Summer is already here and the weather is so hot and humid. Luckily, the children will soon have the chance to play in the school’s swimming pool.

The pool has not been used since last summer, and had built up a lot of dirt. So, yesterday, students in the two third year classes (Lion and Tsubaki) cleaned the swimming pool in readiness for our first pool day.

They removed most of their outer garments and their socks, as not to get them wet. Then they were put into three teams. Each team would work together on different parts of the pool. The different tasks were: to clean the inside of the pool, to clean the outside of the pool, and to clean the shower area.

Each student was given a tawashi (brown scrubbing brush) to use. The brushes were dipped in bowls of soapy water, and then used to scrub the surfaces of the pool and shower.

I saw a lot of brown dirt wash away with the help of a water hose.

All the children worked really hard to remove the dirt and to get the pool as clean as possible. It was hot weather, but everyone did their very best!!

After the students had finished the task and changed back into their uniforms, I asked the Lion class: “How was cleaning the pool?” They mostly answered: “It was fun!”, or “It was exciting!!!”.

It surely seems that everyone is really looking forward to our pool days.

Let’s all have great fun when the first pool days begin in July!!!

– Mark –

（熱くジメジメした季節になり、夏ももうすぐですね。幸運にも、石田幼稚園ではもうすぐプールあそびがあります。

プールは昨夏以降使われていないので、とても汚れていました。そのため昨日、年長組（Lion組とつばき組）の子どもたちはプールあそびに向けてプール掃除をしました。

子どもたちは服が濡れないように、制服と靴下を脱ぎました。３つのグループに分かれ、プールの中、外側、そしてシャワーのところを掃除しました。

一人ひとりたわしを持ち、洗剤入りの水をつけてプールやシャワーの壁・床をゴシゴシと磨きました。ホースで水を流すと、たくさんの汚い茶色の水が流れていくのが見えました。

子どもたちはプールをきれいにしようと、一生懸命がんばりました。暑い中、みんなとてもがんばっていましたよ！！

プール掃除を終えて制服に着替えた後、Lion組のみんなに「プール掃除はどうだった？」と聞きました。ほとんどの子どもが「楽しかった！」「わくわくした！」と答えていましたよ！

みんなプール遊びをとても楽しみにしているようです。

7月から始まるプール遊び、楽しみましょうね！！！

Mark先生より）