First-graders in Bay Village learn all about Japan, then step up to help

Mrs. Hervol's class at Normandy Elementary. Back row, left-to-right, is Amara Suehrstedt, Lorelei Suehrstedt, and Hennie Hervol.

First-grade teacher Hennie Hervol believes that, through studying Japanese, her young students at Bay Village’s Normandy Elementary School benefit even beyond learning a new language. 

“Learning another language creates all these new connections in developing brains,” she said. “I am really happy our students could experience this.” 

Her students are fortunate to have Amara Suehrstedt in their class. Amara’s mom, Lorelei Suehrstedt, is an expert in Japanese language and culture. She has been spending this past school year teaching the students the Japanese language and much more about the people and the country where she lived for several years after graduating college with a major in Japanese.

The students have learned the names of colors and numbers, and they can speak various greetings and phrases. They sing the childhood song of “heads, shoulders, knees and toes,” in Japanese. Show and tell has included a Geisha doll and other Japanese articles used as discussion points about dress and culture.

The children have made origami (folded paper) sculptures and Japanese Kokeshi dolls, the little wooden dolls that Japanese farmers often made for their daughters.  They are learning about Japanese folklore, geography, and many other things about Japan. Lorelei knew the knowledge was sinking in when students would see her outside of school and run up and say something to her in Japanese.  

Then, when the recent disasters occurred in Japan, the class mobilized to help those whose homeland and people, with whom they were now so familiar, suffered such terrible devastation. Mrs. Hervol found that still another benefit would come from their study of Japan – compassion for those in need. 

“We sent home notes to all the parents,” said Amara. “We collected money from the whole school, not just our class.”

Lorelei arranged for her family’s church, First Congregational United Church of Christ in Berea, to handle the donations and also to contribute matching funds. Every child in Mrs. Hervol’s class made a card to go with the monetary donation, and in just one week the students collected $478.

“They are truly good students,” said Lorelei. “They were really touched by the events, and we talked about how we are all connected throughout the world. I think the children learned you are never too young, you’re never too small, to help and to make a difference.”

Karen Derby

Karen Derby is the Public Information Officer for the Bay Village City School District.

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Volume 3, Issue 8, Posted 6:14 PM, 04.19.2011