ESTUNGKARA: Epic Year End Closing! #5

Saturday June 8th 2024

Al Azhar 55 Islamic Primary School successfully held a “world class” End Of Year Concert (EOYC) #5. Taking the background of Indonesian culture, i.e. that of classical Javanese, the show successfully got all the guests mind blown.

This year’s theme was Estungkara “Never Se􀆩le for Less; Dare to Take on New Challenges”. Estungkara introduced children to the culture that they have inherited. The story of Estungkara does not only recount adventures and heroism but also conveys moral values ??which highlight the importance of humility, responsibility, and resilience in facing life’s challenges. Like a 􀆟me machine, this show took us back to the 􀆟me when people hadn’t even imagined of having and building high-rise buildings, when horses were their main mode of transport, and when their life goal was simply to be able to live comfortably and serenely.

The show took place on June 8, 2024 at the Performance Hall of FBSB UNY, involving over 200 students. It went smoothly and le􀅌 all the audiences impressed. EOYC #5 marked the yearend closing of ac􀆟vi􀆟es at Al Azhar 55. It is held annually to provide students with space for crea􀆟vity, as well as to boost the reputa􀆟on of Al Azhar 55 as a leading Islamic primary school in Yogyakarta, so as to make it people’s first choice to send their children to get religious, world class, and high quality educa􀆟on.

FULL VIDEOS | ESTUNGAKARA

(by Mr Aldian)

Testimony

Prof. Dra. Hj. Suwarsih Madya, M.A., Ph.D.

Amidst the globalized situation which poses challenges of which one is a possible threat to identity, yet provides ample opportunities to excel for those who possess the prerequisites, we need to equip our children as the continuing generation with necessary competencies—affective, cognitive, psychomotor and interactive. In other words, we need to help them grow and develop into total persons and this can be achieved through the whole-child development approach which ensures the development of all potentials. In addition to this is the need for developing some competence which enables the children to communicate globally. All of this will ensure that the children will develop their citizenships both at the national and global levels. How can this ideal development be realized?

If you want to find out about how efforts are made to develop children’s whole potentials, you can come to SD Islam Al Azhar 55 Yogyakarta. Here you can see how the four-year old school has grown fast due to the stakeholders’ trust to send their children to study here. With only 54 children in the first year, this school now has 185 students. These students are educated to respect and preserve the social-cultural environment by learning the local language (Javanese, including the script) and arts (dance). Simultaneously, they certainly learn the national language (Bahasa Indonesia) and national content, which is unquestionable since it is compulsory, and English, which has now become a global lingua franca; thus, a prerequisite for successful global communication. More importantly, children in this school also learn to practise their religion consistently. So, in this school children’s identity is rooted in the local culture, with nationalism and global awareness being inherently developed together with reliogiosity.

Does the whole-child development approach at SD Islam Al Azhar still give room for children to excel? In my belief, when all their potentials are developed, children will have a greater chance to excel and I can see the truth in my belief in this primary school. In the last two years, the students have made great achievements in various competitions held at the local and national levels–gold medals in English, math and science competitions (national), silver and bronze medals in IT competitions (national), silver and bronze medals at colouring and swimming competitions (local) to mention some.

In conclusion, SD Islam Al Azhar has given evidence of the right efforts of true education to develop both intelligence and character.

Prof. DR. Budi S. Daryono, M.Agr. Sc.

Testimoni Sebagai Orang tua menyekolahkan anak Di Al-Azhar 55

Sudah menjadi kewajiban bagi orang tua untuk memberikan pendidikan yang terbaik bagi putra putrinya. Tantangan untuk mendidik anak di Era Global dan Digital pun semakin besar, kita tidak bisa lagi membendung segala perubahan yang begitu cepat terjadi, dan harus mempersiapkan anak-anak supaya bisa survive dan sholeh/sholehah tentunya. Saat ini dunia bagaikan kampung, dimana tidak ada batas-batas untuk melakukan transaksi kehidupan, untuk itu anak harus bisa berkomunikasi dengan bahasa universal sebagai modal utama. Disamping itu, pendidikah Ahlak dan Aqidah harus diberikan secara dini sebagai dasar anak dalam menghadapi gejolak gelombang kehidupan. Atas pertimbangan tersebutlah, kami selaku orang tua memilih untuk menyekolahkan putra kami tercinta Hikari di Sekolah Islam, yang menggunakan dua bahasa pengantar, yaitu Al-Azhar 55.

Prof. DR. Budi S.Daryono, M.Agr. Sc.