They prepare children to face real-life situations with resilience, creativity, and confidence." At Taruwara Primary, we believe education should prepare children not only for academic success but also for everyday life. That’s why we introduced Life Skills Classes for our upper primary students—a special program where children learn practical, hands-on lessons that will help them grow into responsible, independent, and confident individuals. Many parents may remember the first time they washed a car, ironed their clothes, or managed their own shopping. These seemingly simple experiences actually stay with us, teaching discipline, care, and responsibility. Through Life Skills, we want our students to have the same opportunities, guided carefully in a supportive and fun learning environment. Ironing Clothes with Confidence Ironing is often considered an adult responsibility, but our students are excited to give it a try. With guidance from teachers, they learn how to handle the iron safely, smooth out wrinkles, and take their time to do the job well. The sense of satisfaction on their faces when they see neatly pressed clothes is priceless. Beyond the technical skill, ironing teaches patience, precision, and the importance of presentation. Washing Vehicles with Care Another day, the students head outside to wash vehicles. Buckets, sponges, and soap turn into tools of teamwork. Children quickly learn that washing a vehicle is more than just splashing water—it requires attention to detail and patience. This activity also sparks conversations about taking care of belongings and the effort that goes into maintaining things we use every day. It’s a fun, physical task that leaves students smiling at their shiny finished work. Shopping at the Bookstore Life Skills aren’t limited to chores at home or school. Our students also experience the real-world practice of shopping, such as visiting a bookstore with a budget in hand. For many, this is the first time they’ve had to make choices on what to buy while considering both needs and wants. They learn how to interact politely with shopkeepers, calculate costs, and make responsible decisions. The joy of leaving the store with a book they’ve chosen themselves is a bonus that strengthens both confidence and independence. Learning to Clean the Sink and Kitchen One of the first lessons takes place in the kitchen, where students practice cleaning the sink and keeping the area tidy. At first, some students giggle as they put on gloves and get ready to scrub, but soon they realize it’s not just about cleaning. It’s about taking pride in maintaining a space where everyone can work and feel comfortable. By learning this, children develop habits of hygiene, orderliness, and respect for shared environments. The Bigger Picture: Why Life Skills Matter Through these experiences, we want our students to realize that life is full of small responsibilities that matter. Cleaning, washing, ironing, and shopping might look simple, but they are stepping stones toward independence. More importantly, these activities teach values: caring for shared spaces, respecting belongings, managing money wisely, and feeling proud of a job well done. Life Skills Classes at Taruwara Primary are not about chores—they are about growth. They prepare children to face real-life situations with resilience, creativity, and confidence. Our hope is that, through these lessons, students not only gain practical knowledge but also carry with them the deeper understanding that independence and responsibility are keys to shaping a meaningful life. A Shared Journey with Parents We believe these lessons become even more powerful when reinforced at home. Parents can encourage their children to practice simple daily tasks, celebrate their efforts, and give them opportunities to take on small responsibilities. Together, school and family can nurture children who are not only academically capable, but also independent, caring, and ready for the future.

Background One day, Miss Ima found an egg laying on the carpet inside the classroom, and she moved the egg to the top of the cupboard. In the afternoon, Micol found the egg and asked “Where did you get the egg miss?” and Miss Ima told Micol where she found them. A few days after that, Miss Ima found another egg on the carpet and moved it to the cupboard. Not long after that, Micol found a couple of eggs inside the cupboard and she came up with an idea “Miss, why don’t we make an incubator for these eggs?”. Miss Ima agreed to the idea and shared the idea with the others. The discussion started with a question “Who likes animals?” and all students raised their hands up. During the discussion, they also try to find out how to make an egg incubator and how to take care of an egg until it hatched. We were using the internet as our source of information. The discussion happened for another couple of days, we also asked students to discuss this project with their parents. After we have gathered all the information, try to make the incubator and calendar in the class. We use the incubator to lay the eggs and warm them until they hatch. Inside we have rice husks, some cloth, water inside a bowl to keep the humidity balanced, and a fluorescent lamp (20 watts). Other than the incubator, students also made a calendar as a reminder of the days, because based on the information they found, it took 21 days for the egg to hatch. After the incubator is done, all students are asked to take care of and be responsible for the eggs. Based on the information they got, they are supposed to rotate the eggs 90 degrees 3 times a day, in order to give an even warmth on all surfaces, so the embryos can grow healthily. Based on the egg needs, students came up with a duty schedule to share the responsibility together. This project was their second project. The first project was not successful, because the egg didn’t get enough warmth, they were using a 5-watt lamp. Another thing that played a part in the failure was they moved the egg around during checking time and moved it to the darker side inside the box. Learning Resources Internet           : Tutorial on how to make an egg incubator, How to make a good egg incubator Resources       : Teachers, Parents, Poultry Expert (Bali Bird Park Team)           Learning Orientation Student-oriented learning. In this project, students are directed to become subjects and objects that they learn from the egg incubator project. Children are encouraged to think critically about the problem they face and find solutions to problems during the process. The teacher’s role in this project is as a facilitator and helps students get a real and authentic learning experience. Learning is considered and adapted to previous experiences and students’ intellect because each student has different learning experiences and potential. Research Stages a.      Research on how to make a good egg incubator. b.      Research about how long it takes for an egg to hatch. c.      Research on how to treat eggs properly. d.      Prepare the tools and materials needed to make an incubator. e.      Make the incubator and calendar as reminded. f.        Routine inspection. Documentation Documentation activities are carried out by the teacher at each stage of the activities carried out by students starting from the preparation stage, making the incubator, to the routine inspection stage which is carried out entirely by students with assistance from the teacher. Discussion about egg Prepared the necessary electricity and lighting for the egg incubator The children prepared some husk and placed the eggs inside it to keep them warm The students listened carefully to the teacher's instructions The process of making an incubator Learning more about an egg before we start the project Decorated the incubator Children took turns on duty to check the eggs The students placed the eggs in the incubator.

