Sustainable Farming & Healthy meals: The Story Behind Our School’s Organic Rice

We start the first term of the Academic Year 2022-2023 by having projects inspired by students. The project itself is inspired by students playing house with cardboard and teachers pick up on that and expand the ideas for year-long projects. We decided to do camping and related this project to our school events and subjects. Hence the Bazaar Project, our school has its birthday in September and we start planning to contribute to the bazaar event by selling some stuff in order to raise some money for the camping. For the bazaar, students were divided into 3 different groups that will prepare their own stands. The groups are green stands, healthy food stands, and art stands. Students were doing mind maps from the beginning, so they know the connection between each subject and why they need to learn certain topics. Students were really involved from the beginning, during preparation, and on the day. They had a lot of discussions and made decisions themselves. We see a lot of beautiful collaboration between students during preparation and they work their hardest to make this event go smoothly.  Before the bazaar, students learned about measurement, time, and money. These topics are to equip students during the bazaar since some of them are in charge of being the cashier. In Science class, students learned about hygiene and healthy food. Students learned about it and built the menu themselves for the healthy food stand. In Art class, students had the chance to make something from clay and some made some drawings. Overall, students were very involved and excited to have the bazaar. We have had great support from parents during this event and almost everyone participates. For the Green stand, we had a big donation from one of our parents and it is one of the most successful stands. At the end of the bazaar, all stands were able to collect almost Rp. 3.000.000 to support our camping project. Students were really happy with the experience and they worked really hard to count the money themselves.  Next, we are going to prepare for our Camping project. Students may divide into 3 different groups according to the 5 main subjects we have, such as English, Science, Math, Art, and Thematic. They will learn all the necessary topics to support them during camping. We are excited to create great memories on our school grounds through this camping project! Stay tuned for our next project! Documentation: Fun market without fun games is not fun Primary children prepared small craft to be sell at the event The children are tasked with preparing orders with the assistance of their teachers. We invited the Bali Smile Foundation to liven up our event Fun Market vibes We also had face painting stand Green stand's team Parents bought something from art & craft stand Healthy Food stand's team

The other day we successfully completed our first attempt to hold an Output Day. Output Day, as the name suggests, is a day to output what students have been inputting. We have been preparing our presentations and bulletin boards for that day. The primary class students with their teacher prepare 3 booths. They are assigned to each booth with their teacher. There was a booth for science and thematic, English with art, and mathematics. The children in each booth are tasked with presenting their projects and things they have learned so far at Taruwara. The teachers are just as nervous as their students, some of them feeling very tense before the event starts. However, they manage to overcome their tension and nervousness to welcome all the parents and kindergarten children. Some of the students who were not very good at public speaking gained her confidence by seeing her teachers, mothers, and younger students who were trying their best. Her teammates were also motivated by her efforts.  After the three-hour event, the children and teachers were exhausted, but despite the short preparation period and the fact that it was their first experience, they were able to pull it off, which was a very valuable experience for all of us. During the reflection time, we were able to hear comments such as, "We can do this better next time! I want to do something like this!” and other positive things. We wondered if this was also the result of the daily circle time and reflection session. On that day, the kindergarten children also had an opportunity to do activities together with their parents, and everyone seemed very happy to see the children's responses and reactions, which they do not get to see every day. We were also very anxious about the parents' opinions after coming to observe the elementary school presentation, but we were very grateful for their warm and supportive attitude toward the children throughout the event, even if some of them could not speak well. Good job kids!! We are so proud of you all. Documentation: Our math class team ready for presentation about how to build a tent Our science class team ready for the presentation Warmest welcome from primary students to attending parents Primary school children showcase their cooking skills in front of the attending parents. They prepare the same menu, rice balls, just like they did during the previous project camp. During the experiments, the kindergarten children are particularly fascinated and interested in the activity Demonstration on setting up a tent from primary children with parents from kindergarten Parents and their kids Building a tent with math team Showcase their life skill that they got from their previous project Presentation from science team to mix-class parents and children The parents and kindergarten children are getting ready to make lemonade according to the instructions from the English class team. We are extremely grateful that the attending parents are very supportive of our elementary school children.

Sometimes, all it takes is one good book to start a new habit. 📚✨ At Taruwara, we believe that reading and writing are more than just academic skills — they are the foundation for lifelong learning. From an early age, we encourage our students to see reading not as a task, but as an adventure that opens their imagination, strengthens their focus, and builds empathy through stories. For young learners, developing these skills early helps them express their thoughts more clearly, understand others’ perspectives, and grow confident in communicating their ideas. That’s why we continuously create meaningful opportunities for children to read, write, and reflect in ways that feel enjoyable and personal. 🌱 This semester, our Primary 3–4 students began a small reading challenge, to finish 40 books in one month. What started as a simple goal soon became an exciting surprise: together, they reached 50 books! 📖✨ Every morning, students spend time reading books of their choice. Afterward, they write short reflections or reviews to share their thoughts, feelings, and favorite parts of the stories. This routine helps them slow down, think deeply, and express themselves in writing, turning reading into a joyful habit rather than a duty. Teachers observed how this activity not only improved students’ reading comprehension and writing fluency but also changed their attitude toward learning. Many children now pick up books on their own, curious about new stories and eager to talk about what they’ve read. “At first, we simply wanted to help students improve their literacy skills,” one teacher shared. “But what touched us most was seeing how reading became something they truly look forward to. They now talk about books with excitement — and that’s when we know the love for learning has begun.” 💚 Through consistent practice, students are building self-discipline, critical thinking, and a genuine love for learning, values we hope they’ll carry far beyond the classroom. 💚 At Taruwara, our goal is to help every child grow into a confident, curious, and thoughtful learner. Because when children discover the joy of reading and writing, they don’t just learn, they transform. 🌿 How do you encourage reading time at home?We’d love to hear your ideas and experiences! Share your tips in the comments below 👇