PAYING TRIBUTE TO ATATÜRK and UNDERSTANDING HIM
Atatürk week in Kindergarten started with 29th October Republic Day celebrations. Students learned what “republic” meant and started to learn about the importance of Atatürk’s ideology. In order to understand Ataturk better, students had the chance to study Atatürk with their parents. Apart from finding out about where and when Atatürk was born, students looked for information that was not well known by everyone. Students found photographs of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk and brought them into class which were then displayed in our Atatürk Corner. Students talked about Mustafa Kemal's birth, childhood, education, military service, leadership, personality, and mentioned the good Atatürk did for the Republic of Turkey. Kindergarten students continued to share their knowledge, feelings and thoughts about Atatürk and also wrote Atatürk poems throughout the week. The greatest support came from Azra Şişman, one of the purple star student’s grandfather, Şerafettin Demir bey. He shared his own personal collection of Atatürk’s photos at Üsküdar SEV Kindergarten on 10th November. Azra Şişman’s grandfather took great pride in talking to the students about the love of Atatürk. Students came to school with flowers on 10th November. At 09.05 am students listened for the sirens and students had a moment of silence in tribute to Atatürk. Flowers were left with care as they paid their respects to Atatürk bust. The ceremony continued with the speech titled 'Understanding Atatürk' under the leadership of Orange Star class teachers Eda Vural and Dilek Arın after the reading of our National Anthem. Children enthusiastically read poetry written in class. Students sang songs about Atatürk. We thanked, respected and showed gratitude to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and we now understand his values better day by day.