On Friday, 24 October 2025, the school ground of Rumah Kecil and Taruwara filled with laughter, color, and community spirit as we celebrated two special milestones: Rumah Kecil’s 11th anniversary and Taruwara’s 5th anniversary. With the theme “Growing in Harmony, Thriving in Connection,” the event beautifully reflected how our families, children, and team grow stronger together each year. A Market Filled With Creativity, Collaboration, and Heart This year’s anniversary celebration took the form of a vibrant bazaar-style event that brought together students, teachers, and families. The enthusiasm from parents greatly exceeded our expectations—more than 150 tickets were sold, even though preparation time was short. Their support created an energetic, joyful atmosphere throughout the day. Games Booth Face Painting Pooth MC by Miss Widy & Ms Dwi The school ground was filled with booths from both Rumah Kecil and Taruwara communities. Parents contributed beautifully curated stalls, while our school kitchen booth served homemade food that sold out quickly. Our kindergarten students also proudly presented their Little Garden Café project, selling seeds, burritos, and handmade crafts from scrap paper. Taruwara Primary students showcased their learning through impressive project booths, including natural skincare, science booth, bird shelter booth, green projects, garden booth, arts exhibitions, school menu ideas, and more. Each booth reflected the children’s learning journey and their ability to apply knowledge creatively and responsibly. We also had a special collaboration booth with Smile Foundation, where our school donated as part of our anniversary contribution. This partnership added a meaningful social impact to our celebration, reminding everyone of the importance of giving back, and also became an opportunity to share kindness through donations. Little Garden Cafe's Team Burito's team teacher and student in action excited parents came to support their kids Performances That Warmed Every Heart The stage became a place of joy as children and teachers presented dance and singing performances that truly enlivened the day. There was a touching singing moment that moved the audience, as well as fun dance performances that brought energy and excitement into the crowd. Many parents were deeply proud watching their children confidently present their projects and creations. Taruwara teacher's performance. Beautiful performance from taruwara student. Teacher's acoutic performance school kitchen project run by kids and teacher selling cookie jar. Wonderful dance performance from Taruwara kids. Throughout the event, families enjoyed playing games, creating clay crafts, exploring booths, and savoring food that sold out within hours. The atmosphere felt warm and genuine—parents celebrating their children, children laughing with friends and enjoying the event, and teachers proudly supporting every little moment. Gratitude to Our Sponsors We extend our warmest thanks to our generous sponsors who supported our door prize giveaways: Septy Bakes, Alam Zempol, Hakata Bali, Tabikobo Travel, Salon Pure, Bali Neem, Goddess Bakery, Salon Jegeg Bali, Puamana Sanur, La Lina Café, Hikaria by Timedoor, Bali Babe, Hutan Hujan, Bali Deli, Bukit Sausage, Bloodnbone.com, and Siki Bali. Their contributions helped make the event even more exciting and memorable. Growing Together as a Community This anniversary celebration reminded us that connection, collaboration, and shared joy are what make our school community strong. As we continue to grow together, we remain grateful for the trust, support, and togetherness that shape our journey—today and in the years to come. As we reflect on this joyful anniversary event, we are reminded that every shared moment—whether preparing a booth, cheering during a performance, or supporting a child’s small act of courage—strengthens the bond within our school community. Events like this are more than celebrations; they are opportunities for families, teachers, and children to connect in meaningful ways. The laughter, creativity, and collective effort displayed throughout the day showed how powerful community support can be in shaping a positive learning environment. Moving forward, we hope to continue creating spaces where children feel encouraged to explore, families feel welcomed, and everyone feels they are part of something growing and meaningful.