The Fun of Book Days 2021

Friday August 5th 2022

Literacy is Bridge from Misery to Hope

Different from the previous years, Book Days, which was celebrated with costumes at school, should be carried out virtual this time. Book Days 2021, themed “Literacy is Bridge from Misery to Hope”, invited al members of Al Azhar 55 Islamic Primary School to understand the importance of reading books.
The event took place on March 15-16 2021 with the following detailed agenda: silent reading, virtual tour to libraries in other countries whose literacy program is impressive, reading assessment, story reading by Ms. Amy, and various contests such as: unique photo, guessing book cover, redrawing a picture, drawing a picture based on a story, writing a fiction, and writing a book review. All students joined the contests from which only a winner will be taken.
Not only the contests, all students were very enthusiastic in taking part in all agenda, not to mention the “Mask Party” that took place on the second day. All of them wore the mask that they have made in Art class. Some teachers did the same thing. Meanwhile, some other teachers-who acted out a play entitled “The Avengers Infinity War: The Quest for Infinity Books to Conquer the Universe” wore their own costume-Iron Man, Spiderman, Dr. Strange, Captain America, Hulk, Wanda, Vision, and Thanos.
For your information, the videotaped performance showcased a group of superhero characters who work together as a team and never give up bringing positivity to the world. Played by some teachers, it attracted students’ attention. Aside from that, it was supported with dazzling animation, ornate costumes, and a funny plot twist. Therefore, it is not exaggerating to call it one of the performance’s highlights.
Along with the announcement of the contests’ winners in each class, the performance closed the whole event. As a closing message, we invited students to ‘conquer’ the world by reading books.

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.